"Happy birthday to you . . ." The final notes faded out as I blew out all nineteen candles.

"Thanks guys. I told Taylor not to do this."

"Well, it's good that he did. You're only nineteen once," said Mrs. Hanson from across the table. She smiled at Walker. I could tell they were sharing a secret between them. High school sweethearts, married at nineteen. There was no way on Earth I'd be marrying anytime this year. It's amazing that Walker and Diana stood the test of time.

"Now, it's time for presents!" Zoë squealed. She was just getting into the party.

"Well, I don't think I'll be getting any pre . . ." Interrupted by Taylor. How often does this happen?

"Sure you will. I've got you something right here." Tay picked up a package from the empty seat behind him, and handed it to me. I was afraid to open it. I had absolutely no clue as to what was inside, and I'm sure Tay was just waiting to embarrass me in front of his family. I sheepishly grinned.

"Go on. Open it," instructed Walker. I carefully took off the ribbon, and lifted the lid. Tay went overboard on the tissue paper. I pushed it away to find the very thing I was hoping not to get . . . well, close to it. A tiger striped bra and panty set with the word, MMMBop, written across the seat of the panties. I blushed profusely.

"Come on, show us!" Zac's curiosity was getting the better of him. My redness was so amazingly bright; I thought that I would turn radioactive right in the middle of dinner. I looked beside me to see Taylor wearing a smug smile, and wildly egging them on.

"Yeah, Haley. Come on, show us," Tay echoed. I was this close to killing him. I needed a cover, quick.

"Tissue paper. Taylor, you get my hopes all up that it's going to be something cool, and then all you can do is put in tissue paper." I sighed with relief. Good save. Plus, Diana would chew Tay out.

"Taylor," she was right on cue, "I can't believe you would do that to Haley. After all I thought you two were good friends."

Although she said friends in the strangest way, I joined back in, without missing a beat. "Right, Diana," I teased. "Yell at him. He deserves it. The other day, he wouldn't even spare me any toilet paper."

"Not even toilet paper? Taylor Hanson, you should be ashamed of yourself." She was smiling, and my color was gradually returning to its normal shade.

"Hey, I didn't have any. And the present was just a joke," Tay said in defense. "Come on Haley, read the card." This worried me even more. I reached for the envelope, and opened it up.

A picture of Tay and his brothers when they were younger graced the front of it. I flipped it open to read, "Where's the Love, Haley? Just give it up." It was scrawled out in Tay's handwriting. I had to kill him. I knew that I was going to later that night.

"Diana, it's not even Hallmark," I said once I read it allowed to the table.

"Twelve hours of labor, Taylor. Twelve. Is this how I taught you? The card wasn't even Hallmark." She grinned at me, and shook her head. "Haley, please don't judge the rest of the family, because of him. I can't imagine what it's like to live in the same room with him."

"I can't believe you, Tay. I'm going to get even with you if it's the last thing I do," I whispered to him, once the conversation had started back again.

"You got off easy, Haley. I was planning on making it zebra striped." Tay took a bite of cake.

"The only reason you bought me what you did, is because you knew I'd look hot in it. You just wanted a peep show," I teased.

"Exactly. That and the fact I wanted to punish you."

"For what? I haven't done a thing to you."

"Hmmm. Let me see. Dollywood? Blazing Fury? Ring a bell?"

"I thought that buying you Dippin' Dots was my way of saying I was sorry."

"Oh yeah. That's right. Well, then, I guess I only wanted to see you in it." He talked with his mouth full. He acted like he was being both honest and a huge pig. His smug smile told me this was the exact time to smack him. So I did.

"Geez, Haley. That hurt." I looked at him. We were acting like only the two of us were sitting at the table, and his family didn't exist. We still kept our voices down.

"You'll get more than that if you keep being a pervert. Tiger stripes. I can't believe you got me tiger stripes.

Taylor purred. I knew I wouldn't be able to answer that, so I just ignored him by turning my head to talk to Mackie.

"Hey Mac. So tell me. What kinds of things do you like to do?" Mackenzie looked up at me, acknowledging my presence.

"Zac's teaching me how to play the drums. I like that a lot."

"Cool. Are you any good?"

"I think so." He looked behind me, and smiled. I knew Taylor was doing something to make fun of me behind my back. I whipped around. Tay began innocently looking around, and tapping his fingers on the table. I turned back to face Mackie.

"Mac, what's he doing?" Mac guiltily shrugged his shoulders, and grinned.

"See for yourself." I turned around once more. Tay again pretended to be innocent. This time, he added whistling to his act. I slowly turned around, looking through my peripheral vision. I couldn't see a thing.

"Come on, Mackie. Tell me. Please?" He shook his head.

"Who? Tay? Tay's not doing anything." Something Mac and Tay had in common . . . the ability to be really obnoxious, but still too sweet to really hurt. I put the side of my head on my hand to pretend like I wasn't even looking at Tay. I sensed movement from him. Taylor was probably making a weird face at me, or just generally being annoying. I tried not to look at him for as long as possible, but eventually I couldn't take it.

"Ughh! Tay!" I groaned, whipping around once more. I was surprised at what my elbows could do when left uncontrolled. My left elbow came in contact with Taylor's glass of water, sending it splashing right onto the front of his pants. Suddenly, all conversation halted at the dinner table. I looked around. I had their attention, now.

"Ummm. I uh . . ." I couldn't think of anything to say. Maybe I should just shoot myself now. My thoughts were interrupted by Zoë. She started giggling her high pitched laugh. It was addictive. Diana started next. Then the whole table was laughing . . . except for Tay. The stunned expression hadn't left his face since the ice water landed right in the wrong spot. His pants were drenched, but only in that general area. I smiled.

"Shoulda' gone to Texaco, Tay," I said as soon as I thought of it. Taylor didn't answer. He only looked at me and sighed.

That night, I had the perfect idea. I planned to put my little present on, and take a trip to Tay's room. Everyone was in bed, so I didn't have to worry about getting caught. I decided it was best to get the good out of the present. I kind of wanted to show it off, in all honesty.

Once I had my tiger suit on, I tiptoed out of my room. I remembered seeing Taylor's room. It was three down from mine. Surprisingly dark, the house wouldn't allow me to view a single thing. There. Three down, right. I twisted open the doorknob. The lights were dim, but I could tell Tay was in the bed. His breathing caused the sheets to lightly rise and fall.

"Wake up, Tay. Welcome to the jungle." I spoke my words slowly, and seductively. Taylor slowly turned around to face me. I stood straight and tall, my courage flowed through me faster than I can recall it's been in a while.

It wasn't until I saw his face that I realized I'd made a huge mistake. "I'm not Tay." Isaac's eyes washed over me. I found myself radioactively blushing again. Why God? Do you just do this for laughs? "You must be Haley," he said.

"I must. How'd you guess?" I squeaked just to speak.

"Not too many tigers show up in my bedroom in the middle of the night. And if they do, they don't wear lingerie like that. I'm guessing it's just something that happens to Taylor." I felt like crying. I felt like burying my head under the ground like an ostrich, so no one could see my face. Actually, no. I couldn't do that, because MMMBop was boldly spelled across my butt.

"I'm sorry. I don't normally barge in on strangers dressed like this. I didn't even buy it, really. Taylor bought it for my birthday," I desperately tried to explain, but realized I was getting no where fast.

"Go on to Tay's. It's the room right beside this one. You can't miss it. Otherwise, Mom and Dad are in for a big surprise."

"I'm so sorry, Isaac. I really didn't mean to. God I'm such an idiot."

"It's fine. Go on." I felt so bad. He'd been fast asleep, and I'd really woken him up.

"Well, um. See you tomorrow. I'll have more clothes on, then."

"That's good. Goodnight." I opened the door, my courage slumping before me. "Oh, and Haley?" I turned back around. "MMMBop." I exhaled for the first time in five minutes. The oxygen caught up with my brain, and I started the nervous giggling I always get in bad situations.

"If you look at my butt again, I might just have to loan you my outfit." He smiled, and watched me walk out.

In the hall, I knew I couldn't just go into Tay's slumped over, the way I was. I needed to gain my composure, and get over my embarrassment. I straightened up, and allowed myself to receive more air. Placing my hand over the doorknob, I twisted and stepped right in. He was awake. Very awake now.

"Welcome to the Jungle, Tay," I recited my line once more.

He looked me over again, stopping just below my neck for a few seconds, before returning to my face. I smiled, and so did he.

"What a mighty jungle it is." If I was a normal human being, I would've smacked him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I blushed, and ran over to his bed. I hopped right on with him, and told him my experiences in Ike's room.

"You gotta' watch it, Haley. He's an engaged man."

"You know I didn't realize." I wanted to change the subject badly. Tay sure got a kick out of my embarrassment.

"How's nineteen going for you?"

"Well, this is the most, um, revealing present I've ever received, Tay. I should kill you, but I'm afraid that I'm becoming strangely attached to this bra. It's uplifting, yet surprisingly comfortable."

"MMMBop."

"Taylor!" I leaned in to slap him, but he caught my arm. Pulling me in for a hug, his arms wrapped around my back. I released the last of my nervous laughter, and became comfortable hugging Tay. I've always managed to embarrass myself more than anyone. This time, I'd really overdone it. I rested my head on his shoulder, and closed my eyes.

"Happy birthday, Haley." His voice whispered past my back. That was about the fifth time he'd said that in the past few days.

"I have a feeling this is going to make for one interesting summer." I sighed. This was only the first day with the Hanson family, and I already looked like something off of Wild Kingdom.

"Summers with the Hanson family always are."