"Um, Dawn? Back heres the treehouse, not toward the house, you know," Zac laughed, carefully guiding her in the right direction.

"Huh? Oh, Zac, I'm sorry. I just got preoccupied," Dawn said with a sigh, breaking her gaze from the room of the Hansons house where Taylor and Ashley were. She realized that the more time she saw Taylor with her sister, the more she felt unhappy. Arrggh. I mean, I DO like Zac alot and all, but Taylor.....

"Dawn??" Zac stopped and waved his hand in front of her face. "You stopped." He looked seriously in her eyes. "Are you ok?"

Dawn nodded, carefully taking her hands from Zacs. "Yeah, I'm ok. I don't know why I'm like this all of a sudden. Maybe its from being in the sun all day." She brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes as she looked over toward the setting sun.

Zac nodded. "Yeah, that must be it." They reached the trunk of the tree and began to climb up the steps.

Dawns eyes grew as she gazed around the floor of the house. "Wow. You guys must have spent a lot of time on this." She walked over to one side and peered in one of the rooms.

Zac followed her. "Yup, this is our 'living room'," he laughed, gueastering toward the sleeping bags and folding chairs and a small table and small cabinet for food."Sometimes we camp out here, especially if one of my brothers or sisters gets bratty."

Dawn smiled and sat one one of the 'couches'. She closed her eyes, sighing. She jumped as she realized Zac had sat beside her and placed his head on her shoulder. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. "Did I scare you babes? I'm sorry," he whispered.

Dammit Zac no don't start.. Dawn thought. She shook her head. "No, I was just taken by surprise. Thats all."

"Okey dokey." Zac replied. He leaned over and gave Dawn a small kiss before laying his head back on her shoulder.

He kissed me...oh no Dawn thought as Zacs hand began running up and down her leg. "Um, Zac? What time is it?" she asked.

Zac looked at his watch. "7:35. Why?" he asked.

Dawn racked her brain. "I have to go now, I have practice. Sorry." She stood up and began walking toward the exit of the treehouse.

"Wait," Zac said, rushing after her. "Call me alright?" he asked. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. Dawn responded, then Zac leaned over and gave her a long kiss, carefully putting his tongue in her mouth.

"Um, ok. Bye Zac." Dawn said, walking down the steps. Wow she thought, amazed by what just happened.

"Bye!!" Zac called. Whoa he thought. He then went over by the window and grabbed his sketchbook.

"Ash?" Dawn called, stepping in the house. She had to get her sister before she went home. "Ash, where are you..." She stopped when she reached the family room. Taylor had his shirt off and was kissing Ashley's neck deeply while his other hand worked up her shirt. OH NO She turned and ran out of the house, and advanced down the street.

"DAWN?" Ashley called, pushing Taylor off her and running after her sister, leaving Taylor wide eyed. Crap Ashley thought, looking out the door. "Where is she??" she said.

Taylor came after her. "She saw?" he asked.

Ashley nodded. "Yeah, I'll call you later. Poor Dawn. Poor Me!" she kissed Taylor once more. "Bye Tay," she called, drinking in Taylor's body before running down the street.

"Bye," Taylor called, and went inside to put his shirt back on as Zac came in from the backdoor and stared at Taylor wide eyed.

"Tay? What the hell were you DOING??" Zac demanded, stepping into the light so he could observe his brother more closely.

Taylor blushed and started to pull his shirt over his head, but Zac stopped him. "What is that, Tay? HMMM?" Zac asked, pointing to a small wrapper in his shirt pocket.

Taylor glared at him. "Its nothing, Zac. I didn't use it or anything. We didn't get that far. So just shut up and go back to the treehouse."

A smile began to form on Zacs lips. "And what would THAT be?" he asked, guestering toward a stain on the front of Taylors shorts.

Taylor lunged for Zac and got him in a headlock. "Hey!" Zac squeaked. "Let me go!!"

Taylor shook his head. "Hell no. Prmoise you'll keep your mouth shut about this and I'll let go."

Zac nodded. "Ok ok ok!!" Taylor released him.

"So," Taylor asked, smoohting his hair. "What were you and Dawn up to?"

Zac turned away, his cheeks turning pink.

"Well?" Taylor pressed. He looked over and noticed Zac was as red as a tomato. "Zac, what did you do??"

Zac looked down. "Um. I uh..."

Taylor grabbed a lock of his hair. "AHH! Ok, I tried, to um, uh make a um, move on her. I uh, kissed her, and she um said she had to go. I did it unexpectly," Zac mumbled.

Taylors mouth dropped open. "You did WHAT?? Oh Lord that's funny!! Poor Dawn! No wonder when she looked in on us she looked upset!!" he looked at Zac pointinly. "Um, how exactly did you kiss her?"

"I um hooked up with her," Zac said, turning red again.

"AHAHAHAAH!! Sorry Zac. I can't believe you did that."

Zac rolled his eyes and stomped toward the stairs. "Can't I ever talk to you about anything without you making fun of me??" Zac shouted at Taylor, going to his room and slamming the door.

"Dawn? Dawnie?? Staley?" Ashley called, stepping into her house. She glanced around and saw Dawn sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. "Oh, gosh, are you ok?"

Dawn raised her head. "Um, yeah," she said quietly.

Ashley sat down beside her and rubbed her back. "No you're not. I'm sorry you had to see that."

No shit Dawn thought bitterly. "I know. It was my fault... I came to get you from the treehouse.."

Ashley nodded. " I know. I didn't want to start, but Taylor seemed....hormonal or somthing. We got out of hand. I was going to stop anyway. But why did you want to leave so early? Did something happen?" she asked.

Dawn shrugged, still surprised by Zacs sudden actions. "No, not really," Dawn replied.

Ashley looked at her curiously. "Huh? What happened? Did something happen between you and Zac?"

Dawn looked at her sister in the eyes. "Um, yeah. He umm kissed me."

"WHAT?!"

"He kissed me. Damn!"

"Lord. I didnt know he had it for you."

"Um, i don't know how to put this...but I don't exactly like him like that. Hes the one who pushed ahead and stuck his tongue in my mouth!" Dawn exclaimed.

Ashley sat back. "WHOA. DON'T tell Zac that. Well, not in that way. Why don't you? Hes AWFULLY sweet and hes like his brothers, so he'll treat you right."

Dawn shook her head. "Thats not it....I like someone else."

Ashleys eye grew huge. "WHO?"

Dawn just grinned. "Ill tell you when I;m ready." she replied, a sinking feeling forming in her stomach.