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DJ
I am
a DJ, I am what I play
I am
a DJ, I am what I play
One
more, weekend, of lights and evening faces
Time
flies when you're having fun
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Cassandra walked back into the conference room and looked around in horror at the amount of food, we were able to consume and throw at one another. I sometimes wonder if they found the bagels Zac hid in the ceiling above the tiles. She made some sort of follow me gesture, which Zac leapt at and turned to go. I walked slowly over towards the window; I wasn’t needed during the interview.
“Hey, Cleo,” Ike said as he walked towards the door carrying his beautiful new guitar (Zac had just christened Cassandra). “You coming in the studio?”
“I wasn’t planning on it.” I said looking at the girls several floors down. I could vaguely hear them screaming and singing as I got close to the window. I suppose they thought I was one of the boys. If only they knew how unimpressed the objects of their affections were by their constant vigils, they probably wouldn’t stop, but one can always hope.
“Come on.” Ike said walking over to where I stood. He gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “We may need you to sit on Zac. ‘Cause I can feel quite a performance coming on, what with Cassandra here and all.”
“No, I should stay here and get some work done.” I said resisting his urging.
“Cleophus don’t lie to me.” He said leaning down and catching my eyes. “I’ve known you way too long for that to wash with me. What’s wrong?”
“First, don’t call me that.” I said turning back towards the window. “Second, I don’t know... It’s just...”
“Don’t let her freak you out in any way.” Ike said hugging me.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“Come on, I know you too well. Miss Texas is bugging the crap out of you.” Ike said. “Anyway, I think you are way more beautiful than her, you just come in a different wrapper. I mean, I don’t think she could get away with boxers and a wifebeater.”
“Oh man, I hoped you wouldn’t notice.” I said putting my hands over my eyes.
“Wouldn’t notice what?” Zac said walking back into the conference room.
“That Cleo’s wearing boxers and a wifebeater.” Ike said pointing at me.
“Ooh, I hope they’re mine.” I noticed Zac was flushed and looked a little sweaty, but then again, we had just had an epic bagel war. “Come on, we go on the air in like two minutes.”
“I think I’ll wait in here.” I said turning to go back to the table.
“Oh no you won’t!” Zac said scooping me up and carrying me out the door. As I was trying to wriggle out of his grasp, I touched his head and noticed how hot he was. The girls filling the studio all gasped as they saw their beloved Zac carrying a squirming girl into the room. Seriously, the Internet will be absolutely buzzing with the latest gossip about Zac and I by the time the concert starts tonight.
“Zac, are you okay?” I whispered, putting my hands on either side of his forehead. I pulled his head down and put my lips on his very hot forehead. This is the tried and true method Diana uses when checking for fevers. I heard cameras going off behind me, great that’s all I need is a bunch of pictures of my ass all over the Internet. “Wow, you are really, really hot... Seriously, how are you feeling?”
“Actually, I feel kind of funky.” Zac said, his hand lingering a little over long on the small of my back. “But I think I’m just a little tired...”
“Okay, guys, we’re on in just a few seconds, so have a seat, relax and let’s have some fun.” The DJ said as the last strains of “Mmmbop” trailed off. He flipped a couple of switches, the room filled with circus music and animal noises. “Good morning Dallas, this is Ringmaster Rick, with my lovely sidekick Gina and that was “Mmmbop,” a big hit for Hanson back in 1997.”
“Yeah, it was impossible to turn on the radio that spring and summer without running into that song somewhere.” Gina said.
“Definitely a very hard song to escape and to get out of your head.” The DJ was pushing buttons and turning knobs as he spoke. “Gina, how are you this fine morning?”
“I’m great Rick and I can hardly wait for our in studio guests to get here and I know the girls in here are just as excited to have them join us.” Gina said as all three guys adjusted their headphones. Gina raised her hand and all the girls in the room screamed, I noticed a few crying. I just didn’t get the tears. I mean, Ike, Tay, and Zac are just the boys next-door, nothing special really.
“Yeah, it’s been difficult under the big top trying to keep the animals quiet.” At this cue, all the girls began to squeal and scream again. Soon, Ike wouldn’t be the only one here with a headache. “It’s 8:07 on this lovely August morning at the 102.7 Circus and freak show and look what wandered into the center ring. It’s Hanson! How’s it going guys?” The three of them all mumbled some sort of appropriate sounding response. “Great! It’s really good to have you in studio again, it’s been what almost 2 and a half years since you were here last.”
“Yeah,” Ike said, “something like that. I think it was right after This Time Around came out.”
“Well, one big change is Zac has gotten much, much taller and much, much, much buffer.” Ringmaster Rick observed. “He’s huge!”
“Yeah, well, that happens...” Zac rolled his eyes. I knew he was sick of dealing with the topic of their looks, their height, and their hair. Maybe someday, it will be about the music, but until then it’s all about the packaging. “Yeah, I’m as tall as Taylor now.”
“Dream on little brother.” Taylor said menacingly. “I can still take ya’.”
“Oh please,” Zac said laughing. “I could so drop you right here.”
“Guys, guys!” Ike interrupted as Tay and Zac started mock fighting. Honestly, the way the three of them got along was a truly bizarre thing. Brothers weren’t supposed to get along this well. Thad and I used to joke we were the twins, but they were the ones who shared a brain. We were all laughing so hard. Their faces were literally glowing with the smiles on their faces. “I thought the bagel battle in the other room was to settle this stupid argument.”
“Man, I heard you guys all got along really well, but you fight like me and my brothers!” Rick observed as Tay got Zac in a headlock, prompting the girls in the audience to squeal with delight. I could feel the heat from the flashes on their cameras. “So, seriously, what have you been doing?”
“Well, the second half of 2000, we were touring in support of This Time Around. Then in about March of last year, we went into the studio to record the new album...” Taylor said just as I knew he would. If only, the screaming masses knew how absolutely rehearsed these “spontaneous” moments were... I think they’d be surprised. “And for the last, what? About 8 months we’ve been on the road performing everywhere, promoting the new album. We actually just got back about 6 weeks ago from a fairly extensive European and Asian tour.”
“How was that?” Ringmaster Rick asked.
“It was amazing, just awesome.” Isaac said smiling. He had loved the European tour because that is where he met the cute little Irish girl who now controlled his every last thought and action. “The crowds in Europe were crazy!”
“Yeah, but nothing compares to the insanity of the Australians!” Zac exclaimed. “They are full-stop insane. I think they thought our concerts were actually an audience participation game of Australian Rules football. Very, very aggressive girls.”
“And, everyone in Australia seems to be blond and astoundingly loud!” Taylor said. “Well, maybe not all blond, but they are loud. They put the American audiences to shame.” At this all the girls began to scream again, not to be outdone by the Australians.
“So aside from Australia, have you noticed the level of the screams going down at all so far this tour?” Gina asked. “I mean, the reviews for this album are through the roof and with winning the Grammy for song of the year in March, have you noticed the median age of your fans going up? Or even the sex?”
“Pardon me?” Zac said laughing. He looked really green; in fact, he looked as if he were about to give us all a replay of breakfast. “Are you asking us if we have a bunch of transsexual fans?”
“No, no...” Gina said laughing. “Have you noticed if there are more men in the audience?”
“Oh, yeah, actually in San Diego we noticed about 20 percent were adults and lots of them were male.” Zac said taking in huge gulps of air.
“Well, I’m going to ask this question now, so you don’t have to answer it later when we get to the audience participation part of the program,” Ringmaster Rick said, the inevitable girlfriend question was coming, I could almost hear the drum roll, “do any of you guys have girlfriends?” All three of them began to talk at once, so the DJ held his hand up. “How ‘bout you answer one at a time, Ike?”
“Actually, I do have a girlfriend.” At this the entire studio audience let out a collective sigh of disappointment. “Her name is Emory, I met her in Ireland. We’ve been seeing each other for about 6 months and she is flat out amazing.”
“Wow, you’re admitting you have a girlfriend? This must be serious, do I hear the faint tinkle of wedding bells?” Sidekick Gina asked.
“Uh no,” Ike said holding up his hands, an actual look of panic on his face. “Actually, I don’t know. I’ve never even thought about it...”
“Well, you’d better hope she doesn’t hear this interview or she will think of it.” Zac said laughing at how freaked out Isaac looked.
“Oh God!” Taylor laughed. “Ike, you look like you may pass out. Zac move out of that chair so Ike can sit.”
“Well, Taylor, do you have a girlfriend?” Ringmaster Rick asked.
Taylor’s eyes got really wide and he quickly looked over at me then flushed. That was a little bit strange. “Actually, I don’t have a girlfriend, but I think I may be in love with our assistant, but alas, she doesn’t love me... So, all is lost.”
“Her over there?” I felt my face flush. I rarely blush, but man I could feel the heat coming off of my face.
“Yeah, the one in the boxers. The one that’s blushing.” Zac said laughing. Although the studio was cold, I could see the beads of sweat on his face.
“Come here,” Ringmaster Rick beckoned me over. I reluctantly moved towards the sound board, Taylor moved over so I could share a mic with him (great, not only will I be the older woman who corrupted Zac, now I’m going to be the woman who broke poor Taylor’s heart. I may as well just change my name to Jezebel). “What’s your name?”
“Cleo.” I said just barely above a whisper. Or Jezebel.
“So, Taylor, what is it you love so much about Cleo?” Gina asked. I knew this was about to dissolve into a humiliate Cleo moment; I just knew this mornings escapades were about to become public domain.
“Well, I’ve known her practically my whole life and she is the one fully constant thing in our lives. She is way cool and very funny...” He began, he almost sounded sincere.
“Aww...” The audience sighed again.
“And, she has a killer body.” Taylor said a salacious tone to his voice as both Zac and Isaac began to laugh.
“So, Cleo, do you think you could fall in love with Taylor?” Gina asked.
“Um, love? With Taylor?” I asked wiping my sweaty palms on my sweater. I could feel the icy hands of a panic attack gripping me around the throat. I hate public speaking and I really, really don’t like to hear my voice and now all of the greater Dallas area was hearing it. “Actually, the very thought is somewhat icky, he’s like a little brother... Maybe if it were Zac, then...”
“Zac?”
“Uh, love? With Cleo? I don’t think so.” Zac said looking really, really sick. “Why would I settle for one girl there are so very many lovely ladies out there to chose from?”
“So, what you’re saying is any one of these lovely ladies in the studio could be your girlfriend.” Taylor asked. At this a near riot erupted among the girls sitting directly behind Zac.
“Oh yeah.” Zac said suddenly putting his hand up to his mouth. I could tell he had been fighting nausea through the whole interview and now, it looked like nausea was about to win.
“Zac you’re such a player.” Ike said.
“That’s me, I’m quite the ladies man.” Zac said looking at me with a look of panic on his face. He stood up quickly, pulled off his headphones and ran from the room. He was definitely sick. I got up and ran after him.