Author's Note: This is the first story I've done in a very long time, so it's probably going to be pretty different. This chapter is kind of slow, but I just needed to set up the story. Enjoy!
"Cody, great job as usual," Miss Tutweiller said with a grin as she handed Cody back his paper on the Great Fire of London. Cody thanked her and turned around to gloat to his brother Zack. However, Zack was busy rifling through his book bag for his headphones. He wanted to watch an episode of Family Guy on his laptop while Miss Tutweiller gave one of her boring lectures.
"You know, she isn't just talking to hear her own voice. We're probably going to have a test on this sooner or later," Cody reminded Zack. Then Cody looked around the room. Nearly everyone was either staring off into space or text messaging underneath their desks. Why couldn't anybody get excited over education anymore?
Meanwhile, London was trying to decide what color to paint her nails. Sure, London had been doing a little better in school lately, but that didn't mean she had to suffer for half an hour while the teacher talked about who knows what boring event. Besides, there was really no need for London to pay attention when she could just borrow Bailey's notes later.
What London didn't know was that Bailey wasn't taking notes today. She was too busy thinking about her ex-boyfriend, Moose. He was supposed to have boarded the SS Tipton the day before to visit Bailey for the weekend, because they were still friends, but he hadn't shown up.
Bailey had tried calling Moose several times, but he had never answered. She was worried about him. It wasn't really unlike him not to call, though. He had never been a very responsible or attentive boyfriend, but he was still a good guy.
That didn't mean Bailey still liked him more than a friend, of course. She actually had her eyes on a boy named Holden who went to Seven Seas High along with her. Unfortunately, Holden didn't seem to like her back.
Bailey didn't get too worked up about it, though. She knew she wasn't the only one on board who wasn't in a relationship. Woody had confessed to Bailey that he had a big crush on Addison just a few days ago. And Zack was constantly hitting on girls, yielding unsatisfactory results.
Besides, there were a lot of things that were more important than relationships. Like schoolwork. That got Bailey out of her daydream-like state. She should have been taking notes!
But just then, the bell rang and students started pouring out of the classroom. Bailey grabbed her things and hurried to catch up with Cody. "Cody, do you think I could borrow your notes?" she asked quickly, before he had a chance to run off to his room.
"Sure," Cody answered, pulling out his notebook and handing it to her. "It's not like you to space out during class. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, thanks. I'm just tired, that's all," Bailey replied with a shrug. She started to say something else, but then Zack chimed in.
"Cody, what are you doing? You're going to be late for work!" he interjected. Cody looked at his watch. He started work in 20 minutes, and he still had to get back to his room and change!
Cody and Zack rushed off to get ready for work, so Bailey was left in the hallway alone. As she started walking back to the room she shared with London, Addison appeared out of nowhere and motioned Bailey over to her.
"Bailey, I have a favor to ask you, but I'm sort of embarrassed," Addison said. Bailey didn't think she had ever head Addison talk so quietly or slowly. She wondered if it had something to do with Woody.
"Don't be. What's up?"
"Well," Addison began. "I'm not doing so well in school, and my mom's upset. I was wondering if you could possibly tutor me."
Bailey was a bit disappointed that Addison didn't bring up anything juicy, but nonetheless, Addison was her friend and she wanted to help her.
"I'd like to help, Addison, but I've just been so busy lately. You know, what with school and work and-"
"Work?" Addison interrupted. "I didn't know you had a job."
"Yeah, I work at London's boutique, One of a Kind. You've seen it, up on the Plaza Deck," Bailey explained. "Speaking of which, I need to be there tonight. And before that, I've got to copy these notes down."
"Oh, well thanks anyway," Addison said dejectedly. She walked away before Bailey could say anything else.
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That night, Woody was playing Better Life on his laptop when there was a knock on the door of the room that he and Cody shared. He pulled the door open. London was standing there, looking upset.
"Woody, I thought I told you to be in my room at 9:00! It's 9:05!" she exclaimed. She was holding a camera in one hand and her cell phone in the other.
"Oh, London, I'm sorry. I forgot that we were filming Yay Me! Starring London Tipton today," Woody tried to explain.
"Yeah, yeah, fine." London handed Woody the camera and closed out of Better Life on his computer. She plugged the camera cable into the computer and adjusted the settings.
"Wow, London. I didn't know you were so tech savvy," Woody said admiringly. He was used to having to do all the work for the web show.
London just nodded and pushed Woody into his chair. "We'll have to do the show in your room tonight, because it was supposed to start 10 minutes ago. I don't want my viewers to have to wait any longer."
"Alright," Woody agreed. He held up three fingers, then two, then one. Then he pointed at London and said action.
Just as Woody hit the red 'Record' button, Bailey burst into the room. "Cody, I need you!"
Author's Note: I hope you liked it! Please review and let me know what you thought! I'm writing this as I go, so if there's something you really would like to happen, let me know, and I'll probably put it in!
The title of this story, Easy With Eyes Closed, is a lyric from the song Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles.
The title of this chapter, We're Just Getting Started, is a lyric from the song Looking Up by Paramore. :)
