Chapter 18

Again, I don't own any of these characters

The next day, Cody and Bailey went to class as normal. They did their reading between classes, and once their final class was over, they met Max and Tapeworm at the campus police building. All four proceeded to give their sworn statements and were told that they were all likely going to be called to testify when Theo's trial came around. Captain Morris also told them that the state of New York was wanting first crack at him for the assault and attempted rape charges and would need their testimony or sworn affidavits as to his confession.

Cody and Bailey returned back to their place and went ahead and got their homework out of the way. But that day felt different to them as they felt a huge weight had been lifted off of their shoulders. They were just more at ease and were having fun teasing each other as they cooked together. As they finished up cooking, there was a knock at the back door. Bailey went over to answer it, found Jo standing there and invited her inside.

"I understand you two had quite a night last night..."

Cody laughed and turned from the stove. "You could say that..."

It is then Jo notices the large bandage on Cody's forehead. "Oh my...What happened?"

Cody shrugged. "No big deal...Theo got in a lucky elbow..."

Bailey rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to him, he had to get six stitches last night..."

"Does it hurt?"

Cody shook his head. "Nah. Besides, I've got a great nurse taking care of me."

"Well, I bet you guys are glad this is all over..."

Bailey nodded. "We are. We're ready to go back to being regular old dull college students..."

Jo laughed. "Somehow I doubt that will happen..."

"We can only hope..."

"Well, what's going to be your first official acts as boring college students?"

"Well, we're going to hang out with our friends Saturday in Hartford and then come back and begin studying for Bill's tests next week..."

"You'll both do fine. He tells me that you two are among his best students."

Bailey smiled. "We appreciate that. We've both always enjoyed learning."

Jo smiles. "I can tell. I bet you two are the type to write an editor and tell them about mistakes in a text book..."

Bailey laughs. "Well, I did call the publisher of our high school chemistry textbook and told them they had incorrectly labeled sodium chloride as a covalent compound instead of an ionic compound..."

Cody turned to her. "You did?"

"Yeah..."

Cody laughs. "I did the same thing..."

"Really?"

"Yeah..."

Jo just laughs. "I'm not surprised. Of course you two would both do that. That's why you two are so perfect for each other..."

Bailey smiled. "We think so too..."

"Well, I hope you guys have fun this weekend, and I'll tell Bill not to be too rough when he makes the tests..."

"Thank you, we appreciate that."

That rest of the week went by without any event, and Saturday morning arrived before they knew it. Around noon, Max and Tapeworm showed up at Cody and Bailey's place. Once everyone arrived and Porkers was taken care of, everyone hopped into the SUV and found themselves heading north. It had been agreed that they would meet up at a place in Hartford that was similar to a Jillian's or a Dave and Busters. Almost immediately after they pulled into the parking a lot, a similar navy blue SUV pulled in right behind them.

As everyone got out of the respective vehicles, Zack and Cassie noticed there were four people coming out of the other SUV. Immediately, they recognized Max, but neither could place the other person. Tapeworm came right over to Zack and smiled at him.

"Hey, Zack...Long time, no see..."

Zack just stared at him in confusion before it dawned upon him too. "Tapeworm?"

"Yeah..."

Zack just shook his head and laughed. "Good to see you again, man...Its been a while." Zack turned to Cody. "Who are you guys going to find at Yale next? Nia? Millicent?"

Cody shrugged. "They just keep coming out of the woodwork..."

Zack turns back to Tapeworm. "Tapeworm, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Cassie, my buddy, Woody, and his girlfriend, Addison."

Tapeworm nodded to all of them. "Nice to meet you all as well. And if you prefer, you can call me Chester..."

Zack turned to his brother and mouthed "Chester?"

Cody just nodded.

Zack just shook his head. "Alright, lets have some fun!"

For the next couple of hours every ate, played games and just had some fun. For Cody, Bailey and Max, it was a welcome diversion from the previous week. At one point, Cody noticed Bailey talking to Tapeworm as they were playing skeeball. He could only shake his head as he knew what she was doing. Finally, they were sitting down around a table after ordering dinner.

Zack turned to his brother. "So, how much longer do you keep the stitches?"

"I'm supposed to go back after class on Friday after next, and the doctor thinks they should be ready to come out..."

Cassie just shakes her head. "Why do the weirdos always seem to flock to you guys?"

Bailey sighed. "I wish we knew..."

"Well, you two deserve a nice long break from any more drama for a while..."

"Amen, Cassie...Amen..."

Cody tries to change the subject. "So, how are all of your classes going?"

Zack shrugs. "They're going. Of course, you would think after living on a cruise ship for three years I'd know more about oceanography than I do..."

Cody laughs. "I tried to get you to go to the special class Moseby had on it, but you said you had better things to do..."

"I did..."

"Like what?"

"Some young punk challenged my role as the biggest troublemaker on the ship..."

Cody sighed. "Of course..."

Zack smirked back at his brother. "Of course, as I remember, you didn't exactly finish the class yourself..."

Cody smirked right back. "I had something more important come up..."

Bailey turned to Cody. "What was more important that you didn't finish a class?"

Cody smiled. "You wanted tickets to the Hannah Montana concert, so I was busy moving heaven and earth trying to get them..."

Bailey smiled back at him. "I didn't know I was pulling you away from a class..."

"Bails, if the choice was between you and a class, you win every time..."

Finally, their food arrived and everyone continued to talk as they ate. Once they were done, they hit some more games before it was time for everyone to begin the drives back to their respective campuses.

In the parking lot, everyone was waiting for Max and Tapeworm to cash out their tickets inside. As they were talking, Woody turned to Cody.

"So, is the Tapeworm guy taking my place?"

Cody just looked to Woody. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, I just thought I was the Theodore to Zack's Alvin and your Simon..."

Cody just looked at Woody in confusion while the three girls just looked at each other and began to laugh.

Cassie shook her head. "He's right! We're dating the Chipmunks!"

Cody turned back to Woody. "Woody, trust me. No one could ever replace the role you have in my life. I don't think anyone could ever come close..."

Woody lit up. "Really?"

"Really. You and Tapeworm are both my boys. Definitely room in my world for both of you..."

"Thanks, Man..."

Cody pulls him closer. "Besides, I'm counting on you keeping Zack out of trouble..."

Woody laughed. "Like that's going to happen..."

Cody laughed too. "Worth a shot..."

Finally, Max and Tapeworm came out walking towards each other smiling and talking to each other. Bailey slipped behind Cody and whispered in his ear.

"Told you..."

Cody turned to her. "What did you do?"

To be Continued...