Chapter 7

Zack walked downstairs into the lobby early the next morning. He couldn't really sleep well the night before, since he was still worried about the whole Kristi/Eric situation. He spotted Eric sitting in a chair, reading a skating magazine. He was unsure whether or not to approach him, but then he decided to go for it. Maybe he could pry the words out of his mouth that he liked Kristi.

"Hey Zack," Eric said before Zack even got the change to say anything. He didn't look up from the magazine. "What's the matter? Couldn't sleep?" he asked in kind of a snobby tone.

"Not really..." Zack replied. He was surprised. He pictured everything going so differently in his mind.

"Well, well, well," Eric added in, evilly. "I know why you approached me. And you are so right." Zack felt his face turning hot with anger. Who was this guy to talk to him that way?

"I am?" Zack played stupid.

"You are. I am after Kristi. And just to let you know, I will get her, too." He stood up, gave Zack an grave look, and walked away towards the kitchen. Zack just stood there in complete shock. Well, that was easier than I thought.

Zack went back up to his apartment to try and figure out what to do about everything. He wanted to tell Kristi about it, but this guy was her best friend. She had known him for a long time, when she had just met Zack a few weeks before. Zack knew that she loved him, but if she would trust him or Eric, he didn't know. He thought he would ask Cody when he woke up, but then he later forgot about it. He hung around the house for a while, mostly thinking, then he got dressed and headed out the door to the lobby again.

Once there, he spotted Kristi and Eric talking in the Cabaret Room (the room his mother usually performed in). It was empty other than the two. He hid behind the wall so they wouldn't spot him. Then he lost his balance slightly. Kristi's back was facing him and she wasn't really paying attention, so she never noticed, but Eric did. Zack just didn't know it. Then Zack started to walk towards them. Eric spotted him first and quickly pulled Kristi's head toward his. He pressed his lips against Kristi's, and he held her head in place with his hand so she couldn't pull away too fast. Zack immediately felt like a knife had stabbed him in the back. He felt like his air supply was being cut off. He tried to catch his breath and coughed. Then Kristi spotted him as she pulled away from Eric. Zack ran out of the Cabaret Room and into an elevator. Kristi slapped Eric across the face, really hard, too, although Zack did not get the chance to see it before he ran out.

"How could you do that, Eric?" she asked him angrily, yet innocently at the same time. "What is wrong with you? Jerk." Then she stormed out of the room after Zack. She thought to herself in the elevator. Zack was the first boy that she ever fell in love with. And then it turns out that her best friend was in love with her? Everything was moving too fast. Things were changing, some for the better, others for the worse. But at that moment, all Kristi cared about was Zack.

Zack sat on the couch in his living room. He couldn't believe all that had happened. He knew that Eric was a loser, but the thought of Kristi liking Eric back was still kept in the back of his mind. He just sat there, stiff, like he couldn't move. Kristi didn't even knock on the door, she just ran right in.

"Zack!" She ran up to him.

"I can't believe it! I knew this was going to happen." Zack was being rather cold to Kristi. He still loved her, he always would, but the thought kept moving back and forth in his mind.

"But...Zack...I don't like Eric. I couldn't believe he would do such a thing. He's just jealous because I love you not him..."

"How do I know that?" Zack cut in sharply. "How do I know that your not just saying that? That you really love me? How do I know?"

"Zack...don't you believe me? If you love me you have to trust me..." Kristi had tears bubbling up in her eyes more than she had before. Zack just stared at the wall, not looking at Kristi once. He knew that if he looked at her, it would be harder. "Are we breaking up...?" Kristi asked very sadly.

Zack just continued to look away. Kristi got up and walked out of his apartment and into her own. She was like in a daze. A dash with tears constantly streaming from her big sad eyes. She went into her room and layed down on the bed. She cried for hours.

Zack was unsure of the move he just made. He loved Kristi. He loved her so much. He just was in so much overall shock. He never loved any other girl before, and didn't know how much pain it would cause him to see a sight like that. He went into his room, closed the door and layed on his bed.

Meanwhile, Cody was wandering around the hotel. Then he stopped at the candy counter where Maddie worked.

"Hey Maddie," he said plainly.

"Well you seem to be in such a good mood," Maddie said sarcastically.

"I'm just mad. Our band needs to practice for the talent contest coming up and no one is around to do it! Zack is always with Kristi, and Max has some doctor appointment and who am I supposed to practice with? Tapeworm?" Cody was ticked off.

"Well, then practice later?" Maddie suggested.

"Yeah, thanks for all your help!" Cody snapped back with sarcasm as well.

I always used to get in trouble with Zack. But then we both got girlfriends, and spent all our time with them. And once me and my girlfriend broke up, I had no one to hang out with, Cody thought to himself. He heard music coming from the Cabaret Room, and he knew his mother was practicing, so he figured to go and listen. Maybe she would have an idea of what he could do. He sat down at a table that was set up. Carey spotted him and when the song was over, went up to him and sat down.

"What's wrong, Cody?" she asked.

"I'm bored. Nobody is around to hang out with."

"Well, I've got a surprise for you. Come with me." She lead him into the dining hall. "Look around," she told him.

Cody glanced quickly around the room until he spotted...yes it was her...Shannon! She was back! Cody ran up to her and hugged her. She hugged him back. He was so excited. He felt like he never wanted to let go again.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"What's that matter, you're not happy to see me?" she asked him jokingly. "I'm only here for 2 weeks. I'm staying with my aunt, who lives only a few blocks away.." Cody's excitement went down.

"Only 2 weeks?" he said sadly.

"I know, it's not that long, but it's as much as I could get!" Cody was still happy to see her. But he wasn't sure whether they planned on getting back together, or if they were just going to be friends. Carey had already left.

"Do you want to stay friends, or...more?" Cody asked.

"Well, I love you, Cody, you know I always will. But I don't think we should be more, because when I leave...it will just hurt again." Cody figured that was a logical explanation.

"I guess your right." They decided to hang out as friends for the 2 weeks that Shannon was there, even though they both still loved each other.

Sorry, I know this chapter was a little short, but I haven't had that much time to write it lately. Hope you enjoyed it! I had to add in a little spark to make the story line more interesting! Please review and I'll post chapter 8 soon! Love, Boop