Maddie stood behind the candy counter in the Boston branch of the Tipon hotel. She had been there all day, sold a total of three candy bars, managed to file her nails and read the latest copy of 'Sassy' cover to cover. It was clearly a magazine aimed at girls like London and Maddie couldn't identify with any of the girls in the magazine.

She finally closed the magazine cover with a sigh. As she looked up she noticed Zack Martin walking out of the elevator and towards her with intent in his eyes. Oh no, he was going to ask her out again, and apart from the usual 'your three years younger than me' she was finding it difficult to come up with excuses.

To be honest she found it quite endearing that Zack refused to give up on her. Every time he asked her out she pretended to be annoyed, but really she found it kinda cute. She watched him approach. If only he were a few years older she wouldn't be able to help herself. He may not be the brightest bulb in the box but he tries, he's sweet and always making her laugh.

Zack got to the counter and leaned on it assuming a pose he felt made him look sexy.

"Hey Sweet Thaaang" He gave her a big grin. "Mom's hidden all the candy and I need a hit" He shoved a 5 bill across the counter towards her. "What can I get with this?"

"Not much if your not supposed to be eating chocolate Zack" she smiled sweetly and pushed the money back towards him. "If I were you I'd keep your money, I'm sure you could think of something better to do with it"

"Like take you to the movies?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Zack, I believe we've had this conversation already?"

Zack stopped leaning on the counter and dropped his shoulders. "Yeah but it was my birthday last week, I'm a year older now, I'm practically a man you know"

Maddie moved from behind the counter and stood opposite Zack. "I know Zack, but it's my birthday in a few months and then I'll be another year older too. That's still too old for you"

"but Maddie" Zack wined "I've done everything I can to get you to go out with me and then some idiot guy comes along and you go out with them like that" He snapped his fingers. "I just wish you'd give me a chance" He walked over to the couches and flopped down on one.

Maddie sighed. Maybe she was being unfair to Zack. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to humour him and go out with him just once? She walked over to the couches and sat down on the couch next to Zacks. He had his chin on his hand, not looking towards her.

"Zack?"

"Yeah" He mumbled back kicking his feet against the couch wondering what he could do next to convince Maddie that she should go out with him.

"Are you sure there aren't any girls at your school that you would like to go out with?" She asked testing the water to see what situation Zack was in.

"There's loads of girls who wanna go out with me Maddie, and I could go out with any one of them"

Maddie laughed. "Someone thinks a lot of himself"

"Maddie" He said smiling, "You know what I mean, loads of girls have asked me out, but why have second best when I want you?"

"I'm not sure" She half whispered.

"It's because you're the most beautiful girl in the world Maddie, your smart, and fun and lovely, and did I mention your beautiful?" He looked at her seriously. "I just want one chance to show you how great we could be together, I swear Maddie in a few years time a three year age gap means nothing, I know loads of guys parents who are three years apart, Tapeworms parents are six years apart!"

"Yeah…" Maddie thought of her own parents who weren't the same age, although they did argue all the time.

"Anyway Maddie I gotta go, I've got homework to do before Mom gets back"

"Homework?"

"Homework Maddie, you know what homework is"

"Yeah Zack" Maddie said standing up and following him towards the elevators "but I've never known you so eager to do it"

Zack turned towards her as he waited for the elevator. "One day Maddie your going to go off and do amazing things, maybe even follow your dreams. How am I supposed to keep up with you if I'm not smart enough?"

The elevator pinged and Zack turned to get on pressing the button for his floor. Maddie stood silently watching him as the doors closed.

She turned and walked back to her candy counter still silent but thinking hard. She leaned on it with her head on her hand. He was still keeping up in school…for her. She knew it must be a great thing for Zack to do, he didn't exactly find school work easy. He's working so hard and all for me. Maddie stood, she felt weird. Her stomach was jumping and her heart fluttering. Nobody had ever done anything so…selfless for her.

"He must be so sure …" She trailed off as Mr Mosby walked towards the counter.

"Madeline, it's six, your free to go home now, and thank your grandma for the cookies they were splendid" He turned on his heel and marched back to the front desk.

Maddie collected her coat from under the counter and pulled it on walking towards the doors of the Tipton. As she did so she passed an old couple signing into the hotel.

"My husband surprised me with this trip" the elderly woman was saying "It's our fiftyith anniversary and he's still surprising me with things like this" The woman was holding the old guy's hand.

Maddie stopped halfway to the doors. That could be you and Zack someday, her brain thought before she could stop it. Well its true, her brain continued, he's always surprising you he's not going to stop even when your that age. She pulled her coat closer to her and took a deep breath. I must be insane, she thought.

Turning quickly before she changed her mind she ran towards the elevators just before the doors closed and pressed the button for Zack's floor.

As the doors opened Maddie gulped, this was mad, she clutched her coat to her again and stepped off the elevator. A few steps later she was outside Zacks door. A few seconds later she was knocking. A few more seconds later Zack had answered the door and Maddie had started hyperventilating.

"Maddie are you alright?" Zack said concerned grabbing hold of her arm and directing her towards the couch.

Maddie waved her hand in front of her face trying to get air back into her lungs as she sat down.

"I'll get you some water just stay calm" Zack ran over to the sink and Maddie started to calm down and breathe. He quickly walked back to her, glass in hand and pushed it into hers.

"Here just sip it slowly, do you need to lie down?" He asked watching her worridly as she leaned back and sipped the water as instructed. She drank the water and breathed in feeling much better. Handing the glass back to Zack who placed it on the coffee table, she sat up.

"Zack I came here to talk to you, it's really important" She said shakily.

"What is it Maddie?" He said moving closer to her and taking her hand, "Are you alright?"

She smiled at him. "Yeah I think I am, its, I just need to talk to you about earlier"

"It's alright Maddie, I get it you don't need to give me the speech" Zack looked slightly upset.

"No it's not that, I was going to say…" Maddie looked into Zacks soft, caring eyes. "I would like to go to the movies with you" She watched Zacks reaction. "If that's alright?"

"Really! You mean it?" Zacks face lit up and he gripped her hand tighter.

Maddie nodded, shyly smiling at him. "After all the things you did for me, I think the least I can do is give you a chance. Plus there was this old couple in the lobby and I guess they just made me think of us"

"Maddie this is going to be the best date of your life!" Zack rushed, hardly believing his luck. She laughed in response and stood up.

"I've gotta go now but how about we say tomorrow night at 7?"

"Sure sounds great" Zack replied walking Maddie to the door. "I'll pick you up, oh Maddie this is the best day of my life"

Maddie leaned down and kissed Zack on the cheek. "I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be mine"