A/N: No, seriously, I wanted to do this story, but I'm not entirely sure how to do it…Oh well. Time to wing it!

Disclaimer:takes out earphones: I don't own the SloZaC (heh, slow Zack) but I do own Lilith and the organization.

Chapter 1: Where's Maddie?

Zack Martin was lying in his bed listening to an Evanescence song on his iPod. ("Call Me When You're Sober" I'm listening to it, too) He had many thoughts running through his mind at once, which was an uncomfortable difference in his life. He worried about his friend Maddie Fitzpatrick, who hasn't shown up for her job as the Tipton Hotel's candy counter girl for at least a week. He thought about going over to her apartment and checking up on her, but maybe she just needed the week off for personal business.

He sat up when he saw his twin, Cody, walk into the room. He looked at Cody questioningly, but the look on Cody's face told him that Maddie still hasn't shown up. Zack plopped back down on the bed, sighing.

"Cheer up bro!" Cody tried to cheer Zack up. "I'm sure she's fine. She probably just needed a vacation or something."

"Her family's poor," Zack said. "Do you really think they could've taken a vacation?"

"We did before Mom got this job and suite."

"She can't be on vacation Cody. She wouldn't be gone this long, even if they could afford it." Zack jumped out of bed and put his iPod away. "I'm going to the arcade for a bit. Coming?"

Cody shrugged and sighed. "Sorry, Zack. I have to get ready to go to Camp Knock-a-Number."

"You're going again? Do you have to go every year?"

"You should come. It'll help pass time until Maddie gets back from her vacation."

"I'll pass. Math isn't my thing. And a whole camp dedicated to it, kinda geeky." Zack turned to leave. "Oh, and Maddie's not on vacation."

When the elevator opened to the lobby of the Tipton, Zack saw that it was much more crowded than usual. It kind of reminded him of when Jessie McCartney stayed here. He looked towards the candy counter and saw that Maddie still hasn't shown up. Sighing, Zack headed into the arcade room. Placing two quarters in a Tekken 5 machine, he pressed start and played until he ran out of quarters, which didn't take long.

Zack checked his watch: 5:17 PM. Today is Saturday, thought Zack. London should be getting back soon. Maybe she knows where Maddie could be.

Zack decided to wait in the overcrowded lobby to wait for London. The line at the check in counter was still too long for him to go see Moseby, his mom was probably still performing for people waiting for rooms to clear out, and Cody was up in their suite packing for his math camp. So Zack was pretty much alone for 13 minutes.

Up on the twenty-third floor, Cody was busy packing his stuff for Camp Knock-a-Number. After he was finally done, he checked the clock: 5:22 PM. Yep, London would be back from her weekly shopping spree in New York in less than eight minutes. Smiling to himself at this thought, he popped down onto his couch. He picked up the newspaper from the table and opened it.

"Oh…my…god!" Cody exclaimed as his eyes fell on a particularly interesting article. "I've gotta tell Zack!"

He tore out of the suite dropping the paper on the ground as he did so. The paper fell open to the page and article Cody took interest in. The article read:

Young Bostonian Girl Still Missing

As of this printing, Boston police have still found no leads on the disappearance of Madeline Fitzpatrick of Boston. The 16 year old was disappeared without a trace last Sunday night from her apartment neighboring the ballpark (I have no idea what the ballpark is called. If anyone knows, tell me)

Zack looked at his watch. 5:30 exactly. As expected, London entered the hotel, pushing people aside and greeting everyone sweetly. Esteban, one of the Hotel's bellhops, followed closely behind her carrying many large and heavy looking shopping bags. Zack ran over to meet her.

"Hey London!" Zack greeted.

"Hello small person!" London replied. Zack ignored this and went on to ask about Maddie. "Candy Girl? She hasn't shown up? I haven't noticed."

"Zack!" Zack turned toward the elevators to see Cody running to him out of breath, his face flushed.

"Cody?" Zack said tenetively. "Have you been trying out Arwin's exercise routines again?"

"Yeah, because you just look out of breath and no fitter," said London. Zack gave London a look that said What the hell?

Cody regained his composure long enough to tell his brother what he had found. "It's…about Maddie…(huff, puff)…she's…been missing…since Sunday…"

Zack stood in shock for a moment before coming to his senses. "Wait a minute Cody. Where did you learn this? Because if this is a joke –"

"This…(huff) is…no joke…"

Zack ran off to the elevator and pushed the button to go up.

"Where…(puff)…are you going?" Cody managed.

Zack didn't answer. The elevator doors opened and Zack stepped inside. He had a look on his face that Cody had never seen before. He looked almost…furious and…worried at the same time. The elevator doors closed and the number above it counted up. Cody looked up at London. She hadn't moved. She looked like she was in complete shock.

"London?" Cody tried, his breath finally returning to him.

A tear fell down London's cheek as she slowly turned away. Esteban was oblivious to the whole conversation as he was trying to handle London's bags.

"Hola, little blonde person," he said. "What going on with your twin and the heiress?"

"You didn't hear?" said Cody to the bellhop.

"Hear what?" Esteban's smile faded when he heard the sadness in Cody's voice.

London was the one who spoke. "Maddie's missing!"

"What? That can't be true."

"It is, Esteban," said Cody. "I read it in the paper. She's been missing since Sunday."

"I don't believe the papers. The media is always trying to convince us of all the lies out there."

Cody and London tried to convince Esteban that it was indeed the truth, but none of the three of them noticed someone pass by them to get to the elevators.

A/N: Yeah, sorry to end it there. I'm really sick right now and can't really concentrate on too much. So yeah, Chapter 1! I guess it's really obvious who the unknown person is (or maybe it isn't…hmm…) Anyways, review, people. I'm looking for at least 5 good reviews or constructive flames. And guideline to reviewing: no flames UNLESS you have a valid idea to fix this or any other fic of mine…if you fail to provide a valid idea (none of that grammatical BS, either. I mean valid as in writing and story structure, as well as plot ideas) then I will (possibly) retort with un-niceties…

--Zamison--