Author's Note- Sorry for the long wait. I wanted this chapter to contain several key elements that lead up to the grand finale (which we'll be one more chapter plus a small epilogue.) It's sad to think that this trilogy is coming to an end :(

I do not own any of the characters or song lyrics used in the titles. I also doubt that there is a monument with the encryption-which will be revealed later-in Latin. It is purely a creation of my imagination using part of my favorite quotes.

Chapter 6
Staring Out the Window

"So, how did it go, Esteban?" everyone wanted to know as they secretly gathered in one of the suites. They knew they had to finish their meeting before Maddie finished with her shiatsu up in London's suite.

"I told her something she needed to know. But I didn't tell her how I feel," he admitted.

"Good job, Esteban," Zack applauded and then defended his response, "who wants to confess their feelings in an opera house? Just sayin'."

"I believe that now that I've had the courage to tell her this one important thing, I should have the courage to tell her the rest," Esteban said almost confidently.

"That's the spirit," they cheered.

"Carey, I need to talk to you," Mary-Margaret whispered. She and Carey stepped over to the other suite so that the others wouldn't hear them.

"What is it?"

"Maddie told me earlier today that she can't love Esteban. She said that she was running away from him. But Carey, something about how she said it seemed so empty. It was like she was telling me something she didn't want to believe herself. It doesn't make sense, because I know she had a crush on him when we were in school. But then again, I guess things do change."

"Maybe along the way that crush turned into something stronger, you know, something deeper. Maybe it scared her. After all, there is somewhat of an age gap. Or maybe she thinks it too awkward of a love," Carey answered with the wisdom of a grown woman's perspective.

"Then can't we just tell Esteban? He would know that there was emotion there and maybe he could prove to her he feels the same," Mary-Margaret reasoned logically.

"I know it seems like an easy shortcut, but true love is best when stumbled into. It's not called falling in love for no reason. Besides, we're only speculating why she is running from him. But we can help it along a little by helping Maddie figure out if she really wants to run away from him."

"I'll do it," London said, giving away her position at the door where she'd been eavesdropping. "Not to be rude to you, Mary-Margaret, but I have to be the one to do this."

"You are cunning enough to manipulate a real confession from her. Besides, I already promised I wouldn't make a big deal out of her and Esteban."

"Thanks. Maddie's going on a tour of England with a group of other students tomorrow morning. I'll just make plans to meet her for lunch. Todd will understand."

"You know, Maddie's lucky to have friends like the both of you."

Mary-Margaret and London exchanged glances then at the same time said, "We know."

"And over here we have…" Maddie tuned out the tour guide after awhile. Instead she took in the beauty of the different monuments that stood around her. Suddenly she caught sight of a lovely marble monument. She noticed the encryption that it bore. It was in a foreign language that Maddie couldn't read, but she still felt herself drawn to the passage as she traced her fingers over the engraved letters.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

"What?" Maddie was pulled away from her distant thoughts to see a handsome young man beside her. "I'm not sure. I can't read it."

"I didn't mean the writing; I meant the monument. Don't worry. I'm a senior here and I can't read it either. My name's Pablo," he said extending his hand.

"My name's Maddie," she said grasping his hand. For a brief second, the man reminded her of Esteban, a sensation that she had not been expecting to have to deal with on her tour. She forced herself to forget the notion. "Do you know what language it's in?"

"Actually, I think so. I think it's Latin. If so, my cousin could probably tell you. He always did pay closer attention to our Latin lessons when we were young. But I won't bore you with my bizarre childhood."

Maddie could hear a touch of Spanish accent mingled with an acquired British one. She found it so amusing that she struggled not to laugh. Instead, she agreed to accompany him for the rest of the tour, but not without taking one last glance at the statue and its mysterious writing.

The rest of the tour flew by for Maddie who felt an odd enjoyment in the company of Pablo. She didn't want to admit it, but in a strange way he reminded her more and more of Esteban as they got to know each other better. As the tour came to a close, Maddie suddenly found herself hinting at Pablo, hoping to win a date. "So if you've been in London so long, tell me, are there many things to do on a Friday night?"

"Plenty. Restaurants, theaters, you name it. Actually, one of my favorite things is strolling along the Thames at midnight. In fact, I'm taking my fiancé when she comes to town later."

The words stopped Maddie in her tracks. Fiancé? The words echoed in her ears. She felt so foolish. For a brief moment she thought that she had been slightly attracted to him, but he was just another engaged man. It's what I get for not solving my Esteban dilemma first, she chided herself.

"So if you have a special someone in town, I recommend a stroll by the Thames above anything else," Pablo finished, not knowing that Maddie's thoughts had been elsewhere.

"Thanks for the tip, Pablo," Maddie answered, pretending to care. "I have to meet a friend for lunch, but I hope to see you around sometime," she wasn't sure how true it was. As she walked away she whispered in a defeated sigh, "I'm a magnet for unavailable men…and I'm sick of it."

"I didn't expect to hear from you," Esteban said, talking to someone on his cell phone. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that. This is perfect. I'm here too. The whole Tipton group is here actually. Yes, we could have dinner tonight. Of course, of course. I'll talk to you later." Esteban hung up the phone and said excitedly, "This must be a sign. Tonight will be the night."
"What a nice little street café," Maddie tried to make small talk as they ate.

"Listen, Maddie, there's a few things we need to talk about," London finally said.

"Like what?"

"Well, for one, this might sound silly, but I want you to know…I think of you as my best friend." It was clear that it was hard for London to let her guard down.

"London, really? That's so sweet. I guess I've always considered you my best friend too. No matter our ups and downs," Maddie replied.

"Promise me we'll have ups and downs in the future."

"Are you afraid we're not going to be friends anymore?"

"Well you're going to be all the way here and then before you know it, you'll be getting married and I'll be getting married. All kinds of things will start to change."

"Aren't you forgetting something? Someday you'll have kids and I'll have kids and they'll be best friends just like we are. Friends for life, I promise."

"Okay, and when I inherit the hotel, you're so hired," London said semi-jokingly.

"But won't you be too busy getting facelifts?" they both laughed at the shared memory.

"You'll have to make me your maid of honor when you have your royal wedding," London added slyly.

"Of course you'll be my maid of honor at my…" Maddie stopped. "Royal wedding? You think I'm going to marry royalty?"

"Duh. Esteban's a prince remember?"

"Who said anything about me marrying Esteban? Why would I?"

"Because you're in love with him. You always have been."

"Even if that were true, which I'm not saying it is, he's engaged remember?!" Maddie finally vent the painful knowledge she'd been keeping shut in. "I can't love an engaged man."

"Engaged? You can't mean that silly tabloid that was printed like forever ago can you? Since when are they ever right?" London tried to prove her point, "see that man over there? He's been taking pictures of us…for a tabloid no doubt. I bet they'll cover your face with someone else's and write some silly headline like London Tipton Lunches with Ashley Tisdale."

"You had to compare me to Ashley Tisdale?"

"My point is, don't you think Esteban would have told us? Especially you? Just ask him about it yourself."

"That's silly, London. I just can't waltz up to him and ask him if he's engaged."

"Who said anything about waltzing? Look, I'm 100 percent certain he'll say no." She then added under her breath, "and it's not just a gut feeling."

Maddie looked at the tabloid she had saved for over a year. "Maybe London's right. He would have at least told me."

She made her way decidedly to the lobby of the hotel. She was finally determined to find and confront Esteban, and wanted to do so before chickening out again. She caught sight of him outside. "This is it," Maddie gulped.

However, as Maddie grew closer to the door, she noticed Esteban wasn't alone. Losing nerve, she ducked behind an artificial plant and continued to watch him through the window. At first, Maddie could only tell that it was a woman. Suddenly, she saw them hug and realized that it was Anita! More brokenhearted than before, Maddie quickly left her spot and dashed upstairs.