Hey, this is like my second Suite Life fic, so please just read. This story picks up in the episode "Band in Boston," I think that's the name of it, anyway. And the first lines will be taken right out of the show, but it is my own in the end!

Disclaimer; I don't own The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

The Waterworks

Chapter 1.

The Beginning.

"Because you're a lousy singer!"

As soon as the words left Maddie's mouth, she regretted them. The look London got on her face was horrible, and Maddie almost started crying right there, seeing her best friend that hurt. And it hurt her too, knowing she was the cause of it.

London looked around. Then she turned around and hurried down the stage, running out of the room.

"London!" Maddie yelled, quickly following her into the lobby, "London!? London." She stopped, as London turned around to

look at her, "I'm sorry I embarrassed you up there." Maddie said, really regretting it.

"Look," London said, "If you didn't want me to be in your band, why didn't you just tell me, instead of humiliating me in front of all those people?"

Maddie looked down, "Because we thought you'd take your equipment away."

"Well, I wouldn't have!" London said.

"Really?" Maddie couldn't believe it.

"Okay, maybe I would have…" London admitted.

"See!?" Maddie pointed out, trying to make London take a look at her perspective.

London moved past her, "Well, you could have come to me with some sob story, like… how you needed the money for something stupid." She paused, "Like food!"

"I should have told you from the beginning that you're not a very good singer." Maddie said.

"A very well singer." London said, taking up their conversation from earlier. At least she listened a little to what Maddie was telling her.

"Right," Maddie said, not bothering to correct her. She was in enough trouble with her best friend already, "And then just dealt with the consequences. Which would not have been as painful as this." She paused, "I'm sorry London."

"Apology accepted." London smiled, then she thought of something, "You know what's funny? Daddy owns a couple record companies and we could have made a CD any time. But now that you've told me what a lousy singer I am, what's the point?" she threw her arms into the air, and walked away from Maddie.

Maddie looked after her, not believing her ears, "But you were so good on the tangerine!" she said, moving her hands, indicating something, "Yeah!"

London didn't turn around, she just went into the elevator to get to her room.

Maddie cursed herself, as she stood there in the lobby. She couldn't believe London had known this all along, and didn't tell her! What was best friends for? It was Maddie's dream come true, and London knew that very well. And the Waterworks were actually a pretty good band.

When London didn't… screw up.

Maddie sighed and went into the ballroom again, just as they were told that Rock Squared had won the competition. She went up on stage, ready to help the guys put the equipment away. She really liked singing and playing with those guys. She could do what she loved the most, while she was supported by them, because it wasn't like her own family were gonna support her. Well, maybe her grandma would.

"What happened?" Lars asked, approaching Maddie, as she was taking down the microphones.

"We worked it out." Maddie said, "But guess what she told me? He dad owns a record company! She said we could have made a CD any time, and now it's too late, because she knows she's not a good singer! Can you believe it!"

"Like, for real?" Lance asked, "Like, really?"

"Yes!" Maddie said, sitting down on the stage, her head in her hands, "I hate this! Had she told us two days ago, we could have made a CD! I could have earned money enough to pay for Law School! Cant you see?"

"Don't you think there's a way to convince her to still let us do it?" Mark, who plays the drums, asked, sitting down next to her, "Don't you think if we ask her real nice, that there is a tiny, little chance?"

Maddie looked at him, "There may be. London can be really sweet sometimes, but… She'll probably want to be in the band again. We'll have to figure something out for her. Maybe she could be like… I dunno…" Maddie trailed off, trying to think of something, "I don't know!"

"Let's just ask her," Warren, the last member of their band said, "You do that Maddie. You can convince her. Aren't she like… your best friend?"

"Yes," Maddie said, "But I'm not hers. I'm just a silly, poor girl, whom she hang out with sometimes. She'll never really listen to me."

"Just try, Maddie." Lars said, looking at her pleadingly, "All you can get is a no. It'll never hurt."

"Maybe you're right." Maddie said, "I should just ask her." she stood up, "And you know what? I've done so many things for London in the past, maybe it's time for her to do something for me! For us!"

"That's right!" Warren said, "We'll leave that to you."

Maddie looked around, biting her lip, "I'll do that tomorrow, okay? When she's had a little more time to cool down. I'm gonna throw a few hints, and… Hope for the best." She paused, "Cross your fingers, please?"

Lars laughed and pulled her in for a hug, "You rock, Maddie. You have an amazing voice, we could really go somewhere with this, if London lets us."

Maddie nodded, turning around to pack some more.

Just then Lance held up 5 water bottles, "Who wants some, like, water?"

--

Maddie took a deep breath, and knocked on London's suite. It was the next day, and she was ready to do some serious begging if it went that far. The Waterworks deserved a chance. They had some really good lyrics too. She had been writing at them for a long time.

London opened the door, "Oh, Maddie, it's just you." she said.

Maddie stepped inside and closed the door behind her, "Well, nice to know you want to see me." she took a seat in the green chair and looked at London, who'd seated herself in the couch, "Look London… Remember what you told me yesterday?"

London seemed to think about it, "Oh, what I told you about the chocolate chip cookies? I really don't like them."

"Nooo…" Maddie said, "The thing you told me after our fight? About your dad owning a couple of record companies?"

"Oh that!" London said, "No."

Maddie swallowed hard, "Well, I'll tell you then…" she paused, when she got an idea, "You said that you dad owns a couple of record companies and that you'd make us a deal with one of them. You know, so the Waterworks could do a CD."

"I told you that…?" London asked.

"Yeah," Maddie smiled, ignoring the pang of guilt which quickly started streaming through her body, "And I just wanted to discuss it with you properly."

"What was the catch?"

"The catch?"

"Well, I know London Tipton," London said, "You know, after all, she is me. And me wouldn't do something like that for you without some sort of catch."

"Well…" Maddie said, "You hadn't decided yet! That was what we should discuss today!" she bit her lip, ad leaned back in the chair, hoping that London wouldn't be unreasonable.

"Hmm," London said, "Me have no idea."

"How about this…" Maddie said, "You could be like, our manager or something! The pretty picture. We could tell the world that you're the one writing most of our lyrics!"

"Nah…" London said, "Lyrics are boring."

"Then how about this?" Maddie said, "We'll let you tag along wherever we go, and you can come with us backstage, and… When we make it big time; we'll remember that it all came down to you. That you made it possible."

"I like that deal!" London said, "Me is awesome!"

Maddie smiled, "Thank you a lot, London! So when will you talk to your father? Tell him about us, so we can play for some people.. In the studio!"

"I'll do it soon!" London said, "But first… I need to take Ivana to her hairdresser, I'm not liking the perm she got last time."

Maddie nodded, and hurried out the room, ready to tell the band the good news.

She couldn't wait to get started!

Yeah, I know, a little short, but I'll cut here anyway. I'd like you to review, and tell me what you think about this. If you like it, I'll continue, if not, I wont. I almost have the plot for the story, but I'm open for suggestions. And it's already pretty much clear that Jesse McCartney will make an appearance later ;p Please review, thanks.

- Stessa .