CHAPTER TWELVE

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

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

After hearing what Zack had said about what London had done to Cody years earlier, Bailey felt even worse. While it completely explained why Cody was the way he was, she knew she had now done essentially the same thing. And she was more sure than ever that Cody was forever lost to her. Without him there any longer, Bailey had no reason or desire to stay at the prom. Part of her wanted to go to him and beg his forgiveness, but she knew his pain and anger were still so raw that it wouldn't do any good. So, instead, she simply went home. And when she got there, she walked into her Aunt's kitchen and saw her mother smiling from ear to ear.

"Bailey! Wonderful news! You see..." Eunice stopped. She could see a look of complete devastation on her daughter's face. "Bailey, what happened?"

Bailey shook her head. "I blew it, Momma..."

Eunice pulled out a chair and had Bailey sit down. "Tell me everything that happened."

And Bailey did. She told her mother everything and didn't leave out a single detail.

"Like I said, Momma...I blew it."

Eunice paused. "Do you really love this boy, Bailey?"

Bailey nodded. "Yes, I do. I wasn't looking for it or expecting it, but it happened."

Eunice nodded. "Alright then. Well, while I appreciate you trying to help your Dad and I out, you got yourself into a mess..." She smiled. "But the good thing is there is some hope left. But, we've got to act fast. Here's what you're going to do..."

The next morning, Cody was stretched out on one of the couches in the lobby of the Seattle Tipton working on something. He had to keep his mind occupied or else he would begin thinking of Bailey. He didn't want to think about her. But as much as his mind was firm on that, his heart wasn't listening. It was telling him not to do anything stupid and to not give up. Cody decided to ignore them both and just concentrate on his task at hand.

As he was working, Zack walked up and brought him a venti cappuccino from Starbucks.

"Here...I thought you might want this."

Cody looked up and took it. "Thanks..."

"You sure you don't want to go with us? Maya and I are going to go sailing. It might be fun."

Cody shook his head. "No...I'm fine."

Zack paused. "You sure?"

Cody looked up again. "No."

Zack wished he knew what to tell his brother, but he didn't know what to say.

"Look...I don't know if I ever thanked you for going last night, but it really meant a lot to me..."

Cody nodded. "I'm glad."

Zack paused. "Look, for what its worth, I know what Bailey did was wrong, but I don't think you are the only one hurting. I think she really does have feelings for you, but she got caught in a situation that she didn't know how to get out of."

Cody sighed. "I wish I could believe that..."

"Just don't close the door on her yet. Try talking to her before you let the best thing to ever happen to you get away. Codester, I saw how happy you were last night. Don't throw that away without letting her try to explain."

Cody gave Zack a look, but before he could say anything, Maya joined them in the lobby.

"Hey...You about ready, Zack?"

Zack smiled at her and nodded. "Yeah." He turned back to Cody. "Sure you don't want to come?"

Cody nodded. "Yeah. You two have fun."

Maya waved at Cody before she and Zack began walking towards the door.

"Is he going to be alright?"

Zack shrugged. "I hope so."

Right as Zack and Maya were leaving, Carey got off the elevator and saw them head out the door. She noticed Cody on one of the couches and walked over to him.

"Where's your brother going?"

Cody looked up. "Oh...He's going for a casting call for '16 and Pregnant'. I think he has a real chance."

Carey shook her head. "Very funny...So, tell me about this dance last night. Was it hopping?"

"Parts of it..."

"What parts?"

"The part where Zack publicly humiliated London Tipton..."

Carey's eyes went wide. "He did what? Is he trying to get me fired?"

"Don't worry, Mom. You have nothing to worry about."

Carey sighed. "Oh, Zack..."

Cody shook his head. "Upset that I rubbed off on to him?"

"No...Actually, I'm impressed."

Carey sat down next to Cody. "You know...Mothers don't like to admit when their sons are capable of running their own lives. It means we've become spectators." She paused. "Zack still lets me play a few innings. You've had me on the bench for years." Carey sighed. "When you head off to Yale, I won't even get to watch the game..."

Cody was surprised. "When I go?"

Carey just shook her head. "Please tell me you haven't changed your mind. I actually spoke to your father the other day about this. He's already sent them a check..."

Cody sat there for a few seconds letting that sink in. And then he couldn't help himself. He sat up and pulled his mother in for a big hug.

That Monday at school, while Cody was happy about Yale, he was still going through the motions emotionally. And when he got to his English class that morning, no one was saying a word to him. And for her part, London was sitting in her chair trying to be invisible, hiding behind her sunglasses.

Miss Tutweiler entered the classroom and took her place behind her podium.

"Well, I assume everyone had a chance to finish their poems..." She began laughing. "Well, except Miss Tipton who has an excuse. Lohan, lose the glasses..."

London sighed and removed her sunglasses, but she still wanted to be invisible.

Tut continued. "Anyone brave enough to read theirs aloud?" She looked around the room, and nobody had their hands raised. Finally, Cody raised his.

"I will..."

Tut sighed. "This should be good..."

Cody stood up and made his way to the front of the class. Opening his binder, he began to read. And as he did, he realized that as he was writing it, his heart had won out over his brain. And as luck would have it, Bailey was walking past the classroom when she saw Cody stand up to head to the front. She stopped outside the door and listened.

"I hate the way you talk to me,

And the way you style your hair.

I hate the way you drive my car.

I hate it when you stare.

I hate the way you roll your eyes,

And the way you read my mind.

I hate you so much, it makes me sick;

It even makes me rhyme.

I hate it..." Cody paused to get a hold of his emotions. "I hate the way you're always right.

I hate it when you lie.

I hate it when you make me laugh,

Even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it when you're not around,

and the fact that you didn't call.

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you.

Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.."

By then, Cody couldn't control his emotions any longer, and tears were welling in his eyes. Unable to hold it in any longer, Cody just ran out of the classroom. And Bailey just watched him run away. Hearing his poem had been hard to hear – well, except for the last two lines. Those gave her the hope she needed to carry out the plan she and her mother had come up with.

After school, Cody headed out for his car to finally go home and put this day behind him. Of course, we he got there, he noticed something was different. There was a telescope sitting on the driver's seat. Cody was taken aback, but immediately opened the door to examine it further.

"Nice, huh?"

Cody looked behind him and saw Bailey standing there smiling.

"A Galileo Intelliscope with a 102 millimeter ED refractor? Is this for me?"

Bailey nodded. "Yeah...I figured this might help you get started as you began your exploration of the stars." She paused. "Plus, I had some extra money lying around. You see, this airhead heiress paid me to take out this really great guy..."

A small smile formed on Cody's face. "Is that right?"

Bailey nodded. "Yeah, but I screwed up. I ended up falling in love with him."

Cody's smile got wider. "Really?"

"Really..." Bailey smiled. "Its not everyday you fight a guy willing to render a teacher unconscious just to get you out of detention..."

Cody put his hand up to his face, but he was laughing.

Bailey continued. "I'm so sorry. Your brother told me about what London did to you years ago. If I had know, I never would have gone along with her stupid idea. And while I shouldn't have gone along with it in the first place, I can't really regret it. Because I did, I got to to know you, and I don't know if I would have otherwise. And for the rest of my life, I will be thankful that I did. You renewed my faith that there are good guys out there. And I know you are one because I saw it. And if you could ever find it in your heart to give me a second..."

But before Bailey could finish, Cody pressed his lips against hers. When he pulled back, he was smiling as Bailey held her hand up to her lips and looked surprise.

"Does this mean...?"

Cody kept smiling and nodded. "Yeah...Just don't let it happen again. If anyone offers you money again to..."

Bailey shook her head and cut him off. "Will never happen!" She paused. "For one, I have you, and that's all I want and need. Two, my family doesn't need the money anymore..."

Cody paused and realization hit him. "Oh man...That's why you did it!"

Bailey nodded. "My family needed the money. I know what I did was wrong, but I was trying to help them..."

Cody nodded. "I can understand that. I..." He paused and looked at the telescope. "You should take the telescope back then. Your family needs the money a lot more than I need it."

Bailey smiled. "See, I told you you were a good guy. But you didn't let me finish. Saturday night, my Dad hit the lottery. All of the money problems are over. My parents will never have to work again."

Cody smiled. "Congratulations...Just don't become another London."

"If I do, you have permission to smack me. London has no idea what's important in life. I do now."

"Well, I guess no more fishmongering for your Dad, huh?"

Bailey laughed. "Actually, he's keeping the job. For some reason, he really loves it."

Cody laughed too. "Good for him then..."

"There's more. With our windfall, Mom and Dad cut a check to Yale this morning. I got accepted, and now I'm going. Think you can handle having me around for four more years?"

Cody grinned. "Somehow, I think I'll manage."

Bailey leaned in and kissed him passionately. "I mean it. I'm in love with you. Now, I understand if..."

But Cody cut her off with a kiss. "I love you too. Despite everything, my heart knew that. My brain and my defenses fought it, but my heart prevailed in the end." He grinned again. "And Frank was right again...I've got your under my skin, and I dig it..."

Bailey smiled at him. "From now on, we do it our way..." And with that, she leaned in and kissed him again.

Cody broke away and smiled. "You can't just buy me a telescope every time you screw up, you know..."

Bailey nodded. "I know..." She smiled. "But you know, there is a microscope, a chemistry set and maybe even one day your very own Bunsen burner..."

Cody just smiled as Bailey leaned in and kissed him again. But Cody broke away again.

"Before I get too distracted, I'm cooking dinner tomorrow night for Zack, Maya, Addison, Woody and my Mom. Would you be my guest?" He grinned. "I'm making chicken pot pie..."

Bailey laughed. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away..."

And wild horses couldn't keep them away from kissing again in the parking lot, oblivious to everyone else but each other.

The End.

Author's Note: That's all folks. I know there maybe questions, but I followed the plot of the movie the best I could while making the characters more closely related to their actual Suite Life characters. Now, if anyone hasn't seen the movie, you can find it at this website - .com/user/sharpie51#p/u/12/nN1J3mZ74RQ . I've found Shakespeare and Suite Life can go hand in hand. Though, I'm not sure what others ones I would consider doing. Maybe Much Ado About Nothing, but since there are no modern versions of it, I would have to make it all up on my own.