Okay, I noticed that all my scene breaks don't show up when I upload the story. I hope it didn't confuse you guys.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

Chapter Six

I Love You, Goodbye

"Maddie, please wait!" Esteban called after her, as he continued to chase her down the some what deserted Boston street.

Maddie didn't listen. She continued to run to the park across the street and threw herself at the foot of a tree, sobbing bitterly. Esteban was soon at her side, panting heavily.

Esteban flopped down on the ground beside her.

Throwing back his head, he exclaimed, "Aye, yi, yiiiee. . .you made me run so fast that I thought I was going to die from heat stroke."

Maddie tried to smile through her tears. Even though she was upset with Esteban, he could still make her smile.

"Go away," she said, the smile dropping off her face. "Why torture me anymore? Haven't you already had your fun? Why toy with a girl's heart?"

"Maddie, I don't mean to cause you any pain—"

"But you do anyway," Maddie interrupted.

"Yes, but can't we talk this out?"

"What's there to discuss? Your getting married, end of story."

"I thought you'd be happy for me."

"Of course I'm happy," snorted Maddie. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Esteban crossed his arms and gave her a dark scowl.

"I thought you would be happy because your my friend," he said.

"Oh, I am happy!" exclaimed Maddie, throwing her hands up in the air. "What made you think I wasn't?"

"Your acting so weird—"

"Oh, weird is it?" asked Maddie hotly. "Let me tell you something, Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya De La Rosa Ramirez, I hate you! You here me? I hate you! I never want to see you in my life. . .again!

"You don't mean that, Maddie," said Esteban, reaching for her hand. Maddie pulled away from his touch.

"Don't you touch me!" she snapped.

"Maddie, don't be like this," pleaded Esteban.

"Just go, Esteban," said Maddie, with a wave of her hand. "Go back to your future wife."

"Fine," snapped Esteban, rising to his feet. "I will."

As Maddie watched him leave, she suddenly regretted every harsh word she had said to him. She didn't really hate him, she was just so. . .so. . .angry.

"Esteban, wait," said Maddie.

Esteban turned.

"Please, take me home. I don't want to be out here alone at this time of night."

"Alright," said Esteban.

Maddie jumped to her feet, but her quick moves were unbalanced and she crashed to the ground. Without a word, Esteban scooped her up in his strong arms, placed Maddie's head against his chest, and carried her off down the street.

"Aren't I too heavy for you to carry?" asked Maddie, timidly.

"Heavy? Good heavens, no! Your as light as a feather."

Maddie smiled and closed her eyes. Every harsh feeling and word that had swelled up inside her suddenly melted away. Maybe she couldn't do anything about Esteban getting married, but at least she was in his arms now. The one place she wanted to be. And that was all that mattered.

The following morning, Esteban was surprised to see Maddie in street close instead of her Tipton uniform. Spotting London, he asked her about it.

"Maddie quit," London said.

"Quit?" asked Esteban. "Why would she do something like that?"

"I don't know," shrugged London. "Maybe she got tired of her job or something. I know I would."

This is my fault, thought Esteban. I brought this on. Maybe I can change her mind.

Esteban made his way over to Maddie.

"Maddie," he said, "Miss London says you are leaving."

"Yes. I think it's time for me to move on."

"Where will you go?"

"I'll find employment. Don't worry about me."

Why was she being so matter-of-fact? Didn't she know that Esteban was still so much in love with her?

"So I guess this is goodbye then," said Esteban.

"Yeah. I'll see ya around."

"Adiós, Maddie. Nunca me olvidaré de usted," said Esteban.

A small smile escaped Maddie's lips before she headed for the lobby doors. She turned back only once to before she pushed them open and found herself standing on the front steps of the Tipton.

"Maddie, don't go," said Esteban, his voice full of emotion.

Maddie drew in a ragged breath. "Esteban, I wanted to be the one who could give you love. The kind you really need. I wish I could say I'll always be there for you, but Esteban, that won't be me. You need someone who will give their heart to you, promise you forever. Mi amor, that's something I can't do." Their eyes locked and Maddie's next words trembled on her lips. "If I could say I would be I would be your everything, I would do it. I don't want to leave you, Esteban, it tears me up inside. I'll just never be the one you truly need."

Esteban grabbed Maddie by the arm and jerked her towards him.

"Don't leave me," he said. "I'll be lost without you."

"Esteban," said Maddie, softly. "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I must leave. I love you, goodbye." Maddie wrenched herself out of Esteban's grasp and walked down the street leaving Esteban to look after her sadly.

"You're better without her," said a voice at his side.

Esteban groaned. Charlotte.

"You really love that candy counter girl, don't you?" asked Charlotte.

"Si, senora."

Charlotte's eyes flashed. "She much too young for you," she said, a hint of jealousy in her voice. "Besides, your going to marry me."

"I know."

A sly smile spread across the French heiress's face.

"When's her birthday?" she asked.

"March 16th," said Esteban, with much feeling.

"That's good," said Charlotte. "As a matter of fact, it's perfect."

"Maddie, you have to come back," pleaded Zack, one December afternoon. "The Tipton just isn't the same without your smiling face to light it up."

"I can't go back," said Maddie, swinging her back and forth as she sat on her bed. "I can't face him again."

"But everyone really misses you," pressed Zack.

"I've told you my decision."

"But you don't mean to keep it, do you?"

"I have to. At least until Esteban get's married."

"So that's it?" asked Zack, standing up. "Your just going to give up and let Charlotte win? Your stronger then that, Maddie Fitzpatrick. You have a chance at true love, not everyone get's that. You just can't let it pass you by."

"What do you want me to do?" asked Maddie.

"Tell Esteban how you feel before it's too late!"

"I've already done that. Let's face it, Zack. Esteban doesn't love me anymore."

Zack shook his head firmly. "I know Esteban still loves you. He's always looking at the candy counter with such longing eyes. I know he wishes he could do things over. Even though he can't, it's not too late to turn things around."

Maddie smiled and hugged Zack.

"Thanks," she said. "I know you have your downfalls, but when it comes to being a true friend, you really come through."

A knock at the door caused them to break apart.

Thinking that it was her parents, Maddie called, "Come in."

"Hello," said Charlotte, coldly as she stepped into the room. She ignored Zack and turned to Maddie. "I've come to tell you that I wish for you to sing at mine and Esteban's wedding on the 16th of March."

Maddie's jaw dropped.

"That's my sweet sixteen!" she exclaimed.

Charlotte shrugged. "Who cares?" she said. "I want you to sing, Time To Say Goodbye, by Andrea Bochelli. Do you know the song?"

Maddie nodded slowly.

"Who told you I sing?" she asked.

"A little birdie told me," said Charlotte, lightly. "You'll sing of course, for Esteban's sake."

Yeah, thought Maddie. For Esteban's sake.

Charlotte noticed the sad look in the younger girl's eyes. This really was killing her.

"You have to unlove him, Madeline," she said. "You can't keep going through life thinking that someone cares for you when they don't. You must learn to turn your back on him."

"I can't," said Maddie, softly. "I could never stop loving someone who once loved me too. I'll just learn to live with the pain and wear his name like a stain. It will take forever to fade away, but I don't care. . ." She buried her face in her hands sobbing Esteban's name.

"There's always a time for other dreams," Charlotte told her. "You must erase the memories and forget about him."

"You know it's funny," said Maddie, raising her head, "That I somehow thought then he looked at me, that I would become his living dream. That he would surrender everything, just to be with me."

"That was your mistake," said Charlotte. "You entertain yourself with these fantasies that somehow Esteban still loves you. If he did, he wouldn't be marring me, now would he?"

"No," said Maddie, looking at the floor.

Charlotte put her hand on Maddie's shoulder.

"You must do this, Madeline," she said. "It will be better for you, unless you want to live your life with a broken heart."

"Will I ever find love again?" Maddie asked.

Charlotte shook her head.

"True love only comes once. Once it's gone, you can never get it back. No one elver gets a second chance."

"I can do almost anything I have to," whispered Maddie, as she looked out her bedroom window, "But I can't unlove you."

Okay, this one's rather short but I can't wait to get to the next chapter! If anything in what Maddie was saying sounds familiar, it's because it was inspired by Ashley Tisdale's song, "Unlove You."

Author's Note: Adiós, Maddie. Nunca me olvidaré de usted means: Goodbye, Maddie. I'll never forget you.