Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Disney's TV show series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." I only own my own characters that I have included in this fanfic (who will show up later on).
A/N: Rated M+ for use of drugs, alcohol, and profanity.
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The Not So Suite Life of Zack
- Prologue -
I sat down on my bed and scratched my head. My hair that was usually down and fell in long strands over my forehead had been hacked short just a week ago. While my twin brother Cody is still a mere five feet and some odd inches, I tower over him by at least a head and a half. I've grown tired of my childish ways. Seems as though it was just yesterday that I was asking girls out on dates (while I was on dates with other girls) and breaking hearts right and left. I was a jerk, I admit it. But then again, I was young and stupid. I didn't know any better.
My brother tells me that I'm still a playboy. He told me that playboys never change, can't or won't. Maybe he's wrong because these past few years have changed me. But I don't know what started my reckless behavior in the first place. I reminisce on my life... an empty shell of a life anyhow: an absent father, a busy mother, an intelligent brother... I've always felt abandoned by my father, neglected by my mother, inferior to my brother. My friends were all honors students. They were going somewhere in life, and they knew where they were going. But I'm different in those matters. Perhaps I've lost many chances in messing up at school and stuff, but I guess good things come to those who wait.
I've been waiting for three years. Is it too late now?
She's down there. Her bags are packed, her taxi's waiting, and her application's already been sent and accepted to Princeton in New Jersey. She could've gone to Harvard and studied law, but she hated boring stuff like that. Oh great. Mom just came in with the words of motherly wisdom, "Come on downstairs, Zack. Maddie's about to leave soon, and you don't want her to go without saying goodbye, do you?" I waved her away. I was thinking to myself, She doesn't think of me like that. Mom hugged me for no reason at all and said, as if she read my thoughts, "You'd better go down anyway. She's not coming back for a while, and you'll miss her."
So I did what she wanted me to do. As I was taking the elevator down, those strange butterflies in my stomach were gone. Maybe because I finally- finally – got over that puppy love crush. Maybe because I finally realized that I don't stand a chance with her. Feeling pretty down, I put on my best smile and hugged her. I said words of good luck to her and congratulations, but I didn't mean any of that. I didn't want her to leave yet. But I stepped back and let the others have their turn at hugging her.
I guess it's goodbye, Maddie.
As she took a step toward the door, she took one good look around. I couldn't stand to see her when I was hurting like this. I turned around and walked back to the elevator.
If the world were perfect, you'd realize how much I still love you.