-
"I love you too," Cody replied into his cell phone.
When the phone rang, Carey hadn't expected Cody to allow the interruption. After a late evening at work, she had allowed herself to sleep in until about an hour ago. She hadn't been particularly surprised to see Cody had awakened before her, but to see him working diligently at the table on college applications as if he had been at it for hours, well, it concerned her. He hadn't even accepted her offer for breakfast. Having accepted that her son would not be distracted for a moment, she settled on leaving a tall glass of milk for him on the table. At least that had earned her a smile.
She knew Cody was disappointed about Yale, it had upset her too. Not because she wanted him to attend such a prestigious school, god knows she didn't have that kind of money, but because it's what Cody had always dreamed of.
Watching him obsess about long overdue college applications was heartbreaking. Why had he only applied to the one school? Then again, why should he have had to apply anywhere else. There was no reason to think Yale wouldn't accept him. She shook her head, and stood from th sofa sipping the last of her herbal tea.
She wasn't the greatest cook, as her children often reminded her, but she did appreciate the larger kitchen. She washed the dishes, then the counter tops, before walking back into the living room to space the bar stools more evenly in front of the breakfast bar. It was nearly noon, so Zack and Woody would probably wake within the next hour.
"Why not?" Zack asked following Woody into the living room.
Carey looked up in surprise. Perhaps they would be awake sooner than she expected. Carey looked at her son awkwardly. While Woody had entered the living room fully clothed, Zack was strutting around in his boxers. "Are you out of clean clothes or something?" She asked.
"Maybe tonight," Woody said trying to reach a compromise.
"What's wrong with you?" He accused. "We've got free tickets! It's Zombie Mom 5! We've been talking about this since Christmas! How could you not want to see it?"
Zack flopped down on the sofa. Woody turned away, trying not to stare. What the heck was he doing? Perfect body leaning back like that clad only in boxers? Muscular... Blonde... Thin...
"I do want to see it," Woody replied, staring at the floor. There it was again, his stomach, bulging from his shirt. He couldn't even see skin, but it disgusted him. "Hey Cody," he said unnecessarily loud. "We've gotta free ticket for you too."
"I was getting to that," Zack said impatiently. "Don't worry about Cody, he will come with us."
"Yes I will," Cody replied looking up from the table. "But only because I refuse to deal with you sleeping with me in my twin sized bed for an entire week! A twin sized bed is meant for one person Zack, one, that's it. Not twins!"
"I was five," Zack exclaimed.
"No, you were fourteen," Cody told him.
"Whatever," Zack replied. "You were scared."
"I was perfectly fine sleeping on my own thank you very much," Cody said refocusing on his college applications.
"The movie starts at 1pm," Zack said.
"I told you, I can't go until after six," Woody replied.
"Why not?" Zack asked.
"Because," he replied slowly. "Because I got a job."
"What?" Zack exclaimed.
The pen dropped from Cody's hand as he retuned swiveled in his chair to stare at Woody from across the room. "You can't be serious... You've only been here for three days, how could you possibly have a job already?"
"Guys, hey," Carey scolded lightly as she approached Woody. His face was bright red. "What they were trying to say is congratulations! Finding a job in just three days! Wow! I could have used a skill like that when I was your age, heck I still could!"
"Well it's only part time," he told her, hoping she wouldn't be disappointed. Her smile never faded.
"I think that's great Woody," she told him honestly. "You've just graduated high school, there's no need for any of you to to rush into anything," she said looking at Cody briefly. "I mean, I expect each of you to think about your future, and make some important life decisions at some point. There could be a class you want to take, or a job opportunity that interests you. I think part time work is very appropriate Woody."
He smiled shyly, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," she stepped closer to hug the young man. Perhaps he was a bit peculiar at times, and she hadn't yet known him for very long, but already she had taken a liking to him. "I'm proud of you," she added, and Carey felt the tension in his body melt away almost instantly.
All she had known about him she had learned in Cody's letters, which in the beginning had only contained detailed descriptions of his disgusting habits. Later, his name came up frequently, whenever the twins would tell her about their recent adventures aboard the SS Tipton. Now, getting to know him herself, her motherly instinct was painting a different picture than the twins had described.
Carey found herself wondering about his family life. What kind of parent doesn't show up when their child graduates high school? Woody was more sensitive than he let on, she could tell. He craved acceptance. Carey eyed Cody over his shoulder.
"Sorry Woody," Cody said.
"Yeah, sorry man," Zack echoed. "So uh, where do you work?"
"In the conference rooms," Woody replied. "Level twenty-two."
"You work at the hotel?" Cody asked, again intrigued. Woody nodded. Carey was impressed, but Zack's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"So tonight?" Woody asked. Zack nodded slowly in reply. "Ok. Well, I gotta go meet up with my boss before my shift starts."
"Good luck," Both Carey and Cody called out after him as he headed toward the door.
"Good... Luck..." Zack spoke a little to late.
"I did not see that coming," Cody stood up from the table stacking his perfected applications neatly. "Woody has a job... Here! At the hotel!"
"He is a good kid," Carey observed.
"Good kid?" Cody asked. "You're half right mom, he's a kid. And despite his many idiosyncrasies, I will always consider him to be one of my best friends. But mom, he's a mess! He almost never showers, plus Bailey had to teach him how to use deodorant!" He paused a moment to look at twin, then back at his mother. "Did you know he had worse grades than Zack? And he's always making up these ridiculous stories... Lies..."
"Lies?" Zack repeated still seemingly in shock. Cody knew he should stop talking, but apparently he wasn't quite over the fact that Woody had obviously lied to him in the car the other day.
Not to mention the fact that his girlfriend was going to she college he had wanted to go to for years! Longer than she had wanted to go there, but he hadn't been accepted while she had. How was he supposed to feel?
"Just how many siblings does he have exactly?" Cody asked. "Let's see, I've heard he's the youngest of nine. All brothers was it? Until he mentions having a... A larger sister," he gestured. "Then out of nowhere we meet Willa. So which is it? Oh, and remember the toe thing? He's got five toes on each foot, just like everyone else."
"You counted his toes?" Carey asked in confusion.
"That's not the point mom, the point is... I... I don't know what the point is," Cody said finally.
"Maybe he's growing up," Carey replied. "What time did you wake up this morning? Did you even eat? Let's have some breakfast and relax, just the three of us." She looked back to where Zack had been standing, but he had already disappeared from the room. "Did you see where Zack went?"
"In his room to put some clothes on I hope," he replied.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "The two of us then, ok?" She asked. Cody sighed, allowing the stress of college applications and life in general to escape him in exchange for a few minutes of calm.
X-X
Zack returned to bed, and pulled the blankets over his head. "I am such a loser," he mumbled to himself uncharacteristicly. His over achieving twin was applying to college, and his best friend already had a job. All he had thought about since getting back to Boston was going to the movies, playing video games, finding his old skateboard, and maybe playing a little basketball.
His beautiful girlfriend left him to join the Peace Corp... He wasn't even entirely sure what the Peace Corp was! He had never even known she was interested in joining! Then Maddie, his longtime crush was engaged to some idiot! An idiot that he couldn't even be certain possessed any idiot-like qualities because he'd never met the man! He had never heard anything about this so called Roger, but he still hated him.
Again he thought of his twin. Cody seemed to know what he was doing. He didn't get into Yale, but he was still trying to get into college.
Perhaps he should follow Cody's lead on this one decision. Perhaps he should apply to college too? His mind drew a picture of him back in the classroom, and the thought disgusted him. Besides why would he want his parents paying for something he had been trying to escape for the past thirteen years. No, college was out of the question.
Zack wondered, what would Cody do if he couldn't get into college for some reason? "As if that would happen," he mumbled to himself. Then again, most of the schools Cody wanted to attend were expensive. Maybe his brother would consider himself too good for community college. Cody wasn't really like that though, right?
He continued in his thoughts nonetheless, and after a few moments, the answer came to him. Cody would get a job obviously, just as Woody had.
Woody... Woody had surprised the heck out of him today. Unlike both Zack and Cody who had jobs handed to them on the ship, Woody had never worked a day in his life. How was it that Woody had a job, and he didn't?
Wait... How had he gotten that job on the SS Tipton. He remembered the irresponsible spending spree but he had serious doubts about that being a merit on his resume. No, the job had literally been handed to him.
He blinked away a single tear that had formed in his eye. Just allergies, he decided sniffling a second, because there was no way he was crying. He'd never expected it to come to this. Everyone else seemed to have their whole lives all figured out. Even Woody was ahead of him! Not that it was a competition... Unless, maybe it was, and hadn't become aware of it until it was too late. Now, everyone he'd ever known had surpassed him. He had been left behind. The only one with no idea what he was supposed to be doing.
And damn it, how the hell was he supposed to keep an eye on Woody? Which level had he said again? Twenty? Twenty-two? What if he decided to fling himself out a window? Who knows what was going through Woody's mind. Zack certainly didn't anymore.
Zack felt his heart pounding. Man he was exhausted. He closed his eyes, and sleep came quickly.
X-X
Zack had been in his bedroom for over two hours. It was definitely time to check on him, but just as she entered the hallway the phone rang. She turned back toward the living room, and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" Carey asked.
"Hello, this is Doctor Mason Wallowmire, is there a," the voice paused, the shuffling of papers could be heard in the background. "I'm sorry, is there a mister Cody Martin available?"
"Yes sir," she replied trying to match his formality. "One moment please," she added lowering the handset to the nearby sofa in an effort to block out even the smallest of stray sounds. She gestured to her son who was now staring at her, but put a finger over her lips. "Sounds important," she whispered. "I didn't catch the name. A doctor something, and he definitely referred to you as mister Cody Martin."
"Thanks," he whispered accepting the phone curiously. He hadn't been expecting a phone call.
"This is Cody Martin," he spoke evenly into the phone, trying to calm his nerves. Though his first thoughts had been hopeful, remembering that he hadn't yet sent in his most recent applications, a much more frightening thought dominated his mind. What if this man was a medical doctor? What if something had happened to Bailey?
"Mister Martin, hello," the older male voice replied. "My name is Doctor Mason Wallowmire," Cody's eyes widened, his fears instantly forgotten. The Doctor Mason Wallowmire? Multiple PhD's? Award winning researcher? Cody held his breath allowing the man to continue. "I've been appointed head of the new Marine Biology department at Brown University."
"Now I understand that a young scholar such as yourself has undoubtedly been presented with many exciting opportunities, but after reading some of your research, I was hoping..."
In his astonishment, Cody found himself unable to focus on what the doctor was saying. How could this man have found any value in HIS research? In comparison to the doctors research, his own research was elementary.
He thought back to a recent paper he read. The research Doctor Mason Wallowmire had done identifying specific regions of the brain in small fish had been instrumental in proving the basic circuitry of just how people and other mammals produce audible communication. Truly astounding work!
"I apologize sir," Cody said realizing he hadn't been paying very close attention. He would have to give himself a stern talking to once off the phone. "Could you repeat that?"
"No problem," he replied. "It is I who should apologize. I'm sure you've already finalized your college plans, but I hope you will at least give consideration to this program. I only wish I could have contacted you sooner, but the department is new, and I've only just been given permission to present two scholarships. Mister Martin, I want you to know that you are my first choice for this program."
"Thank you sir," Cody replied. "It is an honor." Cody was still a little speechless. He had so many questions.
"If you willing to consider entrance into the program, I would be happy to send the details to your home address."
"A full scholarship to Brown University's new Marine Biology program under Doctor Mason Wallowmire?" Cody asked. "I am definitely interested."
"Really?" He sounded surprised, but pleased. "Well I'm glad to hear that. I appreciate that you are considering this opportunity. Though, I should tell you that the program is very strict. I require ambitious young minds with an eagerness to learn. You will be expected to attend classes six days each week, as well as monthly research field trips. To qualify for scholarship you must maintain an average grade of 85% or above, and be willing to teach one to two classes each term."
"I can do that," Cody said confidently.
"Fortunately, our scholarships have no restrictions againsts prospective students who have broken through a seawall from within submarine."
Cody inhaled sharply, almost choking on saliva. "Forgive me mister Martin, I'm told my sense of humor takes a little getting used to." The older man chuckled.
"Should you decide to join our new marine biology program at Brown, you would have the opportunity to study a variety of subjects: biology, marine life, oceanography, veterinary medicine, ecology, anatomy, physiology, marine animal health, and marine biotechnology, to name a few. I will include a full listing in the informational packet.
"Thank you sir," Cody said again. "If I may ask, which of my papers did you read?"
"Mister Martin, I've read dozens of your research papers, but I'd have to say that your research on marine organisms and their contribution to the oxygen cycle was of particular interest to me."
"I... Thank you sir," Cody replied, again at a loss for words.
"Could I have your address?" The man asked.
"I live at the Tipton International Hotel in South Boston. It's on East Fouth Street, Suite 1211."
"Thank you," the older man replied. "I will send that packet out to you as soon as I can."
"Thank you sir," Cody replied. "Thank you very much!"
Carey returned to his side the moment she heard him put down the phone. "So?" She asked excitedly. Between the look on his face, and the excitement in his voice, she knew it was good news.
"I think I just got a full scholarship at Brown University," he said slowly allowing the information to soak in a moment. Then his eyes lite up, and a smile crossed his face. "Oh my god! Mom! I just got a scholarship to Brown University! The marine biology program, under doctor Mason Wallowmire!" He shreaked excitedly.
Carey hugged him. "Congratulations honey!"
"Mom," he pulled away after a moment. "I am going to be teaching too. As part of my scholarship! It's an extremely rigorous program. I... I have to call Bailey! I need to tell Zack!"
"Tell me what?" Zack asked entering the living room. He took in his surroundings. No fire, that was always good. Then why was Cody screaming like a little girl? "What's going on?" He asked.
"Zack! Zack! I haven't even sent the applications I was working on this morning, and the marine biology department at Brown offered me full scholarship!"
Zack stood there for a moment unmoving, just listening, he felt as if his world had somehow become less real. That's it, he was dreaming! It all made sense now!
"It's a new program!" Cody continued excitedly.
"A new program," Zack repeated. In mere seconds of eye contact with his twin, reality came rushing back to him. There was no doubt in his mind that Cody had noticed his momentary lapse. He would have to think quickly.
"Marine biology?" Zack asked flashing his twin a smile. "I don't know what that is, but it sounds right up your alley! Congrats bro!" He patted him on the back. "So where is this place?"
"Rhode Island," Cody replied. "A little more than an hour away I think, but it's perfect because Bailey is going to Yale, which is in Connecticut!"
"Nice," Zack replied.
"Zack?" Cody asked finally. Zack sighed, he knew the pending question. "Are you ok?" Even his mother stared at him wearily, awaiting his answer.
"Yep, fine," he replied. "But, I gotta take a shower," he said gesturing toward the bathroom.
-
AN: I'm sorry this chapter took me so long to write.