Laurie Woodman flopped down on her bed one day and picked up the remote to her TV. She flipped to VH-1. "MMMBop" by Hanson was playing. It was at the part where Zac was clowning around on the back of the bus.
"I bet that was his own idea," Laurie thought to herself with a smile. She watched the boys play in the ocean, drive around, and rollerblade. After that, "Where's The Love" came on, followed by their Storytellers appearance.
"Hanson-A-Thon on VH-1," Laurie said out loud. Just then the phone rang. She picked up her cordless.
"Hello, Laurie's line," she said.
"Hey Laurie! Come over!"
"Zac? You guys are home?"
"Yeah, dude. We've been home for a few days."
"Liar."
"You know it."
Laurie grinned.
"Why should I come over?"
"Because we got a surprise to tell you about."
"Where are you now?"
"Look out your window."
Laurie walked over to her window. She pulled up the shades and screamed. Zac Hanson was on a cordless phone, pressed up against her window.
"Funny, Zachary. Next time you try that I'm going to tell Lucy down the street that you like her," Laurie threatened.
"You wouldn't do that, Laurie bear."
"You listened in on Ike and my phone conversations! You dork!"
"Ha ha."
"I think I should let him know about that."
"That's okay. Hey look! We're on TV! Sweet!" he said. "Come on over now. See ya soon!"
"But Zac..." Laurie started to day. She heard a dialtone.
"Dork," she muttered. She hung up the phone and put on her brown sandals. She went downstairs to find her mom.
"Mom, I'm going to the Hanson's," she said.
"All right, dear. They're back?"
"Yeah."
"Tell Diana I said hi and have her call me."
"Alrighty. Love you!"
"Love you too sweetie!"
Laurie pushed the door open and ran over to their yard. She saw Zac, Taylor, and Mackie outside. Zac saw her first.
"Laurie! What's up, homegirl?" he asked, flinging his arms around her.
"Not much, homeboy. How are you?"
"Fine and dandy. You?"
"Super de dooper."
Zac laughed and Mackie came up to Laurie.
"Hi Laurie!"
"Hey Mackers! What's happening, dude?" she asked, picking him up.
"Not much, Laurie bear," he said.
Laurie put him down for a second. "Who did you hear that from?"
"Ikey."
"Remind me to tell Ike to make sure that nobody is listening in on us when we have conversations," Laurie said. All of a sudden, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.
"Taylor! What's up? I missed you!" Laurie exclaimed. She hugged Tay back.
"Not much! I missed you too! How are you?"
"I'm great. How're you handling your new stardom?"
"Pretty good."
Laurie hugged Tay again. Suddenly she heard a deep voice from behind her. "Where's my hug?" it asked.
Laurie let go of Taylor. "Isaac!!!" She ran over to him.
"Laurie! I missed you!"
They wrapped each other up in a big hug. They gave each other a quick kiss. Then, Ike picked her up and spun her around. Laurie flung her arms out.
"Two months without you is too hard," Laurie said.
"You're telling me, " Ike said. He sat her down gently.
"Aww, Ikey poo missed his Laurie bear," Zac said without thinking.
"What did you say?" said Ike. Zac turned purple.
"Uh, nothing." He started to take off running. Ike caught him within seconds, because Zac was doubled over laughing. Tay and Laurie started to laugh too. It was great to be clowning around with them again.
"So, what's the big surprise?" Laurie asked.
The guys looked at each other. "Want to tell her, Zac?" Ike asked.
"Sure," he said. "I called this meeting to order to tell you that we're going to be on tour soon for three months!"
Laurie's stomach sank. She was happy for the guys, but they just got home, and they were going to be leaving again! "That's great guys, I'm happy for you," she said.
"But wait, we didn't tell you the best part yet," Taylor said. "Guess who's going to be going with us?"
"I don't know," she said.
"You!" he exclaimed. "You and your family."
"For real? Sweet!" Laurie said.
"It'll be great!" Zac said. "Getting to hang out with you guys on the road."
"Yeah. When does the tour start?" Laurie asked.
"I don't know. Tay?" Zac asked.
"I don't know. Ike?" Tay asked.
"I'm not completely sure," he said.
"In about three weeks," Diana said, coming outside.
"Diana! It's great to see you again!" Laurie said. She gave Mrs. Hanson a big hug, and she gave one back to Laurie.
"It's great to see you, Laurie! How's your family?" Mrs. Hanson asked.
"They're great."
"That's good. Taylor, Zac, I need you guys to come inside for a minute, please!" Diana said. Taylor scooped up Mackie.
"Come on, big guy, lets see what Mom wants," he said. The three of them went inside, leaving Laurie and Ike by themselves.
"Well, we're by ourselves now," Laurie said.
"I think it's time for me to give you a proper hello," Ike said. They wrapped each other up in a powerful french kiss. They didn't hear Zac, Tay, and Mackie come back out. Suddenly, Laurie felt wet. She broke away from Ike. Zac and Tay were holding Super Soakers.
"Oh you guys! I feel so warm and squishy inside! Group hug!" Ike exclaimed. He wrapped up Zac and Taylor. Laurie helped, and Mackie got in on it. Suddenly, Zac and Tay were wet, too.
"Auggh! Get off of me!" Zac exclaimed while laughing. Finally, they all rolled to the ground.
"What should we do today?" Tay asked.
"How about swimming?" Ike asked.
"Nah, since we're...." Zac started to say, but Tay clamped a hand over his mouth.
"What?" Laurie asked.
"Nothing," Taylor said. He took his hand off of Zac's mouth.
"Want to go rollerblading?" Ike asked.
"Nah, we just did that. Laser tag?"
"The place is closed because of repairs."
"Dag nabbit! How about bumper boats and mini golf?"
"Sure, we could do that. Anyone opposed?" Ike asked.
"Lets roll. Mackers, I think you better stay home on this one."
"Aww Ikey...." Mackie complained.
"Who is going to be the man of the house while we're gone?" Ike pointed out.
"Wickit," Mackie replied. The three boys laughed. Laurie looked confused.
"Wickit?" she asked.
"You didn't know we got a dog?" Zac asked.
"No I didn't!"
"Haven't you been watching TV or reading magazines?" he teased. Laurie just stuck her tongue out at him.
"All right, cut it out," Taylor said. Meanwhile, Ike was carrying Mackie inside. Ike came back out carrying a set of keys.
"Lets roll!" he exclaimed. They walked over to the car. Ike opened Laurie's door for her. She climbed in front. Ike backed the car out of the driveway and turned on their favorite radio station. "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls was playing.
"Sweet!" Laurie said. This was a favorite song of hers. Ike started to sing the lyrics. Zac and Taylor joined in. Laurie sat back and listened. The song ended and one by Eve 6 came on. Ike stopped at the stop light and fished through the glove compartment for something.
"Green light," Zac said. Ike looked up and stepped on the gas, then stopping himself immedietely.
"Zac! It was still a red light! Dork!" Ike said. Zac, Tay, and Laurie were laughing. The light finally changed. Ike stepped on the gas and they drove away. They pulled up at the mini golf place and pulled into a parking spot.
Ike leaned over and whispered to Laurie. "Brace yourself," he said. Ike slammed on the brakes.
"OW!" Yelled the entire backseat.
"Gotcha," Ike said with a grin. Zac and Tay ruffled Ike's hair. They all got out and got ticketes for go-karts. Zac had a blue one, Tay a red one, Laurie a green, and Ike a yellow. The guy signaled for them to go, and it was a race between the four of them. Laurie slammed into Zac's car by accident, Ike rear-ended Taylor, Taylor smashed Laurie in the side, and Zac blindsided Ike. At the very end, Zac's car was the last to pull up. He bumped into Tay's car, who bumped into Laurie's car, who bumped into Ike's car and sent the little tire thing shooting across the floor. The laughed. They hopped out and got into teams for mini golf. The teams were Laurie and Ike versus Zac and Tay. Tay and Zac lost, 68-44. Laurie and Ike celebrated. Finally, they had to go home.
"We'll have fun tomorrow," Ike said.
"Oh yeah? What are we doing?" Laurie asked.
"You'll see. I cannot tell, for if I do, they'll have to kill me," Ike said in a mock English accent.
"Ike!"
"Sorry Charlie."
"What should we do now?" Tay asked.
"Wanna jump on our trampoline?" Laurie asked.
"When did you get a trampoline, and why didn't you say anything about it?" Zac asked. Laurie laughed.
"It was an end of the school year present for my brothers and me," Laurie said.
"Oh okay. I guess since it was your last year of being publicly schooled?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah, basically. Mom's homeschooling us now," Laurie said. She saw the three brothers look at each other.
"Now what?" Laurie asked.
"You'll find out," Zac said with a smirk on his face.
Laurie blew her bangs out of her face. What, was it "Keep Secrets from Laurie day?" That was what it seemed like. Ike wrapped her up in a huge hug.
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon," he said.
"Okay, Ike," she said. They all ran over to Laurie's house and jumped on the trampoline until their legs wouldn't hold them up anymore. They all flopped on their backs and watched the sun set. Ike snuggled up nest to Laurie. That prompted Zac to do the same. Laurie started to laugh.
"Sorry, Zac man, but she's my girlfriend," Ike said.
"Oh yeah? Then you'll have to fight me for her!" Zac said, grinning. Ike and Zac pretended to fight, leaning over Laurie as they hit each other. Suddenly, a big thump hit the trampoline. Tay had gotten up and did a huge butt bomb, sending everybody flying in the air. Zac landed on Laurie who landed on Taylor who landed on Ike. Everybody started laughing as they rolled off of each other for the second time that day.
"Isaac! Taylor! Zac! Dinner!" Mrs. Hanson yelled from their house.
"Gotta go, Laurie. See you tomorrow!" Tay said.
"Bye Laurie!" Zac said. "May the force be with you."
"Bye Tay, bye Zac!" Laurie said.
"Bye Laurie bear," Ike said, giving her a quick peck.
"Bye Ikey," Laurie said, giving him one back. She watched the three boys run back over to their house. Laurie jumped on the trampoline for a few minutes, then went inside.
"Hey Mom. What are we doing tomorrow with the Hanson's?" Laurie asked.
"Hi dear. I can't tell you until after dinner," she said.
"MoM!!" Laurie complained.
"Sorry honey. Will you please set the table?"
"Sure. What are we having?"
"Chicken, corn, and macaroni and cheese."
"Alrighty." Laurie began to put plates out. Just then, Andy came bursting through the door.
"Hey Mom, hey Laurie, what's happenin?" he said.
"Hi Andy. Wash up for dinner," Mrs. Woodman said.
"Alright. How are ya, little sis?" Andy asked, ruffling Laurie's hair.
"Fine, why are you in such a good mood?" she asked.
"Because I'm going out with Katie Harrison," he said.
"For real?"
"Yeah, I asked her out today and she said yes."
"Cool, congrats," Laurie said.
"Thanks." Andy left and went and washed up.
"I'm happy for him. This is his first girlfriend he's had ever since we moved out here," said Mrs. Woodman.
"Yeah. He was really hung up over Emily," Laurie said.
Just then Mr. Woodman came in carrying a plate of chicken. "Dinner's ready!" Mrs. Woodman yelled. Mikey and Andy came clattering down the stairs. Mr. Woodman said a prayer, and they began to eat.
"Hey Mom, what are we doing tomorrow?" Laurie asked.
"I guess I can say now that everybody is here. Tomorrow, we're going to a water park with the Hanson's."
"Sweet!" Laurie said.
"Groovy baby," Andy replied.
"Shagadellic," Mikey piped up.
"Well, I guess everybody is okay with the idea," Mr. Woodman said.
"Yep!" The three of them said.
Everybody continued to eat with pretty much silence. All of a sudden, Grief, their golden retriever, ran in carrying his food dish.
"Hmmm, somebody forgot to feed the dog. Whose turn is it today?" Mr. Woodman asked.
"Mine," said Mikey.
"Go get him some food."
"But I'm eating!"
"Now, Michael."
Mikey got up and took the dish from Grief. Grief followed Mikey to the dog food and followed him back. He stayed right by Mikey until Mikey put the dish down. Then Mikey went back to eating.
"Mom, can I go call Halley?" Laurie asked.
"Sure, honey. Are you finished eating?"
"Yes."
"Go take your plate up and then you may call her."
"Okay. Thanks mom!" Laurie put her plate on the counter and ran to her room. She called Halley up.
"Hello, Green residence," Halley answered.
"Halley! It's me, Laurie! What's up?" Laurie asked, stretching out on her bed.
"Laurie! How are you?"
"I'm great. The Hanson's got back home today."
"Cool."
"What's new?"
"Dad's company isn't doing so great."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Laurie said.
"No, that's good! If Dad's company gets bought out, we'll be in Tulsa too!"
"You're kidding me."
"No! There's about 5 other companies he can go out to, Tulsa, L.A., San Diego, New York, or Chicago. Or else he could find another job out here. He asked what I would want to do and I said Tulsa! Wouldn't it be great, Laurie?"
"Yeah! Then we could hang out all the time!"
"It'd be great. Hold on a sec," Halley put the phone down. Laurie picked up a pair of drum sticks Zac had left over and started to drum with them. A few seconds later, Halley came back.
"Dad says hi. I gotta go now, but I'll call in a few days with an update."
"Okay. Bye Halley."
"Bye Laurie."
Laurie hung up the phone. She saw that Ike was in his room, strumming his guitar. Laurie called him up.
"Hey Ike! Guess what?"
"Hey Laurie! What?"
"Remember when you met my best friend Halley?"
"Yeah."
"She might be moving here! Isn't that great?"
Laurie could see Ike pause. "Uh yeah, it'd be great," he said.
"What, Ike? Is there a problem?"
"No, no, no. Everything's great. Um, I gotta go, I think I hear mom calling. I'll talk to you later."
"Well, okay. Bye Ike," Laurie said. She watched Ike turn off the lights in his room and leave. Laurie flopped down on her bed. What was wrong with Ike?
Chapter 2
Heading to Albertane
Kelly's Hanson Stories
