Olivia sat in the middle of the living room of her apartment, scrapbooking supplies surrounding her. She was starting to feel overwhelmed when she smelled something amazing. Taylor had entered, carrying two coffees. Olivia wasn't sure if it was Taylor or the coffee that smelled so good. Maybe it was a combination of the two. She snatched the coffee from his hands hungrily. "Oh thank heavens! I need a break from scrapbooking." Taylor held out his hand and helped Olivia up off the floor. He looked around at the progress Olivia had made.
"Wow, how long have you been at this? It looks great!"
"Since six this morning. I decided to start rearranging furniture, which turned into decorating, so I had to unpack the decorations, and found a box of photos." Olivia looked down at her watch. "Aaaaaaand apparently I've been at this for 4 hours straight." She chugged her coffee, kissed Taylor on the cheek, and ran down the hall to the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later. Taylor stood in the middle of the living room, smirking. "What?"
"Feel better?"
"Much. Why?"
"I could hear your moans all the way in here."
Olivia blushed. "I really had to go, okay?" The two of them sat on the sofa. Taylor propped his feet up on the ottoman, Olivia curled into a ball and rested her head on Taylor's shoulder. Taylor ran his fingers through Olivia's hair.
"What do you want for your birthday?"
"Wow, that was random."
"Well, it's in a few weeks. We gotta do something grand for the big 18!" He sat up and faced Olivia, studying her face.
"A tattoo."
This answer caught Taylor off guard. "What?"
"I want something in remembrance of my mother. I already have an idea in my head."
Taylor smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind Olivia's ear. "Anything you want."
Taylor sat next to Olivia, squeezing her hand. He smiled at her reassuringly as Olivia stared at the tattoo needle. The buzzing was giving her a headache and she was shaking. She closed her eyes and squeezed Taylor's hand as the tattoo artist began his task. Sweat dripped down Olivia's back. She felt the needle touch her skin and braced herself. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. After a few hours, the buzzing stopped. The artist smiled at her and held up a mirror. "What do you think?"
"Oh my god, I love it! You did an amazing job. It's beautiful." She stood, examining it. She had decided on angel wings in the shape of the heart with the lyrics 'With You in Your Dreams' on her left shoulder. Taylor had gone to pay for it and hadn't seen it, yet. Olivia grabbed her purse and met Taylor at the counter, smiling. "Wanna see it?"
"Of course!" Olivia turned her shoulder to face Taylor. He studied it for a moment, then pulled Olivia in for a kiss. "I love it."
"Not only is it for my mom, but it's for you, too. You have no idea how much that song, your song, has impacted my life. I will forever be grateful for it. The tattoo is a great gift, but that song is as a greater gift. You're the greatest gift."
Taylor smiled, wrapping his arm around Olivia's shoulders and steering her out of the tattoo parlor and into the car. "I'm glad that it means a lot to you, though I wish it didn't. I can't imagine losing my mother, especially so young. I'm just happy that I could be there for you in your time of need, and not just musically, but physically. You are the best thing to ever happen to me."
Olivia reached over and held Taylor's hand, gently caressing it with her thumb.
Olivia's breath quivered in anticipation, Taylor's hands covering her eyes. "Tay, I'm starving. Come on already!" She could hear him laugh quietly behind her.
"Okay. You can open your eyes." He removed his hands and stood back, a smile on his face.
Olivia's eyes widened and she spun around to look at Taylor. "Is this what I think it is?" Taylor nodded, biting his lip. "Oh my god." Olivia turned back around to stare in awe. In front of her was a quaint little one story, gray house, with deep red steps that led up to a wrap-around porch. Hanging on the porch was a wicker swing. To the left of the porch was a single weeping willow tree with a bench. There was a white picket fence next to a cobblestone driveway and a detached garage. Beside the driveway was a mailbox that read HANSON. Olivia traced her fingers along the letters on the mailbox. She heard keys jingling next to her as Taylor dug them out of his pocket.
"Want the tour?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
Taylor grabbed Olivia's hand and walked her up the steps to the front door, which was the same shade of red as the steps. He opened the door, used his shoes to prop the door open, and scooped Olivia up in his arms, carrying her across the threshold. He looked into her hazel eyes and smiled before setting her down. "Welcome home." Olivia's eyes darted from wall to wall, taking it all in. The living room had a fireplace that took up almost an entire wall with a mantle that matched the beautiful mahogany floors. The kitchen had a breakfast nook with a bay window. The cabinets were the mahogany, but the flooring in the kitchen was a beautiful travertine tile. There was an island that separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook. The countertops were a shimmery marble. A small hallway off the kitchen led to the laundry room with the travertine. Past the kitchen was a half bathroom. It also had the travertine flooring. Instead of a regular sink, it had a mohogany vanity. Above the vanity was a wall mounted oval mirror, surrounded by light sconces. Across from the bathroom was an office with a french door entry and the mahogany flooring. Shelving took up an entire wall. On another wall was a large window. Further down the hallway was the master bedroom with attached bathroom. The bathroom had the travertine tile, dual sinks with a long mirror, a spa tub, and an enclosed standing shower. Olivia's eyes panned up to the ceiling, which had a skylight. Back in the master bedroom was a walk-in closet and french doors that opened to the back yard. It had a huge covered deck surrounded by topiaries, a small gazebo, and a bean-shaped pool. A cobblestone path led from the pool to the gazebo. Around the gazebo were sunflowers. Ivy plants climbed up the sides of the gazebo. Inside the gazebo was a picnic table. Olivia sat down at the picnic table and rested her head in her hands. Taylor sat next to her and rubbed her shoulders. He finally broke the silence. "Are you okay?"
"Tay, it's perfect. I'm...speechless. How did you find this place?"
"I cheated a little. Remember the conversation we had awhile back about our dream homes, and you had mentioned simplicity, but with a hint of elegance? This place was actually a huge fixer-upper. I've had people working on it for months to try to make it as close to your dream home as possible. This was what I pictured when you were describing it. I hope I got it right."
"I couldn't have imagined it better. It's absolutely flawless." Tears started to fall down Olivia's cheeks.
Taylor reached up and wiped them away with his thumbs. "Why are you crying?"
"I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."
"What are you talking about? You deserve the world. This is just a piece of it. It's all I can give you right now."
"The best thing you can give me is you." Olivia placed her hand over Taylor's heart and kissed him. "I love you so much, sometimes it hurts."
"I love you, too." Olivia kissed him again, her hands caressing his body. She slowly began to remove his shirt, studying every inch of him. Never breaking their kiss, Olivia began to remove Taylor's pants. He put his hands over hers and looked her in the eyes. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?"
"But...here?"
"Why not? No one can see us. Don't ruin the moment." Taylor smiled mischievously and picked Olivia up, laying her down on top of the picnic table. "Atta boy," Olivia whispered. Taylor lifted up Olivia's skirt and slowly slid down her panties, kissing her thighs. Olivia moaned in pleasure. They made love right there on the table.
Olivia awoke to an empty bed. She followed her nose to the kitchen, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee made her salivate. She poured herself a cup and made her way through the house. She finally saw Taylor out in the back yard, sporting floral gardening gloves. This made Olivia giggle. She knocked on the door as she opened it. Olivia stood, hand on hip, coffee cup in the other. "What on Earth are you doing?"
Taylor grinned. "Harvesting."
"Harvesting what? I didn't know we were growing anything edible."
"The sunflowers. These are the kind with edible seeds. See?" Taylor held up his bucket. It was full of various sizes of sunflower seeds.
"The gloves are a nice touch. Very masculine," Olivia teased as she sat next to him. Taylor put his arm around her and started scratching her back gently. "Oh, that feels so good. What did I do to deserve this?"
"You brought me coffee." Taylor smiled and eyed Olivia's coffee cup.
"Ugh, you're lucky you're so hot. I wouldn't normally give up my precious coffee."
Taylor grabbed her cup hungrily and chugged it like a maniac. "That was delicious."
"You're psychotic. Did you seriously just chug scalding hot coffee?"
"Yup."
Olivia shook her head, stood up, and wiped off her knees. "I'm going to make some breakfast. Want some?"
"Sure! I just have a few more flowers to do, then I'll be in. Oh, there's a little something for you on the coffee table."
"For me? Man, I should give you coffee more often. First, a back scratch, now a present."
"It's nothing special or anything. Just something I picked up at the grocery store yesterday." Taylor's blue eyes twinkled as he smiled. Olivia melted as she walked back into the house. On the coffee table was a bridal magazine. Olivia's eyes widened. They hadn't even mentioned getting married since Taylor proposed, other than to tell their families they were engaged. Olivia's eyes welled up with tears. Taylor was full of surprises. She flipped through the pages slowly, taking in every beautiful picture. She had stopped on a beautiful Remedios gown. It was a cream colored a-line chiffon gown with an empire waist, cap sleeves, and a sheer lace floral top. The back of the dress went down into a deep V that stopped just below the shoulder blades. Olivia earmarked the magazine page and went into the kitchen to start making breakfast. Taylor came in a few minutes later. "Mmm, that bacon smells delicious. I'm starving."
"Bacon's almost done. I'm making French Toast next. Thank you for the magazine. I wasn't expecting that."
"You're welcome. I figured we might as well get a start on wedding planning, you know?" He entered the kitchen and kissed Olivia's forehead.
"What made you think of that?"
"I was in line at the store and saw a rack full of bridal magazines. Then I started picturing you in a wedding dress and the next thing I knew, I was buying the magazine."
"You pictured me in a dress? What kind of dress?"
"I don't know. A sexy, form-fitting silk dress. Strapless. Why?"
Olivia blushed and faced the stove. "No reason. Was just curious as to what you think I'd look good in. I never imagined "sexy, form-fitting" coming from your mouth." The two laughed.
"Well, you're sexy. So it doesn't matter what you wear, you'll still look amazing."
"Tay, stop," Olivia whispered.
"What? Stop what?"
"I'm far from sexy. I'm short, I don't have a flat stomach or perky boobs. I'm not a size 4. I'm just...average. I don't deserve you. You're perfect in every way. You could have any girl you wanted." Olivia began to cry.
Taylor pulled her to him and wrapped her in his arms. "I don't want any girl. I want you."
"Why do you love me? I'm a mess."
"Are you kidding me? If you're a mess, then I'm a disaster. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that you were my soulmate."
"Really? Through my tears and hysterics, you knew?"
"That wasn't the first time I laid eyes on you."
Olivia looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Taylor grabbed Olivia's hand and whispered in her ear. "I never told you this, but I saw you on the road. We locked eyes for a brief moment. Your eyes sent electricity down my spine, and I was hooked."
"You remember me? I didn't think you really were looking at me. When I saw you staring out the window, my heart flipped and I looked away because I knew it was you. I couldn't believe Taylor Hanson was in a vehicle next to me driving down the highway. I can't believe you never told me!" Olivia playfully slapped Taylor's arm. "That still doesn't answer my question. What makes me worthy of your love?"
"You treat me and my brothers like we're normal people. You weren't some crazy teeny-bopper that cried at the sight of me. You were relaxed and genuine, and you have the most beautiful smile. You make me feel like...me. When I'm on the road, I can lose myself. You keep me grounded. And you may not think your stomach is flat or your boobs are perky, you may hate your big hips, but I love every inch of you. Sexiness isn't completely physical, for me. I think sexy is how you carry yourself and how you make me feel. I still get butterflies every time you walk into the room. And I think the bacon's burning." This statement made Olivia jump.
"Shit!"
The leaves had finally turned their glorious shades of red, gold, and orange. The crisp fall air made Olivia shiver, so she zipped up her hoody. Taylor wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Are you cold? Do you want my jacket?"
"No, I'm fine. I'm just not used to fall weather being this cool. In Texas, it never gets below 70, it seems." Olivia laughed and tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. "I love the fall. It's my favorite season."
"I know." Taylor smiled. "This is it." They had stopped in front of a storefront with a For Sale sign in the window.
"This is what, exactly?"
"I'm thinking about buying it."
"For what?"
"I don't know. Maybe a studio."
"Things getting worse over at the label?"
Taylor sighed in frustration. "It's like, no matter how hard we try or how many songs we pump out, nothing is good enough. We have so many ideas that they keep shooting down. They want another Mmmbop, and just when we think we've written one, they want something more."
Olivia reached up and stroked Taylor's hair. "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help? I know I don't know much about music or the industry, but I feel helpless, and I don't like it. I want to fix all your problems and make everything right."
"I know you do, and I love that." Taylor grabbed Olivia's hand. They stood there, staring at the empty building for a few minutes. Finally, Olivia broke the silence.
"You should film it."
"Film what?"
"Everything. Your recording, your struggles with the label and the people, your conversations. You know, for your own personal collection, to have just in case. I mean, you documented your entire Albertane tour. So why not this?"
"Olivia."
"It was just an idea. Sorry if it's stupid..."
"No, that's just it. It's not stupid at all. You're absolutely right."
The three Hanson brothers sat around a table, phone in the center of it. Cameras were surrounding them, filming every moment. From the other end of the phone came a stumbling voice. "Um, I was thinking about, uh, what this elusive single might have to be..." spoke Jeff Fenster. After 15 minutes of nonsense, they finally got off the phone.
Taylor slammed his drink down on the table. "Did Jeff just say what I think he said? All this time they were trying to avoid using the word 'ballad,' but now he's saying that Breaktown or Underneath, both of which are ballads, could possibly be the next single. There he goes, contradicting himself again." Taylor stood up from the table and sighed. "I'm exhausted. This whole situation just keeps getting worse. I feel like I've been neglecting Liv. I'm going home for the day."
Olivia sat on the porch swing, bridal magazine in hand. She looked up and smiled when she saw Taylor pull up in the driveway. He looked terrible, but she didn't have the heart to tell him. "Hey, stranger."
"I'm so sorry." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, plopping next to her on the swing. He sighed and laid his head in her lap.
"It's okay. I know you're under a lot of pressure to get this album done." Olivia absentmindedly ran her fingers through Taylor's hair.
"I've missed you so much. I started writing you a song."
"You did?"
"I did. You're the only thing keeping me sane through this whole mess."
"I want to hear it."
"It's not ready, yet."
Olivia pushed Taylor out of her lap and stood up. "I don't care. I want to hear it."
Taylor sighed again, grabbed Olivia's hand, and pulled her into the house. They walked into the library, which they had turned into the music room. Taylor sat at his keyboard, Olivia beside him. She closed her eyes when he began to play. "I see you in my dreams and you are so fair. I tried so hard to find you, but you were never there. You're my dream girl and none can compare. You're always with me in our kingdom far away. You will be her majesty and together we will reign. You're my dream girl. It'll always be that way..." He stopped playing and looked at Olivia. "That's all I have so far."
"It's amazing. You should record it and submit it to IDJ. If they don't love it, they're idiots." Taylor laughed. "Well, they're already idiots, but this will just prove it." Olivia kissed Taylor and put her head on his shoulder. They sat there talking for another 30 minutes. Taylor filled her in on all the songs they've submitted, the conversation they had with Jeff Fenster earlier that day, and his growing frustration.
"I'm emotionally drained. I just want to crawl into bed next to you and sleep in your warmth. Can we do that?"
"We can do whatever you want to, Tay. I'd do anything for you." With that, Taylor stood, scooped Olivia up into his arms, and carried her to their bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Wow, how long have you been at this? It looks great!"
"Since six this morning. I decided to start rearranging furniture, which turned into decorating, so I had to unpack the decorations, and found a box of photos." Olivia looked down at her watch. "Aaaaaaand apparently I've been at this for 4 hours straight." She chugged her coffee, kissed Taylor on the cheek, and ran down the hall to the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later. Taylor stood in the middle of the living room, smirking. "What?"
"Feel better?"
"Much. Why?"
"I could hear your moans all the way in here."
Olivia blushed. "I really had to go, okay?" The two of them sat on the sofa. Taylor propped his feet up on the ottoman, Olivia curled into a ball and rested her head on Taylor's shoulder. Taylor ran his fingers through Olivia's hair.
"What do you want for your birthday?"
"Wow, that was random."
"Well, it's in a few weeks. We gotta do something grand for the big 18!" He sat up and faced Olivia, studying her face.
"A tattoo."
This answer caught Taylor off guard. "What?"
"I want something in remembrance of my mother. I already have an idea in my head."
Taylor smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind Olivia's ear. "Anything you want."
Taylor sat next to Olivia, squeezing her hand. He smiled at her reassuringly as Olivia stared at the tattoo needle. The buzzing was giving her a headache and she was shaking. She closed her eyes and squeezed Taylor's hand as the tattoo artist began his task. Sweat dripped down Olivia's back. She felt the needle touch her skin and braced herself. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. After a few hours, the buzzing stopped. The artist smiled at her and held up a mirror. "What do you think?"
"Oh my god, I love it! You did an amazing job. It's beautiful." She stood, examining it. She had decided on angel wings in the shape of the heart with the lyrics 'With You in Your Dreams' on her left shoulder. Taylor had gone to pay for it and hadn't seen it, yet. Olivia grabbed her purse and met Taylor at the counter, smiling. "Wanna see it?"
"Of course!" Olivia turned her shoulder to face Taylor. He studied it for a moment, then pulled Olivia in for a kiss. "I love it."
"Not only is it for my mom, but it's for you, too. You have no idea how much that song, your song, has impacted my life. I will forever be grateful for it. The tattoo is a great gift, but that song is as a greater gift. You're the greatest gift."
Taylor smiled, wrapping his arm around Olivia's shoulders and steering her out of the tattoo parlor and into the car. "I'm glad that it means a lot to you, though I wish it didn't. I can't imagine losing my mother, especially so young. I'm just happy that I could be there for you in your time of need, and not just musically, but physically. You are the best thing to ever happen to me."
Olivia reached over and held Taylor's hand, gently caressing it with her thumb.
Olivia's breath quivered in anticipation, Taylor's hands covering her eyes. "Tay, I'm starving. Come on already!" She could hear him laugh quietly behind her.
"Okay. You can open your eyes." He removed his hands and stood back, a smile on his face.
Olivia's eyes widened and she spun around to look at Taylor. "Is this what I think it is?" Taylor nodded, biting his lip. "Oh my god." Olivia turned back around to stare in awe. In front of her was a quaint little one story, gray house, with deep red steps that led up to a wrap-around porch. Hanging on the porch was a wicker swing. To the left of the porch was a single weeping willow tree with a bench. There was a white picket fence next to a cobblestone driveway and a detached garage. Beside the driveway was a mailbox that read HANSON. Olivia traced her fingers along the letters on the mailbox. She heard keys jingling next to her as Taylor dug them out of his pocket.
"Want the tour?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
Taylor grabbed Olivia's hand and walked her up the steps to the front door, which was the same shade of red as the steps. He opened the door, used his shoes to prop the door open, and scooped Olivia up in his arms, carrying her across the threshold. He looked into her hazel eyes and smiled before setting her down. "Welcome home." Olivia's eyes darted from wall to wall, taking it all in. The living room had a fireplace that took up almost an entire wall with a mantle that matched the beautiful mahogany floors. The kitchen had a breakfast nook with a bay window. The cabinets were the mahogany, but the flooring in the kitchen was a beautiful travertine tile. There was an island that separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook. The countertops were a shimmery marble. A small hallway off the kitchen led to the laundry room with the travertine. Past the kitchen was a half bathroom. It also had the travertine flooring. Instead of a regular sink, it had a mohogany vanity. Above the vanity was a wall mounted oval mirror, surrounded by light sconces. Across from the bathroom was an office with a french door entry and the mahogany flooring. Shelving took up an entire wall. On another wall was a large window. Further down the hallway was the master bedroom with attached bathroom. The bathroom had the travertine tile, dual sinks with a long mirror, a spa tub, and an enclosed standing shower. Olivia's eyes panned up to the ceiling, which had a skylight. Back in the master bedroom was a walk-in closet and french doors that opened to the back yard. It had a huge covered deck surrounded by topiaries, a small gazebo, and a bean-shaped pool. A cobblestone path led from the pool to the gazebo. Around the gazebo were sunflowers. Ivy plants climbed up the sides of the gazebo. Inside the gazebo was a picnic table. Olivia sat down at the picnic table and rested her head in her hands. Taylor sat next to her and rubbed her shoulders. He finally broke the silence. "Are you okay?"
"Tay, it's perfect. I'm...speechless. How did you find this place?"
"I cheated a little. Remember the conversation we had awhile back about our dream homes, and you had mentioned simplicity, but with a hint of elegance? This place was actually a huge fixer-upper. I've had people working on it for months to try to make it as close to your dream home as possible. This was what I pictured when you were describing it. I hope I got it right."
"I couldn't have imagined it better. It's absolutely flawless." Tears started to fall down Olivia's cheeks.
Taylor reached up and wiped them away with his thumbs. "Why are you crying?"
"I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."
"What are you talking about? You deserve the world. This is just a piece of it. It's all I can give you right now."
"The best thing you can give me is you." Olivia placed her hand over Taylor's heart and kissed him. "I love you so much, sometimes it hurts."
"I love you, too." Olivia kissed him again, her hands caressing his body. She slowly began to remove his shirt, studying every inch of him. Never breaking their kiss, Olivia began to remove Taylor's pants. He put his hands over hers and looked her in the eyes. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?"
"But...here?"
"Why not? No one can see us. Don't ruin the moment." Taylor smiled mischievously and picked Olivia up, laying her down on top of the picnic table. "Atta boy," Olivia whispered. Taylor lifted up Olivia's skirt and slowly slid down her panties, kissing her thighs. Olivia moaned in pleasure. They made love right there on the table.
Olivia awoke to an empty bed. She followed her nose to the kitchen, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee made her salivate. She poured herself a cup and made her way through the house. She finally saw Taylor out in the back yard, sporting floral gardening gloves. This made Olivia giggle. She knocked on the door as she opened it. Olivia stood, hand on hip, coffee cup in the other. "What on Earth are you doing?"
Taylor grinned. "Harvesting."
"Harvesting what? I didn't know we were growing anything edible."
"The sunflowers. These are the kind with edible seeds. See?" Taylor held up his bucket. It was full of various sizes of sunflower seeds.
"The gloves are a nice touch. Very masculine," Olivia teased as she sat next to him. Taylor put his arm around her and started scratching her back gently. "Oh, that feels so good. What did I do to deserve this?"
"You brought me coffee." Taylor smiled and eyed Olivia's coffee cup.
"Ugh, you're lucky you're so hot. I wouldn't normally give up my precious coffee."
Taylor grabbed her cup hungrily and chugged it like a maniac. "That was delicious."
"You're psychotic. Did you seriously just chug scalding hot coffee?"
"Yup."
Olivia shook her head, stood up, and wiped off her knees. "I'm going to make some breakfast. Want some?"
"Sure! I just have a few more flowers to do, then I'll be in. Oh, there's a little something for you on the coffee table."
"For me? Man, I should give you coffee more often. First, a back scratch, now a present."
"It's nothing special or anything. Just something I picked up at the grocery store yesterday." Taylor's blue eyes twinkled as he smiled. Olivia melted as she walked back into the house. On the coffee table was a bridal magazine. Olivia's eyes widened. They hadn't even mentioned getting married since Taylor proposed, other than to tell their families they were engaged. Olivia's eyes welled up with tears. Taylor was full of surprises. She flipped through the pages slowly, taking in every beautiful picture. She had stopped on a beautiful Remedios gown. It was a cream colored a-line chiffon gown with an empire waist, cap sleeves, and a sheer lace floral top. The back of the dress went down into a deep V that stopped just below the shoulder blades. Olivia earmarked the magazine page and went into the kitchen to start making breakfast. Taylor came in a few minutes later. "Mmm, that bacon smells delicious. I'm starving."
"Bacon's almost done. I'm making French Toast next. Thank you for the magazine. I wasn't expecting that."
"You're welcome. I figured we might as well get a start on wedding planning, you know?" He entered the kitchen and kissed Olivia's forehead.
"What made you think of that?"
"I was in line at the store and saw a rack full of bridal magazines. Then I started picturing you in a wedding dress and the next thing I knew, I was buying the magazine."
"You pictured me in a dress? What kind of dress?"
"I don't know. A sexy, form-fitting silk dress. Strapless. Why?"
Olivia blushed and faced the stove. "No reason. Was just curious as to what you think I'd look good in. I never imagined "sexy, form-fitting" coming from your mouth." The two laughed.
"Well, you're sexy. So it doesn't matter what you wear, you'll still look amazing."
"Tay, stop," Olivia whispered.
"What? Stop what?"
"I'm far from sexy. I'm short, I don't have a flat stomach or perky boobs. I'm not a size 4. I'm just...average. I don't deserve you. You're perfect in every way. You could have any girl you wanted." Olivia began to cry.
Taylor pulled her to him and wrapped her in his arms. "I don't want any girl. I want you."
"Why do you love me? I'm a mess."
"Are you kidding me? If you're a mess, then I'm a disaster. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that you were my soulmate."
"Really? Through my tears and hysterics, you knew?"
"That wasn't the first time I laid eyes on you."
Olivia looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Taylor grabbed Olivia's hand and whispered in her ear. "I never told you this, but I saw you on the road. We locked eyes for a brief moment. Your eyes sent electricity down my spine, and I was hooked."
"You remember me? I didn't think you really were looking at me. When I saw you staring out the window, my heart flipped and I looked away because I knew it was you. I couldn't believe Taylor Hanson was in a vehicle next to me driving down the highway. I can't believe you never told me!" Olivia playfully slapped Taylor's arm. "That still doesn't answer my question. What makes me worthy of your love?"
"You treat me and my brothers like we're normal people. You weren't some crazy teeny-bopper that cried at the sight of me. You were relaxed and genuine, and you have the most beautiful smile. You make me feel like...me. When I'm on the road, I can lose myself. You keep me grounded. And you may not think your stomach is flat or your boobs are perky, you may hate your big hips, but I love every inch of you. Sexiness isn't completely physical, for me. I think sexy is how you carry yourself and how you make me feel. I still get butterflies every time you walk into the room. And I think the bacon's burning." This statement made Olivia jump.
"Shit!"
The leaves had finally turned their glorious shades of red, gold, and orange. The crisp fall air made Olivia shiver, so she zipped up her hoody. Taylor wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Are you cold? Do you want my jacket?"
"No, I'm fine. I'm just not used to fall weather being this cool. In Texas, it never gets below 70, it seems." Olivia laughed and tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. "I love the fall. It's my favorite season."
"I know." Taylor smiled. "This is it." They had stopped in front of a storefront with a For Sale sign in the window.
"This is what, exactly?"
"I'm thinking about buying it."
"For what?"
"I don't know. Maybe a studio."
"Things getting worse over at the label?"
Taylor sighed in frustration. "It's like, no matter how hard we try or how many songs we pump out, nothing is good enough. We have so many ideas that they keep shooting down. They want another Mmmbop, and just when we think we've written one, they want something more."
Olivia reached up and stroked Taylor's hair. "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help? I know I don't know much about music or the industry, but I feel helpless, and I don't like it. I want to fix all your problems and make everything right."
"I know you do, and I love that." Taylor grabbed Olivia's hand. They stood there, staring at the empty building for a few minutes. Finally, Olivia broke the silence.
"You should film it."
"Film what?"
"Everything. Your recording, your struggles with the label and the people, your conversations. You know, for your own personal collection, to have just in case. I mean, you documented your entire Albertane tour. So why not this?"
"Olivia."
"It was just an idea. Sorry if it's stupid..."
"No, that's just it. It's not stupid at all. You're absolutely right."
The three Hanson brothers sat around a table, phone in the center of it. Cameras were surrounding them, filming every moment. From the other end of the phone came a stumbling voice. "Um, I was thinking about, uh, what this elusive single might have to be..." spoke Jeff Fenster. After 15 minutes of nonsense, they finally got off the phone.
Taylor slammed his drink down on the table. "Did Jeff just say what I think he said? All this time they were trying to avoid using the word 'ballad,' but now he's saying that Breaktown or Underneath, both of which are ballads, could possibly be the next single. There he goes, contradicting himself again." Taylor stood up from the table and sighed. "I'm exhausted. This whole situation just keeps getting worse. I feel like I've been neglecting Liv. I'm going home for the day."
Olivia sat on the porch swing, bridal magazine in hand. She looked up and smiled when she saw Taylor pull up in the driveway. He looked terrible, but she didn't have the heart to tell him. "Hey, stranger."
"I'm so sorry." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, plopping next to her on the swing. He sighed and laid his head in her lap.
"It's okay. I know you're under a lot of pressure to get this album done." Olivia absentmindedly ran her fingers through Taylor's hair.
"I've missed you so much. I started writing you a song."
"You did?"
"I did. You're the only thing keeping me sane through this whole mess."
"I want to hear it."
"It's not ready, yet."
Olivia pushed Taylor out of her lap and stood up. "I don't care. I want to hear it."
Taylor sighed again, grabbed Olivia's hand, and pulled her into the house. They walked into the library, which they had turned into the music room. Taylor sat at his keyboard, Olivia beside him. She closed her eyes when he began to play. "I see you in my dreams and you are so fair. I tried so hard to find you, but you were never there. You're my dream girl and none can compare. You're always with me in our kingdom far away. You will be her majesty and together we will reign. You're my dream girl. It'll always be that way..." He stopped playing and looked at Olivia. "That's all I have so far."
"It's amazing. You should record it and submit it to IDJ. If they don't love it, they're idiots." Taylor laughed. "Well, they're already idiots, but this will just prove it." Olivia kissed Taylor and put her head on his shoulder. They sat there talking for another 30 minutes. Taylor filled her in on all the songs they've submitted, the conversation they had with Jeff Fenster earlier that day, and his growing frustration.
"I'm emotionally drained. I just want to crawl into bed next to you and sleep in your warmth. Can we do that?"
"We can do whatever you want to, Tay. I'd do anything for you." With that, Taylor stood, scooped Olivia up into his arms, and carried her to their bedroom, slamming the door behind him.