The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
Chapter 26: The Deal
Zack walked back in the class, feeling put down. Cody looked over and gaped at the grade Zack had to show. "Oh my God, mom's going to slaughter you," Cody whispered.
Zack nodded, "I know."
"How could you get that bad?" he asked quietly.
Zack shrugged. "I just hate the class. Personally, I don't care if he kicks me out."
"It's important," Cody said.
"I know what's healthy and what's not," Zack said.
"That's what I thought, but it teaches you things you never knew," Cody said. "Just study harder. You put too much effort in Biology."
"At least I'm passing that subject," Zack said.
Cody shrugged, "Pass all of them."
Later that day, when both were at home, Zack approached Cody, who was studying from a rather thick paper book. "Cody, I can't believe I'm asking you this but… can you help me with the Health Class?"
"The next test isn't for another week," Cody pointed out.
"I need your help," Zack pleaded. "I don't want mom to kill the crap out of me just because I'm failing some stupid class. Can you study with me?"
Cody gave it a thought. He loved how his brother was asking him for help. "Well, sure, under one condition."
"What?" Zack asked, heart sinking a bit.
"You were right about me being scared of many things," Cody began. "If you help me get over my fear of the dark, I'd really appreciate it. I'm gonna live in a dorm there with only the streetlights on."
Zack thought about it. "Deal," he said, shaking his hand. He sat down next to Cody. "What're you doing?"
"SAT work," Cody said. He entered an equation on a scientific calculator. He blew out a sigh.
"Is it hard?"
"A bit," Cody said.
Zack bent over and read an equation from the book, "Solve for X: If 2X + 4 + 8X 24."
"Hm, X 2," Zack said. "It is easy. Don't know what you're having problems with."
"That's easy, Zack," Cody said. "It's the Geometric problems I hate. Analogies I can handle, but the ratios are my worst enemy. Wait, how'd you know that?"
"It's mathematical," Zack said simply. "Carry the four to the other side and change the…"
"I know, but how did you know that?"
Zack shrugged. "I hate school. It's either too easy or too hard. Mostly too hard, but this stuff, a third grader can do."
"When will you take the SAT?"
"Don't plan to," Zack said shortly. "What' the point?"
Cody looked at him in surprise, "What?"