I rested my head on my hands as I stared out into the city of Paris from our tiny hotel suite window. The breeze from the outside air blew a few strands of my hair across my face before I brushed them aside and tucked them safely back into my pony tail.
The concert from the day before had been great. Nothing I'd worried about had happened and with nothing going wrong, the concert was a blast. Our first stop on the tour wasn't such a big deal after all. But I'd been very tired after it was over since we had to play for such a long time. It was worth it.
Jennifer had watched the entire show off the side of the stage with delight. I laughed and remembered how she looked with big head-phone type ear muffs to block out the sound of the blazing speakers. And then I remembered how she'd complained afterwards about the huge ringing sound in her ears. I couldn't blame her though... I was feeling the same way.
"Tay, come on, I'm ready," the sound of her sweet voice interupted my thoughts as I turned away from the window and smiled at Jennifer.
"Go ahead without me... I'll catch up," I told her as she flashed me an innocent grin and left the room while fixing her hair in a pony like mine.
I ran over to my back-pack and snatched out the old, untouched, purple notebook that I'd been carrying around for quite some time lately.
I turned to the first page and stared down at the barely readable lyrics that I'd managed to scribble down at priceless moments where a short idea had popped into my head.
It was another one of my songs. But this one didn't exactly have a theme to it. All that could be read were a few nonsense thoughts about nothing at all. It was just something to help keep my sanity.
I followed Jen's footsteps out of the suite and found her waiting by the level stairway. We weren't very far off the ground and it was much faster than taking an elevator.
"Jennifer, what would you think if we put out Hanson dolls on the market?" I asked out of the blue.
"Why? I thought you already made it clear that you wouldn't?"
"Well, some company gave us an offer and we're supposed to be considering it," I explained.
Jennifer made a quick thinking sound and thought for a moment. "Well," she started, "I can tell you right now that you'll have thousands of very pleased fans since they'll have something new to cuddle with at night!"
I stopped short and shot her a quick glare. "Jen, get serious."
"I was being serious!" she insisted.
"Right," I said with my nose in the air. "And I suppose that Barbie would also have a new replacement for Ken," I added.
"Exactly."
"Sure, sure sure... but, really, do you think it's a good idea or-"
Suddenly, I felt my feet slip out from under me as I barely missed a step and suddenly found myself landing back first on a flight of stairs before falling down to the next level and rolling onto the flat area between the floors.
"Oh my God, Taylor! Are you okay?" I heard Jennifer gasp from the top of the staircase as her feet took off and headed towards me.
"Watch out for that first step, Jen. It's a real lu-lu," I goaned in a voice barely above a whisper and held my back as I struggled to stand up.
Jennifer was already by my side and helping me up. "Gosh, what happened? That was a real fall. Are you okay?" she asked in a voice that reminded me of my mother.
I struggled up onto my feet and straightened out my back when I heard a loud crack!
"Damn! Can I say ouch?" I groaned and gritted my teeth. I could already feel a few bruises forming. "That's gonna lose me some fun at the next concert!"
"Tay, are you alright?" Jennifer asked again.
"Uh, I think I am."
"Are you sure?"
"I think. Except... oww... my back... ouch! Grrr! Jen, can you...?"
I stopped and smiled for an instant when I realized that Jen was rubbing my back. A comfortable feeling ran through my body and I sighed loudly. "Ahh, that feels good," I whispered and turned my head.
She smiled and continued running her hands across the painful spot on my back. "I.. I.." I bit my lip, "I think it's a little lower."
"Is this good?" Jen asked as she moved her hands down a bit further.
"Lower."
"What about this?"
"Lower," I insisted as I rocked back and forth.
"Uh.." Jennifer stopped and I snapped out of my trance.
"Hey! That felt good!" I whined and turned around quickly.
"Yea, well, we're in a public place and I'm not about to feel your butt in a hotel staircase!" she snapped.
"Oh, be quiet," I said stubbornly and pressed my lips up against hers, hoping that she would shut-up.
I felt her kiss me back and gently rap her arms around me, and I found myself doing the same thing. When I backed away from her enough to look into her eyes, I gasped silently. I'd never realized how beautiful their greenish color could be.
"I'll race you outside," I whispered suddenly and took off down the rest of the steps and out to the lobby. "Ow," I spit out and gritted through the pain as I ran.
"Hey! That's not fair! Come back here!" I heard her yell as I raced outside and onto the front steps of the hotel. I didn't bother with any sort of disguise that day and just prayed that no one would notice. I wasn't in the mood to dress up. I just wanted to relax and be myself for once.
Comfortably, I stretched out on the steps and took out my notebook. This was the most perfect place to spark up some ideas.
"You little creep!" I heard an exhausted sigh from behind me.
"Oh, so now I'm both clumsy and a little creep?" I turned around and asked Jennifer. Then I decided to put on my sweet little puppy dog look to add to the trick.
"I was only kidding," she laughed and came up to where I was stretched out and sat down next to me.
"I know. So was I," I put on a wide grin and got one right back in return.
"You just think you're so funny, don't you?"
I nodded and laid my shoulder playfully on hers. "Come on, Baby! Tell me ya love me! Come on, how much do I have to pay you to say that, huh?" I said in a strange voice and elbowed her.
"I'll just go ahead and say it for free as long as you shut your mouth, okay?" she asked in a cute voice.
I nodded.
"I love you Jordan Taylor Hanson," came a soft whisper in my ear.
"I didn't hear you!" I teased.
"I love you, Taylor!" she coooed a bit louder.
"Did somebody hear a voice or was that just the wind?"
"You really are picky, aren't you. Okay, how about this. Tay, I love you more than my heart can withstand and I don't think that I'd ever make it without you by my side," she said in an almost normal voice.
"Aww, that made me feel so much better," I sat up straight again while still eyeing her.
The serious look she had gave me shivers even though it was way over 90 degrees outside.
"I love you too," I whispered and gently kissed her soft lips for a few seconds.