Chapter 31: Cheating?

Isaac, Taylor, and Zac gathered in the common room the next day with their family. 12 suitcases were piled near the door. They looked around, making sure that they hadn't forgotten anything. They filed out of the room and to the elevator. Half went in one, half in the other, each carrying a suitcase, Zac was stuck carrying the baby bag. Fortunately, all the suitcases had wheels. They reached the lobby and hurried out of the hotel. A small crowd had gathered, and there were barricades up. They hurried to their van. They had two vans, one for the family, the other for the luggage. Once inside, the vans pulled away, heading for the airport.

"Almost there, Almost there." chanted Zac.

Taylor started laughing. He watched Zac as he bounced up and down, chanting. Mackenzie started chanting with Zac. Soon, everyone was chanting and laughing. They pulled into the airport parking lot and unloaded. The boys grabbed their suitcases and waited. The rest of the family headed in. A few body guards offered to take the luggage in. The boys agreed.

"Mommy!!!" cried Mackenzie.
"What honey?"
"I don't wanna go in."
"Why not?"
"I wanna go with dem." he said, pointing a chubby finger to his brothers.

Diana glanced over to Isaac.

"We'll take care of him mom, don't worry."
"Ok. Go ahead honey. But hold on to their hands ok? I don't want you lost."
"Ok. Thanks mommy!!" squealed Mackenzie as he ran over to Zac.
"Ok Mac. You gotta hang onto my hand. There's gonna be a lot of people in there."
"Ok, Zaccy."

Zac smiled at his little brother.

The bodyguards returned a few minutes later.

"Hey guys, there are a lot of girls in there. So, stay together. The airport security has a path cleared for you. There are ropes. But you gotta go fast."
"Ok Jason, thanks for that warning!" said Taylor.
"No problem Tay, its my job. You guys ready?"

The boys nodded. They began walking. They reached the doors and took a deep breath. Zac's grip tightened on Mackenzie's hand. The screams started the second they came through the doors. There were hands grabbing at them, trying to rip their clothes. All of the sudden, Mackenzie's hand wasn't in Zac's anymore. Zac grabbed Taylor's arm, who, in turn, grabbed Isaac's and Jason's. Zac turned around quickly. Someone had grabbed Mackenzie, and he was sitting on the ground, holding his arm, crying. Zac ran to him and picked him up. Mackenzie put his arms around Zac's neck. Zac put his hand on Mac's head and began to run. Pictures were flashing everywhere. Zac was angry. He was very protective of his brothers and sisters. The boys ran as fast as they could to the gate. They rushed into the tunnel that went to the plane. Once inside the tunnel, they slowed down. Zac took his hand off of Mackenzie's head and looked at his arm. He had skinned his elbow. Zac kissed his head.

"You ok dude?"

Mackenzie looked up at him and nodded. His thumb went into his mouth.

"Ok, here we go. Are you going to sit by me or my mommy?"
"Cun I sit wif you?" he asked
"Sure."
"Okie." he laid his head on Zac's shoulder as they climbed onto the plane.

**In Tulsa**

"August, honey, I'm going down to the hospital to see your mom, and then I'm going to work, ok? I called Alex. She's going to have Chris and Amy come to keep you company, ok?"
"Yea dad, that's fine. Bye." she mumbled.
"Oh, and honey?"
"Yea dad?"
"If you'd open your eyes, I have something to show you."

August openned her eyes.

Her held out a box. She took it and openned it. It was a metallic blue colored pager. She looked up at her dad and gave him a hug.

"Wow! Thanks! Whats this for?" she asked.
"Well, its for if you go out somewhere, we can find you. Think of it as a ‘welcome home' present I guess."
"Cool! Thanks dad! Whats the number?"

Her dad pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, and gave it to her. She looked at it and nodded.

"Well, I gotta get to work. I'm going to drop the number by the Hansons' house, incase they need it. Ok?"
"Yea, ok. But they aren't home."
"I know. I'm going to leave it in an envelope near the door. I'll see you later."
"Ok, bye dad."

Her dad left, and she fell asleep again. Next thing she knew, she was being woken up by Chris and Amy. She opened her eyes a little bit.

"Hey guys."
"Hi." they said
"Sorry that I'm still asleep. I was up pretty late."
"Don't worry about it." replied Amy.
"Ok, give me 10 minutes. I need to take a shower."
"Alright."

August climbed out of bed, grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom. She turned around.

"You can watch TV, use the computer, whatever."
"Ok, thanks!" called Chris.

She nodded and walked into the bathroom. She shut the door and turned the water on.

Amy sat down on the bed and watched TV. Chris sat next to her. The phone rang. They looked at each other. Chris picked up the phone.

"Hello?"
"Chris?" asked the caller.
"Hey Zac, whats up?"
"I was lookin for August. Do I have the wrong number or something?"
"Nope, you don't have the wrong number. She's busy right now, can I take a message?"
"Um, sure. Tell her that Zac called from the plane. Tell her that we're on our way home."
"Ok, will do."

Zac snickered.

"And tell her that Tay loves her."
"Um, ok, will do. Bye Zac."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye."

Chris hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" asked Amy.
"Zac."
"Hanson?"
"Yep."
"Oh. What, you didn't talk to Ike?"
"Nah, I'll talk to him when he gets back."
"Ok."

They turned to watch some more TV. August soon came back out of the shower. Chris completely forgot about Zac calling.

**On the Plane**

Zac hung up the phone.

"That's weird." he said to himself.
"Whats weird?" asked Isaac, looking up from a magazine.
"I tried to call August."
"Yea? So?"
"Chris answered the phone."
"Chris.....Johnson?" asked Isaac, setting his magazine down.
"Yea, Chris Johnson."
"What about Chris Johnson?" asked Taylor, turning around.
"He answered the phone at August's."
"What?"
"He answered the phone. He's over there."
"Oh."

Taylor turned back around, a hurt look on his face.

"What's Chris doing over there?" he wondered.

He sat and though about this for the rest of the plane ride, which wasn't very much longer. The plane soon reached the airport, and the group got ready to leave the plane. They let the other passengers get off, then went the family, then went Hanson and Mackenzie. They were surrounded by bodyguards. This time, Taylor was carrying Mackenzie. Mac looked up at him.

"Tay? Waz wrong?"

Taylor looked down at him.

"Nothin Mac, don't worry."
"You look like you're gonna cry."
"I do?"
"Yep. Whas wrong? Are you sad?"

Taylor nodded. Mackenzie put his arms around Taylor's neck and laid his head on his shoulder.

"Don't be sad Tay-Tay. I wuv you!!!"

Taylor smiled.

"I love you too Mac. I'm sad about August."
"Why Tay?"
"We got in a fight."
"Why?"
"I was being a dork."
"Oh. You're good at being a dork Tay!" he grinned.

Taylor laughed.

"Yea, I know. But it made August sad, and she left."
"Is she coming back?"
"I don't know. I think we broke up, but I'm really not sure."
"You're broken? Can you fix it?" asked Mackenzie, concerned about something being broken.
"I don't know Mac. I guess we'll have to see."

They stepped out of the tunnel, into the gate. Girls started screaming, and Mackenzie plugged his ears. They walked quickly through the airport and to the waiting vans. They piled in and headed home.

5 minutes into the ride, Zac started chanting again. Everyone joined in.

**10 minutes later**

The chanting had grown to a climax. Everyone was eager to get home. The vans was driving past the neighborhood park. The boys' smiles grew. The van turned onto their street, and finally into their driveway. Once parked, everyone piled out of the van. Zac started running around, and he flopped onto the grass.

"Home!! I'm home!!!!" he shrieked.
"Zac, get off the ground." sighed Taylor, a small grin on his face.

Zac made a face and reluctantly stood up. He walked back to the van, where Isaac was holding his suitcase. Zac grabbed it and followed Taylor inside. Isaac followed Zac. The boys walked to the door, where Taylor noticed an envelope. It was labeled: ‘To: the Hansons, From: Jim & Liz Mayer.' He grabbed it and brought it inside. Once inside, the boys immediately rushed to their room, where, each of them, in turn, flopped down on his own bed. Taylor took a deep breath and smiled contently. He was glad to be home.

Back to Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-Two

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