Chapter 4 - Unexpected Meetings and Power Outages
Meanwhile, in the Martin suite, Zack and cody were plotting a way to get to talk to Aly and AJ.
"Okay," Zack said, slapping his pointer stick on the diagram he drew, "This is how we get into their room."
Cody rolled his eyes. "Zack, when are you going to learn that everything you do is wrong?"
Zack stared at him blankly. Then he slapped his pointer stick on the diagram again. "We sneak into the air vent here. Then we go through the shaft--"
"Oh, no way!" Cody said, getting up from his seat. "I am NOT going through that again. Don't you remember? You had a LOT of beans that day. I'm surprised you didn't suffocate London and Maddie."
"Well so did you!"
Cody glared at him.
"And plus," Zack added, "I haven't eaten any beans today. Have you?"
Cody looked away slowly and rubbed the back of his neck coolly. Zack rolled his eyes.
"Oh no, not mom's baked bean surprise!"
"Hey, I was hungry! It's not my fault that mom wasn't here to cook us dinner!"
Zack shook his head in disgust. "You disgust me, Cody."
"Whatever. Back to the plan."
"Yeah. Okay. Ready to go?"
"Zack," he said, looking at his watch, "It's 11:00."
"What's your point?"
"Well, YOU can go then."
"Come on, Cody! Please?"
"Oh, fine. Let's go."
"YES!" he exclaimed.
They went outside into the hall and knelt down beside the air vent, and Cody called off the things they needed.
"Screwdriver?"
"Check."
"Spy gear?"
"Check."
"Million dollaar puppy-dog pout?"
"Not check."
"Good. Only I have that!" He then put on a huge, toothy grin.
"Yeah, whatever. Crawl, Bean Boy!"
Zack gave him an 'oh-no-you-didn't!' look and started crawling. Cody followed him.
"Okay, Zack... I think I hear music and shreaking feminine voices..." They both paused and listened closely. "Yeah. Definitely. Go left!"
Zack nodded his head in determination and crawled left, following the music.
Finally they arrived at their room. They saw Alyson, Amanda, and Maddie dancing (like girls do these days). Zack was staring at Alyson and Cody was gazing at Amanda.
"Dang! Baby can shake that thang!" Zack whispered. Cody paid no attention, as he was too busy gazing at Amanda.
"I thought Maddie was your girl!"
"Pfft. Forget her!"
Cody rolled his eyes and said, "Don't you think we should be whispering? They might hear us!"
"Cody. They're blasting music. They can't hear us!"
"So you DO pay attention in science class!" he said, amazed.
"No, as a matter of fact, I don't," he said proudly.
"Then how do you know this?"
"It's girls, Cody."
"Riiiight," he said sarcastically.
"Oh, who asked you, anyway?"
"I'm not gonna answer that."
"Good idea."
Cody rolled his eyes again in disgust. Then the music stopped.
"Hey, guys? Do you hear something?" Aly asked, looking around suspiciously.
"Yeah, it sounds like voices," AJ said, looking around also.
Cody nudged Zack in the hip. He accidentally shouted "OW!"
All three of the girls looked up at the air vent. Alyson and Amanda walked up to it. When they saw Zack and Cody, they both screamed and hid behind Maddie.
"What's wrong?" Maddie asked, slowly walking to the air vent.
"There are two kids in there!" AJ said, pointing at the air shaft. Alyson nodded her head.
Maddie thought for a minute and took off the air shaft door. Zack and Cody put on innocent smiles and crawled out slowly. Zack instantly walked over to Alyson and leaned on the headboard of the bed. "Hey sweet thang." Alyson furrowed her brow in confusion.
Cody then walked over to Amanda. "Hey there, sweetie. What do you say we go take a moonlit stroll through the park?" AJ matched her sister's expression.
Maddie dragged them away from Aly and AJ by their collars. "How did you two get in here?"
"Uh, through the VENT! I know you're a blonde, but Maddie, really... you have no excuse for that stupid question," Zack said, trying to use "technical talk."
Maddie rolled her eyes while Alyson and Amanda laughed. Then Alyson said, "Looks like we have a smooth talker in this hotel!"
Maddie then let them go and Zack began walking over to Alyson. Cody walked in front of him, sat beside her, and put his arm on her shoulder. "He ain't the only one, sweetie." Alyson smiled.
"Hey," Zack said, putting his shoulder on Cody's, "You get the other one. Go." Cody frowned and walked over to AJ's side. They both smiled.
"So, Maddie, you know these two?" AJ asked, laughing as Cody gazed into her eyes.
"Unfortunately. They live here."
"They're cute!" Alyson said, ruffling Zack's blonde hair. Zack's eyes rolled back into his head and he fell onto his back. He instantly shot up.
"Sorry. But your touch is heavenly," he said dreamily, his eyes somewhat crossed in a daze.
"Aww! They're ADORABLE!"
As Cody and AJ watched this, they both turned to each other. Cody put on a smile and said, "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"
"That's the OLDEST trick in the book. You have so much more to learn." Zack said. Alyson laughed. Cody opened one eye and glared at Zack. Zack just turned back to gazing at Aly.
"You shouldn't be talking, Bean Boy."
Zack stared at him blankly.
"Well, obviously you can see that they're in love with you, right?" Maddie asked.
AJ let out a small laugh as she spoke. "Yeah, they made that pretty clear." Cody flashed AJ a wide, toothy grin. Zack did the same, but to Alyson.
Maddie watched in disgust, shaking her head, her hands on her hips. "You two are so pathetic it's not even funny," she said, smiling and walking over to the bed, sitting down.
"Obviously it is," Zack said. "You're laughing."
Maddie laughed out loud. "Yeah, I guess it is."
Then, as if by magic, the power went out. All the girls screamed and Zack grabbed onto Alyson and said, trying to sound manly, "Don't worry, sweet thang. I'll protect you." Alyson rolled her eyes with a smile.
Cody then grabbed onto AJ and said, "Are you scared?"
"No."
"Well I am!" he exclaimed, clinging onto her. AJ looked at him and smiled, rolling her eyes.
Maddie joined in and hugged onto Zack. 'Wow,' he thought. 'TWO hot girls hanging onto me!"
Just then they heard the doorknob rattling. Everyone, including the boys, screamed this time.
Mr. Moseby walked in with a small lantern in his hand. "Is everyone okay in here? I heard screaming!"
"NO, really?" Cody asked. Moseby looked at him with a small glare. "Well, I came in here to tell you that the power is out. It might take a while to fix, so please just stay calm." He then rushed out of the door to call for Esteban.
"Well, this is great. How long is it going to stay like this?" AJ asked.
"I don't know... hopefully not too long," Aly replied. AJ nodded in agreement.
"You wanna tell scary stories?" AJ asked excitedly.
"OOO! I love scary stories!" Aly exclaimed, jumping up and going out into the living room. AJ followed her and they grabbed a seat on the couch. Zack followed them. Maddie was about to leave also, but she waited up for Cody.
"Maddie, I don't like scary stories, remember? I don't wanna do this!"
"You don't have to if you don't want to. You could watch TV or something."
"The power's out."
"Oh yeah! Well... did you bring any games or anything?"
"Nope."
"Well... I'm sure that AJ would appreciate it. Plus, you're older now. It might not scare you that much anymore."
"Yeah, you're right. Anything for my lady." Then he walked out and Maddie followed closely behind.
End of Chapter 4