Chapter 26:

Zack was released in the middle of the next week, Wednesday to be exact. He was glad to be home, but the day after he was extremely irritated. The day not only started out badly, yet ended badly as well. He woke up and expected to be able to explore a little. Get out of the suite and do anything but lie around on the couch or in bed all day. Speak of the devil, that's exactly what Carey made him do. He screamed at her that he was fine, but she wouldn't take that. So they had a big argument over that.

So he spent the day sitting on the couch flipping channels while Carey was at rehearsal. And then when Cody came home, he decided to make cookies.

So by the time he was about to explode, Cody was banging his spoon against the metal mixing bowl, giving him a headache.

Then, when he figured nothing could get worse and just as he was about to scream at Cody to knock it off, Rebecca arrived.

She waltzed in, smiling her 'I'm so sorry you're sick' smile.

"Hey Zacky! Feeling better?"

He scowled at her as he replied, "No." She flopped down on the couch beside him.

"Aww. Ok, well when you do you wanna hang out or something?"

"No." His voice was flat and direct.

"Why not?"

"Because…"

"Because why?"

"Rebecca!" He jumps to his feet, shouting. Cody stops stirring, surprised. "Knock it off! I'm sick and tired of everyone acting like I'm dying!" He ignored her puzzled expression. "I'm not dying! I'm fine! It's no big deal! Just leave me alone!"

"Zack, I was just trying to help!" She rises to her feet also.

"You can't help! No one can! You wanna help so much, why don't you leave me alone!"

"I was just trying to help because I care about you! But I guess none of that matters to you anymore!" She stormed out the door and Zack stormed to his room, both slamming doors causing Cody to clutch his mixing bowl with both hands to keep it from falling off the counter.

Carey arrived back at the suite around 5, bringing pizza for dinner. Cody stood by the counter putting away his fresh baked cookies into a plastic container. She set the pizza on the table and walked over.

"Hey. I brought pizza!"

"I noticed."

"Maybe we could have your cookies for dessert! They smell great!"

"Thanks.. but that's not why I made them. I made them to put my mind somewhere else." Cody replied and turned to get another container out of the cupboard.

"Where's Zack?" She asked him after realizing he wasn't going to elaborate, looking around. He jerked his head towards their room. She walked over and went into the room.

Zack was lying on his un-made bed, facing the wall, a headache annoying him. Carey walks over to the bed, sits, and lightly taps him on the shoulder.

"Hey, I brought pizza."

"Not hungry."

"You sure? You feel OK?" Worry edged her voice.

"I'm fine, Mom."

"What's going on, honey?" It was hard to deceive their mother.

"Nothing…I'm just not hungry."

"Alright, I'll save you some. In case you change your mind." Zack doesn't answer and she rises and walks from the room, closing the door behind her with a click. Silent, yet steady, tears rain down his cheeks as a feeling of loneliness settles in to his heart.

Took a while to update lol...but then again I update like every day so missing a day seems like a long time LOL!

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