Disclaimer: I don't own the Suite Life of Zack and Cody!

College Years

Chapter 6

Fixed Hearts

Cody stared at Rebecca, hurt and confused. He tried to hide his feelings as he said, "It's nice to meet you Lenny. Rebecca, where's the bathroom in here?" She gave him directions and Cody hurried through the crowd. He passed by the bathrooms and kept going to the door. He was met with the same cool blast of air when he stepped through the crowded doors. He rushed to the spot he and Rebecca had left the Mustang and got in starting the engine quickly.

She can get a ride home with Lenny. Or be left here for all I care. How could she do this to me? Couldn't she tell I liked her? Fight back the tears, man, fight 'em! Is she blind or something? Can she not see how hurt I am? Is she really so ditzy that she can't see how much I like her? Why couldn't this have been like with Zack and Maddie? He goes into her dorm and the next thing you know, wham! They're a couple and they couldn't be happier. I'm not Zack though. And Rebecca's not Maddie. How could I have been so stupid as to assume that Zack and I would get girlfriends in the same way? Who's stupider? Rebecca or me? She's stupid because she's blind to the world around her. How could I like a girl like that? That's why I'm stupid. This is so confusing.

Cody pulled into the parking lot and got out of his car. He opened the door of the dorm building and walked slowly down the hall. He passed by a door and heard faint crying. He realized it was his Sarah's, his neighbor he had seen earlier, dorm and decided to figure out what was going on. He knocked on the door and Sarah shouted, "Go away!"

"Hey, Sarah…it's Cody…your neighbor. Look, I don't want to bug you or anything, and I know we don't know each other, but if you want to talk to someone, I'm right next door."

He heard the door lock click and Sarah opened the door, her eyes red from crying. She said, "You mean that?"

"Of course."

She opened the door wider and let him come in. She picked up some clothes up off the floor and the couch and told him to sit down. He did and she sat next to him. She took a deep breath and said, "I don't feel right talking to someone I don't know…but I have to talk to someone about this. My boyfriend just broke up with me because he found another girl he loves more. He's been seeing her while we've been together. I was with him for a year and a half…he's been with her for the past 4 months and I didn't know. I didn't see it coming."

"I'm sorry, Sarah. I know it's not easy to deal with these kinds of things. I have a friend who was engaged and found her fiancé cheating on her."

"How'd she get over it?"

"I'm not quite sure, to tell you the truth."

"Great."

"Hey…if he's going to stoop as low as to cheat on you like that, then he doesn't deserve you. You're a wonderful person and he's some low-life creep who's going to realize one day that he made the biggest mistake of his life by doing this to you."

"How do you know I'm wonderful? You just met me."

"Well, for starters, you're nice, and I know because you let me in here and opened up to me when you don't even know me. Secondly, you're a beautiful woman. Thirdly, you didn't cheat on him."

"Thanks." She gave him a hug and he liked the feeling he got when she hugged him. Sarah broke the hug, liking the feeling, too. To cover up her She said, "Now that I've opened up to you, you share something with me."

Cody took a deep breath and wondered if he should tell her. Why shouldn't I? She just opened up to me. I can trust her.

"Well?"

He took another deep breath and said, "I just got my heart ripped out and stepped out."

"Oh man, what happened?"

"Well, it all started back when I was 12. My mom sings in the Tipton Hotel in Boston, so my twin brother, Zack, and me lived in the hotel. When I was 12, a beauty pageant came to the hotel and I met this girl named Rebecca. She gave me my first kiss and I thought she liked me. Then she left, and I never heard from her again. Then this afternoon, I bumped into her in the parking lot…" The whole story came out from Cody to Sarah.

After Cody had finished the story Sarah said, "Wow. And you're in here helping me out when you've had a rough night yourself. That's really sweet."

Sarah and Cody talked for a few more hours about their problems and then Cody checked his watch, realizing it was 1 in the morning.

"Wow…it's 1 AM. I should get back to my dorm." He got up to leave and Sarah grabbed his arm and pulled him back down to the couch. She looked into his eyes and said, "Look…I still don't know you very well…but I feel like I've known you for a…really long time. I don't know what it is…but I…I don't know…" Cody closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hoping this wasn't a dream. He opened his eyes and Sarah was still staring at him. She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. Cody didn't want another heartbreak, and he wanted to pull away before he got hurt again, but it felt so good to kiss Sarah.

Sarah broke the kiss slowly and stared into Cody's blue-green eyes, searching for a hint to tell him how he felt. He said, "Wow."

She smiled and said, "I don't know what to say…"

"This is like, too good to be true…if Rebecca hadn't dumped me for Lenny, then I might not be here right now…"

"Where does this leave us?"

"This may seem really sudden and quick…but would you like to be my girlfriend?"

"I don't know…"

"Please? I mean, that kiss was…well, wow. I like you and something's just telling me we should try to be together…and I think you feel the same way…and that's why you pulled me back onto the couch and kissed me. Well Sarah…what do you say?"

"Look, I like you and everything…but how do I know you won't hurt me? I was just dumped tonight…I don't know if I'm ready to be with someone yet…I just met you…I don't even know your last name."

"Cody Martin." He put out his hand and she smiled, shaking it saying, "Sarah Clark."

"Nice to meet you, Sarah. And so you know…I'd never hurt you like your ex did. I'm not that kind of guy."

She took a deep breath and thought about it. She closed her eyes for a second and opened them. She said, "Cody…I'd love to be your girlfriend."

"Really?"

"I figure I may as well be daring and trust you. Just know…you break my heart? I'll hurt you. Big time."

He smiled and kissed her. He got up and went over to the door, Sarah close behind.

"I can't believe we're doing this, Sarah."

"Yeah, I know…it seems so sudden, you know? I just met you."

"But it feels good and that's what matters, right?"

"Right."

She kissed him again and he left.

Zack and Maddie's day after Cody left the dorm

Maddie kissed Zack again and said, "We should stop."

"Stop? Why?"

"Because I feel bad."

"And why is that?"

"Well Cody was just in here and he doesn't have what we have so now I feel guilty kissing you when Cody doesn't have that. Plus, he kind of killed the mood here. I hope he's okay. He seemed really depressed."

"True. He'll be fine. Don't worry about him."

"Hey, do you remember Jan? My old roommate?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, she left me an invitation to her wedding and it's in a few weeks. Do you want to go with me?"

"A wedding! I hate weddings. Women always cry!"

"I don't cry at weddings."

"Oh, fine. You just better keep true to that and keep those beautiful eyes dry."

"No one but you can put a compliment into a threat."

"Why thank you."

Maddie started talking wardrobe and what he was supposed to wear so that it would go with what she was wearing, and Zack tuned out. A while later Maddie said, "Well, I should go. I have a paper I have to write. I'll see you later." She kissed him and got up off of Zack's bed. He followed her to the door and she walked out. He closed the door and sighed, a little angry with Cody for killing the mood he and Maddie had had going.

Cody walked in and they started talking. Then Cody revealed that he couldn't dance. Zack sighed and helped his brother learn some hip-hop moves. He was surprisingly a fast learner. Then Zack went to go pick up Maddie while Cody got dressed for his date.

He started whistling as he walked down the hall to Maddie' dorm. He knocked and she opened the door, wearing a white tube-top dress with white heels. Zack was wearing a white tuxedo shirt, a black tie and a black blazer. He let out a low whistle as Maddie spun around, a smile plastered on her face. He extended his arm and she took it, still smiling.

"Where are we going, Zack?"

"Oh, I thought I'd take you out for a dinner in a motel and a movie."

She gave a disgusted look and said, "I'm not wasting this dress on a damn dinner and a movie!"

"Chill, Maddie! I was kidding! You think I'd be this dressed up for a dinner in a motel and a movie?"

"Well, then where are we going?"

"Where we had our first date many long months ago…"

"Chez Toi! Oh my gosh, Zack! Once there is plenty, believe me! It's too expensive…"

"Nothing's too expensive for you, baby."

"Aw, Zack…"

She kissed him on the cheek.

Dinner went smoothly, and Maddie fell for Zack more and more every time he said something to her or smiled at her. She loved everything about him. His eyes were the perfect blend of blue and green. She'd never seen such perfect beautiful eyes. His hair was just the right shade of brown/blonde. His hair went perfectly with his eyes. Not only was he good-looking, Maddie liked how he thought. He lived in the moment, and he didn't plan too far ahead. He lived every moment to the fullest, and he didn't care what others thought of him or his friends. Zack's such a great guy. I'm lucky to be with him. I wonder if he's still interested in other girls…well, not to say I think he's gay, 'cause he's with me! Seriously though, I wonder how many girls his own age he still finds attractive…and how many like him?

After dinner, Zack took Maddie's arm again and they walked to the same park they had on their first date. Zack grabbed her hand and they walked through the park.

"Zack…this is just like our first date…what are you up to?"

"Nothing…"

"Zack."

"What!"

"Come on…tell me what you're up to."

"I told you. Nothing! I just wanted to do something extra special for you…"

They got to the other side of the park and Zack said, "Maddie. Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"I have a surprise for you!"

She closed her eyes with a smile. Zack led her out of the park and onto the curb of the street.

"How do I know you won't lead me off a cliff?"

"Well, for starters, there aren't any cliffs anywhere near here. And for another, you're too pretty in that dress to die like that."

She laughed and he said, "Okay, open your eyes."

She opened her eyes and gasped.

A/N-

Note #1- Wow I like this chapter! I hope nothing seemed rushed. I know that the whole Sarah/Cody thing is sudden and quick and all, but I tried to get a new relationship for Cody because he was hurt so bad. Hope it's ok!

Note #2- When a word is emphasized, it will be in bold. If it's a thought, it's in italics. When it's an emphasized word in a thought, like when Cody's thinking in the beginning, it will be in bold italics. Just letting you know so nobody gets confused.

Note #3- I was reading some of the previous chapters and I wanted to set some things straight, in case anyone is confused. Earlier in the fic, I said Maddie was a junior in college, and then I said she was a senior. To correct myself, she is a junior. Sorry if there was any confusion over that!

Note #4- Oh my God! I love all of my reviewers! You all rock so much and I really appreciate the support I've been getting for this fic. I honestly didn't think it would do great, and I've already reached 55 reviews, last I checked. That's the most reviews I've ever gotten for a fic and I'm so proud! Words really cannot describe how happy I am! Thank you all so much, y'all make my day with your reviews!

Note #5- Now to talk about this chapter! Haha! Okay…another good cliffy, if I do say so myself. What could Zack's surprise be? Will Maddie like it? Hmmm…

Note #6- don't know if this qualifies as a note but: PLEASE REVIEW! Criticism is welcome!

Hope to hear from ya soon,

Love,

Dangerous Combonation