Disclaimer: Don't own anything!!
Sorry it took so long. More at the end 'bout that.
College Years: The Next Year
Chapter 7 (Oh my God, already?)
Home Again?
It was the middle of summer, and Maddie and Zack were perfectly happy in their new home. Maddie was working at a public library, and Zack was working at a sporting goods store. It wasn't either of their ideal jobs, but it worked until they could get their dream jobs. Maddie wanted to own her business, but she wasn't sure of what type of business she wanted. Zack still wasn't sure what he wanted to be. They were discussing their careers one evening in the living room.
"So, Zack…any ideas on what you want to be?"
"I was wondering about that today…and I was thinking about something with children. Like, maybe a teacher or something…"
"A teacher? You hated school! And kids, come to think of it…"
"Not true!"
"Don't you remember when all those kids were at the hotel nursery…"
"Ok, so I'm not such a fan of other people's little kids…"
Maddie smiled and said, "And you still hated school…"
"I didn't hate high school."
"So you were thinking of teaching high school?"
"Well why not?"
"You'll have to change your major, won't you?"
"I never had a major to begin with."
"Oh…well what are you going to teach?"
"I don't know…History…English…Gym?" He laughed at the last one.
"Gym actually wouldn't be bad for you. You like sports, don't you? You can teach high school kids how to play football and baseball and soccer…you know?"
"Maddie, are you serious? Me? Teach gym?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Everyone makes fun of gym teachers! You know the saying, 'Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach, teach gym! Come on, Maddie!"
"It was just a suggestion…"
"I know, I know. And I appreciate it." He kissed her forehead and then said, "Have you thought anymore about your business?"
"I really love the idea of having my own business…I just don't know what kind of business I want…any ideas?"
"How about merchandise? You know, selling stuff…"
"I'm not much of a salesgirl…"
"Advertising?"
"I'm not creative enough for that."
"Okay well…how about a chain of restaurants? You could go into business with Sarah. She's a great cook! She could handle food and you could handle the money and business plan."
"That could work…I like food…and money…"
"Exactly."
"You know, I really like that idea! Thanks, Zack!"
She kissed him and stood up. He said, "Where are you going?" She stretched before saying, "I'm going to call Sarah and see what she thinks of the idea. If she doesn't like it, I'll have to find another cook. Thanks for the idea on my future, sweetie!" She kissed him again and headed off to the kitchen.
Zack was excited. He'd come up with a plan for himself and Maddie. How great was that? Of course, sticking to that plan was a different story. He'd never considered being a teacher before, but the idea seems sort of fun. Little kids made him mad, so kindergarten was out of the question. Teenagers were okay with him. He connected with them. Most adults feared teenagers because of their drama and attitudes, but being a teen was Zack's favorite part of his childhood. He didn't mind reliving it. Teaching high school seemed fun. But who would have thought that the person who hated school the most would wind up wanting to teach it? Immediately he began remembering why he hated school. It was because it was boring, and he just couldn't focus. He then started thinking of ways to make school more fun and to get kids more interested in school. Zack smiled to himself and leaned against the back of the couch.
The kitchen in Maddie and Zack's house was beautiful. It had dark hardwood floors and yellow walls. They had an island, a bar, and a small kitchen table. Maddie sat down on one of the barstools and picked up the phone, quickly dialing Sarah's number. The idea of owning her own business sounded amazing to her, and it was a goal she was anxious to start heading out to achieve. She listened to the ringing on the phone and then finally, "Hello?"
"Hey, Cody."
"Maddie?"
"Yeah, hey. How are you?"
"I'm doing good, how about you?"
"I'm doing great! I've had a business idea, and I'd like to talk to Sarah about it…is she home?"
"Yeah, she's in the kitchen, let me get her." He put the phone down and Maddie heard him calling for Sarah. She came to the phone a minute later and said, "Maddie?"
"Hey!"
"Hey, what's up?"
"I've got a business proposition for you."
"A business?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, lay it on me."
"I want to open a restaurant."
'What?!"
"Yeah!"
"Maddie…no offense…but you can't cook worth crap."
"Duh, Sarah. Why do you think I'm talking to you?"
"You want me to cook?"
"Yes!"
"Maddie…" Sarah said tentatively. Maddie stood up from the barstool and walked to the other side of the kitchen, pacing back and forth.
"Sarah, hear me out! I have great business sense, is this not true?"
"Okay, true…"
"And you're the best chef I've ever met."
Sarah laughed and Maddie could tell she was blushing when she said, "Thanks…"
"So if you and Cody move back out here—"
"Move back?"
Maddie started talking fast, "Well, you'd have to for this to work. Otherwise, what are you gonna do, airmail me the food? And listen, I know it's a lot to ask, and you can totally say no if you want! No pressure at all, I can find a chef around here…admittedly, they won't be as good as you, but I'll have to deal. Now listen, if you guys move back to New Jersey or somewhere near here, this can work. We rent a building, fix it up, hire some help, and get to work! I handle the money and business transactions, you do the cooking. We'd split the earnings as partners. What do you say?"
Sarah blinked a few times and thought for a moment before saying, "Well…there are a few kinks in your plan, I think…"
"Like?"
"Money. Cash. Some green. Moolah. We have none. Get the picture?"
"That's what loans are for! Come on, Sarah, you know it's a good idea…"
"It does sound nice…"
"Think about it, ok? I've got to go. Work early tomorrow. Talk to you later, Sarah."
"Bye, Maddie…"
Maddie hung up the phone and went back into the living room to see Zack asleep on the couch. She laughed and shook her head, walking over to him. She leaned down to his head and kissed his lips quickly. His eyes opened in surprise, but he quickly recovered. Maddie broke the kiss and said, "Good evening, Sleeping Beauty." They both laughed.
"Hey, yourself. Did you talk to Sarah?"
"Yeah, and she's going to think about it and get back to me."
"I was just thinking…how would this work? Sarah lives in Oklahoma with Cody…"
"If Sarah agrees, then they'd have to move back out here."
"Maddie…that's a lot to ask of them…"
"I know. And I feel really bad for asking it of her. I made sure to tell her that there's no pressure. She can say no if she wants."
"She moved out there for her family, didn't she?"
"Yeah…which is why I don't know if she'll want to come back."
"It's a long shot, babe."
Maddie sighed and said, "I know…but I had to try, anyway." She paused and yawned then said, "Ready for bed?"
Zack nodded and they stood up, heading up the stairs to their bedroom. They reached it and both brushed their teeth and put on pajamas before climbing into their queen-sized bed. Zack put his arms around Maddie and said, "I love you, Maddie."
"I love you too, Zack."
They both smiled and drifted off to sleep.
Sarah walked into the living room and sat down next to Cody, sighing.
"Hey, baby…what's up?"
"Not much. Just got off the phone with Maddie…"
"Yeah, and…?"
"She had a business proposition for me."
"Yeah she had said something about a business idea she wanted to talk to you about. What was she talking about?"
"She wants to open a restaurant. She wants to handle the business aspect, and me be the chef…we'd be partners…"
Cody's eyes widened and he said, "That's great! What'd you say?"
"I said I'd think about it."
"What's there to think about? You've always wanted to be a chef in your own restaurant. Now you can be!"
"Well for starters it won't be my restaurant, it'll be Maddie's…"
"No, you'll be partners. It will be half yours."
"True…"
"So what's the problem?"
"We'd have to move back to New Jersey. Or somewhere close by."
"Oh…"
"Yeah."
"Well I wouldn't mind, you know…but I know you don't want to leave your family."
"Well it was because of my grandfather, remember? Because he's sick…"
"Yeah…your parents forced you to move out here…which wasn't fair."
"I know it wasn't…"
"So…what do you want to do?"
"I want to go back and start this business with Maddie!"
"Then what's stopping us?"
"My family."
"Why don't we try talking to them? If you're moving because of a job, they might listen."
"No. We're not talking to them about it. This is my decision. We're going back home, Cody, whether they like it or not. They didn't believe me with the whole Hannah thing, so…I don't care what they think. Let's go back. Let's leave as soon as possible."
A/N-
Note #1: I'm SO SORRY this took me so long. I don't have a good excuse, really, except for lack of inspiration and no time and me just being lazy. I'm so sorry I kept you guys hanging for so long. I really do hope to get a few more chapters out soon. If I don't, then I'm sorry. I just hope all of you know that I will never abandon this story. I won't, so don't give up on me!
Note #2: So, what do you think of Zack and Maddie and Sarah's plans? Zack's going to be a teacher, Sarah and Cody are moving back to NJ so that Sarah and Maddie can have a business together. Make sense?
Note #3: I know I did this with Maddie, but I can't remember if I ever said what year Sarah was in school. I want to say that she's going to be a sophomore, like Cody and Zack, but I'm not sure. Does anybody remember? Also, do you think I should keep her as a sophomore or make her a junior/senior. I'm not sure if Zack and Cody should both have girlfriends that are older than them…hm. Well, let me know.
Note #4: As always, please review and let me know what you thought! Thanks so much!
Love Always,
DC
