'I Believe' - chapter 2

(Cody's letter)

Dear Santa (or whoever),

My friend Woody told me that I should write this letter to get my feelings out so here it goes.

First off I really don't believe you are real, sorry. When I was six I caught my parents putting the Santa presents under the tree, and that was the end of my belief in you.

Secondly, I really am depressed that I am stuck here on this ship instead of being able to go home and see my family.

Oh, I know I have Zack here with me and for that I am very grateful, I probably wouldn't survive if he weren't here. He is my best friend, I know that he picks on me constantly, but I also know that no matter what he always has my back and will always be there if I need him. I wish I could be more like him; he is the stronger twin and doesn't let things bother him like I do. Zack has such a joy about him especially at this time of the year and it makes me happy that he does, because, I know that I worry him sometimes. I hate that he worries about me, so I try to be happy at Christmas, I really do.

You do know that it was at this time of the year that our parents split up right?Things have never been the same for me since then. I used to wish that they would get back together, but I finally gave up on that dream.

I guess the only dream I have left is that Bailey would see me in the same way that I see her, although I doubt that will happen. I am not very good with girls; I fall in love to fast. I can't (and sometimes I wish I could) date many girls at a time like Zack does, not that I could get that many anyway.

So anyway I guess I just really need to see my parents, get the girl, and not worry my brother so much. I wish I could be as good in the rest of my life as I am in school. Do you think that you could help me with those things, oh great Santa Claus?

Well I guess it did help me to get some things off my chest, I'm glad Woody suggested this.

Cody

After Cody finished his letter he was wiped out so he laid it on his bedside table, then rolled over and fell asleep.

Woody came home to his room and saw Cody asleep with his letter beside him on the table. Being the nosey roommate that he is, he decided to read it. After he finished he got an idea. They had one of those all-in-one printers in their room so they could print their homework assignments, so he took Cody's letter and made 2 copies. He put one in an envelope, wrote 'to: Santa' on it and took it with his to the mailroom. The other one he took over and gave to Zack.

"Zack, I talked Cody into writing a letter to Santa and after I read it, I thought you should too," Woody told Zack as he handed him the letter.

When Zack read the letter he got tears in his eyes and decided right then to quit picking on his brother so much about being a nerd and all the other mean things he called him. He also started trying to think of a way to get Cody his wishes.

He already knew he couldn't get the two of them home for Christmas, so he started working on the other two things.

First, he would only stop worrying when he knew Cody was happy, so his next priority was Bailey. That one wasn't going to be too hard, he already knew she liked his brother he could tell by the way she looked at him. Now he just had to figure out a way to give them both a little push.

After he constructed a plan I his head, Zack went looking for London because he needed her help to get Cody and Bailey together.

"London, I need your help," Zack said to the heiress.

"Zack you know I never help people," She told him.

"It will help you get a little more alone time in your room," Zack teased.

"Ok, what can I do for you?" she asked.

"Well, I need something that will make Cody and Bailey tell each other how they really feel about each other," Zack explained to her. "They can't know that anything is making them do it though."

"Well… I guess I could let you borrow my truth serum that Daddy gave me, it will make them tell the truth no matter what," London offered.

"London that would be great! Hey wait a minute, what are you doing with truth serum?" Zack asked.

"It's best if you don't know," London answered with an evil little laugh.

Zack just looked at her oddly. 'That girl needs some help, and I need to watch my drinks when I'm around her from now on,' he thought to himself.

The next day Zack and Woody were on their way to lunch with London, where they were planning on meeting Cody and Bailey there. The three of them had a plan all worked out; Zack just hoped it worked.

"Ok Woody, do you remember what to do?" Zack asked his friend.

"Yep, I won't let you down Zack," Woody assured him.

After they all got their lunches and sat at a table where they made sure Cody and Bailey sat together, Woody got up and went behind them and started ranting about when they were going to go thru the Bermuda Triangle later in the year. "Guys I just know that the aliens are going to take us, and run tests on us while they hold us captive," he alleged.

"No Woody, there's not any alien's in the triangle," Cody explained to his roommate.

Then he and Bailey started a long explanation for why so many ships and planes went missing in the Bermuda Triangle. While they were turned facing Woody, London put a drop of the truth serum in each of their drinks. London had said it takes about an hour for the full effects to start so they had time for the second phase of their plan. They all had study hall for their next class so it was the perfect time for the plan to take place, as they had no teacher.

They were all sitting there (hypothetically) studying when Woody realized he had the wrong book for what they were supposed to be reading. He started to make a scene right there in front of everyone. Cody cringed, he just wanted to crawl under his desk to get away, plus he was starting to get a headache. Instead he told his friend that he knew where to get him a book he could borrow for the class. He then got up and went to the supply closet to get one.

Woody and Zack high fived after he left.

At the same time London had been pestering Bailey to go get her a pencil, she needed a pencil because hers had been accidentally (yeah right) broken and she didn't have anything to write with.

"Why do you need something to write with anyway?"

"Please, please, please Bailey. I just do, and I don't know where to find one," London said as whiney as possible.

London finally bugged her enough that she decided to get up and get one for her out of the supply closet. Really she just wanted to get away from London for a bit; she needed a break because she wasn't feeling very well.

After each of them finally went into the closet Zack rushed up, shut, and locked the door. He finally had them just where he wanted them and so far it had worked perfectly.

Little did he know?