"What are you guys in Wisconsin anyway?" inquired Lori.
"Yeah, your tour doesn't start for another three months," Nicole put in, flaunting her Hanson knowledge.
"So, you've been to Hansonline," Zac speculated, lifting a finger.
The girls nodded proudly. Isaac imitated his little brother. "Yes, but not lately. You see," his voice took on a sophisticated tone, "it was updated today. We just announced that we're actually going to make a video for 'Man From Milwaukee.' Just for MOE members, though. Since of coure it's only a bonus track. It'll only take a day or two, and we've got a while off."
"It was the first time we were off since we made Middle of Nowhere, basically, and we were dying to make another video."
Zac interrupted both his brothers' bumbling. "So we're making a 'Man From Milwaukee' video in Milwaukee."
The girls all grinned sweetly and cast excited glances at one another. "Do you need any extras?" Shannon said.
"Nope," chorused Ike and Taylor.
Kim sat crosslegged next to Taylor. Since they were so cramped, Taylor's skinny knee rested on Kim's. Normally, she would be thrilled and totally giddy, but her whole leg and hips were quickly tingling and falling asleep. She yanked her leg out from under Taylor's and readjusted her position. Taylor smiled at her and mumbled a quick apology. "Don't you think you could make a few exceptions?" Kim asked, still obsessing over the part in Hanson's music video.
"Well, Taylor said, a hint of sarcasm rising, "maybe we could bend the rules for you, Kim."
"Hey!" Lindsey snapped indignantly, "we saved your lives!" she pointed to her two sisters. Kim became flustered. Taylor singled her out among the three Taylor lovers!
"We're just kidding. We would love to have you work with us, but we already have all our extras," Taylor explained sweetly. As if drawn by instinct, he located a bad of chips, but it was empty.
Kim grinned. Taylor is so much like they imagined him to be. "Outta chips, Tay?"
Embarrassed, Taylor threw the bad over his shoulder. "No, I eat when I'm nervous."
"I eat when I'm bored," Courtney offered.
"you must be bored a lot because you eat all the time," her brother commently snidely.
"True story," Shannon quoted Courtney.
Kim focused on the topic at hand. "I eat when I'm bored, too. Or just by habit." Isaac nodded politely, somewhat like how he would at an interview. "Whenever I get home, I get something to eat and do homework, watch TV, or go on AOL."
"If you want, you can get a box of crackers from the pantry," Shannon suggested, thumbing at the door behind her.
Courtney flinched but didn't get up. Everyone already thought she was a pig. Taylor slowly rose to his feet. "I'll go with you." Kim offered, following right behind him.
When they entered the back room, Taylor asked Kim, "Where's the pantry?"
To the right against the wall were shelves of food. Frequent lightning flashes from the tiny window at one side of the room showed them the way. Under the window was the washer and dryer. At the other side of the room was Mr. Saladen's workshop. Kim pointed to a large cupboard across from the shelves. They opened the cupboard and foudn the box of cheese flavored crackers. The small window shook voilently. It was going to break--when was the question. Before their eyes, the wind bluckled the fragile window and shattered it with a loud crash. The suction from a lot of wind coming through a small space made the door slam. Kim and Taylor rushed to the door. They could hear a scream and feet rushing to the other side of the door. Then Courtney yelled, "Who put the paper by the candle? the carpet is on fire!" Shannon felt overwhelmed and no longer in control. She pressed her back against the door in utter fear. Her house was falling apart!
Zac attempted to pound it out with Nicole's pillow. Lindsey locatd a half full ater bottle and threw it at the small flame.
"That didn't help, Lindsey," Courtney criticized. Jamie was crying furiously and hiding behind the bar. Zac picked up the bottle which had rolled to his feet and dumped it on the fire, which hissed in protest and went out.
Courtney turned around to find that she backed into Isaac. He had his hands on her shoulders the whole time. Courtney smiled nervously at him, but he was looking at wide-eyed Shannon. With one arm around Courtney and the other around the terrified Shannon, he and the two girls sat on the couch. Zac walked over to Jamie and embraced her. Having four younger siblings of his own, he knew exactly what to do when one cried. Lori and Nicole, both experienced with younger children, tried to clam Jamie down and make her laugh.
"My mom is going to be so mad," moaned Shannon.
"No," Isaac reassurred her, tightening his arm around her, "She'll just be happy you're alright." Shannon relaxed in Isaac's strong, comforting arm.
"Uh, guys," Zac said, "what about Taylor and Kim?" He, Nicole, and Lori ran back to the door. Jamie went over to the small couch and squeezed in between her big sister and Isaac. He squished closer to Courtney to give Jamie and Shannon more space. Courtney whipped a Kleenex out of the nearby box and handed it to Jamie, who thankfully took it and blew her nose.
"Kim, Tay! Are yu guys OK?" Lori and Zac yelled.
"Yes!" called Kim and Taylor in unison. Luckily, they were telling the truth. When the window broke, they both dropped to the ground. Taylor tried to shield himself and Kim at the same time. he did better shielding Kim, though. Taylor got a small cut across his right cheek. It wasn't bleeding, but it was bright red.
"Oh my gosh, Tay," Kim said in surprise. "You cut your cheek!" She gently touched his scrape with her index finger.
"I know. It stings." A warm breeze came through the window, blowing Taylor's long blond hair in front of his gorgeous, bring blue eyes. Kim was so scared and so grateful to Taylor for saving her from the shards of glass. Taylor seemed to see the fear in Kim's face. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Quickly, he pulled away, and they both blushed. "Want some crackers?" Taylor smiled and held up the box of crackers.
Kim laughed. "No, but I bet the others do."
"Stand back!" Zac hollered. I'm gonna kick the door in!" Taylor and Kim backed up, avoiding the shimmering glass.
