Author Note- Okay, so this chapter is kinda a bridge chapter. It's only meant to bridge the gap between the arrival and a slightly more meaningful event, but of course every moment counts, especially when it involves picking into the brains of what the two main characters are thinking and feeling. And don't be confused about the London moment...I needed to establish her struggle to define her tight friendship with Maddie because of a future event.

I still don't own the show, characters or lyrics from either TSL or HSM.

Chapter 4
This Feeling's Like No Other

Maddie still stood speechless. She had thought that she would never see Esteban again. She had secretly hoped that by the time Christmas break came, that he would be already at home in his own country and that she would finally be free. But now here he was, tagging along with the others.

"Surprise!" Zack said tritely, breaking the silence.

"Why are all of you here? Who's running the hotel?" These were only two of the many questions swimming through Maddie's head.

"I decided the boys and I needed a vacation," Carey started the long line of "reasons".

"I jokingly said she'd be thrown in prison for unleashing the likes of those two on England, and the next thing you know, I've been talked into coming along," Moseby gave his false side of the story.

"And Mr. Moseby being the wonderful man that he is, he offered some of his employees the chance to come along," Esteban began.

"Didn't want people to talk, you know," Moseby said in referral to himself and Carey being considered an item, although he didn't give the impression that it would bother him too much.

"So, myself, Lance and the new candy-counter girl came along," Esteban finished what he was saying.

"Bob's here too!" Cody threw in for no important reason.

Maddie couldn't care less about the twins' friend. Her mind was still spinning from the thought of who might have replaced her as the new candy counter girl. Sure she expected that it would happen, but it had barely been two weeks since she had left. "So," she gulped ever so slightly, "who's the new candy counter girl?"

"She's only a temporary replacement for the summer," Mr. Moseby answered. "Actually, you might know her."

As if on cue, Mary-Margaret entered the suite, followed close behind by Lance. "Hey girl!"

"Mary-Margaret?!" she kinda squealed in excitement at the sight of her school girl friend.

"What can I say? I needed a good summer job," Mary-Margaret hugged her friend. "Besides, you didn't think I'd let you and London spend the entire summer shopping in England without me did you?"

Maddie squealed again, "Speaking of shopping! Me and London were about to go on a spree. You should join us! Right, London?"

"Yeah, sure," London replied, but there was a hint of melancholy in her voice that only Carey noticed.

"In that case, we could all meet up for dinner or something," Carey suggested.

"That's a splendid idea. I'm sure I could get us all a discount," Mr. Moseby was in favor of the plan.

"Discount, shmiscount! I can get us all dinner for free," London scoffed. "Besides, now that you're here, you're all going shopping."

"London, why would we want to go shopping?" Zack asked in behalf of the guys in the room.

"Because," Maddie answered, "We were going to attend one of the famous English theaters to see the Phantom of the Opera. And apparently there's like a really high standard of dress that they like to up hold."

"Especially when you're with London Tipton, the guest of honor," London added.

"Wow, even in London she has an entourage," Mary-Margaret responded in disbelief.

"I know isn't it great!? So I'll have my chauffeur take the guys to rent tuxes. And us 4 ladies can make a day of it shopping for fabulous dresses, shoes, and bling!" London practically demanded.

"Oh no, London I couldn't possibly go. I mean, I have the boys and Bob to watch after and I'm sure you don't want them tagging along. And I'm sure Mr. Moseby and Esteban wouldn't want them tagging along with them and Lance. So I'll just reluctantly decline," Carey said regretfully.

"Mom, we're practically 16 now. We're not going to wreak havoc on London," Cody said defensively.

"At least, not all of London," Zack joked. "We can stay here and make a boys night of it with Bob while you have fun."

"And if it makes you feel better, they can tag along with us while we rent our tuxes," Mr. Moseby offered graciously. "Besides, we'll be back at the hotel before the four of you make it out of the first dressing room."

"Are you sure?" Carey debated the idea. She saw the pleading look in her boys' eyes to be trusted just a little bit. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. And I have always dreamed of having the part of Christene in Phantom of the Opera, so I would love to see it in person. Okay you win."

"Cool! Let's go get Bob!" Zack and Cody rushed out, heading for the suite they were staying in.

The true reason for Mary-Margaret's presence was to try and coax some answers out of Maddie about her feelings for Esteban, so she realized there was no better opportunity, "London, do you have a date for this thing?" she asked, knowing by now the way the heiress's mind worked.

"No, but I mean to have one by tonight. I know plenty of guys here in London. And I suggest you all find ones too."

"Well, than how perfect. That leaves an even number of us," Mary-Margaret winked at the others, who, all but Lance, comprehended where she was going with the idea. "So me and Lance will make one set. Carey and Mr. Moseby can make up the other. And that leaves Maddie and Esteban."

As much as she loved having one of her closest friends with her in London, Maddie was already regretting that any of them, especially Mary-Margaret, had ever set foot in England.

"Ooh! Let's go look at the shoes first," Mary-Margaret said trying to get Maddie in an area where she could talk to her one on one.

Maddie took the bait, and London and Carey were left browsing through a selection of glamorous dresses. Again, Carey noticed a strange look on London's face as she watched Maddie and Mary-Margaret walk away together.

"London, maybe we should talk. I know I'm not your mom or Brandi, but I think I can still help you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean your being jealous of Mary-Margaret/"

"Why would I be jealous of her?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it could have something to do with her close friendship with Maddie. Now that she's here, Maddie has to divide her time between the both of you," Carey suggested.

"Okay, you're right. It's just. This is our last summer together. That's why I begged Brandi to get daddy to let me tag along. But now I have to share my best friends with someone else."

"Oh, London," Carey said sympathetically. "You're both grown up now. Things can't always stay exactly the same. Just think. Someday you'll get married and so will Maddie and you'll be apart then."

"But that's why I want to make these moments last, Carey. I'm not ready to grow up."

"Growing up is hard, sweetie. But you can't run away from it. But you can make sure Maddie's always there to share the struggle with, by letting her know that you consider her your best friend. The two of you have practically become sisters, and the bond between sisters isn't easily broken." Carey hugged London and decided to divulge the group's secret to her. "Do you want to know why we're really here?"

"Because Maddie and Esteban clearly have some issues they need to deal with." Carey stared at London in astonishment. "What? Do you think I'm dumb or something?"

"A real-life opera will be fun," Mary-Margaret said randomly to get a conversation rolling with Maddie.

"Yeah, fun." Maddie didn't sound very convincing.

"What's wrong, girl? I thought you'd be extra excited now that Esteban is here, and going to be you're date tonight. I mean we both know you have feelings for him."

"Don't you get it? I'm running away from him! I don't want to like him anymore. I-I can't. I can't like him anymore. Just let me get through tonight without making a big deal out of it. Please, I have to shake these feelings," Maddie pleaded.

"Okay. I'm sorry, Maddie. I didn't know how you felt about him now. Just remember I'm here for you no matter what," Mary-Margaret offered a hug to prove her point.

"I don't know if I can do this," Esteban said worriedly as they were fitted for tuxes.

"You came all this way. You can't give up now," Cody encouraged.

"I'm giving up on women altogether," Zack said annoyed after a call from his girlfriend back in Boston. "They're not worth the trouble."

"Oh me, that is what I'm saying," Esteban sighed.

"Nice timing, Zack. Don't listen to him, Esteban. You know Maddie is worth it," Cody tried to make up for his brother's insensitivity.

"I don't know. Maddie is a lot of trouble. I mean, one minute you're getting married, the next you're trying to return the tux you rented," Lance added.

Esteban glanced down at the tux he was trying on. "Oh me again!"

"Okay, okay. Enough damage has been done here. Cody, take Zack and Lance and their negativity out into the waiting area for a moment," Moseby intervened.

"What about me?" Bob, who had been standing nearby reading a magazine, chimed in. "Do I have to leave too? I've got plenty of words of wisdom for the big guy."

"Oh no. Out you go."

"Well, excuse me. I wouldn't share my words of wisdom with you now even if you asked me," Bob said leaving.

"Now that they are gone, I think we should talk about this more seriously. Have you even given any thought to how you're going to approach Maddie about the matter?"

"No. Well, yes. I mean I come up with something, but then I throw it out," Esteban answered.

"Well, eventually you'll have to tell her how you feel. Now I know things never go the way we plan them to, but it's good to have a plan all the same."

"I just don't know what I would say to her. Mr. Moseby, have you ever had a speech all prepared but you just didn't think it was good enough?"

"Yes…I have. But you just have to go with what you have and let the right words fall into place the way they're meant to. In the end, it won't matter how you said it. The true test will lie in how she responds. 'I love you' are the three simplest words that will reveal what lies within her heart."