Never Crossed My Mind
by Nicole

~ CHAPTER 1 ~

A late summer breeze dried Jacey Michaels's tears almost as soon as they wet her cheeks. She placed the delicate pink daisy on the well-kempt grave and blew a kiss towards the ground.

Her older sister Robyn had died almost ten years before, but the wound was still fresh in Jacey's heart. Robyn was two years older than she, but treated her as an equal from the day she was born. The two girls were never without each other, until Robyn went into the hospital. When she went into the hospital and never came back out.

Jacey left the cemetery and headed back to work. She worked as a personal assistant to the president of a record company that was local to her Kansas hometown, but was fairly well-known nationally. She enjoyed her work most days, but today was one of the two days throughout the year that she just did not enjoy much of anything.

Today was her sister's birthday. Robyn Michaels would have been twenty-four today if her life hadn't been taken by leukemia at just fourteen. Jacey never felt less than her sister's twin. Robyn had taken Jacey everywhere she went and included her in every aspect of her life. Then there was that day when Robyn couldn't stop throwing up and collapsed during gym class. After a battery of tests, the doctors announced that Robyn had leukemia, and there was no amount of chemotherapy or radiation that would save her. Jacey watched her big sister waste away to nothing during the last few months of her life. Robyn died in that hospital bed, and it was a sight Jacey would never forget. Although she preferred to remember her sister before the cancer -- blue eyes bright, blonde hair in a bouncy ponytail behind her head. Jacey was the opposite of her fair-skinned sister; her dark skin, hair, and eyes were always a sharp contrast to Robyn's porcelain features. Robyn was the mirror image of their mother, while Jacey was the spitting image of their father.

A loud voice barked out from the office behind her desk and broke Jacey out of her thoughts. Jeff Atkins towered in the doorway, giving her a suspicious look.

"Robyn's birthday, right?" Jeff asked gently, coming to sit on her desk. Jacey had worked for him for four years now, so he knew the dates of Robyn's birth and death just as well as Jacey and her family. Although he encouraged her to take those days off, Jacey assured him it was better if she worked and stayed busy. Jacey nodded in reply to his question.

"What's the latest?" she asked in an attempt to deter the conversation.

"Come in my office. We'll talk there."

Jacey followed her boss to his office and sat comfortably in the chair in front of his desk. The older man shuffled a few papers in front of his desk and sighed.

"I am passing you off to someone else for a few days, Jacey. I have a major act coming to town, but I have that deal in New York for the next week, and I need you to stay here and take care of them, okay? It's just one guy, laying down some drum tracks. Coming up from Tulsa, I think."

Oh Lord, it can't be, Jacey thought to herself. She held her breath and waited for Jeff to say the words.

"Zac Hanson from the Hanson brothers group... you ever listened to them?"

Jacey bit her lip and lied. "Not really. Wasn't really my scene."

"Good, I don't have to worry about any Hanson fever coming back. He's coming in late tonight, just get him checked in to the hotel and he's got to be in the studio by nine tomorrow morning. Here's all the details. Let me get you a company card for expenses. Sit tight."

Jacey waited for Jeff to leave the office before letting out a groan. A Hanson brother right on the tail of her memories of Robyn just didn't sit well.

********************

Jacey stood in the middle of the airport, goosebumps prickling her skin. It had to be forty below in the building, and, thanks to the K42 Records sign she was holding, she couldn't warm herself up. Zac Hanson should be coming down the security gates at anytime, and she was ready. She was already tired and ready to go home and go to bed; she didn't need to be held up any longer. When he finally made way down to the waiting area, she recognized him instantly. He had a baseball cap plunked on his head, and sunglasses set over his eyes. A few girls standing to the side whispered to each other, but didn't have the courage to ask him if he really was the Zac Hanson. He caught sight of the sign she was holding and held a hand out to her. Jacey shook his hand politely, ignoring the smile on his face.

"My name is Jacey Michaels, Mr. Hanson, and I'll be your assistant this week. Do you have luggage?" Jacey let the sign down and headed for baggage claim. The carousels were already circulating luggage from a few flights, but not the Tulsa flight yet. Zac caught up with her and grabbed her hand again, shaking it longer than she would have cared for him to do.

"I don't have to tell you who I am," he smiled. "But please, call me Zac."

"Fine," Jacey replied, claiming her hand back. She crossed her arms in front of her and said nothing further. The less she talked to him, the better. This next week was going to be all about business, and nothing more. Zac seemed to catch on to her surly mood and kept silent himself. Once they were in the car, however, he just couldn't take it anymore.

"Everything okay?" he ventured. Jacey glanced at him, trying to keep the car on the road. She just shrugged. "Look, I know I don't know you, and I'm this big star and everything, but if you need to talk --"

Jacey took a deep breath before she interrupted him. "I appreciate the gesture and all, but I'm not interested in talking about it. The only thing going on between you and I will be professional interactions, okay?"

Zac held his hands up in defense. "My fault. I wasn't trying to pry, or hit on you or anything. I mean, don't get me wrong, if you weren't the Ice Queen, I'd probably try to pick you up."

"Ice Queen?" Jacey exclaimed. "Look here, kid, you don't even --"

She was stopped by Zac's rolling laughter. "I was just trying to get you to lighten up. Seriously, I promise not to pry, if you promise not to give me the cold shoulder all week. If we're going to work together, then let's at least get along."

Jacey sighed and nodded. "Yeah, all right."

"Good." Zac said quietly. "So I'm starving. Can we get some dinner? Really, no hidden agendas, I swear. Just food."

I am a little hungry, Jacey thought to herself. She shrugged. "I guess a little food never hurt. If you're buying."

Zac caught the smirk on her face. "Deal."

********************

Throughout dinner, Jacey did her best to be polite, and although she genuinely enjoyed herself, she still kept herself guarded. She made sure that the conversation strayed away from anything personal, mostly listening to his stories of life on the road. They ate at a small burger joint that stayed open late, and enjoyed the greasy goodness of junk food.

"Well, I suppose I should get you to your hotel room," Jacey finally announced. "You've got a nine o' clock studio time."

Zac checked his watch. "You're right then, we should get going. Are you, uh, picking me up in the morning again?"

"Yes, I'll be your chauffeur for the week. Unless you want to get around on your own, we could probably get you a rental."

"Not necessary," Zac replied, thinking he'd do anything to spend as much time with her as possible. Jacey Michaels had a tall wall up against him and although he wasn't sure why, he was bound and determined to find out. He handed a few bills to the waitress, and slung his ball cap back over his head. "Shall we?"

********************

"Okay, here's your room key, you should be all set," Jacey told him, handing over the credit card sized piece of plastic. "Oh, and here is my business card. Call me if you need anything. I'll be here at eight thirty to pick you up."

"Sounds good." Zac reshouldered his bag and then called her name, turning her attention back to him.

"Something else?"

Zac took a deep breath. "No, nothing. It's not important."

********************

Jacey stared at the ceiling that night, trying to sort through the thoughts in her head. Tomorrow should be a better day, but she had a feeling she would be just as confused in the morning as she was now. Zac's presence was a cruel reminder of the sister she had lost; Robyn was an avid Hanson fan before she died. Jacey had loved them too, because her sister did, but once Robyn died, well, that was that. Still, she found herself already charmed by the blonde boy with the brown eyes she'd spent a few hours with tonight.

She turned over and pulled the covers to her chin. Don't do this to yourself, Jacey, she breathed. You would be reminded of Robyn each and every day. And what makes you think he wants you for anymore than just what you agreed upon.

Not so far away, Zac was flipping through boring hotel channels, pondering on Jacey Michaels. There was something about her he couldn't put his finger on, but if he could find a way to break through that wall, then he might be able to figure it out. He turned off the television and the lamp next to his bed and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

********************

When Jacey picked up Zac the next morning, she reminded herself of her plan to keep it business; no more nights like at the diner where it was just the two of them. She waited in the lobby for ten minutes before working up the gall to just go to his room and get him. She knocked loudly on the door, and was shocked when he answered the door a crumpled mess. She held back her giggles and stuttered out a greeting.

"Um, morning. We're …" She swallowed. "We're late."

Zac glanced back in the room at the digital clock. "Oh, man, I didn't set an alarm. Let me just change real quick, I'll be downstairs in two minutes."

On the way to the studio, Jacey made the necessary calls to make certain everything would be set up for Zac to get started right away. "That way you can just relax for the rest of the day if you want. We don't have much to see here, but whatever you need, the studio will cover."

"Wow, they're real ass kissers, aren't they?" Zac joked.

Jacey shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Hey, why don't you come with me and we'll catch a movie this afternoon," Zac suggested.

"I have a lot to do at the studio."

"So get it done while I'm recording. You've got to take me back to the hotel anyway, right?"

Jacey shook her head. "I'm sorry, I've got a really busy day."

The rest of the ride was silent. Jacey was feeling guilty over her easy dismissal of Zac's offer, and Zac was ready to give up on her already.

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