.:17:.

Warning Signs

Cody ran a brush through his hair an even twenty times before he set the brush down on his dresser top. Right next to the lotion that he then rubbed into his face, arms, and legs, being careful to get the elbows and knees. The same routine he went through every morning and didn't deviate from. As they said, having a routine set you up for life. And as it was, he needed the routine to keep him from going crazy, still waiting for Yale's response.

Bailey'd known she got in for almost two weeks by that point. And from what Cody had seen online, others were already getting their acceptances as well. How many more times did he have to see posts in the Facebook group of pictures of those holding up their acceptance letters? More importantly, how many more times was he going to see it without having his added to the group?

Cody glanced at the neatly stacked pile of paper on the far end of his desk. Acceptance letters he still needed to file with his other awards and accolades. Stanford, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Princeton, NYU, UMass…all stared back at him. Harvard was never an option, Zack made sure of that ages ago. It was the one besmirched portion of Cody's academic reputation and something he certainly wasn't going to forget anytime soon. Not that he was counting or anything.

Taking one last look at his reflection in the mirror standing over his dresser, Cody ran his hands down the front of his long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans. A far cry from the sweater vests and sweaters he constantly touted throughout middle school and early high school. Joining the basketball team had been a good way for him to change his image, too. A new look for a new semester, for the rest of the school year before they all went off to do their own things.

And yet there were more people who greeted him cheerfully throughout the school. The championship win boosted his popularity throughout the school. People didn't pick on him as much as they used to, save for Drew who continued to shove him into lockers and nearby walls when Cody passed him by. Unfortunately, it didn't help with Sadie. If anything, she stepped things up with him. She wasn't as much of an overt flirt as she was with Zack, seeming to have learned her lesson with it. But she moved to sit near him with every class they shared, every study, he could find her eyes on him no matter where he was in the cafeteria, and saw her around his father's apartment complex more often.

If he hadn't been so preoccupied with school, he would've started to worry a bit more. He ignored Sade the best he could, but couldn't help but wonder what it'd take for her to finally get the hint and leave him alone. He didn't want to scare her, like Zack had to do; and Cody'd never take naked pictures of himself like that. There had to be another way to get her to stop…without having to talk to her.

He didn't have the time to deal with it with everything else that was going on. With a sigh, Cody narrowed his eyes, watching himself. If there was anything that'd get her off his back, maybe it'd be if he did something even more drastic than changing his clothes. Rhuben had suggested he dye his hair, but after the last time…

Cody chuckled to himself. As long as he didn't go red, he'd probably consider it.

"Boys! You're going to be late!"

Cody looked at his watch and immediately sprang into action. He'd never been late for school a day in his life and he wasn't going to start now. Cody whirled away from the mirror and grabbed his backpack from his bed. It was one of the two spots he'd put it, the other being on the floor, neatly packed for the next school day. He hoisted it over his shoulders and turned to face Zack, who was slumped over his desk, cheek pressed against a spiral notebook, drool running down his chin, staining the sheets in front of him.

Sighing, Cody walked over to his twin and grabbed his shoulders. "Zack, wake up," Cody said. Zack mumbled in response and lifted his head from his notebook. He wiped at his chin and squinted up at his brother. Cody smiled back at him.

"What?" Zack grumbled, voice thick with sleep.

"I don't think Principal Forgess or Miss. Tutweiller can say you don't take your work seriously," Cody remarked. He motioned to Zack's face and Zack reached up, rubbing at the indentations on his skin. "What were you doing, anyway? I thought you already finished your homework." He'd sat with Zack the night before as long as it took for him to finish. A new deal they'd agreed to.

Zack, in a rare moment that was much unlike himself, had practically begged all of them to help him.

Cody had stopped by his locker after study hall, to change books for his next class. All his other friends were there as well, he couldn't help but be a bit worried when he noticed Zack. He wasn't in study hall and even when Zack did skip, Cody at least had an idea of where to find him. .That time, however, he wasn't in his usual spots. Zack couldn't afford to mess up with school any more, not when the year was drawing to a close and he had so much to catch up on.

"Why weren't you in study hall?" He asked.

"We enjoyed the peace and quiet but it's hard to enjoy it when you're not at least bothering the teachers a little," Crystal agreed. She shifted her books to her left arm and rested her right up on Zack's shoulder. "Cody said that you had a meeting with the principal earlier today. Did it have something to do with that?"

Zack glared at Cody, who shrugged sheepishly in response. "Tell the world why don't you?" It wasn't like it was a secret. Zack met with them almost every morning to determine his progress toward the end of the year.

"If it has anything to do with what happened with Sadie we can understand that," Bailey added. Cody tried not to wince at the mention of her name. She shrugged. "The girl was bad news and right now it looks like she'd do anything to get back at you for it.'

"No." Zack sighed. "I've got everything straightened out with Sadie; it's nothing we have to worry about."

"So, what is it? It's not like we're not going to figure it out anyway, so you may as well tell us, yeah?" Riley pointed out.

Zack took a deep breath. "Look, I know I don't ask for help on anything," Zack started.

Max's eyes flashed. "What about Club Twin?"

"And your presidential campaign," Tapeworm added.

"Cleaning up the Tipton after the Drew Crew trashed it," Rhuben added.

"The pageant," Riley said to Cody's chagrin. He was never going to live that down, it seemed. Ever.

"Catching the jewel thief," Crystal said.

Max snapped her fingers. "Oh! Helping prove the little girl and her Dad were con-artists—"

"Okay, okay, I get the point," Zack said, rolling his eyes. "Geez, you try to spice up people's lives and it continues to backfire in your face."

Moose and Bailey, on the other hand, stared at the Boston natives and shook their heads. "And I thought things were exciting back on the farm," Moose commented. "Over here it sounds like what happens when we have to go through a tornado that scatters that cows around."

"I know," Bailey agreed. She playfully swatted Moose on the arm. "Remember when we had to use Daisy Mae and Petunia to chase em' down?"

"Your sisters?" Max asked.

"Our pigs," Moose and Bailey harmonized. Bailey smiled and added, "Yep! If you don't got a sheep dog the next best thing is a sheep pig!" She placed her hands on her hips as Moose crossed his arms and the two nodded. "There've been many times where our pigs have come through in a jam when our dogs couldn't have. Do you know how hard it is you wrangle a cow when she's been knocked miles away?"

"It's as tough as an ear of corn sittin' out in the blazin' sun," Moose added.

"Whatever you say, Babe," Riley said, making a quick reference to the famous kid's movie that spoke about the same topic.

Zack rolled his eyes then said, "Okay, truth is…if I can't get an A in all of my classes then I won't be able to graduate and I'll have to take a summer class and…" he slapped a hand against his side. "You know how things turned out the last time that happened."

"I think we all remember," Cody said. Zack glared at him. Cody, defensively, held up his hands and backed away from his brother. He made sure to move behind Tapeworm, Cody might've gotten stronger while playing basketball but Tapeworm was still bigger than Zack and Cody. A good bodyguard when the time came.

"Truth is, I'm going to need a lot of help to pass. And I was hoping that you guys would help me out. I know I've messed around with things like this before. But I mean it this time. I've already got Miss. Tutweiller and Principal Forgess and…Mr. Blanket doing what they can, but I'm not good in a lot of my classes." He looked at his feet for a minute. "And if there's any way I can pass it's with your help."

"Wow, Zack," Bailey said. "That's really big of you to ask for help."

"I was wondering how long it would take for you to realize you can't do everything on your own," Crystal added with a knowing smile. "I mean, after that whole science fair experiment from Middle School fiasco I'm at least glad you're not handling that anymore."

Zack laughed. "Yeah, if I'm going to be doing another science project I'd definitely want to have you, Bailey, Cody, or Rhu on my team." He looked at Cody with an air of disdain. "With Cody at the very bottom of that list, anyway."

"That's alright." Cody grasped Zack's shoulder and shook it firmly. His smile was as fake as the one Zack had given him moments before. And that made Zack feel good. It at least meant they were on good terms. "Because as good as you are with money, I would never let you be my financial advisor."

Zack shoved Cody's hand away from him and looked at all of his friends. "So, what do you say? Are you going to help me?"

"Well, if I can work this in around college apps, then sure. No worries. " Rhuben agreed.

"Of course we'll help you, Zack. We can't graduate without you," Max added. "We'll do everything we can."

And everyone else agreed. Cody was the first one to organize everything together. As much as Zack got on his nerves, he was still his twin brother and he believed in Zack. He had a great chance of graduating and going to a great school if he grew up a little and worked hard. If anything of their work the night before was any indication, Zack was going to do just fine.

So what was it that he stayed up half the night for? Cody craned his neck, trying to see. Zack slammed his hand down onto the notebook and flipped it shut, holding it against his chest. Then, as if noticing how defensive he seemed, he turned to shove it haphazardly into his backpack. "It's just stuff for my therapy sessions," he explained.

"Oh."

And, once again, Cody felt that divide that seemed to stretch them further apart as the days went by. The divide that'd started as soon as Zack stared his downward spiral within his anorexia. He watched as Zack continued to pull away and lash out the worse he got, confused as to what was happening to their friendship. Now it was staring him in the face. No matter how much time had passed, it was going to take a long time for their friendship, their relationship to get back on track. They could act like everything was okay but…

"How come you don't let me come with you?" The words blurted from Cody's mouth before he could stop them. Zack lifted an eyebrow, pulling his backpack up his shoulder. "To your therapy sessions. How come you don't let me come with you?" He rushed to finish before Zack could speak, nervous energy for his admission. "I understand therapy is a private thing. And that you may have some things you don't want to talk about—"

"—That's sort of the point," Zack said. He looked at his brother. No, Cody realized. Just to the left of him. He's ashamed, Cody thought. Embarrassed. "There's…a lot of stuff I can't say to you or mom or dad."

"Why not?" Cody knew he was pushing a bit too far. He could see Zack's nostrils flare the same way they always did when he was getting angry. It was the first sign, the second being the clenching of his jaw. Third being how he, somehow, managed to continue sounding calm while speaking through gritted teeth.

"Because I don't want to upset you."

Cody's eyes narrowed. He took in a deep breath and looked away from his brother. It wasn't the way he wanted to start the day, and yet it was something they really needed to talk about. If they were going to move forward and, maybe, be split up, they needed to clear the air. "You're not going to upset me, Zack."

"Cody. You get upset when you watch the news."

"If you paid attention to the injustice that was going on in the world, you'd be upset, too," Cody defended himself.

"And you cry when you watch Martha Stewart on the Food Network," Zack continued. He smirked, folding his arms. Cody mimicked his brother's stance, unable to keep himself from doing so. They were such twins, it wasn't funny.

"You've never tasted anything that's ever made you cry," he commented. "If you ever actually decided to sit still long enough and not inhale your food, maybe you'd understand!"

"Oh, I understand, Cody." Zack stared at Cody for a long moment. His eyes searched his brother's, making it clear that what Zack was about to say was very serious. "I understand that whenever I eat something, I have to think hard about how much I have to keep myself from throwing it back up. I have to think that if I look myself in the mirror or compare the way I look to you, that it'd set me back even more than it would if I sat back and ate as much cake as Chef Paolo on a Tuesday." Zack shook his head. "If you can't understand that, then…"

"But I want to," Cody insisted.

Zack nodded. "Okay," he finally said. "Okay, you're helping me so…I guess I should help you. I've got an appointment after school, after lacrosse practice. If you're there…I'll take you with me and you can be there while I talk to Dr. Morrison." Cody grinned. Finally. He was reaching a breakthrough with his brother. Finally, he was going to be able to understand. To find a way to help. "'But, I have to be honest while I'm there. I'm sorry if I say something that might hurt you, but I need to be honest while I'm there if I'm going to beat this."

"You already beat it, Zack," Cody pointed out. "Now you're just learning how to be stronger." He put his hand on Zack's shoulder and squeezed it firmly, silently reminding his brother he was there for him.

Zack, clearly getting the hint, rolled his eyes and grabbed Cody's hand, shoving it off him and back to Cody's side. "'Yeah, yeah, don't all mushy on me. It's bad enough you still sleep with blankie, I don't need you to bring me down, too." He laughed and shook Cody's shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

Cody followed his brother from the room and out to the main area of the suite. He looked over at Arwin, who lay stretched out over the couch, head tilted back and snoring loudly, a manual lying over his chest. Carey stood next to him, folding a blanket that she tucked over the back of the couch.

"What's up with Arwin?" Zack asked, looking over the man their mother was dating.

Cody leaned closer to study the front of the of the manual. He snorted, realizing it wasn't a manual at all, yet a self-help book. "How To Win Friends and Influence People," he read aloud. "Actually, that's a pretty good book."

"So why's Arwin reading it?" Zack asked.

Carey smiled a little. "He wants to stand up for himself a bit better," Carey explained. "Just trying to change his image a little bit."

"Oh, but the clumsy, weird, horrifically clumsy guy is the one we all know and love," Zack said. He managed to hide his smile, despite his freckled cheeks starting to move upwards. Cody gave him a warning look but when Zack caught his eye, Cody felt himself starting to smile as well, seconds away from laughing himself.

It was hard to picture, honestly. Arwin was one of the best things about the Tipton hotel and him changing would be too hard to picture how the Tipton would move forward. You mean, exactly what you're doing. The thought entered Cody's head before he could stop it. Exactly like Zack did. Cody pursed his lips and shook his head, tried to erase the message on the chalkboard of his mind. He didn't need to torture himself with it anymore.

Carey started to say something else, but the three jumped when a large, grinding sound, made the three jump. Eyes wide, Cody turned to stare at Arwin as the engineer's mouth dropped open, tongue lolling out so that there was enough room for the monstrous snores to escape. Zack, eyes wide, glanced at Carey.

"Mom," he said slowly. "How in the world do you manage to sleep next to that every night?"

A smirk pulled at Carey's lips. She folded her arms and looked at her son's with a knowing expression. "Ask your father," she commented.

Cody's nose immediately wrinkled as his cheeks flushed. He didn't need to know that. Zack, on the other hand, burst out into hysterical laughter, making Carey roll her eyes and wave her boys off to school. Cody stopped long enough to give her a hug and kiss before leaving the suite. Entering the elevator, Zack practically collapsed into the corner of the elevator, tilting his head back.

"You know, you'd be more alert if you didn't spend so many hours playing video games," Cody chided.

"You used to play as much as I do," Zack pointed out.

"I believe you'll find that 'used to' are the operative words there."

"At least I have a life." Zack rubbed at his eyes, flicking the crust from them at Cody, who immediately backed away from them. "There're more important things than having my nose in a book every second of every day. Like sleep."

"Don't you already get enough of that in study hall?"

"Not since Miss. Tutweiller took them away. Do you think I could sue her for that."

Cody snorted. "For what?"

"Emotional damage."

"If that were the case, I would've sued you years ago."

Cody shoved Zack aside when the elevator reached the lobby. The two stepped out with Zack heaving a sigh at Millicent at the candy counter. Of course, Cody noted, Zack could be with any girl or in any relationship and he'd still harbor something for Maddie. Especially the first few weeks when she went back to school.

"There you are!" Zack and Cody turned at the sound of Mr. Moseby's growl. He stormed across the lobby to them like a man on a mission. A mission he'd wanted to carry out since they'd move in. He looked like he'd finally gotten what he needed to kick them out.

"Whatever it is, I didn't do it," Zack said immediately.

Cody, on the other hand, stayed silent. Playing pranks was fun every now and then, but even he was smart enough not to disrupt Mr. Moseby's business. "What's going on, Mr. Moseby?"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to use the Tipton phone number for your childish pranks?"

"That only happened once," Zack defended himself. He grinned. "I mean, you enjoyed that serenade for your birthday, didn't you?" He stepped back behind Cody when Mr. Moseby growled under his breath, stepping towards Zack.

"After that juvenile trick I've been carefully monitoring our phone use and we've had multiple calls from the same number asking for you—"

"—I can't help it if girls want to talk to me," Zack said.

"Not you." Mr. Moseby glared at Cody. "You."

"Me?" Cody's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. Who would be calling him? Everyone used his cell phone number.

"Yes, constantly asking if you're here, when you're leaving, when you're getting back, what suite number you're in. You know, I have the mindset to…" Mr. Moseby's voice trailed off. A dull humming toned in his ears. Mr. Moseby's words were a bomb detonating in his face. His breath caught in his throat and felt like hell.

Cody turned on his heel and hurried to the stairwell. The elevator would've been faster but he needed the time to wind all the way up to the 23rd floor. Needed the time to reassure himself.

Step.

Everything's okay.

Step.

You don't know it's her.

Step.

You're paranoid.

All the way up 230 steps and Cody nearly had himself believing it. But when he reached the door to the suite, he sensed it. Something was different. Something was wrong. Cody took out his key card and swiped his way inside. Carey sang in the shower, Arwin slept on the couch, and everything was just as it had been before.

All the hair on the back of Cody's neck stood up. He moved further into the suite, looking at everything as he inched closer to his room. Nothing was out of place. But he understood intuition, knew when his body was telling him something. Something was out of place. But where?

Cody went to his and Zack's room and continued to look around. Not that he'd even notice if anything on Zack's side had been touched. It was as haphazard and disorderly as ever. But everything had its place and Cody knew Zack's mess as well as his own cleanliness. Everything was fine. Taking in a deep breath, Cody steeled himself to examine his side of the room.

His bed was immaculate.

The floor was clean.

No fingerprints on the mirror or doorknobs.

His clothes were neatly folded and hung up in the closet.

His papers hadn't been touched. They sat exactly as they'd left them when he left the room that morning.

Zack's gasping for air came up behind Cody, though he didn't turn to face his twin. "Dude, why'd you leave me to take the fall?" He asked. "If you were going to do a prank like that, you need to let me know so I can work to be believable when I say I don't know what Mr. Moseby's talking about." He took in another deep breath, voice starting to sound more normal. "If this is payback for all those years of blaming you for things, I get it, but—"

"Zack," Cody interrupted. He stared at his dresser. Stared so hard it could've burst into flames. "Did you move my brush?" He held his breath, waiting for Zack to admit it, to say he was messing with him. That he purposefully moved it to the other side of the dresser to make him think he was going crazy.

His heart sank when Zack snorted and asked, "Why would I want your brush?"

A/N: I can't remember if I'd said this in a previous author's note, but this does start a new arc within the story. And, like I said last chapter, there's a bit of a time jump from the last one to this one.

Cheers,

-Riles