"Zack! Zack! Can I talk to you for one minute?" Travis asked outside the bedroom door.
"Go away!" Zack shouted.
"Zack please. You have to talk to me eventually. We have dance practice today." Travis said. Zack sighed and opened the door.
"What?"
"Zack, I know you like Maddie. But… io amore Maddie. Sorry. I have an Italian test in two days. I need to practice. What I said is-"
"I know. You said you love Maddie." Travis gave Zack a skeptical look. "Cody's been playing his Italian tapes for days. Once you hear 'em ten times, you really get the hang of speaking the language."
"OK. Well, back to the point. Zack, she's sixteen. You're thirteen. You have to understand that it's not gonna work out. Not at this age." Travis said.
"OK. I understand." Zack said.
"Look. Just start liking girls your own age. That's all." Travis said.
"OK. I think I have one in mind." Zack said with a smile Travis hadn't seen in a long time.
"Good. Now come on. We have dance practice. The finals are in three days." Travis said. Zack grabbed Cody and the three of them walked down to the lobby to meet Max.