CHAPTER TEN

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

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

Cody and Bailey spent another hour or so at the laser tag facility. And yes, they actually did play more, but it seemed they were each finding ways to sneak in more kisses from the other. All in all, neither one of them could think of a better time that they had had in their whole lives. Once they were done though, they headed back towards the Tipton. And the whole way there, they actually really talked to each other.

Bailey laughed. "No, none of that stuff is true."

Cody laughed too. "So, you never killed a boy?"

Bailey shook her head. "Well, I don't think I killed him. He tried to grab my butt in the lunch line my first week of school here in Seattle, and I didn't take too kindly to it. Lets just say he will permanently sing soprano now..."

Cody just looked at her. "Remind me not to get on your bad side then..."

Bailey smiled. "My bad side? What about you? You left Jamie Summers in tears!"

Cody sighed. "More to the story there too. I was doing an experiment in chem lab when she startled me from behind and caused me to mess up. Too much sodium nitrate caused a reaction which produced a gas cloud that irritated her eyes and caused them to water. Me, I had goggles on, so I was fine. But, as quickly as I could, I got her over to the chemical wash station to wash out her eyes. Next thing I know, I'm told I had yelled at her and made her cry."

Bailey laughed. "Seriously? Well, that will teach her not to follow the safety rules of the chemistry lab."

"Thank you!" He paused and grinned. "Well, after this afternoon, I'm assuming you aren't a lesbian..."

Bailey shook her head. "Nope, never have been, never will be...not that there is anything wrong with that. I had an old boyfriend once who was controlling and thought that I was his property. He was kind of dumb and couldn't figure out why I always ignored him. Anyways, I wasn't down with subservience, and I never had patience for guys who thought they could tell me what to do."

Cody winced. "I assume he's doing more that just singing soprano now, huh?"

Bailey smiled. "Maybe...I can say the same thing about you, though. After this afternoon, I can definitely put the rumors about you to bed now too. And here I heard you were a fan of broadway musicals..."

Cody frowned. "What's wrong with the theater? I can enjoy the arts and still be attracted to girls!" He paused. "Besides, have you seen the girls that go to our school? Present company excluded, they're all a bunch of sheep."

"Baaa!"

Cody laughed. "Don't make me get my shears..."

Bailey laughed too. "Okay, okay...what about the rumor that you are actually a gourmet cook in disguise?"

Cody shrugged. "Mom has many talents, but cooking isn't one of them. So, unless I wanted to starve, I had to learn to fend for myself. And fortunately, the hotel's chef, Chef Paulo graciously took me under his wing and taught me a few things."

"Am I going to get to see how good you are?"

Cody smiled. "Sure...but I don't serve live chickens."

Bailey shook her head. "Completely false. I like chicken, but mostly fried, roasted or baked. Though, a good chicken pot pie can make me swoon."

"Note to self...Chicken pot pie."

Bailey laughed. "I would be most appreciative. Y'all don't know how to make a good one up here in Seattle."

"Speaking of which...the accent?"

"Its real. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas."

Cody smiled. "With the scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion?"

"No, with my Mom and Dad. We had to move here a couple of years ago when a tornado destroyed our family farm. I have an aunt and uncle who had moved here a long time ago, so we're staying with them. Mom and Dad have been trying to acclimate and settled, but its been kind of rough."

Cody shook his head. "I had no idea."

Bailey shrugged. "No one does. You're the first person in Seattle I've told about it."

By this time, Cody and Bailey were sitting in the park across from the hotel.

Cody paused. "I'm sorry if I misjudged you."

"You're forgiven if you forgive me for doing the same thing. Something tells me we've both been essentially wearing suits of armor to protect ourselves.""

Cody nodded. "I would have to agree. Though, if I may say, I'm liking very much what's underneath..." He grinned. "So, where were you last year? I'm positive you were never in the loony bin."

Bailey grinned back. "You sure about that?"

"No, but it doesn't matter to me..." Cody leaned in and kissed her again.

Once they finally broke apart, Bailey smiled. "Good, because its not true. Of course, for a while, I thought you were going to drive me crazy..."

"What can I say? You finally broke me down."

"I'm glad..." She leaned in and kissed him. When they finally broke, their foreheads were still touching. "Go to the prom with me..."

Cody pulled back. "Is that a request or a demand?"

Bailey smiled. "Come on, it'll be fun."

Cody shook his head. "No. I don't want to..."

"Why not?"

"Because its a stupid tradition..."

"That's why we should go. No will expect us to be there."

Cody frowned. "Why are you pushing this?" When Bailey didn't respond, Cody continued. "What's in it for you?"

Bailey swallowed. "Nothing. Why do I need a motive to be with you?"

"You tell me..."

Bailey just looked at him. "I thought we were past this, but I get the feeling there is something else you aren't telling me. I just want to spend the evening with my feller."

"Then we can do something else that night. How about I cook you dinner instead?"

"But its our senior prom...It only comes around once."

Cody just stared at Bailey. Those pesky warning sirens of his were going off again. "I have no desire to go. Please understand and accept that..." And with that, he got up and walked off. Bailey sat there watching him leave. Part of her felt guilty for pushing so hard, but part of her knew there was something Cody wasn't telling her.

Meanwhile, back as Cheevers High, Zack and Maya were having another French tutoring session. Every since the night of Bunny's party, things were different between them. And in a good way. Neither could resist smiling at each other when they saw each other. And their tutoring sessions were a lot more laid back. And between giving each other googly eyes, they actually got some work done. Of course, Zack was beginning to get a little frustrated as Maya appeared stuck in neutral, and nothing in their blossoming relationship had moved forward.

"Puis-je vous offre une panais?" "May I offer you a parsnip?"

Zack frowned. "Non, vous ne pouvez pas." "No, you may not."

Maya was still looking down at the French book. "Ou est le crayon de mon oncle?" "Where is my uncle's pencil?"

Zack smirked. "Je ne sais pais. Peut-etre sa place votre cur?" "I don't know. Maybe its up your butt?"

Maya looked up at Zack in question and then back down at the French book. "Wait...I don't think that was on this page..."

Zack kept smirking. "Permettez-moi de vous poser une question, Maya. Quand allez-vous me demander de sortir?" "Let me ask you a question, Maya. When are you going to ask me out?"

And with that, Zack got up and left. Maya was sitting there in surprise, letting herself slowly translate what Zack had said. And when she finally realized what he had said, she could only sit there and shake her head.

"Merde..."

Also in the school was Woody. He had stayed after school working on a project, and he was headed to his locker before heading home for the day. He was supposed to meet Cody, but when he had run into Cody several hours ago, Cody had said he had a change of plans. Woody just shook his head. Cody was his boy and all, but even Woody knew Cody had grown very fond of that Bailey girl but was just too stubborn to admit it. Shrugging, Woody opened his locker, and that's when he got a surprise all of his own.

Hanging in side was a white suit, a white shirt and a black string tie just like Colonel Sanders used to wear. And attached to it was a note.

'Colonel, Join me at the prom. I will be waiting. Your very own Southern Belle."

Woody just looked at it in surprise and then began looking around. No one seemed to be looking in his direction, and Woody was baffled. But he couldn't help but smile. He had a prom date and something to wear now. He just hoped Cody understood.

Of course, by then, Maya had realized what she had to do. And she found Zack standing by his locker.

"Hey..."

Zack looked up. "Hey..."

Maya sighed. "Sorry. I guess I was just so caught up in the fact that you actually did like me, I forgot the next step."

Zack smiled. "Its okay. I guess I shouldn't have expected you to take the next step all by yourself. I guess I'm asking...will you go the prom with me?"

Maya had the biggest smile. "I'd love to!" She paused. "What about your Mom though? And your brother?"

Zack grinned. "I saw him and that Bailey girl leaving school earlier together..."

"That's good."

"They were holding hands!"

Maya laughed. "Good for her..."

"What do you mean?" He paused and his eyes went wide. "Wait a minute! Are you saying that she actually really likes my brother?"

Maya nodded. "Yeah, but don't try to get her to admit it though."

Zack laughed. "There is a God!"

To be Continued...