A/N: This is my first Hanfic in several years. There no specific date that this would take place, the venue is also made up. The only thing that is known is that its 2013, and she is reflecting on her experience in 2000. It bounces back between both now and then, in a story of love, heart ache, & friendship. ENJOY!

    In the mirror I didn’t see my twenty-eight year old-self, I saw the fifteen year old girl with a passion. It might not have been a passion that would get me anywhere in life, but it made all the bad stuff go away. With my newly purchased Hanson shirt from the mall, bell bottoms, and pink doc martins I was set for the show. I made sure to save up my allowance money for the shirt. It was my favorite one; a green t-shirt with a silver circle in the middle; and the three brothers in the center.

    I shook my head, and realized; that was not who was standing there today. My old green Hanson shirt was replaced with a new one, without a picture. The words I, a heart, and Hanson were sprawled across a blue v-neck tee. My bell bottoms were now skinny, and on my feet were a pair of gray Toms.

    Although I was in my old room, staring through the same mirror I had as a kid; I did not live here anymore. I lived in my own apartment, with one daughter; and no husband. He left a few months ago, it was not a good, and I try not to think about it. I hadn’t been to a Hanson show in years, he would never let me go. I should have known then if someone doesn’t care for your passions, they aren’t worth it.

    I knew what my plan was right before the show, I would go to my dad’s diner in town and wait there until doors opened. My dad owned a little diner just outside the concert venue. I was surprised when they played at the venue, it wasn’t a huge venue, and back in 2000 they were still really well-known and popular. The show of course sold out in under a minute back then, and luckily my dad was able to score me tickets.

    I picked up my keys on the dining room table, and headed out the door. My mom insisted on watching my daughter, while I go relive my childhood. It had been a long thirteen years of not seeing them. How could I have ever gotten to that point. Ten years of my life were wasted, I would never get them back. Although there was one good thing out of it, my daughter.

    I said my goodbyes, and headed to the car. I drove a beat down  green two-door hyndai accent. It was the car I had when I turned sixteen. My mom used it after I left and got married. The car I was driving was taken my my ex. She gladly gave me back my old car.

                    *******

    I remember the drive to the concert that day too. Originally this was moms midlife crisis car, but my father insisted it be mine when I was sixteen. It was nice back then, but the green was a little too much. Of course my mom wanted to drive me in it to the show. I sat in the backseat, my mom bopping along to ‘MMMbop’ in the front. We were meeting dad at the diner before the show. Mom went on and on about how excited she was to finally see a show. I really wanted to go alone, but at fifteen my parents would not allow me to go on my own. The town was busy with other fans on their way to the show. Down the street a line of kids and their parents waited in front of the venue. Mom pumped up the music, as we passed. I slouched down in my seat hoping no one saw me.

                    **********

    This drive was much different, I was alone and not listening to ‘MMMbop’. I was enjoying the sounds of their latest album ‘Anthem’. I didn’t have it blasting, and I didn’t have to slouch in embarrassment. The crowd was somewhat different then back in the day. I noticed sleeping bags, and a tent on the sidewalk. Girls had been lined up, not only for that day, but days before. We were all much older, and were able to do our own thing. I guess to each their own, right?

    I pulled up to dad’s diner, and parked my car along the street. It was a cute 1950’s looking diner. The waiters and waitresses were even on roller skates. My dad had all old records plastered on the wall. Red, white, and blue was the theme. There were booths along the walls, and front windows, smaller tables in the middle, and a counter for people to sit at. The cooks were directly behind the counter, and you could watch them cook. Jose my dad’s best friend, and the head cook, gave me a huge hello, as I sat down on a stool.

                    *****

    “Are you excited for Hanson tonight?” He asked, fifteen year old me.

    “Yeah, although I could do without going with mom,” I said.

    “Heard that!” mom shouted.

    We both laughed, as he slid me a plate of my favorite burger. It was so delicious, he even put potato chips on it for me. I bit into my burger, and was minding my own business, when a voice from beside me startled me.

    “Is that potato chips on that burger?” the voice asked.

    I turned to the voice, nodded, and nearly spit my food out. Sitting on the stool next to me, was Zac Hanson. Seriously, no joke Zac freak’n Hanson. I started choking a little, his hand slapped my back.

    “Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.

    “I um.. You didn’t really…” my voice trailed.

    “So, what burger is this, going to have to order myself one.”

    I looked around, thinking someone had to be playing a joke. There were no camera’s, I think I was safe. I looked around, there was one guy by the door who looked to be security. Most of the customers in the diner at the time were an older crowd. No one jumped up to ask for an autograph or anything. I checked again, and it really was him, just him though. I totally forgot he was asking for an answer.

    “I apologize,” I said, finishing my food.

    “I didn’t mean to shock you.”

    “I just wasn’t expecting Zac Hanson to sit next to me,” I laughed.

    “Well I noticed a Hanson symbol on the back of your shirt, and figured I’d surprise you.”

    I laughed.

    “You certainly surprised me,” I said.

    “About the burger, let me handle that for you.”

    “Jose, another Juliet special please,” I shouted out.

    “You finished your…” he turned and stopped.

    “Oh…” his face lit up.

    “Juliet special coming right up.”

    “Juliet special?” Zac asked.

    He ran his hand through his flowing blonde hair. I didn’t get a real chance to check him out. He wore a blue button down shirt, blue jeans and black docs.

    “It’s named after me,” I laughed.

                *********

    “Hey Jose, one Juliet special please.” A voice shouted.

    I didn’t want to turn my head. There was only one person who knew about the burger. My hands shook as I placed my burger on the plate in front of me. My knuckles turned a shade of white, as my hand wrapped around the counters edge. I heard him slide into the stool next to me.

    “Juliet.”

    I told myself I would not feel this way, he was married with kids and one on the way. We hadn’t seen or talked to each other since that day, and now here he was.

    “Zac,” I said.

                        *******

    Fifteen year old Zac looked at the burger in front of him.

    “Potato chips huh? Good choice.”

    He took a huge bite of the burger, and moaned as he chewed.

    “Dis is gwood,” it sounded like.

    His mouth was full of burger, some of it landing on his lap. I couldn’t help but laugh.

    “Sorry, I must look like a complete slob.”

    “No, not at all,” I said taking a bite.

    It was a huge bite, and most of my ketchup landed on my lap. Zac quickly grabbed some napkins from the silver holder in front of us. He dipped the towel in his water glass, and blotted the spot on my pants. We both looked up at each other at the same time. His smile was contagious. Earlier that day if you told me I would be eating dinner with Zac Hanson, I would have thought you were crazy.

    “So is that your body guard over there?” I asked pointing to the gentleman by the door.

    “Sure is, I told them I wanted to explore the town. I came in the backdoor. We called while outside, and asked if we could come in that way.”

    “So why is there a burger named after you? You have some pull on this place?”

    “It’s my dad’s, its like his baby. He is here all day every day. Most guys have cars… well my dad has his diner. His father owned it, and when he took it over he wanted to preserve the way it was. That burger has been on my menu for years.”

    He laughed.

    “So does this mean I can eat for free, or get some kind of discount.”

    “It’s on me.”

    My dad suddenly appeared, patting Zac on the back.

    “Zac, this is my dad.”

    “Nice to meet you sir, love what you have done with the place.”

    Dad laughed.

    “Thank you Zac. Glad we could help you out today. Would you like to bring any food back for your brothers?”

    “I am sure they would love that. We want two extra Juliet burgers to go….”

    “Actually, can you feed a whole family?” he laughed.

    “Certainly, how many?”

    “Well… there’s kinda about nine of us…”

    “That is no problem. Juliet, can you help deliver the burgers?” dad asked.

    My mouth dropped.

    “I uh..”

    “Yeah, that would be great, you can meet everyone,” Zac said with a smile.

    “You sure its okay?” I asked.

    He nodded.

                        *********

    I looked over at Zac, his long locks were not as long, and it was a darker blonde. His hair was a little wavy, and how I longed to run my hands through it. Although he and I were both much older, I still saw that fifteen year old boy with a burger stuffed in his mouth.

    Jose plopped the burger down in front of him. Zac picked up the burger and devoured almost half of it. Pieces of the burger dropped onto the plate as he ate. We didn’t say much at first. I watched him finish his burger. He smiled, with a little dab of ketchup on his face. I laughed.

    “What’s so funny?” he asked.

    “You got a little something…” I went to touch his face, but pulled away.

    I would not do that get close again. I got close that day, and had my heart broken. I don’t even know if he tried to find me again, but I tried to make myself not care. I will keep not caring. I wasn’t sure where to put my hands at that point, so I just placed them on my burger. I took a bite and looked at him.

                        *******

    Zac Hanson, he was so perfect; was I really sitting here with him? I needed someone to pinch me, like now. And to top it off I would be helping him bring food to the whole Hanson family. How amazing was that? Zac and I finished our burgers.

    “Hey kids, we still have a few more burgers to go, would you like some ice cream floats for desert?” dad asked.

    “Floats… ohm make me a chocolate root beer float.. I mean please sir,” Zac said.

    Dad smiled, and took away our plates.

    “Strawberry for you, Juliet?”

    I nodded.

    “So Juliet,” Zac turned to me.

    “Tell me more about you…”

    “Why would you want…”

    He gave me this look, where his eyes rolled up, and his face tilted down. His brows arched up, and his lips turned into a crooked smile.

    “Okay um… I am kinda boring…”

    “Nothing is boring about a girl who has a burger named after herself.”

                    *******

    Zac looked at me the same way he did that day. His crooked smile, made my stomach flutter with butterflies. He finished up his burger and took a sip of soda to wash it down.

    “You know what would make this meal complete?” he asked.

    “Ice cream float?” I asked.

    “Dad…” I called.

    “Coming right up, sweetie.”

    “Haven’t seen you around…” Zac said.

    “Me?” I questioned.

    “No, the Juliet behind you,” he joked.

    I smacked him lightly on the arm, he smiled. I died inside.

    “Well I haven’t been around.”

    “I looked for you every time we came back to the area. I hoped maybe you would be one of the front row girls. I never forgot your face.”

    I swallowed the last of my burger, as my father placed two floats in front of us.

    “Hope chocolate is still your favorite, Zac,” Dad said.

    “You bet,” he smiled.

    He grabbed his float, and began to sip from his straw. He swiveled his chair towards me. Our knees were touching, my heart was pounding.

    “I stopped going to shows, for a long time.”

    “Why?”

    “It’s complicated…”

    “I have time,” he said.

                        ************

    “Every day?” he questioned.

    “Well yeah,  I have been a little obsessed… sorry..” I laughed.

    He laughed with me, not at me. I told him about my obsession with his band. I told him every day in seventh and eighth grade I wore a Hanson shirt. My notebooks were lined with Juliet Hanson, and the Hanson symbol. My walls were covered in posters.

    “I am your typical teenage fan,” I said.

    “That’s okay with me,” he smiled.

    “I mean you haven’t screamed in my face or tried to attack me. I am pretty sure that you are pretty awesome.”

    “I um.. Thank you…”

    I slurped the last of my float, and placed it down.

    “So after we deliver these burgers… is there something to do in this town?” he asked.

    “There is a park, a block up from here. I can’t guarantee it will be empty of Hanson fans though.”

    “I can take my chances, I love swings.” he laughed.

                    *****

    He sat there and listened to my pathetic life story. From the time of the last concert, till now. He didn’t look away from me, his eyes stayed focused. I tried getting through it without my eyes stinging with tears. Unfortunately towards the end, it got hard.

    “He controlled everything I did from the moment we met. I thought I was in love. I tore down all of my Hanson memories. I think I even threw away the picture we took here. The one of us …”

    “Drinking the floats…” he finished.

    We both stopped and looked at each other. I couldn’t hold back, tears poured from my green eyes. My hair hung low against my face. His hand moved the hair behind my ears. I shivered, my heart ached for him to want me, the way I wanted him.

                    ******

    I remember that hand touching me that day too. I had ice cream in my hair. He took his fingers and wiped it ay. Then he tucked my hair gently behind my ears. The look in his eyes both days were the same.

    “Sorry, you had ice cream in your hair,” he said.

    “It’s cool. I don’t mind.”

    “Alright kids, burgers are ready.”

    Dad placed three brown paper bags with handles on the counter. I grabbed one, and Zac grabbed the other two. He thanked my father, and we headed back out the back door. Behind us the security guy followed. We walked through the back parking lot, I could see the Hanson tour bus from our door. I felt like I could just scream. I wanted to so bad, the teeny bopper inside of me wanted to come out.

    We squeezed by the buses, a few lingering fans who had discovered them screamed. Zac waved, and we moved along to the door. The guard let us in first, he smiled at me, but kept an eye out. The door shut behind us with a slam. The hallway into the venue was a little dark, there was lighting every couple of feet. We walked into a lighted hallway with several doors lined along it. Zac knocked on a dressing room, and when we walked in it was Hanson mania. There were kids running around everywhere. A young girl with blonde bouncy hair ran by, being chased by a young boy. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson sat on the huge brown couch that went around the outside walls of the room. Then there was Taylor and Isaac Hanson. I was in the room with all three Hanson’s. My heart rate sped up, and my hands began to shake.

    “Don’t scream, k?” Zac turned to me.

    “Really?”

    He smiled.

    “Just making sure.”

                    ******

    We were standing by the bus, hiding from the fans peering down the alley. After my break down, I told him I needed to get out. We decided to deliver burgers to the guys again. Zac had the bags with the burgers. There weren’t as many of them on tour anymore. Most were back at home, including their wives. It was mainly just the boys right now.

    Taylor and Isaac were shocked to see me. They gave me hugs. Fifteen year old me was waiting to let out a scream. I remember first meeting them, I was calm, cool, and collective. Here I am thirteen years later feeling somewhat calm as well. We gave them the burgers, and ended up leaving to go to the park.

    The way to the park was amazing. Zac went on and on about the past few years. He told me about the record label they started back in 2003. I had been following a little bit, but had to keep secretly do so. I even asked him about his wedding, and kids. He looked so happy as he spoke of them. I knew he loved them, and I needed to wipe the feelings I had for him aside.

                    *******

    “I’ll race you to the park…” he said.

    I loved that Zac was crazy, and adventurous.

    “I bet you’ll loose,” I told him.

    “One… two…”

    “Three,” I yelled.

    I started running before Zac.

    “Cheater,” he yelled.

    I was laughing hoping I wouldn’t trip. I reached the sand on the playground first, he was tight on my heals. The sand got me all tripped up, and I nearly planted face first. Zac’s hands grabbed my waste and caught me just before impact. The feeling came back, and there was no doubt something there from him too. As a Hanson fan everyone has their favorite Hanson, mine was Taylor, and had been since day one. I think after that day, Zac was turning out to be on top.

                    *****

    We got to the swings and sat down. I twisted my swing to face him a little. We both took our shoes off, and set them aside. I ran my toes through the sand, he did the same. After our long conversation, he was somewhat quiet.

    “So aside from the bad things in your life tell me something good. Maybe about your daughter.”

    My swing twisted back and forth, but my eyes stayed focused on him.

    “She’s three, and her name is well.. Lucy.”

    He snickered.

    “Yeah, he didn’t know there was a song name Lucy, I was able to get away with it. So anyway, we call her Luce most of the time. She starts preschool in the fall. Ever since my separation I have been listening to all the Hanson I missed on itunes. She loves dancing to Fired Up.”

    He laughed.

    “I would like to meet her one day. You should bring her to the next show here.”

    “You think you will play here again?”  I asked.

    “I know we will.”

    He smiled, and looked up at me, and then back down at his feet.

                    *******

    The smile caught me off guard again, and I found myself remembering more of that day we met. We finally got onto the swings after giggling for ten minutes and arguing who won the race. He claimed that it was him because he saved me from falling. The two of us got on the swings and continued to talk.

    “I think you will like this venue. It’s kind of small and intimate. I didn’t think you guys would ever play here.”

    “Yeah its our smallest venue on the tour. It sold out in probably one second flat.”

    “I wouldn’t doubt that. My dad knows someone who works there, so he got us front row seats. He usually delivers food, and the owner actually eats dinner some nights. Its pretty cool. I hope maybe one day I can work there, I want to be a lighting guy.. I mean gal, or a sound gal.”

    He laughed.

    “Have you ever done anything with lighting or sound?”

    “Well I have an adobe program, and I love mixing sounds, and music. Its way too much fun.”

                    **********

    “Did you ever follow your dream?”

    “Which one?” I questioned.

    “You wanted to work at the venue as a sound gal, or lighting,” he said.

    “Well… I had gotten accepted to the best school around for audio, that is when I met him. He said girls don’t do those things. So I dropped out after a few weeks, and went to a community school. I never did anything after that. I work at the diner some nights, but that’s about it.”

    “Wow, you should do it, go back to school.”

    I shook my head.

    “You’re crazy Zac. I am still paying back loans from community college.”

    “Can’t you stop the loans while you go to school.”

    “Yeah, but doubling it would make it so much…”

    He stopped my swing, and turned it towards him.

    “Don’t let what happened in your past keep you from your dreams. Seriously Juliet, go for it.” he said.

    “I mean a lot of kids think it would be awesome if their parent worked at a venue where their favorite band is playing.”

    “I know I just…”

    “No, promise me you will apply.”

    “But I..”

    “Promise me…”

    His hand wrapped around mine.

    “Okay…”

    “Say it like you mean it…”

    “Okay,” I said with a little more confidence.

                *******

    “And then I knocked on the door and Taylor was making out with some girl. I was only ten, and girls then still had a cooties.” he laughed.

    “Cooties, really Zac?” I asked.

    “Didn’t boys ever have cooties for you?”

    “I guess when I was in pre-school.”

    “You can’t tell me you had a crush when you were eight…”

    I shrugged.

    “Not a crush but boys were cute.”

    “Well anyway, Tay screamed at me to get out. I jumped up and down singing, “I am going to tell mom.” Then he threw a pillow at me.”

    I laughed.

    “Well you deserved it for tattling.”

    “Hey I was ten what do you want from me?” he asked.

                    *******

    “Yeah getting pooped on from a distance is no fun. Both kids have done it.” he laughed.

    “Luce did it when she was a few weeks old, I was by myself and it was all over my clothes.”

    “I can just see you running around the house, and the baby looking at you like you are crazy,” Zac laughed.

    “Har har har.”

    I smacked him lightly.

    “I have really enjoyed catching up again. I really did miss you.”

    “I missed you too.”

    “I looked for you at every show in the area. Then we played back here a few years ago, I came here and they said you had moved away. I had a Juliet Burger without the Juliet.” he smiled.

    “I can’t believe you came back, no one ever told me…”

    “Maybe they couldn’t…” he gave me a serious look.

    “Yeah, probably not.”

    “Did you come back before you got married?” I asked.

    “I was about to ask her to marry me. When I found out we were playing here, I thought well maybe it’s a sign. So … when they said you moved and were married, I said okay its my sign to marry my girlfriend… and so that’s what I did.”

    “Everything happens for a reason, right?” I asked.

    He nodded.

    “A reason.”

    He stared straight into my soul. Once again the timing was off, married a child on the way, it was a dead end for the two of us. We met for a reason; maybe just for this reason, to have someone to share things with, that we didn’t really tell others. Maybe it was just my lucky break with meeting my favorite band. Whatever it was there was a reason for it, I truly do believe that. However; the reason was never for us to actually be together.

                    *******

    The swing creaked as it moved back and forth.

    “Told you I could go higher than you,” he laughed.

    We were both swinging pretty high up in the air. I kept feeling my butt lift off the swing and coming down hard, as I went forward. I could feel the wind in my hair, and a rush in my stomach as the swing fell back.

    “On the count of three I dare you to jump,” he said.

    “You’re on, Zac Hanson.”

    “Ready…”

    I nodded.

    “One, two…. Three,” he yelled.

    The two of us jumped off the swing, and crashed into the sand. I landed on my feet, but the impact caused me to roll. Zac rolled too. My shoulder smacked into his, and we just laid their laughing. His fingers intertwined with mine as he lay in the sand. I looked up at the blue sky. It was a beautiful spring day, not many clouds, and the perfect temperature. I felt him squeeze my hand. Our eyes met, his were a chocolate brown. I couldn’t stop staring. Our laughter faded, as our faces grew closer.

    “Do you like Twinkies?” he questioned.

    His hand untangled with mine, and his hopped up onto his feet. I sighed, and just sat there looking up at him. He held his hand out to me. I reached for it, and he pulled me up.

    “Of course, who doesn’t?” I asked.

                    *********

    “Twinkies… you know I can’t believe they got rid of them for so long. I don’t know how I survived those few months…”

    Our swings were a lot slower, and we weren’t flying through the air. The two of us lightly pushed the swings, and just talked.

    “I thought of you when they stopped making them. I knew you would be upset.” I laughed.

    “Well yeah, I mean. Wait… I do have some back at the venue. This time come with me, I don’t want to leave you…”

                    *********

    “I have some back at the venue. I’ll be right back.”

    He quickly raced towards the exit to the park. I watched him, kind of confused on why he didn’t ask me to join him. Fifteen year old me was crying inside. I watched as he got a little further. The exit was in arms reach, when he suddenly turned back around. His eyes focused on me with an intensity only the two of us could understand. I felt the butterflies return, as his legs started moving back in my direction. He looked like a guy with a purpose. I watched him quickly march back to me. With each step he made a wider stride. He reached me quickly. He breathed heavily. Our bodies were so close again.

    Without a word he tugged on my waste, and brought me into his hard body. He kept his arms around my waste, and leaned forward.

    “I don’t normally do this, and well, I don’t normally feel this way… but…I …” he began.

    He never finished the sentence, not then, not ever. Our lips met, and it was like the fourth of July. I could feel that “fireworks” feeling, they describe in books. His lips felt soft on mine, and his gentle touch made my heart melt. I Juliet, normal teenager, normal Hanson fan; was kissing Zac Hanson. When he pulled away, he hesitated. His hand brushed my hair back. With one more small kiss he backed away.

    “I’ll be right back…”

                        *******

    “You should just come with me this time, so I don’t loose you again..” he said.

    “You were the one who never came back,” I reminded him.

    “Do you want to know why?” he asked, bringing his swing to a halt.

    “Why?”

    “They wouldn’t let me back out. The crowd at the venue started getting huge, we had to sound check. By the time I went to grab a twinkie and head back to you, no one would let me. I looked for you that night at the show, you were there third row center. You looked sad, and I wanted to right then and there jump off stage and give you a hug. I left you hanging, and then after you didn’t wait…”

    “Did you see that mob scene when you left?” I asked.

    “Yeah, but if I would have seen you through the bus window maybe I could have….”

    “No, you couldn’t. I know now that although I still have these strange feelings for you, I can’t pursue them and they were never meant to be those feelings.”

    “You can’t say that.”

    “Zac your married with kids, and another on the way, you can’t possibly tell me that…”

    “I have feelings for you still after all this time…”

    I stopped my swing, and got off. I quickened my pace, and tried to get out of there.

    A hand grabbed my arm and spun me around.

    “Juliet, did you not listen to the new album? You didn’t think it was a coincidence that Juliet was on it?”

    “Zac that was thirteen years ago… I just thought…”

    I looked down, and I could feel my heart aching all over again.

    “Juliet,” he tilted my chin up to face him.

    His brown eyes, they were the same as they were that day. Even with age, they never changed. I tried so hard to look away, so hard to hide those tears again, but I couldn’t.

    “I love my wife with all of my heart, I do. However; something inside of me just longs to wish I knew what it would have been like..”

    “No Zac, you don’t need to think about what if… maybe I should make this easy for you. I am going back to my dad’s diner. I just want to move on, and seeing you today helped me do that. For all these years I felt as if I totally missed out, I could have been the one you chose, but you didn’t… I will always have feelings for you, but at least now I can say I have closed that chapter.”

    “I have to be strong I can’t be weak, I need to just go back to being that naive fan who didn’t know you. The one with the posters on the wall, who wore your t-shirts every day. I need to be that girl again.”

    “Okay, I was kind of hoping this time I could get your number or maybe …”

    I nervously laughed? I am not really sure what came out of my mouth at that moment.

    “I thought all these years, that I wanted that connection with you, but I don’t know if I could handle friends. I know that I barely know you, but …”

    “You know me, I told you things even my brothers didn’t know…”

    “That’s not… Zac I just can’t.”

    I had no more words to say, I stomped my foot, bit my lip and cried like a baby. I don’t know why he did it, but he wrapped his big arms around me. He was so tall and so much bigger than me. I disappeared into his arms, and cried. I cried over my crappy marriage, I cried over how I could have let someone tell me not to see my favorite band. Then I cried because Zac was right. I had thought many times about what would have happened if he had come back. I wanted that so badly, but now it wasn’t an option, and it sucks. The butterflies came back, and all I wanted to do was feel that kiss that I did thirteen years ago. Our eyes met, I was still entangled in his embrace. Our lips, they met again. Why? He searched my lips for answers and I searched his. It felt amazing, but it felt wrong. I pulled away.

    “Goodbye Zac.”

    “Wait.. Juliet I..”

    “No, its okay. I am okay. We will both be okay. Congratulations on your new addition. Thank you for coming back to see me. I am really glad you did.”

    “I am glad too,” he whispered.

    I started walking away, his voice echoed in my head.

    “Goodbye Juliet.”

    I clenched my hands into fists as I exited the park. I needed to be strong. He had a wife and a family, and I was not about to ruin that over one stupid day when we were fifteen. I didn’t go back to the diner, I went straight online at the venue. All the fans were chatting about their plans to wait by the bus after. Some of them talked about their night camping out, and the ten other shows they planned on. Ten shows, this would be my only one, now and maybe ever. Hanson I loved, their music would always be apart of me. I don’t know how I could ever face another show after today.

    I got through the show, but it wasn’t easy. My dad got me first row tickets. I stood with everyone else, wishing I blended in. I knew I didn’t blend, Zac did nothing but stare at me. At the end he leaned forward, and handed me a drum stick. His hands held mine for a minute, not long enough for the girls around us to notice. He slipped away in less than a minute, and retreated backstage with his brothers.

    After the show I went back to the diner to say goodnight to my dad. I sat down on the stool, and waited for him to finish closing the diner. Sitting on the counter was a picture of Zac and I drinking our floats. I turned it over.

    “I’ll never forget you Juliet.”

    I looked down at the drum sticks, and tried to read the writing.

    “If you ever need me..” followed by a phone number with a Tulsa area code.

    “Oh good, you got the picture Zac left.”

    “When did he leave it?” I asked.

    “Just before the show, he told me to make sure to put it here before I closed up.”

    “Everything okay Juliet?” dad asked.

    “Yeah, I feel a lot better. Goodnight dad.”

    I grabbed the drum stick, and picture; and headed to the car. I listened as girls started screaming from behind the venue. I could see flashes from the alley way, and knew he was there. I knew what I had to do, and that was get in my car and go home to my daughter. Its exactly what I did, but before I pulled out I sent Zac a text.

    I’ll never forget any of it either. Saving your number in case I need a friend… P.S. I don’t regret bumping into you today. Thank you for being a good friend.

    I put the car into drive and began to drive away from the theater. I drove away from my childhood, and it kind of felt good. I felt that I could close that chapter in my life. I could be strong, and needed to be strong for my daughter. Zac would always be apart of my life, even if it was for a few hours. I will never regret that moment in my life, for as long as I live.

    My cell phone beeped when I pulled into my parents driveway. I pulled it out from my bag, and stared at the message from Zac.

    You’ll always be my Juliet.