I couldn’t believe it, I had turned eighteen and graduated from high school, basically I had made it through my adolescence. Plus, my dad was letting me go to Tulsa to move in with my best friend, Zac Hanson.

I was packing my boxes and emptying all my furniture, (my clothes were already in Tulsa except for the outfit I was wearing) when I got a telephone call.

“Dirbee, it’s Zac. I’m sorry, but my building burnt down, there was some kid being careless with a lighter. All of our stuff is burnt and you can’t move in until I find another place,” Zac said with a serious, but sad, tone to his voice. I just burst into tears; I wanted to get out of Virginia so badly.

“Dirbee!” Zac said almost yelling. “I’m sorry baby… I was just kidding.” I choked on my sobs; then started laughing.

“You bastard!” I said harshly, but joking. Zac was laughing hard.

“No, I’m ready for you, all of your clothes are sitting in my – our living room waiting for some furniture to put themselves in,” he said happily.

“Thanks hun, I gotta go, see you on Thursday with a U-haul,” I laughed as I hung up.

I told me dad I was ready to put everything in the U-Haul, he said okay and we started to move all my furniture to the vehicle that was already backed up to the door. I didn’t have much furniture, just a futon, recliner, bookshelf, and a small dresser, along with stereo and television. My room was basically a living room, but only because of the sound equipment. My electric keyboard, my three guitars, my bass, and all my sound equipment was in my sport utility that already had Oklahoma license plates on it. Oklahoma State thought I had been living there for three weeks already.

Once all my stuff was loaded up, I got in my Honda Pilot and my dad got in the medium sized U-Haul. I was driving from my old home to my new home and my dad was following, I knew the way very well. We drove for about 24 hours taking stops along the way. Finally I signaled to merge onto the exit that would take me to my new home. Twenty minutes later my dad and I pulled up into the apartment complex that Zac and I were living in.

Zac wasn’t home so I used my key to open the door. The note on the kitchen counter said there had been a band emergency and Zac would be back later that evening. So, I got my dad to help me move in. I almost couldn’t think about leaving my dad, he was my greatest friend ever. I got my whole room put together; pictures of me and all my friends and family on the walls and everything else.

Zac had painted my walls a maroon/cherry red color, which was really pretty, for a welcoming present. I put my guitars out on their stands and got my dad to help me set up the sound equipment. All of it was Sony because in my time of being friends with Hanson I had gotten a small record deal with Sony, they sponsored me and were getting me started. I had already gotten out two demo albums and two music videos. I was basically running my own business.

So, I had two small records out and the videos were to see if people would buy them. So far record sales had been good. I had had the song I wrote called, “Crush,” become number one on TRL for a week, before Linkin Park had come in and kicked me out of my place. So, I was working on my official album and Zac and his two brothers, Isaac and Taylor, were trying to help me as much as they could, even though they were working on their new album. My dad and I got my whole room set up and I was quite happy until my dad stated it was time for him to leave and time for me to start my new life.

“No, dad, don’t go yet,” I choked back my tears. “Come with me over to the Hanson’s to have dinner tonight, I’m sure they won’t mind setting another plate.”

“No, honey, it’s time for me to go, but I’ll see you at Thanksgiving right?” my dad replied.

“Of course dad,” I said hugging him and kissing him good-bye.

I walked him out the U-Haul and watched him drive away feeling like a part of me was dying inside. I stood there for a few minutes letting tears silently roll down my face; knowing now that my dad was definitely alone made my heart almost stop. I heard a rattling noise coming down the road and I knew it was Zac. He had a new car that was in great condition, but had had a fender that was loose and it made it rattle. Zac wouldn’t admit it though, he loved his car. He waved at me through the windshield, bent down to the floor board to get something. When he got out he had a dozen roses. I smiled.

“Hey sweetie,” I said running up to him and hugging him. “Band emergency my ass, you had a date, you chose some other girl over me!” I said sarcastically.

“What?!” Zac said surprised by my accusation. I motioned to the roses and he got a look of humor in his eyes. “Oh yes, my best friend is moving in with me, but I decided to go on a date and the girl gave me a dozed white roses, which coincidentally happens to be your favorite flower.” I laughed and he handed me the flowers, which were indeed my favorite flower. “Welcome home babe,” Zac said kissing me on the cheek.

We walked together into out apartment with his arm around my waist and my head on his shoulder. We were just friends, but we were, obviously, very close. I loved him and I think he loved me more than just a brother and sister, I felt like I would love him forever, but I knew better than to let that emotion show.

We walked in and he went back to my room and I followed. I set the roses on the small table next to my futon. Zac looked around for a bit nodding his head, and then turned to me:

“Very technical,” he said meaning all of my sound equipment.

“Thanks,” I said smiling. “Zac lets do something. My first night of freedom, pure freedom. I want to try something new, but nothing illegal.” I said even stunning myself.

“Well, let’s see here, something new, fun, and legal… let’s have sex,” he stated with a straight face.

“What?!” I snorted into my bottle of water. “Seriously,” I said with a straight face, after regaining my composure.

“Yeah, it doesn’t have to be tonight, but let’s do that sometime.” Zac said and I could tell he was serious.

“Alright,” I said agreeing. “I’ll tell you when though,” He nodded as did I.

Zac helped me tune my guitars, they were massively out of tune from the trip and not being played in a week, he also tuned my bass for me. Then we decided it was time to head to his parents house. It was about a half an hour drive, that wasn’t so bad, compared to my six day drive that I had just taken. I was ready to see the rest of the family.

Over the past year I had gone to see them frequently while Zac still lived there. His family had become my family. I loved them like they were my own family. Mrs. Hanson had become the mother I had desperately needed since my mom had died two year earlier.

When I first met Mrs. Hanson, a couple months after I had met Zac, I was very emotionally unstable due to reoccurring dreams I was having about my mother’s death. I was also manically repressive so no one knew I was upset, but somehow Mrs. Hanson had seen through my protective barrier and broke me down. She even let me cry in her lap.

She assured me that I could call her with any problem I had. So, of course I had called her on occasion, so naturally I was very excited when we were supposed to see her.

It was six o’clock on the dot when we walked in; we were greeted with an uproar of noise. Everyone was so glad to see us. I got hugs from the entire family, I was even handed Logan, Taylor’s baby girl which was Ezra’s little sister. I could tell no one had seen Zac either they were all asking him how he was and how our whole apartment situation was treating him. All thought Zac had had a band emergency, or so the note had said. I was sure he would’ve come to the new house and seen all these people. Only I didn’t bring it up, I didn’t want to think he was lying to me about anything

I couldn’t linger on those thoughts for long anyways, the house was loud and happy and it made my mind wander to other times. Isaac was there with his wife Alyssa and their son and daughter, Xander and Margo.

Taylor was there with his wife, Natalie, and their son Ezra and I, of course, was holding Logan their six month old baby. Xander, Ezra, and Margo were running around screaming accompanied by Zoe, Zac’s youngest sister.

Jessica was there with her boyfriend Chris. I could’ve almost sworn that she was pregnant; she could’ve been because Jessie was always the quiet rebellious one. I just couldn’t believe she was only sixteen.

Then Avery was there with her friend Samantha and they were sitting in a corner talking. Sam was eyeing Taylor and Avie was eyeing Chris, I thought that that was cute. I remember when I was that age and like that.

Then there was Mack, a complete Zac Jr., they had already immersed themselves in a game of Mortal Kombat 4 on the TV right in front of everyone.

“While you’ve been gone I beat your old record, so I’ll beat you!” Mack yelled.

“No chance squirt, no one can beat the king!” Zac yelled back. Mrs. Hanson poked her head out of the kitchen laughing:

”Boys stop yelling, there’s no need,” she said with a smile on her face.

I got up and held Logan tight to my chest as I lifted myself up from the couch. Taylor opened his arms willing to take his daughter from me. I handed her to him.

“Hey Tay!” I said happy to see him, “How’ve you been?”

“Ahh, you know, tired with Ezra over there and of course this little one,” Taylor said smiling down at Logan, brushing his hand smoothly over her red, curly hair. “How’s your album coming?” he remarked once again pulling himself from father back to business.

“Oh, I’ve got all my lyrics written and all of my guitar parts written, but I only have some piano parts written. I was hoping that you could help me complicate them.” I was a beautiful piano player, I could play absolutely anything, but I couldn’t write that well.

“Sure, not a problem, when you get ready just give me a call.”

”Will do,” I said walking away. I walked towards the kitchen where Mrs. Hanson was cooking dinner all by herself.

“Hi Mrs. Hanson,” I said extremely happy to see her.

“Hey Dirbee, how’ve you been doing?”

“Oh, terrific. I’m so happy to be here, thank you for inviting us.”

”Sweetie, that’s not a problem!” she answered my thankfulness.

“Do you need any help? I’m a whiz in the kitchen,” I said smiling.

“Sure, can you wash that lettuce for me and make a salad with all of that stuff over there?” she said pointing to a mound of salad ingredients piled on the island in the middle of the kitchen.

“Sure thing,” I said and got to work.

Mr. Hanson came into the kitchen and kissed his wife on the cheek. They whispered while I made the salad. I turned around to tell Mrs. Hanson I was done making the salad and when Mr. Hanson caught me looking at him he abruptly stopped talking. I immediately began wondering if everyone was keeping something from me, again.

“What?” I said a little impolite, but irritated.

“Oh nothing sweetheart, just parent stuff,” Mrs. Hanson said, but I could tell she was somewhat lying.

“Right,” I said suspiciously turning to take the salad to the dining room table.

Mrs. Hanson called everyone in for dinner once everyone was ready and we all joined hands standing around the dinner table. Mr. Hanson prayed and at the very end of his prayer he said:

”Please, dear Lord, grant health to the one person who needs it most.”

I felt a surge of electricity flow through Zac’s hand. I wondered who was sick in our group. I, once again, just let it go. The meal went by fast, lots of laughing and talking along with good food. By the end of the meal we were all full to the brim. We all retreated into the living room, sitting down and the adults drinking coffee, tea in my case, and the kids just around quietly playing Lego’s and just being lazy.

It was relatively quiet until Mr. Hanson struck up a conversation about cars. All the guys got into it while the women just sat and watched. I finally jumped in, if I knew about one thing I knew about cars. If you wanted to be apart of my family you had to know about cars, so naturally I never missed the opportunity to talk about them. The other women laughed at my tom-boyish side as I told Isaac he probably needed a new carburetor. When Taylor noticed that Ezra and Xander had both fallen asleep on top of Lego’s he stood up and announced that they should be going. Everyone who didn’t live there agreed. Zac looked at me and asked,

“You ready?”

“Yeah,” I answered, “I’m really tired. Thanks Mrs. Hanson, Mr. Hanson, I had a wonderful time,” I said redirecting my conversation.

Zac and I hugged everyone and said good-bye and set off. We got “home” and I immediately got a glass of water and headed to my bathroom to get ready for bed. I took all my migraine medicines, and pulled my long, curly, strawberry-blonde hair into a bun on the top of my head.

I washed the day’s make-up off of my face and put on my simple pair of pajama’s, red flannel pants and a tee-shirt.

I poked my head into Zac’s room to say good-night. He had his head in his hands. I cautiously cleared my throat and he looked up, he looked extremely pale and it worried me, but he started to laugh.

“What?” I asked shyly.

“Now I know what the real Dirbee looks like,” he laughed.

“Scary huh?” I retorted.

“No, you’re even more beautiful.”

”Thanks. I just wanted to come in and say good-night.”

”Night baby… umm Dirb,” he paused, “Can I sing you to sleep?” he asked surprising me.

“Sure,” I said more than happy to accept such a wonderful offer.

He walked me into my room and pulled back the covers and ushered me under them, then he pulled them up to my chin, just like my dad had done all of my life. Then he started singing a song that he had written for me.

”There’ll be a time for me to pass
But, please don’t let tears last.
I’ll forever need you.
I’ll forever make your sky blue.
I’ll forever give up Heaven for you,
I’ll forever love you,” Zac sang making tears stream down my face, I loved it when he sang that song to me.

“Good-night baby, I’m glad you’re here with me,” he said brushing a curl that had escaped my pony tail out of my face and kissing my forehead.

“Sweet dreams, I’m glad I’m here too,” I said drifting to sleep.

I’m a light sleeper so even when my door was shut simple things woke me up. Around midnight a sound kept waking me up so I went to the bathroom to take a sleeping pill. When I walked in Zac was sitting on the floor vomiting.

“Oh my god!” I said scared.

“Dirb, I’m okay, I just need some time,” he said turning his head away from me.

“No, I’m staying with you,” I retorted.

I quickly got a wash cloth and soaked it in cold water and placed it on Zac’s neck. I sat on the floor with him and gently rubbed his neck through the towel. He put his hand on my hand and his eyes told me thank-you.

He again threw-up in the toilet bowl while gripping my hand hard. When he was done I reached up and flushed the toilet and wiped his mouth off with another rag. I had gone through the same thing with my mom before she died of cancer. I didn’t want to get through it again, but I would if I had to.

“Zac, are you sick?” I asked praying for the answer that I wanted.

“No,” I smiled, “It’s not me,” I lost my smile.

“Well, who is?”

”It’s not my place to tell you. I want to, I just can’t.” I understood completely.

Zac and I sat in the bathroom until he was finished being sick. He got up and walked into his bedroom, I followed him and did for him the same thing he had done for me earlier. Only when I sang to him, I sang the song I had written for him.

”Nothing could ever take your place.
I never want to lose
The vision of your face
Life and love are all
That I have to give
But I’ll forever love and live
Just for you
Nothing will ever take your place.”

He fell asleep and I walked out of the room not shutting the door, all the while tears were streaming down my face. If he wasn’t sick, than who was? I wished that I could help him, but for now I would just stand by him, but for now I would just stand by him. I went back to my room and fell asleep with the door open. I wanted to hear any sound that came from Zac’s room.

I woke up to the smell of frying bacon and buttered toast. I got up and splashed some cold water on my face and walked out to the kitchen. I got a mug to make my usual morning tea. Zac even had the water boiling for me.

I made a cup of Earl of Grey, my favorite tea and sat down at the round table. Zac sat a plate down in front of me. I put grape jelly on my bread, I began to eat hungrily. I looked up at Zac and noticed that he wasn’t eating, he was just watching.

“You’re not eating?” I asked.

“No, I’m not hungry,” he answered.

“Well, if you’re not eating, then neither am I,” I said kind of immaturely, but he had to eat.

“No, don’t let me stop you, please, it’s your first breakfast living in Tulsa and I want you to eat it,” Zac said with begging in his eyes.

“Nope, thanks though, I need to get started working anyways,” I said as I got up and got my car keys.

“Where’re you going?” Zac said surprised that I was leaving.

“I’m going to see Taylor he’s going to help me with some piano stuff.”

”Wait, don’t you need your guitar?” Zac asked.

“No, Taylor’s got one that I can use,” I answered nonchalantly.

“Well, then you need music. Come on let’s write all that music in your head down to paper,” he said, it becoming apparent that he was trying to stall me.

“No, Zac, it’s fine where it is,” I gave him a serious look. “Why don’t you want me to see Taylor?”

“Umm… err…” Zac was thinking hard for an excuse. “Because I still don’t fell well and I want you here with me,” I knew that wasn’t it, but it was good enough.

“Okay.”

I sat back down at my abandoned breakfast plate and began eating again. I ate half of everything like I always did and got up. I started making a pot of coffee.

“Baby, what’re you doing? You don’t drink coffee,” Zac said surprised.

“I know I don’t, but I know that you do.”

”Dirb, please, I know what you’re doing, I just don’t want anything. I’m okay really, I’ll be fine, plus, I’m still full from last night’s dinner.”

“Zac how is that possible? I saw your dinner twice last night. You’ve got to have some energy. Please baby at least just drink some coffee.”

“Fine, just as long as you promise to stay with me. I just need you here,” he said almost begging me.

“Fine, just please, don’t scare me like you’re doing right now. I went through this with my mom and I can’t go through this with you. I need you in my life. I don’t know if I can go on without you,” I said as my tears hit the golden countertop in front of the coffee pot.

“Okay, just don’t cry. I need you too, and I can’t stand to see you cry. Just understand that I want to tell you, I just… can’t. Please, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, keeping this from you,” Zac said taking me into his arms and wiping away my tears.

I looked into his face to tell him thank-you and I realized that he was crying too, not just for me, but for whatever else was going on in his life. I took him hand and laced my fingers through his and pulled him into the living room and onto the couch. I pulled his face into my lap and let him cry. I rubbed his back and whispered reassuring things into his ear. He turned his body so that he was looking up at me. Tears were still streaming down his face. I wiped them away:

”I don’t want to cry, I really don’t, it’s just that I can’t imagine what’s going to happen to me after…” his voice broke away into sobs.

“Baby, please… I can’t stand this,” I was crying too.

“I just love you so much and I don’t want to lose you, but he other stuff is unbearable too. I don’t want to lose him either. He has big plans and he wanted something better to become of my life. I was never good enough to accomplish those things. I’ve just let him down and now he’s going to die and I haven’t been all that he’s wanted me to be,” Zac was pouring out his heart to me. I couldn’t handle it, but I had to for his sake.

“Zac, honey, what is it that you have to do?”

“He wanted me to get married, have children, start my own life, and he always wanted me to learn how to play the piano. I have to write him a song and play it for him on the piano.”

“Well, come on, let’s do those things. Let’s write that song for him. I’ll help you sing it.”

”Okay,” Zac smiled somewhat still looking up at me. We got up and went to my room where Zac sat down at my Kurzweil and began to play something that was beautiful.

“Wow, baby, that’s beautiful,” I sat down next to him on the piano bench.

“I wrote that when I found out he was sick,” Zac said playing the riff again. I started humming a melody line for the vocals. The music started flowing through my body and into my heart as Zac played the chord progression over and over and started adding onto it.

Lyrics began pouring into my head, but I pushed them aside. I knew who was sick, I wasn’t stupid the way Zac was acting, it could only be one person. The lyrics that my brain kept putting out weren’t good enough the person.

Finally after Zac played the certain part of the song at least twelve times the most perfect words come into my head and I began to sing them out loud.

“Together we sang in perfect harmony
Together we lived with that one line of melody
You became my rock, my staff
The music that’s flowing through my veins
When your voice is gone,
How will my song go?
You were the melody and
I am just mere harmony
When your voice is gone,
How will my song go on?”

Zac abruptly stopped playing, got up from the piano bench, and ran out of the room. I heard him run into the bathroom crying. He was going to vomit again. I ran after him sobbing.

He had shut and locked the door, but I could still hear him throwing up.

“No, Zac please!” I said as I weakly threw my fist on the door. I felt my knees buckle and my body slid down the door. I curled up in a ball against the door, sobbing.

The only time my mom had locked me out of the bathroom was the day she had died. She knew she was going to dir, but she hadn’t wanted me to see her die.

I knew Zac wasn’t dying, that memory devoured my heart.

About a half hour later, it seemed, I heard the bathroom door unlock and open. I felt Zac’s strong arms pick me up and I lay limply as Zac carried my back to my room. He sat me on the futon and sat next to me. I laid my head down on his shoulder as I had done so many times before. He wrapped his arms around me in a warm, loving embrace.

He was humming the chorus of the song we had just written. I felt tears flowing from my eyes. I felt like it was my turn to vomit. I moved my head so that I could hear Zac’s heart beat. It was beating fast, but, I like the feeling because I knew he was really there. Zac said my name, but I didn’t look up, I just said “mm-hmm,” to let him know that I was listening.

“Why are you willing to take care of me? I know you don’t want to, but you do anyway… Why?”

“Because I love you. There shouldn’t have to be such a question as ‘why’. You should just know that I do it because I care.”

“I just wanted to make sure before I went and said this next thing,” he paused and I sat up to try and read his eyes, but they weren’t readable.

“What?” I said getting nervous.

“Dirb, I love you. I’ve loved you since the day I saw you, when you walked into the office at your school and made eye contact with me, I knew you were right for me. Hell, I fell in love with your letter. I need you baby, please help me get through this.”

“I… I…” I stuttered through sobs.

“I knew you didn’t feel the same, I should’ve known better than to put myself out like that,” Zac said with anger in his voice. He pulled his arm from around me and stalked out of my bedroom towards his own. I did love him; I loved him more than anything. I followed him into his room and when I walked in, he was laying on his bed on his stomach. He was staring at the picture of me and him at my senior prom. I smiled to myself we had had a great night. He had freaked out when they had played Mmmbop.

“They still play this song? Geez, people never grow up!” Zac had yelled at the DJ.

The DJ had yelled back, “This is real music, you stupid kids don’t know anything about music!”

Then Zac yelled back, “For your information I wrote that song, so shove it!”

The DJ had tried to get our attention from there on out, but we ignored him until…

My mind was pulled from the memory by a frame flying at me. I caught and Zac, surprised that he hadn’t heard it shattering, turned abruptly and when he saw me he scowled.

“Zachary Walker Hanson,” I yelled.

”What,” he yelled back me rising from his bed, striding over to me, and getting in my face. I put my hands on both sides of his face pulled him in and placed my lips on his in a long kiss. “I love you too,” I said once I was able to speak again.

“What?” Zac stuttered.

“You never gave me a chance to answer back,” I said handing him back the picture of us and walking back to my room and I picked up my twelve-string guitar. I played the song I had written for Zac, but my throat was too knotted to sing it.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened. So, he did love me as much as I loved him. Why did I have to find out this way when were both so upset for the person that was dying.

Zac walked past my room and out into the kitchen. I stopped playing to hear what he was doing. I could hear him making himself breakfast. I grabbed my favorite book off of my bookshelf and I got my glasses.

I walked out into the kitchen and sat down across from him. When I sat down I smiled at him and he smiled back.

“What’re you reading?” he said trying to make conversation.

“’Spindle’s End’ by Robin McKinley.”

“Any good?” he asked with his mouth full of toast.

“Yeah, it’s my favorite.”

”Well, maybe I could read it some time.”

”Sure,” I said, glad he wasn’t so upset now.

“You know who’s sick, don’t you?” Zac asked me.

“Yeah, how’d you guess that I knew?” I replied.

“You wouldn’t have been able to write lyrics like that this morning if you hadn’t known. How’d you guess who it was?”

“You wouldn’t be acting like this for anyone else,” I said stating what I thought was the obvious.

“Oh,” was all he said, but he kept eating.

“I’m going to take a bath,” I said shutting my book and getting up.

“Okay, the towels are in the closet, between our bathrooms. Help yourself,” Zac said.

“Thanks,” I said as I walked away from the table. I got all of my bathroom stuff from my room and got a towel and washcloth then went into the bathroom.

I filled the tub with bubble bath, slipped off my pajamas, and got into the bath tub. I stopped the running water when the tub was full and just soaked for a while. About fifteen minutes later I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Dirb, can I come in?” as Zac spoke my hands instinctively covered up certain places on my legs. I didn’t care about him seeing anything else, but that.

“Sure,” I said kind of nervous about him seeing my scars.

“I was thinking,” Zac said sitting down on the closed toilet seat, not even noticing that I was naked in a bubble bath.

“Yeah,” I said hoping my voice didn’t quiver.

“Well, you said that you would help me accomplish my goals to please him. You proved that this morning with those song lyrics.”

”Go on.”

”Well, he also wanted me to find someone who loved me and I love her equally in return. He wanted me to have children and get married.”

”Zac, is that your form of a proposal?” I said anxious. I would give almost anything to marry him.

“No,” Zac said getting up. He pulled open the cabinet door under the sink and place candles all over the bathroom. Then he pulled out a Bic lighter and lit them all. Then he sat down next to the tub and pulled my left hand out of the water and dried it with my towel, I knew what was happening.

“This is,” Zac said pulling a ring box out of his jeans pocket. “Dirbee Rose Baxter, will you marry me. This isn’t because I have to, but because I love you and need to satisfy the craving of my heart,” Zac said making my mouth open and close in speechlessness.

“Yes, I will, Zachary Walker Hanson,” I said without thinking. He placed the ring on my finger. It had a while gold band and at least a half karat diamond. Surrounding the diamond was my birthstone, aquamarine for March. The rind fit my find perfectly.

I pulled Zac toward the bathtub, we began to kiss. He kiss moved to my neck and while he kissed me, I whispered “I love you,” over and over again in his ear. His kiss came back around to my lips and I willingly and happily kissed him back.

When we stopped kissing, Zac leaned back on his heals and just looked at me. My chest had become visible, because the bubbles had slowly started to melt away, but I didn’t care. I was looking at the man I was going to marry and spend the rest of my life with.

“Come on; get your ass out of there! We have a wedding to plan,” Zac said grabbing the towel from the floor and holding it up so I could step out into it.

“Now, turn your head,” I said.

“Oh, but baby, we’re engaged… come on!”

“Well, something’s got to be saved for the wedding night, right?” I retorted.

“Yeah, I assume,” Zac said with a pouty tone in his voice, but he obediently turned his head and I stood up and stepped out into the towel. He wrapped the towel around me along with his arms and he pulled me into a warm embrace and turned me around so that I was looking at him.

“I love you more than anything,” He said planting a soft kiss on my lips.

“Even your car?”

“Of course!”

“Even your new drum set?”

”Well… that’s a hard one!”

”Zac!” I said playfully hitting him on the arm.

“Of course hun!”

“I love you too,” I replied once again kissing him.

He walked me back to my bedroom and sat me on my bed, and then he walked to my closet.

“What in the world are you doing?” I asked.

“Well, someone with good taste needs to dress you,” he said nonchalantly.

“What? You’re saying I don’t have good taste?”

“No, no, I just wanna pick out your clothes… okay?”

“Fine! But, I’m supposed to be doing that for you,” I laughed.

“Well, I’ve had professionals teach me how to do this,” he said as he went on looking through my many clothes. He finally picked out a black pants suit, white collared shirt, and a black tie to go along.

“Why the fancy get up?” I said nodding my head towards the clothes lying on the bed.

“Well, we’re going shopping.”

”We can’t go shopping until we’ve got the major details planned, like where, when, and why. No scratch that, I know why,” I said while giving Zac a kiss.

“No, my beautiful darling. We’re going shopping for a wedding planner. You don’t need anymore stress.”

”I…” I started to protest.

“No, don’t worry; you’ll still get what you’ve always dreamed about, just not by your own hard work. Come on let’s go,” Zac said while leaving the room so that I could get dressed.

I put the outfit on and tied the tie in a British-style knot like my dad had taught me. I put on a pair of black boots and walked out while grabbing my keys.

“You’re not driving,” Zac said harshly.

“I know honey, but we’re not taking your car,” I said just as harsh. He laughed at me sarcastically and began to walk towards the door.

“ZAC!”

“What?” he said startled.

“Oh my god! I’m not ready to go!” I said running to the bathroom. I got my make-up bag out. I brushed my teeth and put my usual make-up on. I combed out my hair and put a small amount of styling gel in it so it would hold its natural curliness. I gave myself a positive look in the mirror, and then I looked down at my newest ring on my left ring finger. I couldn’t believe that my love fore Zac had evolved into an engagement and after only kiss. I laughed to myself and walked out of the bathroom.

“Okay, I’m ready,” I said looking for Zac, he had dozed off on the couch, “Well, come on! Don’t lag behind,” I said raising my voice and Zac jumped up and laughed at me.

“Feel better all made up?”

”Why, yes I do, Mr. Hanson, would you care to escort an engaged woman?” I said in a British accent, it must have been the tie that inspired me.

“Well, I wouldn’t want her fiancé to find me, because I’m sure that he could kick my ass, but for a woman as beautiful as yourself, I would be willing to risk it to escort you Miss Baxter,” Zac replied in a British accent. We both just laughed and walked out of the apartment.

We walked to my car and got in, Zac started it up and pulled out and started to drive down the road.

“Zac.”

”Mm-hmm.”

”We’re going to plan our wedding and no one knows.”

”Well, here,” Zac said handing me his cell phone.

”Okay, but I’m not calling your family. You have to do that.”

”Okay, just call your dad and your friends.

“My dad? Oh my gosh, he can’t afford this.”

”I know; that’s why we’re paying for this wedding.”

”Zac, I don’t have any money either, except for a few hundred in my bank account.

“Yeah, but baby, my money is your money so we can afford this.”

“Thanks Zac,” I said leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

“No prob, babe,” Zac said looking at me and then refocusing his eyes on the road. I turned the CD player up which had Hanson’s newest CD in, Underneath Acoustic. Zac had given it to me for my birthday before anyone else had gotten it and I loved it! He had also invited me to the private recording in Tulsa and I went and sat right up next to him. I flipped to number four, “Misery,” Zac’s song. I loved to hear his voice.

”This song isn’t about you,” Zac said hoping he was clearing something up.

“I hope not, I hope you’re not is misery because we’re together.” I said smiling; I knew it wasn’t.

About twenty minutes later we pulled into a place that didn’t quite look like a wedding planner.

“Why this place?” I asked.

“This is where Tay and Nat planned their wedding.”

”Oh… but, they got married in Georgia.”

”Well, Ike and Alyssa planned their wedding here too.”

“Okay, I’ll agree to it since those were both beautiful weddings.”

”All right, aren’t you going to make your calls?”

”Right, I just wanted to wait until the car stopped.”

”Okay it’s stopped now call,” Zac said laughing at me.

I turned on the phone and the first person I called was my best friend in the whole wide world. My maid of honor and the closest thing I had ever had to a sister. I called Meredith Townsend, she was still living at home and I really didn’t want to talk to her parents. When she answered I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mer? Hey it’s Dirbee!”

”Hey Dirb! Are you in Tulsa?”

”Yeah, okay here come the news!”

”What?” she said getting excited.

“Pack your bags Mer, and come to Tulsa!” I said in my best announcer voice.

“Why? Dirb, what’s going on?”

”Well, you’ve got to be my maid of honor silly,” I said acting like it was no bid deal.

“WHAT!” Meredith screamed. “YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED? WHEN? WHERE? WHO?”

“Yes, I’m getting married, I’m marrying Zac, and you have to get over here. You can stay in our apartment; you have to plan with me.”

“You’re marrying Zac Hanson! Dirbee, what the hell? Why didn’t you tell me?”

”He proposed this morning and we have to get married as soon as possible.”

”Dirb, are you pregnant?”

”No, not yet. I’ll tell you when you get here. Just get on a plane, you know where we live. The key is in the light if we’re not back, okay? Just hurry.”

”Dirbee, my parents won’t let me. I…”

”Mer, I don’t give a damn about your parents, this is my wedding. Now come on!” I yelled into the phone.

“All right already! I’m coming! See you tonight!” Meredith yelled back. I gave the phone back to Zac who called his mom.

“Hey mom,” Zac said.

“Hey baby, what’s going on?”

”Mom, I’m getting married,” Zac spit out.

“Zachary what?”

”Mom, I’m getting married,” Zac said slowly.

“To who?”

”Dirbee mom, who else?”

”Well, okay I know who, but why so fast?”

”Mom, you know that too.”

“Oh, okay, I understand baby.”

”Well, we want Zoe to be the flower girl and Jessie and Avie to be bridesmaids,” Zac said looking at me. I nodded in agreement. “I’ll call you later about that. Can you spread the word to everyone?”

“Yeah sure baby, just tell me one thing. You’re not just doing this because… well, you know.”

“No mom, I love her and want to be with her forever,” Zac told his mom while taking hold of my hand.

“Okay baby, I trust you. She isn’t pregnant though right?”

“No mom, I’ll call you later, love you.”

”Love you too Zac, bye.” I heard his mom say through the phone.

We walked into the building and Zac told the receptionist that it was an emergency and he had to talk to Abigail. We were showed into an office just ten minutes later. I was introduced to Abigail Whitaker by Zac.

We sate down and talked about prices and such.

“We can afford anything she wants,” Zac told her. I was then asked to begin talking.

“What do you want your theme to be?” Abigail asked.

”White roses,” I replied instantly.

“Okay, we can do that. Do you have a priest in mind?”

”I have a pastor in mind,” I said emphasizing “pastor”.

“Okay, would you like to call him?”

“Yes, after we have some dates set.”

”Okay, so today is June 25 and you want to get married soon, how about Friday the 6th of July?” she asked.

“How about Saturday the 7th of July.”

”Okay, fine, where do you want to get married?” she said as I turned to Zac.

“You pick,” I said, I didn’t know the good churches in Tulsa.

“Alright I have a couple of places in mind. We’ll drive around later and I’ll let you pick.”

”Kay,” I said smiling at him.

“Then make sure you call me and tell me which one you choose,” Abigail said once again butting in.

“Sure,” Zac said before I could reply.

We began planning the wedding. I picked out all of the flower arrangements, candles, invitations, and such. Then it came to picking dresses and tuxedoes.

“I have some catalogs here if you want to look though and…”

”No,” I cut her off. “I have picture,” I handed her the pictures.

“It’s all on davidsbridal.com if you want to find them,” Zac said; we had talked a lot about my wedding. That’s how he had known I wanted Zoe for my flower girl.

“Sure, I’ll find them right now,” Abigail said.

“While you do that we’re going to go out in the hall and make some calls,” I told her.

“No problem,” she replied and Zac and I stood up. We walked out and Zac handed me the phone. I first called my dad.

“Daddy?” I said when he picked up.

“Hey baby, how’re you?”

“Great actually because I have a bit of news to tell you,” I stated uneasily.

“Dirbee, you’re not pregnant are you?”

“No silly!” I said laughing, “But I probably will be soon,” I said leading him on.

“What?” he almost yelled.

“Dad,” I said slowly. “Me and Zac are getting married.”

“I knew I should’ve never sent you out there. One day on your own and you’re off getting married to the guy that you’re living with,” my dad was happy, I could tell, he was just talking.

“Dad, you don’t understand. Someone Zac and I both love is dying and he always wanted to see Zac get married, so we’re getting married soon.”

“Oh,” my dad said simply. “When?”

“July 7th, we’re paying for you to fly up, round trip, first class,” I said looking at Zac, he nodded.

“Okay baby. I get to walk you down the aisle though right?”

“Yes, of course, see you soon. Love you.”

“Love you too, bye.”

“Bye.” I hung up. I was so unimaginably happy, my dad approved and I was marrying the one man I had ever loved. I looked up at Zac he was just staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

“I was just thinking the same thing as you,” he smiled. I reached up and kissed him.

“I was thinking, what if we made both Margo and Zoe flower girls and then we could have both Ezra and Xander as ring bearers,” I said.

“Okay, fine with me,” Zac said and we walked back into the office.

“Great! I just ordered everything. Dirbee, I didn’t know your size so I assumed that you were an eight,” Abigail said as soon as we sat down.

“Yeah, that’s right,” I said amazed.

“I also ordered bridesmaid’s dresses for Jessica and Avery, I know their sizes. I ordered tuxedoes for Zac, Isaac, Taylor, and Mack, I just assumed,” Abigail said, once again amazing me.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Zac said.

“About your maid of honor, she’s going to have this different style dress here right?”

“Yes,” I said, “She wears a size 6,” my maid of honor dress was apple red and it was a sleeveless empire dress with split front detail. My bridesmaid’s dresses were apple red as well and they were satin sleeveless ball gowns.

The tuxedo’s had the British style coat which was extended to the knee, and apple red vests with the apple tie. Zac’s coat was the same style except for he had a white vest and a black tie.

“And about your ring bearer and flower girl?” Abigail asked.

“Uhh, we’re going to have two of both,” I told her. Zac picked up his phone.

“Mom, what size dress down Zoe wear… umm-hmm. Thanks,” Zac hung up the phone and told Abigail the size. She ordered the dress. Zac dialed again.

“Hey Nat, quick question, what size tux does Ezra wear. Thanks,” Zac hung up again and told Abigail the numbers. Once again he dialed a number.

“Hey Ike, let me talk to Lyssa. Hey Lyssa, what size dress does Margo wear, uh-huh, and what size tux does Xander wear? Uh-huh. Thanks Lys, bye,” Zac reported in those numbers and Abigail clicked a few buttons and all of my wedding day outfits were ordered. I was definitely excited.

We moved on to play the reception; everything had white roses in it or on it. I picked a four-layer cake that was simply beautiful. I also picked the figurines that went on top and then Zac and I proceeded to pick all of the rest of the wedding stuff.

About three hours after we had arrived, Abigail, Zac, and I walked out the office, all three of us smiling. We had just planned a wedding.

I was getting married and it was for sure. Zac talked about some business stuff with Abigail’s secretary and we walked out to the car.

“Let’s go find where we’re going to get married,” he smiled at me as he started up the car. “I have four places in mind. Two are churches, two aren’t. Let’s go exploring.”

We started driving. We drove for about an hour. Zac showed me four beautiful places and in the end I had to decide.

I decided to get married at a church on the outskirts of the city. There was only one reason why I chose this particular place and that was because of the stunning stained glass window up front. The picture was a white rose and I figured that was perfect for my theme. I called Abigail and gave her the location of the church.

We then went back home, when we pulled in there was a rental car in my parking spot. I suddenly got even more excited than I already was.

“Mer’s here baby. She’s here,” I said grabbing Zac’s arm. “Okay, let’s situate this before we go inside.”

”Situate what?”

”Well, I’m gonna give Meredith my room and I’ll sleep with you. Then Mer and I will share the bathroom.”

“Okay, I’m game for sleeping with you,” Zac said and got out of the car.

When we walked in my best friend, Meredith, was sitting in the living room watching TV and eating something that looking like had come out of my refrigerator. I didn’t care.

“Hey clone!” I said excitedly, startling her.

“Hey twin!” Meredith said getting up and running over to me. We did our hand-thing instead of hugging and Mer spoke to Zac some, while I took her luggage to my room.

Seeing as I had just moved the day before I wasn’t that messy so I didn’t worry about cleaning up.

Meredith and I had been big fans of Hanson and even bigger ones ever since I had become friends with Zac. So, she had, naturally, met Zac many times, but she had never met Taylor of Isaac and she was in love with them, let me tell you.

So Zac and I invited Taylor, Natalie, Isaac, and Alyssa, along with their children, over to our apartment to have dinner on the following evening.

That night we went out to eat at the Applebee’s just down the street. Then afterwards the three of us went bowling.

To me and Meredith it was a good time for us to catch up because when we still in Virginia we went bowling every weekend.

But, to me and Zac, it was our first date as a couple.

We finally went home around eleven o’clock and as soon as we got in Mer and I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed and have a girl-talk.

“So…” Meredith questioned.

“So… what?” I answered.

“Have you shagged?” Meredith said using her much loved British slang.

“Meredith!” I said stunned, she wasn’t one to talk about things like that much.

“Well, have you?” she asked laughing.

“No, I do have my morals you know,” I said laughing.

“You didn’t seem to have morals in tenth grade when you slept with Kirt Jenkins.”

”Yeah, well, I was young and think of it this way. On me and Zac’s wedding night, I’ll know what I’m doing. I said giggling while pulling my long hair into a bun and washing my face and brushing my teeth then moving over so Meredith could do the same.

“Well, at least,” Meredith said mocking me.

“I’m going to bed, with my fiancé. You’re staying in my room. Good-night,” I said looking at the person I had always thought of as a sister, in the mirror.

“Night lover girl… go to your prince… go have your love take you…” I walked out laughing. I grabbed my pajamas from my room and went o Zac’s. He was already lying in bed, humming, and writing in a notebook.

“Whatcha writing?” I said while closing the door to the room.

“My vows,” Zac said looking up at me.

“Ooh, too bad I can’t read them, I hate surprises,” I said smiling.

“Yeah, me too… Oh, well,” Zac said looking down at the notebook and smiling at his own wit.

“Haha,” I said sarcastically and beginning to take off my shirt. Zac looked up and lifted his eyebrow and laughed at me, shook his head, and then went back to writing. Men were always like that when women started taking off their shirts.

Then I changed into the rest of my pajamas and slipped into bed. Zac closed his notebook and set it on the night-stand.

“I promise we won’t have another night like last night,” Zac said putting his arm around me and pulling me close to him. I thanked him while laying my head on his shoulder. We lay there for a couple of minutes talking while I drew imaginary pictures with my finger on Zac’s bare chest.

Zac turned out the light and he sang for a while until we both fell asleep… I couldn’t believe I was laying there all because of Taylor…

The next two weeks went by slowly, but they were very hectic. My dad flew in and took to sleeping on the living room couch. All of my wedding stuff had arrived and the day was rapidly approaching.

|<| |^| |>|