Prelude:

Now. Now or never.

"Erm, Maddie?"

"Yeah, Esteban?" Maddie said while taking a bite of food.

"I…I need to…"

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"Yeah Esteban? What's up" Maddie asked curiously "You seem different"

"Well" Esteban gulped "I feel different, well, I think"

"Huh?"

"Maddie, could you tell me what this means to you" Esteban said while slowly handing Maddie the note. Maddie looked at Esteban awkwardly again and back at the note. She began to read.

I've admired you from afar,

We are great friends so it seems,

But I want something more,

From your soul and from my dreams.

I utter each word softly,

As I say what I feel is true,

You are my only hope,

I love you, and I hope you love me too.

Maddie's hands started to shake slightly. Esteban had just handed her a beautiful love letter. She was shocked. Never in a million years would she have thought…

That Esteban had liked her back.

She had always had a secret crush on Esteban. Of course, who wouldn't like someone like him. He was innocent, yet so…okay, so he was innocent. But he meant more to her than most people had. He had always been there. Always. Especially when she was bossed around by London, Esteban and the staff raised all that money for her to pay back London. He had been so worried for her. And the fireman's ball. The date that they had almost had. But, now what…what should she say now.

Now that she had the chance.

"Esteban I…how do I say this…" Maddie stuttered. She looked down shyly.

"Maddie, believe me, If I knew…"

"Esteban…I…I guess all I can say is…well, how do you feel about this note?"

Esteban shuffled his feet nervously "I…I don't know how I feel exactly. Do you?"

Maddie put her hands on the table next to Esteban's and brushed her index finger against his hand lightly and looked in his eyes. His deep brown eyes. "Esteban, maybe…I do know how I feel in my heart, but…"

"you're scared" Esteban finished for her. "You don't want things to change for us. You don't want us to…loose each other". Esteban took Maddie's hands and held them tight.

"Yeah…" Maddie quivered "I'm…just…how…we"

Esteban looked deep into Maddie's eyes. "Maddie…I think…I love you."

"Esteban." Maddie swallowed as Esteban put his hand on her cheek. "I…I…think I love you too."

The sat there frozen, in there moment of silence. So close together, mentally and physically. Esteban smiled his adorable smile and leaned in. Maddie blushed slightly and leaned in as well. They were just milliseconds away from touching lips…

"Hey Esteban!" Cody yelled from the shower.

Esteban stopped in mid breath…"Ay yi yey…little blonde ones…" Esteban whispered. Maddie giggled at Esteban's annoyance. Esteban got up and walked towards the bathroom. "Yes Mr. Cody?" Esteban said, trying not to sound annoyed.

"Umm, could you grab my boxers, there in my room on the bed." Cody asked, slightly embarrassed that Maddie had to over hear this.

"Sure" Esteban answered while running into the twin's room, trying to do this as quick as possible so he could get back to business. He quickly spotted Cody's boxers on the bed and ran back into the living room but he froze for some reason and looked back in the room. For some reason, the vent had been removed from the top of the wall...as if…

"Ay yi yey" Esteban managed to say while throwing down the boxers in anger.

"Esteban, what's wrong?" Maddie said slightly concerned.

"It appears that our Mr. Zack has snuck downstairs." Esteban quickly stated nervously.

Maddie and Esteban quickly checked around the room just to make sure they hadn't missed Zack. "Yup" Maddie conquered " He's gone. Well, looks like we're gonna have to go get him." Maddie and Esteban started to walk out the door, but before they left Esteban stopped momentarily.

"Esteban?" Maddie asked. "Hey, why are we stopping?". Esteban turned and faced Maddie. He didn't speak for a second or two and then he finally had the courage to do something that he'd wanted to do for a while.

"Just incase" Esteban whispered "I don't get to do this again anytime soon because of, well…" Esteban leaned towards Maddie…

And kissed her softly on the lips.

They held the kiss for a moment or two, melting in the moment.

There souls, for a brief second, had connected.

"Come one" Maddie smiled "We've got a kid to find"

"Yeah" Esteban blushed "Time to locate the little blonde one."

…

…

Seconds later

"Hey…Esteban?" Cody shouted from the bathroom "Hey, Esteban, did ya get my boxers yet? ….Esteban? Hello! I'm not exactly dressed in here…Hello?"

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Sorry so short, but it'll get longer once the two couples clash…next, Zack and Max. Will they get together too? Or will Esteban and Maddie ruin everything? And will Cody ever find his boxers? Stay tuned!

-SolidGoldHeart