"Oh, c'mon Ike. It's a great song!"
"No it's not."
"Yes it is. You're just annoyed that Zac was inspired by you."
"Why'd he call it Wimp anyway? It's got nothing to do with being a wimp. It's got to do with a girl bashing up a guy."
Taylor grinned.
"So? We'll just change the name. We've gotta put this one on the album. Or at least on a single."
"I've got a better idea. Let's change the entire song."
Taylor rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Zac, aren't you gonna defend your song? You know, the one I helped you finish about Ike getting bashed up by Babsie."
Zac barely glanced at them. He'd been awfully quiet these last few days. Right now he was mucking around on the keyboard. Concerned, his brothers walked over to see what he was doing.
"Writing another song huh? Can we see?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah, whatever." Zac mumbled, moving away.
Taylor started playing the melody, or what there was of it.
"Zac? I'm worried." Isaac said at last. "It's sounds like a ballad. You do not write ballads. You writing a ballad is like Garfield not wanting lasagne."
Taylor and Zac couldn't help but smile.
"Nothing's wrong." Zac replied. "It's just..."
Then he sighed.
"It's Cassie. I think I like her."
"Well of course you like her." Taylor joked with a confused frown. "Most friends do like each other. It's just this weird thing, I don't know why friends like each other but they do. I don't get myself."
"No, Tay." Isaac smiled. "He means he thinks he loves her. Like a crush or something."
"Oh! Oh gee, well, aren't I an idiot?" Taylor laughed. "So, what's the problem?"
Zac didn't answer. And after a moment Isaac answered for him.
"Don't you get it Tay? Cassie knows all about his little girlfriend game. If he says anything to her, she'll probably think he's trying to play with her as well."
There was a pause as Taylor and Isaac looked at Zac.
"I think she already knows." Taylor said slowly.
Zac refused to look at them.
"And dumped him flat." Isaac added. "She probably doesn't trust you man. See? I believe we told you your game would backfire one day."
"Ok you were right." Zac shouted suddenly. "Is that what you want to hear? That you were right? Just leave me alone!"
Taylor watched Zac storm off leaving Isaac with an extremely startled look on his face.