Chapter 11

Zack had heard Cody's calls for him to come back but he ignored them. He just wanted to be alone, with no one around in peace and quiet and no matter how much he loved his brother peace and quiet was not something Cody did well. He had to think of a way to get rid of Cody. His mind made up he ran for the elevator and pressed the button for his floor. He noticed Cody round the cornor just as the doors closed.

The ride was silent and was Zack's first time to think about what had just happened. He would just have to push back the pain for just awhile longer until he was sure he was completely alone. He made his way to the apartment. Stepping inside he stepped behind the door and waited until it opened to reveal Cody. Once he was sure he could get away he silently slipped from the room but was caught when the door banged behind him. Quickly hiding as Cody left the apartment, he watched his twin walk towards the elevators again, muttering loudly.

Zack slumped against the wall. He once again opened the door to the apartment and closed it silently behind him before falling into one of the chairs. He sat in total silence for 10 minutes, not really thinking about anything until his phone went off.

INCOMING CALL- CODY

Zack didn't answer but let the call go straight to voicemail. Now he let himself realise the pain and he could now name it- heartbreak. It caught in his chest and he took a deep breath trying to control his shaking hands- though they were caused by a different emotion- anger, at not only Derek but Max too.

How could she? After everything that jerk did to her, how he treated her and him at one point. How could she trust him again?

It frustrated Zack to no end that she would even talk to him. But that was Max. She may be tough but she hated conflict and avoided it when possible. She didn't like to hold grudges against people, even those who deserved it. She was never able to stay mad at Zack for more then a few hours before she would come over and ask if they could forget it. Be he had never hurt her! He NEVER would.

One thing that annoyed him more than anything though was

HOW, seriously HOW! Did she not see how much I liked her?

They were perfect together. They were as close as him and Cody. They liked all the same things. Both loved a good competition with one another. They talked about everything. And they knew how to push the others buttons. He stood up quickly needing to relive some of the tension in his body.

"Stupid, stupid Zack" he mutter to himself as he paced back and forth. He heard a voice outside the door and quietly made his way to the peephole to see who it was. London was knocking on Maddie and Noah's door, but they weren't there. Then London turned and knocked on his door. "Zack? Cody? You guys there? Hello?" Staying silent he watched as she huffed and walked away again. Zack was about to head back to his chair when he heard London again.

"There you are! I got your text. What's up?" He quietly made his way to the door again and looked out. Maddie and London were whispering but he couldn't hear. He saw Noah behind them with his arm around a small brunette who looked like she was crying, Max!

He took three big steps back from the door and took a deep breath to calm the pain in his chest again. His phone rang from the chair again and he saw Cody's name once again flash across the screen. Ignoring it he made his way to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He heard his phone go off once again and he left the bathroom determined to shut it up. However he looked at the ID and clicked accept.

"Hey Mom" he said, trying to sound happy.

"Hey sweetie. How are things in Texas?" she asked sounding happy.

"They're ok I guess"

"Only ok? Have you talked to Max?" she asked hopefully.

"No mom, not yet. Her friends are throwing her a surprise party so we haven't had a chance to talk yet"

"Oh, well where's your brother? I tried calling him but I got his voice mail"

"Well maybe he can't hear it with the party. I'll tell him to call you when I see him"

"Ok. Are you sure you're alright Zack?"

"Yes Mom I'm fine. Look I have to go. Love you mom"

"Love you too" and he was alone once again.

He didn't want to cry. He thought it made him weak but he couldn't help that one tear that fell. Wiping it away with forced he looked up trying to stop anymore that threatened to fall. He look at his phone not realising it had rang 2 more times without him realising. He was about to listen to the voicemail when he heard someone outside the door. Bringing his phone he looked through the peephole and saw Cody outside Maddie's. He realised what Cody was going to do when he saw his phone and readied his finger on the cancel button.

"Zack please just ring me back and let me know where you are. I'm getting kinda worried. Please just talk to me. I love you" He heard Cody say before the door opened to reveal Maddie. They said something Zack couldn't hear before he went inside. He went back to the couch and sat down listening to the other four voicemails.

"Hey Zack, it's Cody. Thanks for tricking me man. Seriously though call me. I think we need to talk"

"Ok come on Zack ring me back. I have searched the arcade and sports centre and you're not there. Where are you? Come on ring me."

"Alright you win. Now tell me where you are so I can come find you! I mean it Zack"

"Please call me back. Please. What happened? Come on talk to me. My twin telepathy is telling me you're upset so now I'm upset. Please call me. Love you"

Standing he made his way to his room. He looked at his reflection and he looked bad. He looked tired and his eyes were sad. He was wearing a light blue shirt that had a small drink stain on the front. It must have happened in his haste to leave the party. What he needed was a shower to clear his head. He heard more voices in the hall as he was about to head into the bathroom.

"I know Derek, trust me" Max's muffled voice came through the door.

"Alright fine..." Zack heard Cody's voice say but his foot caught in the rug and he fell forward and landed with a thud. "Ow" he mumbled but he heard Cody "What was that?"

"It sounded like it came from your room" Jumping up as quick as he could he ran to his room and managed to fit himself into the big wardrobe and close the door.

"Zack? Zack are you in here?" He heard Cody call as the 5 made their way into the apartment. "Zack!" He heard his bedroom door open and he saw Max looking around. "He's not here. But he was" she said and the 4 came into the room.

"How do you know?" Noah asked. "His phone is here. Zack goes nowhere without his phone" Cody nodded "She's right" he said picking up his phone.

"So where is he now?" Londin asked.

"He must have left. Maybe he heard us come back" Maddie suggested. Zack was silently trying to breath as he watched the 5 talk, praying they would leave.

"He got a call from Mom 10 minutes ago and he answered it, he could be anywhere in this hotel" Cody said. "If he's even in the building"

"Look he's not here and we need to find him" Max said turning from the room. The four followed and Zack sat and waited for them to leave the apartment. When he heard the door lock he waited another 2 minutes before emerging. He looked out into the main living space but no one was there.

"I cannot believe I got away with that!" he said to himself. He decided to have the shower before going to bed seeing as there was nothing else to do. He didn't want to think about Max and he was going to stop now.

.

Max knew that Zack was hiding in the wardrobe but the very fact he was in there ment we wanted to be alone. The 5 made their way to the main reception where London demanded they speak to the security man. Deciding this was her time to talk to Zack she pulled Cody's arm.

"I left my phone in your apartment. I'm going to get it and then tell Sam where I am so she doesn't freak ok? Will you tell Noah?"

"Sure here!" he handed her the room key and she walked towards the elevators, while Cod explained what she was doing. When she reached level 13 she decided she better tell Sam afterall and quickly pressed for 15. She got out and made her way to Sam's room. She knocked 3 times and waited.

"Max!" she heard behind the door, assuming Sam used the peephole. The door opened revealing Sam, still dressed in her party clothes. "Is something wrong?"

"Um knid of. I'm just letting you know that I'm going to stay in my brother's room tonight. He's on the 26th floor, Suite 3"

"Nice. How did he swing that?"

"Um his girlfriend is friends with Londin Tipton...anyway I was just letting you know in case you were looking for me" she made to leave but Sam stopped her.

"Sam what happened at the party? Did Derek say something or do something?" she asked concerned.

"Derek was being Derek" Max said along with a good night before she made her way to her room. Jade was sitting on her bed. "There you are!" she said jumping up and pulling Max to sit on her bed. "What happened? I thought you hated Derek"

"What are you talking about?" Max asked confused. "And I do hate Derek" she added.

"Well he's teling everyone you guys are together again, that you kissed. I couldn't believe it. I mean after what he did before and then Zack was there..."

"He WHAT! Oh that little...ugh!" Max groaned as she stood up. "I didn't kiss him, he kiss me"

"Sit your but down missy and talk to me" Jade said. Max did taking breaths to control her frutration. She told her what happened on the balcony but half way through she got up and paced.

"That jerk!" Jade said. "Poor Zack. It was so obvious he liked you"

"Ok didEVERYONE see that but me!" Jade nodded sadly. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to find Zack. I need to talk to him" she changed from he jeans to her sweats and turned on her way out the door and huged Jade. "Thank you" this was one of the first girls she felt she could talk to and it was nice to have a girlfriend.

"Anytime. And don't worry about Derek. I'll take care of him" And Max left.

She got the elevator to Zack's floor. She listened at the door. She could hear the noise of the shower and she sighed letting herself into the apartment. It was huge and exactly like Maddie and Noah's. There was no sound other than the shower running so she sat herself down on one of the couches and waited.

Zack finnally stopped the shower and stepped out wrapping a towel around his waist. He walked into his room where the door was slightly open and he passed to the door when he noticed a brunette head sitting on the couch with her back to him. Blushing madly at his state of undress he quickly but silently closed the door. Knowing there was no escaping now he dressed and made his way into the main room. He stoped and leaned against the door.

"Hey" he said to get her attention, folding his arms. She stood and turned to look at him.

"Hi" neither spoke until Zack stepped towards the kitchen area. "Do you want a drink?"

"No...I'm good, thanks" Zack shrugged and just stood there. She could feel his anger from across the room. But she could also she the hurt in him.

He could see the guilt she held but he was too angry and upset to take intrest. "What are you doing here Max?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be at the party with your new or should I say ex-boyfriend"

"Derek is not my boyfriend" she said directly not wanting her name even in the same sentence as his. Zack scoffed "Seemed like he was to me"

"What you saw..."Max started but Zack cut her off

"Please don't say 'it's not what it looks like' Max..." he said coldly.

"But it's wasn't. If you would just let me talk..."

"Were you or were you not kissing him?" Zack asked, looking her in the eye.

"He kissed me" Zack smirked and turned away. He was being so unlike himself, he and Max knew it but he was hurt and upset and he needed to take his anger out on something, someone. Max knew this.

"He did!" Max said. "Ok maybe this is partly my fault. He must have gotten mixed messages when I hugged him but..." The voicing a this little action caused the briefest flash of pain on Zack's face it stopped Max.

"I tried to follow you after the..." she didn't want to talk about the kiss so moved on "but he grabbed my wrist and then I heard the door slam and I knew you had left"

"I didn't want to be there anymore" Zack said silently.

"I swear Zack I never wanted to kiss him" she said pressing her point. Zack sat down in the chair oppsite her. "You know what I don't get?" he said. Max shook her head.

"Is how you even let him back into your life after how he treated you?" Zack said. He raised his eye level to her hands and notice how one was redded than the other. "Look Max" he said pointing to it. She looked at it and pulled her sleeve down to cover it. "He hurts you and still you say forgive and forget. I just...I don't get it"

The pair sat there saying nothing. Zack was too confused by everything. Max, Derek, these feelings that seemed so forgein but he felt them pulling him down. He wanted Max there but a part of him wanted her to go.

"Zack, I need to ask you something" Max said looking down at the floor.

"Let me guess, Cody told you" Zack said.

"And Maddie and Noah" she said with a small smile. Zack dropped his head into his hands. "Uh, they are so dead"

"Zack look at me" Max asked. "Please" He lifted his head. "Is it true?"

"Max I..." he really didn't want to talk about this now.

"Is. It. True?" she repeated. "Do you have...feelings for me?"

"Yea Zack do you?" Both turned to see the third person there.

AN: So I decided to finish this story before I finish the others. So coming up in this is drama, lots of drama and more Cody. I hope you like this. Reveiw. Critisism welcome x