Breakin' Free

Dear Zack,

I doubt you heard this because of that prank. But Mom just told me…that Dad died about an hour ago…

--Cody

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Maddie surveyed the note over and over. Everyone, except the twins, was still in the lobby.

"I can't believe it," Raven sighed. "I don't know what I'd do without my dad."

"Me neither," Keely said.

"What can we do to help them?" asked Chelsea.

"I guess we just try to console them," said Cory. "I'll talk to Zack, and you," he said, pointing to Pim, "can talk to Cody."

"Why me?" said Pim. "I don't want to talk to my actual stalker."

"Come on, Pim. Even you know that now isn't the time to insult them," Phil corrected her.

"Oh all right," said Pim. "But what can I possibly say to help?"

"I'll go with you, Pim," Phil said. "Eddie, you can go with Cory."

"Okay," Eddie said, as they all went to the elevator.

"You know what?" said Maddie for the first time. "All this gives me an idea for a new song. Follow me,"

"Okay," said the others, including London. They all followed her.

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Eddie, Cory, Phil and Pim went to the twins' suite and Carey let them in. She told them that Zack wasn't there and she, Eddie, and Cory went downstairs to leave them alone.

"Cody?" Phil called out.

"Go away!" yelled Cody from his room.

"Come on Cody, let us in!" Phil said knocking the door.

The door opened suddenly but Phil and Pim did not see Cody. They walked in and sat on Zack's bed. Then the door closed and Cody appeared from behind it. He sat between the siblings.

"Are you doing okay?" Phil asked.

"I guess," Cody replied. He wasn't looking at either of them and had his head down.

"Look Cody," Phil began, "I know this is hard for you. But let me tell you, getting yourself down like that won't help you move on. I remember when my grandfather died. I was your age, I think. I was just miserable. Never left my room, never talked to anyone, I was just alone in my own world. I bet you feel like that lately."

Cody nodded, still not looking up.

"Then one day, my uncle came to me, and he told me that my granddad wasn't going anywhere bad or anything. So there wasn't any reason to be upset. I know you can't NOT be upset. But just remember, your dad isn't going anywhere bad."

After Phil said this, he left the room and went to the lobby, leaving Cody alone with Pim. She just stared at him for a few seconds with a sympathetic expression. Then with a very, very, very, very small smile, she left the room.

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Eddie and Cory had to look around the hotel for a while until they finally found Zack on the hotel roof playing a handheld video game.

"Zack, are you all right?" Eddie said as he and Cory sat on either side of Zack.

Zack didn't look up at either of them and focused on his game.

"We came to talk to you," Eddie said again, as Zack paid no attention.

"Look," Cory said, snatching the game out of Zack's hands and stuffing it in his pocket, "You need to talk to somebody,"

"There's nothing to talk about," Zack said, looking down. "My dad's dead. Boo-hoo."

"Hold on," Eddie suddenly said, pulling Cory over to the side. "I think Zack has an I-don't-want-to-cry-because-I'm-such-a-big-strong-guy phobia."

"Okay…" said Cory, looking confused.

"What I mean is he doesn't want to cry just because he's a guy. Haven't you ever felt that way?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Come on then," Eddie said, as the two went back to Zack, who was now playing with some small rocks.

"Well, what do you have to tell me?" Zack asked.

"Nothing," said Eddie, "except, come down to the Talent Show tonight to listen to the girls sing."
"Yeah whatever,"

Eddie and Cory left for the lobby; then Cory asked, "What was that about?"

"I just got a message on my phone from Rae; she and the others have a good idea for tonight."

"Whatever you say," Cory said as they left.

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That night (the last night of the vacation), Phil's group and Raven's group had all packed, for they were leaving the next day. In the audience were Phil, Pim, Eddie, Cory, Zack, Cody, and all of the adults. Zack and Cody sat quietly looking down, as the others looked at them, hoping that Raven's recent plan would work. Before they had time to think about it, London came on stage.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to the Annual Talent Show at the Tipton Hotel of Boston!" London said, as everyone clapped (excluding the twins). "I am your host, and the hotel owner's daughter, London Tipton. Tonight we will have many great talents performed by great people. Let's get started!"

For the first half hour, a number of guests came out. These included jugglers, dancers, a pianist, as well as Phil and Pim's parents doing a duet (to their horror). After all of that, London came back up.

"Now we will have a real treat from my personal friends. Give it up for Raven Baxter, Maddie Fitzpatrick, Chelsea Daniels, and Keely Teslow: The Songbirds!"

Everyone, except for the twins, applauded as the girls came on stage in their colorful outfits and got in their positions: Keely on guitar, Maddie on keyboard, and Chelsea and Raven as lead singers. The music started and the lights went dim. (Author's Note: I had to cut some of the song because it was too long!)

Raven:
We're soarin', flyin'
There's not a star in heaven
That we can't reach
Chelsea:
If we're trying
So we're breaking free
Keely:
You know the world can see us
In a way that's different than who we are
Maddie:
Creating space between us
'Til we're separate hearts
Chelsea and Raven:
But your faith it gives me strength
Strength to believe
Raven:
We're breakin' free
Keely:
We're soarin'
Maddie:
Flyin'
All:
There's not a star in heaven
That we can't reach
If we're trying
Yeah, we're breaking free
Chelsea:
Oh, we're breakin' free
Maddie:
Ohhhh runnin'
Raven:
Climbin'
All:

To get to that place
To be all that we can be
Chelsea:
Now's the time
Raven and Keely:
So we're breaking free
Maddie:
We're breaking free
Ohhh, yeah
Chelsea:
More than hope

More than faith
Keely:

This is true
This is fate
And together

Keely and Chelsea:
We see it comin'
Raven:
More than you
More than me
Maddie:
Not a want, but a need

Raven and Maddie:
All of us breakin' free
Chelsea:

Soarin'
Maddie:

Flyin'
All:
There's not a star in heaven
That we can't reach
If we're trying
Yeah we're breaking free
Keely:
Breaking free
Raven:

Were runnin'
Maddie:
Ohhhh, climbin'
Raven and Maddie:
To get to the place
To be all that we can be
Chelsea:

Now's the time
Keely:

So we're breaking free
Chelsea:

Ohhh, we're breaking free
All:
You know the world can see us
In a way that's different than who we are

The crowd went wild with applause at the girls' song. As the lights came on, the gang saw that both Zack's and Cody's faces were streaming with tears. They were staring at the stage then stared at each other and cried in each other's arms, letting out their feelings. (a little sappy, but I wanted it! lol)

"Looks like they picked the perfect song," whispered Eddie to Phil.

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After a long stay at the Tipton, it was finally time for everyone to part ways. Eddie and London had already planned to meet up in the summer at London's private island, (the setting of the sequel) along with everyone else. After final goodbyes were said to everyone, Raven, Phil, Chelsea, Pim, Cory, Keely, and Eddie stepped out of the Tipton Hotel to return to their lives in California, anxiously waiting for the summer.

THE END