However, while Isaac's methods of distraction worked during the day and when he was awake, the night was a different story. For he first time he began to understand what Taylor went through day after day, year after year. Dreaming of a person he couldn't be with, but wanting to be with.
"I'm not going to the studio today." Zac announced one morning.
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"Oh?" Isaac asked.
"Nope. I've decided. There's nothing anyone can do to convince me otherwise." Then the tone of Zac's voice changed. "You just keep pushin' and I'm gonna go crazy man."
"You already are." Taylor joked.
Zac grinned at him.
"Probably. But today, this crazy person is going to the beach."
"That's probably a good idea Zac. You should all take a break today." Diana put in.
"Yeah, that'll be great." Taylor said, looking at Isaac.
"No complaints here." Isaac replied.
**********
A little later that day, there they were. Slathered in sunscreen. Naturally the first thing these three guys did was jump into the water. Well, ok, Zac was the only one who literally jumped all the way in, Taylor and Isaac were a little more controlled.
Emphasis on the word 'little'.
As the day went on there was a moment when Isaac was just lying down on the beach, letting the waves lap over him and enjoying the sun. It was at this moment that Zac and Taylor decided it would be fun to jump him.
So they did.
After a few minutes of good-natured fighting, all three of them lied down on the beach with the waves lapping over them and enjoying the sun. Zac turned his head to where Mackie and Avie were happily building a sandcastle.
"Wanna go crash the castle Tay?"
Taylor rolled over and looked at them, then at the castle.
"It is pretty tempting isn't it... What do you think Ike?"
"I don't think we should. They'll get pretty upset."
"Nah, they won't, they just finished. Mom's taking a picture of it now."
"Still, I don't know..."
Zac held up his hand with all five digits showing. Isaac couldn't see his hand so he didn't notice the quiet countdown as Zac slowly put down each of his digits one after the other. As soon as the last one dropped...
"Yeah okay, lets do it." Isaac decided.
Taylor grinned at Zac as they ran towards the sandcastle.
"Cowabunga!" They cried jumping on top of it.
And they were so busy laughing they didn't really hear Avie and Mackies' complaints.