Barbara was up early as she was every weekday, waiting for her little peple to be dropped off, most of who went back to sleep in the spare rooms on the first floor, a girls and boys bunkhouse. She had four kids who stayed only before and after school and eight 3, 4 and 5 year olds that we with her all day. "Morning Funny Bunny. How is Zoe today?" Barbara said returning to her room when she heard her cries. A quick change of diaper and the two made their way to the kitchen where four school kids were having breakfast. The sight of so many strangers frightened Zoe and Barbara was having a hard time calming her back down. "You finish your breakfast, I'll be right back." Barbara said making her way upstairs, "Sssh we don't want to wake anyone. Sssh." Barbara said opening the door to the guys' room, "Sssh see. Who is that?" Barbara whispered pointing at the sleeping Isaac, Taylor and Zac. "Me Tay. Me Ike. Me Zac." Zoe squealed. "Sssh baby. We don't want to wake them. They were up late trying to get home to you." Barbara said making her way back to the hall, quietly closing the door. "How about we see if the girls are up?" she suggested making their way to the girls' room. "Hey Zoe." Jessy said when they opened the door. "Both of you up?" Barbara asked. "Yeppers. Morning Momma. Hey Zoe, did you see your big brothers are here?" Chele asked. "Me Tay. Me Zac. Me Ike." Zoe said. "Well you have seen them. Now you'lll have a good day." Chele said hugging her and Zoe grabbed her. "So you want to hand out with the big girls huh?" Chele asked dropping her on the bed and bouncing her. By this time Jessy was dressed and playing with Zoe while Chele dressed. "I'm heading down to the kitchen, you coming Zoe?" Barbara asked. "Me guls." Zoe insisted. "See you later Funny Bunny." Barbara said heading back downstairs. "So you're a Funny Bunny. I got a book about that somewhere." Jessy said searching her bookshelf and coming up with it. She pulled Zoe, her bunny and blanket to her lap and started reading the story when she heard a rap at the door. "Come in." Jessy said and went back to reading. "Me Tay" Zoe squealed. "Well so it is. You looking for your sister or mine?" Jessy asked. "Both. " Tay chuckled picking up Zoe and hugging and kissing her. "Mommy said she loves you and this kiss is from her." Tay shared kissing her one last time. "How luck. Mommy loves you." Jessy commented as Zoe broke free bouncing on the bed again. "Sis before you embarass yourself, Tay is in my room." Jessy hollered towards their shared bathroom. "And all this time I thought you had the hots for Zac." Chele teased and Jessy turned red. "So it's true. I probably shouldn't tell you, but you are all he could talk about last night. He really wants to go to your game tonight." Taylor shared. "Oh no. I don't think I could take the pressure and then if he was recognized. Man." Jessy fretted. "Jessy we won't go then. Zac wouldn't want to throw your game off." Taylor insisted. "I'm sure he wouldn't. I guess I'm being paranoid. You guys can go if you want." Jessy shared. "You sure Jessy. Zac really wants to go but I'm sure he'd understand." Taylor questioned. "Nah I'm sure. Actually I'll even bring you team jackets and hats and then you'll blend into the crowds even more. " Jessy suggested. "Sis you coming tonight right?" Jessy asked as Chele entered the room. "Miss my Lil Sis kicking butt. Never." Chele said picking up Zoe, kissing and hugging her. "Ready for breakfast. Smells like Momma baked sticky buns. Ummm." Chele said licking her lips. "Me do." Zoe said. "Coming Tay, Sis?" Chele asked heading to the door. "Go ahead. I have to pack my uniform for the pep rally." Jessy said sighing. "Pep rally?" Taylor asked. "So what do you do? Are you Miss Cheerleader or Miss Star Volleyball Player?" Chele asked. "Both of course." Jessy laughed, adding, "I cheer first and when they introduce the players, I have to be a player." Jessy said. "So you're a player." Taylor teased. "That's so not funny Tay. Man I can't even date yet. Can't play if Momma won't let you get in the game." Jessy complained. "Umm can't date. I think you just made Zac's day, week, year, life." Taylor chuckled heading after Chele. "Real funny." Jessy said packing her bag then heading downstairs, leaving her bag and backpack on the hall desk. "Momma my cheerleading skirt, did the cleaners get the stain out?" Jessy asked. "Oh my. I forgot to pick it up yesterday with everything that went on." Barbara apologized, adding, "I'll pick it up and bring it to school. When do you dress?" "Two." Jessy said picking yogurt, granola, fruit and juice for breakfast. "I'll have it there around 1:30. In the office?" Barbara asked. "Yeah just leave it in the main office." Jessy said. "Hey those are the colors of.." Taylor started to say. "Mom and Dad's school, Nathan Hale High School." Chele finished. "Right." Taylor said. "It's still a good school. Momma wanted us to go to Holland Hall. Snobs and more snobs." Jessy said sticking her nose up. "Isn't that who you play tonight?" Barbara asked. "Yep. Gonna kick butt. Rich butts." Jessy laughed as Momma wrote a reminder and posted it on the fridge. "Hey if it will help out, I could pick it up and deliver it." Taylor offered. "Taylor that would be wonderful. Then I don't have to pack up 8 no make that 12 with you brother and sisters. That's a load." Barbara laughed and she explained which Dry Cleaners. "I was thinking we'd run by the house anyway to mke sure things are okay. This way I won't have to ask you to take us." Taylor said. "Keys right here to the Saturn." Barbara said tossing him the keys. "Better head out girls. Can't have Chele late her first day." Barbara said as the girls made their way out. By mid morning Walker appeared to check on the children, spending an hour with Zoe. The boys headed home to check things out packing a bag for their folks and themselves. "I insist Walker. Here's a spare key. The kids and I will be at Jessy's game until nine, so you and Diana come, shower, lay down and nap. You need to get her away from there for a few hours at least." Barbara insisted. "I'm learning. There's no sense in arguing with you. Will make time to come and relax." Walker agreed taking the key. "I'll have supper in the fridge. You just zap it for her and enjoy." Barbara said as Walker headed back to the hospital. Later that afternoon, Tay and Zac dressed in baggy clothes and tucked their hair up in hats and headed to Nathan Hale High School for the pep rally. "There she is Zac." Taylor said pointing as the cheerleaders entered. "Wow she's good. Really athletic." Zac said staring at her. "Zac. Zac. Earth to Zac. You got it bad Zac." Taylor said. "Huh? Got what?" Zac asked. "I'd say Mr Quarterback is got eyes for your woman." Taylor pointed out. "What?" Zac said his attention back on Jessy. After the football team had been introduced, Jessy flipped and cart wheeled her way across the floor and disappeared in the hall returning with the volleyball team for introductions. "Wow she's so pretty." Zac said as Jessy was introduced. As the team exited, "Want a ride home Jessy?" Taylor asked standing. "Hey you came. Sure see you in the parking lot. I have to change first." Jessy said heading to the locker room. She was surrounded by most of the football team as she made her way from the school. "Wow Zac I don't know what to tell you. She sure must be popular." Taylor said as Jessy caught sight of the car and waved goodbye making a dash for the car. "Let's get out of here." She said sliding into the back seat with guys still calling her name. "They're calling you." Zac said. "Yeah, nothing I want to hear. I get so tired of explaining." Jessy said ducking down until the car pulled out of the parking lot. "Tired of explaining what?" Zac asked. "Umm that I don't date. They're always so sure they can get me to change my mind. Jerks. Thick headed jerks." Jessy said, adding. "Is that really you two? The hats." "It worked. Nobody recognized us." Taylor said as Zac took off his hat. "Zac you came. I thought you had changed your mind." Jessy teased laughing. "Oh you knew it was me." Zac said throwing his hat at her. "Oh my disguise now. You don't want to be seen with me huh?" Jessy said tucking her hair in his hat and pulled it down. "Man you must have a little head. You're just little." Zac said. "I am not." Jessy pouted. "You are little Jessy. You know skinny. You look like an eight year old from the back. Bet you can wear Avie's jeans." Taylor said tossing his hat at her. "What is it with you Hanson boys? Man I guess I was wrong." Jessy said curling in ball, leaning her head on the window tossing Zac's hat at Tay's. "Wrong about what?" Zac asked. "Doesn't matter." Jessy mumbled. "Jessy it does too matter." Zac insisted. "Yeah right. No one to pick on huh?" Jessy said staring at him. "I didn't mean to, what? When?" Zac asked, adding. "Tay pull over." As soon as the car stopped Zac got out and crawled into the back seat, "Jessy what did I say. I wouldn't pick on you. I just wouldn't." Zac insisted as Jessy sat with her back to him. "Jessy please tell me what I said? Please look at me?" Zac asked. "Zac just drop it please. You didn't okay." Jessy said looking at him and quickly looking away then she sat there arms crossed. "Jessy what did I say. I really don't know but I didn't mean it that way honest Jessy." Zac whispered apologizing again. "Zac I don't understanding. You said it, how could you not mean it. I mean Tay even joined in. Zac I am not little or an eight year old." Jessy said tears filling her eyes as she told him. "God Jessy, I'm sorry. I did say it but I just meant you're so fit, you know athletic, muscular. Jessy I think you're so pretty." Zac said turning away. "Zac what's wrong?" Jessy asked. "You're so pretty and popular. I saw them all around you, calling after you." Zac said looking away again. "So. And?" Jessy said. "And what?" Zac asked. "Give me a break Zac. There has to be more. I mean you aren't blaming me because they walked me out, because they called trying to get my attention?" Jessy asked. "No I'm not blaming you. But Jessy, even the Quarterback. I saw him trying to catch up with you before Tay yelled at you." Zac explained. "Zac did you see me look him in the eye? Did you see me smile at him? Did you see me cry because of what he said?" Jessy asked. "No Jessy." Zac answered. "No Zac, I didn't because I don't care. What he says may annoy me but it doesn't hurt like you calling me little." Jessy said tears filling her eyes again. "Jessy don't cry please I'm sorry." Zac pleaded as Jessy buried her face in her hands. "Jessy please don't cry." Zac whispered wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. "I'll try Zac." Jessy said as Zac pulled up his shirt and wiped her tears. "Zac I'm normally not a cry baby honest." Jessy shared. "I'm sure your not. I'm glad it mattered. I mattered." Zac said kissing the top of her head. "Man we're almost home." Jessy said sitting up grabbing her compact and checking her face. At home they ate and early dinner so Jessy had a chance to digest it before playing and then laid back resting until it was time to go. Isaac drove Jessy back to school seeings she had to be there a half hour early. When he returned home, the Hansons all wore Nathan Hall hats to conceal their long blonde hair along with the rest of the family. Jessy had gotten three team jackets for the guys to wear. The all loaded into the van and headed to the school.
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