Chapter 8 - Familiar?
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked at each other, panicky and unsure of what to do. Zack shrugged it off and slowly walked over to the door.
"Zack!" Cody whispered. "Are you nuts? What are you doing?"
"Answering the door," he replied. "He'll be more suspicious if there's no answer. You guys go pretend to surf through the channels or something," he said, shooing them with his hand as he inched closer to the door. Cody nodded his head and did as he was told.
Zack opened the door to see a teenage man standing there. He was plain as ever... jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of Converse. He looked like the average sort of person you'd find in a park.
"Where are they?" he asked.
Zack furrowed his brow and played dumb. "Where are who?" he asked.
"Oh, don't you mess with me," the boy said, his eyebrows arched with anger.
"What do you mean, 'mess with you?' I have no idea what you're talking about!" Zack exclaimed. "I don't even know you."
"So? What does it matter? I know they're in here," he said, looking into the house a little ways without moving his feet at all.
"It matters because we don't let people we don't know in here. And you're starting to scare me... so... go away!" Zack exclaimed, his hand on the doorknob, ready to shut the door.
"I know you're playing dumb. Where ARE they?" he asked again, this time with more anger in his voice.
"Where are who?"
The boy flared his nostrils in disgust and frustration and said, "Alyson, Amanda, and London."
Zack thought for a minute and then said, "I don't know who those people are... why are you asking me this?"
"Because I saw London come down this hall and I lost her. I know she's in here."
"Well what makes you think that Londo is in HERE? Maybe she's in ANOTHER suite. Or MAYBE she climbed up the stairs, onto the roof, and climbed down somewhere."
"It's London."
"Whatever, I don't care. Just... please leave us alone now! We don't know you, for the millionth time!" Zack said.
The boy sighed and said, "Okay, fine. Thanks." Then he sadly walked out the door and into the elevator.
"Yeah... whatever. Bye."
Everyone that was downstairs instantly ran to him and started asking him questions.
"Whoa, whoa... one at a time!" he said, putting up his hand. Everyone silenced.
"What did he do to you?" Cody asked.
"Nothing... nothing at all. Just what you saw is all."
"What did he look like?" Esteban asked.
"Dark brown hair, brown eyes, simple everyday clothing. He looked... sane."
"Did he scare you?" Muriel asked.
"No, not really... just a little. I mean, it's a scary thought that he was after those three... but other than that, no."
Then they heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was London, Aly, and AJ.
"Guys, what happened? Who was at the door?" Aly asked.
"Was it that guy that was after us?" AJ asked.
"Yeah," Zack said, answering their questions. "But he didn't seem dangerous."
"I thought I told you not to answer the door for anybody!" London exclaimed. "Do you know what could have happened to you?"
Zack hung his head in shame. "I know, but I figured that he would be more suspicious if I DIDN'T answer it. So I answered it."
London didn't know what to say. She just didn't reply.
Then they heard more footsteps coming from upstairs. Maddie emerged into the dark living room.
"Hey," she mumbled, walking past everyone and going to sit down over on the couch. London looked at her sadly, but didn't say anything.
"Anyway... what did he look like?" London asked. This got everyone's attention again and they all turned to Zack to hear his reply.
"Average... brown eyes, dark brown hair, present-day clothing."
Aly nodded and then thought about something deeply. "Did he look... familiar at all?"
Zack thought for a minute and said, "You know... now that you mention it... yes! He did!"
"What did he look familiar from?" she asked him.
"Like... tv I think."
Alyson gasped and ran out the door.
"What's her problem?" Cody asked.
Zack shrugged. They all looked at her and ran out the door along with her, including Maddie.
End of Chapter 8