"How did what go?" he replied cheekily.
"Your date with Al-lan-na." Taylor said in a sing-songy voice.
"Umm, I'm not gonna tell you." Isaac replied. "Until tomorrow or something."
Zac stuck out his hand.
"Congrads, you've got your first girlfriend."
Isaac stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing.
"Am I that transparent?"
"No." Zac replied ruefully. "I just wanted to trick you into admission - and it worked."
Isaac grinned and whacked him over the head playfully.
"Yeah, ok, we're dating."
"Are you gonna tell the fans?" Taylor inquired.
"Yep, but I'm not gonna drop her name or anything."
"That's probably a good idea."
"Speaking of fans, when do we have to start recording again?" Zac asked.
"Oh, January at the latest." Ike answered.
"Cool, heaps of time."
"So what did you guys do tonight?"
"Mum invited the new neighbours over." Taylor replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah, and Tay was totally drooling over the chick." Zac chuckled.
"She's pretty hot huh?" Isaac asked with a grin.
"She reminds me of a barbie doll with red hair." Zac interjected.
"A red-head huh? I thought you only went for brunettes and blondes." Isaac teased.
"Oh, shut up." Taylor retorted.
"Nuh-ah. So are you gonna ask her out? Or does Zac have to do it for you?"
Zac grinned cheekily.
"Oh, c'mon Ike, we all know there's no point. Tay's saving himself for Her."
Taylor glowered at him.
"I am not."
"Sure. Everywhere we go you're always so certain that you see her -" Isaac began.
"- but it always just a look-alike." Zac finished.
"I do not!"
"Yeah, well, it sure feels like it."
Taylor stood up and glared at them.
"She probably doesn't even exist." He announced and stormed off to his room, passing Diana on the way.
Diana sighed and looked at Isaac and Zac.
"Guys, you should know he's very sensitive about Her."
"Well, he should have stayed in therapy." Isaac put in.
"There was no point. Nothing was being accomplished." Diana sighed again. "Look. Can't you just be a little more considerate?"
**********
Now in his room, Taylor touched the face of one of his carefully drawn pictures. He took out the one he was working on and continued with it.
"You wouldn't mind if I asked Jade out would you?" he asked. "Oh, man, what am I doing? I don't even know who you are."