A few weeks later, Zac listened to Taylor�s voice as he ended �Madeline�. He smiled and stood up. �Practice is over! I�m outta here! See you guys later!� he exclaimed as he ran up the stairs to the kitchen.

�Tell Nell I Said Hi!� Taylor called after him.

�WILL DO!� he yelled back before running out of the house and over to Nell�s house. He hopped up the steps to her porch and rang the bell. Nell opened it a few minutes later. �Hey! You want to do something?� he asked happily. She grinned at him and disappeared back inside. She came out a minute later, her mother following.

�Hi, Zac. You guys have fun. Be back by nine.� she waved after them as Zac pulled Nell across the street and into his backyard.

�Let�s hang out in the tree house. It�s too hot to stay in the sun and if I go inside, I�ll be forced to practice some more and I don�t want to.� He led her over to the tree house and followed her up the ladder. They settled down on opposite sides of the small room and Zac turned on the radio. �So, guess what I heard. Mr. Newpert had a heart attack and had to go to the hospital. My mom said he�s okay now but, he almost died. Isn�t that sad? Scary. I mean, I don�t like the old guy but I don�t want him dead. And besides, Mrs. Newpert would be all alone with her ten billion cats.� he smiled and slumped down a little. He closed his eyes for a second, trying to picture Mr. Newpert in the hospital. He was startled to feel Nell�s hand intertwine with his. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. She had moved next to him and was leaning close to him. She smiled back.

�You know, you're really pretty when you smile.� he complimented her, his face turning a slight shade of red. Her smiled widened. �Yep, you look beautiful when you smile. You should smile more often. Try it around other people. They�d smile back, I can guarantee you they would.� Her smile faded. �Or you could just smile for me. Whatever you want.� Her smile reappeared.

�I love this song! Doesn�t Jewel rock? I think she�s a really good singer. And she�s really nice.� Nell�s smile faded again. �But not as nice as you.� she smiled again. �Can I kiss you?� Zac asked, his voice almost a whisper. Her head flew up to stare at him. �I�m sorry. I shouldn�t have said that. Forget I said anything about it...� he blushed and looked away, fiddling with the dials on the radio. He felt a squeeze of his hand and looked back at Nell. She smiled and leaned in to press her lips on his. He put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. The kiss was short but sweet. They both opened their eyes and smiled at each other.

�Well then, if your going to insist then I�ll have to do that again.� he grinned and leaned in. Their lips met in a longer kiss. She attempted to adjust her wait but ended up in Zac�s lap instead. He welcomed her, pulling her to him.

�I�m glad you�ve found my lap more comfortable than the floor.� Zac joked. Nell tried to slide off his lap but he held her tight. �Where you going? I wasn�t complaining. Just wishing you�d say something to me. But, I don�t blame you for not talking. You have your reasons. I, on the other hand, could never not talk. As you have witnessed in the past few weeks, I�m a blabber mouth. I love to talk. Ike thinks I�m annoying but he�s crazy so, you know.� he grinned and kissed Nell�s cheek. �Thanks for kissing me. Now I know you like me and aren�t just being nice.� he whispered in her ear. She looked at him and smiled. She shook her head. His mouth fell open. �You... you... I think I�m going to faint.� he said as he dramatically held his hand to his forehead and pretended to pass out. He opened his eyes a minute later and laughed. �I�m kidding. But, you actually nodded. You never do that. Am I making progress or what? First a kiss and now this...� he shook his head humorously. Nell smiled.

�Zac, you up there?� Taylor�s voice could be heard from somewhere on the ground. Zac glanced out the window to find Taylor standing at the base of the tree, looking up curiously.

�Should we let him up?� Zac whispered to Nell. She slid off his lap in response, not looking at him. He thought this was curious behavior for her but decided she was just in a weird mood and called down for Taylor to come up. Taylor climbed the weak stairs and sat across from them. A twinge of jealousy came over him as he saw how close they sat. For some reason, he wished he had the closeness with Nell that Zac had. They spent every minute together and they�d only know each other two weeks. He pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind and forced a smile.

�Guess what.�

�What?�

�Dad just got off the phone with Mercury. They want to extend our contract by three albums! Isn�t that cool?!� he asked excited by the idea.

�Awesome! Now we don�t have to worry about getting signed again for a while.� Zac sat back and gave a sigh of relief. This had been on their minds for a while since they had just finished their fifth album with Mercury and only had one more until their contract was up.

�Yep. Ike�s on the phone. He�s calling all his friends and telling them. He couldn�t be more excited. Even if this does mean pushing back college for him.�

�Oh yeah. He�s been waiting to go to college for a while now hasn�t he? Maybe we could take a break after our next tour and let him go.�

�Mercury would go ballistic! And Ike wouldn�t do it. He�s too deticated to the music.�

�But, he wants to get a music degree. I don�t think Mercury would object to that too much, and we could catch up on our school, too. I haven�t had a full month of school forever.�

�Not since Middle of Nowhere got big. I miss it, too.�

�I miss going outside and hanging with my friends without being recognized or mobbed or something.�

�I miss going on dates with girls and not having them scream when I kiss them good night.�

�I miss being able to do what I want and not following some stupid schedule all the time.�

�I miss staying at home during my birthday. Do you realize I haven�t been home for my birthday in three years?�

�I haven�t been home for my birthday in four.�

�I had my sweet sixteen here and that was the first in three years. There was no way I was going to celebrate that in L.A.�

�Yeah, well I became a teenager in Japan.�

�Got my permit Down Under.�

�Let�s stop talking about this. It�s depressing.�

�Good idea.� There was an uncomfortable pause. Zac began to fidget with the radio dials again.

�Tay! Where are you?!� they heard Diana yell from the porch. Taylor stood up and went to the window.

�Treehouse, Mom!� he yelled back.

�You�ve got laundry!�

�Gotta go.� Taylor bolted for the stairs, knowing Diana would ream him if he didn�t do his laundry in the next five minutes. �Have fun. See you later, Nell!� he called as he jumped down the last few steps and ran into the house. Zac felt Nell relax on his shoulder. He looked down at her and smiled.

�You didn�t want him around, did you?� she shook her head, still on his shoulder. �Can I ask you something?� Nell looked up at him in curiosity. �Why don�t you want to meet my friends, hang out with my family, or do anything with anybody else when we�re together? What�s so special about me that you just want to be with me? I mean, it�s not like I did anything really significant like save your life or anything. Why don�t you like anyone but me? Or is it that you don�t trust anyone but me?� he asked, his voice almost a whisper. He could see tears forming in Nell�s eyes and quickly moved to brush them away. �Don�t cry. I�m sorry. I shouldn�t have said that. I was just curious what I did to deserve you.�

Tears rolled down her eyes. He sighed and pulled her into his embrace. �Shh, don�t cry. I�m sorry. Please don�t cry. I hate seeing you cry. You�re going to make me cry if you don�t stop.� She continued to cry. He kissed her forehead and let her cry for a while before he said something else. �It�s okay. I understand why you don�t want to be around other people. But, please stop crying. I�m begging you. Please?� he whispered softly. She sniffled and looked in his eyes. He smiled and wiped her tears away. �See? You�re okay. I knew you could stop. Thank you. Now what do you want to do?� he asked gently. She held onto him and sniffled a little more. �You just wanna stay here? Okay. I can deal with that.� He held her close and listened to the music coming out of the radio. He almost started dancing. Nell noticed his foot tapping with the beat and smiled. A drummer never stops tapping to the beat.

Zac pulled out his bed and flopped down on it. He remembered he hadn�t pulled it up and got off. He pulled it up and secured the bar before flopping back down on it, now much higher up. Taylor scanned his lazy form without interest before looking back at the SPIN magazine he was reading. Zac sat up on his elbows and looked at Taylor, a little perplexed. �Tay?�

�Yeah?� Taylor asked behind the magazine.

�How do you know your in love with someone?� Taylor put down the magazine and looked at Zac.

�I don�t know. I�ve never been in love. Why? Who do you think your in love with?�

�Nell.�

�Zac, she doesn�t even talk.�

�I don�t care. More talk for me. I know this sounds crazy but, I think I am. I mean, whenever I�m around her I get butterflies in my stomach and I smile a lot and I probably look like a total idiot, but I can�t help it. All I have to do is look at her and I start grinning like a fool. And I love the fact that she only goes by me. She didn�t like it when you were up there today. She hates being around other people, but for some reason, she likes being around me.�

�How do you know all this? She doesn�t talk or really respond that much at all.�

�I asked her about it. And guess what! She started nodding when I ask her stuff now! I asked her if she did that to her parents and she shook her head no! I�m the first!� he clapped happily and started grinning again.

�Congratulations, Zac. You might just get her talking before the end of the year.� Taylor smiled a little and picked up his magazine again, jealousy suddenly hitting him like a brick wall.

�Hey, I�m not done talking! I�m going to ask her out. I hope she says yes.�

�You hope she says anything.�

�Shut up! She has a pretty good damn reason for not talking!� he yelled as he stood up.

�I know what her reason is, Zac! Her mother told me! Hell, I told you!� Taylor yelled back, also standing.

�I could of asked her mom!�

�Yeah, but you didn�t! I did!�

�Shut the Hell up!�

�YOU Shut The Hell Up!� Both their faces were red with anger.

�FUCK YOU!� Zac shoved Taylor and stormed out the room, slamming the door behind him.

�NO! FUCK YOURSELF!� Taylor yelled after him before storming off after him.

�GO THE HELL AWAY!� Zac yelled as he turned around to face his brother.

�NO! YOU CAME TO ME! YOU GO AWAY!� Taylor yelled in his face.

�FINE! I WILL! SHIT HEAD!� Zac screamed as he turned around and stormed out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

�FINE! ASSHOLE!� Taylor screamed after him before storming back into his room and slamming the door behind him. He flung himself onto his bed and mumbled curses while trying to get back to his magazine. Diana burst into the room and glared at him.

�What was that all about?! Why are you and Zac fighting?!� she exclaimed.

�He started it! I just followed through! I�m not the one that left the house!� Taylor growled as he shoved the magazine onto the floor in frustration and stood up in search of the remote to his stereo.

�I don�t care who started it. I want to know why it got started.� Diana said as she grabbed Taylor�s arm and pulled him around to look at her.

�We were talking about Nell and he got all pissy when I teased him about her not talking.� he said as he tried to get away from Diana.

�Tay, why did you tease him about her? You know he likes her.�

�He was claiming he loved her. I had to point it out in hopes he would come to his senses. I thought that was my duty as the older brother.�

�Well, it is but... he WHAT?!� she looked at him wide-eyed.

�He thinks he�s in love with her.�

�That boy is insane! He�s only fourteen! He is not in love! He doesn�t know what love is!�

�Exactly what I�ve been telling you.� Taylor rolled his eyes and went in search of the remote again. After a few seconds of searching he gave up and just pushed play on the stereo. Aerosmith began to play. He smiled and sat back down on his bed.

�Where�d he go?�

�Who knows? Probably Nell�s.� Taylor said without interest as he picked up his magazine again and flipped to the page he had been reading earlier.

�I�ll call over there.� Diana left the room. Taylor shrugged and began reading.

Zac was fuming. What was Taylor�s problem?! So what if Nell didn�t speak? She was still a nice person. And she was beautiful and a good kisser and sweet and shy and... He shook his head of these thoughts and looked at his surroundings. He hadn�t really paid any attention as to where he was going when he left. He just started walking. Now he was in an unfamiliar part of downtown Tulsa. He frowned and kicked a stone, trying to decide what to do. Should he go home or go to Nell�s? He didn�t want to talk to Taylor at that moment or his mother whom he knew was having a hissy fit right now because of the yelling. He sighed and decided to go to Nell�s.

He turned around and began to re-trace his steps carefully. He some how made it to a part of Tulsa that looked mildly familiar and began to walk a little more quickly, wanting to get into his own neighborhood before it got to black outside. It was already dark but, it wasn�t too dark. He sighed with relief when he reached his block and immediately made his way to Nell�s house. He knocked lightly on the door and waited for someone to answer. Nell opened it, a worried look on her face. As soon as she saw him she pulled him into a gigantic hug, tears streaming down her face.

�Nell, what�s wrong?� Zac whispered into her ear. She pulled away a little and looked in his eyes. He reached up and wiped her tears away. �Why are you crying? What happened?� he asked, concern in his voice and his expression.

�Zac! Thank God you�re safe! You scared the neighborhood and everyone within hearing distance to death! Your family is worried sick about you! You have to go home right now! Diana called three times to see if you were here!�

�I�m not going home right now! I don�t want to. Tay�ll make me talk to him about our fight and it�ll be too boring and I don�t want to do it so, I�m not going home just yet.� Zac cringed as Nell hit him over the head and gave him an angry look. �No, Nell. I don�t want to. Tay�s being a jerk and I don�t want to deal with him.�

�Taylor�s the most worried. He called here about ten times. And he called half of the other neighbors. And all your friends and anyone you might be with. At least call him and tell him you�re all right so he doesn�t drive himself to an early grave.�

�Okay. But, if he starts talking about being sorry or wanting an apology, I�m hanging up.� He was pushed into the house by Nell and dragged over to the phone. �Persistent.� Zac mumbled as he picked up the phone and dialed his home number. Taylor picked up before the first ring was even done.

�Hello?!�

�Tay? It�s me, Zac. I�m fine. I just went for a walk. You didn�t have to call half of Tulsa!�

�Zac?! God! You scared me half to death! Where are you?!�

�I�m at Nell�s.�

�I�m.. talk to Mom.� Zac heard the phone switch hands and then, began the same presedure with Diana. A minute later, the doorbell rang. Nell opened it and let Taylor in. �Zac! What are you thinking?! Why aren�t you at home?! Jesus Christ! You almost gave me and Mom heart attacks and Ike�s driving around the neighborhood looking for you! And Dad�s called everyone including the police! And... and... don�t do that!� he hit Zac over the head and gave him an angry look.

�Ouch! Gees, Tay! You didn�t have to hit me!� Zac rubbed the back of his head and glared at his brother.

�Yeah, I did. Knocked some sense into you! Where�d you go? Why�d you run off? I�m sorry I got all pissy but you shouldn�t have left like that. God, what were you thinking?� he said, a little more calmly.

�I just needed to get out of the house. Sorry for scaring you. I tend to get out of fights as quickly as possible.� he stated, trying not to look at his brother.

�Look, I understand but, let�s go before Mom has a fit and starts crying like she did when Jessie got lost in the mall.�

�Okay. Is she really really upset?� Zac bit his lip as he followed Taylor to the door. Nell tugged on his sleeve. He turned around to be rapped in another hug. He hugged her back, smiling widely. �You okay now? You�re not gonna cry on me again, are you?� he asked, half jokingly. She looked at him and smiled, shaking her head slightly. This caused Bev�s mouth to drop open.

�She... she...� she whimpered as she began to cry. Zac went over and hugged her.

�It�s okay, Mrs. Krontle. She just started that today.� he whispered as he tried to comfort her.

�Zac, you... you... got her to... acknowledge something with more than a squeeze of the hand. Thank you.� she hugged him tight before letting go and stepping back. �Now, go home before you make your mother turn gray.� she ruffled his hair and sent him out. He stopped at the doorstep and looked back at Nell.

�You promise not to cry on me?� he asked her. She smiled and nodded. He smiled back and turned around to follow Taylor back to their house.

�Zachary Walker Hanson! Where on Earth have you been?!� Diana exclaimed when he and Taylor walked through the door.

�I went for a walk and then went to Nell�s. I�m okay. Don�t worry. I just kind of needed to cool off.� he said as Diana pulled him into an emotional hug, tears streaming down her face. �Mom, don�t cry. You are the third woman to cry on me today! what is this? Just not my day?� he smiled. Diana hit him over the head. �Definitely not my day.� he muttered as he rubbed his head, noticing she hit him in the same spot Taylor had.

�Don�t you ever do that to me again, Young Man! Do you hear me?! God! Where�s the phone. I need to tell Ike to come back home.� Diana gave Zac an angry look before wandering off to find the phone to call her son. Zac sighed and went to his room and flopped down on his bed. He groaned when Taylor came in and sat on his bed Indian-style, the way he always did when he wanted to talk.

�Zac? Why did you get so defensive earlier?� Taylor asked, curiously looking down at his brother.

�Because, Tay, I really like Nell and when you mentioned the no-talking thing, I guess it just hit a nerve. I mean, I�m depressed enough as it is because she won�t talk. Then, you had to go and bug me about it.� he glanced over at Taylor before turning back to stare at the ceiling.

�Oh, well sorry I upset you. I was just fooling with you. You didn�t have to take it seriously. I know you�re depressed about Nell. I was just kind of trying to get you away from that loving her thought...�

�Loving who thought?� Isaac demanded as he burst through the door and dropped his bag on the floor. �And where in the Hell did you go? I�ve been looking around half of Tulsa for you.� he exclaimed as he looked at Zac.

�I went for a walk. Then, I went to Nell�s. Then, Tay dragged me home.� Zac stated simply, not even bothering to tear his eyes away from the mesmerizing white ceiling in the room.

�Oh. What�s all this love talk? Who loves who and why are they considering love at such a young age?� he demanded as he sat down at his desk and began to pull his shoes and socks off.

�I am in love with Nell for many reasons. If you ask me to name them all, we�ll be up until four.� he said, still staring at the ceiling.

�Zac, don�t be foolish. You don�t love Nell. You�re only fourteen, you don�t know what love is yet.�

�Ike, if I�m old enough to handle thirty million dollars, I�m old enough to fall in love.�

�Is that what it�s up to? Thirty mill? Wow.� Taylor said, obviously impressed by their success.

�Yes, that�s what it�s up to.� Zac said, a little annoyed with Taylor�s lack of staying on the subject.

�You aren�t old enough to know what love is and you aren�t handling that money, our accountant is.� Isaac stated as he changed into his pajamas, not even caring that there were other people in the room and climbed up to his bunk.

�Just because you�re five years older than me does not mean you can tell me when I�m old enough to fall in love. And I�ve already done it anyway, so it doesn�t matter what you think.� Zac stated hautily. Isaac considered him for a minute, trying to figure out a tactic to get Zac away from these (what he considered) silly thoughts. He sighed heavily, giving up for the day and decided it was time to go to sleep. �Good night, you guys.� he mumbled as he slumped down into his pillow and closed his eyes.

�Night, Ike.� Taylor muttered, angry that Isaac was giving up so fast.

�You gave up too quickly on that, Ike.� Zac smiled and went to find a shirt to change into so he could go to bed. He found one, stripped to his boxer, and pulled the shirt on. �Night, guys.� he said as he laid down and buried his head in his pillow, shutting his eyes tight. He could faintly hear Taylor moving around before the light was turned out (he guessed by Taylor) and the sound of springs creaking could be heard from Taylor�s bed.

�Night, guys.� Taylor whispered as he laid on his side and closed his eyes. He stayed up half the night, listening to his brother�s quiet snores and racking his brain for a plan to get Zac back to his senses. He finally figured something out and closed his eyes to go to sleep.

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