Day 72

After just over two months onboard the SS. Tipton attending Seven Seas High things had settled down into a normal everyday routine. We'd go to lesson, hang out on the Sun Deck, occasionally get into trouble with Tutweiller and Moseby for "disturbing the other passengers" and then repeat the process. Even Zack had settled down. No more getting into totally balmy situations. Well, he still did, but there were less often, and not as insane. So everything was going well. Bailey and me had become really good friends, bonding a lot over schoolwork and making fun of Zack. I had managed to put my feelings for her into the background. I still really liked her, but I didn't let the feelings get in the way of our friendship any more.

"Hey, you heard the news?" Zack asked as he joined Bailey and me at the juice bar.

"No, what news?" I asked.

"They're throwing a student dance," Zack said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Wow, when?" asked Bailey.

"A few months," Zack said.

"So why tell us now?" I asked.

"I figured you'll need all the time you can get to learn how to dance properly," Zack said and I got the urge to punch him. I'd been getting that urge a lot recently.

"Thanks," I said sarcastically.

"Well I'm looking forward to it already," Bailey said "I used to love the village dances back in Kettlecorn."

"I'm just looking forward to impressing Heather," Zack said with a sly grin. Heather was the girl Zack had been pursuing for several weeks now. He's an idiot because she showed no interest in him whatsoever, but I had to admire his enthusiasm and determination.

"Dude, give it up," I said "she doesn't like you."

"Hey, anything can happen," Zack said "I'm not giving up hope."

"I admire your enthusiasm," I told him "but I think it's a bit misguided this time. She's shown less than no interest in you."

"Oh, here you all are," said Mr. Moseby, appearing on the Sun Deck wearing a bright yellow jacket and plain white shorts.

"Hey Mr. Moseby," I greeted "what's up?"

"Have any of you seen London?" Moseby asked.

"No," said Zack.

"Nope," said Bailey.

"Yeah," I said "I saw her down in the spa about half an hour ago." Not exactly surprising when you know London. Totally obsessed with her appearance and outfits.

"Oh, thank you," said Moseby, hurrying off the deck.

"If I was him I would have checked there first," I said.

"Yeah," Zack agreed "I think the pressure might be getting to Moseby."

"Only just now?" I asked with a smile. He'd always been stressed out.

"What do you mean?" asked Bailey.

"Back at the Tipton," I explained "Mr. Moseby was constantly stressed out."

"Because of you two I'm guessing?" Bailey said.

"Exactly," Zack said.

"Well if he's that stressed out maybe he needs to take some time to himself," Bailey said, "he's always working. It'd be good for him to get some time away."

"Yeah and it'd be good for us too," said Zack "so we could finally have fun without getting in trouble with him."

"Hang onto that dream," I said "Mr. Moseby's first, and only love, is busting us."

"Love…oh, that's it!" Bailey declared "love life! Mr. Moseby needs a girlfriend!"

"No way," Zack said "can you honestly imagine Mr. Moseby with a girlfriend?"

"No," Bailey admitted "I guess not."

"Exactly," I said "but then again a lot of people you wouldn't expect to get girlfriends manage to."

"Yeah, like you with Barbara," Zack said and I glared at him.

"Ooh, who's Barbara?" asked Bailey.

"Cody's girlfriend," said Zack and my glare only got more intense.

"You have a girlfriend Cody?" asked Bailey.

"Of course," I told her "you remember me telling you all about Barbara."

"No, I don't," Bailey said.

"Yes, of course you do," I said, pleading with my eyes for her to play along.

"You never told her about Barbara?" asked Zack "I'm ashamed of you."

"Yeah Cody!" said Bailey "I thought we were friends."

"We are friends," I said desperately "I just…I…"

"You just don't think of me as good enough of a friend to tell me about your girlfriend," Bailey said angrily "you know, I thought you were different from most guys. I thought you were nice. I guess I was wrong."

"Bailey wait," I called after her as she stormed off, then turned to Zack "why did you do that?"

"I got bored and needed a way to bring this up," Zack said, fishing into his pockets before pulling out a note. He handed it to me and I quickly read it.

Dear Cody,

Good news! I got some time off from my new high school because of safety regulations. And since the SS. Tipton is docking in Boston again in a few days, I thought I'd come and pay you a visit. Looking forward to see you my little gelibter.

With Love, Barbara.

I just gawked at the note. Barbara was coming onboard. I should have been happy at the idea of seeing her, but oddly I wasn't. I loved Barbara, but for some reason all I could think of is 'how can I explain my crush on Bailey to her?'.

This was gonna be a hell of a few days.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Author Note - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

OK so this is a short chapter, just set up to do two things: set things up for Barbara's visit, something which is bound to cause Cody a lot of problems, both in reality and emotionally, so next chapter is gonna be a big one (might take a bit longer to update because of it). And also to give that first little hint of Bailey's feelings for Cody. If you didn't catch it, I intended for her negative reaction about Cody having a girlfriend he didn't tell her about to be a hint of how much she trusts and possibly likes him.