Chapter 2

Again, I don't own any of these characters

The next two weeks flew by as Cody and Bailey got done those last details they had to take care of. Thankfully their books were included as part of their scholarships as both of their tabs after books, notebooks, folders, new heavy duty backpacks, pens and pencils were quite large. They debated between used and new textbooks but decided to go with new ones. Afterall, even though the last person who used them might have been a Yale student, they could have been an idiot. So, all of their books and supplies were set out on their bookshelves ready for the first day of class.

Unfortunately for them, the closest grocery store to Yale's campus had recently closed, so they had to do some some research to find one close by. Eventually, they found a Wal-Mart superstore and Sam's Club about ten minutes away. They figured there were somethings better bought in bulk. Their first trip there was a long one as they had to buy all cleaning supplies, household necessities and food. But once that was done, they were fully self-sufficient in their place. They did learn there was a 7-11 within walking distance in case of an emergency or slurpee craving.

After that was done, they just took it easy. They let themselves get acclimated to the area and find out where things were in New Haven. But, they wanted to ease themselves into living in a new town. Fortunately, adjusting to being by themselves was not hard at all. It was just like being back in their cabin except they had a kitchen and multiple rooms. Even Porkers was adjusting well. He had his own bed in the home office. Both Bailey and Cody decided that would be best as they did really want an audience in their bedroom or risk feeling a warm snout on them at the wrong time.

Eventually, freshman orientation was approaching and they got their schedules for it. As they reviewed them, they realized mostly everything was optional and many things like a tour of campus and a bus ride exploring New Haven they had already done. So, they decided to head to the Friday morning activities and then surprise Zack and Cassie up in Storrs. A quick call to Carey got them the information they would need.

As they arrived at the student center Friday morning, all the participating freshman were split up into smaller groups so they could get to know their fellow freshmen. Cody and Bailey were split into two separate groups, but they agreed to meet up back at the apartment around noon to get on the road.

As Bailey sat around her group, she listened as best as she could to her fellow freshmen, but she got the impression that many came off as pretentious. She certainly hoped she and Cody didn't come off like that. To her, the only one in her group who seemed somewhat normal was another brunette girl sitting across from her. Everyone had to go around the group and tell everyone a little about themselves. As Bailey was sitting there trying to focus, she felt her phone vibrating. She looked at it and there was a text message from Cody.

I hope yours isn't as boring as mine is...

Bailey suppressed a laugh and quickly texted back.

I bet mine is worse than yours!

However, as she was doing this, she caught the last part of what the brunette girl was saying. She heard that she had grew up in Boston but had moved away before high school. Bailey wished she had caught her name. There was a chance that it was someone Cody, Zack or London knew. Bailey shrugged and went back to sitting through the rest of the orientation discussion. To her, this seemed like something they would have the first day of kindergarten, not the first day of college.

Finally, once it was over, Bailey collected her purse and decided to walk over to the brunette girl.

"I heard you say you grew up in Boston. Its a great town, I've spent the past two summers there myself..."

The girl smiled. "Yeah. I really miss it. I never wanted to leave. I was looking forward to going to Cheavers High with my friends, but I had no say in the matter..."

"Did you say Cheavers High?"

"Yeah, have you been there?"

"Not personally, but my fiance and two of my friends spent a year there...Maybe you know them?"

The girl sighed. "Probably not. I stuck mostly to my small group of friends. I may have heard of them, but odds are I didn't know them that well. What's your fiance's name?"

"Cody Martin."

The brunette girls just stared at Bailey in disbelief. "D...D...Did you just say Cody Martin?"

Bailey nodded. "Yes, I did..."

"Cody? Blond hair, blue eyes? Kind of a...real smart guy? Has a twin brother?"

Bailey smiled. "That's him!"

The girl's mouth just hangs open in shock. "Cody is engaged?"

Bailey smiles. "He sure is...I'm Bailey Pickett by the way..."

"Max...Max Baker..."

Bailey stares at her. "Wait a minute! Are you the Max that Cody and Zack talked about? It was those two, you and Earthworm..."

Max laughs. "That's Tapeworm...And yes, that's me..." Max pauses. "You're really engaged to Cody?"

Bailey smiles again and shows Max her ring. "Yeah, he's the love of my life..."

Max just shakes her head. "I never saw that coming...So, if you are here, where's Cody?"

"He's a student here too. He was in a different orientation group. We have an apartment together just off campus..." Bailey pauses. "I'm supposed to go meet him there now, you want to come say hello?"

"Definitely. I didn't think I'd know anyone here. It's a relief to know that Cody is around..."

"Come on then, our place is this way..."

Bailey leads Max back to the apartment and leads her inside. Porkers immediately runs up to her and begins oinking.

Bailey smiled at him. "Did you miss me?" She turns to Max. "This is Porkers. He's our third roommate..."

Max leans down and pets Porker's head. "Nice to meet you, Porkers."

About that time, the front doors opens again and Cody comes in.

"Bails, I'm back..." He notices Bailey isn't alone. "I'm sorry, didn't know we had company..."

Max just stares at him. "Cody?"

Cody looks at the young woman again and it dawns on him. "Max?"

Max runs over and hugs Cody. "It is you!"

Max pulls apart. "Look at you! You're taller and I definitely don't remember you having muscles before!"

Cody laughs. "The height finally came and the muscles I've been working on for the past year...Look at you though! You've grown up quite a bit yourself..."

Max laughs. "Well, it has been four years since you've seen me...But you! You're engaged?"

Cody walks over and wraps his arm around Bailey. "Yeah. When I met my little hay bale here, I knew that was it..."

Bailey does her little giggle which Max just stares at.

Cody smiles. "I love that sound..."

Max shrugs. "Why do you call her your 'hay bale'?"

Bailey smiles. "Well, I grew up on a farm in a little town called Kettlecorn, Kansas..."

Now Max was confused. "Wait a minute...if you're from Kansas and you were still in Boston, how did you two meet?"

Cody nods. "We met at Seven Seas High. It was a high school on board the S.S. Tipton. London, Zack and I all went there for our final three years. And that's where I met my Bails..."

"So that's where you all went..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, a couple of years ago, I was back in Boston and stopped by the Tipton. I asked the snooty waiter there if he knew where you guys were, but all he said was that you and Zack no longer lived there..."

Cody paused. "Speaking of going some place, what about you? You just up and disappeared one day..."

Max paused. "I didn't want to leave, but I had to..."

"What happened?"

"My grandmother got real sick and we had to go take care of her. While we were in Philadelphia, my Dad got offered a good job opportunity he couldn't turn down. So, next thing I know, I'm living in Philadelphia..."

Bailey speaks up. "Is your grandmother okay now?"

Max nods. "Yeah, much better. Thanks."

Cody smiles. "Good. My Grandma had a heart attack several months ago. She's doing better now, but we know what that's like..."

"So, tell me more about you two. How long have you been going out?"

Bailey smiled. "Almost two and a half years now..."

"Wow...When did Cody propose?"

"On my birthday...It was the most amazing day..."

Max just laughs. "Cody Martin is engaged..." She shrugs. "Well, I guess that's more believable than if it was Zack..."

Cody laughs. "Well, he may be on his way there himself..."

Max looks at Cody in shock. "What? Zack?"

Bailey smiled. "Its true. He's been dating my cousin for over a year now. Trust me, it completely surprised me too..."

"Wow...What is he up to nowadays anyways?"

"Actually, he's moving into his dorm at UCONN today. We were going to go up to Storrs to help out..." Cody paused. "You want to go with us, see Zack and meet some more of our friends?"

Max pauses. "Yeah...I'd like that."

Cody smiles. "Alright, let's go!"

To be Continued...