It was twilight. Ginger sat with Zac on the roof of the hospital, hand in hand, looking out into the distance. The sky was in an array of colors, from the top as a dark blue�almost black�to the sun�s glow of orange and yellow. Scattered clouds had turned pink now, making way for night. Downtown Tampa wasn�t far away, yet the buildings seemed distant. They were so small, compared to when you stood at the foot and looked up to try to see the top. Periodically a bird would fly by, interrupting the slow peace. The night was tranquil, compared to the storm earlier that day. Now everything was perfect, besides the point that Zac and Ginger sat on the roof of a hospital.
�Don�t you just love it?� Ginger asked Zac, cuddling up to him. They had a large blanket wrapped around them. The rain had left the air cold and the night only added. Zac could only nod in response. She looked at him, his caramel eyes set on the lowering star in the great distance.
�Before I met you,� he started, now turning his eyes to her, �I used to think that there would be nothing in this universe and beautiful as a sunset. I�m starting to think otherwise now.� She blushed. Zac was always good at flattering her.
�I love you,� she whispered.
�I�ll bet you five bucks I love you more.� He paused. "What was it like there?"
"I really don't remember," Ginger said. "It was nearly a decade ago and I have a very selective memory. I only remember the things I want to, and I really didn't want to remember that." She shook her head, looking away. "All I remember is that it was horrible. I hated every minute. I always wanted to leave but they never said I was good enough to go. They demeaned me and they said I was crazy. But that's it. I'll never go back again. I'll never see a psychiatrist, I'll never go to a clinic, I'll never do any of that shit again."
"I won't let you go."
"At least I have you and Kris on my side," she said, giving him a smile. "I guess we should go check on her. I can�t believe this actually happened to her. It kind of makes me think, though. No one would just pull an unsuspecting girl into an alley and just take everything. Maybe in New York, but not here. I�m surprised no one noticed! I think someone knew Kris was going to be there at that time."
�Are you sure? There are a lot of stranger-stranger assaults around. Even in Tampa.�
�But in the middle of the day? In broad daylight? Kris said the man had an attraction to the necklace, and that�s pretty much all he wanted. She had other jewelry and she had money on her. Of course he took it but the reason he robbed her was for the necklace.�
�I don�t know�� he said, not believing her.
�I think so. Now I�m not exactly turning into any Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes or whatever, but it really has to make you think. It�s not like she wears the necklace all the time, cause that�s the only time I�ve let her wear it. But I know I�m never letting her borrow it again. It means too much.�
�Why would someone have such an attraction to it? The bracelet she had on was worth pretty much the same, from looking at it.� She nodded.
�Yeah, it seems. I don�t know, but I�m going back down and checking on her. She�s got a large window and the sun�s down now so we won�t miss much.� He smiled and followed her.
�Kris, I need to ask you something,� Ginger said, walking into the room, Zac still following after her.
�Yeah,� she responded, moving her head to get a better look at Zac.
�Stop looking at him and look at me.� She turned her head to Ginger. �What exactly did that man say about the necklace?�
�He noticed I didn�t really want him to take it so he said he�d be sure to take it. From the way he gleamed at it, I could tell he wanted it for some other reason than whatever robbers do with their loot.� Ginger glanced at Zac, and then took a seat.
�This sucks.�
�Hey you weren�t the one who got stabbed out of it,� she said. She put her hand over her eyes, feeling a pang of guilt in her heart.
�And I�ll beat myself up for the rest of my life over it," Ginger said. Kris actually thought she was joking until she saw a tear roll down Ginger's cheek. Realizing that shielding her eyes wouldn�t work, she let her hand fall. �Kristina, you have no idea what I would do if something more happened today. If you would have gotten badly hurt or like kidnapped, or God forbid even killed, I don�t know what I would do. I can�t lose you.�
Zac reached over and took her other hand in his. She let out a low sigh and looked at Kris. �I would give you a hug but I don�t want to hurt you,� Ginger said.
�That�s all right. I love you anyway.� Ginger smiled and gripped Zac�s hands. She didn�t realize how important Kris was to her. She had said it numerous times, but it didn�t sink in.
�Zac, it�s you turn to tell Kristina how much you love her,� Ginger said, slyly.
�She knows how much I love her,� Zac said, trying to avoid it. Kris and Ginger exchanged glances. �Oh don�t do that! It�ll only make things worse.�
�I don�t know how much you love me, Zac. Please, tell me,� Kris said, painfully crossing her arms.
�Fine, Kris. I think you�re wonderful for putting up with me through phone calls and arguments and sticking around while I'm taking your beloved sister from you. I appreciate your honesty in the right and the wrong times, and how you can actually put up with me taking your life from you. I respect you more than you think. I believe in you and I love you very much.� She looked surprised, but Zac only smiled.
�Okay, I don�t think either of us expected that,� Ginger said. Kris nodded, still shocked.
�Well you said that I should tell her how much I care, and that�s how much I care. That�s what I really think.� Ginger got up and gave him a hug.
�I�m so happy that you love my sister almost as much as I do. But Kristina needs her rest and we need to find some comfortable chairs outside before they all get taken,� she said, smiling. He nodded.
�I guess.�
As they headed out, Ginger's smile grew. �We love you Kristina,� she said.
�I love you both too!� Kris said and got comfortable again. Just as they stepped out, Dr. Andrews came close to bumping into them. Ginger let out a huff but the woman didn't seem to notice.
�I was just about to talk to you two. They�re serving dinner in the cafeteria now, so you two can head over and get something to eat,� she said, pointing at Ginger. She rolled her eyes. �Kristina doesn�t have a roommate, and since Ginger is so accustomed to the hospital and staff then you two can take the bed. Are you two married yet?�
�Not yet. Soon,� Zac said. She nodded.
�Well Kris is in the room so she�ll stop you two from doing anything funny.� Ginger smiled and led Zac to the cafeteria. Once they got there, she glanced at the disgusting food and cringed.
�Sorry to say this hun, but the food here is horrible. Starving people in Africa wouldn�t eat this stuff,� she said. �There�s a McDonald�s across the street. Do you want to go there?�
�Do you want the chance of being seen with me at a McDonald�s? This is a hospital and there is a camera crew outside. I mean one of the Backstreet Boys did just break his leg last week. He is here.�
�Here?�
�Yeah! You didn�t notice as we came in that the MTV and E! film crews are outside. They�re both doing a report on him, that�s why we can�t get to the fourth floor without a pass.�
�Um, I didn�t notice. I didn�t try to go the fourth floor. It would of been better if it was a local crew outside, they don�t care. But MTV and E!, well they�re another story. They care more than they should.�
�You still want to go?� Zac asked. Ginger smiled and nodded. �Okay.� As they walked to the door, Ginger fiddled with her necklace, keeping her left hand hidden in Zac�s. It was bad enough that everyone would know Zac has a girlfriend; they didn�t need to know that the girlfriend was actually a fianc�e.
�You know there still is a chance that they won�t notice us. They don�t know I�m here and they�re probably inside.� She shrugged.
�Hey you never know until it happens.� He opened the door and stepped outside. There was no one around except for an old woman with a walker coming up to the door. Zac gratefully held the door open as she passed through, allowing the cameraman off to the side to realize who was there. As they stepped onto the gravel of the parking lot, Chris Connelly of MTV and a cameraman met up with them.
"Zac Hanson! Will you talk to us?� he asked.
�Sure,� Zac said, turning to him.
�Who is this beautiful woman with you?� Chris asked. Zac smiled.
�This is Ginger Stevens, my girlfriend.� Chris nodded.
�Oh really? How long?� The man was nice about the interview. He actually asked if Zac would talk instead of just asking him questions right off the bat.
�Three years in November,� she said. Chris looked surprised.
�Really? And how could you keep a beauty like her a secret for so many years, Zac?� he asked.
�Well to tell you the truth no one really asked. I didn�t want to go out of my way to mention her so I just waited to be asked.� He shook his head, smiling.
�So what brings you here to Tampa? And to the hospital?�
�Well, I live here,� she said. �He happened to be visiting and my sister got sick so we brought her here, and as luck has it you people seemed to be here at the same time.�
�Zac it�s good that you�re here because it saves us a trip of asking you to come to New York for an interview. There�s been rumors going around that Hanson will be no more soon,� he asked. Zac nodded.
�The rumors are true. The last tour we did a few months ago was our last tour. We announced it at the shows, so I�m guessing that�s how everything started. We�re doing a final show next Saturday in Tulsa, and then we�re calling it quits.�
�May I ask why?�
�More so personal reasons. I hate to speak for them, but Isaac and Taylor want to go to college and they haven�t been able. I�m finishing school this year and I plan on continuing.�
�It wouldn�t possibly have anything to do with your girlfriend?� Zac shook his head.
�No.�
�Any plans for the future?� he asked. �Band-wise?�
�We�re pretty much focusing on right now, and we know we won�t be do anything for the next year or so, but after that,� Zac said, and then shook his head, �God knows.�
�Well I thank you for your time. You have a beauty right here, I wish you both the best of luck.� Zac nodded to him and they walked away. Luckily that was the only time they were stopped before they got to McDonald�s.
�You�re a liar, Zac,� she said, smiling. �You told me you don�t want to go to college. And I�m sure that�s not why the band is breaking up.�
�Well you lied to. Kristina isn�t sick.�
�Sure she is! She�s sick in the head.� Zac nodded.
�Forgot about that,� he said. �But anyways, how do you feel now that the whole world will know about you?�
�Horrible. Tomorrow when Kris gets checked out, we�re going straight home and I�m staying there. I�m sure before we leave Dr. Andrews is going to talk to me about all this. She�s going to tell me to eat a lot and tell me when to come back for the treatments. I�m really upset that it�s coming now, because that means I won�t have any hair for the wedding.�
�She said they were going to stick you on radiation, Ginger.� Her eyes widened.
�They are? That�s good news. That means I�m going to keep my hair,� she said, smiling. They stepped up to the counter. �So what do you want?�