Chapter 2
Shooting for the Stars

Mr. Moseby was in a hurry to find his best bellhop. This was the third time within a week that Esteban had been missing from his usual posts and Mr. Moseby was one manager who didn't take to a.w.o.l. employees very kindly, at least not when it was as frequent as this. As he suspected, he found Esteban in the same place he had been the previous two times…one of the hotel's complimentary technology rooms, his eyes fastened to a computer screen. It was obvious that the bellhop was struggling to understand whatever he was reading.

"Esteban, you had better be on break."

Esteban, quite startled, scrambled to close the screen and turn to face Mr. Moseby in attention, "Yes, sir, I was. But now I am done."

"Good. Because if you weren't on break, then your job here would have been done," Mr. Moseby always threatened but never had the heart to follow through. "Now if you're finished with whatever you've been "researching" lately," he eyed the screen curiously, "then I need you to see to Ms. Persnickett's bags."

"Yes, Mr. Moseby. But can I ask you something?"

"Make it quick."

"What does 'Our law sector is solitary in being the most esteemed and enviable school to study jurisprudence' mean?"

"It's just a fancy way of saying 'Our law department is one of the most prestigious.' Why?"

"Uh, no reason. I'll see to Ms. Persnickett now," Esteban said, leaving quickly.

Mr. Moseby couldn't help but think that Esteban was trying to avoid the subject. He also felt an employer sense of duty to find out what that subject was. He turned around and proceeded to use his managerial computer override to find out what exactly had Esteban's interest of late.

"Can you believe that we're graduating in a week?" Maddie asked London, who was in the lobby waiting for her stepmother to arrive.

"I know. I'm so afraid I'll forget what to do."

"What do you mean? You wait for your name to be called and then you walk forward, take the diploma and then walk back to your seat. We've been rehearsing since prom," here she sighed a little remembering how great her prom night had been, if only for that single dance. Her thoughts were interrupted by London.

"I know, I know. But what if I mess up, or trip, or worse…what if I forget my name!" London gave a worried look.

"Well, it has happened in the past. London, it'll be fine. Besides, you're dad's paying for everything so I think everyone would think twice about before laughing at you if you did mess up."

"That's true. Thank goodness for money. You know, you should get a job that'll make you rich or marry a rich man. Then you'll be rich too."

"Believe me, I've thought about it," Maddie only half-joked. "Look, there's your step-mom. Hi, Mrs. Tipton!"

"Hi, Brandi!" London and her step-mom had grown to be good friends in the surprisingly long three years that she had been married to Mr. Tipton. Brandi was a regular visitor to the Tipton, always wanting to check in on her step-daughter to make sure she was okay. But she hadn't been around for over six months, so her arrival was even more welcome.

"Where's my Harvard-bound step-daughter!?" Brandi more exclaimed than asked as she embraced London in a loving hug. "Your father will be here Thursday okay? In the meantime, I think you and me have some graduation celebration shopping to do!"

"Yay us!"

"Have fun, ladies," Maddie offered.

"Don't be silly, Maddie. You're coming too."

"Oh, I couldn't."

"Well, have you bought the dress you're going to wear under your gown?" Brandi asked.

"No, she hasn't," London answered for her friend.

"Then you're most certainly coming," Mrs. Tipton insisted.

"Alright, if you insist," it didn't take much for Maddie to give in.

"Ooh, and we should get Carey to go too. We'll have a regular 'lady's day out,'" continued Brandi.

"Ooh, sounds like fun. She's over there talking to Mr. Moseby," London pointed and they headed over to ask her to join them.

"Carey, I'm taking the girls to go shopping for graduation dresses. We'd love it if you'd join us."

"Wow, a day out shopping is just what I need. Do you think I should change first, though?" Carey asked, taking them up on their offer.

"No, nonsense, no need," came the women's responses.

"You look perfectly fine already," Mr. Moseby chimed in. They all looked at him oddly. "What? A man will say anything to get women on their way when it comes to shopping."

This sufficed as an answer and the women headed toward the door. However, Brandi noticed Carey give a quick glance back which included a tiny smile.

As the women browsed through some clothes, Maddie suddenly stopped and turned to face them, "This will probably be the last time that we shop together, at least for a long while."

"Why, sweetie? You don't leave for Oxford until the fall," Carey asked with a puzzled look.

"Well, the program that I wanted to get into originally just had a couple of vacancies become available. And I was one of the ones chosen to come and interview for a spot. I'd be crazy to pass up a chance like this."

"Congratulations, Maddie! So when do you leave?"

"Um, well, that's the thing. To be there in time for the interview, I have to leave next weekend," there was almost a tear in Maddie's eyes.

"That doesn't leave time for long good-byes," Carey couldn't lie that losing Maddie would be like losing a little sister, or even a daughter she never had.

London was still trying to process everything, "But Maddie, I thought we were going to spend our last summer together, well you know, together. We were going to take a road trip and everything."

"I know, I know. And that's why I almost turned it down. But I just couldn't."

"You're right. I guess the old London would have begged you to turn it down anyways. Good luck in England," London, who still had a hard time showing emotions, left the store.

"I'll go talk to her," Brandi said. "You know she really is proud of you, Maddie."

"Yeah, I know."

"Cody, I need you to do me a favor," Esteban pulled him to the side.

"Sure, Esteban. What is it?"

"Can you find out what Maddie's planning on studying when she goes to Oxford?"

"Sure I guess, but why?"

"Well, I, uh," Esteban stuttered for an answer. "I got her a graduation card, and I want to wish her luck as she studies whatever it is she's going to study."

"That makes sense, I suppose. It's probably law. I doubt that's changed."

"Yes, but doesn't Oxford specialize in parliamentary law?"

"That's a good point. Maddie's a democratic kind of girl. Maybe she won't study law there. I'll find out for you, Esteban."

Cody left Esteban only to be stopped again, this time by Mr. Moseby. "Cody, can I speak to you?"

"Whatever it is, it wasn't me. It was Zack!"

"Relax, Cody. It's about Esteban. Did he seem a little jittery when you talked to him just now?"

"Well, yeah, but he was just probablyprobably just hoping that you wouldn't catch him not doing his job."

"You guys act like I'm some kind of dictator or something. Anyways, I'm asking because I caught him on the Oxford website."

"That' is strange. Just now he asked me to find out what Maddie's planned field of study is. He claimed it was for a graduation card. But that doesn't make sense, really. He could just write a simple 'Good Luck'. You're right, Mr. Moseby, something's not right here."

"Precisely what I've been thinking. How would you like to help me find out what is going on?"

"Sure. I love a good mystery."

"Okay, start by doing what he asks. But don't tell him until the last minute possible. In the meantime, I'll monitor his behavior. You know, see if he minds waiting for your answer, things like that. Also, talk to him about Maddie's sudden change in plans. Ask him what he thinks about her needing to leave next weekend."

"You're a genius, Mr. Moseby. But wait, you keep talking about Maddie. You don't think he likes her do you?"

"I don't know, but it's the easiest place to start, now isn't it?"

"True. I'll go talk to him about it now."

"It is our honor to present this year's graduating class!" everyone, despite the rules, tossed their hats into the air as the throng of parents, relatives and friends applauded them. After four years, it hardly seemed possible, but they really had reached the end of high school.

Back at the Tipton, everyone was preparing for the surprise commencement celebration that was to be held in the girls' honor. Esteban rushed over to Cody, "Cody, I need to fill out my card and quickly. They will be here soon."

"Oh, yeah. I asked her and she still plans on studying law. Go figure."

"Parliamentary law?!" Esteban seemed to beam with an inner joy at the thought.

"Now go fill out your card, big guy." As Esteban scurried off, Mr. Moseby-who had slipped out of London and Maddie's school after London had accepted her diploma- was approached Cody. "He seems so happy that Maddie's studying law, or as he puts it, parliamentary law. I don't know what to make of it."

Mr. Moseby's cell phone rang. He answered it and within a moment was off again. "And it doesn't look like we'll have much more time to investigate. That was Brandi Tipton. They're on their way."

Carey and Zack stood at the door waiting til they could see the lights from the stretch limousine the girls were riding in. Somewhere else, someone was waiting for the signal to cue the graduating class's chosen song. Among those waiting anxiously was Esteban. He had not been able to attend the graduation ceremony and was eager to give his congratulations to Maddie personally. Suddenly, there was a commotion as Carey and Zack hollered, "They're here!" The lights went down, Cody stood nearby to release confetti and the music was cued to start.

London came through the revolving doors first, followed immediately behind by Maddie. "Surprise!" everyone shouted as the lights came on, followed by a quick dousing of confetti and balloons.

For Esteban, time seemed to stand still as he saw Maddie standing there in a beautiful, lagoon-blue dress that was unmatched to anything else he had ever seen in his life. As he stood there starry-eyed, he longed to capture the moment somehow. He remembered he had bought a camera, and so he vowed that before the night was over, he would have at least one picture of Maddie.

The night proceeded in wonderful merriment as some of the girls' friends from school, such as Mary-Margaret and Corrie showed up to help celebrate their own graduation with them. Before everyone even realized, it was nearing midnight and they knew it was time to call it a night, but not before a sparkling cider toast to Maddie and London, which was a reminder that Maddie would be gone within a week's time. It was also announced that London was also heading to England in order to spend her summer vacation, a fact that excited Maddie because it meant she wouldn't be entirely alone in such a strange, new place.

While everyone else was saying their last good-byes and good-nights, Cody used it as an opportunity to talk to Maddie and Esteban at the same time. He had noticed earlier how excited Esteban had seemed when he took a photo of Maddie. So he offered to take a picture of the both of them with each of their cameras. Maddie was hesitant, but didn't want to make her discomfort-or was it instead really too much comfort-being so close to Esteban and having a picture taken with him obvious, so she agreed to the idea.

"Picture perfect," Cody said, watching the two blush slightly at his words. It was enough evidence for him to think there was something more than friendship felt between them.