"I'm glad I decided not to go shopping," I said, putting my feet on the coffee table. "Knowing Celine, they'll be out all day."
Taylor laughed from across the room where he was doodling around on the keyboard. I had decided that since my girlfriend wasn't around, I'd watch some TV and wait for Taylor to tell me what was going on with him.
"Tay?" Jessica asked, coming into the room.
"Yeah, Jess?"
"I thought you guys put to rest that rumor about the band."
Taylor and I looked at each other. "Ummm....we did," I said.
"Then why are there angry fans outside, throwing rocks at my window?"
"Your window?!" I jumped up and peeked outside. Sure enough, there were Hanson fans outside. The signs bothered me most of all.
"Are you all right, Jess?" Taylor asked.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine! Thank God it's just us three here."
"Uh-oh," I said. "I think they saw me."
"Why do you say that?"
A rock sailed through the living room window. I jumped away. "Guys, they're rioting!"
"It's time to call the police, Ike. This is so out of hand!"
I ran to the phone and dialed the police station. When I hung up, I noticed it was quiet.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Jason came up the sidewalk and made everyone leave," Jessica reported.
I pulled Taylor aside. "I don't care if Zac's here or not. It's time to go public about this rumor."
"A press conference?"
"It's our best bet. Let's set it up for as soon as we can."
"I'll go call Zac and tell him what happened."
"Hey, Tay?"
"Yeah?"
"What's bothering you?"
Taylor turned. "Nothing's bothering me."
"So you can tell Gabby and not me?"
"Is that what this is about?"
"I'm not jealous, Taylor. I'm your brother. I think I have a right to know. You used to tell me everything."
Taylor sighed. "Jess, will you call Zac?"
"Sure."
As much as I wanted to know what was up with Taylor, I went to the phone to call Zac.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Jess. You sound bored!"
Zac laughed. "Aw, not really."
"We've got a problem. We just had a teeny riot here at Celine's."
"A what?!"
"Only a couple of windows are broken and everyone's okay, but Ike and Tay want to set up a press conference."
"I think that would be a good idea."
The press conference was set up for the next morning. We were only discussing the band rumor, since everyone seemed to have forgotten about my "pregnancy" and we certainly didn't want to bring that up again.
Zac wanted me to stay home and think about the rehearsal dinner, so Gabby volunteered to stay with me. All morning, we sat the kitchen table, with lists and menus and all sorts of things. By noon, we wanted food and were worried that the guys weren't back yet.
"Let's order pizza, Ellie," Gabby suggested. I finished scribbling on my paper, and, not wanting the break my concentration, agreed. Gabby went to the kitchen with a paper in her hand to order out.
"Psssst!" a voice whispered. I jumped and saw Hanson peeking in the room. "Where's Gabby?"
"In the kitchen..."
Zac ran over and pulled me into the living room. "What's going on?" I demanded.
"It's a secret and a surprise and be quiet!" Isaac whispered. He withdrew from his pocket a box. He flipped open the lid and I gasped.
"Are you going to...?!!"
"Shhhhh!!" Isaac said. "I'm waiting for the perfect moment, but when we were downtown, I saw this and had to have it."
"She'll love it, Ike," I said.
"Ellie? Where are you?" Gabby yelled. Isaac shoved the box in his pocket and followed me to the kitchen.
"Isaac! You're back!" Gabby said. Isaac went over to her and gave her a hug. "How did it go?"
"We straightened everything out," Taylor said, sounding relieved.
"Man, you guys were busy!" Isaac commented, his arms around Gabby.
"Yup. Weddings are special," I said. Zac laughed.
"We ordered pizza. We just didn't want to break our concentration," Gabby said.
But what she didn't know was my concentration was gone with one glimpse of her engagement ring to Isaac.
"She's gonna love it, Ike. Don't worry," I told him for the millionth time.
"I've got to hide it. She's in my room a lot. Where can I hide it?" Isaac asked.
"I know!" Taylro snapped his fingers. "She's never in Celine's room. We'll hide it there."
"Perfect." Isaac jogged across the hall to Celine's room. All five of us had decided to leave Celine's room alone unless she asked us to be there.
We poked around, trying to find a hiding spot, when we heard Gabby's voice. "Celine said it was in her room. Come with me."
"Oh, no!" Isaac said. "Quick, hide!"
I threw myself underneath Celine's bed. Isaac hid with Taylor in the closet.
"Okay," Gabby said. I could see Ellie's feet in front of me. "She said it was in her closet."
I groaned silently as Gabby threw open the closet door. "Guys, what are you doing?"
"Hey, honey," Isaac said. I looked out to see Isaac stand up and pull Gabby into a long kiss. Behind her back, Isaac handed the ring to Taylor, who gave it to Ellie, who tucked it away beneath a pair of Celine's shoes in a shoebox.
"Nice try, Isaac," Gabby said, pulling away.
"I can try again," Isaac said.
"We came up for a pair of shoes actually," Ellie said.
Gabby was looking at Isaac mysteriously when I crawled from beneath the bed. "I don't like the mystery, but Celine wants her golf shoes."
Taylor knelt and handed a pair to Gabby. I kissed Ellie goodbye and the two girls left. Isaac collapsed against the door with a sigh of relief.
"That was close, Ike," Taylor said.
"Knowing Gabby, she'll probably sneak up here to look through the closet," I said thoughtfully. "I'll tell Ellie to try and keep her away."
"Good idea. I'm hungry. Let's get a snack.
