We faced the steps of the Breuden House—our new home for the next two months. “This place is moderately gigantic,” Liv cracked.

“Four floors, not counting the basement we redid over as a studio and the attic that we redid over as two more bedrooms,” Dave rattled off. We all stared at the German mansion. Frank pushed us aside.

“Can we have some help here please? Come on. We need to unpack today. Tomorrow’s our first concert in Germany and we need to get a good nights’ rest,” He told us. We each picked up a bag and followed him in.

“This is amazing! It’s all open balcony,” I cooed. I raced to the living room. “Is that a baby grand piano over in the corner there?”

“Why yes it is Natalia. You see, the company gets to set us up in beautiful accommodations if they want us to play Germany. The house is basically owned by EMI. Whoever plays Germany, even for a few days, gets to stay in this house. It gets a lot of use,” Scott explained. That was a lot of information for one little question, don’t you think?

“Is that your final answer? All I asked is if that was a piano in the corner and I got a history of the house. Thanks.” Scott smiled smugly and threw a bag to the ground.

“Anytime.”

Frank and Dave came in with the last of the bags. “Do you girls want a tour? You can pick out your rooms,” Frank offered. He led us down the basement steps. “We made this into a little studio. It’s got every musical instrument you could imagine. Oh wait, there’s no harp. Sorry. But we do have tambourines.”

“Beautiful. How many guitars do you have down here?” Liv asked, fingers itching to play with the Gibsons.

“Uhh…a substantial amount. The boys will show you later,” He told her and we followed him back up the steps to the first floor. “Here we have the living room—complete with baby grand piano--, kitchen and a bathroom.”

“There are numerous bathrooms in this house. And we’re going to need them all,” Clint joked. Ha ha. I don’t spend twenty minutes in front of a mirror trying to get my hair sticking up the right way.

“There is balcony on every floor, and it opens to the first floor. Just try to be careful that no one falls over the railing. Over the years, it has happened and the railing is starting to get weak.” Scott motioned to the open balcony. It was a very interesting house. The first floor was square shaped with two rooms. The cylinder of the next three floors was plopped on top of it, and the attic covered the top.

“Second floor has two bedrooms and a den,” Frank pointed the out and then began to ascend the stairway to the third floor. “There’s a bathroom on every floor. Up here is the master bedroom where Sheila and I will be. On either side are two more bedrooms. Four people will have to share, two to a bedroom, because we don’t have enough room. I want Scott and Bob on one side, Kate and Sara on the other. I want to keep an eye on you four.”

“What? Dad that’s ridiculous! You can’t do that,” Scott whined, right on schedule. Frank’s smart, he knew exactly what was going to happen before it happened.

“Bob, tell Dad that’s ridiculous,” Scott ordered. Bob, in his elated state has nothing to say at this point.

“I don’t really care. It’s not like we haven’t shared a room Scott. We have,” Bob murmured. Scott brushed his bangs away and crossed his arms in annoyance.

“It’s not fair Dad,” Scott whined. Kate nodded her head. “It isn’t. How come everyone else gets to have his or her own room and we have to share? I’m the oldest, I need my privacy.”

“Isn’t that too bad. You can get your bags later and unpack in the privacy that Bob’s losing as well,” Frank said. “On the third floor, there’s storage room, office room, and a master bathroom. It’s huge, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“There’s a hot tub and a shower. The bathtub is wonderful on cold nights,” Clint whispered to Liv. Yeah, and Frank is putting Scott and Bob together to keep an eye on them. I think there’s a problem here. Sara and Bob can contain themselves when asked. Clint and Liv can’t do it when begged. It’s amazing they keep their hands off each other now.

“Top floor is the attic, two rooms. If you don’t mind being so far away from everyone else, it’s really nice. There are stairs in the hallway that take you up there. They’re pretty sturdy, but we don’t need to go up there and look around.” Frank waved his hand in the general direction of the door. A phone rang in the house. All heads turned.

“Where is that coming from? Wait, there’s a phone in this room,” Bob trotted into the master bedroom. “Hello, Moffatt residence.”

TAL

“Gil! Give me the phone, come on man!” I shouted and tried to grab the cordless from my older brother, but he was obviously stronger than I. “Damn it Gil, give me the phone.”

“Shut up, Tal, it’s ringing,” He answered, and listened intently to the rings. A muffled voice spoke ok the other line. My brother mocked it. “Hello Mo-phatt residence.”

“Gil, who is it? Who picked up the phone? Let me talk!” I whined. Gil smacked me on the head and I fell back onto the couch. I gave up and closed my eyes.

“We’ve been calling all day. Did you just get in?” Gil asked. Well, obviously, dickhead, if they haven’t been answering the phone.

“What are you doing tonight? Oh packing right? What about tomorrow?” It had been months since we had seen our friends the Moffatts. We had to get used to not having them around. There weren’t a lot of people my age that I could hang around with, and Gil was always out with his older friends. He didn’t want his little brother tagging along. So whenever the Moffatts visited, Gil got to hang out with Scott, and the triplets and I got to do stuff together. I wasn’t alone anymore.

“We’ll come get you after the concert. I’ll take you to a club I go to. I can get you in. Don’t worry. I’m friends with people there.” A pause from Gil, a muffled voice, a pounding in my head. “Yeah cool man. I’ll be there at ten. Cool. Later.” Click.

“What did they say?” I asked, sitting up. The pounding got a little harder.

“Tonight they are packing and staying in. They’re ‘tired’. But tomorrow we’re taking them out to the club after their concert. Don’t make plans.” Gil ordered as he left the room. He called back to me over his shoulder. “Oh, that’s right, you never have plans.”

“Asswipe,” I muttered to myself. So high and mighty. Little people were step dancing in my head. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would making them go away.

SARA

“Check check,” Scott spoke into the microphone. “Misery is what I feel...” He sang out of habit.

“Sara, how much time do we have?” Nati asked me. I checked my watch.

“About an hour. In a couple of minutes we can go get ready. Why bored from watching the same performance day after day?” I laughed.

“No Natalia just wants to know how much longer till she gets to meet Tal and Gil,” Kate said.

“Oh I can’t wait! I love Gil so much! Hey do you think the guys will sing ‘If You Only Knew‘ for us?” Liv asked. I rolled my eyes.

“You’d think now that you are popstars you wouldn’t be such annoying teenyboppers,” Kate commented. I laughed.

“Oh sure Kate and you have just matured so much. If Taylor Hanson or Nick Carter walked in here you would be flopping on the ground screaming,” Nati fought back.

“I would not, I’ve met Taylor and aside from confusing him and Scott, I acted quite calmly,” Kate defended herself.

“Sure, uh huh. Right,” I agreed sarcastically, making Kate cross her arms in annoyance.

“Come on, its time to get changed now,” Sheila said as she ushered us backstage into our dressing room. We went through our clothes, each outfit not seeming good enough in our anxiousness to get the concert over with.

“What are we doing tonight anyway?” Liv asked. Bob was the only one that talked to Gil on the phone. He’s the one that held the plans.

“Rumor has it, “ Natalia started as she slipped on a pair of black jeans. “ That the Ofarim brothers are taking us out to some club. I know you and Kate will make fun of them all night, so you don’t have to stay with us. But most likely Bob and Scott will want to see Gil and Tal.”

“I don’t plan on staying. I’ll go do something else if I get bored. Or annoyed,” Kate said. She pushed her hair behind her ears and slipped on a pair of sneakers. “I’ll be waiting out there.”

SCOTT

“You’re all icky and sweaty now,” Nati said to Dave as we came off the stage. He chased her around the couch and hugged her. “NO! I’m covered in Dave sweat. That’s disgusting.”

“Come on, you love it,” Dave joked. I held back a choke. I don’t think anyone loves being sweat on.

“Here’s a towel, Nati,” I said and threw it to her.

“Thanks Scott,” She wiped Dave’s sweat off her arms and face. Nati chucked the dirty towel at Dave and it fell on his head. “You might want to use that.”

“Nati do you always feel its necessary to sit in our dressing room when we finish?” Clint asked. Yeah I was wondering that too.

“No, I just get bored with the other three and you guys are usually more interesting.” She put on one of Clint’s hats and lay back on the couch. “Now hurry up. I’m not looking.”

“It’s not like you haven’t seen us in our underwear, Natalia, but thank you just the same,” I said as we dressed as quickly as possible. We were all brothers to Natalia, even Dave, as much as he didn’t want to admit that. I wanted her to see how much Dave thought of her, but I didn’t think it was any of my business to tell her how to do things.

Someone banged on the door. “Hey! This is the police! What’s taking so long in there?” I knew who it was.

“Sorry. We’ve all got our hands filled at the moment. Come back in five minutes,” Bob shouted. I went to the door and opened it.

“Hey man what’s up?” Gil stepped in the room. I gave him a hug, in the usual guy way.

“Aww Kodak moment. Come on in, make yourself at home. Want something to drink?" Clint asked as he buttoned up his shirt.

“Yeah, Sprite?” Gil glanced over at Natalia, who was sitting quietly on our couch, playing Bob’s video games. Gil turned to me and whispered. “I see you haven’t stopped inviting fans up to your room, have you Scott? Who is this one over here?”

Natalia perked her head up. “Yeah, Scott. I’m just another fan right?” She said, smirking.

“Uh, Gil this isn’t a fan. This is the drummer for Nine Lives. Natalia, Gil, Gil Natalia,” I introduced them. Gil looked a little embarrassed.

“Oh, sorry. Is Nine Lives coming out tonight with us too? You want to?” He asked. Natalia nodded. “Tal’s over in the girl’s dressing room. He heard giggles and was drawn.”

Natalia’s ears perked. “Tal’s here too?” Oh god. I glanced at Dave, but couldn’t see his face. Maybe he hadn’t heard her. I wish she would be more careful with what she said.

“Yeah. Are we almost finished here? I’ve got three taxis out front waiting. Throw on sneakers, lets boogie.” Gil ordered. He opened the door for Nati and we followed her out.

Nati knocked on the door to the girls’ room, even though it was wide open. “We’re leaving. Frank said we can leave our bags here, he’ll bring it over to the house.”

Gil stepped ahead and poked his head into the room. “Hi, I’m Gil.” Liv rushed over to the door with her bag.

“Hi, I’m Liv. I love you. I have all your albums and you’re so inspirational,” She gushed. ”Hi Clint.”

Gil raised his eyebrows and licked his lips. “Hello to you too,” He glanced over to Clint. Gil stuck out his arm for Liv to take and they walked together to the elevator.

Clint looked like a surprised goldfish. “What the hell just happened here?”

“She left you, man. It’s a very common story. Gil does it a lot,” Tal explained. He and Clint followed Gil and Liv to the elevator. I waved to the girls to hurry.

“Do we have to go? Gil looks like a 12-year-old girl. No offence Scott, I know how he’s your best friend and all.” Kate criticized. I wasn’t offended. I just laughed. Yeah, I’ve noticed it before. If he was shorter I could probably pass him off as a younger sister.

“No you don’t have to go. I’m glad you trust me alone with my best friends at a German club. It’s a good step, Kate,” I knew that would change her mind.

“I trust you fully Bob. I’ll see you later. I’m going to go watch movies in the mansion,” Sara said seductively. Bob nodded.

“Ok. Walk me to the taxis?” He asked. Sara shut the dressing room door and we finally left the venue.

The drive to the club was annoyingly long. Somehow Gil had decided to take us to the discotheque two towns over. Being stuck in a taxi with Kate, Dave, and Bob is not my idea of fun. But forty minutes later, we were dropped off in front of "Nachner Dunkelheit".

“Welcome friends to my humble abode. I’m here almost every night. First round’s on me. Come on,” Gil motioned with a wave of his hand to follow him in. We obeyed quietly. The bouncer let us in no questions asked and the other people in line gawked.

“I’ve never been to a disco type thingy. What do you do here? Just dance and drink?” Kate asked. Gil offered her a beer. She just stared at it, then at me.

“Yeah, you dance, drink, talk, meet new people. Whatever. People do whatever they want,” Gil explained. He handed me a beer, then one to Tal. I remembered before Kate could – there is no drinking age in Germany. Kate looked at me intensely. I knew she didn’t want me to take the alcohol. I pushed it back to Gil.

“That’s ok. I’m cool. I’ll just have a coke and some of these here beer nuts,” I said stuffing a handful of the salty peanuts in my mouth. Kate smiled. She had won me over. For tonight at least.

Gil helped Liv onto a barstool. He hovered over her like ants on an open package of sugar. He was a playboy, taught me a few things about getting girls. He was interested in Liv.

Clint watched from where he and Bob were talking, two stools down. He nursed his Heineken and watched the couple’s every movement. He knew exactly what Gil was up to. I felt kinda bad for Clint, and I almost said something to Gil. But it was Clint’s problem, not mine.

Kate pointed behind me to where Dave and Natalia were talking. Well. Dave was talking. Natalia was staring intently past Dave’s shoulder at Tal. I tapped Tal on the shoulder.

“Yeah? What?” He asked. Tal was on his second beer, and already feeling the effects. I was going to tell him to go talk to Nati, but I figured Dave would get upset. I tried to think of something that I needed to talk to Dave about.

“See that girl over there with Dave? Go over and talk to them,” Natalia’s been staring at you for the past ten minutes.

“Over there?” He asked, pointing to them. Yes, you idiot. Could you move any slower?

I nodded my head and Tal smiled. He shuffled over with his drink, and Natalia smiled when she saw him going over. Dave didn’t look too happy, though.

Tal pulled up a chair next to Dave and Nati. Nati started to laugh and Dave even cracked a smile. Tal wasn’t as bad as Gil. He didn’t have as much experience or know how. But there was something innately mature and that was alluring to some girls he was introduced to. He’d never go up to a girl, no matter how much he liked her. That’s why I pushed him to talk to Nati. He’d never do it himself.

DAVE

“Oh my god. Absolutely,” Natalia agreed with Tal about...whatever. I had stopped paying attention. I felt like and idiot. She had forgotten I was even there twenty minutes ago. Now I was just sitting there, leaning on my elbow, watching them coo over each other.

I spaced out, glaring at the pulsating crowd dancing below us. Something caught my eye, and made me get up from them table to find out what it was.

The sweaty vibrating bodies danced in homage to the DJ. I scanned the crowd for the person. She was dancing between two guys… well bumping between them. I worked my way to her, palms remarkably un-sweaty.

When I got closer, close enough to see her face I froze. I knew her. It wasn’t that she just looked familiar. I knew how she was.

Tayla. Back from the past.

OLIVIA

“Ha ha ha ha ha! Oh Gil. Oh my god you’re so funny!” I burst out in laughter, half-natural, half forced.

He smiled so sweetly I could taste the honey. I was in heaven. Gil Ofarim was talking to me. Flirting with me. Touching my arm.

“So what are you guys doing now?” Since you still have to tour and stuff,” Gil asked. I racked my brain for the answer, mumbling to bide my time.

“Well, we’ve got one more concert this week. Then two next week and of course the European Billboards. We’re performing!” I exclaimed. That performance was going to be the climax of our career so far.

“That’s so great! We’re going to be there too. I’m giving out the award for best new Pop artist,” He said and pushed back his hair over his shoulder. “So I’ll see you there.”

“Mmm Hmm,” I smiled. Gil looked out to the crowd then leaned forward to whisper to me.

“I’ll be right back,” He said and got off the stool. He turned back to me and pointed a finger. “Don’t move an inch. Stay right there.”

I nodded my head and he walked to the back of the club, I guess to the bathroom. I sipped my Sprite and glanced around. Clint was looking at me and I felt a little guilty.

He had the saddest look on his face. Like his favorite toy had been broken or his pet ran away. He wanted to do something but he couldn’t. Or wouldn’t.

He saw me, and he came over. I tried to look busy, so he couldn’t see my guilt. Clint sat down next to me in Gil’s seat. He was silent for a moment, but then he spoke.

“So...how’s Jill?” He asked, his voice slightly tinged with contempt. I scowled enough for Clint to notice. “Oh shut up Liv. What the hell is going on here?”

I sat there, wondering whether to defend myself or apologize. In defending myself, I would accuse Clint of being suspicious of Gil and I. Gil is one of Clint’s friends, and wouldn’t try to take his girlfriend away, blah blah blah. I’d lose a little more of Clint’s love.

If I apologized, I’d concede that Clint had something to be suspicious of. Gil and I were flirting and I’ve hurt Clint by doing so. I’d lose a little more of my pride.

Lucky for me, Gil came back before I had to say anything at all.

“Hey Clint, what’s up?” He asked, standing next tome on my other side and brushing back my hair from my neck.

Clint gave me a look. I’d betrayed him, and he knew it. He wasn’t going to say anything to Gil or to me. He wanted to see what I was going to do. The future of our relationship depended on how far I was willing to let Gil go.

NATALIA

I was enthralled. I had been bored when Dave was talking my ear off; grateful when Scott sent over Tal; enthralled when Tal and I couldn’t take our eyes off of each other.

We sat, listening to the Eurotechno music. I really wanted to dance and I almost dragged Tal to the crowd.

If I hadn’t seen Dave with Tayla.

They were grinding, pretty intensely, his hands roaming her body. She was latched onto his neck with her mouth like a leech. She looked up at him for a second with her big stupid eyes and placed something on his tongue. Dave smiled widely and she began to suck on his neck again. The look on his face was pure ecstasy.

My own mouth dropped. For one second my mind screamed with jealousy. I wanted to jump the balcony and attack them. I wanted to peel Tayla off Dave and throw her to the side.

But Tal was right there, smiling serenely at me, completely innocent. I closed my gaping mouth and smiled back. I was suddenly nauseous. I needed to get out, get home, never see Dave again.

Tal spoke. “Hey, I’m getting kinda sick of the club. I don’t come here often and I’m realizing why,” He said, nodding his head towards the crowd and making a face. “But I don’t want to leave you here.”

He stuttered a bit. “I was wondering, and well, you’ll probably say no, it’s kinda stupid. But do you want to come home with me?” He asked, a bit unsure of exactly what was being said. I was quiet, maybe too quiet, as I thought of my reply. He mistook that quiet for offence.

“Oh God, I’m sorry if I offended you. You don’t have to come,” He apologized. I shook my head and smiled.

“No really, don’t worry about it. I’d love to go with you. I’m not offended,” I comforted him. He grinned and I went to tell Kate I was leaving.

“Where are you going? Back to the mansion?” She asked, looking back at Tal, who was standing a few feet away.

“Um, no. Tal and I are going...uh...back to his house for a while. I’ll see you later, ok?” I muttered, and bolted before she could object. Kate couldn’t keep me from doing what I wanted before; no way in hell was she going to do that now.

Tal and I left and headed for a taxi waiting on the corner. Our ride was fairly quiet, our eyes scanning the landscape outside our windows.

Tal’s hand found mine and he grasped it. I didn’t look directly at him when he took it, but I was grinning to myself. He kissed my cheek sweetly and sat back in his seat.

The taxi dropped us off in front of Gil and Tal’s house. Tal opened the door for me and flicked on the lights. Their house was moderately furnished; you might never have known that they were famous if you never saw the hallway laden with awards, both Gil’s and his father’s.

Tal took my hand and led me to that hallway. “Come on. I’ve got a TV and VCR in my room. We can watch movies.”

I smiled slyly and followed him in. Watch movies? Ok by me.

DAVE

My mind raced, my heart pounded, my legs shook. In my arms was Tayla. I never thought I would be dancing with her in a discotheque. I never thought she’d have her hands all over my body, mouth suctioned to mine. I never thought any of this. I just did what felt right.

We stopped to take a breath. Tayla’s face was flushed and she smiled, making her eyes dance. I kissed her nose and she giggled.

I leaned my head back in ecstasy. Something about being with a girl in full public view felt perversely good. Maybe it was the liquor, maybe it was the acid, but I felt I could go all night. Nothing could be wrong.

I let my hands rise under her shirt. Natalia would never do anything with anyone around. She’d swat my hand away or elbow me, mouthing “later” to my confused face. Everyone thought I went at the pace of a Grandma; no, I was fully on all the time, anytime. But Natalia didn’t like that, the control freak. She was too scared to let her soul take over completely.

So I let her be scared. If she was going to commit to her fear, so be it. I’d just get the milk from a different cow.

Tayla felt my hands and she gasped in delight. She was conveniently braless underneath her tight, tight tank top. Suddenly my pants were just a little too tight.

She knew all the right spots Natalia never bothered to look for. She licked my throat and rubbed the bulge just as soon as she noticed it rubbing against her thigh. I almost cried out (like anyone would have heard me anyway over the blaring music), but Tayla covered my mouth with hers. Her kiss was intoxicating. I wondered if Scott felt the same thing when he kissed her.

I held back my climax. My pants were tight and if I came right there, for sure I’d stain them. That would be embarrassing.

Tayla and I danced to the edge of the crowed. I may get off of PDAs, but I needed to get to a room before I burst. A hotel would suffice. I had spent most of the tour sleeping in hotel rooms. What’s another night in one?