A Heart Divided: The Cody and Peter Story

AHD – Chapter 1: Betrayal

It was a betrayal of the worst kind, it didn't inflict with blows but it hit its recipient hard none the less. A broken heart can cause just as much emotional pain as any physical hurt one can inflict on another. Only this type of scar cannot heal as easily, there are no medicines, no band aids to treat the wound, no this goes deeper and is much more painful.

As Cody Martin stood in that doorway witnessing the sight before him, he felt like he had been sucker punched. He's mind reeled from the surprise impact and he couldn't bring himself to understand what was taking place as if this was some hallucination or bad dream his mind had conjured up to trick him.

The two individuals on the bed continued their deceit not realizing he was even in the room. He felt invisible as if he were molded into the walls. His heart raced through a series of emotions from surprise to shock to disbelief to emotional pain, and finally anger.

He cleared his throat a few times in order to get their attention. Jacob had instantly looked over, as his lover continued to pleasure him oblivious to what was around him. What caught his eye made him freeze. Pushing the other guy off of him he sat up looking over at a tear stricken face.

"How could you?" Cody asked in a shaky whisper.

"I can explain."

"Can you?" he quietly asked.

"Hey what is going on here who the hell are you?" the man asked looking over toward the doorway.

"I'm his boyfriend, who the hell are you?"

"Whoa, hey man you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend," The guy stood up and gathered his clothes together.

Getting dressed as quickly as he could he then rushed out of the room leaving the two of them by themselves. Cody slammed the door behind the man's retreating figure and took a breath facing the other boy as he did so.

"How long and how many others?"

"Cody I can explain," he told him, throwing on his boxers and a pair of jeans.

"You've said that so start explaining?"

"I just met him on the promenade deck and we were talking and one thing led to another and before I knew it we were down here," he said as he walked over to stand in front of him. "It was a mistake, and it won't happen again, satisfied?"

Jacob placed a hand on each of his shoulders as Cody took a step back out of his reach. "And how many other times did you make this mistake?" the blond boy asked as calmly as he could.

"I don't know what you mean?" Jacob asked as he sat down in his desk chair and picked up an apple that he began to munch on.

"How many times have you cheated on me?" Cody shouted grabbing the fruit from his hand and throwing it across the room.

"Cody don't be so melodramatic this was the only time, and I apologized."

"Melodramatic, I just walked in on you having sex with some random guy, and now you're telling me I shouldn't give a damn."

"I didn't say that, I just mean that you shouldn't be so sensitive about certain issues. It was a onetime thing, it's over, forgive, forget, and move on."

"Do you even realize what you've done, do you even care?" Cody asked surprised. "If you don't care about this and what you did, then you don't care about me."

"Don't be stupid, of course I care about you."

"Then why?" Cody shouted.

"Look there are certain things you're not ready to do, and these men are willing to do…those things."

"These men?" Cody emphasized. "So you're saying this isn't the first time."

"Cody come on, of all people I would think you'd be a little more sympathetic, why do you always make things about you?" he stated. "Don't be so selfish."

"Selfish?"

"Yah, stop thinking of yourself for once and think about what I need. If you were willing to give me that, then I wouldn't have to find it somewhere else."

"I can't believe you just said that too me." Cody said walking toward the door.

Jacob stopped him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Cody you know I love you and you mean everything to me, but this is something I need, maybe when you mature a little bit you'll understand what I mean," he whispered to a startled Cody.

"I need time to think, please just leave me alone."

Cody walked out the door and down the corridor to his cabin with Jacob following behind. "Look Jacob I need some alone time to figure things out. So please just leave," Cody pleaded as again Jacob took a hold of his arm to try and stop him.

"Jake, let go!" Cody half shouted not realizing that Zack, Woody and Marcus had walked up.

"Look Cody don't be stupid," he stated ignoring him, "It's not like this is the end of the world."

"We're done, now let me go."

Zack walked up and released his brother's arm from Jacob's grip, and stepped in between them. "Don't manhandle my brother, he says let go, you let go." He said in no uncertain terms.

"Look Martin this is none of your business, so get out of my way, I need to talk some sense into him."

"I don't think so," he replied as Marcus and Woody took up a threatening stance behind Jacob. "He said he needed time alone and that's what you're going to give him."

"I'm not afraid of you, any of you," he said pointing toward Marcus and Woody. "Now get out of my way, don't make me ask again."

"Look, I've been nice to you, because for some ungodly reason Cody happens to care about you, but I don't, so I'm warning you don't push me."

"Cody are you going to let your brother come between us?" He asked.

"This has nothing to do with Zack, Jacob please just leave," Cody pleaded. "I don't want to talk about this right now and I don't want a fight to start because of me."

"Oh it won't start because of you; it'll start because of him." Zack emphasized this by giving Jacob a good shove.

He was just about to retaliate when Marcus and Woody grabbed an arm and prepared to drag him away. "Alright, I'll leave but this isn't over," With that said Jacob left them alone.

"Zack…?" Cody began as they walked into the cabin.

"Don't start, I won't listen to you defend him." Zack slumped down in a chair. "Now what happened this time?"

"Guys could you give us a minute?" Cody asked Marcus and Woody.

When they left he sat down on his trunk and sighed, "it doesn't matter I don't want to see him again."

"Why?" Zack asked gently.

"Look I don't want you to be angry." Cody replied. "This is my problem and I'll deal with it on my own."

"Nice, thanks a lot. Who the hell do you think I am, if something or someone is bothering you I want to know about it?"

"Zack It's not that simple, this is something Jake and I have to work out ourselves."

"Work out?"

"Yes work out," Cody stated.

"Work what out exactly?" the older twin questioned. "What did he do and why were you crying when we walked up."

"I wasn't…"

"You may be able to wipe the tears away, but I know you."

"Please just let it go for now?" Cody asked.

"Fine, but I will find out." He stated seeing the worried look on his brother's face he sighed, sitting beside him he put an arm around his shoulder and they bumped heads. "Don't worry baby bro everything will work out I promise."

"Thanks Zack."

"You're welcome buddy."

It had been a few days since he had walked in on Jake and that passenger together. A few days since his heart had been broken and Cody had realized one thing, a ship is a hard place to be when you are trying to avoid another person.

So he decided to do something about it, he decided to talk to London. If he could get away from the ship for awhile then he wouldn't have this problem. He found her sitting at the smoothie bar talking to his twin as she slurped down a banana fofana.

He sat down beside her to join the conversation just as Jake walked by talking with Mr. Moseby. Instantly their eyes connected and he felt the need to turn away. The betrayal was too fresh in his heart and he couldn't bring himself to even look at his former boyfriend longer than a few seconds.

Instantly he felt a hand on his shoulder and two pairs of concerned eyes watching him intently. London knew what had happened along with their other friends, and she made sure to let him know if he needed anything not to hesitate to ask her for it.

As if reading his mind he smiled when she began to explain how people were sometimes prone to disappearing, especially out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. He had to admit as much as her intentions were heartfelt her ideas were a bit frightening.

"I'm simply saying that my daddy has a lot of connections and I wouldn't mind calling him up and asking for a favor or two," she stated as a matter of fact.

"London, remind me never to get on your bad side," Zack laughed shaking his head.

"Actually London, that's part of why I need to talk to you," Cody chimed in. "I need you to help me make someone disappear."

The smile on the heiresses face was comical to say the least. You could almost see the wheels in her head turning as several different scenarios played over in her mind.

"Done," London said picking up her cell phone.

But before she could press one number he gently placed his hand on her arm and took the device from her. "Don't you want to know who it is?" Cody asked as his brother silently listened.

"You don't have to tell me I know."

"No you don't," he replied quietly.

"Fine then who?" London asked rolling her eyes.

"Me."

"No way," she stated absolutely. "You're my friend, and frankly he's not worth it."

"I don't want you to off me," he laughed seeing the relief in her eyes. "I want to get off the ship for awhile and go somewhere to clear my head."

"Oh I see," she smiled. "Okay I'll call Frank you can head back to Boston for awhile."

"No I was hoping I could go somewhere, where…"

"Where Jake wouldn't follow and wouldn't know where you are?" Zack finished for him.

"Yah," Cody sadly said exchanging a knowing look with his brother.

"London doesn't your family still own that beach house on Parrot Island?" Zack asked.

"Yes we do?"

"Do you think it will be alright if I stay there for a few weeks?" the younger twin asked.

"A few weeks?" Zack exclaimed in surprise. "What about school?"

"I've talked to Ms. Tutwiler and she's willing to let me go," Cody explained. "And she's offered to let me take care of any added assignments over the computer."

"Wait what about Moseby?" his brother added.

"Let me worry about Moseby," London stated answering Zack's question.

"I'm not worried I talked to him this morning and he understands why I need to do this."

"Okay then I'll pack a few things and go with you," Zack told him as he came around to their side of the counter.

"Zack thanks but I need to do this on my own, just for a little while."

"I don't know, I don't like the thought of you being out there all by yourself. Besides I'm your big brother, and as your big brother am sworn to protect you."

"And you want to get out of school."

"And I want to get out of school, and let's not forget work," the older twin added making his brother laugh. "But seriously will you be alright?"

"Yes, believe it or not I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt it; I just don't want you to have to." Zack replied placing an arm around his shoulders.

Just then Jake again walked by receiving an angry glare from the older twin.

"Bro I want you to do something for me while I'm gone?" Cody asked.

"No." Zack replied as he walked back around the smoothie bar.

"No, what you mean, you haven't even heard what I was going to say?"

"You were going to ask me to lay off Jake," he replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Not for his sake for yours," Cody pleaded. "I don't want you to get in trouble because of him."

"Fine," he stated.

"Zack?" Cody quizzically stated.

"I said fine," Zack caught the expression of worry on his brother's face and smiled. "Alright buddy, for you I will try to control my anger around him and not get into any fights."

"Thank you, you're a good brother."

"Yes I am!" He smirked making both he and London laugh.

That night Cody lay in bed staring at the picture on his bedside table. It was one of his favorites of him and Jake lounging near the Jacuzzi on the sky deck.

Going through the motions of the day, he found it somewhat easier to push all his pain aside. But lying here alone with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company became harder and harder as the days drifted by.

Each night felt like an eternity and he began to wish the morning would come sooner than normal. Especially this next morning, true to her word London had arranged for Frank to fly him to Parrot Island early.

He was too meet him on the Helipad at 6am, ready and waiting with bags in hand. He wasn't sure why but he felt butterflies in his stomach and began to question if this was the right thing to do.

Glancing over at Jake's picture once more, he found himself wishing he could call him, because despite his betrayal he knew in his heart they belonged together. And as he drifted off to sleep he said a little prayer that Jake would one day come to realize that as well.

AN: This story is inspired by a conversation I had with Waldo Jeffers another author on this site. This is a bit different from what you usually see from me, because it is based on an MM pairing. So I feel the need to emphasize this is a Love story first and foremost, this will not contain any sexual scenes. But it will have plenty of heart and hopefully a bit of intrigue.

I am curious to see what you think and would appreciate any thoughts you may have. :)

As always Many Smiles!!