"That's kind of, weird I think."

Grabbing a notebook and a back pack off the passengers seat, he shut the car door, walking across the lawn.

It was fairly dark out, and this night, there was no moon. The nearest street lamp was a good block away.

Almost making it to the porch, he tripped, finding himself sprawled on the ground.

Reaching over to find his obstacle, he picked up Zac's skateboard.

"Damnit!"

Pushing it away from the porch he stood again, climbing the steps and waiting.

He paused before opening the door. Inside, he heard giggles, and an occasional thumping sound. Someone was yelling at one point.

Cautiously sliding the door open, Dorin stepped in.

Jeremy turned around, plastering on a grin, and wincing as Zac stepped from the kitchen, water balloon in one hand, whipped cream in the other.

Jeremy was dripping from head to toe, and and toothpaste was stuck in his hair and smeared across his face.

"May I ask what on earth you two are doing?"

Jeremy grinned.

"Actually there's three of us, but Mey went upstairs to find whatever she could from the bathroom up there."

Dorin blinked.

"Don't look so surprised. Zac said I looked like a hanson, and that's way beyond punishable."

Dorin looked up to find Mercy screeching to a hault at the bottom of the stairs.

She smiled.

"Hi door."

"Mey?"

In one hand she held shaving cream, and in the other, mouthwash.

"Oh, well see, they woke me up in the midst of their little brawl, I just thought that since I'm the only girl in the house I need to stick up for my title."

She grinned once more, hoping to get Dorin's pardon.

The sight of the three, standing in the living room, dripping and covered in any thing smearable, was too much.

Dorin grinned and threw his things on the floor. Walking into the kitchen he still chuckling.

"I'm sorry."

"No your not."

"Okay?"

"Don't okay me."

"I didn't 'okay' you, I 'Ookay'd you."

"Whatever."

Mercy grabbed a handful of french fries of Taylor's plate.

"So what are we going to do?"

"What?"

Mercy gave a look of disgust.

"Lets see here, you have the house to yourself…"

"Not to myself, Ike and Zac are still there."

"Don't interrupt me, anyway…"

"Don't interrupt you, Hmmm. Your impossible not too."

"Excuse me? Huh? Whatever."

"Whatever."

Taylor flicked his hair back, immitating his girlfriend.

"Oh that was cute."

"You really think so? I was actually going for a 'I'm a prep' Look. Did it work?"

Mercy threw a half eaten fry at him.

"Anyway, back on subject. Your parents are gone, and you have NO plans?"

"Uh, no mey, remember, I'm the 'non' corrupt half of this equation."

"So then what's that make me."

"I would have to say the feminine half."

"Mmm. Too bad Feminine and Corrupt aren't really in the same boat."

Taylor sat back, Drink in hand and burger in the other.

"I don't know, maybe I'll be devious and…and….let you spend the night!"

"You're so so funny it's not even."

"That didn't really make sense."

"Did to me."

"Well are you talking to yourself?"

She giggled.

"We should probably run now you know."

"Sure."

Taylor stood first, setting his drink back on the table before helping Mercy up.

"Where to then?"

Mercy thought.

"How bout, Your house."

"I knew you were going to say that."

"How come you asked."

Zac and Jeremy stood, rags in one hand, hot water in the other.

"This isn't fair. Mey doesn't have to."

"Well you should have gotten out of the house before I woke up too."

"It's still not fair."

"Mey will get hers when she gets back."

Dorin grabbed his keys from his pocket and stepped out the front door.

Throwing himself back, and landing on the sofa, Zac sighed.

"I'm not doin' this if Mey doesn't have to."

"Zac, I have to do it too, so shut up and get it done before you get grounded or something."

Zac let out another sigh.

"Can I go to Han's place and then come back?"

"No. Speaking of which, where has your little clone been lately?"

"I don't know, every time I call his mom says he's not there. I'm gonna go call now."

Zac stood up, then sprinting to the wall where the phone hung.

Dialing the number, he sat and waited.

One ring.

Two rings.

"Han! Where the hell are youuuu."

Three rings.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ike, is Zac there?"

Isaac paused.

"Sorry, he's a little preoccupied at the moment."

"Oh. Can you have him call me back?"

"I'll see."

"Bye then."

Zac hung up the phone.

Slowly trapsing back into the living room, he flopped down once more.

"So? What's the verdict?"

"He's 'occupied'."

Jeremy frowned.

"Later too?"

"I don't know."

Pulling open the door, he peeped his head inside.

"Ike man!"

Dorin waited.

"Hellloooo?"

He heard footsteps.

Zac walked to the front door.

"He's in the back yard. He'll be in here in a minute."

Walking into the kitchen, Dorin followed Zac.

"Haven't seen you around lately."

"That's cause I haven't been around lately."

Dorin raised an eyebrow.

"How come?"

"None of your business."

Dorin was about to respond when Isaac walked in.

"Ike man, get ready! Were going to be real late."

"Hurrying!"

Isaac stepped from the kitchen, being followed by Zac.

"Faster Ike!"

"Go get in the car and I'll be there in a minute!"

Sitting on the floor, a sandwich on a plate in front of him, Zac sighed.

"This sucks."

Taylor and Mercy were out somewhere. Who knew where, who wanted to know where. Jeremy and D were at their house, doing something more fun then what he was doing at the moment, Isaac was out with Dorin, enjoying a club, and he was stuck at home.

Standing up, he stretched, then proceeded through the house and to the garage.

Flicking on a light, he stepped onto the cold cement floor and closed the door behind him.

The garage was cold, colder then the house anyway.

Walking over to a stool in the corner, he sat, leaning up against the wall.

Why were things so different?

When they had first started out, just began, it had been so much different then it was now. Of course age had a little to do with it, but still.

Zac could remember the times when he and his brothers weren't even teens, even then, music had always had it's spotlight in their life.

Now though, it was different. When they had been younger, music had been something they just grew up with, something that they did, because they could. Now, it was something that they couldn't just walk away from, couldn't just walk away from. Enjoying was all part of the way they dealt with the fans, and the questions, and the lack of privacy. You had to enjoy this kind of work in order to continue it.

Zac closed his eyes.

It had almost been 3 years since their first album had hit the stands, hit the industry, and last but not least the fans. And since then it had been one screaming girl after the other.

Zac hadn't really appreciated girls then, but now, it took on a different meaning. Although, all the screaming, all the crying, and all the squeemish girls didn't really help the impression in his mind, they were taking on a more important picture.

Zac had to admit. It was fun, seeing your face on the cover of some world famous magazine, or walking down the street, and having some girl giggle because she recognized you. But was it really a crime, to go off and be normal. To go hang out with your friends, and try and get away from all that insanity.

No.

Music was something they had always done, and it was something they enjoyed enough to continue doing, but Zac couldn't help but notice the lack of interest in his band mates thoughts. He wasn't exactly motivated though either.

Zac suddenly popped up, realizing he must have been out there too long, because the goose bumps along his arm were pretty big.

Sighing one last time, he stood, looking at his drum kit, then blowing it off.

"Maybe some other day. When things aren't so weird."