IF ONLY by Alexis Schuster
Every single time I see you I start to feel this way/makes me wonder if I'm ever gonna feel this way again/there's a picture that's hanging in the back of my head/I see it over and over>
Calysto looked at Taylor with the beginnings of tears in her clear green eyes.
"what?"
"I said I think we should see other people." Taylor said, looking guilty.
"why? Did I do something wrong? Is there another girl? What?" Calysto asked as the tears streamed down her face.
"no, its just..." Taylor trailed off. "look, Calie, I really think you're a great person, really, I do. I just can't do this any more, not being able to see you while I'm on tour with Ike and zac."
"well, then, I'll come with you. I'm almost ready to start my tour, I can-"
"no, Calie. Because as soon as you start your tour, we'll never see each other."
"but I-"
"look, I know this is hard, and I hate putting you through it, but, I have to. For both our sakes." Taylor rubbed his hands across his crystal blue eyes to stop the tears from overflowing. He pushed his short, dirty blonde hair out of his face and stood up from where he was sitting on Calystos couch. "I have to go. We've got soundcheck in half an hour for the show. I'll talk to you soon, ok? Please believe me, I honestly want to stay friends."
"alright, fine, whatever. Just go." Calie said as she wiped her eyes and tucked her brown hair behind her ear.
"bye." Taylor whispered as he kissed Calie on the cheek.
As soon as she heard the front door close, Calysto stood up and ran to the window. "I love you." She said softly as she watched Taylor drive away.
TIME OUT
Ok, let me give you some background here. Yes, we are talking Taylor as in Taylor Hanson here. He and Calysto(Calie), met backstage at a Hanson concert, and hit it off right away. They'd spent the last three years flying back and forth across the country to see each other, and talking on the phone. Calie had never told Taylor she loved him, and Taylor never told her that he loved her. Ooh, suspense. So, you see, if they'd have just said how they REALLY felt, they wouldn't have had to break up. But, they were both getting sick of boarding a plane every few weeks to see the other, despite all the free airline miles they were wracking up.
TIME IN
Calie's black back pack hit the passenger seat before she got in on the driver's side. She spent the whole car ride to the amphitheater listening to a Hanson CD and trying to regain her composure.
"ok, you can do this. Youre not going to see Taylor, you just want to talk to Ike." She said to herself as she got out of the car and slammed the door. It had been a week since Taylor had broken up with her, and the guys were still in town doing radio and TV shows, interviews, and concerts.
TIME OUT
Sorry, I"m back. I just wanted to let you know, that Isaac Hanson is 27 now, both Taylor and Calysto are 25, and Zac is 22. Plus, Ike and Calysto had become best friends, because, lets face it, you almost never find one Hanson brother without finding another near by. So, she was kinda stuck with him. Ike is also married to a girl named Angie, who is Calies agent and other best friend.
TIME IN
Calysto stood off to the side of the stage in the amphitheater watching Ike, Tay, and sac rehearse. They were in the middle of "In The City", one of Calie's favorite songs. She watched Taylor do his "Jagger strut" and tried not to laugh out loud.
TIME OUT
Again, I know, sorry!! I'm not explaining anything, but, were fast forwarding about an hour.
TIME IN
"I dont know, Ike. I just cant live without him."
"then tell him that. Here, tissue." Isaac said, handing Calie as tissue and then putting his arm around her.
"how can I tell him that? I dont know what to say or..." she trailed off.
"well, just tell him how you feel."
"what? I can't just walk up to him and be like hi, you're the love of my life."
"well, I never said say it like that."
"then how?"
"just sit him down and tell him how you feel, and wait to see what happens. Look Calie, I know him, he's my little brother. And I know what will get through to him. Music is what touches him most, but sitting down and telling him straight up whats going on is a very close second. You know he loves to talk, you can't shut the guy up."
"I wonder where he got THAT from." Calie turned to Ike and smiled. "alright, I'll talk to him. But I can't right now, I have to figure out what I'm going to say." Calysto wiped the tears from her eyes and rested her head on Isaac's shoulder. "thanks for being such a great friend." She said as she kissed him on the cheek.
"aww, shucks, it was nothin." Ike stood up and said "wait right here. i'll be back in a minute."
"um, ok" Calie said as she wondered what he was up to.
"hi, Im Han Hydro."
"what?" Calysto turned around and saw Ike holding his super soaker.
"nuh-uh. No way. I'm not doing this now."
"oh come ON, it'll be fun! You need a bit of cheering up anyway." Ike flashed a grin. "you know you want to!" he said in his Han Hydro voice.
"ugh, fine." Calysto stood up and walked over to the duffel on the other side of the stage. She opened the zipper and pulled out a huge squirt gun that was already full. "you planned this!" she looked at Ike in disbelief.
"well, yeah, I did." He shrugged. "I had a feeling you were going to drag your sorry ass down here and ask for advice."
"oh, I have a sorry ass, do I?" said Calie, putting a hand on her hip.
"well, kinda. Not that I was looking, or anything." Ike chuckled.
"oh yeah, well let me tell you something, mister. I have a NICE ass!!"
"oh really now, do you? You've been looking at yourself in the mirror again, haven't you?" Isaac shook his head and grinned.
"yeah right! I'm not as bad as you. 'do my hips look fat? Can you see my muscles in this shirt?'" she said, mocking Ike.
"sure, whatever you say. You know you love looking at yourself."
"I do? Well, let me show you something."
"ok, what?" Isaac walked over and stood in front of Calie.
"this, sucker!!" Calie let out a blast of water from the squirt gun.
"oh, you think that's funny, do ya?" ike chased Calie around the stage and sprayed her.
"oh bring it on!" Calie jumped off the stage and ran down one of the aisles.
"lets go! Come on, punk!" Isaac jumped down after Calie and ran behind her. When Ike finally caught up with Calie, he dropped his squirt gun and tickled her until she screamed.
"no!! no!! stop!! I'm serious ike! Stop, or you can't play on my next album!!" Isaac stopped right away and said "ok, ok, truce."
"ha ha! Sucker!!!" Calie sprayed him with water and ran back towards the stage.
"oh, you're REALLY in for it now!!!" Ike yelled as he ran after her, shooting water.
"hey, who's making all this noise?" zac walked out on the stage. "hey Calie! How are ya? You doing ok?"
"yeah, I'm fine, hi zac." Calie said, jumping up on stage and laughing breathlessly.
"alright girl, you are SO going down!" Ike leapt on stage and tackled Calie.
"hey! Ike! That's no way to treat a lady." Zac said, pulling Isaac off of Calysto. "you've got to treat her like this!!" zac said as he grabbed the squirt gun from Calie and started spraying her.
"hey now, what's up with that??" Calie stood up and ran away from Zac.
"yeah, that's right. Run away!" zac and ike both ran after Calie.
"Ike? Zac? Are you guys out here?" Tay walked past the stage from a side door.
"hi tay." Calie said as he walked towards her.
"hey Calie. How are you?" Tay looked at her gently.
"I'm alright." Calie looked at her watch. "hey guys, I've gotta go. I have to get to rehearsal."
"ok, well, call me if you need anything." Ike reached over and gave Calysto a hug.
"thanks, I will."
"and call ME if you need someone to make you laugh." Zac said, giving Calie a hug.
"ok, well, I'll see you guys later. Bye tay." Calie picked up her back pack and walked out into the warm June air.
"whoo." She sighed. "I'm glad that's over with."
TIME OUT
Ok, one more thing I need to explain. Calie's a musical artist. She's put out two albums, and has had HUGE success. Hanson size success. And she's still going strong.
TIME IN
"oh man. What a day." Calie set her keys and back pack down on the kitchen counter and pressed the Play button on her answering machine.
"hey Calie, it's Angie. Look, you've got a meeting with the Island/Def Jam people at 10:30 tomorrow about your next album. Other than that, youre completely free."
"whoo hoo! Free day!! Thank goodness. "The answering machine beeped and moved on to the next message.
"hey Calysto, its Ike. Just wanted to check up on you. Call me if you need me."
"what a sweetie." Said Calie, as she made hot tea for herself.
"hey Calie, it's Mr. Zacky!! Anyway, I talked to Angie, and she said you've got a free day tomorrow, so, do you wanna come jam with me? I'll meet ya at the amphitheater at 3:00. See ya then."
Calie lit the candles in her living room and turned on her stereo. She opened the book she was in the middle of, and started reading. After a few minutes, the phone rang.
"who can it be now?" she walked over to the phone.
"hello?" Calie said.
"hey Calie, its Tay."
"hey."
"uh, listen, I know that things were a little awkward today, but I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me on Thursday night? You know, the night after tomorrow? I talked to Angie and she said you're free. Not like, a date, but, just to hang out."
"uh, wow.. well, yeah, sure, I guess."
"great. Nothing fancy, just dinner."
"sure. I'll meet you at the amphitheater, ok? Or do you wanna pick me up?"
"I'll pick you up."
"Ok, great, Ill see ya at 7:00 then?"
"yep, see ya then. Bye." Tay said as he hung up the phone.
"great, dinner with my ex." Calie muttered as she hung up the phone. She sighed and walked upstairs to her room, which had Hanson posters all over it. She changed into her pjs, washed her face, brushed her teeth, climbed into bed, and shut off her bedside lamp.
"goodnight, tay." She said as she kissed her hand to the picture of her and tay on the beach in florida. She rolled over, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
I want to hold you and love you in my arms and then/I want to need you cause I need to be with you til the end/then I hear myself reply you"ve got to hold it in/this time, tonight>
"and the weather today will be nice and sunny, warm, with a high of 90..."
"oh lordy." Calie groaned as she rolled over and switched her stereo to CD. Led Zeppelin blasted from the speakers as she dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. Calie pulled on her jeans, her pink tank top, and her tennis shoes. She walked to her bathroom and turned on the facet. She splashed cold water on her face, dried it, and then put on a little bit of makeup. She ran a brush through her hair, and smile at her reflection in the mirror. Calie walked back to her room, turned her stereo off, and walked downstairs. She turned on the TV in the living room to the news, and listened as she made herself a bagel and yogurt for breakfast.
"and we have a special treat for you today. The rock and roll band Hanson is in the studio with us this morning. Hi guys, how are you?"
Calie walked with her breakfast and sat down on the couch in the living room to watch the interview.
"hi, were glad to be here." Isaac answered in his polite way. The reporter went on and asked questions, all of which Calysto knew the answer too. Hey, you don't hang out with the Hansons for three years and not learn anything.
"so, are you guys planning on bringing any friends on tour with you?" the reporter asked.
"well, a lot of your friends have actually just become part of our crew. They help set up and unpack our instruments and the set, and then help take it down again. They also help out with driving the busses and things like that." Tay smiled at the camera as Zac started talking.
"yeah, and, actually, our friend Calysto Knapp is just about to start her tour, so thats another one that you should check out. We actually want her to come and do sort of a double tour thing with us this time, but, we have to check it out with all her people and all our people, so its not final yet. We really hope she can come, but were not sure, so don't quote me on that."
Calie hadn't heard any of this- she'd been eating breakfast and packing her back pack for the day. She turned back to the TV just as the interview ended.
"well, so much for watching that." Calie switched off the TV and set down the remote. She picked up her bag, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door to her blue convertible.
TIME OUT
Alrighty, we're gonna fast forward about 2 hours.
TIME IN
"ok, so, we've got 15 tracks, and we start recording two months after the tour ends." Angie tapped her pen on her notebook as she spoke. "sounds good, thanks everyone."
"thanks Angie, and Calie. We can't wait to hear the new material." Tom, the Island/Def Jam executive stood up and shook Calie's and Angie's hands. As soon as he left the room, Calie turned to Angie and said "you wanna go grab some lunch?"
"yes, Im STARVING!" Angie picked up her purse and walked out the door with Calie.
"let's walk down to that café on the corner."
"sounds good to me." Angie pushed open the door of the office building and walked out into the sunlight ahead of Calie.
TIME OUT
Whoa! Fast forward again. Now, its 3:00, and Calie's on her way to jam with Zac.
TIME IN
"Zac? Where are you?" Calie called as she walked into the amphitheater.
"I'll be right there!" Zac called.
Calie climbed up the stairs to the stage and sat down on the stool that was in the center of it. A microphone was in front of it, and she idly started singing.
loving you like I never have before/I'm needing you just to open up that door..." she got most of the way through the song before Zac walked out from backstage.
"hey, you sound pretty good for not being in that band." Zac grinned and gave Calysto a hug.
"oh thanks, zac. So, are you ready to jam?"
"yep. Ike said you could use his guitars."
"really? Sweet!"
zac walked around and sat down behind his drums as Calie picked up one of Isaac's electric guitars. They played through about 10 of Calie's songs, and 10 Hanson songs and then sat down in the middle of the stage to eat the Chinese food that Zac had ordered in for dinner.
"hey guys! How was rehearsal?" ike asked as he and Tay walked towards the stage.
"hey! Rehearsal was good." Calie stood up and gave Ike a hug. "do you guys wanna eat with us? Zac ordered enough food to feed an army."
"sure, we've got nothing else to do." Tay said as he sat down, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and started eating. They all sat around for about an hour and a half talking, laughing, and eating.
"well, now what?" Isaac asked as he gathered their trash and put it away.
"how about some fun? I'll go get the water balloons." Zac ran off back stage and came back dragging a huge tub full of multi-colored water balloons.
"do you guys have an obsession with water or something? I mean, don't Walker and Diana go crazy when they get the water bill?"
"aww heck no, they love it. They join in half the time." Tay answered as he handed Calie and armful of balloons.
"ok, so, what are our teams?"
"oldest and youngest against middle, like always!" zac answered.
"no, zac... Calie, do you wanna be with me?" ike answered, while trying to remind zac about what had happened just a week before.
"no, no, ike, really it's fine. I like being on tay's team- he's got good aim and we always win!" Calie grinned at Tay and he smiled back.
"ok, well then, let's get this show boat on the road!" Isaac said and chucked a balloon right at Tay.
"oh come on, you're in for it now!! Let's go punk! You gotta ask yourself, do ya feel lucky??" Tay said, as Ike hit him with 2 more balloons.
"come on tay! Cut the chitchat, they're already three up."
"ok, ok, lets go get them!" Tay and Calie ran after Ike and Zac. Their screams of laughter could be heard outside the amphitheater long into the night.
TIME OUT
Ok, ok, I know, all this fast forwarding is making me kinda sick to my stomach too. But, hold still, we're going for another ride!! Whoo hoo!! Now, its the next day, and it's about 6:30, and Calysto's getting ready for her dinner with tay.
"you can't say I didn't give it I won't wait..." Calie sang along with her Hanson CD as she put her hair back into a half pony tail, held with a simple silver clip. She knew that tay loved it when she wore her hair this way, and she had absentmindedly starting put it up that way. Calie walked out of her bathroom, into her room, and slipped on her tennis shoes. She was wearing her khaki corduroys, and a black sparkly tank top. She had her orange turtle neck sweater from the Gap in her bag incase it got cold, wherever they were going. She walked downstairs and was reading her book when the doorbell rang. She got up, and walked down the hall to the door. She opened the door, and there on the step stood tay, looking perfect in a white button down shirt, and black leather pants.
"hey! You look great." Tay leaned over and gave Calie a kiss on the cheek.
"thanks, you too. Isn't that what you were wearing on our first date?"
"uh, yeah, I think so. I don't know, is it?" tay replied.
"knowing you, probably." Calie laughed as she picked up her bag and walked out the door with tay to his red neon in the driveway.
"so, what are we doing tonight? Where are we going for dinner?" Calie tried not to show how nervous she was- she still loved tay, and she felt kind of strange, like it was too soon to be seeing anyone again.
"nope, not telling. It's a surprise."
"are you serious?"
"yep. You have to wait. and uh.. we're not really going to dinner..at a restaraunt..."
"alright, whatever." Calie crossed her arms in front of her and tried to keep herself from laughing.
"well, here we are." Taylor drove into a parking lot, into a space, and turned off the car.
"so, where is here?"
"well, get out of the car, and I'll show you."
"uh, ok." Calie opened her door as tay opened his and looked around. "oh my gosh! Tay! The amusement park!! I havent been here for SO long!!" calie turned around and gave taylor a huge smile.
"well, what do you want to do first?" tay asked as he smiled back.
"um.. how about the Dragon?" the dragon was a roller coasted that looped 10 times. It was one of the funnest things on earth.
"lets roll!" tay grabbed calies hand and ran with her to the line in front of the ride's entrance. When they got on the ride, they strapped themselves in and waited for the fun to begin. They had a blast. They spent the whole night talking and laughing and going on rides. At the end, when the park was about to close and the last people were leaving, taylor and calie still walked slowly towards the car with their ice cream cones.
"look, I know that the last week has been kind of weird, I guess. But now I feel like were really getting to be friends again. There are so many things I wanna tell you and talk to you about, and now I feel like we can do that again. I really have missed you, you know. Talking to you and spending time with you. Its been a hard week." Taylor looked over at calie and smiled. "I know I'm kind of going back on what I said before, but, what would you think about being together again? I mean, I know its only been a week since we broke up, and I know that I've been really confusing lately, but, I'm so nervous about this tour, and, I would feel a lot better if I have you by my side, as more than a friend. So, that's why, I want to ask you, if you'll come on tour and headline with us. You play a set, we play a set, and then we play together. And I talked to Angie- and she said everythings ready to go. You just have to say yes. So, I'm really asking two things.. will you go out with me, and will you go on tour with ike, zac, and I?"
"oh, wow, tay i..." calie looked at the ground and thought for a minute. "yes!! I'd love too!"
"which one? Be my girlfriend, or go on tour?"
"both!!" calie answered and hugged tay tightly. When she finally let go, she saw that tay was looking at her like hed never seen anything more beautiful. Calie checked her watch and almost sprinted to the car.
"tay, its midnight! Angies gonna kill me if I'm not on time for rehearsal tomorrow."
"aren't you rehearsing at the amphitheater tomorrow?"
"yeah, I think so." Calie answered.
"well, then, it won't take you long to get there from your house. It's ok, don't worry about it. I'll call ya and wake you up. What time are you guys getting together?"
"10:00."
"ok, so, Ill call you at.. 8:30 to wake you up, ok?"
"okie dokie. Sounds good to me. Thanks for tonight, tay. I really appreciate it. And I know that I haven't exactly been all that easy to figure out this past week either. But let's not rush this "us" thing, ok? I mean, you know I really care about you, but I don't want to make any mistakes. So let's take it slow." They'd reached calie's front walk, and they stood on the doorstep.
"I totally agree." Taylor looked down at calie and smiled, then kissed her gently on the lips. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"ok. Talk to you then." Calie smiled as she watched tay walk back to his car, and then unlocked her door, and walked inside.
If only I had the guts to feel this way/if only you'd look at me and want to stay/if only I'd take you in my arms and say/I won't go cause I need you>
"good morning!!" calie heard zoe yell as she rolled over. It'd been a year since she and tay had gotten back together, and they were on tour. Again. Calie groaned as she heard zac talking to zoe in the bunk above her.
"look, zoe, it's really sweet of you to come and wake me up. But, could you not do it quite so loudly? I mean, tay and calie were up late talking last night, and I'm sure calie wants to sleep. She IS in the bunk below me, you know."
"I know mr. Zacky, I'm sorry! I'll go help mom get you guys' orange juice and bagels ready."
"ok, you do that. Hey, zoe."
"yeah zac?"
"I love you."
"aww, I love you too, man!"
calie smiled as she rolled away from the curtain of her bunk and tried to get back to sleep. The bus suddenly turned, and she was flipped over onto her back. She was too lazy to roll over again, so she just lay there trying to sleep. She must have dozed off, because the next thing she remembered, taylor was kissing her lips softly and whispering "get up sleepy head. you have enough time to shower and relax before sound check."
"aww, I'm sick today." Calie smiled as she looked at tay and saw him showered, dressed, and looking incredible, as always.
"nice try. Come on, up, up, or I'm gonna have zoe come in and tickle you."
"what a nice wake up call. So much for going back to sleep."
"no no!! mackie!!!! Ahhhhhhhh!" Taylor and calie laughed as they watched mackie chase zoe down the hall of the bus with his squirt gun.
"hey you two, come on, it's time for breakfast. We've got to let calysto get ready." Calysto. Her name was music to her ears when taylor said it. Everything he said sounded beautiful. Calie sat up in bed, narrowly missing hitting her head on the bottom of zac's bunk. She swung her legs over the edge of her bunk, and jumped down past tay's, which was below her's, to the ground. Considering that the bunks were only about three feet tall, she didn't have far to go. She grabbed the clothes that she'd laid out the night before, and jumped in the shower, singing the whole time. She got out, got dressed, blow dried her hair, and put her makeup on. Calie smiled at herself in the mirror, and got ready to begin another day.
TIME OUT
Ok, so, you can obviously tell that calie is on the Hanson Family bus. They had one extra bunk on the bus, so, she slept there instead of sleeping with her and Hanson's back up band, her drummer Bryce, and their opening act, Save Ferris. She liked living on the Hanson Family bus- she got to play with ike, tay, and zac's little brother and sisters, and she got the chance to spend a lot more time with tay. Which was really nice, because, before in their relationship(as you already know) they rarely saw each other for more than three days at a time.
TIME IN
"hey babe." Tay turned around and smiled at calie as she walked from the back of the bus up to the front, where the tables and kitchen were.
"hey sweetie." Calie put her arms around tay's neck from behind him and kissed him on the top of his head. She took a deep breath and sat down next to him. Tay handed her a strawberry yogurt and a spoon, and took one for himself.
"so, what's our plan for today?" calie asked.
"same old, same old. Soundcheck, lunch, relax, warm up, meet and greet, show. Amazing amount of variety, isnt there?"
"ah yes. Are we gonna do any site seeing while were here in new york?"
"I dont know, do you want to?" taylor asked.
"yeah, I'd like to show you where I used to hang out when I came to visit my dad."
TIME OUT
Calie's parents are divorced. They split when she was 1, and her dad moved to new york city and got remarried. Calie, her mom, and her sister stayed in iowa, where calie grew up, and went to school. She had just finished taking classes through the university over the internet, and her family as well as taylor's had been at her graduation.
TIME IN
"mmmbop! its a perfect day for that song." Calie stepped off the bus into the june air with taylor and company right behind her. She, ike, tay, and zac started singing the chorus of "mmmbop" a cappella, and sang it as they walked towards madison square garden.
"hey, guys, we should stop. People are looking at us funny, and when they look at us, theyre realizing that, its US." Isaac said from behind calie, tay and zac. Ike was walking with jessica and avery, talking with them about the guitar lessons he'd been giving them. Mackie was walking with taylor and calie in front, and walker and diana were in back with zoe.
"hey mom! Check it out! They've got a sak's fifth avenue here!! We've GOT to go!" avery looked back at her mom with a puppy dog look on her face.
"hey, avie, I'll take you and jesse after soundcheck. How's that sound? A girls' 2 hours out before we go site seeing?"
"oh man, that'd be awesome! Can we mom?" said jesse, turning to look at diana.
"well, sure, if thats cool with calysto."
"heck, I don't mind. I wanna go look in Sak's myself." Calie smiled at diana and looked back at jesse and avie. "alright then guys, its a date. We'll go right after soundcheck, and get some hot dogs from a street vender for lunch."
"alright!!" jesse grinned as she and avie started talking about shopping, and calie turned back to tay, and took his hand.
"you're sure you don't mind spending 2 hours with my sisters?" he asked.
"oh come on, tay, they're not that bad. I really like spending time with them. They're cool people. Just like you." Calie smiled and gave tay a light kiss on the cheek.
TIME OUT
Fast forward to about 3 minutes before the concert starts that night.
TIME IN
The roar of the crowd was deafening. Save Ferris had just gotten off stage, and the crowd loved them. Now, it was Calie's turn. She rubbed her hands together and blew on them to make sure they were warm enough for her to play her guitar. She peeked out at the crowd from backstage, and couldn't help but stare at all the people that were there. The place was PACKED. Like, to the brim.
"well, good luck sweetie. You'll be wonderful, I know it. You always are." Taylor said as he came up behind calie and wrapped his arms around her.
"and you, mr. Hanson, will be breath taking. Sweaty, but breath taking." Calie said as she turned around in tay's arms and gave him a quick kiss.
"well, I try." Tay smiled and kissed calie back.
"hey calie, its almost show time." Said calies drummer, Bryce, as he walked by her to the stage entrance.
"ok, thanks Bryce."
"hey, cal cal, good luck!!" zoe wrapped her arms around calie and then tay. "you too, tay."
"thanks zoe. I love you."
"I wuv oo too!!" zoe said in her baby voice, and walked off.
"calie! We're rooting for ya! You'll be awesome!" zac said as he walked up to calie and gave her a hug.
"thanks zac, you will too!" calie said.
"yep, I totally agree with zac." Said isaac as he walked over to where calie, tay, and zac were standing.
"aww, thanks." Calie gave ike a hug and then turned back to tay as ike and zac walked over to where walker and diana were sitting with mackie.
"well, I guess there's not much for me to say, but, I love you. And, good luck, even though you don't need it. You're really inspiring, and I know you'll be awesome. I'm so glad you're mine." Tay said as he put his forehead on calie's and kissed her.
"I totally agree, and I'd say that back to you, but I don't want you to sue me, because knowing you, you've got that copyrighted." Calie grinned.
"oh thanks a lot, smartass." Tay smiled and pulled his arms away from calie's waist.
"you're welcome hotcakes." Calie said as taylor blushed.
"hey! Cal! It's show time!!! They're cheering for you pretty loud out here!!" Bryce yelled over to calie from the stage door.
"ok, be right there!" calie yelled back. "I love you." She said to tay, as she walked towards the door where Bryce was standing.
"I love you more!" tay yelled to her just before she went on stage, and the crowd erupted in screams.
TIME OUT
Aww, how sweet was that??? Ya know, I don't think you could write a cuter scene, if I do say so myself. And I do! Ok, so, now, we're fast forwarding a couple hours to the end of calie's and hanson's set together. See, calie played a set, then Hanson played a set, and now they're playing together. Get it? Got it? Good.
TIME IN
"you guys are crazy!" taylor said into the microphone as the crowd cheered for another song.
"geez, youd think they never ran out of energy. Aren't you guys tired?" calie asked, grinning, as the crowd shouted back "nooo!!!!!"
"hey, check that sign out!" calie said, turning to look at taylor. "it says 'come to iowa soon! Cows love you!' how cool is that? Iowa rocks, man!!" calie smiled out at the crowd as ike introduced the next song.
"alright, well, we're going to sing this song for you. This is a song called 'In The City'." Isaac said, as calie set down her guitar and grabbed a mic. Tay grabbed his too, and they ran to the center of the stage together. Calie and taylor ran around the stage the whole time they sang "In The City". Calie ran over to ike and shared her microphone with him. Every time they sang the line "do you love me?" in the bridge, the fans shouted "yeesssssss!!!!!!!!!!!" it was one of the best concerts they had ever done.
I'm sitting, waiting, wondering, hoping, that I'll make this right/cause all I think about is your hands/your face, and all these lonely nights/there's a feeling thats screaming in the back of my head/saying over and over>
"ahh, home sweet bus. what a night. That crowd was awesome!" calie said as she sat down next to tay on the couch in the bus.
"yeah, really! They were so enthusiastic. They had enough energy for all of us!" taylor said as calie started to dry her wet hair with a towel. They were back on the bus with the rest of the crew after the concert, and ike, tay, zac, calie, and the other people in the bands had taken their showers and were relaxing before bed.
"well, now what?" calie asked as isaac walked past her and tay down the hall of the bus.
"hey, come play N64 with Zac and i. It's not as fun playing Mario Kart with only two people." Isaac stopped walking and turned to look at calie and taylor. "unless, of course, you two love birds want to be alone..." he grinned evilly and waited for them to decide. Taylor and calysto looked at each other and at the same time said, "we'll come play." They stood up, and walked down the hall to the back of the bus holding hands the whole time.
"hey guys! Just in time to play Mario Kart!" zac tossed calie and tay each a controller and restarted the game. "ok guys, get ready, cause I'm gonna whoop your butts!"
"oh right zac! Dude, no one is as good at Mario Kart as me." Calie said, laughing.
"ha! Bring it on woman!" zac turned back to the game as it was about to start. The race began, and so did the shouting and laughing coming from isaac, taylor, zac, and calie. They played for two hours, and over all, taylor and calie had won the most races.
"ha! In your face, mr. Zacky! I TOLD you I was good!" calie said as she did a little dance after she won the last game.
"ok, ok, fine. You were lucky tonight." Zac shrugged as he leaned over to turn off the TV and game system.
"oh admit it zac, I'm better than you." Calie was having a blast. She loved being able to beat the video game "king" at his own game.
"sure. You're the best." Zac smiled as he spoke.
"aww, really? Thanks zac! You're so sweet!" calie laughed and gave zac a hug. She stood up and yawned, then look over and where isaac and tay were sitting. "I think it's bed time." She yawned again and went over to lay down on top of isaac and taylor's laps.
"oh, now this won't do. Come on cal cal, get up. Let's go, alright. Come on, what are you, drunk? Get up!" isaac said as he tried to push calie off of him.
"ok, alright, fine." Calie stood up and took a drink of water out of her bottle. The bus gave a sudden lurch, and she was thrown back onto isaac and tay.
"sorry! Sorry! Not my fault! Blame matt, he's the one driving!" calie said standing up and looking at tay. "come on hot cakes. Time for bed."
"alright, I'm coming." Everyone was already in their pajamas, since theyd put them on after they showered. Zac and ike followed taylor and calysto down the hall of the bus to their bunks. Zac set his feet on tay and calie's bunks, and climbed into his. Calie got into hers next, and then ike into his across from calie. Taylor stood up in the bus next to calies bunk to say goodnight before he got into his.
y"ou really were amazing tonight." Calie looked at taylor as she spoke and smiled.
"so were you." Taylor gave her a light kiss on the cheek and disappeared from sight. Calie heard his blankets rustle as he got into bed. "good night guys." Calie said as she switched off her light. A chorus of sleepy "night!"s came to her ears as she drifted off to sleep.
TIME OUT
Fast forward to about oh, 2:00 in the morning, that same night.
TIME IN
Calie awoke to the soft sounds of a guitar being strummed. She quietly got down from her bed and put her feet into her cow print slippers. She walked down the hall to the back of the bus where the sound was coming from. Taylor was sitting on the couch with his guitar in hand, scribbling lyrics in his notebook. He had the lights on low, so he didn't wake anyone up. Calie could tell that he was concentrating really hard, because he didn't even notice her standing in the doorway.
"hey sweetie. What are you doing up?" calie said softly as she walked over and sat down next to tay.
"oh, nothing." Said tay as he hurried to close his notebook to hide something from calysto.
"what's that? Can I see it?" calie asked as tay set the notebook down on the other side of him.
"nope, nope, can't see it yet. I promise, I'll show you soon." Taylor gave calie a smile and a light kiss on the cheek. "let's go back to bed, huh? It's 2:15. Come on." Tay stood up, grabbed calie's hand, and pulled her up next to him.
"well I just got out of bed, mister. YOU should have been in bed this whole time. So don't you talk to me like that!" calie joked as she and taylor started walking back to the bunks. They stood in the aisle and kissed before they got into their separate beds.
"g'night. I love you." Taylor whispered as calie climbed into bed.
"I love you too."
I want to hold you and love you in my arms and then/I want to need you cause I need to be with you til the end/then I hear myself reply she'll never let you in/this time, tonight>
The next 3 weeks were great. They still had about a month left on tour, and as they neared the last week, taylor become more and more secretive. He wouldn't let calie see his notebook, which he usually gave her the freedom to read any time she wanted, and he always stopped playing his keyboard or guitar when she walked into the room, unless it was a scheduled rehearsal time. Calie became more and more confused at the way taylor was acting, but she figured that hed tell her what was going on when he was ready. Their last concert, they had some special things planned. They were playing in an outdoor arena, and they were going to set off fireworks, and hand out sparklers to every other fan that walked through the admissions gate. They had a couple hundred volunteers that were going to walk around with lighters when it was time to light the sparklers. For their set together, calie and the hansons were going to sing "if only", then "dying to be alive", "in the city", and last, they were all going to gather around one microphone and sing "a song to sing".
"man, I am SO psyched! I mean, I love being on tour and everything, but I'm just glad its over. We can finally get some rest!" calie, zac, and taylor were talking backstage in their 10 minute break before the last set. Isaac joined their conversation, and they spent the remaining 5 minutes laughing and talking about things that had happened on the tour.
"remember when matt came out and tried to depants zac? That was the funniest!" calie cracked up laughing as zac blushed, and taylor and ike started laughing too.
"ok guys, call time! Let's get out there!" walker said as he motioned for the four of them to come over to the stage door. "I want to say, before you guys go out there, that its been a great 4 months, and we're gonna do it again soon. Calie, angie confirmed today that you've got a permanent spot on tour with us. So, enjoy your stay, we're glad to have you. Everyone thinks you're truly amazing, and there's no one better to be on tour with us than you." Walker smiled at calie as tears welled up in her eyes.
"oh walker, thank you!" calie hugged him and then stood back and took taylors hand.
"now, as for you, my three oldest sons, you know I love you, you know I think youre awesome, and you guys have been a blessing for your mom and i. We're here for you every step of the way, and we want you to know that we'll be proud of you no matter what happens."
"thanks dad, we love you too." Each of the guys hugged walker, and then calie, zac, and ike walked up to the side of the stage as walker talked with taylor. Calie couldn't hear what was being said, the screams from the crowd were to loud, but she knew that whatever was being said was between the two of them, and it should stay that way.
If only I had the guts to feel this way/if only you'd look at me and want to stay/if only I'd take you in my arms and say/I won't go cause I need you/please don't go, cause I need you now>
The screams and yells erupted as calie stepped back from her microphone. They were just about to sing a song to sing but first, taylor spoke into his mic.
"now, we're about to do a once in a lifetime thing here. You guys are a part of this, and I need you to be really really quiet for me, ok? Can you do that?" taylor smiled as bryce brought out a chair and set it right next to taylor. "calie? Can you come sit here please?"
"um, yeah." Calie answered, confusedly. She walked over to the chair, and before she sat down whispered to taylor "what is the deal? I thought we were going to sing a song to sing."
"just wait, you'll see."
"now, you guys need to listen, and be quiet here, ok?" taylor spoke to the crowd. The audience quieted down until there was almost no sound coming from them.
"this is a song called 'for always.' I wrote it for you, calie, so listen up." Taylor smiled as he started play the piano intro to the song. Isaac came in on the guitar, and zac started a slow beat on his snare drum.
"I love you more than words can say, I want to spend every minute with you, forever, now, always..." taylor sang the melody in a tone that calie had never heard in his voice before. It was hopeful and loving, but still kind of unsure. The song was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard, and tears spilled over on to her cheeks as she listened. As the song finished, taylor took his mic out of the stand and took calie's hand. He led her to the center of the stage, and told her to stand there. He got down on one knee, took calies hand, and said, "calie, you're the love of my life. I could never tell you how much you mean to me, because there's no way to put what I feel into words. I tried my best with this song, and I hope that you understood it meaning. Will you do me the honor of letting me be your husband?" taylor looked up at calie and smiled. Calie smiled back, and the tears spilled over and down onto her cheeks as she took the microphone and answered, "yes, forever." Taylor slipped a beautiful ring on calie's finger, stood up and threw his arms around her in the most loving hug calie had ever been given. Taylor pulled away slightly and kissed her, soft, long, and gently.
"I love you so much." He said to her as he put his forehead against hers.
"I know exactly how you feel. I love you more than anything." Calie and taylor kissed again, and then turned to face the crowd. Isaac and zac came up behind them and took their hands on either side. They bowed, and then ike and zac walked off stage. Calie and taylor stayed a few seconds longer, kissed, took each others hands, and walked off to where the whole Hanson family and the rest of the crew was waiting.
I want to hear you say/it'll always be this way/we will be hand in hand for every night and every day/I want to scream and shout/'cause I'm losing any doubt/and all I care about is you and me and us and now>
"congratulations!!!!" zac yelled as calie and taylor walked back stage.
"calie, we're so happy that taylor found you. You're really a wonderful person. Welcome to the family!" diana smiled and gave calie a big hug, and then walker stepped up and hugged her too.
"I'm so glad to have you for my daughter." He said as he pulled away. Jessica, avery, mackenzie, and zoe all came to get their hugs, and then zac gave his.
"hey, now you can beat me at Mario Kart all year round!" zac said as he hugged calie.
"oh sure, you know, I'll just leave taylor for days at a time and come play."
"you bet you will!" zac laughed.
"hey there, you." Isaac grinned as he hugged calie. "I'm so glad you and taylor are getting married. He's been working on that song at every spare minute for months. Hey, you're going to have to spend every minute of every day with the Hanson clan.. you won't be able to get away! Man, are you gonna get sick of us! But, hey, youll get used to it!"
"oh come on, ike, I'm already used to it. how do you think i survived this tour?" Calie grinned as isaac stepped back. Taylor picked calysto up, and swung her around in his arms. "so, you dont mind being stuck with me?" he asked.
"there's no one else I'd rather spend every night and every day with." Calie said as she looked into tay's eyes.
"aww, you're just saying that cause I asked you to marry me." Taylor grinned and hugged calie.
"oh right, you know, I never wanted to marry you, I just said yes because we were in front of all those people." Calie said sarcastically and then gave taylor a little hit on the arm. "come on, lets go. We've got cake." Taylor took calies hand and walked with her into the next room where everyone was waiting.
TIME OUT
Ok, its six months later, and half an hour before the wedding is supposed to start. Everything is running smoothly, and perfect. Calie is in her dressing room, with jessica, avery, zoe, diana, and her mom helping her get ready.
TIME IN
"oh you guys, thanks so much for being my brides maids and helping me get ready it means a lot to me, and I can't thank you enough."
"oh calie, it's the least we could do. We all love you, and everyone wanted to help." Diana said as she pinned calie's hair up.
"hey, mom, jesse, avie, zoe, its time for you guys to come get last minute instructions from that one dude.. uh, the coordinator." Taylor stood in the door way and smiled at his forgetfulness.
"you mean dan? We'll be right there." Diana replied as she and the other girls each gave calie a hug, wished her good luck, and walked out of the room. Taylor hugged his sisters and mom and then walked through the door to where calie and her mom were standing, calie's mom putting the finishing touches on calie's hair and dress.
"karen, I just want to say that I'm really glad to be a part of your family, and you all mean a lot to me. Thanks for being there for us." Taylor gave calie's mom a hug and a small kiss on the cheek.
"oh taylor, you're welcome. We're all just so glad that you and calie found each other. Anyone can see that your both very in love, and it does my heart good to see you two together."
"oh, thanks mom." Calie hugged and kissed her mom and then said, "can tay and I have a minute alone? Do you mind?"
"nope, not at all." Calie's mom walked past taylor and calie and shut the door behind her.
"well, are you ready?" calie looked at taylor and took a deep breath.
"I couldn't be more ready if I tried." Taylor smiled and kissed calie.
"hey, tay, come on man, its time to get up there. You've got to walk out with mom. Lets go. Hi calie. Just wanted to say, from the whole hanson family, we love you!" isaac said as he popped his head in the door.
"ok ike, I'll be right there." Taylor gave calie a kiss, said "I love you", and walked out the door. Calie turned around and looked in the full length mirror, let out a breath, and tried to calm her nerves. She was so happy to be beginning a new life with taylor. She pulled out the vows she had written, and read them over.
"calie? Honey? Its time." Calies dad walked into the room and over to where calie was standing.
"well dad, how do I look?"
"you look more beautiful then you've ever looked in your life." Calies dad smiled.
"thanks dad." Calie took her fathers arm and walked with him to the back door of the sanctuary in the church.
"taylor told me right before he went out that he thought that I'd done a wonderful job raising my daughter, and that he could see where she got a lot of her good qualities. He also thanked me for letting him be a part of your life."
"did he?" calie smiled as she thought of everything she loved about taylor.
"yes. And I have to say, he's a good kid. I dont think you could have done better if you tried." Calies dad smiled as the doors opened.
"thanks dad. I love you."
"I love you too," calies dad said, kissed her on the cheek, and started walking with her down the aisle.
"good bye!" "have a good time!" shouts followed calie and taylor as they stepped into the limousine that was waiting for them outside of the hotel where the reception had been held. The wedding had been beautiful, and the reception was a wonderful time. Now they were off to Hawaii on their honeymoon, and after that, recording their new albums, and then another tour. And more albums, and more tours, and so on. With a few breaks here and there. They couldnt be happier- they were doing what they loved, and they were doing it together. Forever, now, for always.
If only I had the guts to feel this way/if only you'd look at me and want to stay/if only I'd take you in my arms and say/I won't go cause I need you/please don't go cause I need you now.
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