Ding dong...

"I'll get it!" Zac yelled, getting up from the couch where he had been watching tv. He was happy for a distraction. It had been almost 3 days since Jayden had last seen Taylor, and the stress factor was growing steadily. After repeated requests from Walker, the media had left a few hours after their arrival. The last thing this family needs, Walker had said,is a bunch of reporters sticking their noses where they don't belong. Zac had been smart enough not to bring up the numerous articles & photographs of the family which, though they tried to discourage them as much as possible, seemed to leak out to press.

"Jayden... Woah..." Zac said, opening the door. It had become sort of a recent tradition. Every morning, around 10 or 11 o'clock, Jayden came over to the Hanson house. Her parents & brother had returned home the previous day, but Jayden felt more comfortable moping around with Ike & Zac,"Uh, how are you?"

Jayden brushed past Zac, then turned to face him,"Zac. Look at me. How do you think I am?"

Zac gave Jayden a quick glance-over. Her hair was pulled back in a hasty ponytail, with many scraggly chunks finding their way out of the elastic's grasp. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot & red tear stains were faintly visible on her cheeks. She hadn't even bothered to put on much make-up. At least her clothes were clean & neat, though her khaki pants & bulky blue sweatshirt weren't the type of color co-ordinating items she always wore.

"Uh, well not to be mean or anything, but you look like crap."

"Wow, Zac. Thanks." Jayden said sarcastically as she plopped down on the couch, making herself at home.

Just then Diana came in from the kitchen,"Oh Jayden, honey. How are you holding up?"

"I'm doing ok, thanks," Jayden stammered; Her son is missing and she's asking me how I feel?

Diana yawned slightly,"I'm sure he'll be back soon..."

"Oh, he will be," Jayden said, trying to reassure Diana. She looked even more rundown than herself, which was understandable.

"Mom, is it ok if Jayden & I go for a walk?" Zac asked.

Diana frowned,"A walk where?"

"Oh, just around the neighborhood," Zac said quickly, hoping not to stir up his mother's newly acquired level of overprotectiveness.

Diana gave a weak smile,"Oh sure, sweetie. Sorry I'm so paranoid, but-"

"I know, Mom. I know," Zac said, giving her a small hug,"C'mon Jayden."

Jayden groaned,"Zaaac, what if I don't wanna go? I look like... crap."

"That's right, Jayden. We already went over that," Zac said, joking,"but if I don't get you out & about soon you're going to be permanently stuck to that couch."

"What," Jayden asked, slowly making her way onto her feet,"is so bad about that?"

Grinning, Zac shook his head,"Come on, lazy bones."

"So what's up with this whole 'walk' thing?"

Zac turned to look at Jayden, squinting against the sun,"Meaning?"

"You can't honestly tell me you're out here for the pure enjoyment of the outdoors," Jayden mused.

Zac smiled,"Oh, you really have no idea who the real Zac Hanson is, do you?"

"What? A female in a male's clothes?" Jayden quipped with a laugh.

"Ooooooh, low blow," Zac said, laughing a little,"but honestly, I love nature."

Jayden paused in the middle of the sidewalk,"Serious?"

Zac nodded,"What could be better? You're surrounded by fresh air, the sounds of birds chirping, children playing happily & reminding us of the innocence & joy the world truly should be filled with..."

Jayden was genuinely surprised. It was rare that Zac, though Hanson's lyrics were amazing, talked with such soul and depth.

"Nature & I... We two are one in the same. Moving to the same rhythm, filled with the enthusiasm and spark of life..." Zac continued.

Jayden peered at Zac,"Not to be rude, but you are weirding me out in an Edgar Allan Poe meets Sesame Street sorta way."

"Ahhhh, Elmo, Big Bird, and I, we're like this," Zac said, crossing his fingers to show their tight 'bond'. He gave Jayden a loopy grin & nudged her forward.

A few moments of silent walking passed before Jayden spoke.

"We have to tell your parents. It's been too long & they should know..." she said quietly, hoping not to receive a debate from Zac.

Zac sighed,"But what good would it do? There's no vital info..."

"Why is it such a big deal for you? I know that if I ran away... or whatever... my parents would be grateful for anything at all," Jayden reasoned, scanning the street ahead before crossing.

With a heavy sigh, Zac replied,"It's like I, I dunno... feel guilty or something."

"Why? Because of the band?" Jayden asked, confused.

Zac shook his head,"No,nothing like that. It's just that we could've told them days ago..."

"Do you really think your mom & dad will be mad?" Jayden inquired softly.

Zac frowned,"I don't know... I mean, I think to some degree... but with all of the stress I don't want to imagine how they might blow it up into a huge deal."

Jayden didn't know what to say; she couldn't predict Mr. & Mrs. Hanson's reponse...

"Tell you what, I'll tell them with you, ok? I'll take the blame if you want," Jayden said, trying to make Zac feel more self-assured. His reaction was not what she expected in the least...

"And if I'm a good boy & don't cry too much, will I get a lollipop too?" Zac said with a childish tone, then turning to anger,"I don't need someone's hand to hold, you know. I'm not the little naive kid you think I am."

He quickened his pace, forming a large gap between him & Jayden. Breaking into a slow run, Jayden caught up to him.

"Zac! Please! I didn't mean to insinuate that!" Jayden pleaded, grabbing his arm.

Shaking it free, Zac replied,"'Insinuate'? Would you mind saying that slower & not use such big words? Us five year olds have a limited vocabulary."