Always A Runaway
“Then what’s the big
deal!” Tatum finally yelled. “This is a free concert, you said so yourself.
So we couldn’t be here
at
much as anyone else.” Okay,
well, maybe she was lying a little, for she only ever
knew of
them for twenty minutes,
but she wasn’t going to let this man win. His satisfied grin was
making her sick. She was also
getting sick of the way his eyes roamed over the body of
the girl that was
speaking, which was most currently her."
- 1 -
The
three girls walked aimlessly down the street. They were in search of food and
maybe even some more clothing. Tatum was 17 with waist length blonde hair,
green eyes and a very fair complexion. Charlotte, her twin sister, looked
almost exactly the same but was currently sporting freshly dyed auburn hair.
Lindsey, their younger sister, was 16 with faux-raven colored hair and blue
eyes.
“Tatum,
can we stop for a minute. My feet are killing me.” Lindsey complained, from the
back.
Charlotte
and Tatum turned around. “Lindsey, we hafta keep
moving. It’s starting to get dark and we need a place to sleep.”
Tatum
looked at the suffering Lindsey. She felt bad for her. “Here Lindsey, hop on my
back. I’ll carry you, alright?”
Lindsey
smiled, “Thanks. I love you man!” she screeched.
Tatum
smiled as Lindsey climbed on her back.
The trio
continued down the street, ignoring the stares from the wealthy people talking
into their cell-phones.
“I
remember having it that good. But one mistake, one mistake and it all went
away.”
“I know,
Two years
ago, the entire Westin family was invited to a very prestigious ceremony were
there father was to be given an award for his achievement in capturing one of
All of a
sudden, Tatum and Charlotte heard a lot of screaming. “Hey, do you hear that?
It sounds like... girls screaming?” Tatum asked.
“Yeah,
it’s coming from the Beacon Theater.”
“Let’s
go check it out!” Lindsey yelled.
“Well,
we could run if you weren’t on my back!” Tatum smiled at her. Lindsey looked at
her and smacked her upside the head, playfully.
“Just
move! Come on, before we miss it!”
They
picked up their pace a little. As they got closer, they started to make out
what the screaming girls were, well in a word, screaming.
“HANSON!
HANSON! HANSON!”
Tatum
looked at
“I have
no idea! But let’s go find out!”
They
made their way through the crowd and looked for Hanson.
Lindsey
looked down at Tatum. “What am I looking for?”
“I don’t
know,” Tatum answered, honestly. “But I’ll find out. Excuse me?” She asked the
girl beside her.
“Yeah?” She asked, snobbily.
“You
don’t need to get snotty! I just wanted to know who the hell Hanson is?”
The girl
laughed, “You mean, you don’t know who Hanson is? What
rock are you living under?”
Tatum
got that demonic look in her eyes that she was so famous for.
“Uh-oh!” Lindsey whispered. She then yelled, “You
done pissed her off now!”
“Look!
Not everyone is as up-to-date as you are. Not everyone has a warm home to go
home to everyday. Not everyone can afford to buy the coolest clothes or the
best food. Not everyone has a family. Now, I asked you a simple question, will
you please answer it!” Tatum yelled.
Charlotte
and Lindsey laughed quietly at the frightened look on the girl’s face. “They
are the newest and hottest band. Did you ever hear the song MMMBop?”
Tatum
gave her the look again, then lightened up. “No, we
haven’t. Or I’m sure we would know this group you speak so highly of.”
“Well,
they are really cool. If you wait, they’ll be here in like five minutes and
I’ll tell you their names and stuff.”
Tatum
smiled at her then turned back to Charlotte, who was still laughing lightly.
“That
was good, Tatum. Did you see her face?”
“Yeah,
but I think I was a little harsh on her.” Tatum said, turning back to the girl.
"Hey,
sorry I yelled and everything. But it’s been one of those days.”
“Oh,
it’s okay. But trust me, once you see Hanson, all your worries will go away.”
She said this with such confidence that Tatum almost started laughing.
“Oh,
okay. If you say so.”
Tatum
turned back to
Charlotte
and Lindsey both laughed. The girls looked around them for the first time.
There were tons of signs with “I Love Hanson” written all over them. Before
they could look anymore, a white van pulled up and the girls started squealing.
“They’re
here! They’re here!” The girl said.
“Hey,
before you start hyperventilating or whatever, what’s your name?” Lindsey
asked.
“Oh,
um... it’s Samantha. I think. Yeah, Sam for short.”
“Yeah,
three guys.”
Tatum
nodded, “Okay, I’m Michele, Chel for short. This is Tabatha, Tabby for short. And this is Leslie, Lee for
short.” Tatum said, pointing to herself, then Charlotte, then Lindsey. They
never revealed their real names to people unless they fully trusted them. And
you definitely didn’t tell it to someone you just met.
Sam
nodded then turned back to the van. “Look, they are getting out!” She shrieked.
They all
turned their attentions to the van. Within five seconds, three blonde-haired
guys were standing in front of us.
“Okay,
the tall one right there, is Isaac, or Ike for short.
He’s the oldest at 18. He plays the guitar in the group. The middle one there, is
“Wow!
They are young!” Lindsey exclaimed.
“Yeah, I
know. Aren’t they cute?” Sam smiled.
“Uh, lemme get a better look at them and then I’ll answer.” Tatum
said. She stared at them for awhile, which is what every other girl was doing,
including Charlotte and Lindsey. She turned back to them. “Oh yeah, they are
definitely cute.
“Oh yeah! Lindsey?”
“I give
them two thumbs up, way up!” She answered in a comical voice.
“Can
they sing good?” Tatum asked.
“Oh yeah! They have really good voices. You should
listen to them. Oh my!” Sam exclaimed.
“We
might have to sometime. Well, it’s getting really late. We have to go. See ya around Sam!” Tatum said.
“Oh, you
have to leave? Aren’t you staying for the concert?”
“We
didn’t even know who they were so why would we buy tickets?”
“It’s a
free concert so you don’t have to buy anything.”
“Oh,
well, we can’t stay so maybe we’ll catch them another time.”
“Oh, bye Chel, bye Tabby, bye Lee.”
“Bye.”
They all said, then turned around and made their way through the crowd.
- 2 -
Lindsey
absent-mindedly kicked a stone into Tatum’s heel. “Hey! Watch it!”
“Sorry,”
she grumbled.
“What’s
wrong, Lindz?”
She
sighed. “Nothing.” Then as an afterthought, she turned
towards them. “Remind me again why we couldn’t stay?”
Tatum
ran her hands through her hair. “Lindsey, look at us. We don’t fit in with
them. We’re dirty and we have no clean clothes. We probably stink too...”
“Yeah, Lindz. It
would be too embarrassing. Maybe if we looked a little better... but we don’t.
Let’s just hope another opportunity opens up to us...”
Lindsey
looked down to the ground. Tatum saw a lone tear role down her cheek. She
walked over and wrapped her arms around her. “I know, honey. I want to go just
as much as you do...”
Lindsey
looked up at her with pleading eyes. Those eyes that could brake
her everytime.
Tatum
sighed and surveyed their surroundings.
“Okay,
here’s the plan. You two go over to the fountain and wash off. I’ll get us some
clothes. Okay?”
Both
Lindsey’s and Charlotte’s eyes lit up with happiness.
Tatum
smiled and stroked their heads affectionately. “Okay, ‘nuff
mushy stuff. Go wash off... unless you don’t want to see Hanson...” she trailed
off, smiling evilly.
They
both let go and ran over to the huge fountain. Tatum smiled and started on her
conquest for suitable clothing. When she walked into the nearest store, she
went directly to the Young Miss section, searching for something light. She
found a strapless baby tee for herself, a spaghetti-strap baby tee for
She
carefully ripped all price tags and security clips off the articles. After
ripping off her old clothes, she hastily put her layer on, then Charlotte’s,
then Lindsey. Then, she replaced her old clothing over top. She stared at
herself in the mirror. She hadn’t quite reached the disgustingly thin mark, but
she was getting there. Whenever they found food, she always gave it to Charlotte
and Lindsey first. She felt it was her duty. Shaking her head, she composed
herself and grabbed the bathing suit off the floor.
She
walked out of the dressing rooms and walked over to where a lady was standing. Tatum
looked at her “Hello, my name is Cindy” sticker placed neatly on her blue dress
jacket. Cindy looked at her and smiled. “How’d everything go, doll?”
Tatum
smiled. “I guess I’m not as thin as I thought. It doesn’t fit.”
Cindy
laughed. “You have got to be kiddin’ me! You’re so
thin! And you have a beautiful face.... have you ever thought about going into
modeling?”
Tatum
smiled politely. She couldn’t understand why people always asked her that. She
didn’t think she was anything special. “Um, not really.
I don’t think I’d make a good model.”
“Of
course you would! Let’s see... you’re about 5’7, right?” Tatum only nodded.
“You have beautiful blonde hair... blue eyes... what’s two plus two?”
“Uh,
last time I checked it was four.”
“See,
you’re smart.”
“I don’t
classify knowing two plus two a really brain shattering question. But anyway,
thank you for your admiration, or whatever you want to call it, but I really
need to get going. Thanks for letting me try this on.”
“Wait!”
Cindy called, just as Tatum was about to leave. She turned her head around just
in time to see Cindy run up to her. “Take this with you. It’s a mini brochure.
It has my phone number in there... if you ever change your mind, call me.
Okay?”
Tatum
nodded and smiled. “Okay.”
She
quickly left the store and never looked back.
- 3 -
Lindsey,
Charlotte and Tatum all squeezed into some ritzy hotel’s bathroom stall. Tatum
shed her first layer of clothing and threw it to the ground. She peeled off
each layer and handed it to it’s respected owner.
“Wow,
this stuff is pretty cool. Snaps for you, Dee.”
Tatum
smiled at
Lindsey
laughed. “Tatum, this is
She
nodded and looked between the door and it’s frame,
then looked back at Lindsey. “Is there anyone out there?”
“No, why?”
“Because I need to clean up. I was busy stealing
while you two scrubbed, remember?”
Lindsey
blushed and looked down. “Yeah, sorry.”
Tatum
laughed. “Lindz, I was being sarcastic. Lighten up.
Now, since you and Charlotte are dressed can you stand by the door why I wash
off?”
“Yeah
sure, come on Lindz.”
Tatum
frantically pulled her clothes on. “Why? Who’s coming?”
“A
janitor just went into the men’s room so he’ll probably come here next.”
“Did he
come out yet?”
“No.”
“Good.
Quickly get a garbage bag from his cart. Hurry, before he comes back.”
Charlotte
and Lindsey did as told and soon re-entered the bathroom with a fresh pink bag.
Tatum gathered all their old clothes and piled them inside. “I’m going to hide
this bag under the sink. We’re going to need these clothes again.”
“Why?
These are nice. I want to keep them.”
“We will
Lindsey. But you know how cold it gets at night. We’re going to need our
sweaters and I really don’t feel like stealing any more today. Okay?”
“Yeah,
good idea...”
A voice
behind them broke their private conversation. “I’m sorry girls, but you’re
going to have to leave.”
All
three jumped in the air and turned around. They stared at the janitor for a
second then hurried out the door. They practically ran to the Beacon... Okay,
well, they did run actually.
“I hope
it’s not too late!”
The man
looked at them skeptically. “Let me see your hands.”
Confused,
yet willing, the girls held up their freshly washed hands. The looked at each
other as the man waved a purplish-light over them. “I’m sorry. You can’t get
in. You don’t have a hand stamp.”
“What?
What hand stamp? We were told this concert was free.” Tatum spoke what all
three girls were thinking.
“Oh, it
is. But you had to have your hand stamped by
“Did it
start yet?”
“No.”
“Are all
the seats filled up?” Lindsey asked, disappointment
evident in her voice.
“No.”
“Then what’s
the big deal!” Tatum finally yelled. “This is a free concert, you said so
yourself. So we couldn’t be here at
“I’m sorry.
Rules are rules. Maybe next time. Buy a watch or
something... or maybe that’s the problem. You can’t buy anything, can you? You
are just a poor little street tramp. I’m going to write a little book about
this. How you and your friends put on slutty little
clothes, hoping to get in to see Hanson, maybe seduce them. All
for the money. Then you could buy anything you want. Yes, I think I will
write this book. And the very first chapter would be on you, my love.” He
placed his hand on Tatum’s chest, slowly moving in downward. She grabbed it and
twisted it back before he could go any further. “Whoa, slutty
girl got some spunk. Did your Daddy teach you that?”
Charlotte
and Lindsey pulled her back just as she was about to tackle him. “Tatum, don’t!
He’s not worth it.”
Her
composure came back fully. Her body lost all tension and she signaled for them
to let go of her. Their hands slowly fell to her sides, where they rested, just
in case.
Tatum
turned to Charlotte, then Lindsey, giving them both smiles that silently
thanked them. They smiled in return and waited to see what she was going to do.
She took
a deep breath and turned towards the hated man. “They’re right. You’re not
worth it. You are nothing to me. You’re comments go unheard and your touches go
unnoticed. I may be many things in life but there are two that I know for sure
that I’m not. One is a slut nor anything of that
nature. I am a woman. Not a wealthy one of course, but I am still in fact a
woman. And I demand that you treat me, my friends and every other woman upon
this earth with the respect that we deserve. And two, I am not a faller. I will
not now nor will I ever fall into the backlashes you deliver to me. I will not
fall into your trap to make me feel like scum. Because you,
my love, are the scum.” She turned around, bringing Charlotte and
Lindsey with her. As an afterthought, she turned around and walked back to him.
Charlotte and Lindsey started to walk to her, but she signaled them off. “No,
it’s okay. This will only take a second.” She turned back to him and stared him
in the eyes. “Do I have your full attention now?”
He could
only nod.
She gave
him her coldest stare and spit directly in his face. “Put that in your book.”
- 4 -
"Look,
I'm just as upset as you are, but there's nothing we can do."
Lindsey,
on the other hand, was making it very well know how much she hated this. "This truly, without a speckle of a doubt, SUCKS! How
did he even get that job? I mean, I know it doesn't take much talent to run a
black light over a hand.. but
that guy doesn't even come close to being qualified." Tatum tried not to
laugh. She honestly did. But Lindsey's endless rambling made it very difficult.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"I'm
sorry Lindz... I just needed to relieve the tension, ya know? Sorry."
A small
smile played on her lips. "Well, at least I was the source of your
happiness."
Tatum
wrapped her arm around Lindsey's shoulders. "Always, Lindz, always."
Tatum
pulled her over. "Of course you do. But about that
Hanson-deprival..." She got that demonic look in her eyes that she was so
famous for. She looked around to see if anyone was close enough to hear.
"Do you think the backdoors are heavily guarded?"
Charlotte
and Lindsey laughed and put their hands in the center of an invisible pile. Tatum
put hers on top. She smiled at them. "We can so do this."
Their
hands broke apart and the ran between the Beacon
Theater and its adjacent building. Water splashed their ankles as they ran
through each puddle. "Come on! We're almost there!"
Lindsey
reached for the door, only to find it locked. "Great."
"Well,
it was inevitable. Do we have anything to pick it with?" Tatum asked,
hopefully. She checked her pockets as did
"My good luck penny. That's it."
The both
turned towards Lindsey. She pulled at her pockets to reveal nothing. Then her
eyes brightened up and her hands went into her hair. "Here, take this. Its very strong. It should work." She pulled a antique-looking clip out of her hair and placed it in Tatum's
hand.
"But
Lindsey... this is your mother's.. it,
it might get broken."
"Its okay. It was starting to weigh my head down,
anyway." She tried to joke, but it didn't work. But her eyes conveyed that
she really wanted to be inside.
"Okay,
I'll try not to break it."
Tatum
set to work on the knob. Soft music made its way out to them. Voices soon
followed.
...won't
have to reach out for me, i will come to you, oh, i will come to you...
"I
got it!!! Look, the clip is still intact." She handed it back to Lindsey,
who fastened it lovingly in her hair.
They
slowly pushed the door open and quietly made their way inside.
...cause
even if we can't be together, we'll be friends, now and forever...
They
quickly ran over and joined the rest of the girls, making it seem like they
just came from the bathroom.
A big,
burly security guard stopped them. "I'm sorry, ladies, I'm going to have
to check your hands before you can go in the sitting area."
"Sitting
area? Looks like everyone is standing to me."
"Don't
get smart or I'll kick all of you out."
"HEY!
Can you keep it down!! We're trying to hear Hanson here!" Some female fan
yelled in her thick
"Please,
just let me see your hands so I can get out of everyone's way." His voice
held little compassion and a lot of annoyance.
They all
held their hands out. "Here," Tatum said, knowingly. "But you
aren't going to find anything. We just came from the bathroom."
"Yeah? So?"
Tatum
wrinkled her nose. "Eww, don't you wash your
hands?"
The
guards face became a lovely pinkish color. "Fine, go sit down."
The
girls smiled sweetly. "Thank you!"
...ooo, i will come to... yyooouuu...
The song
ended and the keyboard-playing Hanson pointed his finger out to the screaming
girls, which only made them scream louder.
"What's
he doing?" Tatum asked, no one in particular.
"Is he going to hit a homerun, or sumpthin'?"
Two girls behind her laughed.
Tatum
turned around and faced the two girls. One had bright red hair the other had
pure black. "Wha?"
"Oh, sorry. We didn't mean to laugh at you.. its just.. you've
never been to a Hanson concert before, have you?" The red hair girl asked.
"Um,
no, this is our first."
"Yeah,
we could see. Hi, I'm Ebony and this is my best friend Honor." The black
haired girl introduced, then stuck out her hand. All
three girls shook their hands.
"I'm
Michelle, but my friends call me Chel. This is Tabatha or Tabby. And this is Leslie, Lee for short. Nice to meet you. One question... why does he do that? We're
at a concert, not a baseball game."
The
girls giggled. Ebony decided to explain it. "Well
Honor
thought for a moment. "I guess Isaac and Zac don't really have a move, but
Isaac's trademark is his ring. Its a silver band on
his middle ringer. He never takes it off... excluding showers, of course."
Honor smiled and pointed at him. "Look. See it?"
All
three girls turned around and in fact, saw a bright silver band wrapped around
his finger. Tatum looked down at her hand. She saw a replica on her own middle
finger. Only she was sure Isaac's wasn't his father's wedding band.
Ebony
took over. "And Zac, his is dreads. He'll put his whole head in dreads.. very adorable. Have you seen the
'MMMBop' video?"
All
three girls shook their heads. For some reason, none of them could talk. All for different reasons.
"Well,
he has them in in that video. You'll have to see it
someday." Honor said, almost giddy.
"Yeah, someday." Lindsey replied,
distantly. They turned around and then looked at each other.
"Are
you guys feeling as creeped out as I am?" Tatum
finally asked, finding her voice. She gently ran her finger over the band.
"Yeah,
I'm not so sure I want to be here anymore."
Lindsey
took the clips out of her hair and shoved them in her pockets. "I want to
leave."
Tatum
and Charlotte readily agreed. They turned around to face Ebony and Honor.
"Hey,
we just remembered we left our oven on. We have to go." Tatum said,
ushering Charlotte and Lindsey out.
The
girls looked back confused. Ebony shivered a little but managed to reply back
before they left. "Okay, we'll see you later."
The
three girls ran towards the door they came in.
... you guys have been an incredible audience.... we'll be back
real soon if you let us. we love you guys... cya!!...
Isaac,
Taylor and Zac abandoned their instruments and ran towards the back door where
their van was waiting.
"Oh my God! They're coming this way!
"I
can't! Something is pushing on it from the outside."
...
Lindsey
and Tatum both pushed on
Tatum
rolled over on her back. "Um, ouch! Lindsey get off my hair."
"Sorry
dude.
Charlotte
and Lindsey rolled over so they could lay on their
backs. They looked up to two older people looking down at them.
"Are
you girls alright? That was a pretty nasty fall." The woman asked, pushing
her hair behind her ear.
"Um,
did any guys come out yet?" Lindsey asked, worriedly.
"What
guys, sweetheart? Your boyfriends?"
They
laughed to loosen the tension. "Not very likely," Tatum said,
starting to stand up. "Those Hanson boys." Charlotte
and Lindsey followed.
"We're
right here. Did you want something?"
The
girls looked behind the couple to see three guys with amused faces.
The
creepy feeling went through the girls again. Tatum grabbed her stomach, which
felt like it was sinking it the ground. "What's going on?" She
whispered to Lindsey.
"I
don't know, but I don't like it."
"Are
you alright?" One of them asked Tatum, who looked like she was about to
fall over.
They
turned around and ran, as best they could, down the small alley way, praying to
any and all gods that they would never meet the Hansons
again.
- 5 -
"What
does it mean,
Tatum
looked at Charlotte, who was leaning against the dumpster. They had made it
back to their 'quarters' without another incident.
"I
don't know. I've analyzed this over and over in my head... I mean, it could be
coincidental, right? But these feeling... my God, these
feelings... something is happening..."
Lindsey
spoke up for the first time and the past fifteen minutes. "I think those
two girls at the concert felt it too... but I don't know how... I don't know, I
guess I'm just being stupid." Her voice had become a little over a
whisper.
Tatum
walked over to her, draping one arm around her shoulder. "No, Lindsey,
you're not. I saw it too... Ebony.. She shivered before
we left. I know for a fact its not normal to shiver in
a building that's one hundred degrees and rising. Especially with three hundred
other people sweating..."
"And
Honor... She kept looking at us weird... Like she knew us or
something." Lindsey added.
"Guys...
We need to find out what this is..."
"Them?
Them who? Ebony and Honor?" Lindsey asked.
Tatum
knew what she meant. She knew they had to do it too. "No, Lindsey, she
means Hanson."
*
"If
I were a Hanson, where would I be?..." Tatum
chanted to herself. "You know, this would be a WHOLE lot easier if we
actually knew some stuff about them... Where they like to hang out and stuff...
Walking the streets of
Lindsey
nodded. "Yeah, we've been searching for over two hours... I guess if we
were meant to see them again, we would, right?"
Tatum
had turned around and was facing the opposite direction. Both arms were wrapped
around her stomach and her face was scrunched up in pain. Before Charlotte and
Lindsey could go to her, her eyes flew open and her arms dropped, but they were
still shaking.
"Do
you really believe that
"Dammit Tatum."
"What?
You think you're gettin' out of this group hug?"
Lindsey laughed and enveloped them both.
*
"Excuse
me, Sir!! WAIT!! PLEASE!!"
The
girls ran down the streets of
"Its an emergency!!" Lindsey gasped, leaning on her
knees.
"Are
you alright? Should I call
Tatum
put her hands up. "Wait, its not that kind of
emergency. We were just wondering if you knew were the band Hanson went after
the show?"
The
guard laughed and turned to leave. "You crazy kids.
Going nuts over a band... Think they were the Beatles or something."
"Hey
wait! You don't understand... its very important that
we find them."
"Yeah,
get in line ladies. There's about a million other people who'd like to see them
too." He dismissed them with his hands.
"Look,"
Tatum started, softly. "We don't have anything to offer you... we're poor.
Actually, we're lower than poor. We're also homeless. We were lucky enough to
see the band today... and some weird things happened to us... Things that I can't even begin to explain. And whether you
believe me or not, they did happen. We need to find them... Please, I beg you,
can you tell us where they're at."
She was
drained. She had to confront too many people today. Her body was weak, as was
her mind. Those feelings from before enveloped her body once again, and soon,
she was laying unconscious on the ground.
*
"...
color is starting to come back... She should be up
soon... Grab another blanket, she's cold."
Tatum
felt someone putting another blanket over her body, but for the life of her,
she couldn't open her eyes. Someone's head was lying on her legs, while a pair
of hands rubbed her head.
She
finally willed her eyes to open, and saw Lindsey sleeping, head propped on her
legs.
A deep
voice broke her trance. "They fell asleep as soon as we brought them
up."
She
looked over to the person beside her, who had obviously been the one taking
care of her. Her eyes were still blurry, so she started blinking. "Yeah,
your vision is going to be fuzzy for a little. I had a wash-cloth over your
eyes."
She
smiled, inwardly. "Thanks for taking care of me. I'm sorry if..."
"Hey,
it was my pleasure... It's the least I could do after the whole alley scene.
I'm sorry if we spooked you."
Tatum's
heart skipped a beat and her eyes immediately opened. Her breath started coming
out in short, raspy gasps. "Oh my God..."
"Its
okay, just calm down before you give yourself a heart attack... I can't exactly
cure that with a wash-cloth, blankets and tender kisses,
now can I?"
Her
breathing returned to normal and she blushed slightly. "Sorry... its just... we've been looking for you..."
He
smiled warmly and placed his hand over hers. "I know,
we've been waiting..." He stuck out his hand and enveloped hers.
"Hi,
I'm Isaac."
She
returned his smile. She didn't know why, but she knew this was right. She knew
it was time.
"Hi, I'm Tatum."