Chapter 7 – Thin Line Fading Away
Hey all, I got a lot of positive feedback on the last chapter and I'm quite honored. Thanks to all those who have favorited this story and put it on alert.
Reneyyy'Sprouse' I'm sorry I didn't mention you in my last thanks, I didn't see your review. So here's my thanks to you.
Also thanks to SLPikachu and deathlyhallows123 for the reviews.
And big thanks to Shannon who reviewed but unfortunately doesn't have an account. Make one (or sign in if you have one) and I'll be able to reply to your reviews!
A shoutout to tiger002 for writing 'Separated, But Not Apart'. I'm sure most of you have read it because I'm always behind the times (and I'm pretty new here) but if you haven't, read it! Also read Domino Effect (the sequel, also by Tiger), I'm going to start that pretty soon.
Thanks to those who have favorited and put this story on alert (and those who haven't), but haven't reviewed. I'd love to know exactly what you think of it, how to improve, (etc.). You all know who you are. You there. Yeah, you. I'm talking about you.
(see Shaman Hime, this is me rambling, although this stuff is actually important)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Suite Life series or any characters from the shows.
Carey paced across the kitchen floor, phone in hand. She had already, mistakenly, called everyone of Zack's friends, thinking that maybe he was there. Of course, then she remembered that he had no idea who his friends were. It was horrifyingly amusing.
"Where could he be?"
Kurt popped a honey-roasted cashew in his mouth and chewed silently, deep in thought. "Maybe he's still at school?"
Carey had considered the possibility. Normally it would have been the first place she'd call, but from Zack's lack of enthusiasm earlier in the day she couldn't understand why he'd want to stay there.
Like he had heard her thoughts, "Maybe he actually liked school. Decided to stay there for a bit." He was trying to think rationally, calmly, but inside he was getting worried. Truthfully Kurt was starting to like Zack's personality. They hadn't been together very long, at all, but he caught every look that Zack gave him. Every time his son looked at him Kurt felt like he was an angel. He didn't understand why, but he liked the feeling. Was that wrong? Kurt looked at it like he had a blank slate to be the perfect, fun-loving dad he never was. Did that make it better?
Carey dialed the school. She didn't see the logic, but she knew it couldn't hurt.
Dial tone. Ringing. "Hello?"
"Hi, Cheryl, this is Carey. I was just calling to ask if anybody at the school has seen Zack? He should have come home on the bus about an hour ago, but nobody's seen him."
"Actually, Carey I was just about to call you. The bus just got back. Apparently Zack had a… some kind of panic attack. He broke the door of the side of the bus and fell out into the street."
Carey's eyes bulged and Kurt was by her side in an instant, listening to the phone with keen ears.
"The bus wasn't able to stop. They didn't want to cause any damage to other cars on the street."
Carey could feel her anger rising, "We're coming down to the school right now." She hung up without saying goodbye like a rude and stuck up lawyer.
The two Martins piled in Carey's Audi and were at the school in an instant. On the way, Carey explained.
"Zack jumped out of the bus and into the street. They said he had a panic attack. The bus didn't even stop to pick him up or see if he was okay."
Kurt was furious, "What the hell? How could they not stop? I'll have that bus driver fired! He'll never be in that line of work again!"
Pulling into the parking lot, entering through the doors, Carey did her best to comfort her husband. He wouldn't have it.
He exploded into the office and demanded to know what was going on.
Cheryl, the officewoman, did her best to deflect his shouts. "Mr. Martin I can assure you that-"
"You can't assure me shit! My son's out there somewhere. He probably got hit by a car. Where's that bus driver."
Carey began crying. Ever since she and Kurt started dating she had always cried whenever he got so upset. She didn't like seeing the anger and violence he could display at times.
It was like there was a whole other side of him.
"We've sent the bus driver home. He's been suspended."
"I'll have that fucking driver sued. And when I'm done with his sorry ass I'm coming after the school." He stormed out of the office leaving the two book club friends face to face.
"I'm sorry, Cheryl. My husband can get a little," she made a face and waved her arms, "when he's angry."
As if that was sufficient apology.
She nodded, traumatized.
Carey ran out of the office and after her husband.
A whisper of scent.
Zack knew that scent. Skin and hair. Cody.
He opened his eyes and found he was lying on a bed in an otherwise empty room. Standing above him, smiling and stroking Zack's hair, was his twin.
Zack jolted upright and pulled his brother into a hug. Cody reciprocated, slightly suffocating due to the pressure.
When Zack pulled away, "Cody? Is that really you?"
Cody looked himself over, "Last I checked, I'm me."
"That's great!" Zack caught himself. Emotions fading, "This is a dream isn't it?"
"Yes it is, Zack. This is a dream."
"So you're not real?"
"Is there a difference between dreams and reality?"
Cody's answer wasn't expected. Zack had to think. "Yes. How can there not be? The doctors told me that you were a dream. And that in reality I was in a coma."
"Yes, that's true. Just like how in reality you're passed out now. But I'm here. In your dream."
Zack shook his head. He didn't understand what Cody was saying. It wasn't the first time he didn't either. Cody's nearly-unsurpassed intellect constantly outsmarted Zack's one-track mind as a child. Apparently it continued to do so. "Cody are you real?"
"What's real Zack? This dream is real. Is that what you mean?"
"But how can this dream be real? If what you say is true then, really, I'm unconscious."
Cody nodded, smiling.
Then, miraculously and as if predetermined by the dream itself, Zack understood. "You're real right now."
"Yes, now you understand. I'm real right now."
"Are you real in reality?"
"Do you believe that I am?"
Zack didn't miss a beat, "Yes."
"Then maybe that's all that matters."
With that, Cody faded away into beautiful oblivion.
Zack woke up in a police station. Briefly he panicked, thinking he was locked up, but noticed the door was open.
He walked into the main part of the station and was greeted by a few cops.
Zack's head hurt. His hands hurt.
His pride hurt.
"What happened?"
The cops exchanged a look, "Well… you were passed out in the middle of the city. Somebody called and reported you: either drunk or dead. It doesn't look like you're either of those."
Smart ass. "Where's Cody?"
"Hmm… you kept saying that even though you were unconscious. Who's Cody?"
Memories like a psychedelic drug flooded Zack's mind. The bus. Seeing Cody. Screaming. Falling. The stares and laughter. The street, books destroyed. Chasing the vision. Cody disappeared.
But was he even there to begin with?
Zack didn't know anymore. As much as the tried to understand he couldn't. The more he thought about it the more detached he became from the idea. It was like he was supposed to not understand.
"… hey kid? You there?"
Fucking cops.
"What's your name, son?"
Successfully angered, "Well, pops, my name's Zack."
The cop understood and shut his mouth and glued his eyes to the floor like a boy, scolded for stealing a chocolate bar.
Instead, the other one spoke, "Would you like to call your parents?"
Zack frowned. It was the last thing he wanted to do. "No, but I guess I have to.
They guided him to a phone. "Don't worry, it's not like you have to tell them you're arrested."
No shit? Zack picked up the phone and dialed the number that he knew to be Carey's cell phone – at least it was in his dreams.
Three rings. Five rings. A sixth.
"Hello?"
Weird. It worked. "Hey, Carey. It's me."
Deafening and audible to the other men, "Zack! Where are you? Are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm in the police station. No, I'm not in trouble. I'm fine." Physically at least. "Just come get me." Zack hung up and walked away.
The cops sighed. Under one's breath, "Kid's got issues."
Zack heard. He spun around and nearly ran at the man, "You want to know what my issues are? Huh? Imagine tomorrow that you wake up in a hospital and you find out that everything that you were, all the people you loved, your brother, wife, kids whatever, were dreams. Just imagine that once. Imagine that you're handed the life you've always wanted, but without your twin brother it's shit. Imagine being the athletic brother, the one that always got the girl and suddenly you're a nerd that get's pushed around. Just imagine that once. Can you understand that?" He didn't give them time to respond before he marched back to solitude.
Of course you can't.
Kurt and Carey sped through traffic, wove through cars. Of course to them it seemed like they hit every red light. Amazing how one or two can seem like a million.
The police station wasn't far but that five minutes it took them to get there was actually an eternity. Through the doors, down the hall. To Zack.
A normal child might have run to their parents and hugged them. Normal parents might have cried with joy. Instead, Zack walked through them, to the parking lot, and got in the backseat of the car.
Silence. Brutal, uncensored, laughing-at-them-all. Bleak. Silence.
Well, there it is. How'd you like it? If you picked up on my subtle hints you'll realize exactly how things are starting to come together. Feel free to share what you think will happen in the future of this story. If you're right I'll give you a prize (hmm... that didn't sound creepy, oops).