There and Back Again part 2
THERE AND BACK AGAIN
A FANSON'S TALE
BY MARCIANA CARANDANG
PART 2
I found out after the show that there was going to be some people who were going to get autographs. Rather long story short, I was able to join the group at the last minute. I had the boys sign the envelope that my ticket came in.
Ike was all smiling and signing rather gratefully, though he was obviously rather tired. Taylor was all smiling, and I was congratulating them on great show, and he said, "Thanks." So I asked after Nat and Ezra, and then he totally smiled at me this totally grateful smile (my breath totally hitched) and his ohsoblue eyes totally lit up and he said, "They're doing great, thanks for asking!" It occured to me then that he was looking directly at me. That he was smiling directly at me. That Taylor Hanson was talking directly to me. I totally melted. And he finished signing my envelope with a flourish.
I got a smile from Taylor Hanson. The night couldn't get better right?
Wrong.
I got to Zac, and he took my envelope and started signing. I was like, "Dude, you were great up there tonight!" and he said, "Really? Do you really think so?" I answered, "Totally," and I realized at that point that my accent was going from Well-Educated Filipino English to American English in a matter of heartbeats.
Then something happened that totally changed the way I look at Zac.
He gave me back the envelope and started signing someone else's CD, and then he said, "So you enjoyed the show?"
He was signing for someone else but he was so totally talking to me.
"Definitely!" I answered, and he nodded, smiling, then he said, "Cool. You hanging out after the show?" Guh, I couldn't help thinking. But Stupid Me rambled, "No, I can't, I've got school tomorrow at 11 am, besides my mom is picking me up coz I'm 18 and can't drive." He laughed this totally rich laugh and said, "Aww, s'too bad." Then my mom texted me to come out already, coz she and my dad had just arrived outside the entrance/exit. My message tone just happened to be "Lost Without Each Other", and I have a tendency to start singing along to my ring tones for no reason. All out of habit. So I started singing as I replied with a text to my mom ("Wait a while, I'm getting autographs, sorry, just a little while"). Then Zac cocked his head to one side all cute-like and said, "Message tone?" I was like, "Yeah," all sheepishly. I hadn't been aware that I was singing along with my message tone.
"Well, I gotta go, thanks for everything," I said very quickly. "Aww, too bad," he said, "See ya around." Then he hugged me. Zac totally hugged me. I hadn't been asking for it, he just did. And it wasn't just a hug for hug's sake, it was a squeeze-hug. You know the kind of hugs you give someone you totally care about? That. Exactly. I thanked him for that as calmly as I could, and he smiled at me then, totally sincerely, and I never really realized how great his smile was until that moment, and I totally fell in love with him again. He said, "Glad you enjoyed the show, I'll see ya!" And then I waved goodbye and I was off.
Last night was one of the best nights of my entire life. I had a dreamless sleep. You know why? Because a dream came true last night. Mine. I got to watch Hanson live, and I got to meet them too. I got an autograph from Ike, a smile from Tay, and a squeeze-hug from Zac. I didn't need another dream last night.
But now life has to go on. Things have to go back to normal. It's World AIDS Day, and I'm spreading the message.
But I will never be the same again. Thanks for everything, Hanson. Y'all made a dream come true last night.
Luv, Peace, and Bullet-Proof Marshmallows,
~Marciana