"Zac! I'm fifteen years old!"
Zac gave her a completely unimpressed look.
"So?"
"You know, you weren't fifteen all that long ago." She continued. "You wouldn't like it if Cassies' older brother flickered the light while you were kissing on the verandah."
"Cassie doesn't have an older brother." Zac pointed out.
"Oh, you know what I mean! You embarrassed me Zac. Ane besides, isn't it supposed to be a parent who does that?"
"Ok, that was low. I was about to apologise for embarrassing you, but as for that, I'm not going to now."
"Like you really would in the first place."
There was silence for a moment.
"I'm just trying to look out for you Jess -"
"Just keep out of my life Zac. I mean, it's not as if you haven't interfered enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, you and your stupid little band." Zac raised his eyebrows at Jess' comment. "You've spent the last few years of your life touring and stuff and dragging us along with you. Don't you get it? I want a life! I want to do what I want to do, with my friends and have a boyfriend and not worry about him cheating on me while I'm away ten months at a time. I want to be able to say that Marie is my daughter and not have to worry about damaging your little reputation. I want to, to..."
Jess would have finished her charade, except the tears had started running down her eyes and she couldn't hold them back any longer. She ran up to her room as fast as her legs could carry her, leaving Zac staring after her, mouth wide open.
**********
A little later, Zac wandered up to Avies' room. He knocked on the door.
"Umph, come in." She said.
Zac walked in.
"Hey Avie." He said.
"What's up?"
"I'm just wondering, umm..." he sat down on her bed. "Umm, do you, ahh, have you, err..."
"Have I what?"
"Uhh, have you ever regretted, no, umm, have you ever wished that we - umm, that Hanson, was never signed?"
"You're not thinking of breaking up are you?" she asked, looking a little alarmed.
"Breaking up? Goodness no. It's just, I was just talking to Jess..." Zac trailed off.
"Oh Jess. Sucks to her." Avie commented. "She's taken to blaming all her problems on everyone else. Although, I do know she's not very happy with travelling all the time. I think she's looking forward to moving out."
Avie patted her brother softly on the back.
"But hey, I never wished that about Hanson. I'm really glad you guys got signed. Don't listen to Jess ok? And try not to influence who she dates. I hate Joel too, he's a complete jerk, but there are some things you have to figure out on your own."
Zac looked at her.
"How old are you?" he questioned.
"Twelve." She replied with a grin.
Zac grunted.
"Well, all I can say is, she better get rid of Joel before he becomes the next Mark."
Avie watched Zac leave the room with a concerned look on her face.