Disclaimer: I don't own The Suite Life series, Disney does.
Chapter 4: Introduction and Acquisitions
Maddie looked her self over in the mirror and grinned, If this doesn't get his attention I don't know what will. She thought. Having looked through her own stuff and not been able to find anything the would grab Zack's attention she had talked to London. Needless to say, the heiress had been more the willing to allow her friend to go through her massive closet and find an outfit. Maddie had chosen a black form fitting top that exposed her midriff, a pair of black leather hip-hugger pants, and a pair of side tie black boots with a heal. Nodding she grabbed the leather jacket that Zack had loaned her in the parking garage the night before and put it on as well.
"If that doesn't get his attention, I have no idea what will." Cody said with a smile upon seeing her exit the closet.
"My thoughts, exactly." Maddie stated with a nod and a grin.
"Here, London told me to give you this when you came out." He handed her a hair clip and she looked at it. It had a stylized running horse with flames coming off its hooves. She looked back at him questioningly.
"It's the Mustang symbol." he answered her unasked question.
She nodded and clipped it into her hair, "Which reminds me, where is London?" she asked noticing that his girlfriend was no longer in the suite.
"She's already headed for the race. Zack took her." Cody replied, "You ready to go?" he intoned, grabbing his denim jacket off the couch and sliding his arms into it. After smoothing out his tan button up shirt and making sure his jeans were down over the cuffs of his own black boots, he reached in his left pocket and pulled out his key ring. Then looked to her for an answer.
"Yep, let's go." And with that the two of them walked out of the penthouse and closed the door behind them. Cody led the way as they headed for the elevator, through the lobby, and out to the parking garage.
Coming up to his two toned blue and silver 2005 Corvette Z51, he hit the unlock button on his key-less entry remote. He popped the latch and the scissor door opened. Sitting down in the driver seat he looked over and saw Maddie just standing outside staring at the car. Reaching up in front of him he hit the button for ACC mode and opened the passenger side window.
"What's wrong?" he asked after the window was fully open.
"Nothing, I knew you had told in one of your e-mails that you had gotten a 'Vette, but I didn't realize it looked like this." she answered opening the door, getting in, and closing it again.
"It didn't at first. It took me and Zack about three weeks to finally get her back in working order." Cody explained.
"What was wrong with it?" she questioned.
"A whole list of things. Not really in the mood to go into it." he shook his head remembering all the headaches the car had caused as he and his brother tried getting it to work. Closing his own door he pushed the clutch down and pushed the engine start button. The car's engine came to life with a growl. As the car started, led lights came on in the interior as well, illuminating everything with a faint blue glow. Shifiting the car into reverse he backed out of the space after which he shifted to first and they were off. Pulling out of the parking garage he took a left and headed for the start point of the race.
Grinning to himself Zack looked around at all the spectators that had turned up to watch the race, "Damn, Marcus and Woody sure know how to throw a party." he said as him and London got out of the car.
"I know, right." London nodded, looking around at everyone.
Just then Zack caught a glimpse of a young African American man wearing black tripp pants, a black zip up hoodie with a white t-shirt underneath, and black Converse sneakers, "Yo, Lil!" he called out gaining the young mans attention.
"What up, Zack?" Marcus replied walking over to him.
"How many times do I have to tell you, backwards hats went out of style a long time ago." Zack teased, motioning toward the white ball cap that adorned his friends head.
"Yeah, bite me." Marcus shot back.
"Good turn out. Where's Woodster?" Zack questioned.
"Somewhere around here. Addison's with him and you know how she can get."
"True." Zack agreed with a nod, "So where's the poor sap I'm facing tonight?"
"Not here yet." About the time that was out of his mouth Marcus heard the thundering growl of an engine come around the corner. Both he and Zack turned and saw a 2010 Camaro come speeding up to them and stop with his front bumper in line with Zack's.
"So who's drivin' that beast?" Zack called out looking at the tinted windshield of the black car.
"That would be me." The driver said as he got out.
Zack recognized him instantly as the same punk he had beat the night before, "Really, came back for another round? When are you gonna learn you can't beat me, Richie?"
"When I finally do beat you, and since that night is tonight how about we raise the stakes?" Richie taunted, running a hand through his shoulder length brown hair.
"What did you have in mind?" Zack asked, staring his opponent down.
"Pinks, looser walks home."
"Done, hope you have comfortable shoes on." Zack fired back at the cocky look on Richie's face.
"Same to you, Gear Blunder." Richie said, mocking Zacks nickname and getting back in his car.
"Doesn't he realize, I drive better when I'm pissed?" Zack asked no one in particular.
"Probably not." Marcus answered.
"So who's starting us off?" Zack questioned.
"Well if your brother..." Marcus started but was cut off by the sound of another car pulling up.
"If his brother, what Marcus?" Cody asked sticking his head out the driver window.
"I was gonna say, if his brother would show up." Marcus answered, "Now you want to tell me who's starting these two off tonight?"
"That would be me." said a female voice, as the passenger door of Cody's 'Vette opened.
"Wait a second? I know that voice." Zack said, as he watched a black high heeled boot hit the ground. Zack's suspicion was proven when he saw the blonde woman get out of the passenger seat.
"Yeah, at least you better." Maddie smiled at him.
No matter what he did, Zack couldn't take his eyes off her, Damn, she looks good in leather. He thought to himself as he checked her out from head to tow, noting also the Mustang logo clip adorning her hair.
"Alright, Zack put your eyes back in your head and focus, you have a race to win. 'Cause I'd rather you not loose a car I spent damn good money on." London said, swatting him in the back of the head for emphasis.
"Cody, would you get a handle on your woman. Preferably before she gives me a concussion." Zack teased, ducking a second swing from the young heiress and getting back in his car.
"Nope, to much fun watching you run from her." Cody grinned as he came around the front of his car and leaned against with his arms crossed.
"Thanks, bro." Zack said feigning hurt as he started his car.
"Anytime." Cody fired back with a chuckle.
"Alright, enough banter, can we get this over with, please?" Richie asked through his now open passenger window.
"Don't get your panties in knot." Zack spat back through his own open window.
Richie just rolled his eyes and faced back forward.
"Alright, the run is pretty straight forward, from hear, all the way down William J Day Blvd, looping the parking lot down at the end and back to here." Marcus explained, "First one down and back wins and takes the loser's car home. Maddie if you would?"
Maddie nodded coming up in between the two cars and turning around so she was facing them. Cody having explained how to start the race to her she raised both her arms up in the air. At this movement both drivers revved their engines. She then swung both arms down and the two cars shot off the start.
Shifting from first to second Zack started to pull away from his opponent. His RPMs raising fast he shifted the third as he followed the curve in the road. He checked his rear view mirror and saw that Richie, like with every other race they had had, was already falling a decent ways behind. He heard the engine start to whine and dropped the car into fourth gear without hesitation. Following as the road curved again he grinned, knowing he had the race won when he looked again in his rear view and saw Richie's car starting to fishtail a little. Quickly shifting to fifth gear, Zack floored the accelerator and shot off. Coming upon the parking lot they had to loop he quickly downshifted strait to third, ripped the e-brake handle and turned the steering wheel hard to the left, drifting the first turn, he accelerated a little and did the same on the second and third turns after dropping the car down to second gear. Once strait again he accelerated and shifted quickly through third, then fourth, and jammed it back into fifth as he flew passed Richie's car which still hadn't made it to the parking.
Laughing Zack dropped the accelerator back to floor and careened back down the road following the curves. Just as he saw the finish line he saw a glare coming up fast behind him.
"Someone used his, Nos." Zack said in a sing song voice, "to bad he still hasn't learned how to time it better." and with that Zack triggered his own Nitrous booster and shot across the finish a full car length ahead.
The cheers that erupted from the spectators were deafeningly loud as Zack brought his car to a stop and got out grinning from ear to ear. Looking over at his opponents car he watched Richie stand up out of the drivers side. If looks could have killed, Zack would have dropped dead right there from the daggers Richie was glaring at him.
"HERE!" Richie yelled as he threw the keys to his car at Zack, "your gonna need em!" and with that he pulled a pistol out of his jacket.
"GET DOWN!" Zack yelled when he saw the gun.
Luckily, Richie had no intention of shooting any of them, instead he trained the gun on Zack Mustang and fired two shot into the back window.
"SHIT, NITROUS TANKS!" Zack hollered, "HIT THE DECK!"
At that everyone got as far away as they could and dropped to the ground as the car exploded in a ball of flame.
"Your gonna pay for that!" Zack called out as he stood back up.
"I already did!" Richie yelled back motioning toward the car he had just lost in the race, "Titles in the glove box, already signed off of!" and with that Richie turned around, walked to a car that had just pulled up, and got in the already open passenger side door.
"That son of a bitch blew up my car!" Zack stated as he watched the car that Richie got into drive off, "Great now we're sure to have cops swarming in any minute."
"Not if I can help it." London said as she pulled out her cell phone.
"What are you doing?" Cody asked. Ignoring her boyfriend she talked in hurried tones into the mic.
Hanging up the phone from the call she turned back and said, "Unless you all want to get soaked I suggest we bail out here." with that stated she walked over to the passenger side door of Cody's car and got in.
"I guess that means I'm riding with you." Maddie said as she walked up to Zack.
"Yeah, guess so." Zack nodded turning toward his new car and walking over to it. Getting in he watched as Maddie walked to the other side, opened the door and got in. Looking at the flaming wreck that had been his most trusted possession ever since he had started to race he shook his head, "He is so going to regret that!" Zack spat out through gritted teeth as he started the Camaro's engine and took off down the road.
Just as they pulled away they heard the sound of a helicopter swooping in. Zack watched in the rear view mirror as about three hundred gallons of water dropped on top of the car instantly extinguishing the flames and then a magnet dropped from the chopper and gripped the wreck that remained.
His phone started to ring just as the car was lifted out of sight and he answered it, "Yeah." he snapped into the mic.
"Hey, don't get shitty with me or I'll take back what I just had dropped of for you outside of the Tipton." London's voice came across the line.
"What did you do?" Zack asked.
"You'll find out." London sang back and the line disconnected.
"Damn her." Zack said dropping the phone into the cup holder.
"What?" Maddie asked, just now speaking for the first time since they had left the scene.
"Oh, London did something and won't tell me what it is." he answered.
"Hmm, I wonder what?" she said.
"Yeah, so do I." with that said he hit the brakes as they came up to a stop light, "Hey, I wanted to say something to you by the way, Sorry about the other night."
"Don't worry about it, Zack. Your mom told me what happened to Maya but I only got the part about the plane crash." Maddie replied, "she said you would tell me the rest when you trusted me enough to confide it to me."
"Maddie, it has nothing to do with trust."
"Then what is it, Zack. You used to talk to me about everything, but ever since you and Maya had gotten together I've been lucky if I receive an e-mail from you a month?"
Zack just sat there driving, trying to come up with a response to that, but no matter how hard he thought he couldn't come up with one.
"Zack?"
"Look, I'm sorry I haven't written you more often. I guess I did kind of start neglecting everyone else besides my parents when I got with her. But when it comes to the subject you want me to talk about, I can't."
"Why not?" she pushed a little further, hoping he would finally open up to her.
"Maddie, just drop it." he replied.
"No, I won't just drop it. Damn it, Zack. All I want is for you to talk to me."
"I can't!" he said, his voice raising a little
"Why not?" she prompted again.
"Because, it's to fucking hard to talk about it!" He snapped.
"Keeping it bottled up will just tear you apart all the more."
"Then I guess it'll eat at me, till I die!"
"No, Damn it, Zack, I love you too much to sit around and watch that!" as soon as the words left her mouth she covered it with her hand, shocked that it had came out the way it had. Looking at his face she saw that he was just as much, if not more shocked, then she was at her declaration.
He stared out the windshield as they came upon the Tipton seeing Cody and London standing by a new car for him. Although he was to shocked to take to much notice of it. Pulling in behind the new car he shut the engine off and looked over at the blonde woman sitting in the seat beside him. The next thing he did shocked both of them as well as Cody and London who were watching from outside. He reached over, put his hand behind her head, pulled her to him, and kissed her deeply right on the lips.
A/N: Well that's it for Chapter 4. hopefully everyone liked it. And don't worry I have plans for how Zack is going to get his revenge for Richie blowing up his car. If you wanna know what happens stay tuned.
Countrygirl19: Thanks for the review, I'm enjoying reading your thoughts on this, if you have any ideas for something you'd like to see happen shoot them to me and I'll see what I can do.
Killerm1: Thanks for the shout out. Trust me when I say the suspense will just keep coming.
Guest: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like it.
And to everyone else who has read this so far: Thank you for giving me and my story a little time out of your day, and what I said to Countrygirl19 goes for everyone else to if there is something specific you want to see happen let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Sincerely, Goldjackal17