Taylor laughed and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you going to keep it since your wonderful boyfriend signed it?"

She looked down at the white cast wrapped around her arm to where Taylor signed it. Baby, I'm so sorry for everything that has happened. I love you so much. You mean the world to me Ashley. Get better soon so I can see you in a swim suit! I love you baby, Taylor.

"Yes, I'm going to keep it Tay. But I'm not going to be like you and keep it to see how much my arm has grown," she laughed.

Taylor looked at her playfully. "Oh you think that's funny, do you?"

She smiled at him and broke free from his arms. "Yes, I do think that was funny. That's why I said it."

Taylor moved towards her.

Ashley laughed and ran up the stairs to her room and shut the door.

"Oh that's mature," he laughed and twisted the door knob. It opened. "Smooth oh Graceful One. You forgot to lock it."

She was sitting on her bed looking at him. "I wasn't going to lock it, Silly."

He gave her a sly look and joined her on the bed.

"Zac, I need to talk to you." Dawn said nervously as she rocked her feet back and forth on the old swing on the Hanson's porch.

"What about?" he asked, looking at her curiously.

"Everything. About how I treated you. I truly am sorry about that. You are really special to me and I don't want to lose yo--"

Zac clamped his hand over her mouth. "Don't start, Dawn. I forgive you. Now stop apologizing to me and come here." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him in a tight hug.

Dawn smiled. "Zac, will you go back out with me?"

"Duhh!" he yelled then kissed her sweetly. "Come on, let's go to your house and retrieve our siblings.

Taylor ran his hand through Ashley's hair as he kissed her deeply, trying not to choke her.

Ashley felt Taylor move his lower body against her. She shifted her body to the right, but it only made the situation worse. She didn't know what to do. The lower part of his body was right up against hers.

Taylor moved his hands from her hair and rested them on her waist and tugged at the bottom of her shirt. He finally pulled it over her head then looked down at her. "Wow," he whispered. He leaned down and kissed her neck lightly.

"Taylor," Ashley tried to say sternly, but it escaped her lips in a soft moan. She closed her eyes as his lips moved to the top of her chest. He stopped suddenly and pulled his own shirt over his head.

"I'll be right back Zac. I need to get something out of my room." Dawn said. She raced up the stairs and saw that her sister's door was open. She heard something coming from the room, so she walked over to the cracked door and opened it. She gasped at what she saw.

"Dawn! Shit!" Taylor quickly jumped off of Ashley and handed her shirt to her and pulled his own over his head. "Can't you knock?"

Dawn frowned. "The door was open, stupid. You should be glad it was me and not our parents!" She looked over at Ashley who's face was the color of an apple. Wither it was from embarrassment or from what they were just doing, or both, Dawn didn't know. She looked really uncomfortable as she pulled the shirt on.

"You're not going to tell on us are you?" Taylor asked frantically.

Dawn shook her head. "No. I wont. I don't want to get you two in trouble. Just don't let me catch you doing this again." She gave them an evil smile and walked out of the room, making sure to leave the door wide open.

Taylor sighed and turned to Ashley, ignoring Dawn's comment. It's now or never I guess. "Ash I have to tell you something."

She looked at him. "What?"

He took her hand. "We're going on tour in two weeks."

Ashley groaned. "How long are you going to be gone?"

He looked at her sadly. "At least six months. But it could be less.." He paused. "or more."

She sighed and leaned against the head board of her bed and closed her eyes. "How long have you known this?"

Taylor leaned his head in her lap and looked up at her. "Since before you and I started going out. Well, before I first met you"

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"Because I didn't know how long we would be together. I thought we would have been broken up by now. I didn't want to be, but this relationship has lasted a lot longer than I anticipated." He said.

"I see." Ashley whispered sadly.

Taylor took her hand and kissed her palm. "I don't want to leave you Ash. But I have no choice. I have to go."

"Zac! How could you not tell me about this?" Dawn exclaimed. "I mean, I need to know these things! Seriously, you should ha..."

Zac silenced her by pressing his mouth to hers. "I know. I'm sorry. I should have told you, but I forgot. I was going to tell you that day in the tree house but you ran out too soon."

Dawn sighed. "When will you be back?"

"I don't know. It depends on how well it goes but we will be gone for about six months."

"Six months!" Dawn declared. She sighed again. "That's a long time."

Zac nodded. "Yeah I know. I'll miss you."

She hugged him. "I'll miss you, too."

*****TWO WEEKS LATER****

Ashley sat down on the curb and wrapped her arms around her knees as she watched Mr. and Mrs. Hanson and their bodyguard Jason pack their stuff in the van. She looked towards the house just as Taylor walked out.

He spotted her and ran over to her quickly. "Hey babe," he whispered as he sat next to her.

"Hey," She laid her chin on her knees. "I can't believe you're leaving." She said sadly.

"Me either," he took her hand. "But I'll write you everyday. I'll call you whenever I can. We'll pay for you and Dawn to come and see us. And we'll come see you when we can." He put his arm around her and kissed her head. "We'll work it out."

Ashley nodded slightly. She looked towards to house again and saw Zac and Dawn joking around and laughing. He leaned over and kissed her. They were enjoying the last day they had with each other for the next six months.

"Come on guys, time to hit the road." Mr. Hanson called out.

Taylor stood up, taking Ashley with him. "I wish you could come with us."

She took in a deep breathe, trying not to cry. "Me, too."

He hugged her. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Taylor, come on. Zac, you too." Diana instructed her sons.

Taylor grabbed her hand. She started walking but he stopped her and pulled her to him again and kissed her passionately, using his tongue to tease her.

"Jordan Taylor, get over here. We're about to leave." Walker called impatiently.

Taylor pulled away from Ashley slowly. "I better go."

Ashley nodded. She wiped a stray tear off her face.

He touched her face one last time, then headed to the van. He stopped at the door and mouthed, "I love you," waved slightly, and climbed in.

Dawn walked up to her sister and put her arms around her shoulders."It'll be okay sis. They'll be back to annoy us in no time."

They watched silently as the Hanson's pulled out of the drive way.

Taylor and Zac turned to the back window and waved at their girlfriends until they were out of sight.

Dawn and Ashley started to walk off when both of their pagers went off.

Dawn smiled. "Zac. He's such a nut. What does yours say?"

"One-four-three like fifty-billion times. Taylor," she smiled through her tears. "Come on, let's go home."