Bailey Picket. The girl who just hours before had been disguised as a boy, and had been assigned as Zack's roomate. The girl that as soon as the Martin twins discovered her secret, they both fell for, and had been silently fighting over ever since they arrived on Parrot Island.
Why were they at Parrot Island, exactly? Well, London had left the ship, and gone missing, so now, all of the students were joining Miss Tutweiller and Mr. Mosby on an expedition onto Parrot Island, in hopes of finding London. They did, eventually, because everyone was thrown into the prison cell. Long story short, the government was mad at Mr. Tipton. All Tipton family members, and all friends of Tipton family members, were considered enemies, and were tossed in jail.
It was here, in this cell, with Woody, Mr. Mosby, Bailey, London, and Cody, that Zack finally pulled Cody aside. "She's all yours dude..." he said, giving in. "Really?" Cody said, a smile creeping onto his face. Then it vanished. "Why?" he said, questioning Zack's motives.
Zack paused. Why? Why was he giving into his brother's begging and pleading to let this girl go?
Zack had known this girl, barely, for 24 hours, and already he knew he was in love with her. For the first time in his life, he saw a future for his life. And every part of it involved her. He saw himself actually attending college, and all of his classes were with Bailey. He saw them moving into an apartment together... him proposing on the beach... the wedding day... the honeymoon... their first child... their first grandchild... growing old together, and saying "goodnight" each day to each other, and sealing it with a kiss...
It was that fear- that knowing that he could actually have a relationship with someone- that he could actually fall in love for the first time- that scared him. He wasn't thinking, and just blabbered an excuse. "She's checking way too much baggage. I like a babe with just a carry on..."
From the minute he said it, he regretted he saw Bailey and Cody actually end up together, he regretted it. When he knew his chances were up when he got the word that Cody proposed to Bailey... when he got the wedding invitation... when he sat at home instead of attending his own brother's wedding... he regretted it. Fr the rest of his life, Zack Martin was jealous. Envy eating at his heart, and each day, all he could do was think what if. What if instead of giving up as a result of fear, he had fought for Bailey, and won her over? What could have happened to his life?
But alas, he will never know. Because here he sits, at the gravestone of Bailey Martin, who died a few summers ago at the age of 87. She's buried next to Cody, who died just weeks after her. There are flowers on the grave, probably from one of their kids or grandkids...
And as Zack walks away, he carries the burden of "what ifs" back on his shoulders once again...
Just a one shot I came up with today... it's depressing, but it's got some Zailey in it. And it forces you to think what would have happened if Zack fought Cody for Bailey, and won Bailey over... what would have changed?