Episode 10

"Creating a Monster"

I don't own these characters, but it would be nice if I did.

Wait...In this story, I created some of the characters, so I will actually own them.

Anyways, I do promise to keep them true to themselves.

And as to the ones I create, who they are is up to me, so...

New Haven

First thing the next morning, Bailey pretty much had to drag Amy out of bed. For the first time since she could remember, there wasn't a rooster crowing to wake her up, and she was enjoying getting to sleep in a little. But Bailey did manage to get her up, and moving and on to the bathroom for a shower. And once both were dressed for the day, Amy yawned and turned to Bailey.

"Okay, what gives? Why are we up and dressed by 7:30 when your only class today isn't until 9:00?"

Bailey shrugged. "Its just part of our schedule. We like to make sure we have plenty of time to grab breakfast before class. As you should know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now come on, we have a lot to do and see today..."

"Remember, I'm here on a vacation too..."

"There'll be plenty of time to rest next week. You came here to see Yale, and that's what we're going to show you."

From there, they headed down to Cody's room where he was waiting for them, and they all headed over to the Commons for breakfast. After taking their time to eat and show Amy around the Commons, they all headed to Cody and Bailey's philosophy seminar. Shortly after Eunice had called her, Bailey had cleared it with her professor for Amy to sit in on the class. And he was happy to have her and even encouraged her to take part in the class discussions if she wanted. Amy declined to do so. Once it was over, they all walked out of it as they headed back to Berkeley.

"So, Amy, what did you think of you first college class experience?"

She shook her head and laughed. "Let me get this straight...you two actually chose to take that class?"

Cody nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

"More power to you two then if you found that hogwash interesting. But, I think I can safely mark off philosophy as a potential major one day. In fact, I'm going to make sure I avoid ever taking a class in it ever!"

Bailey laughed. "We aren't majoring in it either, but that class is perfectly for us when it comes to doing our Ethics, Politics & Economics senior projects."

"Whatever you say, Sis..."

After dropping there things off back at the dorm, the three of them headed off for a tour of campus. The only break they took was for a late lunch back in the dining hall. By dinner time that night, Amy was pretty sure that there wasn't a single square inch of campus they hadn't covered in the past several hours.

"Okay, this campus is kind of freaky..."

"What do you mean?"

She just looked at them. "Has it escaped both of your attentions that there is this huge cemetery smack dab in the middle of it?"

Bailey shrugged. "Well, yeah, we know its there, but its not like we ever have a reason to go through it. Some students will cut through it as a short cut to get to parts of north campus, but we never have."

Cody spoke up. "Plus, you have to remember that it wasn't always in the middle of campus. When Yale was chartered back in 1701, the cemetery didn't even exist. And when they did build it, I'm sure it was just adjacent to campus as its where a lot of old university professors, presidents and alumni as well as local and state politicians are buried. Plus, there are even some very noteworthy people resting in there like Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, US founding father Roger Sherman who signed both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and Charles Goodyear, the inventor of vulcanized rubber."

"Don't forget the fathers of both Samuel Morse and Harriet Beecher Stowe."

"That's true..." He paused. "And Zack even recognized a few names I didn't. An A. Bartlett Giamatti who was commissioner of baseball who banned some guy named Pete Rose for life. And another guy named Walter Camp who Zack said a big football award was named after..."

Bailey shrugged. "I've never heard of them either..." She turned back to her sister. "So, you have to remember, campus expanded over the years and more than likely just acquired all of the land around it. Eventually, the cemetery just ended up in the middle of it all. You have to remember...Yale was 75 years old when America declared its independence. That's how old it is. Other than Harvard and William and Mary, its the oldest university in the country."

Amy just looked back and forth between them before shaking her head. "Anyways, what's the deal with all of these secret societies up here? Are you really telling me that no one knows what goes on behind those closed doors."

"Just the members of them."

"Are you two members?"

Cody laughed. "Nope. They only accept seniors as members, and neither Bailey nor I have the connections to become ones next year. They usually choose people who had a relative who was a past member or whose family is pretty powerful. That precludes the both of us."

Amy paused. "Hmmm...I'd love to know what's really in there."

Bailey shook her head. "Forget about it. Those places are almost as secure as Fort Knox. And rumor is they don't take kindly to people who try to find out their secrets. The members of those places places can reek havoc on your life more than someone like Wilfred Tipton could..."

When they got back to the dorm, they met back up with Tapeworm and Gertie, and everyone suggested heading out for a brick oven pizza at a campus establishment to give Amy a taste of the local cuisine. They even thought they might go catch a movie if there was anything playing they wanted to see. And to Amy, that was just fine with her as she was getting a little tired of the Yale sales pitch Cody and Bailey were giving her.

But it wasn't over yet as Bailey turned to her sister while they waited on their food. "So, overall, what do you think of Yale so far?"

"Well, it seems pretty cool I guess, but I want to see what the other schools are like too. There is one thing I'm sure of though."

"What's that?"

Amy grinned. "I already know I'm going to love not having to be up at the crack of dawn every morning! And no offense, Sis, but my alarm clock will be nothing like your chicken one. Once I leave the farm, I'll be happy if I never hear one of them ever again!"

Bailey shrugged. "Well, your choice, but Cody and I have found we prefer to get all of our classes out of the way as early in the day as possible. So, don't overlook morning classes."

"I'll worry about that next year."

Unfortunately, they didn't see any movies out that anyone wanted to see as most studios waited to release their big movies until the following Thanksgiving weekend. So, they headed back to the dorm to just hang out there. And they pretty much had it to themselves as most residents had already left for the break. So, they hung out in the basement where Cody soon learned that a high skill level at ping pong and darts seemed to be a Pickett family trait. Of the few people still in the dorm, a large crowd gathered to watch an epic bout between the sisters.

Once it was over, Cody just shook his head. "No offense, Amy, but I'm kind of glad you won't be here in school with us next year. I'd lose my spot on the ping pong team..."

Bailey laughed. "I wouldn't do that to you, Sweetie. You and I are a team and always will be."

The next day, they all attended The Game and watched Yale pull out a close victory over their arch rivals, the Harvard Crimson. And Amy was blown away by the level of hatred between the two school's fans and alumni.

"Its just strange. I mean, I know all about Kansas and Missouri and Kansas and K State, but this was absolutely brutal. Both sides literally hate each other. I just never expected two school that ooze prestige and civility to resort to this kind of behavior..." She paused. "And you guys are actually considering going to Harvard Medical School? You would think they would see the word Yale on your resumes and throw your application into the trash can..."

Cody laughed. "Actually, its quite the opposite. They see the word Yale, and would love nothing more to steal one of Yale's own away from them. If a Yale undergraduate spurs Yale to go to Harvard for graduate school, Harvard sees that as the ultimate revenge."

Amy paused to consider that. "But didn't I hear that you were banned from Harvard?"

He sighed. "I was thanks to my brother, but that was under the administration of its previous university president. Fortunately for me, he left last year for a position in the President's cabinet. As far as I know, the current one has no vendetta against me..."

"What did your brother do anyways?"

Cody told her the story, and Amy just laughed. "Between that and what he tried to do to Grammy, he sounds like a real piece of work..."

"He's gotten better..."

Bailey nodded. "He actually has. In the past three years, he's really grown up and matured. I mean, he's on pace to graduate from BU in four years, and he's now in a serious relationship. Trust me though, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it. I saw the things he tried to pull off on the ship, and Cody has told me it much the same way at the Tipton."

"Zack once even tried to rig a beauty pageant on the boat just so he could meet girls." Cody smiled. "Fortunately, your sister's beauty, grace and charm was able to over come it all, and she won."

Bailey smiled back at him. "Well, I had a good coach and someone who was in my corner and believed in me."

Amy sighed. "It sounds like you all had so many adventures on the boat. I wish I could have had some myself..."

"Well, we did have quite a few that I'll never forget..."

Cody nodded. "And several more I never would have believed if I hadn't been there to see them myself..."

Amy just looked back and forth between them. "Alright, there's some juicy stories there. Tell me everything!"

For the rest of the night, they did fill her in on some of their more adventurous tales. Amy couldn't believe that her sister had been possessed or that they had actually seen ghosts. A few of the others, she found herself laughing about how absurd they were. But, they had to call it a night early as they had another big day the next day. And the next morning, being the gentlemen they were, Cody and Tapeworm went to get the cars while the ladies stayed in the warm confines of the dorm lobby. And when they got back, it was time to part ways.

"So, what are you guys doing for break?"

Gertie smiled. "I'm heading up to Amherst for a few days before Dennis is flying back to Maryland with me on Wednesday night. Then we're flying back on Saturday morning to come back here for the home stretch."

"Well, I guess we'll see you in a week then."

Gertie turned to Amy and winked. "You better keep an eye on those two over break. Its always the good ones you have to watch out for."

And with that they were off. While Tapeworm and Gertie headed north, Cody, Bailey and Amy headed east towards Providence. And they arrived early enough to grab a donut and something hot to drink at a Dunkin Donuts near Brown's campus. At eleven, they were right on time for an information session followed by a campus tour. For Amy, it was a chance to see another option for her and another location for her to flee to from Kettlecorn. For Bailey and Cody, it was a chance to see one of their second tier medical schools they were considering. But all Cody could keep thinking was that brown was still a really ugly color.

About five o'clock, they finished their tour and got in the car to head back to Boston. And a little over an hour later, they pulled into the Tipton's underground garage. Once they got up to the lobby, Amy's eyes went wide, and she turned to Cody.

"You grew up here?"

Bailey laughed. "I said the same thing when I first saw it."

Cody smiled. "And to be exact, my mom, Zack and I moved here when we were eleven. So since then, I've lived here on and off for nine years." He paused. "Wow...I've lived here almost half of my life."

Bailey patted his back. "Its okay. Everyone gets old, Sweetie."

He turned and looked at her. "I guess so." He teased her. "What's that say about you then? You've got those extra two months on me..."

Bailey glared at him while Amy just laughed. Once upstairs, they lead Amy to the guys' suite, and when they walked in, Zack and Maya were at the kitchen table studying.

"We're back!"

Zack looked up and shushed his brother. "We can see that. But someone of us don't have all week off from school and still have exams tomorrow."

Cody paused. "Alright then...Well, Zack, Maya, this is Bailey's sister, Amy. Amy, this is my brother, Zack and his girlfriend, Maya."

Everyone nodded their greetings before Amy took a good look at Zack. "So, you're the one Grammy chased around the farm. I wish I had been there to see that..."

Zack sighed. "Yet another thing I'll never live down."

Amy turned to Bailey. "Its funny. After all you've guys told me, I knew Cody and Zack were nothing alike. But with them being twins, I kind of expected to look more alike. I just don't see it though..."

At the same time, Zack and Cody both spoke. "Thank you!"

Boston

After taking it easy on Sunday night, Monday was the beginning of a brand new week. Zack and Maya had a two day school week to finish up while Cody and Bailey took Amy on a tour of Harvard's campus. Since Cody had spent a lot time in Boston and had been to Harvard's campus for various award ceremonies and academic competitions, he knew his way around there much better than he did Brown. And once their tour was over, Amy obliged them in them taking a tour of the Harvard Medical School which was across the river from the main campus in the Longwood Medical Neighborhood. Along the way, they even showed her around Fenway Park and its surrounding neighborhood. That evening, the three of them were just hanging around the suite after eating dinner when Zack walked into the suite looking absolutely exhausted.

Cody looked at his brother and laughed. "Wow...you look terrible."

"Well, I had an accounting final today and then I had to sit through three hours of a GMAT prep course." He sighed. "How come you two aren't taking one of those for the MCAT?"

"Because we've been studying for it pretty regularly since the beginning of last summer. In addition, we've taken online study courses and a few practice tests since then. Besides, those classes for the MCAT would cost over $5,000 for each of us. We don't have that kind of money..."

Zack nodded. "Fair enough." He paused. "Codester, can I speak to you for a minute in my room? You know, a little bro to bro talk?"

Cody just shrugged. "Alright..."

Once they had gone to Zack's room, and he had shut the door behind them, Zack turned to his brother.

"I need your advice on something."

"Alright. What about?"

Zack sighed again. "Well, the same day as our tests in January, Maya has gotten us all floor seats to the Celts and Knicks..."

Cody just looked at him. "So? You make it sound like that is a bad thing..."

"Its not...except for the fact that it will be the first time I will be meeting her parents. They're going to be there too..."

Cody just nodded. "Ahhh. I see. You're worried about meeting them after just getting done with a grueling test. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure they'll understand if you're worn out."

"Cody, I'd be worried about meeting them if I had gotten twelve hours sleep and was as fresh as a daisy!"

"You've lost me then. Why are you worried about meeting them?"

This time, it was Zack just stared at Cody. "Why? You of all people have to ask me why? Don't you remember the first time you met Bailey's parents?"

"Well, yeah, but that was a little different, Zack. At the time, we were still apart, and they blamed me for breaking their daughter's heart. And to make matters worse, Clyde and I definitely got off on the wrong foot. Then, that oaf Moose showed up. And if all of that wasn't bad enough, a tornado decided to come breezing through the area. Yours is a totally different situation. You'll have been back together with Maya for almost eight months and be inside of a temperature controlled arena."

"Still..." He paused. "What if they don't like me?"

Cody laughed. "Wouldn't be the first time a girl you've dated had a parent who despised you..."

Zack glared at him again. "Not being helpful!"

"Well, you weren't so helpful when you got me temporarily banished from Harvard. And while were on the topic, Zack, while Yale does rhyme with whale, a whale isn't a fish. Its a mammal like you and I."

"Like that matters right now!"

Cody just grinned. "Zack, there is nothing for you to get worked up over."

"Easy for you to say! Despite the initial problems you had, you're soon to be in-laws now actually really like you for some reason. They've actually had time to get to know you, and still think you're good for Bailey. Heck, they're even welcomed you into the family with open arms..."

"Yeah, we were fortunately able to overcome a rocky start. And for that, I'm grateful. And I'm really lucky that they were able to see how much Bailey means to me even though my attempts to save their farm all failed miserably. But if they didn't like me, there would be nothing I could do about it. And the fact is that it wouldn't matter to Bailey either. She's actually told me that very thing herself. But her parents know we love each other, and they accept that. I'm sure Maya's parents will too."

Zack sighed. "I hope so."

Cody laughed again. "Zack, just be yourself..." He paused. "Well, a better behaved version of yourself would probably be best."

Zack rolled his eyes. "Gee... thanks."

"Zack, on that day, you should be focusing your attention on your test and not about meeting her parents. And its like I said before...knowing you have just gotten out of the GMAT, I'm sure they'll be willing to cut you a little slack."

He stopped to consider that. "I guess you do have a point there."

Cody smiled. "I always do, but you've just never listened to me before..."

Zack just looked at him again. "Easy, Baby Bro. You may know that one stupid move, but I know enough stuff now from my self defense classes to put a real hurting on you..."

Cody laughed again. "Yeah, that's a good way to get on Maya's parents' good side - get arrested for assaulting your brother...

"Don't push me, Bro...Even though she says it isn't one, Maya has me on a diet. I haven't had real food in a few days. Now is not the time to mess with me!"

London's Penthouse

Tuesday was spent taking Amy around Boston to show her some of the city's historical sites and landmarks. They had to cut the tour a little short as Cody and Bailey had another errand they had to do that afternoon - go to the grocery store to buy everything for Thursday. Amy decided to go with them, and they asked her if there was anything special she wanted for the meal. She did mention a mince meat pie would be nice, but Cody said it was already on the menu. On Wednesday, they set her up with a spa treatment at the hotel so she wouldn't have to sit there while they prepared all the dishes. About four o'clock that afternoon, she made her way up to the penthouse just as Cody and Bailey were finishing up everything.

"How was the spa?"

Amy sighed in contentment as she sunk back into London's couch. "Heavenly. We definitely need one of those back in Kettlecorn..."

Bailey laughed. "Yeah, right! Something tells me one of those might not go over too well there."

"Probably not. Is there anything I can do to help you guys out?"

"No, I think we are just about done here..."

Amy shook her head and laughed. "My sister the cook. I never thought I'd see this day. I remember when you used to have trouble making toast."

Cody smiled and spoke up. "Well, she's quite good now. She knows her way around a kitchen quite well now. In fact, this year, she's prepared the ham all by herself..."

Bailey smiled at him. "Well, I had a good teacher."

Amy kept laughing. "You handled the ham? What do you think Porkers would say about that?"

Cody paused and laughed too. "I think he'd say he's happy he's wasn't the ham..."

Bailey just looked at him. "Probably so - considering some of things I know you've done with a ham before. Shall we tell her that story too?"

"You know I was just trying to help out our friend, Woody..."

"Uh huh. That's the story you keep telling me..."

"Hey, at least I never bit you!" Cody shook his head and decided to change the subject. "So...Amy, you've now seen three big cities in New England and three Ivy League universities. What do you think?"

She fell back into the couch and sighed again. "I love it here! A store you can go to and get your vegetables, meat, eggs and milk without having to plant, harvest, slaughter or brave a temperamental cow or chicken? It doesn't get much better than that! And that subway that will take you anywhere in the city? Its awesome! And every place we've been has been right on the ocean. In Kettlecorn, we're thousands of miles from an ocean. And after seeing it, the old fishing hole will never look the same again. Bailey, I completely understand now why you have no desire to ever live in Kettlecorn again!"

Bailey shook her head. "I have other reasons for being where I am, Amy..."

"Oh, I know. But I can't wait till I can be around a place like this all the time! Its like heaven!"

Cody leaned over to Bailey and whispered. "Looks like you've created a monster..."

Bailey whispered back. "Seems that way, huh?"

Amy spoke up again. "So, this is London Tipton's penthouse. When do I finally get to meet her?"

"Oh, she's around here somewhere. At the very least, you'll get to meet her tomorrow. You'll also get to meet some other people I've told you about like Moseby and Tut, Esteban and Francesca and Arwin."

Cody spoke without thinking. "And if its like last year, you might even get to meet Mr. Tipton himself."

Amy jumped up and glared at them. "Mr. Tipton? If he's here, I might have to punch him in the face! First for what he tried to do to the farm and then with closing Seven Seas High! I hate that man!"

Zack and Cody's Suite

While Cody and Bailey were preparing the next day's meal, Zack was spending the day studying for the GMAT. Well, he was after he slept in till almost eleven o'clock that morning. He had tried to get Maya to stay with him the night before, but she told him that she had to be at work by 8:15. While the university itself was closed, the fit&rec center was not. And since it would probably be a ghost town, she figured she would be making easy money for doing nothing.

About five that afternoon, Maya returned back to the suite, and Zack looked up from his study guide in surprise.

"You're back early. I figured your last class would only be about half over by now."

She shrugged. "It was canceled. About four o'clock, the only remaining person who was going to show up called and said they weren't going to make it. So, my boss told me I could go on and leave."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?"

She smiled. "Definitely good. The lessons have already been paid for, so I get paid whether they show up or not. And speaking of getting paid, I got my paycheck today and deposited it on the way over her. So, I'm ready for Friday morning..."

Zack groaned. "Black Friday...I almost forgot."

"Well, now you know. So, you get your rest tomorrow because Bailey and I have already been talking. We think we're going to leave the suite at 5:00 AM this year."

Zack just dropped his face into the book he had been looking at.

London's Penthouse

On Thursday, Cody and Bailey were up early to began actually cooking the food. And they let Amy sleep in, but they did leave her a note as to where they would be. By noon, most everyone had began showing up at London's penthouse to watch the Lions play the Vikings. And throughout the afternoon, Amy finally got to meet Moseby, Tut, Arwin, Esteban and Francesca.

And when she met Tut, Amy had an enlightening conversation with her.

"So, you're Amy Pickett. I finally get to meet the person behind the application."

"What do you mean? You actually looked at it?"

Emma smiled. "I was the one who reviewed your application to Seven Seas High. It was very impressive, and I was going to recommend you for admission." She paused. "But then..."

Amy sighed. "The school got closed down with the rest of the ship..."

"Yeah, that came as a surprise to all of us."

Amy frowned. "I really, really hate Wilfred Tipton..."

Emma shrugged. "If I were you, I wouldn't even give him a second thought. He can't interfere with your future unless you let him. Besides, I hear you are already getting interest from some of the big ivy league schools around here. If I were you, I would focus your concentration on that."

"Bailey told me the exact same thing. Maybe you two are right. Where did you go to school, Mrs. Moseby?"

Emma paused and laughed. "Well, that really doesn't matter, now does it?"

Amy just nodded. She was pretty sure Bailey was right about something else too. Wherever Tut had gone to school, she was pretty sure it probably wasn't accredited.

And right before the Cowboys game with the Eagles, London finally arrived with Todd.

"I'm finally here!"

Zack looked up. "You live here."

"Still, this is me making my grand entrance."

Bailey wiped her hands on a dishtowel before walking over to London. "London, I'd like to introduce you to my sister, Amy. Amy, this is London Tipton."

Amy smiled. "A pleasure to finally meet you."

London smiled back. "I'm sure it is. Well, I guess if I say 'Farm Girl' today, I'm going to have to be more specific." She shrugged. "Oh well."

Bailey shook her head. "Actually, you and Amy have something in common. You both hate farm work."

London looked at Amy again. "There may be hope for you then. Your sister is pretty much already a lost cause..." She paused. "Okay, I have a question. When we were all in Kettlecorn, why did I not get to meet you then?"

"Oh, we were on Christmas break too, and Sophie, Daphne and I were all visiting our Momma's Momma..."

"Oh...that makes sense."

Amy had to laugh before something else popped into her mind. "Is your father going to be here?"

"Nah, he heard my Mom was coming and said he would pass this year."

Bailey's eyes went wide at hearing that. "Your mother is going to be here? We finally get to meet her?"

London just looked at her. "Yeah...But there is always plenty of food, so one more shouldn't be a big deal. Anyways, speaking of Daddy, I talked to him a few days ago. For some reason, he was asking me all kinds of questions about you and Cody..."

Cody and Bailey looked at each other feeling a little worried. "He did? What kind of questions?"

"Well, he wanted to know if you two had begun applying to medical schools yet. He was real curious which ones you were looking to go to..."

Cody frowned. "Why does he want to know that?"

London shrugged again. "I don't know. I didn't ask questions...I had better things to talk to him about."

Cody and Bailey just looked at each other again...now really worried about what Wilfred Tipton might be up to. And after London and Todd socialized with everyone else, he pulled her aside.

"Why didn't you tell them the truth? You told me that it wasn't anything bad at all..."

London just smiled. "It not...but its more fun this way to see them get all riled up..."

To be Continued...

AN: Confession time here. When Zack said something about a school that sounded like a fish, I had no idea what he was talking about for the longest time. It took me doing research for a story and discovering that the Yale hockey arena is nicknamed the Yale Whale for me to put two and two together.