It hadn't been the best way for anyone to find out about Zack and London, so it was understandable that those closest to them didn't immediately offer their congratulations.
In fact, both Carey and Mr. Moseby seemed more than a little upset at first. They took Zack and London out of the lobby and into Moseby's office. The rest of the crowd that had gathered went on their way, except for Cody and Mikayla.
"You knew about those two?" he said. "How? When did this happen?"
"Just after you and I got together," she answered.
Cody now realized why it Zack had been able to so easily get over his attraction to Mikayla. "I can't believe this."
"You don't seem happy about it," she observed. "What's the problem? They're both great people. I'm glad they're together."
"You haven't known them as long as I have," Cody replied. "This is weird."
"What's weird about it?" she asked. "Are they or are they not great people?"
"Yes...of course," he answered.
"Then why is it weird for them to be together?"
Cody found he couldn't come up with an answer. "I guess it's just such a surprise. I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around it."
"Well, please try," Mikayla said. "Because they're two of the greatest friends I have and I want them to be happy." She put her arms around Cody. "The way I am with you."
Looking into his girlfriend's beautiful eyes, Cody found it very hard to keep his mind on Zack and London. "Nobody could be as happy as you make me," he whispered to Mikayla before kissing her gently.
Meanwhile in Mr. Moseby's office, Carey and the hotel manager were managing to get over their own surprise at the news. Both adults had shared the same initial reaction to the news. A negative reaction. How could Zack and London date each other?
But as the matter was discussed, both of them found that they couldn't come up with a specific, concrete reason why the two shouldn't be a couple. Carey did have a vague feeling of unease about her son dating a girl who was a little older. But then again, she'd known London for a long time. The Tipton heiress was almost like family to her.
Surprisingly, it was Moseby who proved more accepting. He felt the whole relationship was a bad idea at first thought, but a few moments of observing the teens in his office were all it took to bring him around. London was adamant about how much she cared for Zack. Indeed, she repeatedly asked the two adults to explain what was wrong about her and Zack dating. And when she asked what made Zack worse than any of the previous guys she'd dated, Moseby knew there was no further point to debate. Though he may have caused a lot of grief to the hotel manager over the years, Moseby knew that Zack was a good and decent young man - moreso than some of London's former flames. And while he didn't want to say so in front of Carey, he was impressed that Zack had fought to defend London's honor.
So after some further talk, and a promise that Carey, London and Zack would discuss the matter of 'ground rules' for dating in the near future, both adults gave their blessings to the relationship.
But Carey did insist that Zack and Cody needed to be disciplined for the fight in the park. As a result, they weren't allowed to go to the club opening with London and Mikayla that weekend.
However, when the two girls decided to skip the club opening themselves so that they could spend the evening watching movies with the boys in the Martin family suite, Carey didn't object.
A week later, Mikayla had already performed her first few solo shows in the lounge and they'd gone very well. The performance schedule that Moseby and Carey had come up with was working to everyone's advantage. Carey's act remained super popular. She did both afternoon and evening shows on the lounge's busiest days, and then enjoyed time off while Mikayla worked what had traditionally been the lounge's slower days. However Mikayla appealed to a different audience demographic, and so her shows brought in customers who never would have come to the lounge in the first place. The end result was that the lounge was packed for every performance, every day of the week. Mr. Moseby was delighted.
So was Carey, especially when she saw the size of her new paycheck.
Mikayla too, took great satisfaction when she got her first paycheck from the hotel. It wasn't as much as Carey's, and nowhere near what she'd made at the height of her career, but it made her feel good about herself. Now she felt like she was earning her keep at the Tipton, and not taking advantage of anyone's generosity.
Carey, Cody and Mikayla had gone out together for lunch and were just returning to the hotel. When they stepped into the lobby, Mr. Moseby called them over to the front desk. The hotel manager seemed in an especially good mood, and after exchanging some friendly hellos, he told them why he'd called them over.
"The teacher that I hired to work with Mikayla is here and I thought I could make introductions," he said.
Mikayla watched as a fair-skinned and very pretty redhead walked up to Moseby's side. Before anyone else said anything, Cody spoke up.
"Miss Tutweiller," he said in surprise.
"Hello Cody," she responded with a pleasant smile. "It's good to see you again."
"Miss Tutweiller was the supervising teacher for the semester at sea program on the S.S. Tipton," Moseby explained.
"Ah, yes. I think we met briefly but were never really introduced," Carey spoke up as she and the teacher shook hands. "I'm Carey Martin."
"Emma Tutweiller," she replied. "And yes, I remember speaking with you on the ship."
Mikayla then shook the woman's hand and introduced herself.
"I've heard a lot of good things about you," the teacher said. "I'm sure I'll enjoy teaching you."
"I hope so," the singer responded. "I've got to admit, I don't know if I'll be the best student. School was never the number one priority for me in the past."
"Well, let's see if we can change that," Tutweiller said. "I understand your situation and don't worry, I can be patient. I've had to deal with some challenging students in the past."
As if on cue, Zack and London entered the lobby and approached the group.
"Hey guys what's going--" Zack began until he saw the teacher standing next to Mr. Moseby. He let out a yelp of fear and jumped behind his mother. "Ahh! Tutweiller!"
Similarly, Miss Tutweiller let out a shriek and leapt behind Moseby. "Ahh! Zack!"
A second later, after everyone had composed themselves, Miss Tutweiller apologized to Carey.
"I'm sorry," she said. "That was very unprofessional of me."
Carey just laughed. "Please, you have no idea how many of Zack's teachers I've seen react that way."
After Zack and London were brought up to speed on why their former teacher was there, more small talk was exchanged, Miss Tutweiller and Mikayla set a time to meet later, and then Moseby and the teacher excused themselves to go have a late lunch. As they walked away, London smiled.
"Yup, they're dating," the heiress said knowingly.
Zack and Cody began to dispute that idea, bringing up the times back on the ship when it seemed romance might have developed between the two but ultimately did not. Mikayla and Carey listened with interest to these accounts, and also to London's assured response.
"They are totally dating," the rich girl repeated. "Moseby's had her picture on his desk ever since we all got back from the ship."
"Well, whatever they are or aren't doing, it's their business, not ours," Carey said, bringing the topic to a close. Secretly though, she was just as curious as any of the teens and decided it might be interesting to befriend Emma Tutweiller and see what she could find out.
Mikayla was finishing up her final show of the night. Carey was in the audience as she liked to check in on the younger singer's act just to make sure things were still going smoothly for her. When the show was over, the rest of the audience cleared out while Carey headed towards the backstage area. She was surprised when a middle-aged man headed in the same direction.
"Excuse me," she said as she cut off the man before he could get access to the backstage area. "Only hotel employees can go through that door. Can I help you?" She studied the man as she spoke, trying to assess if he were any sort of threat.
"I just to want to talk to the girl," the man said non-chalantly. He had an expensive toupee that was not quite the right size for his head and a smile like a used-car salesman. "I've got a nice opportunity for her." He looked at Carey and then a gleam of recognition sparked in his eyes. "I've seen your picture. You're the other singer here, right? Carey Martin?"
"Yes," she answered neutrally. "And you are?"
"Hermie Pratt," he replied. "Pleased to meet you. I've seen your show. Great set of pipes you got." He pulled out a business card and handed it to Carey. "You friends with Mikayla? Then give her that card. I'm producing this year's Youth Scene Music Awards show." He shook his head and his smile faltered. "Job's a nightmare. Less than two weeks away and I get notice of three live acts that can't make it. Anyway, I've been shuffling the schedule and looking for replacements. Heard that Mikayla was putting on a good show here and thought I'd check her out."
"You want her on the show?" Carey asked.
"I'm thinking she could do two numbers. Her big hit...that 'Cupid' song, and any other one she wants," he replied. "I know it's last second, and it doesn't pay much...but it is a worldwide audience. That kind of exposure never hurts. Anyway, after seeing her tonight she's got the job if she wants it. But she needs to call me in the next two days. Show's getting too close not to have all the acts nailed down." He sighed. "I don't need this kind of stress. I'm getting ulcers on my ulcers."
"I'll give her your card," Carey said, somewhat stunned by this development. "And I'll have her call you right away if she wants to do the show."
"Thanks doll," Mr. Pratt said before he turned and walked away, still muttering about his ulcers.
To be continued...
author's note: Two chapters this weekend instead of one. Hope you like them. I realize that the writing may be a little more brisk in these chapters, more like a series of scenes/vignettes. That's because I'm trying to set things up for what will be the final arc of this story. Actually, the end of this chapter starts that arc, which will go on for a little while yet (hopefully without becoming ponderous) and will feature the return of Hannah Montana and company.