Prelude:

Bob and Tapeworm sneered at Max playfully and ran to the punch bowl.

"So" Max began "What's on your mind?"

"Well…uh…you see…"

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"Yeah?" Max asked, now slightly confused?

"Well…remember how I told you I liked you a while back?"

"Yeah" Max laughed "That didn't work out too well, didn't it?"

"No" Zack stammered. Wow, he thought, she wasn't making this easy. She was really good at playing hard to get. "But…maybe…maybe…Oh no! Get down!" Zack screeched as he grabbed Max and pulled her down under the nearest table.

"Dude, Zack what's with you?" Max asked while ducking under the table cloth. Zack pointed through the cloth to the figure of Mr. Moesby and his Mom standing right next to the punch bowl.

"So? It's your Mom, it's not like your not supposed to be…" and then Max stopped sentence. "Uh, dude, you are allowed to be here right?"

"Well" Zack started "Not technically, no."

"Zack! Why are you here then, you should of just told us. It's not worth it."

"But…it is" Zack mumbled softly while grabbing hold of Max's hand. Max froze in place and starred at Zack uncertainly. This was now entering dangerous territory. Bad things have happened to her before in this situation, but, could she risk it? Was he really making a move to get back together? She had to find out. She wanted to know.

Right now

Max looked at Zack and smiled while leaning in. "Zack…I" Max began but couldn't finish.

Not because she was shy…

Because Zack had just kissed her. She held Zack near as there kiss lasted longer than she could describe. Longer than anyone could describe.

Longer than it was possible to describe.

Zack let go of Max softly and broke the kiss. He brushed a stray hair from her face and repeated the famous words, uttering each word softly in her ear

"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."

Zack looked in her eyes and hoped she'd remember the note that she'd written for him.

Max looked down and blushed slightly. Then she grasped Zack's hand and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Zack" she began "I…think I love you…" Zack squeezed her hand and smiled.

"Yes" Zack whispered softly "I think I agree with you. I think I love you too."

They sat there for a moment or two and then reality hit them. Or more so, it appeared.

"Zack?" Esteban whispered firmly "little blonde one where are you? I give you ice cream, yes?". Max and Zack peeked from the underside of the table and saw Maddie and Esteban ducking around trying to find him.

"Well" Zack said, still crouched down "I…guess I have to go before I get in trouble."

"Dude" Maddie whispered even harder then Esteban had "Zack…get out here NOW"

"Dude" Max mumbled "Get out of here" She kissed Zack's forehead while slightly giving him a push to move foreword. Zack smiled back and they got out from the table underside, but before they got up, Zack noticed a slight commotion happening on the dance floor.

"Julia! Julia! Wait, can't we just talk" Yelled a man who was chasing after a young lady around Esteban's age.

"No Tyler, I just can't talk to you right now…it's…it's too complicated" The lady named Julia complained while sitting down at the nearby table. Zack and Max quickly crouched down.

"How is it complicated" Tyler offered "It's a yes or no question, how hard is it for you to answer!"

"How hard! How HARD!" Julia screeched "What world are you living in, the one where everything is black and white?"

"Look" Tyler said "I'm tired of waiting…it's been many months Julia, it's yes, or we're over…" Tyler stopped and looked directly in to Julia's eyes.

"Maybe" was all that she said.

"I take that as a no." Tyler raved as he walked out of the hotel ballroom. Before he'd completely vanished from sight, he turned around once again and looked her in the face. "Julia Harrison, we are through! Through you here me! T-H-R-O-U-G-H!"

Zack stood up slightly after he'd heard that name. That name…sounded so familiar. Harrison…Harrison…

"Zack, what are you doing!" Max yelled softly "Get down before we get in trouble"

Julia just sat there for a second and stood up. That's when Zack finally realized who she was.

It was Esteban's ex-girlfriend.

Zack took his time to turn to Esteban, who obviously hadn't taken this very well. Actually, he looked worse then Julia did. But why? Then he noticed. He was clasping the hand of Maddie. Did they…were they, Zack thought, together? That could explain the confusion but…

Maddie turned to look at the lady named 'Julia' to see how she was and then she noticed a familiar blonde haired boy starring at her. Before calling out Zack's name, she quickly noticed him awkwardly starring at her and Esteban's clasped hands. Was he…jealous. She quickly let go of Esteban's hand and stood straight. With all of the things going on tonight, she did not want Zack to hate Esteban. Never. She would have to break it to him another time. Another day.

Zack looked back at Maddie who had apparently let go of Esteban's hand. Did she think I was bothered? Nope, Zack thought while smiling back at Max. He has his girl. Sure he'd flirted with Maddie a lot but…well, he'd flirted with every single girl he'd ever laid eyes on.

Well, until now.

Now it was just Max.

Maddie turned back to Zack and motioned him to hurry up. Zack crawled from where he was and scurried over to where Esteban and Maddie were. Esteban, still a little dazed, stood there furrowing his brow at the sight that laid before him.

He loves Maddie. But he should help Julia get back on her feet. He has always vowed that as long as his name is Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya del Rosa Ramirez, when a women is in need, he will help. Even if it was the women he despised. But, would it make matters worse? Would Maddie want him to help? And would Miss Harrison think it's a move to try to get back together? So confusing.

Unfortunately, Esteban didn't have the time to choose, because Maddie grabbed his arm and pulled him out of his daze while running out of the ballroom. With Zack close at behind, they raced to the elevator, hoping no one had seen them.

While Maddie pushed the button to the elevator, Esteban and Zack looked through the open doors and back in the ballroom. Just then, Julia appeared, with a tear streaking down her face. Esteban and her eyes locked for a moment. Just a moment. And that's when Esteban knew what he had to do.

He was no longer confused.

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Well at least one couple is happy, well, for now…but now where will this love note transfer to? And What's up with Esteban and Maddie and…Julia? And…will Cody EVER get his Boxers? Stay tuned…

-SOLIDGOLDHEART