Chapter 1

"Zack! Cody!" Carrie yelled from the kitchen. "Time to do your summer school books!"

The two boys walked into the room, carrying their backpacks. "Awww. Do we have to?" Zack groaned.

"They are preparing you for the next grade, so yes. You do if you want to have a future in high school or college!" His mother replied.

"In that case . . ." Zack piped, turning around to leave the room.

"And you will have a future in school!" Carrie quickly exclaimed. To herself, she added under her breath, "I hope."

The twins sat down to get started. "Hey Cody . . ." Zack whispered. "You've won a lucky five bucks if you can give me the answer to number 3 . . . and 4, and 5, and 6."

"Dream on," Cody laughed.

Carrie made dinner and the boys finished their homework. They settled down to eat the spaghetti, and Carrie smacked her forehead. "I forgot to tell you! We have a new neighbor in the suite down the hall! She's a girl about your age, named Nicki."

"Really? Cool! We'll have someone new to hang out with. It's been getting a little boring around here since the summer is almost over. No families check in anymore," Zack exclaimed.

"Yeah. We can hang out at the pool and stuff for the last few days of summer," Cody agreed.

"Now remember boys, it's Friday and you go back to school on Monday. I want you to make friends with this girl, because she won't know anyone here yet. She's going to your school, so you should let her hang out with you there too. Nicki's probably pretty shy right now, I mean, she's in a new place with no friends," Carrie told her boys.

At that instant, there was a loud knock on the door, before it flew open and a girl with straight brown hair, and crystal green eyes came strolling in. "Hi! I'm Nicki! Are you the Martins?"

Zack smiled and whispered to Cody, "Well! So much for being shy, huh?"

He noticed Cody wasn't paying attention to him. Of course he was too busy staring at the new girl.

Carrie jumped to her feet. "Oh, hello sweetie! I'm Miss Martin, or you can just call me Carrie. Theses are my boys, Zack and Cody."

Nicki looked over at the boys for a brief moment. "What's up, Cody?" She gestured at Zack. "I'm guessing you're the athletic one. And Zack, I'm guessing you're the brains." She pointed at Cody. The twins laughed.

"Wait, don't tell me . . . I'm getting the sense I messed up," Nicki grinned. "So, Zack, you're the one going out for the school football team?" Again, she pointed at Cody.

"No, no. You had the brains and athlete thing right, but I'm Cody. The smart one. And that's Zack. The other one." Cody smiled, with emphasis on "other".

That just earned him a jab in the ribs from Zack. "Pleased to meet ya. And you're looking at the new basketball player."

"Hey, I'm not the greatest with people's names or hobbies, but I'm pretty good on the basketball court. I might try out for the team too, now that you mention it," She replied thoughtfully.

Carrie cut in, "Oh, Nicki, we were just about to have some cake. Would you like any?"

"But Mom, we weren't having any ca-" Zack began, but a stern look from her cut him off. Carrie hurried into the kitchen, and pots and pans already clanging after her.

At first he looked hesitant to say something, but then Zack spoke up. "Uh, I hate to tell you this but . . . there's no girl's basketball team at our school."

Nicki didn't look surprised. "Yeah, I figured I'd go out for the guy's team."

Cody, who had barely spoken, looked shyly up from his pasta, "But, do you think they'll let you? I mean, 'cause it's for, well . . . " He trailed off quietly.

Nicki smiled at him. "For boys only? Yeah, I know. But look at me! I'm a total tom boy!" She gestured at her faded jeans and old, plain green tank-top before continuing. "I guess that's why the whole 'boys only' limitation has never held me back before."

"So, uh, want to sit down?" Zack asked.

She nodded, "Sure." Zack pretended to grandly hold out a chair for her. Nicki rolled her eyes, but laughed. Cody just watched as the two dove into a conversation about the school basketball team, and their rivals.

A while later, Carrie came in holding a silver tray with a chocolate volcano cake on it. "Hope you like, so dig in kids!" She said dishing out four pieces of her masterpiece. Cody whispered to her, "Uh, Mom? This is just one of those microwave cakes in the freezer isn't?"

"Yes. Shhh," She replied. Nicki and Zack looked over at her. "I mean, yes! I just whipped this up for you! All by myself . . ."

Disclaimer: I do not own the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Muttering Obviously! . . .

A/N Sorry I forgot my author's note and disclaimer! Please read and review! Any suggestions are welcome, I'll try to incorporate them in if I can. Thanks to Storybee, who was the first to review my story! It took me a while to update because of computer troubles, and all. I tried last night, but the site was down! Sorry, so I'll be updating faster now.