A/N: First of all, thank you so much all for the reviews, especially to badkidoh who's also submitted multiple reviews. This chapter is definitely shorter than either chapters 3 or 4, but don't quote me on that. This chapter is predominantly Zaddie-oriented (a bit weird using couple names). Hope that you all appreciate my descriptive prose.
Chapter 5: Getting Reacquainted
Sunday morning [21 June] found Maddie in two states of mind: one portion trying to continue a dream in which she interviewed the legendary Nelson Mandela. The other portion was being rudely awakened by the incessant knocking on her hotel room door from the said dream. "Maddie, open up!" Maddie retrieved her head from under the pillow and glared in the direction of the door. She knew that voice, she didn't like that voice; it was too early for that voice. Maddie murmured something incoherent which could've been a string of curse words or plans for breakfast. "Maddie come on, open up! I know you're in there!" the voice prompted. Definitely cursing this time, Maddie clambered off her bed and slinked towards the door in a daze. She opened the door to a fresh-looking Zack dressed in jeans, a blue shirt, grey hoodie and a broad grin on his face.
"Good morning Maddie." Zack greeted brightly, flashing pearly whites. "Nice jammies," he smirked, looking down at her white tank top and white sleep shorts with silver unicorns. "It's too early for this Zack." Maddie replied crisply, glaring at her sleep shorts. "Nonsense, we've got the whole day ahead of us." Zack urged confidently. "What are you talking about?" Maddie demanded. "The bet Maddie: if I win, I can do whatever I want with you. So here I am." Zack reminded pleasantly. Maddie could've sworn she heard the lid of a pothole clanging in her stomach. "Of course, you've come to collect. But it's still too early for the firing squad." Maddie quipped dryly. "Oh, don't be such a masochist. I'm just taking you to breakfast." Zack replied evenly. "And after that?" Maddie demanded suspiciously. "I think I'll keep you in suspense a little bit longer." Zack teased. "Go on and get dressed Goldilocks. The sooner we leave, the sooner we come back. I'll wait in the hall." Zack remonstrated persuasively. Maddie gave Zack one last withering glance before slamming the door in his face. Zack distinctly heard the sound of a wardrobe being flung open and chuckled to himself. "Oh, and bring a pen and notebook with you too." Zack said to Maddie as an afterthought. "It's gonna be an interesting day," he mused softly.
Zack took Maddie to a cosy diner for a hearty and inexpensive breakfast away from the Tipton. Maddie was being stubborn as ever throughout breakfast, muttering things under her breath in a constant tirade. Zack had to bite his tongue from making a sarcastic quip. Maddie had managed to grimace when the waitress had brought her favourite: blue-berry pancakes. Zack kept a positive outlook throughout; he remembered that she wasn't a morning person. "Where to now Houdini?" Maddie quipped dryly. "We're going to the park for some down time." Zack replied evenly, getting the bill. "Okay." Maddie stated quickly, very little trace of resentment left in her voice. Zack was surprised and this gave him renewed confidence. "Alrighty then," he murmured with a grin on his face.
"Okay, here we are." Zack announced, gesturing with his hands at the surroundings. The park was a 5-miunte walk from the Tipton. It seemed like other people had the same idea as Zack to spend the day at the park. It wasn't too crowded; there were children mostly and a few solitary couples sitting on benches. Maddie still looked glum. "What's wrong Maddie? Aren't you happy to be back here?" Zack asked in a tone teeming with disappointment. "No of course I am Zack. It's just that…they cut down the big almond tree." Maddie stated sadly, pointing at a mossy clump where it used to be. Zack's eyes travelled to the same spot as Maddie's and an expression of comprehension dawned on his face. "Yeah, they cut it down right after you graduated from high school." Zack mused softly. "Well it's a good thing Cody and I petitioned to keep the tree in the park," Zack added with a twinkle in his eye. "What do you mean?" Maddie asked quizzically, turning to face Zack. Zack sighed and took Maddie's hand gently in his as they began walking through the park. "The Council initially wanted to remove the tree altogether to build a new parking lot. But Cody and I got in touch with the Mayor and appealed to him to re-consider. In the end, we reached a compromise: the parking lot was built and the tree was moved to a better location in the park." Zack concluded softly, leading Maddie through a clearing. Zack heard a short intake of breath from Maddie's lips as she stared at the scene in front of her. "At least the tree's not so lonely anymore huh?" Zack asked with a smile, watching her expression. It was the same old almond tree, but it was taller, sturdier and more grandiose. A shrubbery of flowers had been planted around it, resembling a mossy hedge with a wooden bench at its base in the centre.
"Zack…it's beautiful." Maddie murmured in awe, clasping her hand to her mouth. "You really did this? I mean, I know Cody would make a petition, but you??" Maddie asked pointedly of Zack.
"The tree's part of our history, I couldn't stand back and let the Mayor take it away. I saw it as my civic duty. I'm deep baby." Zack replied airily with a seedy grin. Maddie chose to ignore the last part. "I wish I could document this," Maddie murmured wistfully. "Well, what do you think we're here for? Get out your notebook and pen, you're gonna do some writing." Zack replied jovially. "What, here? Right now?" Maddie asked dumb-founded. "Yeah. You're not gonna get rid of your writer's block by sitting in a dumb hotel room all day long." Zack remonstrated matter-of-factly. "That's true." Maddie agreed reluctantly, feeling the pressure rising in her chest. Maddie wanted nothing more than to be able to write again. But it had already been 3 months since she'd even submitted her last chapter to her editor. What made Zack so sure that the park would trigger her penmanship?
For a whole 10 minutes, Maddie stared at the blank page in dismay, trying desperately to articulate something. But nothing would come. Zack discreetly left Maddie seated on the bench and engaged a few children nearby in a friendly football game with their ball. Maddie gave up momentarily and watched Zack and the children instead. A smile crept onto her face as she watched Zack goof off with the children, allowing them to tackle him to the ground repeatedly. It reminded her of her days off from the Tipton; she would accompany Carey, the twins and occasionally a reluctant London to this same park for a quiet picnic and touch football. And then there were the times when Maddie's parents ceased bickering long enough to accompany her and her grandmother for ice-cream and hot dogs in the park.
Without even realizing that her eyes had forgotten about the crowds, Maddie bent her head to the blank page once more and began to write. At first, her writing was neat and legible; but as her thoughts flowed whimsically across the page, her thoughts meshed to form untidy scrawls of ink seeping from her pen. The feverish impatience of Maddie's creativity might have ordinarily set her whole hand on fire in a parallel universe with its sheer intensity. But Maddie ignored this foolish danger; she wrote and wrote, only content to draw breath in the far reaches of her mind completely unattached to the reality at hand.
When Maddie finally paused in her consciousness, she looked up and saw Zack approaching her, taking deliberately cautious strides. He carried two ice-cream cones in his hand. "I come bearing gifts," he announced teasingly as he sat down beside her. "Thanks Zack, that's so thoughtful of you." Maddie replied graciously, giving a small smile when she realised that he'd gotten her favourite: chocolate fudge with drizzles of caramel and almonds shavings. "I didn't even see you go get these; I actually missed most of your thrilling football game too." Maddie admitted sheepishly. "That's okay, you were justifiably indisposed." Zack replied graciously, giving her a small smile. "How many pages have you written so far?" Zack inquired casually. Maddie obligingly counted her pages, but stopped abruptly when she exceeded three pages. "That's more than what I've written in a week." Maddie marveled in amazement. "Must be the fresh air." Zack mused in an amused tone. "No, I think it's you. Thank you for bringing me here. Did you have this in mind the whole time when I made that silly bet?" Maddie asked curiously of Zack. "No, it only occurred to me after I talked to Brett. I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone: get you writing again and talking to me again." Zack replied earnestly. "Well it worked all the same." Maddie intervened amicably. "Don't thank me yet, we've still got the whole day ahead of us. Are you ready to go to the next destination on your trip down memory lane?" Zack asked stoically of Maddie, holding out his hand. "Sure." Maddie agreed readily, placing her hand in his as they walked out of the park.
"Zack, what are we doing at my old school?" Maddie asked quizzically. Sure enough, Zack and Maddie were standing in the parking lot of Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow. "I told you, we're taking a trip down Memory Lane. This is still the one place in the world which contains the majority of your pieces of literature before you became a seasoned journalist." Zack explained philosophically. "Well, we should head to the library, that's where all my old works are kept. Why aren't we going through the front entrance?" Maddie asked quizzically. "We're just taking a little detour," Zack replied mysteriously, pushing open a double-door. Maddie stared in awe at the cheering crowd and the two teams of young women positioned on either side of a white horizontal net. "Zack, it's a volleyball match." Maddie mused aloud. "I know, I bought tickets." Zack replied casually. "Since when do you have to buy tickets for a volleyball game at our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow?" Maddie demanded pointedly. "Since they've won the State championships 4 years in a row. That might be on account of their new coach. I fact, he hooked me up with such great tickets. Oh, there he is now." Zack replied with a grin, waving to the coach as he approached them. Maddie's jaw dropped in shock when she saw who it was. "Not you!" she exclaimed in alarm. Bob stood a few inches away, wearing a black and yellow tracksuit, a whistle around his neck and a goofy grin on his face.
"Bob's the new coach?!" Maddie exclaimed in shock. "Initially, I did it temporarily. But I've been head coach for the last 2 years." Bob exclaimed promptly with a smug smile. "Wait, but that means you live in town! Why would you stay at the Tipton if you didn't come from out of state?" Maddie asked in confusion. "So I like a glamorous lifestyle every once in a while. Sue me!" Bob exclaimed defensively. "Okay Fergie, take a chill-pill. Can you take us to our seats please?" Zack asked quickly of Bob. Begrudgingly, Bob showed Maddie and Zack to two seats located in the front row of the bleachers in the gymnasium. "This is so cool Zack. Come on girls!" Maddie bellowed excitedly, cupping her mouth with her hands. "Yeah come on ladies, make the guys work for a date!" Zack called out. "What? Guys like girls who play sports," Zack added defensively when he got a quelling stare from Maddie.
"I can't believe you didn't write anything down during the game," Zack teased while laughing. "I'm sorry, but the volleyball game was way too good. Wait, why am I apologizing? Who takes notes during a sporting event?" Maddie demanded teasingly. It was nearly 4pm and Zack and Maddie had spent nearly the entire day at Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow. They had finished watching the volleyball, chatted to the volleyball team and pretty much roamed the school from head to toe. They had finally left the school and were strolling through Maddie's old neighbourhood, talking and laughing together, as if time were still static. "It was so great talking to those girls on the volleyball team about their hopes and aspirations. I can't believe some of them knew who I was. I wasn't aware that I'd made an impression on anyone, least of all Sister Dominique. I don't think she believed I'd ever amount to anything." Maddie stated ruefully. "Well I guess you showed her," Zack responded crisply, letting down his guard for a split second. "What I mean is, you always believed in yourself and you went after what you wanted. So I say, screw Sister Dominique (no offense to her Eternal Overlords). Those girls have someone to look up to, something to aspire to. So don't ever think that you haven't made an impression on anyone. You're pretty unforgettable." Zack added in a soft voice. Maddie's cheeks went red and Zack found that he was blushing too. "Wow Zack, that's so sweet of you to say. Thank you." Maddie responded meekly, feeling the need to look away from him. "Uh, you're welcome, you know whatever." Zack stated hurriedly while clearing his throat. "So it's getting kinda late, you must be hungry." Zack continued in an observant tone. "Starving," Maddie agreed readily. "Then I know just the place, it's not too far from here." Zack responded casually, a twinkle in his eye. "Well then, lead the way, your instincts haven't failed me yet." Maddie stated confidently with a broad smile.
"Somewhere close by…of all the places…haven't I suffered enough humiliation for one week?" Maddie demanded indignantly. Zack bit his lip to stop from laughing. He and Maddie were standing in the front of the queue at a local restaurant, waiting to be served. A young teenage girl with a chicken-shaped hat stood in front of them. "Welcome to the Cluck Bucket, may I take your order?" the cashier asked with a plastered smile on her face. Zack couldn't take it anymore and began laughing uproariously at Maddie's expression. "I'll say it again Zack: you are not funny." Maddie muttered through gritted teeth. "Aw come on Maddie! You said you were starving and the Cluck Bucket does serve the best chicken in town. Think of it as an anecdote for a future chapter about me." Zack replied teasingly. "Oh don't worry, I'll save a paragraph of descriptive adjectives just for you." Maddie promised maliciously. "Would you like to try our egg-citing new Nugget meal?" the cashier asked with a smile.
The remainder of their time at the Cluck Bucket was spent insulting each other, teasing each other and laughing at other customers. It was the most fun that both Zack and Maddie had experienced together and apart. "I still can't believe that London owned and ran this place for an entire summer." Zack guffawed in-between mouthfuls of chicken. "Yeah, London was terrific at it. She even took care of that horrible manager who demoted me; he took over my position as Hilary Hen." Maddie stated smugly, taking a chip off Zack's plate. This made Zack laugh even harder. "I can't believe how much fun I'm having." Zack admitted quietly once his laughter had finally ceased. "Me too, I'm glad we did this." Maddie agreed sincerely. Zack instinctively glanced at his watch and saw that it was already 6pm. "Geez, look at the time. I didn't realise how late it was." Zack stated ruefully. Maddie leant over and glanced at Zack's watch as well. "Gosh, you're right. I didn't realise we left the hotel almost 12 hours ago." Maddie agreed reluctantly. "But I'm not ready to go home yet," she added, quieter still. Zack's eyes snapped up from his plate and stared at Maddie quizzically. "You're not? But, where do you still wanna go?" Zack asked curiously, looking her in the eye. "I don't know, I don't care. I haven't had this much fun in God-knows-how-long. I'm just not ready to say goodnight yet. I'm game if you are." Maddie responded mysteriously, her eyelids fluttering more than what was necessary. That was all the encouragement that Zack needed. "Cheque please!" he exclaimed jubilantly.
Zack very graciously offered to take Maddie back to the Tipton to change. Maddie declined, but compromised by dropping her notebook and pen off in her hotel room, greeting a surprised Mr. Moseby and Norman the Doorman all the way out the revolving doors. Zack and Maddie ended up at Inertia, an astonished Jake McKenzie surprised to see them at his club 2 nights in a row and purportedly getting along. They didn't stay very long, but ended up wandering the streets of downtown much like the afternoon. They stopped their wandering when they came across a bar hidden away on a deserted corner. The twinkle in Maddie's eye was all the acquiescence needed for her and Zack to push the doors open.
"Trust you to pick a bar named The Green Leprechaun." Zack quipped with a laugh while he sipped his beer. Maddie was completely unphased by Zack's teasing. "I'm trying to get in touch with my Irish roots." Maddie retorted airily, while sipping on her Smirnoff Spin. The two of them had been dancing prior to getting their drinks to all sorts of country music. Zack and Maddie hadn't even drunken that much, content only to travel along the unnatural high created and generated by them both. Then they heard the music change abruptly from a song containing a noticeable banjo and fiddle to one easily recognisable from popular culture or American Idol. It was Michael John's cover of Dolly Parton's classic hit "It's All Wrong, But It's Alright" filling the airwaves in scintillating streams of tranquillity. "Oh my gosh, I love this song!" Maddie exclaimed excitedly, looking over at Zack. "Well, what are you waiting for? You've already set the record for the longest street party ever." Zack replied with a teasing smile. Without waiting for her to ask, Zack took Maddie's hand in his and steered her gently towards the parting of the crowd to the tiny dance floor. Zack's hands were placed on Maddie's waist and hers around his neck before the other couples joined them on the dance floor.
Hello, are you free tonight?
I like your looks, I love your smile
Could I use you for a while?
It's all wrong but it's alright
"I forgot how good you were at this," Maddie murmured after Zack had twirled her effortlessly, bringing her expertly close to his body once more. "I don't get older, just better." Zack responded airily, preventing Maddie from bumping into a girl beside them to prove his point. "And cockier," Maddie muttered dryly. "I can afford to be cocky; I'm dancing with the most beautiful woman in the room." Zack replied smoothly, his right hand moving to Maddie's back while his left held hers in place. "I bet you say that to all the girls." Maddie stated knowingly, burying her head into Zack's chest. "I bet that I don't." Zack murmured earnestly, his chin touching the top of Maddie's head while they danced.
It's all wrong but it's alright
Just close your eyes and hold me tight
Tell me sexy lovin' lines
It's all wrong but it's alright
And then it finally: the world and all its inhabitants disappeared save for two. Zack and Maddie swayed to the sound of the music coinciding with their hearts and minds, their souls intertwining sporadically for a few minutes. Maddie felt immeasurably light in Zack's arms; Zack felt immeasurably strong in hers. Maddie wondered if it could always feel this way to dance with someone: teetering over the edge of a cliff of possibilities wrought with hope and disaster. And they were floating face down to meet the bottom with innocent masochism.
They were nearing the centre of the wishing well, the Tipton being the final destination for the night's adventures. Maddie and Zack were laughing amicably together, a subtle change from the Green Leprechaun's precarious leap into the unknown. They were no longer avoiding each other, no longer bickering. They were laughing and smiling, that 4-year exile in space and time crudely pushed together as if it had never lapsed. They emerged from the elevator and stood outside Maddie's hotel room door. Zack had his hands in his pocket, Maddie was leaning against the door smiling at him, without any seeming intention of quitting the hallway. The hallway lights gave Zack's blonde hair a strange golden tinge, making his blue eyes the colour of sapphire. Maddie wondered why she'd never noticed how beautiful Zack's smile was; perhaps the age difference had blinded more than her sense of logic and responsibility. Zack watched Maddie intently, his lips curling into a smile the way her nose wrinkled when she was trying to remember the tiny details in her anecdotes. She was glowing from head to toe and it had nothing to do with the hallway lights shining on her. He could stand in this hallway all night long if it meant a few more hours, minutes, even seconds with Maddie.
"So um, thanks for an entertaining day," Maddie stated graciously, breaking into the silence. "Um, you're welcome Maddie. I'm glad you had a good time." Zack replied earnestly, giving her a small smile. "I'm still so wired, I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight." Maddie murmured softly. "Well that's good, you'll be able to write down a few more chapters before dawn." Zack replied teasingly with a smile. "You're right, the book's not gonna write itself. But for the first time in a while, I'm not dreading it. It's like this volcano that's erupting out of me, unable to contain itself. I feel like I could combust from sheer excitement. Thank you Zack." Maddie breathed, opening the room door a fraction while still facing him. "For what?" Zack asked dumbfounded. "For helping me find my muse: the past." Maddie replied softly with a slightly nervous chuckle. "I didn't do anything Maddie. You're the one who's good with words. You're the one who takes stories and captures everyone's imaginations, leaving everyone hanging onto your every word. You're the author, you're timeless." Zack stated quietly, his words coming out in torrents. Maddie's eyes went wide and Zack knew that he'd said too much. Why did he always have to ramble on like an idiot? Zack tried desperately to think of something cool and breezy to say to cover up that moment of astounding honesty. But Zack's eyes went wide too and his silence became more pronounced when Maddie crashed into him, her lips on his.
Zack wasn't logical or cautious by nature; he usually left that up to Cody to do for the both of them. So he acted in the heat of the moment, his robotic hands obeying his wish as they ran through Maddie's golden hair on autopilot. With one hand he kept hold of Maddie's waist while the other propelled them both through the open door. All he could think of and feel were Maddie's lips on his; tasting, touching and teasing to no end. Maddie gripped Zack's head tightly, gasping slowly against Zack's face when their lips parted. Maddie closed her eyes as Zack planted tiny kisses on her shoulder blades and collarbone, her heart thumping in her chest. She opened her eyes briefly, a silent flame growing in them as she looked at Zack. Then she fiercely tugged at Zack's hoodie, pulling him down with her onto the bed. Zack cupped her face with his hands while he kissed her passionately, his tongue parting her mouth. Their foreheads were touching while he exhaled in raspy gasps against her mouth. Maddie remembered how it had felt to be kissed by Zack before, but this was so much more. His hands grasped hers in a vice grip past her head, holding them in place while his lips straddled her stomach. She felt imprisoned, she felt liberated. The lights were dimmed in the room, making Zack's hair seem darker. A dark brown to be precise, the same shade as…
"Brett," Maddie's brain screamed in alarm at her conscience from the depths of the abyss. Maddie shuddered while she looked at Zack in horror and pulled her lips off his. The spell had been cast and broken in one fell swoop. She realised where she was and who she was with. How could she have let this happen? How could she have let it get this far? "Zack, get off me." Maddie commanded tersely, shrugging Zack off her with surprising strength which sent him careening off the bed. "Maddie, what's wrong?" Zack asked in alarm, righting himself immediately. "What's wrong?! This, this is wrong! You and I and this entire situation are wrong! I have a boyfriend Zack, I shouldn't be kissing you. This was a mistake." Maddie replied in a daze, not looking at Zack and clutching her face in her hands. "Wait Maddie, don't say that! This wasn't a mistake." Zack responded pleadingly. "I think you should go Zack." Maddie murmured sadly, looking him in the eye finally. "No wait, don't do this Maddie, don't shut me out. Let's talk about this," Zack pleaded morosely, his face looking stricken. "Just go Zack! I can't do this with you right now!" Maddie snapped angrily, finally losing her temper. Zack looked at her one last time with a sad look in his eyes before quitting her room and closing the door gently behind him. Maddie went to the door and put the safety clasp on, her hand trembling violently. Zack collapsed against the wall opposite Maddie's door and buried his head in his hands. Maddie collapsed against her room door and sank to the floor. She gasped when she touched her cheek and found a stray salty tear there. And it wasn't long before more fell from her eyes as she wept quietly into her hands. Zack and Maddie were completely oblivious to each other now; too lost in their separately mutual pain burning in the hollow of their chests. The spell was definitely broken.
A/N: Alas, the chapter is finally over (too soon I think). I know I'm terrible for ending the chapter on this note; in my defense, I didn't want to. I much prefer the constant jokes. But fewer jokes do make room for more angst and saucy moments. And that's what it's all about on Fanfiction ; ) It just wouldn't be a Suite Life fanfiction without angst. I hope that the interaction between Zack and Maddie (not comfortable saying Zaddie) wasn't too sappy, I'm trying to make Zack a better man whatever that means : ) I apologise in advance for chapter 6 being ridiculously long. Thanks for the constant support to all who've reviewed my story, added it to their favourites or just simply scanned through it on a quickie. Do I have to keep making disclaimers for Suite Life? 'Cause in case anyone hasn't noticed, I do not own the rights to any of it. Sigh, I wish I had my own TV show. Cheers!