Chapter 4: More Belle, Less Cody
It's the next morning and Zack enters the bathroom dressed for school.
"Cody? Get up." Zack called to the motionless Cody.
Zack goes to the sink and gets a cup of cold water, and dumps it on Cody's face. Cody wakes up and stares at Zack, still dazed.
"Cody? You okay? Zack asked looking worried.
"Fine Zack." Cody said getting to his feet.
"Cody, your head, its bleeding. What happened?" Zack said grabbing a wash cloth off the sink and putting it to Cody's head. Cody pushes it away.
"Zack, stop. I have to get ready for school." Cody said and brushed by Zack.
After putting his clothes on and washing his face, Cody eats a pop tart and heads out the door, Zack following him. Soon they are outside the Tipton and the school bus is coming down the street.
At school, three bullies named Joey, Josh, and Mitch push Cody into a corner.
"Hey, dweeb." Josh called staring at Cody.
"I go by Cody, actually." Cody said through gritted teeth.
"You'll go by whatever the hell I call you." Josh said angrily.
"Yeah!" Mitch called from the side.
"Please just let me go." Cody pleaded.
"No!" Joey yelled and pushed Cody into the wall.
"Please, Please, let me go. I'll do your homework." Cody tried to bargain.
"You'll do my homework anyway, dork!" Josh yelled into Cody's face.
"What did I ever do to you, to deserve this?" Cody whimpered.
"You were born!" Josh yelled again.
Cody is relieved to see Zack coming to is aid.
"Zack, help!" Belle yelled opposite Cody.
Zack noticed that Belle had been shoved to the ground. He ran to help her.
"Let me go Josh!" Cody yelled into Josh's face hoping to scare him.
"No!" Josh yelled. Josh then punched Cody in the face, in the stomach, then pushed him to the floor and kicked him. "Here's my homework" Josh called throwing the book at Cody and hitting him hard in the leg.
"Ouch." Cody whimpered as a tear fell from his eyes.
"Cody? You okay?" Zack said kneeling next to him.
"Zack, why didn't you help me?" Cody asked as more tears came from his eyes.
"Because Belle..." Zack was cut off by Cody.
"Belle this, Belle that. Can't it be about Cody once in a while?" Cody asked getting up and running into the boys bathroom.
"I'm sure he's just upset, Zack. Maybe you should just leave him alone for now." Belle said leading Zack up the hallway.
"Yeah, maybe." Zack said looking back at the bathroom.
School went by fast and now Zack and Belle are at their movie.
"You look great!" Zack said to Belle.
"You too, Zack." Belle responded.
"I try" Zack said smiling.
"So, have you seen this movie?" Belle asked Zack looking at the commercial's on the big screen.
"Honestly. Belle, I don't even know what we are seeing tonight." Zack said smiling.
"Pirates two." Belle said smiling back.
"No, but I have been meaning to." Zack said.
"Okay, well shhh, the movie is starting now." Belle told Zack who was digging into his popcorn.
At the Tipton, Cody and Maddie are talking.
"What's the matter, Cody?" Maddie asked looking at him.
"Zack is spending all of his time with Belle and none with me." Cody answered trying to sound alright.
"You gonna be okay, Cody?" Maddie asked looking into Cody's sad face.
"Yeah, it's just that I feel so along, Like no one wants me." Cody said, his voice trembling.
"Aww, Cody. I'll be okay." Maddie said walking over to him and hugging him.
"Tell that to my fat lip and black eye." Cody said letting go of Maddie.
Finally, Zack and Belle leave the movie after its finished.
"Let's walk home." Zack said taking Belle's hand and starting for the Tipton.
After four hours, Zack is back home.
"Hey, Cody." Zack said seeing Cody on the couch. "You still mad at me?"
"Yes, Zack, I am. You always, always, put Belle first these days." Cody said flipping Josh's book to the next page.
"No I don't." Zack said trying to convince himself as well as Cody.
"When is the last time we did something Zack?" Cody asked looking into Zack's face.
"Um, I..." Cody cuts him off.
Exactly Zack, you don't remember. Would it kill you to spend ONE day with me?" Cody yells.
"I just don't have time for both of you, Cody!" Zack yells back.
Cody starts crying and runs into the bathroom, shutting, and locking the door. Zack comes to the door.
"Cody, I'm sorry. That came out wrong. I love you Cody." Zack said into the door.
"Just leave me alone Zack!" Cody calls through his tears.
"Fine" Zack shouts and leaves.
Cody takes one of Carey's plastic razors and crushes it with his shoe. He picks out the blade and holds his wrist out. He cuts his wrist, only a little, and not enough to kill him. Blood trickles down his arm.
"Ouch!" Cody said through his tears.
Cody picks up the broken plastic, and slips the blade into his pocket. He wraps a cold Wash cloth around his arm and goes into his room and to bed. He hears Carey come in from work before falling asleep.
Chapter 5, will be up soon!