.:Chapter 09:.

The First Journal Entry

November 18

So I figured that I would actually write something other than putting in my diet and exercise plans. Maybe figure out what's been working for me and what hasn't been with my thoughts, or whatever. I'm not used to expressing my feelings so let's see how long this lasts. I always found puking to be strangely satisfying. I mean, dude, seriously, it's like a badge of honor when you go on the biggest rollercoaster and you get off and the world is tilting and turning around you. Your gaze is dizzy and slanting, making things even more distorted and the crashing of the coaster crammed your stomach into your throat. Yeah, maybe you shouldn't have pigged out on those chili dogs before you get on the ride, but you get what I meant. I don't consider it a good rollercoaster ride if I don't feel even the slightest bit nauseous. The best part is that I know that Cody will always be right there with me every time we go on a rollercoaster. It's kind of a tradition for us that we started when we were kids, eat as much as you can, then go on the fastest rollercoaster the park has to offer.

All of our friends say it's disgusting and they usually try to stay away from us whenever we're going to do that tradition. It's kinda funny knowing that Cody would always be there though, he's so clean and tidy, yet he doesn't care about puking when it comes to this tradition. But, like I said, it's something that we always do and I think that we'd still do it even if we're eighty years old. Cody's always been my best friend like that, even though we can be complete opposites, I know that he always has my back and he's probably the only one that always will, no matter what I do. Geez, I start this freaking journal talking about puking, because I have a point, but then I go on and on about me and Cody. I guess that's normal. I don't really think of us as two separate people, I think of us as the same person; two parts to one whole person. Yeah, I tease him and make fun of him and put him down all the time, but I'm the only one that's allowed to do it.

Right, ok, what I wanted to say was, when I puked after the basketball game I felt good for whatever reason. Like, I was happy with the way that I played the game against Cody. It was probably the hardest that I had played in a long time. We hadn't really had much competition in the team over the past couple of years so we pretty much coasted by, though I played my hardest each time, of course. Maybe it's that friendly competition thing that usually does go along with twins. It usually wasn't something that Cody and I had a problem with, though we did fight for Mom's attention when we were young. But I felt really good after puking today. Feeling empty after that fight…that was perfect and it was something that I didn't realized I wanted. So…maybe cutting back on food is a good thing, or at least reducing my portions.

That's what Dad said, anyway, when I asked him about changing my diet. He was kind of confused about it at first. I'll try to write it as much as I remember it.

"Why do you want to change your diet?" Dad asked, giving me a funny look. He had a grip on the mega ice cream sundae that he was about to pass to me. "Are you telling me that you really want to give up all of his chocolaty, creamy goodness?" He waved it under my nose like a hot pastry.

'If you don't want it, I'll take it," Cody declared, shoving his spoon into the air. I made a noise of protest and grabbed onto the bowl, holding it out of Cody's reach. He could make sure that he and Zack and Carey would have a good and balanced diet, but when it came to dessert and pigging out at their dad's place, nothing was off limits. "Just saying, if you wanted to go on a diet, then you could give all of your junk to me."

"Then you'll get fat and I won't have to worry about it," I shot back, sticking out my tongue.

"Zack, you're not fat," Dad said. He sat down across from me and Cody, setting a beer bottle down on the table a he settled in his chair. Leaning back, he propped his feet up on the edge of the table. Mom would never allow us to do that, she would threaten to chop off our feet if we even thought about putting it up on the table. But Dad's place was like our man cave…I was going to be kind of upset to leave the next day to go back to the Tipton. Anytime I could go as far away from Moseby thinking I'm up to something, the better.

Of course I'm always up to something, but it would be nice if he didn't assume it all the time. But, that's our relationship and I like it that way.

"You actually think that I think I'm fat?" With a raised eyebrow, I lifted the bottom of my shirt. "Take a look at these abs and tell me that I'm fat."

"You're fat!" Cody teased. Reaching over, I picked up the can of whipped cream and sprayed it onto Cody's face, giving him a mustache and a beard. Setting the can down, I smirked at him. Cody glared back at me.

"And the only beard and mustache that you can grow is made of whipped cream," I replied and then turned back to Dad, pushing my spoon into my sundae. "It's not that I really want to lose weight, I just want to gain some muscle. Being a power forward…you have to have some strength in you. And I'm a person that built more with speed and my natural good looks than anything else."

"Glad to see that you're as modest as you used to be," Dad said. He leaned over and ruffled my hair. I pushed his hand away. "Seriously though? It's like when we were on tour. There were times where I ate nothing but junk and whatever I could get my hands on. It was cool at the time, but not good for me. My performances started to suck after that. What you want is to eat healthier, you don't have to cut anything out, just eat in moderation, and plan your workouts. If you feel that you don't want to eat as much, cut back on your portions."

With a laugh of triumph, he surged to his feet, commandeered my ice cream, and took a heaping spoonful of it. His eyebrows twitching up, he pushed the bowl back to me before grabbing the sides of his head and slumping forward onto the table.

"Brain freeze," Cody and I harmonized.

We hadn't done that in a while either. Talk in unison. Actually act like twins.

It's kinda weird to think about after you've been together for so long.

I didn't really get another chance to talk about it after that, since we were too busy to see who could eat the most ice cream and get over their brain freeze first. It was fun, being with Dad is always a blast. I didn't have as much pressure on me. After we had finished eating, we went back outside to play another game of basketball. Dad really helped me with my form and he helped Cody figure out his best placement for a shot on the basket. I wish Dad was around a lot more, he only lives across the city, why did we only get to see him on the weekends? And every other weekend at that? Why couldn't he be closer or come over more often?

Better question is why did Mom and Dad get married in the first place if they really didn't have anything in common? Sure, Cody and I may not have been born, but it would have saved a lot of hurt and heartbreak later…Right?

Who knows? At this point I'm ready to go to sleep and, surprisingly, ready to go back to school to see my friends. I needed to know what sort of trouble they had managed to get into when Cody and I weren't around. Probably not a lot, since we're the ones that usually are the masterminds behind it. You can grow up, but that doesn't mean that you'll stop finding some sort of entertainment in playing pranks. Just as Moseby.

Haha.

So, couple of quick notes to remember: eat less, moderate portions, follow workout routine, follow diet plan, and if all that fails….just puke everything back up…it seemed to work with the basketball game before, I had more energy and I found that I lost a little bit of weight. (Cody says probably water weight, because I was dehydrated after playing so hard, but whatever).

Progress was progress.

-Zack

A/N: This chapter ended up being shorter than I intended. I was actually going to have this one go back to when Zack and Cody are back in Boston and at school, but thought that one more chapter with Kurt would be better. Then again, I like that part about writing; where you had an original idea, but things change as you go on and your story takes a mind of it's own.

Zack, Cody, Riley, Max, and Tapeworm had been main-main characters so far to get the story started, but Rhuben, Crystal, and Bailey become bigger with the next chapter as well as the younger boys. Christian, Carey, Kurt, and the Tipton staff will be seen here and there as the story goes on/when they're needed.

Sorry for the wait on an update.

Cheers,

-Riles