A/N 3/19/06: This is the 10th chapter of Zack and Cody's Alone Time (ZCAT). Sorry for not updating faster, I had a lot of stuff going on with school and my other fanfic on this site: ZCIM (It's Magic). Now that I finally have some free time, it's time for this fic to get an update.

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Cody paced about his and Zack's room, waiting for Max to arrive. He wondered if she'd changed, how different she would look, and if she would remember them.

"Zack?" Cody asked.

"Yeah?" Zack asked from his position on their double-bed.

"Do you think Max..y'know...might have... forgotten about us?" Cody asked him.

"Of course she'll remember us. She's coming here to SEE us, how could she have forgotten about us?" Zack sarcastically asked his brother.

The doorbell rings, cutting through the five minutes of silence they sat through after that. Zack and Cody rush down the stairs, and eagerly answer the door.

"Max! You came!"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"We have so much to catch up on." Zack said as the three headed up to Zack and Cody's room. Thoughts began to invade Max's head fiercely.

'What's this feeling I'm beginning to have for Zack, now? Do I really like him...like that? I can't...he belongs to Cody, he loves Cody and Cody loves him back. It...wouldn't be right, wouldn't be normal.'

Meanwhile, Cody was lost in thought as well. His thoughts, however, were not so severe.

'Max sure has changed. I'm glad she still remembers us, and is still good friends with us.' Cody thought as they walked through the door to Cody and Zack's room. Max sat down on the bed, with Cody sitting on his own bed, and Zack taking the chair at their desk, meant for their computer. He swung it around so it faced the two beds, and therefore Max and Cody.

"So...how's school been going for you two lovebirds?" Max asked.

"We...don't talk about that anymore..." Zack sighed.

"Don't talk about school?" Max asked with confusion.

"No...the other thing." Cody whispered, almost silently.

"Why not?" Max asked.

"It got us expelled from our home. Because of that, we had to move. We don't talk about it much anymore." Cody explained, his voice still soft.

"Oh...I...see." Max said. They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"It's great that you're staying here for three whole months." Cody remarked.

"Yeah, really awesome." Zack said.

"I know. My mom even has it arranged to have me go to your school while I'm staying here." Max replied.

"I think this school is going to be more accepting of you guys then your old one when you let them know." Max said nonchalantly.

"What makes you think we are going to tell them?" Zack asked.

"Admit it. You can't hide who you really are. You'll let them know eventually. I'm sure of it." Max answered him.

"Yeah, we'll HAVE to let them know eventually, Zack. We can't keep running from our problems." Cody said softly, dreading that particular day.

"Yeah, it'll be either a very happy day, or a very sad one." Max replied. They sat in silence a few minutes more, then Max left, and Zack and Cody drifted off to sleep, their dreams mixed with nightmares and happiness.

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How'd you like this chapter? Again, sorry for the shortness. REVIEW! And no lemons in this chapter, sorry.

- ARK -