Chapter 9: "Let's Go Get a Smoothie"
The next two days are pretty crappy. With Zack and Cody working every day after school, Zack and I barely speaking to each other and things chilly between Zack and Cody, our quintet has kind of split up. Zack hangs out with Woody, Cody hangs out with London, and I mingle with Darwin and some of the other Seven Seas High students. They're all nice teens. I could have been friends with these people all semester, I think as I try to have fun playing Putt Putt Golf with Darwin, Candace, and Frank on Wednesday evening and eating lunch with Portlyn on Thursday. Why didn't I have the good sense to stay away from my hot roommate and his cute twin in the first place?
But I'm kidding myself. I miss my friends—London's "Yay, me's", Woody's jokes (but not his gas), Cody's nerdy charm and Zack's, well, plenty of things about Zack. We've basically avoided each other since our fight on Tuesday night. The tension between us adds to the clutter in Cabin 8-102. Zack gets back from work late both nights, and I head to class early in the mornings. Each time I pass by Easy Squeezy, there's Addison parked at the counter hanging on his every word. Other girls, both students and passengers, show up to flirt with Zack as he announces the daily specials, mixes fruit in the blender and doles out frothy concoctions. He laughs and jokes with all of them. I wouldn't be surprised if he started juggling bananas, melons, and coloured cups, like a teenaged smoothie bartender version of Tom Cruise in that Cocktail movie my parents love.
Watching from the sidelines in my ghetto farmboy attire and ever-present baseball cap, I feel torn, jealous and invisible. "Get away from my boyfriend!" I want to scream at these girls. But of course, I can't—not unless I want to start gay rumours, or expose my true identity. I don't even know if Zack is still my boyfriend. Or if he ever was. My conversation with Cody continues to haunt me. Maybe now that I'm less in the picture, Zack's true colours are showing, and by that I mean his superficial, smooth-talking, commitment-phobic colours.
[***]
On Thursday afternoon I decide I have talk to someone. I really need some advice on how to proceed. Should I just apologize to Zack for getting so mad on Tuesday night? Should I wait for him to apologize to me? Or is the situation hopeless? Since Moose and I never had any actual fights in the six months we dated, I have no experience to draw on. And so I seek out the one person who I think may be able to help me, someone who's known Zack for years.
I find the heiress sunning herself on a lounger by the pool, wrapped in a sarong and wearing a flying saucer–sized straw hat. She's sipping iced tea from a silver chalice. The sight of her is slightly mind-boggling. I mean, where do you even find a silver chalice, of all things?
"Hey, London," I try to sound casual as I approach her. "Can I talk to you about something?"
London removes her massive sunglasses and regards me with a superior expression. Her eyelids gleam with silvery purple eye shadow. "Yes, you may, farm person."
I sit down on the lounger next to hers and lace my fingers. Where to begin? "So, I... um, I have this friend, Jamie-Beth. And she's been seeing this guy, uh... Jack, for a while. But they're having some problems and she doesn't know what to do." As I hear myself spouting this slop, I wonder if London is actually going to buy it. Whenever you refer to a "friend," doesn't the listener automatically know you're talking about yourself?
Not in this case. "Is he rich?" she asks eagerly.
"Uh, no."
"Well, that's her first problem," she declares. "I once dated one of my employees at the Tipton, Lance, the lifeguard. He dumped me for a mermaid! Can you believe it? And my friend Chelsea, she tried dating her chauffeur. The back of his head was handsome enough, but his face turned out to be hideous." As London drones on, I can see this conversation isn't going to shed any insights into my relationship woes with Zack.
"So," she says finally, and I drift back to attention. "Mmmm?"
"Does that explain everything?" she asks.
"Yes," I say, looking into her huge, beautifully vacant brown eyes. "Thanks, London, you've been very helpful."
"Yay, me!" She claps her hands joyfully. Then she slips her sunglasses back on and settles into a restful pose.
Clearly I've been dismissed, so there's nothing else for me to do but wander on my way. Now I feel more alone and perplexed than ever.
[***]
By Friday afternoon I've had enough. I also haven't had a banana fofana smoothie since Monday. I march upstairs to the Easy Squeezy area, determined to fix things with Zack. I'm thinking of asking him to meet me later tonight so we can talk. Like on the Starlight Deck.
Then I see Addison draped across the counter. She's whispering something in Zack's ear. In fact, it looks like she's nibbling on his ear. His hand is touching her arm and he's laughing conspiratorially with her. I feel like I've been slapped. For a moment my heart actually aches.
Well, two can play that game. And so I keep on marching, right over to the towel station. "Hey, Cody," I say in my sunniest voice. "How goes the towel toiling?"
"Hey, Bailey," Cody greets me from behind another mountain of towels. "I haven't seen you around for a while. The job still sucks. How are things with you?"
"Just hunky dory," I say, although I'm thinking the exact opposite. "How did you do on the big French essay that was due today?"
"Trés bien, je pense. I wrote about parallels between the reign of Charlemagne and the Roman Empire." He pauses to check off something on a list. "But I almost didn't get it finished in time. My laptop's been acting up."
A towel flies through the air and lands on top of the mountain, sending an avalanche of towels to the floor.
"People are so wasteful," Cody complains as he gathers up the towels. "They take way more towels than they need. Don't they care about the environment?"
I lean down to help. "I hear you, buddy. My brother Nate and I organized a recycling drive at our school last year. We filled the gym with cans, bottles, and recyclables, and saved an entire ton of garbage from going to the county dump."
"That's so cool, Bailey." Cody sounds genuinely impressed. "Good for you."
Suddenly I have an idea. "So... there's gonna be a Three Stooges Film Festival on the Fiesta Deck this weekend." I try not to hesitate as I continue. "Do you want to check it out?" It's not like I'm asking him on a date (am I?). I'm just suggesting two buddies watch some funny movies together. And it's not like I said a Hugh Grant movie.
"Sorry, I don't think I can," says Cody. "I 'm working most of the weekend. But maybe another time."
"Hey, no problem." Oh well, this must be for the best. I have no right to involve Cody in my issues with Zack. The smartest thing to do is to devote my efforts to resolving those issues.
[***]
Zack walks into Cabin 8-102 around 9:30, an hour earlier than any other night this week.
"You're back early," I comment. I'm flipping through a fashion magazine at my desk, admiring photos of holiday party dresses. Unfortunately I won't to get wear any this year.
"Fred is closing up the smoothie bar tonight." Zack seems to avoid my gaze right away.
Maybe we can finally talk. "So I... um... saw you talking to Addison tonight," I say tentatively. I need to find out what's going on with them.
"I saw you talking to Cody," he counters.
"But Cody thinks I'm a boy!" I burst out. "It's not the same thing at all, and you know it. You've been flirting with Addison all week!"
"She's just a friend," he says and goes into the bathroom.
"OK," I say, trying to sound friendly, when he's back. "So, do you want to go to the Three Stooges Film Festival on the Fiesta Deck this weekend?" I twirl a strand of my hair nervously as I wait for him to answer.
"I have to work all weekend. Mr. Moseby gave me some extra shifts." He pulls a blue dress shirt out of his closet and starts to take off his Easy Squeezy shirt. I look away.
"But I was hoping we could hang out." I know I'm whining. "I've hardly seen you all week."
"Sorry," he says, buttoning his shirt. "I'm taking as many shifts as possible so I can pay Cody back."
"Well, that's very big of you." Instantly I want a do-over. That sounded way more sarcastic than I'd intended.
Zack walks over to my desk. "I think we need to take a break."
This actually sounds like a good idea. "Fine. Let's go get a smoothie or something." I reach for my hoodie.
When Zack doesn't reply, a sickening realization hits me. "Oh, you mean a break from us," I say quietly.
He glances at the floor and then the wall. "I don't know."
"Is that what you want?" I ask and my voice wavers.
This time Zack looks right at me. "Well, something obviously isn't working here," he states.
My throat tightens and I can barely blink back the tears, but I don't want Zack to see me fall apart again. "Whatever," I choke out and run from the cabin. I don't even bother to grab my hat.
I manage to hold it together until I get to the empty biology lab. Then I crumple into a desk and weep. My life at Seven Seas High is ruined. What am I going to do now?
A/N: Poor Bailey... what is she going to do now? BTW, I found the topic for Cody's French essay on a website for graduate-level thesis papers to ensure it would be super advanced for a high school student :) I also had to throw in a silver chalice after watching the Wizards–TSLOD–Hannah Montana crossover episode.
As always, thank you so much for the reviews and questions. You guys are doing an awesome job of helping me stay inspired! Let me know what you think of this newest installment. Xoxoxo – Ellie