"Where are my shoes?" Taylor called through the house as he crawled around the living room floor.

"Get off the floor Taylor, you'll wrinkle the tux," his mother instructed.

He looked up at his mom and held his breath as she bent down to search for his shoe. She had been acting so weird lately and everytime he was around her, he couldn't help but be scared.

"Where did you have them last?" She asked.

"I don't know."

"I found your shoes Tay," Isaac called from the hallway.

Taylor took this oppurtunity and ran to his room.

"Thanks," he mumbled as he pulled the shoes onto his feet.

"I don't want to do this," Isaac said as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"Me either."

"You know who's gonna be there, Tay? Brittany Daniels."

Taylor raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Hey man, it's your problem, not mine."

Fixing his tie once more, Isaac stood looking at his reflection. He didn't like what his hair was doing. He pulled it back into a ponytail and took a deep breath. Time to cut the hair, he thought. He pulled the suit jacket down and flattened out the pockets. He felt stuffy. He felt over dressed. He cocked his head and wondered if it was really neccessary to wear formal clothing. It wasn't like they were expecting him to come dressed to the nines. He was a rock star anyway, he could dress however he wanted. But the idea quickly fluttered away when he realized his whole record label was going to be there. Can't screw this up, he told himself.

"You ready to go?" Taylor asked standing up and heading to the door.

"Yeah," Isaac said following his brother.

The van was full when the whole Hanson family plus Peachy Warren took the short trip to the Island Records Banquet. Everybody was dressed up and everybody was uncomfortable.

"Isaac, make sure Zoe doesn't get any of her milk on her dress," Diana said.

Isaac looked down at his baby sister who had fallen asleep with her bottle in her mouth. He took the bottle and sat it beside the car seat for easy access.

The night was dark and the stars were bright. Peachy sat staring out the window at the stars. She felt like this wasn't her. She didn't belong in that car with these people. She belonged back in Tulsa with her annoying brother and over protective parents. As much as she hated to admit it, she wished she was back baby sitting. She couldn't stand being next to Taylor all day long with the feelings she had for him. He was sitting right next to her and his knee was touching hers. The fact that he was so close sent shivers through her.

She glanced over at him to see what he was doing. His eyes were closed and his arms folded across his chest. His lips were slightly open and Peachy found herself staring at them. She had kissed him before, but it felt as if she had never touched him. It felt like there was a sheet of glass inbetween them and she couldn't touch him.

He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"This is gonna be fun," he said sarcastically.

She smiled. "What am I gonna do there?" she asked.

"I don't know," he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, what do you do there?" she asked. She was frustrated at how cold he was being with her lately.

He wrinkled his nose and thought for a second. "I eat. Talk to people. Sit. Nothing much."

"They have the best cookies," Mackenzie exclaimed. "They have the kind with raisins and then with oatmeal, and some with chocolate chips. I love them."

Peachy smiled at Mackenzie, but frowned when Taylor moved his leg. She wondered if he did it on purpose.

"So who all is there," she asked him.

"I don't know," he said with his eyes closed.

She sat back and let it go. If he didn't want to talk to her, he didn't have to, she wasn't going to make him. She just wished he wasn't so rude about it.

They pulled into the parking garage and parked the van. Everybody got out, Peachy last, and walked to the elevator. Peachy walked alone. She had no desire to talk to anybody, about anything. She even found herself dreading this banquet. None of these people knew who she was. They could care less if she came, because they would have never known the difference.

"Wanna walk alone with me?" Isaac asked slowing down to walk beside her.

"Sure," she said. She grabbed at her skirt and pulled it up so she wouldn't step on it. She hated what she was wearing. Diana told her she looked fine, but the long black skirt and long sleeve shirt just seemed so informal. And the fact that the shirt was rather low cut made her even more uncomfortable. She couldn't wait till she got home so she could shower and change into her pajamas.

"My ex-girlfriend is here," Isaac said.

Peachy smiled. "Sounds like a problem."

"Yeah . . . kinda, not really. Just a little. I don't want to talk to her, at all."

"Well, aren't there a lot of people here? You can avoid her," Peachy suggested.

"I'll try," Isaac said. "I'll just hang out with you. Maybe she'll think we're going out, so she won't come over and talk to me."

"Yeah, maybe," Peachy smiled.

The banquet hall was full when they arrived. Peachy couldn't believe how many people were there. She looked around and saw all kinds of people talking, and dancing, and eating. She automatically felt like an outsider.

"Who are all these people?" Peachy asked Isaac.

"Uh, record label and their families. I think some musicians, and stuff," Isaac said scanning the room for any familiar faces.

Peachy looked at him nervously. "Don't go leaving me," she said.

"Oh, I won't," he assured.

Peachy replaced her nervous look with a weak smile. She watched as Taylor and Zac headed to the refreshments table, stopping to say 'hi' to some familiar faces. Every ounce of her being wanted to be with him.

"We'll go over here and see Jed. He's real cool," Isaac said leading the way to a small table.

Jed was sitting alone sipping his ice tea. Isaac walked right up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Hey man!" Isaac greeted.

"Hey," Jed said shaking Isaac's hand.

"This is my friend Peachy," Isaac introduced.

"Oh," Jed gave Isaac a sly smile, "just friends, eh?"

"Just friends," Peachy said. She looked out at the dance floor and saw Taylor dancing with Val. A sudden wave of nausea washed over her and she struggled to keep from falling down. She grabbed the back of a chair and sat down. Isaac soon followed. She watched Taylor with his arms around Val's waste, and her arms around his neck. That should be me! She told herself. Zac was standing nearby talking to a young redhead.

"So, they dragged you along with them?" Jed asked Peachy who seemed to be off in her own world.

"Uh, I guess," she smiled.

"These things aren't that bad, really,"Jed said sensing her discomfort. "As long as you just play the part. My dad is Vice President of the place, so I know all about that."

Peachy smiled. This guy was a head honcho's son. She didn't really know how she should act in front of him.

"I'm just gonna cling to Ike tonight," Peachy confessed to Jed. She glanced over at Isaac who was eyeing the refreshments table.

"I'll be right back," Isaac said standing up and walking across the room.

Peachy nodded and went back to watching Taylor and Val. They were now laughing at something and Peachy could feel anger swelling inside. Why couldn't Taylor just acknowledge her like a normal person. It seemed to her that all he cared about were the older "more sophisticated" girls.

"Everybody hates Val," Jed said to Peachy after noticing what she was doing.

Peachy looked at Jed and managed a smile. "Everybody but Taylor," she said.

"I can assure you, even Taylor gets annoyed with her," Jed said.

"I just don't get it," Peachy began. "I mean, she's in college for one, and she has a psychotic ex-boyfriend -"

"Oh, she told you about that," Jed laughed.

"No, I overheard her telling Taylor she had a restraining order against him," Peachy said.

"Yeah, he killed her cats. I'm talking mutilation. She got scared so she got a restraining order against him. That was about six months ago. She isn't really over him yet," Jed said taking another sip of his iced tea.

Peachy looked back at Val wide-eyed.

"So, do you like Taylor or something?" Jed asked. To him, it was only obvious.

"Yeah right, he's the biggest asshole I've ever met. One second he can be all nice, and the next it's like watch out," Peachy said glaring in Taylor's direction. She wished she could just admit the truth. That she did like Taylor. More than she knew. He was all she thought about, night and day.

"Peachy, I may not know you very well, but I can see right through you," he said with a reassuring smile.

Peachy just looked back at him confused, and scared, that he really did know how she felt.

"But you know he has a past right? I think I've seen him with more girls hanging on him than I've ever seen on anyone. He doesn't seem to care if they've got boyfriends either. And their age doesn't matter to him at all. Look at him! He's a hot sixteen year old guy who happens to also be a rockstar. He has more groupies than Kidrock."

Peachy sighed. Jed was telling the truth, she knew that. But it wasn't that easy. She couldn't just stop having feelings for Taylor. Besides, she had already known that stuff. She had even seen him with some of the girls. But right then, at that moment, none of that seemed to matter. She didn't care who he had been with, or what he had done. All she wanted was his recognition. She wanted him to treat her like he had been only a few short days before. The thought of tears crossed her mind but quickly disapeared when she realized it was no use. Tears would only make her look more childish, more girly, than she already was.

"Hey, Peachy, do you mind if I go dance?" Isaac asked as he approached the table.

Peachy looked up at him pleadingly. What was she going to do without him there?

"I don't care," she said granting his request.

"I won't if you don't want me to," Isaac said.

"Oh, believe me, I've seen you dance, I don't want you to," Peachy said with a smile. "But go have fun. I won't hang over you all night."

"Thanks," Isaac said patting her shoulder, and walking away.

Taylor sat silently waiting for Val to return with his drink when Peachy approached him.

"Anyone sitting here?" She asked gesturing to the seat next to him.

He only shook his head.

She sat down and realized he was totally ignoring her. "Why, all of a sudden, are you such an asshole?" She asked glancing over at him.

"I'm not an asshole," he defended.

Peachy couldn't help but smile. Was that a hint pleasure in his voice she heard?

"Oh come on Tay, I haven't talked to you since yesterday afternoon. You've been all over that Val chick."

Taylor ignored her remark. He looked around the room half expecting Val to walk up, and half wishing she wouldn't. He turned his head and looked at Peachy curiously.

"Well, it's not like you've been the perfect angel lately," he said.

Peachy smiled. She couldn't help but smile. The way Taylor looked at her when he spoke to her, the way she felt comfortable keeping eye contact with him made her feel all gooey. She had about a million butterflies in her stomach, and her heart was beating wildly.

"I am an angel," she said.

"No," Taylor said matter-of-factly.

"What are you talking about, you're a jerk, Taylor."

"You're a jerk."

"You're a bitch."

"So are you."

Peachy couldn't help but wonder if this was his way of flirting with her. Name calling seemed so juvenile. Couldn't he come up with something better than this? She had to admit though, that she was the first to start it. But everything in her wanted to haul off and hit him. The way he was acting was so annoying and frustrating.

"God! I hate you!" Peachy stood up and walked back over to Isaac.

"I hate you more!" She heard Taylor call after her.

Isaac was grateful the night was finally over. He hadn't had one run in with Brittany Daniels the whole night. He wondered if she had even been there. He stripped out of his tuxedo and slipped into shorts and a tank top. It felt so nice to finally get into something comfortable. He smiled at how comfortable he felt. He felt comfortable with everything. He didn't miss home as much anymore. He wasn't even mad at his mom anymore. She was actually trying to fix things. To Isaac, though, she was trying too hard. He remembered Danielle in the supermarket and smiled even more. 555-0110. He remembered the number. He glanced at the clock on the dresser and frowned. It was eleven thirty two. Too late to call her. But he knew he would call her. Tomorrow.

Taylor and Peachy crossed his mind. They liked each other, he could tell. Their way of flirting confused him, but it was cute none the less. It made him happy that they liked each other. A relationship is always best when they're your best friend, Isaac thought. He even wished he had a girl that was so close to him. Danielle would take time. He didn't want to scare the poor girl. She already thought he was weird enough, he was sure.

Isaac slid uner the covers of his bed and smiled. I feel better, he thought. Much, much better. He closed his eyes and peacefully fell asleep.