A/N: This is my third story for the Suite Life, so I hope it's pretty good. R&R!

Somewhere In The Sands of Time

Prologue

Zack sighed and wiped his long blond hair from his blue/green eyes, his fingers tapping his desk impatiently. He glance at the clock and realized that, thankfully, there was only an hour left until lunch. His teacher, Ms. Smith, who looked like she was in about her nineties, wasn't paying attention so he scribbled a quick note to Cody.

Hey, where did Mom say we're going for Break? I can't take any more of this "school" stuff!

-Board to Death

Zack flicked it over to Cody's desk, who was sitting in front of him. Cody's eyes darted from Ms. Smith, to the note before he cautiously opened it. He scribbled a reply onto another scrap of paper, and tossed it back.

You actually managed to spell bored wrong! Mom hasn't told us yet. Our's supposed to be some surprise, but Tape and Max are going to the Manhattan Tipton. I hope we get to go somewhere better than Grandma's house this year!

We're Gonna Get In Trouble So Stop!

Zack took a quick look at the note, before writing something on the back and turning it into a paper football. He flicked it onto Cody's desk again.

Cody gave him a quick exasperated glare, before reading it.

Are you kidding?! Ms. Smith is so ancient, she can't see past the second row of desks! Anyway, where are the rest of our friends going? Vacation sucks when it's just you, me, and Mom, who just wants to lay around and read all day. Can't she do that in Boston?

-Ms.Smith.sucks.007

Cody discreetly slipped the note back to him.

Well Ms.Smith.sucks.007, I wonder how many detentions you'd get if she just happened to find that note on her desk? NOW QUIT! I don't know where anyone else is going for vacation either.

-I swear you'll regret it if you pass me another note!

Zack read the scrap of green paper and sighed. He muttered under his breath, "Guess it's back to Bored to Death." After what seemed like an eternity, the bell rang and Zack was the first to bolt out the door.

His silver locker just wouldn't open and it took him a few minutes to get the combination right. He grabbed his lunch money and ran to the cafeteria to catch up with Cody. Hopefully Max or Tapeworm had saved them seats. No such luck.

Cody waved Zack over to the last two open seats. Sitting down, Cody watched Zack glare at some one over his shoulder. He turned to see the Drew Crew about to put a "kick me" sign on his back. They whistled 'innocently' and walked away to pick on some one else.

Cody turned back to Zack. "Why do they always pick on us?"

Zack smirked. "Isn't obvious? They're all jealous of my devastatingly good looks." Cody rolled his eyes and the twins went up to buy their lunch.

"I think I figured out why Mom won't tell us where we're going for spring break." Zack remarked.

"Why?" Cody asked curiously. His blue/green eyes followed Zack's identical gaze, and he saw his mother talking to Tapeworm's parents at the school's front door. Straining his ears, he heard a few words of their brief conversation.

Carey nodded a few times, "So it's the Manhattan Tipton a block away from the airport . . . " She asked something that Cody couldn't catch. "Okay. Thanks, we'll see you there at six tonight!"

She walked over to the boys. "Guess what?"

Zack and Cody looked away embarrassed. "Mom, why are you at school?" Zack muttered.

"Oh, so you don't want me to pick you up now and we'll just miss our flight to New York? Okay."

"WE'RE LEAVING NOW?" Zack and Cody looked at each other in surprise. Carey never took them out of school early. There had to be some thing important in New York.

"Yes we are! I got a show tonight at a hot new nightclub there! We're staying in the deluxe, new, suite in the Manhattan Tipton!" Carey squealed. "We're going to be living like celebrities there. That's how famous the night club is! I already packed for you, although I'm sure we'll be doing some shopping there. C'mon! I already signed you out."

Exchanging excited glances, the twins followed their mother out to her small silver car. "How long are we staying Mom?" Cody asked.

"Oh, about a week or two, and we get to visit the Twin Towers there! I heard from Max's mother that even though we're staying on the 47 floor, you still can't see all the way up to the top of the Towers since they are right next door. Max and your friend Christopher are staying at the same place too. This is going to be so much fun!" Carey squealed again, and Zack and Cody shook their heads.

A week in New York with their friends would be just what they needed. Relaxation, a place to bet away from it all, and even a roof-top pool that was on the top of the 50 story Tipton.

"This'll be perfect, thanks Mom!" Cody grinned.

"Yeah, nothing can go wrong on this vacation!" Zack agreed, a matching smile on his face as well.

But neither knew how wrong they would be . . .