"She and Sarah, that's her cousin," Zac explained from his place on the floor, "are going to be at their grandmother's house across town until seven or seven-thirty. That's when we're supposed to go over there."

"It's six o'clock right now," Isaac pointed out from the top bunk.

"We've got an hour to waste," Nicole said from where she and Taylor were sitting on the floor with Zac. "What can we do?"

"I need to change clothes," Zac said.

"Hmm....," Nicole said. "Do you know what you're going to wear?"

"Yeah," Zac said. "My yellow pants and a black tee shirt."

"Zac!" Nicole cried in mock-horror. "You've worn that a million times. I'm going to pick out outfits for you guys."

"Ah, you just want to see us get dressed," Taylor joked.

"Well yeah," Nicole said, playfully pinching his side. "That's it exactly."

"Me first!" Zac yelled, jumping up. They all laughed and Nicole walked to the overflowing closet.

"Here," she said a minute later, throwing a metallic blue shirt and black leather pants at Zac. He looked at the outfit and then back at Nicole. "Perfect!" he said, running down the hall to the bathroom. When he came back, Taylor left and changed into a pair of khaki shorts and a deep red tee shirt. He returned, and Isaac put on a pair of wide-leg cords and a white tee with a short-sleeved blue shirt over it.

"You guys look great," Nicole said, surveying them.

"You're good at this," Taylor pointed out. "Well, you dressed us up, so we get to do the same for you."

"Oh god," Nicole wailed jokingly, covering her face with her hands. Then she good-naturedly allowed them to drag her home and dig through her closet.

"Ooh, wear this!" Taylor said, holding up a tiny, black formal dress.

"Settle down Tay," Nicole said, hanging the dress safely in the closet. "I want something comfortable, not something that's going to let you check out my ass."

"What can I say," Taylor said. "It's nice." He grinned and Nicole shook her head. She punched him lightly in the shoulder then kissed him quickly. "Thanks," she said.

"Get a room you guys," Zac commented, smiling. "Here Nic; me and Ike got ya something somewhat appropriate." He shot Taylor a sarcastic glance.

"What?" Taylor asked. "I like the dress!"

"Then you wear it pin-up boy," Nicole joked.

"I can see the headlines now," Isaac said, laughing. "Hanson boy spotted arriving at a slumber party in drag!"

"Ha ha, very funny," Taylor said, rolling his eyes. "Okay, forget the dress. What did you guys pick out?"

Nicole held up a pair of loose, khaki cargo pants and a navy baby-doll tee. "Perfect!" she said, and left to try on the outfit. When she returned, they cheered and applauded. "The Hanson brothers, fashion designers extrordinare!"

"Shhhh," Zac said. "Don't tell anyone; we can fall back on that if the music gig doesn't work out," he said sarcastically.

"Nice to meet you," Sarah said shyly as she shook hands with each of them. Nicole couldn't help but notice that her rosy cheeks got even pinker as she shook hands with Taylor.

"Who all's here?" Zac asked, looking around.

"Us and Sarah's sister," Meredith explained. "That's her younger sister Leslie," she said, pointing to a girl about Zac's age who resembled Sarah. "She's 14."

"Why didn't you tell us that her sister was coming too?" Zac asked Meredith.

"Oh, she wasn't," Meredith explained. "But she decided to come up here yesterday." She turned to her cousin across the room. "Leslie! Get off the phone. Everyone's here, and you're running up the phone bill." Her cousin rolled her eyes sarcastically, but said her good-byes to the person on the phone. Soon she was crossing the room towards them.

"Hi," Leslie muttered in a bored tone. Meredith introduced everyone again, and Leslie nodded silently at all of them as they were introduced. "I heard you were going with Ike, not Taylor," she told Nicole.

"I was, long story, now I'm with Tay," Nicole explained simply. Leslie looked as if she was going to say something else, but then simply turned, walked to the couch and sat down.

Meredith rolled her eyes and mouthed "she's a pain." Isaac and Nicole shared a secret smile behind everyone else, thinking of Catie.