Chapter One: There They Go.

My first fanfic so all reviews and critiques would be greatly appreciated.

Bailey's eyes twinkled as Cody swept her away on the dance floor. Was this a dream, an illusion? She knew all too well that he was never the physical type, but that was one of the reasons she loved him. His cheeky personality and pleasing nature is what made him cute.

"If he ain't gon' try to please ye, don't chu' go pleasin' 'em," her ma would say. But everybody knew, including Bailey; that this was the fella for her.

"Now, how'd you get all this goin' on?" Bailey smiled.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's a secret," Cody smiled mysteriously. Bailey chuckled.

"Fine, fine, I'll wait."

Cody was in another place. After he had finished making the finishing touches to Bailey's birthday cake, he had sat down to think. Whirls of emotions had spun in his head; mostly about his brother. What happened to their relationship? They never talked anymore and… Cody shook his head and looked to the beautiful women in his arms, managing a smile. Today wasn't about him and his own problems; it was the birth date of his girlfriend. He wasn't going to let Zack ruin that too.

Zack's plans consisted of eating his brother's cooking, and meeting Maya in this very spot. She hadn't shown up yet and Zack was getting antsy. What if she goes with another guy? What if she forgot the time for the party? What if my idiot brother, forgot to invite her?

He sat down on the bench, trying to clear these thoughts with reasons. Cody would never forget anything for Bailey's birthday. He texted her the time five times, and he knew Maya, she would never betray him.

The eldest Martin was satisfied with his reasons, and decided that she was just late.

Lately, he had become a bit paranoid. He wouldn't admit to himself that he missed those brotherly talks. Zack was too proud, and even if he did, he knew Cody wouldn't talk to him. They had gone their separate ways; they weren't as close.

He didn't know what he had done wrong, nor did he have any intention of finding out. If Cody was mad, best to leave him time to cool off. Which he didn't know how long it would take; since his brother had a lot of hot water in his kettle.

Maya showed up then. She noticed he wasn't his quirky self. That fun, charming personality of his was completely gone with a look of pure concentration. From the stories she'd heard, he only had that look when he's eating dessert.

"Zack," she leaned in front of him, "anybody in that little noggin' of yours?" He fell off the bench and onto the deck. He stood up, straightened out his clothes, and tried to regain his dignity. "Oh… Um, hey Maya!" He flashed his trademark smile, "didn't see you there!" She laughed, and linked her arm in the crook of his.

"You okay?"

He fumbled for words, "uh, yeah… Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just… too much thinking with that small brain can't be healthy." He pushed her and she laughed.

"Just to let you know, I'm proud of this 'small brain'," he grinned. "Really," Maya prodded him. "Positive," Zack answered with confidence.

When Maya saw Bailey, she ripped her arm out of Zack's to give her an enormous hug. "Congrats! You're… seventeen?" Bailey nodded. "It's so good to see you!" Then followed by: squeals and shrieks. Zack and Cody floated to the other side of the room, as if they had something to do.

Cody ran his hand through his hair and Zack was flitting through all the stuff he had in his tux pocket. Candy, a dollar, melted chocolate bar, bank card, wrappers, lint… The list went on. Cody looked on in distaste. That's just not right, he thought.

Ten minutes later, Cody was pacing and Zack was eating the rest of his chocolate bar, no doubt finished all of his candy already. Bailey and Maya were dancing together, still making small talk. Or… big talk…

Cody was just about ready to doze off when he heard screaming. It sounded like Bailey and Maya. He woke up the slumped form of his twin and raced towards the sound. Zack, eyes half-closed, sensed an emergency and headed after his panic-crazed brother.

When Cody couldn't hear the screaming anymore, he breathed a rough, dry breath of relief. Zack caught up to him. "Did you find them?" Cody shook his head, panting. "Well, we've got to find them before-" he was cut off by the sound of a splash. They looked overboard and saw two people, tied and bound at the mouth, in a dingy.

Before they could even think of jumping overboard, they saw in the corner of their eyes: a man with a ski mask, swinging a bat. The last thing they saw was black.

Zack woke up surrounded by a bright, light, flash of white. His head throbbed like the time he got knocked out with a piece of bamboo; or the time when he was flung in the air by his bud, Woody. It left him with a bump the size of a small mountain. A man in a doctor's coat came up to him and smiled. "Good, you're awake. Now, your brother's in the waiting room. He's been up for almost an hour. He'll tell you everything," he straightened his glasses. "You're lucky to have him as a twin. He's a remarkable young man!" Zack mumbled to himself: He is, just not in the way you're probably thinking.

Cody was pacing. He was not thinking about his brother, but about Bailey and Maya. How would he and Zack possibly get them?

He saw Zack come in, waddling like a zombie. Cody walked over, since it was faster than waiting for his brother to make his way over. "Wha' happened?" Zack managed to slur. Cody rolled his eyes and started.

"Well, while we were out, the captain agreed to follow the dingy. But once he was on their track, they threatened to kill Bailey and Maya. The captain lay back, but using the signals provided by the dingy, he found them on a deserted island." Zack looked at him doubtfully. "So, what are we waiting for?"

Cody took a deep breath. "The captain doesn't want to risk any more lives, he said he wouldn't go to the island. But, but! I asked him, if he could let us use a rowboat so we can go to shore and rescue them!"

Zack squinted, "he's willing to risk our lives?"

Cody paused, thinking. "Never thought about it like that… back on track, you in?"

"No duh! Let's go!"

Review for continuation.