AHD – Chapter 2: Parrot Island

The morning came too soon as Cody's alarm clock went off alerting him to the early morning meeting with Frank. In his mind, he knew he had made the right decision, but in his heart he wasn't so sure.

All his waking moments were filled with thoughts of Jacob and all his nights were filled with dreams of him. His broad shoulders, wavy dark hair and dimples, all worked together to torture his heart into rejecting logic, something he had depended on up to this point.

Sighing he sat up and turned off the blaring sound that echoed into the room and looked over at his roommate seemingly in a deep sleep still unaffected by the loud noise. Cody shook his head wondering how someone could sleep through the piercing sound and walked around the bed on his way to the bathroom. But then Woody could sleep through a cyclone and not be affected.

Standing in front of the mirror he took notice of his reflection. He hadn't slept to well and it showed on his features. He looked ragged and worn like a damp cloth that had been rung out too many times. The dark circles under his eyes and the puffiness from crying reminded him of the person who occupied every part of him and he began to hate himself for letting Jacob Sullivan invade his thoughts.

Clearing his mind he got dressed and prepared himself for the long ride to London's beach house on Parrot Island. A half an hour later he was ready to go, bag in hand and a forced smile on his face.

As he reached the deck where the helicopter stood he looked over and smiled at the three individuals that awaited him. Moseby, London and his brother all waited to say their goodbyes and wish him well on his journey into the unknown.

The ships manager walked over and placed a hand on each one of his shoulders. "Now Cody you know that if you need anything, you can call us." He told him as he quickly whipped away a tear that had slipped down his cheek.

"Mr. Moseby are you crying?" Cody asked touched by the obvious affection the older man held for him. "Aw you do care?"

"I have something in my eyes," he replied as he shifted from one foot to another and then in a surprise move pulled Cody toward him devouring him in a big bear hug, but just as quickly as he had hugged him, he let him go.

"Just remember anything you need, anything at all."

"I'll remember," Cody stated with conviction so that the older man would know that he had understood.

London then walked over to him as Moseby grabbed a hold of his bag and handed it to the helicopter pilot. She immediately wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace.

"Cody we're going to miss you," She sadly stated. "You know it's still not too late to call daddy, he has ways of making all your troubles disappear?"

"London, I don't doubt it," the younger twin laughed. "How about you let me get back to you on that, after I've had some time to sleep on it?"

"Okay," London smiled and again hugged him tightly, unbeknownst to the younger boy she slipped a wad of rolled up bills in his pocket before releasing him.

"You make sure you call too let us know you've arrived safely," she stated.

"I will mom, I promise."

"Very funny," London chuckled.

Despite how she sometimes treated the younger twins, London cared very deeply about them and considered them family. In fact if she had to list the most important people in her life, she would have to put them at the top, next to her father, Moseby, Maddie, Carey and Brandi who she still considered her step mother.

With one final affectionate hug, she walked over and stood next to a very emotional Moseby, letting the twins have some alone time. As she knew they were anxious to talk.

Cody walked over to Zack and they threw their arms around each other, knowing this would be the first time they were separated for longer than a couple of weeks, they held on for quite some time. It was weird to know that they wouldn't see one another for awhile face to face, but under the circumstances it was unavoidable.

Zack wanted Cody to get over Jake and mend his broken heart, and seeing him everyday made that harder for him to do. He could see it and feel it, his brother was hurting and that wasn't okay with him. His thoughts were headed in a dangerous direction as he thought of all the things he wanted to do to his brother's ex. So he forced himself to clear his mind of anything but Cody and saying goodbye.

"This is so crazy, video chats and instant messaging won't compare to seeing you every day," Zack told his younger brother.

"Yah, but this will be good for me," Cody replied. "I need to get away for awhile and really think about my relationship with Jake."

"So you're still thinking of reconciling with him?"

Cody felt his brother stiffen and released him long enough to see the worried look on his face.

"Zack I know you're worried, but what can I say, I'm in love with him," he said.

"So it doesn't matter that he treats you like dirt?"

"Look, you don't know him the way I do," Cody pleaded. "He loves me I know he does; he just doesn't know how to show it."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted wanting to knock some sense into his brother.

"Zack?"

"No seriously, how bad does this guy have to hurt you, before you will accept the fact that he's no good for you."

"You don't understand."

"Apparently," he said lowering his voice.

"Look I have to go and I don't want to have a shouting match with you."

The older twin sighed in agreement and just hoped that his brother would wake up from this fantasy soon.

"Alright, I won't say anything more about Jake."

"Thanks."

"I want you to be careful out there. Watch your back, eat your vegetables and all that good stuff," he said making Cody laugh.

"Wow and I thought London sounded like mom."

"Oh shut up doofus and give me a hug," he smirked as they exchanged one more, fond farewell before Cody climbed into the helicopter.

As Cody watched the figures on the deck slowly shrink something occurred to him. He realized that out of all the people he would miss, he wasn't sure if Jake was on that list, and a part of him felt guilty for that, but yet another part felt relief.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, he ignored the feeling and pulled out a book of crossword puzzles. It was going to be a long ride, and he needed a distraction.

Back on the ship a lone figure watched as the helicopter ascended into the sky. Jacob Sullivan stood in the shadows angry at what he had heard. Zack had been a pain his side since the day he had met the older twin.

He didn't like the way he would pit Cody against him and try to make him believe that he could do better. Cody had always been easy to control, easy to manipulate, all you had to do was play the hurt card and he would cave. But lately that had been changing, lately he had been listening to the wrong people, and he didn't like that.

The day he left him in the hallway with Zack and his goon's he expected to be followed and asked for forgiveness for blowing things out of proportion. When he didn't, he stormed into his cabin boiling mad. All thanks to his good for nothing older brother, well that was it; he wasn't going to allow himself to be bested. Cody belonged to him and he wasn't about to let the older twin or his friends forget it. He owned him and he didn't take kindly to anyone separating him from his possessions.

It was time Zack Martin learned a lesson and he was just the person to teach it to him.

A few hours later the Tipton helicopter landed at Paradise Air Ways airport on Parrot Island. The entire flight had taken a little over three and a half hours to finish, but the passenger didn't mind as he had slept a good portion of the trip there.

"Mr. Martin we've landed," Frank stated giving Cody a little shake.

Cody opened his eyes and yawned looking around at his surroundings. It took a moment for his mind to figure out where he was, but as soon as Frank said Parrot Island he sighed and took off his seat belt. After thanking him and grabbing his bags he headed into the airport seating area.

The small space reminded him of a show he used to watch when he and Zack were little. His mom never missed it and in turn neither did her sons. The airport consisted of a lunch counter a lobby and an airport check in desk, which looked like the set of Wings. In fact he half expected the Hackett brothers to come walking around a corner to greet him. Instead he noticed a man holding a sign with his name on it.

The first thought in his mind was wow. The man holding the sign looked to be in his early twenties, medium built, with sandy blond hair and the most beautiful deep blue eyes he'd ever seen. But there was a kindness to his features he found himself drawn too.

A softness that made his heart melt and again he felt guilty, as if he were somehow being unfaithful to his ex-boyfriend. Which under these circumstances would be ridicules considering what he had walked in on a few days before.

Walking over to the individual he extended his hand and introduced himself. When he smiled, it took all of Cody's strength to keep from openly sighing.

"Nice to meet you I'm Peter Jeffers," the man said as he shook Cody's hand. "So I hear your going to be staying at London's beach house for awhile?"

"Yah, for at least a few weeks," he replied as Peter picked up a bag to help him out.

"That's great, you'll like it there and it's really a beautiful piece of property." Peter stated. "But then I could be a bit biased, because I take care of the place when I'm not at sea."

"Oh are you a handyman?"

"Among other things yes," he smiled. "I am actually a fisherman by trade, but when the fish aren't biting I do odds and ends here and there too supplement my income. In many ways I guess you could say I'm a jack of all trades."

"That's amazing," Cody replied. "So what type of fisherman are you?"

"For six months out of the year I fish for lobsters, crabs, crayfish, shrimp, you name it, any type of crustacean."

"That's sounds like a fun job to have you must really love the ocean."

"Well I grew up here so when you're surrounded by water, it's kind of hard not to." Peter grinned. "But I'm sure you must know all about the ocean, after all you attend school on a ship. What is that like?"

"Overall it's a great experience to be able to see the world on a cruise ship. You have all the luxuries of home with all the excitement of the open sea." Cody told him, "But as you know, that's not to say that it doesn't have it moments."

"Yes it can be your greatest ally or your greatest foe," he replied.

"Very true," Cody smiled as they hopped into an old beat up chevy truck.

Once they were settled in, their conversation continued. "So how long have you been a fisherman?"

"Oh I come from a long line of sea faring men. But enough about me, tell me a bit about you."

"Well besides my name there isn't much to tell. I grew up in Boston, that's where I met London, my mom works as a lounge singer at the Tipton so that's where we lived. Before that we moved around a lot, um my brother and I are twins…"

"Wow really that must be fun, who's older?"

"Zack's older by ten minutes and he never lets me forget that I'm his quote on quote baby brother. But I don't mind he's a great older brother and I adore and admire him." Cody smiled.

"Still you must have quite a few stories, being a twin, living in a hotel and on a cruise liner."

"Yah, I would say I have a few," the younger boy grinned.

"Judging by that smile I would guess so," Peter said. "Perhaps you'll share a few tales with me one day."

Cody blushed as Peter studied his profile for a minute, and again had to remind himself that he was on a mission to heal his broken heart, and not looking for a rebound relationship. But there was something about him that had dangerous territory written all over it, and his mind screamed hold on to what's left of your heart.

Peter continued driving for a few more miles both lost in conversation, and for the first time in quite awhile, Jake was the furthest thing from Cody's mind as he listened to the other man talk about his life in his little corner of the world, and as he laughed again he thought maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

AN: Okay here is the second chapter. I'm sorry this is starting out a bit slow, but I wanted you to get to know the characters. But I promise the story will pick up soon.

Again thank you to Waldojeffers for all his input and advice. I hope you enjoy this one, please read and review!

Many Smiles! :)