Chapter 29:

The four days between Tuesday and Friday seemed to pass as fast as light. Before either of them knew it, it was Friday and they were standing in the Martins' suite getting ready to go to the dance. All, that is, except Rebecca.

Zack was fidgeting, like he was nervous, which suited since he was. He wasn't sure if his plan would work or not. He didn't know if he would succeed or completely humiliate himself in front of the entire 7th and 8th grade.

Cody was chattering, blurting out whatever came to mind. Any idiot could tell he was beyond nervousness.

"Cody, slow down." Carey whispered in his ear. He blushed and began looking around the room as if the walls were suddenly the most interesting there.

Raine tugged on a curl that gently framed her face. They were all nervous.

"You guys ready?" Carey asked as she rushed to find her keys. They looked at each other and then at her blankly. Raine nodded after a minute or two.

"Yeah…"

Carey, finally having found her keys, turned to three nervous faces. She smiled softly and they headed towards the door. Cody grasped Raine's hand in his. She smiled at him. He loved her smile.

Zack watched the two of them together and couldn't help but feel jealous and wonder if he was doing the right thing. He didn't realize his head was hanging until Carey reached out and patted his shoulder in sympathy. He shrugged her off. He didn't need nor want her sympathy right then.

Zack's heart sank as they walked into the gym. Rebecca was there, but she was with Josh. She was dancing with Josh. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away, wishing desperately to be anywhere but there.

Raine and Cody looked at each other. They both felt bad for him. After all he'd gone through in the last three months, and now this?

"I feel bad." Raine said finally.

Cody nodded, "Me too. Think I should go talk to him?"

Raine shook her head.

"No…let me talk to him, OK?" Cody shrugged and Raine went off to find Zack.

She found him sitting in a chair by the refreshment table, alone. She sat in the chair next to him. He looked up at her.

"What?"

"Zack…"

"What!" She was frustrating him.

"You're not just going to sit here all night, are you?"

"Yeah…why?"

"C'mon, Zack! It's not going to kill you to have a little bit of fun, for one night."

"You wouldn't understand, Raine."

"Try me."

He shook his head. "You wouldn't, Raine, and it's pointless for you to try!"

"You know that's not true." She said softly.

"Maybe…but how could you understand? You've never been in this kind of situation!"

"Yes I have."

"Oh yeah, when?"

Her face suddenly looked sad and she turned away, "I can't tell you." Both were silent for a while then,

"If you won't do it for me, then do it for Cody. Do it for your brother." Zack stared at her for a couple minutes, just letting her words sink in.

"C'mon!" She said standing up and extending her hand, "Dance with me."

"What about Cody?" Zack asked, looking from her hand to her face.

She shrugged and smiled, "He can spare one dance." Zack smiled back and took her hand silently as they walked onto the dance floor.

Zack began to actually get into the whole idea of 'having fun,' which makes Raine and Cody enjoy themselves as well.

Raine and Zack are talking over punch when Cody comes bolting through the gym doors and over to them.

"Whoa! What's up with you?" Zack asks him, startled.

"You're never going to believe what I just saw." Cody tells them.

"What!" They asked simultaneously.

Cody turned to Zack sadly, "Rebecca…and Josh were….making out. Near the lockers. By the boys' bathroom. I'm sorry, Zack. I…" Zack's plastic cup fell from his hands. Cody jumped out of the way and Raine grabbed napkins off the table next to them.

"That's it.." Zack said through gritted teeth and stomped away.

"What's he doing?" Raine asked as she helped Cody clean up the punch. He shook his head,

"I have no idea. Man, this is one of those times when our twin telepathy would really come in handy."

Raine nudged him, "Look." She pointed to Rebecca and Josh standing near the doors. Cody didn't have a chance to look up before the DJ came over the speakers.

"This one goes out to Rebecca with love from Zack. 'You're my inspiration.'"

Both heads shot up. They looked at each other and then at Zack standing on the steps leading to the stage.

He stepped down off the steps nervously and walked over to Rebecca. Josh stood next to her, a fierce glare glazing his eyes. Zack ignored him and extended his hand to Rebecca.

"I'm sorry, Rebecca. I hope you can forgive me." He said softly. Rebecca tried to force words and was left completely speechless. He watched her expectantly waiting, as was the rest of the gym, for her answer.

She finally shook her head up and down and spoke.

"Yes, Zack. I forgive you." His face broke into a huge grin, about a mile wide. The entire gymnasium awed as Rebecca took his hand with a smile and allowed herself to be led into the center of the gym. Zack wrapped his arms around her gently as they began to dance.

Wow...I'm assuming that was long, it looks long...but I could be wrong. OMG! That rhymed! LoL! Hope you enjoyed it. The last chapters coming up next (WOOT WOOT!) and I'd like to take this opportunity to ask for what you guys want out of the sequel. I know what's gunna happen, but I'd like to see what the READERS want also. So you can either PM me the ideas or put them in a review!

Reviews please:)

Fig