Virtual hugs and chocolate chip cookies to my wonderful reviewers for the last chapter: StarfishOnTheBeach, lovepeacechoclate, psav2005, gabgaws12 and Mad-Dog-GXO. I'm so glad you loved the prank! Thanks to the rest of you who read/alerted/favorited this story.

*I really do not own SL, I promise. I do own this story and the songs.*

Previously:

"Thank you for coming and helping me to rescue Maddie." Zack grins as Maddie, sitting to his right, smacks him on the stomach. "We make one hell of a family." The others raise their glasses with smiles on their faces. "To family." Zack sits back down, taking a sip of his drink.

"So what exactly has Maddie been saying about me?" Zack asks Maddie's sisters, a devilish gleam in his eyes.

"Zack." Maddie says, claiming his attention. She grabs his head and pulls his face over to hers with a smile. "Shut up." With that, she kisses him soundly.

Chapter 9

After supper, everyone heads back to Zack's apartment to grab their stuff. Cody and London are the first to leave. Wanting to spend some quiet time together, they go back to London's hotel suite. Dylan, flirting shamelessly with Moira, asks her to a late movie which she readily accepts. Cole and Bailey decide to watch a DVD on the television so they take over the couch in the living room.

Zack takes Maddie's hand and leads her back into his bedroom, wanting a little privacy and to unwind from the evening's events. Maddie crawls to the middle of the bed and sits down with her legs crossed in front of her. With pleasure and a tingling feeling in the bottom of her stomach, she watches as Zack undresses down to his boxers and pulls on a pair of sleep shorts. Noticing her regard, he winks at her before sitting on the bed himself, leaning against the headboard.

"What a night." Zack says crossing his arms behind his head. Maddie scoots back so she is next to him and nods her head.

"Thanks for helping me." Maddie looks over at him with a smile. "You were amazing."

Zack shrugs his shoulders. "Anytime, Sweet Thang."

Maddie sits quietly with a puzzled look on her face. Opening her mouth, she begins to say something, but changes her mind and closes it again. She looks over at Zack again, curiosity, confusion and the barest glimmer of hope lighting up her eyes.

"What Maddie?" Zack asks, concerned.

"Well, its…" Maddie starts but isn't sure how to continue. "Um, I was wondering…"

"Come on Mads, spit it out." Zack laughs. "You can ask me anything."

"Well, it's been bugging me since you came over to my place." Maddie says, curiosity getting the better of her. "Why didn't you go to your prom?"

"I told you, I didn't feel like it." Zack looks down at his hands, avoiding her gaze.

"Zack." Maddie lays a hand on his. "Tell me why you didn't go."

"Why do you want to know?" Zack asks impatiently, still avoiding the subject.

"I just do, okay." Maddie squeezes his hand. "Please tell me."

"Fine." Zack rolls his eyes and looks out the window. "I couldn't go with the person I wanted to go with so I didn't see the point in going. I would have had a bad time missing her and it would have been a downer for everyone else."

"Oh." Maddie says in understanding. "Why couldn't she go with you?"

"She didn't go to Seven Seas High and was busy with school in New York." Zack glances over at Maddie. "I didn't want to go with just anyone."

"I can understand that." Maddie agrees. She wonders if he is talking about her, after all she was going to college in New York at the time. Her heart flutters at the thought but she tries to calm herself down. He might not be talking about her. "I was lucky enough to have you at my prom. I wish I could have gone to yours."

"I wish you could have too but I understand why you couldn't." Zack rubs his thumb across her knuckles. "You can't skip out on exams, especially when you are on scholarship."

"True, but I still wish I could have gone." Maddie whispers, gently laying her head on his shoulder. "I've really missed you."

"Me too." Zack lays his head on hers.

"Tonight you said something that got to me and I want to know if you meant it." Maddie sits up, dislodging their heads.

"What's that?" Zack asks.

Maddie stays silent for a long time, debating on whether to ask him. It's been driving her crazy since he said it. Deciding that he is worth the risk, she turns to him with a shy smile.

"You said you loved me. Is it true or were you just saying that for show?" Maddie finally gets out, blushing crimson. "You sounded so serious that I wanted to believe you." Zack wraps his arms around her and pulls her onto his lap.

"Maddie, it's the truth." Zack sighs as he looks into her eyes, unable to hide his heart anymore. Of course, with Maddie he's never been able to hide his feelings. "I love you. I've always loved you and I always will love you. From the moment I met you there's been no one but you."

"I love you too, Zack." Maddie wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him softly on the lips, happy to finally be able to admit it. "I realized it when I visited you on the S.S. Tipton, but I was too scared to say anything. Then I didn't see you for a long time and I missed you so much. You rarely text or e-mailed me and I thought you had moved on." A tear slips down her cheek and she buries her face in his shoulder.

Zack hugs her closer and kisses the top of her head. 'She loves me!' He can't help shouting in his head but tries to remain calm. Seeing Maddie cry sobers him quickly and he decides to tell her the real reason behind his silence towards her. "I was miserable when you left the boat. Just ask Cody. I barely left my room except for school and work. I stopped talking to you because it hurt too much trying to be friends when I wanted so much more."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Maddie raises her tear stained face to look at Zack. "Cody and London never said a word. When I asked about you, they always said you were doing fine and studying hard to bring your grades up for college."

"I made them promise not to say anything." Zack closes his eyes, trying not to think about those first few months after Maddie left. "I didn't want to worry you or make you feel guilty. Although, I'm surprised you didn't guess when they told you I was 'studying hard'." He opens his eyes and looks at her with a smirk. Maddie giggles, wiping away the wetness from her eyes.

"I always thought that was a bit strange. Didn't sound like you at all." Maddie's giggles fade away and concern takes it's place. "Am I the reason you didn't go to your prom?"

"As I said before, what was the point of going if the girl I love can't be there with me?" Zack raises an eyebrow at her and stops her before she can say anything else. "You had other obligations. Besides, I did go to prom. I went to yours and I got to dance with the most beautiful girl in the world that night. There's no way my prom could top that without you there."

Maddie hugs Zack fiercely before climbing off the bed and standing up. Grabbing one of Zack's t-shirts, she heads out the door without a word.

"Maddie, where are you going?" Zack asks, confused.

Maddie glances over her shoulder with a wide smile. "To get ready for bed." With that, she goes into the bathroom and changes into the comfortable shirt. Coming back into Zack's room, she finds him still sitting on the bed with the most adorable, goofy smile on his face. Maddie turns off the lights and gets under the covers. She pulls him down beside her and curls into his side with her arm around his waist. "Goodnight, Zack." She kisses him softly on the lips.

"Goodnight Sweet Thang." Zack returns the kiss and falls asleep with his love in his arms and a smile on his face.

So now you know why Zack didn't go to his prom. What did you think? Please Review and let me know!

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