Author's Note: I don't mind flames, but I'd love to see nice reviews. I don't need any certain number of reviews to keep writing, so please enjoy.
Chapter 2
Zack strode through the doors of The Tipton, and headed straight towards the candy bar. As Cody slowly followed after him, he saw where his brother was headed, then shaking his head slowly, headed up stairs to their suite. Maddie was sitting boredly at the candy desk, playing with her cell phone.
"Hmmm...Maybe the layout should be midnight..."
Zack's blonde head came into view, and Maddie's eyes drifted over to him.
Oh God. Here he comes again. Poor kid.
Zack's smiling face shoved up over the candy bar.
"Hi Maddie! I'll buy a candy bar from you if your promise to go out with me."
Maddie gave him a stiff smile.
"I don't think so Zack. Bribing me for a date? Don't get so desperate, little man."
Zack frowned, his eyes looking full of hurt.
Maddie took one glance at him and gave him a derisive look.
"Don't try that with me Zack. Puppy eyes don't work on me."
Zack shook the face off and looked disappointed.
"Why won't you go out with me? I'm two years older now, you know."
Maddie knew. She had attended their fourteenth birthday a few months back, and it would've been a lot better with the cake Cody was smeared with. Something had happened she hadn't bother to ask about, and she knew it was probably Zack's fault, someway or the other.
"If you haven't noticed, I'm 2 years older too. I'm going to leave for college pretty soon, and I'm going to get a better job, Zack. I won't be here forever."
Zack considered what he knew was the truth, then waved bye to Maddie silently and headed upstairs to his room.
Maddie looked after him.
-I really wish I didn't have to lay it thick on him, but it was coming, sooner or later.-
Cody sat on the couch, waiting for Zack, and watched TV to pass the time. As Zack came in, Cody didn't even bother to look.
Cody had a teasing tone in his voice.
"Attempting to hit on Maddie again?"
Zack scowled.
"Oh, shut up. You're just sore because you don't have any crushes yourself."
Cody's eyes were suddenly narrowed, anger rising in his chest.
You'd think that, wouldn't you, you jerk.
He suddenly felt someone's hand touching his hand he held the remote in. He looked straight into a mass of blonde locks with blue eyes leering at him. Zack gave Cody an inquiring look.
"Mind handing me the remote? I want to see what's on TV."
Cody had to stop himself from making his face flush.
"Uh, Sure. Here you go."
He handed Zack the remote and quickly turned away. Zack gave him a look of concern.
"Is everything...okay?"
Cody didn't look at him while he spoke.
"Yeah, everything's fine. I'm just tired from school."
Zack shrugged off his suspicion and clicked a button on the remote.
