Cody had spent the night on London's couch for many reasons. One, she needed him after the service. Two, he didn't want to see Zack right now. He was so disappointed in him for not knowing how to deal but more importantly for the promise he didn't care to keep. The promise that was made after their grandfathers death.(A/N Man I hope you guys and girls know this promise, if you don't go back to my first story.)
He wasn't stupid, of course everyone knew that. Cody knew that Zack loved Maddie and he needed to clear his head, but he was going about it the wrong way. He was entertaining the idea of war. His version of war was still that of a twelve year olds. Cody knew that war was nothing to take lightly, it was horrible and people died everyday. He loved his brother but sometimes he just so stupid!
His thoughts of Zack's conquest of playing war was interrupted when London came out of her bedroom. She was in her pajamas, but looked absolutely beautiful. He could have swore that he had just fallen in love all over again. "Good morning." she said sweetly as she strode over and plopped down beside him on the couch. "Morning." he replied before giving her a chaste kiss.
"London?"
"Yeah?"
"I know that recently there has been some incidents…but I love you and I think we need each other right now. London I'm going to ask you again…Will you marry me?" he asked hesitantly.
"I love you, too. And I think you're right. So I say: Small wedding or big?"
"Whatever you decide…wait! Does that mean? You will?" he exclaimed before pulling her into a tight embrace.
They held each other for what seemed like two seconds but was actually twenty minutes. They held back and London seemed to read Cody's emotions almost instantly. "You're worried about Zack." she stated and he nodded in a reply.
"When he ran away four years ago you told me why you got so upset. Is that why you are now?"
"Yeah…I know it sounds stupid but I always thought that as long as I had my brother I would have someone."
"You will always have him, Cody. He isn't going anywhere. I mean sure he may actually go to war, but I don't think he will die. And besides you will never be alone because you have me."
"Yeah I know I have you now. But I don't want him to make a stupid mistake, just because he and Maddie had a falling out." he said with a thoughtful sigh.
London knew to leave it at that. There was nothing else to say. No matter how much she assured him Zack would be okay, she knew it wouldn't be true. She knew that the odds were that he might not be okay. So she said nothing.
Zack finished the letter with a tear sealing the envelope for good. He hoped for good anyways. He hoped Maddie never had to read that letter. He sighed. The time had come. The crossroads of his fate was clear. One road was stay here, in college, but have to see the love of his life with another man. The other was join the army. Get a little extra money. Clear his mind and not have to see Maddie.
He knew the second road was dangerous, but in reality he found it no more dangerous than the first. If he was to stay, he would die of a broken heart or suicide. He was more emotional than a pregnant woman in their third trimester. He was afraid it would only get worse.
He lay the letter on his desk with a simple heading: Maddie. He sighed again as a tear trickled down his cheek. He wanted to see Cody. He had to see Cody. He grabbed his keys and ran out the door after switching off his lights.
Only moments later he arrived at the apartment building that was so familiar to him. He ran all the way up to London's apartment, only glancing at Maddie's door a moment before he stepped in. He hadn't knocked, and when he walked in he saw Cody crying on London's shoulder.
"Cody?" he asked in a whisper.
Cody glanced up from London's shoulder and dried his eyes quickly. He was obviously embarrassed to be seen crying by his brother. "Can we talk?" Zack asked and he nodded. London excused herself and Zack sat down beside Cody.
"I want you to know that I'm leaving, but no matter what I love you, Cody. It wont change that. And I'll be here when you need me. I don't care what it takes, I'll get here." Zack said truthfully. But Cody knew he wouldn't be able to keep that promise.
"Why do you want to run away?"
"I have to, Cody. If I don't then my outcome will be worse than if I get killed in war."
"Do you remember when we were younger and grandpa died? I stayed up crying and you said that no matter what I would always have you. And here you are trying every way in the world to not keep that promise!"
"Cody…I have kept that promise, but you have to face it…we aren't kids anymore. We aren't ever going to be kids anymore. And you have to understand that I cant see Maddie with that guy I saw coming out of her place last night. You wouldn't want to see London with someone else." tears starting to form in his eyes.
"I would have never let London go to begin with." he replied truthfully.
"I was stupid…but she betrayed my trust." he retorted.
"I love you Zack."
"I love you too, bro." he said pulling Cody into a hug.
He got up to leave but turned at the door with a smirk. "And congrats on you and London getting engaged. Tell her I cant wait to see her in her wedding gown. But, Cody….make sure she wears white and it's for real." he laughed before exiting.
Now was the time. It was time for him to go sign up for the army. He was telling Cody he was leaving, but he knew it wasn't going to be the last time he'd see him before he actually left. He just had to have that much needed talk with him. Now he knew. Now he knew why Cody got so upset. Zack, himself had never forgotten the promise, but always thought Cody had. He didn't know how much it actually meant to him.
Meanwhile in Maddie's apartment, Maddie and the tall brown haired man from earlier were sitting at the table. "Thanks again for helping me, Maddie." the man said over his stacks of papers. "No problem, but next time Roger, don't volunteer if you don't have time." she said with a slight smile.
She was still thinking about Zack. She couldn't believe that he thought her and Roger were something. She was only helping him with his work on the rain forest project, since he barely had time with his wife going on a business trip and leaving their three children with him.
She sighed. She figured she could always just straighten it up later. She was still having trouble with plans to get him to stay, even though, she figured he'd decide not to go on his own.
(A/N) Alright next chapter is the last one. I decided I'm just going to post both endings, unless someone wants to look at them both before and tell me which is better. If someone wants to do that then you can PM me and I'll probably post the ending you tell me is better. One is going to be sad, but you'll find out what is in the letter. The other will be semi happy, but it'll still probaby make some people cry lol.
Yes I said there wasnt going to be a Maddie in this one, but I decided there was going to be, just to clear up who the dude is before the last chapter. Since I wont be able to write a lot due to my friken schedule. I mean guys I get up at 3 and do a 3 mile jog before I have to shower and then get ready for my lessons with my tutor (Which last most of the day and then the chick assigns me more work to do when she's gone). Not to mention trying to duck out from my sister every two seconds cause she's mad at me. AGAIN.
Well Thank you all for your reviews and I really appreciate them, so please review some more and again if anyone thinks I should just post one ending and wants to read both and wants to tell the best one PM me about it! Well thanks guys and girls!
Oh and "On A Cruise" I will try to update that this week if not, then next weekend. Thanks people! REVIEW!
