MoF, what you said about Cody response to the question " How many kids do you want?" made sense so I changed up the order for of the questions and it flows much nicer now, so thanks.
Thursday, October 7th, 2010 - Day 4
" Okay, honey I finished all your laundry," Bailey said with a much cheerfulness as she could muster after spending a good hour and a half in the laundry room on the ship. She grabbed a sweater from the basket she had been carrying and placed in on a hanger. Walking over to her boyfriend's closet, she gave the boy lying on the bed an annoyed glare. He was most definitely taking the whole bed ridden thing a little to far.
" You did not just put my sweater on a hanger," Cody remarked snidely.
" Oh, I'm sorry sweetie. I'm doing my best." She let out a small sigh. That really was the truth, she was doing her best. But he didn't seem to notice or care. She walked back over to the basket to grab some more of his clothes.
" Uh, honey? Could you get me a little bit more juice?" Cody called, despite the fact that his juice was on the bedside table right beside him.
Without even turning around Bailey replied. " More? But you've already had quite a lot and I don't like where that is heading."
" Fine," Cody huffed, " I guess I could just get it myself." He shuffled his body to the end of the bed and then made a show out of attempting to reach the juice. " Must…drink….can't…reach"
Bailey rolled her eyes and let out a huge sigh. He was being so stupid. She was half tempted to just not get it for him, but she knew that he could be really stubborn and probably wouldn't stop complaining until she did what he asked. She grudgingly walked over and helped him sit up.
" It's funny how thirsty you seem to be when you haven't really done anything," Bailey said sarcastically as she poured some juice down his throat - placing a hand on his back to prevent him from falling backwards.
" I'm doing something," he replied, " I'm telling you how to do the laundry."
She let do of him and he flopped back onto the bed.
" Yeah," she said as she walked back towards the basket with his clothes, " I really enjoyed that sock folding video you forced me to watch last night."
There was a moment of pause before Cody piped up with another request. " Uh, I'm really kind of feeling cold. Could you grab me a blanket?"
" Sure thing sweetie," she replied sarcastically as she walked over to his bed and grabbed a blanket and covered him.
She turned to walk away, but didn't get very far before Cody raised his arms in the air. " Tuck me."
She turned back to stare at him. ' Tuck me', was he serious? She forced herself to put on a sweet smile and leaned over the bed to tuck the blanket around him. " Anything else?" she said in a malicious tone. " How about a foot rub while we're at it? Or a fresh shrimp cocktail?"
" That would nice."
" That would be nice," she mocked. With more force then necessary, she finished tucking the blanket around her boyfriend, starting to get more then annoyed with is attitude. If he was going to keep this up she was positive that this marriage wasn't going to work and that before the week was up she would probably end up asking Ms. T for a divorce.
" Ah, ah," he whined, " to tight tucking."
" Oh, let me fix that for ya." She gave him a fake grin before pulling the blanket out from underneath him, causing him to roll off the bed and onto the floor.
" You really should vacuum down here," he called from under the bed.
But his was comment was wasted, Bailey had already left the room.
" You didn't have to leave me lying there, you know," Cody hissed as Bailey pushed his wheelchair onto the Sky Deck. Earlier on this morning they had gotten an e-mail telling them to meet Ms. Tutweiller here instead of in the classroom.
Bailey scowled slightly, but didn't respond. She had given up trying to pretend that what he was doing was okay.
" Oh, hey there Cody and Bailey. How is your marriage going? Woody and I are doing okay, but sometimes it's a little bit annoying when he doesn't following along with what I am saying," Addison rambled as she and Woody approached the Easy Squeezy and their two classmates.
Before either Cody or Bailey could responded Ms. Tutweiller's voice boomed all around them. " Welcome to Couples Challenge everyone. I'm your host for the evening Emma Tutweiller."
The group of teenagers all shrugged their shoulders. They had no idea what was going on.
" Look," Woody said suddenly as he pointed to a make shift television game show set, " we're going to be on TV!" Both Cody and Bailey rolled their eyes, but didn't say anything.
" So, let's introduce tonight's couples, shall we." Ms. Tutweiller continued, "Couple number one. She enjoys eating colourful candies, talking really fast and spinning in circles. He is rather fond of anything to do with food and his " musical" talents. Please put your hands together for Woody and Addison."
"Hey," Woody yelled over the sound of the audience cheering and a cheesy game show theme song playing, " that's us."
Addison rolled her eyes. " Yes it is, now come on Woody, let's go." She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the far couch.
" Okay," Ms. Tutweiller continued as they sat down, " couple number two. He enjoys studying chemistry, cooking gourmet meals and interrupting people with sometimes boring, random facts. She likes talking about " life on the farm", expressing her opinion and has the most unique laugh I think I have ever heard. Please welcome Cody and Bailey."
Once again the audience cheered. But Bailey was not as enthusiastic as they seemed to be about her participation on this game show. She sighed as she rolled Cody's wheelchair to the closet couch. She had a bad feeling about this. She just hoped that they would both be able to keep their bickering to a minimum. Bailey parked Cody's wheelchair beside the couch and began to sit down, stopping in mid seat as her boyfriend cleared his throat and lifted his arms in the air. She took a deep breath and then lifted him out of his chair and practically threw him on the couch.
Ms. Tutweiller observed the couple with a frown on her face. It was starting to become very obvious that this was not going the way she had hoped it would. But then again, perhaps this was a chance for her most gifted students to actually learn something - something that you couldn't learn from a textbook or lecture. The ability to get along with your partner even if they are having a " bad hair day" , the ability to love someone regardless of their flaws.
" Well, let's get to our last couple shall we," Ms. Tutweiller said, attempting to draw the audience's attention away from the bad-tempered couple. " Couple number three. She is known for exploiting the fact that her daddy owns pretty much everything to do with this ship, clapping her hands together while saying " yay me" and having the personal belief that you can never wear an outfit more then once. He is known for his witty and sometimes off beat sense of humour, his ability to maintain a passing average without actually ever opening his textbook and his impeccable charm - or least his personal belief that he has an impeccable charm. Please give a warm welcome to London and Zack.
The audience cheered, but nothing happened. London and Zack had yet to arrive on the Sky Deck.
" Uh, where are Zack and London?" Ms. Tutweiller asked the four teens already on the couches. They all shrugged their shoulders.
But before anyone could contemplate where the couple could be, a voice rang out from over by the Easy Squeezy. " London Tipton is here!" There was a brief pause before she added, "along with Zack Martin."
At hearing this Cody couldn't help but raise his eyebrows quizzically. Since when did London announce the presence of anyone but herself?
Everyone turned to look at the heiress who was standing by the counter with her million dollar smile on her face, once again posed as if at any moment someone was going to jump out from behind one of the couches and take her picture. She was dressed in a black halter- top dress that flowed to just past her knees with a pair of gold heels. Her hair hung to just below her chest in lose curls. Standing a few feet behind her - trying very hard to not be hit by her hands that had reached out when she announced her presence- was Zack. It was now almost second nature to see him dressed just as lavishly as his "wife". His wardrobe make-over had a way of making him even more attractive to all the teenage girls ( and even a few ladies in their 20's) on the boat. And the dark blue jeans, light blue dress shirt, navy vest and dark blue fedora that he was wearing today was no exception. Plus, the fact that he was " married" to London Tipton only added to the appeal. Although for the first couple of days he had enjoyed the new found attention, he was now already starting to become annoyed with it. And this was only the 4th day. He was beginning to have a new found respect for London and was starting to realize that being in the spotlight was not all that it was cracked up to be.
" London," Ms. Tutweiller called out, " I thought I told everyone to be here by 1 o'clock. It's almost a quarter after. Why are you late?"
London waved her hand her teacher and gave her a look that said ' well, isn't it obvious?' " I heard we were going to be on TV, so I had to make sure that I looked fantabulous ."
Ms. Tutweiller was about to remind London that they weren't actually going to be on television, when something else came to her mind. " Uh, how did you know I was going to do this game show? I tried very hard to keep it a secret."
" Oh, I have my ways."
Ms. Tutweiller sighed. She knew that was all she was going to get. " So, uh, that explains why London is late. But what about you Zack? Do you expect me to believe that you too were busy trying to make yourself look fantabulous?"
He shook his head and gave her a smirk " Well, no. You see, waiting diligently while London makes herself look "hotmazing" is part of my contract. Plus, what kind of trophy husband would I be if I showed up without my lovely wife, whose arm I so wonderfully cling off of?"
London nodded in agreement and Ms. Tutweiller just rolled her eyes. She knew that there would be no point in arguing with the pair - no matter what she said they both had a retort ready to fire back at her. "Well, uh, now that we are all aware of the fact that you are both here, do you mind taking a seat so we can continue?"
They walked over to the middle couch and took a seat.
" All right then," Ms. Tutweiller continued, " here is how this is going to work. I am going to ask you a question and you will write your answer on the white cards beside you. Then I will ask each couple - one at a time - to relieve their answers. If you have the same answer as your partner you get a point. And the couple at the end with the most points wins."
" Ooh," Woody waved his hand in the air, " what do we win, what do we win?"
" Ah yes," Ms. Tutweiller replied with a smile, " the winning couple will be receive - "
" A BRAND NEW CAR," Zack announced in a deep and rather animated voice. " equipped with all the latest bells and whistles - including custom leather seats- the 2012 Ford Mustang Convertible is prefect for cranking up the tines and cruising down the interstate with the top down. Valued at just over thirty-three thousand dollars"
"Thanks for that Zack," Ms. Tutweiller replied, trying hard to hide her smirk. She didn´t want to give off the impression that she improved such an outburst- but in all honestly she often found him rather entertaining. "And you know, "she added, "if the whole mooching off your wife thing doesn´t pan out, you could always get a job making radio announcements.¨
Zack chuckled. " I'm going to take that as a complement."
Ms. Tutweiller didn't repsond. Instead she turned to Woody - whose eyes had lit up like a Christmas tree at the mention of the a chance to win a car - and let out a small impatient sigh. " Woody, no I am not giving away a convertible. The winning couple will be receiving a $50 coupon to the restaurant of their choice and a free day at the spa for two."
" Ah, damn it!" Woody cursed as he folded his arms around his chest and pouted.
Ms. Tutweiller wasn't quite sure if he was upset because he really wanted to win a car or because he wasn't pleased with the prize. Although she figured once he caught on to the fact that free food was involved his mood would most likely change. But at the moment she honestly didn't really care why he was behaving in a childish manner- she had a game show to continue. " Okay then, let's begin with first question. Who wears the pants in your relationship?" A rather cheesy theme song began to play - counting down the time the couples had to answer the question.
When the music stopped Ms. Tutweiller once again spoke into her mike. " Times up everyone." She walked over to the couch closest to her. " Why don't we hear from Woody and Addison first." She held out her mike. " Woody, what did you put as an answer?"
" Well, since I've never seen Addison in a skirt, I am doing to say her." He paused for a second, rubbing his chin as another thought came to his mind. " Although come to think about it, you would never see me in skirt either…hmmmm… so it could be me too. Oh, I don't really know."
Ms. Tutweiller rolled her eyes and shook her head. Why did she have to end with students who at times could be so dense? Wasn't there a application process to get into Seven Seas High? If so, how did certain people pass? " Uh, Woody, it's not that complicated. Is it you or her ." She wasn't in the mood to explain to him that he completely missed the point of the question.
" Uh….."
" What did you put on your card?"
Woody quickly glanced at the card before flipping it over for everyone to see. " Her."
" Right then, Addison?" Ms. Tutweiller continued.
" Well," Addison began as she took a deep breath, " if you take the question literally, then there really isn't an answer because like Woody said, we both wear pants. Although sometimes I think Woody doesn't really like to because whenever I show up at his cabin he is always wearing his boxers which I find really dis-"
" Addison? You're point?"
Addison raised a finger in the air. " Right, but if you mean figuratively, which I think you do, then it's most definitely me. I mean, do I have remind everyone of the time I beat my husband in an arm wrestling competition?" She flipped her card over and showed everyone what it said. ' Me' in capital letters and a smiley face with it's tongue sticking out.
"All right then," Ms. Tutweiller replied. " Well, I guess you have the same answer, so a point for Woody and Addison."
The audience clapped.
" Now, let's see if anyone else somehow manage to get the same answer as their partner. London, what did you put?" Ms. Tutweiller walked over to the middle couch and pointed her mike in London's direction. She had the odd feeling that Woody was not the only one who misinterpreted the question and they were in for another " but we both wear pants" discussion. She was thoroughly surprised when London answered.
" Its…ME!" She gave Zack a quick glance before continuing. " I know Zack would like to think it's him, but hello, I'm London Tipton." She said the last part as if just being London Tipton was a viable reason for something, which it kind of was.
Zack placed a hand on his wife's shoulder while shaking his head. " Ah, but honey…" He trailed off. He didn't really have a good argument against that. She was the one who essentially controlled this whole relationship. She decided what they did, when they did it and even how the did. Hell, she even decided how he dressed. Plus, if it wasn't for her money, he most definitely wouldn't be enjoying the perks he currently enjoyed. He slowly took his hand off her and frown. If this had been a legit relationship he would even go as far as to say he was " whipped" He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that.
" Uh, Zack, I'm guessing you don't have the same answer as London."
He didn't respond.
Ms. Tutweiller nodded and then turned to her last couple. " Bailey, what did you put?"
She held up her card for everyone to see. " Not Cody."
The audience responded with " ooohhhs" and " aaahhhs". But Ms. Tutweiller ignored them as she turned to Cody, waiting for his response to not only the question, but also Bailey`s answer. " Cody?"
He scowled slightly. " Well, apparently it's not me, so it doesn't really matter what I say, now does it?"
Ms. Tutweiller frowned. Perhaps this game was not the best idea. `` Um, right then…why don`t we just go to the next question then. What do you look for/ what is the most important thing in a relationship?"
Once again the music played and the couples wrote their answers on their cards. When the time was up Ms. Tutweiller turned to Cody and Bailey. " Okay, Bailey what did you say?"
Without so much as giving her " husband" a glance, she turned to fully face the audience and flipped over her card. " I wrote trust. And also sharing the responsibilities equally."
A small smirk formed on Ms. Tutweiller's face. Maybe, just maybe, this time their answers would be civil. " Cody?"
He let out a small sigh. " I also wrote trust." He quickly glanced at Bailey before turning away. He knew that he was probably wrong, but his stupid pride wasn't going to let him give in just yet.
" Ah, good a point for Bailey and Cody." The audience cheered. "Now, Woody and Addison, what did you put?"
Woody eagerly flipped his card over. " I wrote someone who can cook and has no sense of smell."
Everyone scrunched up their faces, but either Woody didn't notice or choose to ignore them because he still had a big smile on his face.
" I see…" Ms. Tutweiller continued. This was arguably the most interesting assignment she had ever assigned, and it was only day 4. " Addison is expert culinary skills essential for your perfect relationship?"
" Uh, well no. You see, I'm just going to need someone who is able to keep up with me both physically and mentally."
At this Zack couldn't help but raise a cocky eyebrow - his slightly dirty teenage mind running over all the possible meanings for " someone who is able to keep up with me physically". He was brought back to reality by a sharp pain in his shoulder as London hit him to get his attention. It appeared that she knew exactly what was going on in his mind. He turned and gave her an apologetic smirk in which she responded with an eye roll. You could dress him up, but that didn't mean you could take him out.
" All rightie then, how about you London, what did you put?"
She face lit up with a hug smile as she flipped over her card. On it was a stick figure carrying two bags of money. " ME!"
Will all her answers be 'me'? Zack thought slightly irritatingly as he glanced over at his wife's drawing. Where is the London I went to dinner yesterday? The one who was so concerned about Cody? He shrugged his shoulders slightly . She's probably in the same place that the Zack who gets an A+ on a history paper is.
" And what about you Zack? What are you looking for?"
He cleared his throat and smirked , " Well…."
Ms. Tutweiller stopped him. " If it's inappropriate, I don't want to hear it."
Zack quickly glance at his card, even though he knew exactly what he had written. At first he had written something that might be considered inappropriate, but at the last moment he had crossed it out and written something else. But now, seeing everyone focused on him, waiting for an answer, he wasn't sure he wanted to read what he had put. Maybe - perhaps just like London - he wasn't really ready to show people the " other" side of him. " Uh….well…"
Ms. Tutweiller took his hesitation as a yes and frowned. " Did you put London?"
" Well, no."
" All right then, moving on. How many kids do you want?"
Although upset he was rushed past, he was also slightly relieved. Zack thought about the question for a moment and then - letting out a small sigh- wrote the answer he knew everyone would be expecting, not the real, honest one.
" All right, time's up," Ms. Tutweiller called as the music once again ended. "Addison, what did you put?
" Well….I think I would like five, six, seven or even eights kids. Ooohh, then I could like have my own boy band, unless there were all girls because then it would a girl band. Or a combination group like the Partridge Family."
" So lots of kids then. And Woody?"
He flipped over his card to reveal a big circle with a line through it.
" Okay, so no point for you then. Moving on. London?"
London flipped over her card to also reveal a zero - expect hers had flowers and hearts in the middle. " I don't do kids."
" I see, and what about your husband? Does he "do kids"?"
London turned to face Zack and gave him a smirk. " Do you " do kids" Zack?"
Zack cleared his throat and tried hard not to giggle at who dirty that sounded. Giving his head a quick shake and putting on a cheeky smirk he responded with " Could you honestly see me being a father?"
Before Ms. Tutweiller could reply, Cody piped up. " A father that actually takes care of his kids, no. But having illegitimate children running around the country, perhaps."
Zack turned and shot daggers in his brothers direction. " Hey, can it gimpy." He suddenly had the urge to hit his younger brother over the head. What the hell is your problem? When did you become such an asshole? But upon glancing up and noticing that everyone was staring at him he gave his brother a weak smile " The question was how many kids do you want, not how many kids will you unfortunately have."
Ms. Tutweiller glanced at her most promising student and shook her head. She was highly disappointed in his behaviour right now and she had yet to ask him the question. And for a second she thought about not doing so. But, who knew, maybe he had answered a nicely , like the last question. " Ah….Bailey?"
She gave Cody a quick glare before responding. " Well, first off, if Cody is going to make being a jerk a permanent part of his personality, I'm not going to have the time or energy to look after kids because I will be too busy looking after him. But, putting that aside, I would like to have three kids." She flipped over her card to show everyone that she had written " 3" down.
Ms. Tutweiller frowned slightly at the look on Cody's face. Bailey had most definitely hit a nerve. " Uh…Cody what did you put?"
" Well….well, if Bailey is going to treat her children the way she treats me…then…then I don't think I would want her to be the mother of my children," he fired back in an attempt to make her hurt as much as she had made him hurt.
Bailey got up from her seat. And Cody- despite being crippled- followed suit. " Oh really? Is that what you think?"
" Yeah, yeah it is."
" Well, you know what, if that's the way you feel, then maybe this just isn't going to work out. We are through." And with that she pushed her way pasted him and stormed off the Sky Deck.
" Fine!" Cody yelled after her and then rushed off in the opposite direction.
Ms. Tutweiller turned to the remaining couples . "Um….well that didn't go as plan. I guess….class dismissed."
The four remaining teens- and the studio audience - packed there things and quietly left the set. They all knew that there had been a little bit of tension between Cody and Bailey, but no one expected it to end like this.
Ms. Tutweiller let out a sigh as she watched the students leave. Taking a quick glance around the set she noticed that Zack had forgotten his cards on the couch and walked over to pick them up. She was about to throw them out when she noticed one of the cards had something crossed out on it. She shook her head as she read it. "Great Sex" had been crossed out and underneath it had been written "Unconditional Love". " Oh, Zack. There really is hope for you, isn't there?" she let out another sigh. " Now, if only I could say the same thing for your brother."
After lots of debating with myself I have decided to put this story on the backburner and focus on my other fic - Blissfully Pathetic. The problem is that when I started this story I just jumped into it and I didn't really have a plan and now I am kind of at a block. Plus, I am not a fan of writing really fanficy stories and I know that I am not putting all my effort into this , so I would rather just put it aside for now and maybe came back later when I know exactly what I want to do with it.