Sorry for not updating in so long, I've just been caught up in so much! I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter 11

After dinner, Carey announced that she had to go to the mall to get the boys some new clothes for back to school (A/N: Incase you didn't know, this all took place during summer. I should have stated that).

"Kristi, you can come if you like," she told her. Kristi was excited. She had been in the hospital so long, that she missed the mall.

"Sure!" she said happily. "Zack come with me to get my purse." They walked out into the hallway and over to Kristi's room. She opened the door, and there on the couch sat Eric.

Oh great this guy's back to steal my girlfriend! Zack thought to himself. Kristi walked in looked at Eric and brushed her way right past him without saying a word to him. She went into her room and came out about 10 seconds later with her purse in her hand and her hair tied back. Again she walked past Eric, only giving him and evil look this time. When she reached Zack she put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Then they walked out and she closed the door.

"What was that for?" Zack asked.

"To piss Eric off," she said with an evil smile. Zack laughed and so did she. He was glad that she did that.

In the car on the way to the mall, Cody sat in the front and Kristi and Zack sat in the back. It was still rainy and boring. There was some music playing, but mostly Carey's old favorite songs like Classic Rock. The kids were all bored as they listened to her sing along to them.

When they finally got to the mall, Carey allowed them to go off on their own, meaning Kristi, Zack, & Cody. Carey gave the twins each $50 to use to buy some new outfits for school. Kristi agreed to help pick them out. They went into a big JC Penny and found a bunch of outfits to try on. Kristi sat down in one of the big comfy chairs and waited for them to come out. They both came out of their dressing rooms in the same outfits in different colors! They all began to laugh hysterically and Kristi said she had to take a picture. They stood in front of the really big mirror and Kristi took the picture through that. Kristi in the middle with Zack on her left & Cody on her right. And they all smushed their heads together! Then Kristi got the same outfit as them and put it on, too, again in a different color. She didn't care even though they were boys clothes, she just did it for fun. They took a bunch more pictures with funny poses and different outfits on. They picked out a few that they liked, and then left JC Penny.

"I'm tired. My legs hurt," Zack & Cody both chimed at the same time.

"Well you guys take a rest and sit on the bench for a sec, I just want to get something from Claire's." She said and they nodded. Then she walked into the store.

"Your so lucky," Cody said.

"What are you talking about?" Zack was obviously confused.

"To have Kristi. She's so much fun!" They laughed.

"Yeah, I know. She is," Eric said as he came up from behind them.

"W-what are you doing here?" Zack asked snobbily. He was surprised from him just coming up from behind them like that but he was not going to be weak. "Why don't you get a life instead of stalking me and my girlfriend?"

Eric shriveled up his face. "Don't you ever talked to me that way again you little freak. You are gonna be so sorry." Then he disappeared into the crowd.

"What did he mean by that?" Cody asked.

"Who?" Kristi asked as she came out of the store and obviously heard them. They just stared at her. "Who?" she asked again.

"Eric." Zack's felt his throat getting tight as he said the name.

"What are you talk about? Oh no," Kristi said. She spotted Eric staring at them from behind one of the stairs in the mall. "Let's go find your mom."

They all quickly walked away but Kristi was pretty sure that that would not be the last of Eric that they would see. It was apparent that he must be back staying at her house, for her parents had no idea what had happened between the two. She also had no idea what happened to Eric since she moved. He changed so much. He never acted this phsyco back when she used to be best friends with him. But then again, that was before Zack came along.

Kristi remembered how when she lived back in New Jersey, she always used to have a huge crush on Eric. He was 14 and pretty cute. And to think that he was actually interested in her when she was only 12 - she loved the idea. But ever since Zack, she didn't really care about Eric anymore, and she figured that he probably noticed it. It was obvious that he had liked her, too, but she now loved Zack - not Eric. She couldn't imagine it being any other way.

"Kristi? Kristi?" Zack asked.

"Whoa, sorry. I zoned out I guess," she said back. They met up with Carey and she bought everyone some ice cream. They then left the mall with lots of bags from different stores. They piled them into the trunk of Carey's car and all got in. It had stopped raining, but the roads and ground were still wet. The ride home seemed to take forever to the 3 kids that were all tired from the long day.

They finally got home and it wasn't even that late. Just about 9:30 pm, so Zack and Kristi decided to hang out at her apartment. They walked in and no one was there. They new that Eric was still staying there, though. Kristi couldn't wait to tell her parents that she wanted Eric to leave, it was just that they were so busy all the time that she mostly got to talk to them in the mornings and at night. They heard the shower running and figured it was probably Eric.

They went into Kristi's room and she closed the door. "What should I tell my parents as to why I want Eric to leave? They are gonna suspect something," she said.

"Um...maybe you could just tell them the truth?" he asked innocently.

"I don't know, because then they'll be worried and stuff. It like he's stalking us."

"Well, he kind of is," Zack said.

"I know...I just wish...that he would leave us alone..." Tears began to roll down her cheeks. One then another.

"Don't cry," Zack said. He sat next to her and put his arm around her. "Eric isn't that bad of a guy. He would never hurt you."

"I know he wouldn't hurt me, but what if he hurt you? He's never acted this way before. Only when you came around. Its like some jealous rage came over him and...I just wish that everything would go back to normal. Like he would still be normal friend and I could lead a normal life with you," she said.

Then there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Kristi asked in a sniffly voice.

"It's Eric," was the response from the door. Kristi held her breath.

"Go away," she said quickly.

"No. I need to talk to you and Zack," he said.

"Let him in," Zack whispered to Kristi. "I'm here to protect you if he tries anything."

Kristi did what Zack said and got up and slowly opened the door. Eric was standing there with a hurt look on his face. Only this time it looked real. Then Kristi went and sat down on the bed, next to Zack, like she was before. He put his arm around her.

"I heard what you said," Eric directed to Kristi. "And I'm really sorry. I'm not stalking you guys. I was just jealous. I was jealous that you liked Zack better than me because I really liked you. But now I know that you love Zack and I don't want to hurt your relationship...anymore than I already might have. And if I did, I'm really sorry." He had tears in his eyes. "After you moved, I didn't really have any other friends, because I was always with you. And I was always with you because I had the biggest crush on you and I thought you liked me back. I know I should have told you sooner, and now its too late. But anyway, I got really lonely without you and then I was so happy when my parents told me that I was coming to stay here with you for a week. I figured we could hang out and spend a lot of time together and I had planned on telling you about my feelings. But then when I met Zack, I felt so horrible and I was so jealous. I tried to play it cool, but then my anger took over. And I'm sorry about everything else that happened since then. And I know you probably hate me and I know you want me to leave, so I'm going to take the bus home in the morning." Now the tears that were in his eyes started coming down his face.

Kristi felt really bad. Although Eric had cause so many problems between her and Zack, she still cared about him and loved him like a brother. But she didn't have a crush on him anymore. She looked at Zack. She could tell that he felt bad, too.

"Eric, I don't hate you," Kristi said. She got up and gave him a hug. Zack was a little startled at that but he kept his mouth shut. He wanted to see what else would happen. Besides, he trusted Kristi.

"Surprisingly. If I were you, I would hate me," Eric said. They pulled away from their hug and he wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Eric, don't cry. You are still one of my best friends, reguardless of what you did. And you don't have to leave," she said.

"No, I'm going to. Besides, I only brought enough clothes for so long and I've ran out of clean ones. My mom was expecting me back around tomorrow, too. And I think I should let you and Zack be alone together. I don't want to cause any more trouble," he told both Zack and Kristi. "I'm going to sleep now, and I'm leaving at 6, so I probably won't see you before I leave." He hugged her again and then turned to Zack. "Take good care of her, Zack. She's special." Then he left them alone once more. He closed the door behind him.

Kristi just looked at Zack and hugged him. "I'm so glad everyting worked out," she said.

"Me too," Zack told her.

Then Kristi layed down on her bed, and Zack layed down next to her. They crawled under the covers because it was socold from the air conditioning beingup toohigh. Kristi snuggled up to Zack and they watched some T.V. Then they both fell asleep.