"Hey babe, I missed you" he whispered into her ear.
"I missed you to."
"You ok?"
"Tay.....there were people at the airport, you know, the day Julie died......." tears started to form in the corners of August's eyes, but she blinked them away.
"Look at the page that's marked." she said, handing him the magazine.
"Ok."
Taylor took the magazine from her and flipped it open to the page. He quickly skimmed the article and glanced up.
"Don't people know the meaning of privacy?" he muttered.
"August, I don't care. I think the whole world should know. As long as you're here, and you're ok, then I don't care about whether or not people know."
August smiled up at him.
"Thank You Tay"
"For what?"
"For being so sweet"
"UGH! Would you two please get a room?!" said a slightly annoyed Zac.
"Why buddy? What bothers ya?" asked August, amused
"Everything you guys do! It makes me sick!" he laughed
"What, you mean stuff like this?" asked Taylor
He leaned down and kissed August on the lips. This just sent Zac into another fit. He started running around with his hands over his eyes, screaming.
"ZACHARY WALKER HANSON!! YOU STOP THAT THIS INSTANT! WHATS WITH ALL THE YELLING?!" yelled Diana.
"Sorry Mom"
"Zac, why were you yelling and screaming like a maniac?" asked Isaac
" Tay and August are being gross, all that lovey crap is making my stomach churn just thinking about it, yeck."
"Zac!" he laughed "I think you're jealous" he teased.
"Jealous of what Ike?"
"Of them"
"Yea right!!"
"Yea, that's right"
"You have got to be kidding!!"
"Zac, you'll be like that when you get to be Tay's age, and he'll do the same to you, and so will I, so there's no point in keeping up this conversation!"
"But Ike...."
"No buts Zac, just admit it!"
"Fine."
"Fine"
Zac scowled at his older brother and wandered out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk. He walked from the restaurant to the store next door, it was a candy store.
"Whoa. I gotta get Ike out here!" he thought
He hurried back to the restaurant and caught Isaac's attention. He motioned him outside. Isaac glanced over at his parents who were in deep conversation on what they were going to do about the magazine article. He glanced over at Tay and August. They were so engrossed in each other that a bomb could hit and they'd still be clueless. He looked over at his younger brother and sisters. Then he looked back to Zac with a questioning look, like "should I bring them?". Zac nodded and Isaac leaned down to Jessica.
"You wanna go outside?"
"Yea, sure"
"Ok, come on guys."
All four got up. Isaac picked Mackenzie up and onto his shoulders. He quickly led them outside, calling over his shoulder.
"We'll be outside!"
"Ok Ike, but put on your hat and glasses!" called Walker.
After they had left the restaurant, he turned to Zac.
"Dad wants us to keep our hats and sunglasses on"
"Ok"
"Now, what'd you want?"
"Candy."
"You always want candy. Where are we supposed to get it?"
"Next door" he said, pointing at the small shop.
"Ah, now I see...."
"Ike?"
"Yea Ave?" he asked, kneeling down. Mackenzie lifted his arms and Zac picked him up off of Isaac's shoulders.
"Can we go to the candy store?"
"Yea, that's why Zac wanted us out here."
"Ok, will you buy me some candy?"
"We'll see, ok?"
"Ok."
He smiled at his younger sister. She was so cute! He took her hand and they headed into the candy store. The sight before their eyes was unbelievable. Candy machines and candy dispensers lined the walls, and the smell of freshly made fudge hung in the air. There was music playing softly. Music that was very familiar to Isaac. He thought about it, but quickly shook it off.
"Mmm! This place smells really really good!" said Isaac
"Yea man, we could do some serious damage!" cried Zac
Isaac nodded, his mouth hanging wide open, they would be here for awhile. He started walking around the shop, gawking at all the candy. He grabbed a plastic bag and filled it up with all Very Cherry Jelly belly Jellybeans. Taylor owed him for this. Then he grabbed another bag and filled it with assorted jellybeans, chocolates and gummibears and gummiworms. After filling that, he went to pay for it. In the process, he had to pry Zac away from the window to the oven where the fudge was being made. He looked at his brothers and sisters. Each had their own bag of candy. This didn't include Zac, who was on his fourth bag.
"Hey Zac, that's enough, I'm not made of money you know!"
"Sorry Ike, but I just didn't know what to get!"
Isaac rolled his eyes, Zac gave a cheesy grin, Isaac couldn't help but smile.
"Ok, but that's your last bag! No more."
"Ok! Thanks dude!"
"Yea, I'm probably going to regret letting you get that much candy."
Isaac put all the bags onto the counter. There were 9 bags total. Isaac shook his head and opened his wallet. He tapped the bell on the counter, and an older woman walked out, she looked very familiar. She smiled at him and walked up to the cash register.
"My my, that's a lot of candy you're getting there" she smiled again
"Yes, well, he's addicted to sugar" Isaac laughed.
The woman laughed and began to ring up the candy. Zac was running around the store, but suddenly, he stopped to listen to the music.
"I love you more than anything...than anything...I do...and I'd give anything...and everything I have...just to be with you"
Zac ran up to Isaac and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Ike!!"
"What?"
"Listen to the music!"
Isaac turned his head so that he could hear the music better. His eyes grew wide.
"Ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course"
"Um, where did you get the music that's playing right now?"
The woman smiled.
"I got it back home. The song is called.."
"More Than Anything" Isaac cut her off. He took off his hat and glasses. So did Zac.
"Yes. How did you know that young man?"
"Because, ma'am, I sang that song, and my brothers and I wrote it."
The woman glanced at Zac and back to Isaac.
"Isaac Hanson?"
"Yes ma'am"
"Oh, you probably don't remember me! I'm sorry! I'm Mrs. Johnson, I lived next door to you until you moved to South America!"
"Mrs. Johnson! I knew you looked extremely familiar!" he smiled
"Is this little Taylor?!" she asked, referring to Zac.
"No ma'am, this is Zac. He's about 2 and a half years younger than Taylor. He's 11."
"My goodness! Zac! You've grown so much! And who are these little ones?"
"Well, this is Jessica, she's 8, this is Avery, she's 6, and this is Mackenzie, he's 3."
Mackenzie grinned. Mrs. Johnson smiled.
"How old are you now Isaac?"
"I'm 16."
"And Taylor?"
"He's 14."
"Wow. The little Hanson boys. I remember when you three used to run around the neighborhood and sing for people. My my, how things have changed. So what are you doing in New York?"
"Well, we're here for interviews."
"Interviews? What ever for?"
"Well ma'am, last summer, we got signed to a record company!"
"You're kidding! I knew that you boys could do it!"
"Well thank you."
"You're very welcome. Are your mother and father here with you? And Taylor? I haven't seen them for ages!"
"Yea, they're next door at the restaurant. I can go get them if you'd like."
"Yes, if you could, I'd appreciate it."
"Alright. Zac, take Mac back (hey, that rhymed!) To get mom and dad, and try to get Tay in here too."
"Okie-dokie, I'll be right back!"
Zac picked Mackenzie up and walked out of the shop. He quickly entered the restaurant.
"Mom!"
"Yes Zac?"
"We were next door in the candy shop, and there was music playing."
"Yes, so?"
"The music playing was Boomerang! Our Boomerang!"
"Oh my goodness!"
"And you know who the owner is?"
"Zac! How would I know that?"
"Sorry. Its Mrs. Johnson! Our old next door neighbor."
"My goodness! Kate?! I haven't seen her in ages!"
"Come on! Ike, Avery and Jessie are over there talking to her."
"Ok. Taylor, honey come on, we're going next door."
"Whats next door?"
"Candy shop"
Taylor jumped up and grabbed August's hand.
"Tay, why are you in such a hurry?" she asked
"Jellybeans!!!"
Everyone laughed.
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Index
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