CHAPTER EIGHT

I don't own these characters, but it would be nice if I did.

Anyways, I do promise to keep them true to themselves.

That next Monday at school, Cody found himself getting looks, smiles and snickers as he walked the halls. He just kept his head down knowing full well he had brought it all upon himself. Still kicking himself for letting himself get roped in again, he just tried his best to ignore everyone. Of course, walking into his AP English class, he couldn't help but notice all eyes were on him.

One of the new age Rastafarians stood up as he entered. "Nice moves, Mon. Marley would have been proud. But a favor if I could...let me know what you were on Friday night and who I can buy it from!"

Cody rolled his eyes and moved on. That's when one of the cowgirls looked up and smiled. "Dance for me, Cowboy!"

That was about all Cody was going to take when he heard another voice. "So, Cody...How much do we owe you for the table dance?"

Cody looked over and saw London giving him her best fake smile. He just shook his head and took his seat.

The teacher, Miss Tutweiler finally spoke. "Not that I care, but how was everyone's weekend?"

London spoke up. "I don't know...Maybe we should ask Cody?"

Miss Tutweiler just glared at London. "Unless he kicked the crap out of your dumb butt, I don't want to hear it."

London gasped. "You can't talk to me like that!"

Miss Tutweiler smiled. "Of course I can...this is the only school in Seattle you haven't flunked out of yet." Tut made her way up to the podium. "Alright, everyone open your books to page 73, Sonnet 141."

Everyone begrudgingly began doing that.

"In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,
For they in thee a thousand errors note;
But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Who in despite of view is pleased to dote;
Nor are mine ears with thy tongue's tune delighted,
Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone,
Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited
To any sensual feast with thee alone:
But my five wits nor my five senses can
Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee,
Who leaves unsway'd the likeness of a man,
Thy proud hearts slave and vassal wretch to be:
Only my plague thus far I count my gain,
That she that makes me sin awards me pain."

Everyone looked up at Miss T in shock and surprise.

"Yes, Shakespeare is a dead Englishman, but since he knows his stuff, we'll overlook that. Does anyone want to take a guess as to what he's trying to say in American English?"

She looked around the room, and no one had their hands raised.

Tut sighed. "Fine. He's basically saying that no matter what I see, hear, taste, smell, touch or no matter what my brain is telling me, my heart knows I am in love with you, and it always will be." She grinned at them. "Now, here comes the fun part. Your assignment is to write your own version of it."

The class began grumbling except for Cody, and he raised his hand. And Tut didn't even need to see him do so to know that he had.

"Yes, Mr. I Have An Opinion About Everything?"

Cody paused. "Do you want this in iambic pentameter?"

Tut twirled to face him. "You're not going to fight me on this?"

Cody shook his head. "No, I think its a good assignment. I really look forward to writing it."

Tut just stared at him in shock. "Its a miracle! For once you are going to let me teach my class without having to put your two cents in!" She paused. "You must not be feeling well. I want you to go to school nurse right now!"

"But..."

"No buts...just go!"

Cody shrugged, grabbed his things and headed out of the classroom.

After he left, London looked up. "Thanks, Miss Tutweiler."

"Shut up."

Later that morning, Maya was hanging outside of Addison's locker with her when Zack walked by. Maya just stood there smiling as Zack walked by, and Zack was doing the same.

Addison elbowed her. "Things are looking up."

Maya nodded. "Yeah...But I'm not complaining..."

"Good, but we're not out of the woods yet. While things were going good for you, we have a code red on Cody."

Maya turned to her. "What happened?"

"Not sure. Bailey said things were going better than expected, and then Cody reverted back to Mr. Hyde."

Maya sighed. "Great."

Addison smiled. "Not to worry. I have an idea."

A little while later, Woody was at his locker changing out books for his next class when he heard a voice behind him.

"Cool pictures!"

He turned and saw Addison standing there. "You think so?"

Addison nodded. "Yeah. You have them all. Ronald McDonald, the Burger King, Wendy and Colonel Sanders."

Woody grinned. "Well, they are my heroes. They bring some much joy and happiness to millions around the world."

Addison grinned back. "Tell me about it. One of the first songs I remember is...Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions all on a sesame seed bun..."

Woody laughed. "Me too!"

Addison smiled. "So...look, I have this friend, and she likes your friend..."

Later that afternoon, Bailey and Maya were sitting out by the athletic fields.

"What did you do to him exactly?"

Bailey sighed. "Nothing. He would have been two drunk to remember it anyways."

"But the plan was working!"

Bailey just looked at her. "What do you care anyways? I thought you wanted out..."

Maya smiled. "Well, I did...that was until he kissed me though..."

Bailey smiled. At least someone got the kiss they wanted on Friday night. "Yeah? Where?"

"In the car. I was just about to drop him off, and I ripped him a new one. Next thing I know, he was kissing me."

Bailey shook her head. "Guys. Who can understand them?"

Maya smirked. "Well, as I remember, Zack has a twin brother that you seemed extremely overprotective of on Friday night."

Bailey paused. "That's different..."

"Yeah? How so?"

Bailey glared at her. "None of your business."

Maya was about to say something when Addison came running over, almost getting run over by the track team in the process. Catching her breath, she spoke up.

"Well, I talked to him...I got the scoop."

"What did he say?"

"Hates Bailey with the fire of a thousand suns. That's a direct quote."

Bailey sighed. "Thanks, Addison...That's very comforting."

Maya shook her head. "Maybe his anger is still too fresh. Maybe he just needs a day to cool off?"

But before anyone could say anything, a soccer ball went whizzing by all of their heads. They all looked over to find Cody scowling at them.

Bailey looked up at Maya and Addison. "Maybe two?"

Later on, Cody and Woody were walking down the hall when Cody saw a poster for the upcoming prom. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed it and ripped it down.

"The prom...Sheesh. Why would anyone want to go to an antiquated ritual like that anyways?"

Woody held up his hand. "I would, but I don't have a date..."

Cody just looked at him. "Why? So some girl can buy a dress that costs enough to feed an entire village for a week just so she can look like a fairy tale princess once in her life, make you shell up major bucks for a limo, dinner and flowers only to leave you the minute you walk in the door so she can hang out with her friends? No thank you."

Woody shook his head. "Alright...We won't go...Its not like a have a tuxedo anyways..."

"You're looking at this in completely the wrong way. We're making a statement."

Woody rolled his eyes. "Oh goody! Something different for us!" Woody paused. "And it almost sounds like you have a personal vendetta against the prom. Have you been to one before?"

Cody just shook his head and walked on. While Woody may be his best friend, there were still some things Cody would forever keep to himself.

Even later on that day, Zack and Theo were out on the athletic fields for gym class. Zack was still ticked at Theo for abandoning him, but he wasn't really all the upset considering how well his Friday night had ended. But, the gym teacher, Mr. Moseby was having them do archery today, and this was not something Zack had any interest in. As he was lining up his arrow, he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey Zack!"

Zack turned to see it was London, and as his concentration was broken, he released the arrow. Unfortunately, it found its target – Mr. Moseby's rear end. Moseby was on the ground crying out in pain, but Zack just turned back to London.

"What's up?"

London smiled. "I need to talk to you about something. Prom."

Zack sighed. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with London. "You know the rules. If Cody doesn't go, I don't get to go."

London kept smiling. "Oh, but he is going."

Zack frowned. "How?"

"Let's just say I've gotten it all taken care of..."

Zack kept frowning as London walked away. He really did want to go to the prom...just not with London.

And to London, she did have it all taken care of. Her next stop was to find Bailey, and when she did, London shoved two hundred more dollars into her hand.

"Here...This should cover your expenses for prom."

Bailey looked at the money in her hand. This entire thing was getting completely out of control. She pushed the money back at London.

"I'm tired of playing your sick little game. I want out."

London reached into her bag, and pulled out eight more one hundred dollar bills. "Make it a thousand then..."

Bailey sighed. While her parents were working again, that kind of money would definitely help pay off their bills. And while she hated what she was doing, didn't her family come first? And then there was Cody. She had to admit the thought of going to the prom with him was very appealing, but right now, he was so angry with her that she didn't know if his ice would ever thaw again. But the lure of helping her family finally won over, and Bailey took the money from London.

But since she had committed herself to this, she was going to see it through. So after school, she played a little cloak and dagger and followed Cody when he left school for the day. And when she followed him to the local Discovery Channel store, she couldn't help but smile. This was so the kind of store he would hang around in.

Keeping a safe distance, she watched him looking at all of the various telescopes. And one in particular, he kept coming back too and sighing wistfully as he looked at the price tag. But, he didn't walk away, and instead, he kept looking at it and examining it. Bailey crept closer, but was afraid to get too close just yet. She almost felt as if she was interrupting on his private time. And on Cody's part, he kept getting this strange feeling as if someone was watching him. He shook it off and went back to looking at the telescope.

Once he left that shop, Cody headed for the bookstore next door and was walking around. Bailey decided it was time to finally talk to him. And as Cody turned from an aisle, there was Bailey.

"Excuse me...Have you seen A Brief History of Time? I've seemed to have lost my copy."

Cody rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Bailey smiled. "I heard there was going to be a lecture."

Cody shook his head. "You are so..."

Bailey cut him off. "Charming?"

Cody began walking off, but Bailey continued. "Wholesome?"

Cody turned and glared. "Try unwelcome!"

Bailey paused. "You know. You aren't as mean as you think you are. Deep down, I can tell there is a really great guy screaming to get out."

Cody frowned. "Well, you aren't as tough as you think you are. Maybe you should be looking deep down inside yourself and not worrying about my inner self."

Bailey just stared at him. "Someone has their boxers in a twist."

"Don't for a minute thing you had effect one on my boxers!"

"What did I have an effect on then?"

Cody smirked. "Other than my upchuck factor, nothing." And with that, he pressed a book into her hands before he walked out.

Bailey looked down at the book. It was A Brief History of Time. Bailey just shook her head and laughed. As aggravating as Cody was being, she had to admit this all was fun. And still, he was driving her crazy...and she was loving every minute of it.

To be Continued...

Author's note: Sorry for the delay in posting, but I just now got to log back in for the first time since some time yesterday. Oh well, here it is. And by the way, doesn't Sonnet 141 really remind you of a certain couple on the show for a little while?