.:16:.

Winner, Winner

"So, the big game's today," Bailey said, sliding into her seat at the cafeteria table. "Are you nervous?" She looked up at the silence she received in response and noticed Cody's glare at her. "Was that a trick question or…?"

"I can't even begin to think about the game," Cody replied. He bent over his notebook, rubbing his eyes with his fingers. "I've got too much stuff to worry about and…adding with the game…"

"You want to throw up?"

"How'd you know?"

Bailey grinned teasingly. The sort of smile he had fallen for at one point. The sort of smile he'd been too nervous and shy to do anything about, letting the moment pass by. His eyebrows furrowed, surprised to suddenly have the thought. He hadn't thought of Bailey that way in a long time. He could understand why Moose was so hung up on her. "Cody, you get queasy on car rides downtown."

Cody made a defensive sound. "You try having Zack chauffer you everywhere. He can have driving a few miles feel like you're on the Autobahn."

"Don't you share the car?" Bailey asked, finally putting her camera aside. But not before taking a picture of Cody's melancholia. She rested her chin in her hands, studied him for a long moment, eyes widening. "Don't tell me he crashed it. I mean, statistics say most car accidents occur 25 miles from home. But, then again, it is your father's car we're talking about. You know, back on the farm, if we crashed our tractor—"

"—No one's ready to listen to the Saga of Farmtown Bailey, alright?" Cody interrupted, unable to keep sarcasm from creeping into his tone. Now Bailey glared at him. "Hey, it's better than what Zack could've called you. He would've said you were Cowboy Girl."

"Mhm." Bailey drummed her fingers along the table. "He called me that for months when I first moved here. Sometimes, I still wonder if he actually knows my name." Cody smiled, making Bailey reach out and shake his wrist. "Finally, a smile! I've been trying to get you to smile for what seems like weeks now."

Cody blinked in surprise. Had it really been that long since he smiled? Couldn't be. He smiled practically every day. Made sure of it. It was part of his relaxation therapy, all with yoga and performing medically correct head and temple massages to keep the stress at bay. Once he got the response to his application in, he'd smile like a loon.

"Has it been that long?" He asked.

"You haven't even tried to answer any of our teacher's questions," Bailey pointed out. "Now, I enjoy a healthy sense of competition here and there, but it's kind of hard to have that competition when you're not going to participate." She shook his hand once more. "Now, do I have to drive Miss. Tutweiller crazy, myself?"

Cody couldn't help but smirk. "I think her mom and her thousands of cats are doing that by themselves." He shook his hair from his face. "Sorry, you asked to eat lunch together and I'm sitting here, talking about me."

"I'm just concerned."

"Nothing to be concerned about." Cody did his best not to look over his shoulders, not to give a cursory glance around as he did when he first sat down. He was sure Sadie was watching him. Somewhere. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up, just as it did when his mother was looking for him or Zack to fess up to something.

When he saw what was written in her notebook, saw the look on her face when she snatched it back. Boy, he'd never been so terrified in his entire life. The rational part of him, scolded him for it. What part was for him to be terrified about? She was a girl with a crush. Then there was the other part of him that remembered everything she'd done with Zack, things he'd rather not think about, and what she'd done to rip Zack's

Cody shuddered. He needed to stop thinking about it. Or else it'd ruin his concentration. Funny, how of the main problems in his life, a person was scarier than the idea of potentially losing a big basketball game. Said game that was being advertised all over Boston. He'd even heard about it on the radio, his parents were going, even Arwin said he'd show up. And it was a girl who preoccupied his mind and not in a good way.

"So, what's up?" He cleared his throat, leaning towards her. "Why'd you want to meet so badly?"

Bailey chewed her lower lip, did her best to hide her burgeoning smile, and leaned over her purse that sat by her feet. With a shaking hand, she pulled open the bag and found a large, white envelope inside. She pulled it out and passed it to Cody. Cody took the envelope and ran a cursory glance over the front. He knew exactly what it was before he opened it. It was a large envelope, the ones stuffed with all the information people needed to move onto campus, to start their classes to…

Cody broke off the thought and forced himself to pull the envelope open and look through everything inside. Over and over. Accepted. Full ride. Bailey was going to Yale. And Cody still hadn't received anything from them.

Disappointment rocked his guts, yet he forced the largest smile he could muster on his face, lifting his gaze to hers. Bailey held her hands over her mouth, cheeks scrunched so hard that her eyes were barely seen between her squinted eyes.

"Bailey," Cody breathed. Why was his voice failing him so badly? "You…you got in."

"I know," Bailey squealed. "I got in."

"You got in." He had to repeat it, couldn't help it. It was just so…so…not surprising. Bailey's grades were just as good as his were, better even (not that he'd ever say it out loud), her extra curriculars were a list long enough it'd rival the damage bills Mr. Moseby tried to stick him and Zack with, and she was insufferably persistent with what she wanted. Cody spent many nights looking over her personal statement, knowing it was perfect. There was no question she'd get in and now it was true. "You got in!"

"I know!"

Bailey leaned over the table and gave Cody a hug so tight he was sure his airways had been closed off. Nevertheless, Cody wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her just as tightly. It wasn't his fault, it wasn't like he could do anything to have letters move through the mail faster. And maybe Tapeworm was right when he said he was obsessing a little bit.

But to know everything he'd ever worked for was that close—

"..and my mom and dad don't have to pay for anything," Bailey was saying when Cody turned back to what she was saying. "I mean, with nine sisters it was going to be hard. Madalyn, Emmalyn, and Cora all got married and pregnant so they didn't go to school. Holly and Addalyn went to college in the city…and all of the students were my cousins so there's wasn't much to worry about with tuition."

Cody's eyes nearly bugged out his head. It always weirded him out to hear about Bailey's family. Not that he felt it was any weirder than his own family, but Bailey'd become such a city girl since she'd arrived in Boston that her farming background and severely large family sometimes surprised him. And he didn't have any cousins, so he couldn't imagine what it'd be like if he and Zack were the only students in school.

"And Zoey tried to go to the nearby university in the next city over. So to have this…" Tears trickled down Bailey's cheeks. Hastily, she wiped them away. "To have this…it means a lot for my family. I mean, we lost our farm and had to move to a place we'd never been with anything to our name and now…now I have every opportunity people just get handed to them."

Cody smiled—a real smile this time—and gave her another hug.

She was right. She deserved it.

And he wouldn't let any of his insecurities get in the way of that.

For the rest of lunch, Cody and Bailey had a pleasant conversation; talking about Yale and everything else they needed to do before the school year ended. Finally, Cody got up to take his tray back to the dispenser. Once he carefully cleaned it and his hands with a wet nap, he grabbed his backpack to go to AP Bio, stopping only when he saw a sheet of paper sticking out the top.

Cody frowned. It hadn't been there before, he was sure of it. But no one had come up to him either. How did…? Cody broke off the thought before it would come to his mind completely. If he pretended nothing was out of the ordinary, then nothing was out of the ordinary. Mind over matter. It was a sheet of paper, partially ripped off a test or a paper.

That was it. That was all.

He did his best to keep his face pleasant while unfolding the paper. There wasn't much there. A simple note.

Good luck at the game, today.

-XO, Sadie.

And yet, it was one simple note that made his blood run cold.

The gym was filled with excited chatter as the championship basketball game grew closer. With a concession stand stacked in the corner of the gym, selling popcorn, pretzels, and every piece of candy known to man, the audience buzzed even more. It was the biggest event the school had seen in years; classes ended early and other sports practices were cancelled to be ready for the big day.

Everyone was excited. Except for one person. Max wasn't sure if she was going to go to the game. Not that she wasn't excited; her boyfriend and some of her best friends were all going to be starters of the biggest game of the year. But basketball…sports…school had been low on her priority list for weeks now. She hoped no one else noticed. There was only so much she could keep quiet, so much she could ignore.

Acceptances were coming in, she'd already gotten hers. Had a few options lined up. So what was the point of even finishing the rest of the year when she wanted to be anywhere else? Cody came close to finding out what was going on, but, thankfully, he hadn't. How pathetic would that be.

Big bad Max, who could stand up to some of the biggest people to her…couldn't get a guy to leave her alone? Her phone was filled with text messages, emails, all unanswered as she tried to ignore it. Tried to ignore the vile words that shot through her head when she wasn't focused on her studies. She wondered if her friends noticed, noticed how much she'd been pulling away.

Tapeworm hadn't said anything. Maybe he was scared to, Max realized now. He hadn't dated anyone other than her. Sure, he'd had crushes here and there but had pined after her for so long—his words, not hers. She rolled her eyes the first time he said it to her, not because she thought he was pathetic, but because of how uncomfortable it made her. Not that it helped much, things still managed to fall apart with her and Zack because of him, the last thing she'd wanted.

No, Max thought. Nothing can be worse than the way it is now. Max let out a long breath, bringing her hand up to grab the strap of the sports bag that sat at her side. She'd thought of getting a workout in the gym, a good way to stay in shape as the spring season of sports was only just around the corner. Though of skipping the dance team performance to be by herself.

To put herself into such a tiny outfit and dance around like that…? This is something you love. Are you really going to let some guy ruin it for you? She punched herself in the thigh, feeling her cell phone in her pocket. It buzzed as it always did. Another text, probably.

You look hot.

When are you going to come over?

I'm not giving up, you know.

You decided to give those losers a chance, why not give me one?

You're such a stuck-up bitch!

No point in turning off her phone, she wouldn't be able to send Tapeworm his good luck text. One a bit sappier than what Zack, Cody, Patrick, and Noah would receive. She certainly wouldn't be sending anything to Drew other than a zoomed in picture of her middle finger. Knowing her luck, though, it'd just turn him on even further.

"You look a little lost, Max-Man." Max looked over her shoulder and smiled, seeing Riley walk her way, holding onto a pair of pom-poms. "I reckon this place looks different considering how many people are actually here to see a game, yeah?"

Max laughed. "You have no idea," she agreed. She nodded towards the pom-poms. "Did you decide to join the team? Hate to break it to you, but you're kind of late."

"It'd save me from permanently muffled hearing," Riley commented. She stuck her finger in her ear and wiggled it around. "I'm glad the season's almost over, saltwater I like smelling like, chlorine, not so much, yeah?" She smiled and waved the pom-poms. "Besides, Rhu left these in study hall. Not that I don't already have my own." She reached into her own bag and pulled out silver and purple pom-poms.

Max laughed. "Where do you guys get these things?"

"Halloween costumes, decorations, the massive amount of bloody support we show each other over everything."

"Other than when you moved in," Max pointed out. "I seem to remember Crys getting really upset about her lack of space when you all moved into her house."

"Until she had her own personal cheering section, I reckon." Riley smiled in agreement. Then she looked over Max's face, tilting her head to the side. "So my question, why are you standing out here and not inside with everyone else? Don't you want to see the game?" She folded her arms. "You can't tell me you think a workout is more important. I'm going."

A knowing smile came to Max's face. "You don't really have a choice. Half the team if made up of your family."

"Very true."

"And they'd probably beat you up if you don't go."

"Also, very true."

Max smiled. She glanced at the glass doors leading to the lobby of the gymnasium. Caught Drew's eye. He'd been looking for her. Or maybe she'd been looking for him. Looking out for him. Tried to avoid him the best she could. There was only so much she could do during school hours, they were in most of the same classes. After school was her salvation. Now she was going to willingly sit herself in the same room to watch him play for an hour.

He'd be looking for her.

Just as he always did.

It made her stomach twist in knots just thinking about it. Especially knowing it was only a matter of time until Tapeworm found out. Until the others found out. And what was worse? Her keeping the guilt of that secret or the one that'd started everything in the first place?

"Hey, so, can we talk?" Max asked before she could stop herself.

"Absolutely," Riley agreed. "About what?"

"About the one thing we don't talk about."

Max watched as Riley's face paled slightly. It wasn't obvious to be seen, her skin was tanned enough to cover it. But even Max could see the discomfort that immediately befell her friend, a stark contrast to the confident personality she usually donned as a shield.

"Or you can listen," Max interrupted before Riley could deny her the opportunity. "You may be mad at me, you may be relieved…but if Zack, Tapeworm, and I can get through this, then you and Zack can, too."

Riley's eyes narrowed for a second. "Aren't you forgetting the part where you three haven't been able to hang out together since what happened, happened?"

"Okay, I guess I deserved that," Max admitted. She continued to eye Drew, doing her best not to scowl. She didn't need any more attention put on it, but found it hard not to glare at his smug face. "But we all deserve more than that. We're seniors now, we're going off to college. We shouldn't let stupid things hold us back. I know we haven't really talked since what happened happened, but I think we both know that if Zack got the chance with you, he'd have dumped me in a second."

Riley rolled her eyes, turned away. "Max—"

"—I'm not mad," Max interrupted. "I wouldn't have been mad." She paused. "Actually, I probably would've been furious."

"Yeah, he has that effect on people."

"No, I would've been mad because we wasted so much time. I love Tape—" Riley's eyes nearly bugged out of her head at the admission. Max smiled a little. "I haven't told him yet. But I guess I'll have to since he's going to MIT soon and I still don't know where I'm going. But I'm tired of worrying all the time." Finally, she turned away from Drew and nodded over Riley's shoulder. "I think all of us are."

"Max, you're going to go to a great school," Riley reminded her. She grabbed Max's shoulder and shook it. "And, no matter what, you and Tapeworm are going to be just fine. I'm kind of jealous you know." She pretended to swoon, pressing a hand to her chest. "To think I had some sort of feelings for him at one point."

"You know, things probably would've been easier if we were smart enough to avoid being such dumb teenagers for a while," Max said.

"Dumb teenagers, huh?" Zack asked, appearing at their side. "I think I'm a professional with this topic of conversation." He looked Max up and down. "What's up? You're not going to the game? We can't win without you there, yelling at me for doing everything wrong."

Max managed a grin. "C'mon, dude, you know you screw up enough without me having to remind you." She held out her hand and Zack slapped his hand against hers. "Good luck."

"Thanks, dude," Zack replied. He looked to Riley as Max walked away. "Max said you wanted to talk to me about something."

Riley's head jerked back in surprise, face screwing up seconds later. "She did? I do?"

"Well, if it has anything to do with wishing me luck." Zack glanced at an imaginary watch on his wrist. "I think I can make time for it." He grasped Riley's hands, pulling her closer towards him. "Though, it's kind of unfair. Cody gets his own personal cheerleader and I've been working on that for years."

"Keep working, pal, I already told Max I'm not joining the dance team," Riley said. She bobbed her head back and forth. "Also, it's too late."

"Darn." Nevertheless, Zack leaned in to give Riley a kiss but she turned her head, making him press his lips to her cheek. He stepped back and looked at her. "What? I don't get anything to wish me luck? It's not like I said Macbeth or anything."

"And you just doomed the school's last play of the year, Z. Good going, yeah?" Riley teased.

"Don't change the subject."

"I'm not." Riley's face screwed up. She glanced around the crowd push their way through the lobby. "What was the subject we were on? I thought we were just talking about the game."

"We were."

"So, what's the problem?"

Zack looked at her for a long moment and shook his head. "Nothing. I have to get ready." He turned and started toward the locker room. Riley reached out and grabbed his elbow, forcing him back around. She couldn't miss his eyes rolling to face her. "What?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing, what's with the attitude?"

Zack pressed his lips together. "I don't want to get into this now." He added under his breath, "Not unless I want to get another kiss-off." Riley lifted an eyebrow. Zack licked his lips, lowered his gaze and said, "Ley, I'm tired of trying. I'm tired of thinking we're in some sort of a relationship or whatever and you keep me an arm's length away. So, unless you can give me a good reason as to why you keep making excuses to not be with me. I'm done."

She blinked in surprise. "What?"

"I'm done. I'm tired of being the only one putting in an y effort." He paused. "Which is weird, because Cody's usually the one who gets really sappy about this sort of thing." Riley set her jaw and looked away. "So, what is it? Are you bored of me, already? Listened to all the rumors? Oh, let me guess, I just can't handle commitment."

"I never said that," Riley defended herself.

"You didn't have to. I know I haven't been the best boyfriend in the world to…well…any of my girlfriends—"

"—Zack—"

"—But if you want to stop—"

Riley's face twitched with frustration. "It's not anything that has to do with you, it's because I'm fucking tired of you putting me on a damn pedestal."

Now Zack was the one who looked confused. "What?"

"Every fucking day it's the same thing; you think I'm perfect, hot, beautiful, smart—"

Zack snorted. "—And those are bad things?"

"—It is when you're trying to live up to it," Riley groused. "I don't know if you've noticed, but my self-esteem has been shot to hell. There's only so long you can be told that you're stupid and—"

"—And that you won't amount to much?" Zack interrupted, voice dry. "Yeah, I think I got that message loud and clear. And in surround sound when both my mom and dad are yelling at me." He lifted his gaze to the ceiling. "Unfortunately, you get used to it."

"Yeah, I guess it's better to hear it from people who actually love you," Riley said sarcastically.

"Well, at least then you know they're telling the truth." Zack continued his self-deprecation. It was the best way for him to handle it, if he were being honest. He was sure Riley understood that. "Nothing Robert ever said about you was true, because he didn't love you. And, if he did, then that's a really fucked up way to show it. And very unhealthy, I might add. You know, with trust and communication and all that crap supposed to be the most important thing and blah, blah, blah..." Riley tilted her head looking up at him. The anger faded from her face, eyes searching his with the warmth he'd grown to see from her for the last few years. Silence stretched between them for a few moments. "What?" Zack finally asked, unable to stand the way she was looking at him.

He couldn't quite tell what it was.

Pity?

That was the last thing he needed before playing a big game. Her response surprised him. "I wished everyone could see you the way I see you," she admitted, after a moment of hesitating. "Instead of...nagging you all the time, yeah? I wish they'd give you a chance."

"I wish you could see you the way I see you," Zack agreed. Then he leaned toward her, lowering his voice to a conspiratory whisper. "And, I hate to break it to you, but you're not perfect. You bite your nails, you burp louder than me, sometimes you're way too open, you tap your pen when you're thinking and it drives me crazy, you always—"

"—I get the point, Zack," Riley interrupted with a laugh.

"So, you're not perfect." Zack shrugged. "So, what? Neither am I, that seems to be the general consentus around here."

"Consensus," Riley corrected.

"That's another part I forgot to mention. You can be just as annoying as Cody the way you correct me. But I'll tell you a secret. Your voice is way hotter than his, so I mess up on purpose."

"I had an idea." Riley smiled.

Zack smiled back. "Okay, if we got that out of the way, there's one last thing we need to talk about."

"What's that?"

"The same thing you and me never talk about."

"You and I," Riley corrected then laughed, noticing the subtle flash of irritation over his face. She reached up, gently pushing against his face, making Zack chuckle. "Which is?" She prompted.

"When are we going on a real, actual date?"

Riley smirked, folding her arms. "Ask me again if you win." She held up a finger when Zack opened his mouth. "And if you say something like, 'I already won', mate, I'll slap you."

Zack smiled as Riley leaned in and gave him a sweet kiss.

Only a minute left on the clock and Cody was shaking with nerves. Everything blurred away from him. The cheering in the stands; screams from the opposing team, shouts of encouragement from his friends and teammates, his mother's cringey shouts from wayyy in the back of the stands. Not to mention Arwin's continuous falling down the stands as he went to get something to eat. (Somehow, he managed to find a piece of cake, the resulting sugar high making him crazier than usual).

He continued to shake as he, Zack, Tapeworm, Drew, and their other teammate defended their side of the court. They were one point down and needed to get the ball. But the other team, Cody knew from watching them, they were good. Better than good. A tough team to beat. All their practice time went to studying them and making up plays to counter theirs.

Running through plays and putting them in action were two completely different things. Somehow, they'd have to get the ball back. So far, whatever they did wasn't working. The other team knew what they had to do and were running down the clock as quickly as they could. Cody watched as Zack hunched over, tried his best to make the player he was spotting to make a false move. Cody could sense his frustration as the seconds passed, growing stronger and stronger.

Even Tapeworm, who always had a smile on his face—even when playing the toughest of games—couldn't stop frowning. Drew was as much of an aggressive player as he always had been, it wasn't working this time around. The only way they'd get the chance to win would be if they fouled out.

And yet, the chance wasn't coming.

Not until the breakaway. Cody noticed it first. Noticed the way the point guard had suddenly shifted his weight, moving to make a play around Tapeworm. He'd seen it many times in the videos they'd watched of their past games. It would've been a move no one saw coming. But Cody saw it. He pivoted on his heel, called Zack's name.

Zack immediately reacted and moved in front of the driving point guard, standing rock solid as the point guard drove toward him. He fell backwards as the point guard ran into him. Cody held his breath. The blats of a whistle made him release it.

Foul.

Two shots.

All down to him.

Cody reached down to Zack and grabbed his brother's hand, hauling him up. "You can do it, buddy," Zack murmured, slapping Cody on the shoulder as they moved into position. Cody wiped his hands on the sides of his shorts, wicking the sweat away. He caught the ball tossed to him and took a deep breath, hearing the crowd immediately become silent.

Cody bounced the ball twice, spun it once in his hands, then bounced it again. The same move he'd seen Zack do numerous times. But that was before. Before, when Zack was point guard. Before, when Cody was nothing but a benchwarmer. Before, when everything was different. When everything was normal.

Cody took the shot and let out a breath when it swished through the net. The crowd exploded into cheers as he moved to take the next one. He looked at the clock. Five seconds. Just enough time. Cody took in another breath and bounced the ball a few more times. He looked at Tapeworm, who nodded encouragingly. Looked at Zack, who smiled back at him.

Looked at the crowd; saw the rest of his friends, all figuratively chewing their nails. The dance team stood on the sidelines, quietly rubbing their pom-poms together. Rhuben smiled when he caught her eye. Cody smiled back. Then his gaze shifted. Of course. Sadie sat in the stands right behind her. Had her eyes completely focused on Cody. He burned under her intense gaze.

Shaking his head, Cody turned back to the basket. He closed his eyes, said a quick prayer—don't let me mess up in front of everyone—and took the shot. It caught him by surprise when he felt an arm around him. It felt like a slap.

Way to go, loser.

You ruined it for all of us.

His arm slowly lowered to his side, having been hung up when he took the shot. Then he was crushed in a high so tight it lifted him off his feet. Sound funneled back to him, the exploding sound of cheers. The stands were filled with bouncing, screaming, cheering students.

Zack grabbed Cody by the shoulder and hugged him tightly. Cody reached up and hugged him back. The two grinned at each other, each silently making the promise—this never happened, I'll deny everything—then hugged again, only breaking apart when ice cold water suddenly dumped over his head.

Cody threw his arms around his friends, tilted his head back to holler as loudly as the rest.

They won.

A/N: A bit of a time jump starting with the next chapter. I hope you all enjoyed this one.

Cheers,

-Riles