Chapter 17

Vega cursed the pay phone she was using, knowing that Taylor was probably back in T-town right now, and of course, his beeper was on his dresser or in his suitcase or something. That was why he wasn't returning her phone call. She shrugged and climbed back into the car.
Vega tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, glad that she had brought her fav Cd, the Swing Kids sound track. She was getting way too into the music as she got to I-75 and pulled in, merging with traffic. She loved this song! It was the one that was always played on the "Chips Ahoy" commercial. She wasn't watching the cars pass by her as she usually did. She just kept on tapping her foot on the accelorater, making the car go ahead in short burts of energy. She had just crossed the border into Ohio. "Tulsa, baby, here we come!" she said, still attempting to swing dance in the driver's seat of her "stolen" vehicle.
* * * * * * * * * *
Back at the restaraunt, Jacqui and Becca were having the time of their lives. Tay and Ike weren't minding their company either. The quartet was happy, drinking their Sprites, all except for Jacqui. She hated Sprite and all the un-cola's. She sat content, sipping her lemonade. Maddy made the occassional check-ups on the group to re-fill glasses, and make sure they all weren't getting too cozy. Steven played a couple cute songs, and Becca was totally in paradise, of course. Out of nowhere, Isaac let go of her hand. She looked upset as he turned his back on her and approached Steven as her finished "Celebrate You". Ike summoned SCC and whispered something in his ear. Steven nodded and Ike called Tay over to join him. They had a small group huddle type thing and then Ike strapped on his guitar while Tay stepped over to the keyboards. Tay, of course, took the microphone and said,
"This one goes out to those two beautiful ladies sitting right there! C'mon!" he sang out, beginning 'Minute Without You'. Ike stepped up to the microphone and began singing. Becca and Jacqui were going crazy from all this attention. They were giggling hysterically, but Becca was going a little more crazy! Becca wasn't usually like this. She was never crazy, unless she ate too many TUMS or something. The guys finished their song and stepped off stage. Becca and Jacqui noticed that more and more people were coming in the small cafe.. and many of them were girls... their age. One girl, very short and very thin, who looked about 10, came up to their table.
"Wow! Are you Taylor?" she asked the blonde who obviously was. Taylor looked at Jacqui who was trying in vain to suppress her giggles. He rolled his eyes and gave the girl a sweet smile.
"Yeah, that's me, good to meet you," he said, shaking the girl's hand. The small child giggled and asked for an autograph. Taylor signed her napkin and the girl ran towards her mom and showed it to her. The mother waved and said "Thank You!" and took her daughter out of the restaraunt and into the car.
"Well, I'm glad I'm the popular one with the ladies!" Ike said sarcastically. Becca laughed whole-heartedly and knew that this was the guy she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She smiled and sighed.
* * * * * * *
12 hours later, Vega was pulling up to the Blue Rose Cafe in Tulsa, a well-known Hanson-spotting place. As she walked in the outer area, she noticed many girls her age wearing Hanson shirts. She rolled her eyes and walked over to an amiable-looking chick wearing a white baby-tee with a daisy on it.
"Hi, I'm Vega, who are you?" she asked, sitting herself down next to the girl who was totally solo.
"I'm Annie.. umm... no offense but why are you here?" she replied, scooting a little farther away from Vega.
"I'm wondering if you could tell me where Taylor Hanson lives?" she questioned.
Annie got an annoyed expression on her face and said, "Oh great, another Hanson chick".
Vega got a little annoyed with that comment but did not want to lose her cool in case this girl really did know where the Hanson's lived. "No, I'm not a Hanson chick, I am Taylor's girlfriend and damn it I want to know where he frickin lives!" Vega said harshly. So much for playing it cool.
"Oh yay another Hanson's girlfriend wanna-be!" Annie sighed. "Well, i know where the Hansons live, but I'm not going to tell you, because I am Taylor's real girlfriend! Who the heck do you think you are coming up to me and telling me the two of you are together!?" Annie said, getting in Vega's face.
"Is that why you're here all alone then?" Vega asked, being considerate.
Annie looked up at Vega who looked genuinely concerned. "Well.. yeah. No one really likes me all that much because I'm dating the most craved guy in the teenage America, you know? Wait a sec, didn't you say you were Taylor's girlfriend?" Annie said, raising one eyebrow.
"Yeah... I am his girlfriend," Vega said, beginning to doubt the loyalty of Taylor.
"Well, either you're lying or we have a serious problem here!" Annie said. Little did the two girlfriends-of-Taylor know that he was already hitting it off quite well with another chick... Jacqui!