Chapter 2

I don't own these characters, but it would be nice if I did.

Wait...In this story, I actually created some of them, so I do own them.

Anyways, I do promise to keep them true to themselves.

And as for the ones I did create, who they are is up to me, so...

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER

Boston, Massachusetts

Fifteen year old Cody Martin was in his bedroom at the Boston Tipton Hotel packing up his bags. He was leaving the next morning for an intense three week study of applied mathematics at the University of Texas in Austin. Originally, he had wanted to go to an applied physics camp at Cal Tech, but his Mom balked at him going so far away from home. She had wanted him to stay at home and go to the program at MIT. Cody felt fortunate that she had compromised and agreed to let him go to Texas.

As he finished packing his back, he was making a list of things he needed to head out an pick up before he left. His can of bear repellant was almost empty, and he needed a couple of new needles for his sewing kit. And as he was finishing packing, the door to his bedroom opened and in walked in his best buddy Woody Fink.

Cody looked up. "Hey Woodchuck...what's up?"

Woody sighed and shook his head. "Steve!"

Cody just nodded and turned back to his list. He had known Woody for almost three years now. He had met him his first day of junior high in Boston, and in that time, he had heard enough stories about Woody's so called 'evil' stepfather to last a lifetime.

"I still can't believe you're leaving for three weeks. Where am I going to go when I need to get out of the house for a little while?"

Cody turned and laughed. "Woody, you only come here hoping to sample whatever Chef Paulo happens to be whipping up..."

"Hurtful!"

Cody kept laughing. "Just giving you a hard time, Buddy. I'll actually miss you too. Seems like you're the only person around here that even gets me a little bit..."

Woody frowned. "Cody...I don't understand half of the things you're talking about. And the other half...well, you know so much about so many things I don't care about."

Cody smiled. "And yet...you're still my best friend."

Woody smiled back. "Because were both misfits..."

"True. You do remember the favor you're going to do for me while I'm gone, right?"

He nodded. "I remember. Every Wednesday, I'm supposed to stop by here and help London Tipton do her web show. Will I be getting paid for this?"

"If you do, it will be the first time. I've been doing it for over a year now, and I haven't been paid once."

Woody sat down on Cody's bed. "Dang it!"

Cody just smiled again. "Come on. We'll stop by London's penthouse so she knows you're coming, and then I have to stop by the store to get a few things. I'll buy you a cup of gumbo at the place next to it."

Woody grinned. "GUMBO!"

They headed off up to London's penthouse and caught her on her way out. Cody explained that he was going to be gone for three weeks, but that he had written down instructions for Woody to do everything for Yay Me! while he was away. London just looked at him and shrugged. It was obvious she had something else on her mind.

"Is everything okay, London?"

She sighed. "No! Daddy's making me go to some stupid sea school next year! He says if I'm stuck on the cruise ship, I can jet off to Paris when I want and will actually have to go to class..."

Cody shook his head. "London...that sounds like an amazing opportunity. I wish I could do something like that. Can you imagine studying oceanography on the ocean?"

London just glared at him. "Then you go in my place!"

"I wish I could! But I doubt my Mom could afford to send me..."

She just shook her head. "Poor people...Anyways, make sure what's his name here has a guest lined up everyday before he shows up." And with that, London was off.

Woody turned to Cody. "I have to come up with a guest every week?"

"Don't worry. I've already arranged for them. They'll be there. And if one doesn't show up, I added a list of emergency people you can call at the last minute at the end of the instructions I gave you. Come on, we need to get going."

Cody and Woody headed off to the store so Cody could get his last minute things. And once they were done, he did in fact treat Woody to a bowl of gumbo. As they left to head back to the Tipton, they cut through the park and saw several people playing basketball. And as they walked, Woody nudged Cody.

"Don't look now, but that girl Maya is checking you out again..."

Cody shrugged. "So?"

"Dude! She's hot and was checking you out! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Not really. I'm sure she might be a perfectly nice girl, but she's not my type. She's the popular type, but I get the feeling she doesn't take anything too seriously. I mean...for the science fair last year, she made a volcano! How unoriginal is that? I want someone who will stimulate my intellect as well as other things. Besides, her definition and my definition of fun are completely different. I mean, she's on the girl's basketball team, and playing sports are definitely not my thing."

Woody laughed. "You can say that again, Captain Granny Shot..." He paused. "So, if she isn't, just what is your type then? Because my sister Willa has a big crush on you too for some reason..."

Cody shuddered. He had a flashback of going to the Fink household for dinner and being subjected to family music night...and they weren't using instruments. He had done all he could not to throw up right there in front of everyone. Willa was nice enough, but definitely not his type. "I'm not sure, Woody. The girl for me has to be smart, sweet, kind..."

Woody rolled his eyes. "Can you be any more vague?"

Cody shrugged. "Fact is Woody, I'll know the girl for me when I meet her, and so far, I haven't met her yet..."

"You and me both, Cody...you and me both..." Woody paused. "Who knows? Maybe you'll find a girl while your gone who is your type?"

Cody laughed. "Doubtful..."

"Never say never. And if you do find one, see if she has a friend for me!"

They just kept walking and got back to the hotel, Cody was about to say goodbye to his friend when Woody spoke up again.

"Would you mind if I still came over and used your room while you were gone?"

Cody just looked at him. "Why?"

"You have no idea how lucky you are to be an only child. With so many brothers and sisters plus Steve, I'll need a place to just get away too..."

Cody shrugged. "Sure..I guess."

The next morning, Carey and Cody headed to Logan airport. Once Cody's bags were checked, they both made their way to security where Carey stopped him and began fussing over him in the way that only a mother can.

"Mom!"

Carey smiled. "Sorry...I'm just sad to see my little man leaving for three weeks. I don't like to admit how grown up you're getting..."

He paused. "Are you sure you're going to be alright? I mean...for as long as I can remember, its just been the two of us..."

"I'll be fine."

"Well, I asked Chef Paulo and Arwin to keep an eye on you and to make sure you eat. I know you've kind of left the cooking and cleaning to me for a while now..."

"Cody, I'll be fine. I'll be doing my show every night like I always do. Don't worry about me. You go off to Texas and show those university types what you can do. I'll be here when you get back. Just remember to have fun and don't do anything crazy..."

Cody paused and smiled. "Maybe while I'm gone, you'll actually go out on a date with Arwin. He's been asking you out on one for almost three years now..."

Carey just shook his head. "My dating life is none of your business..."

"Mom...In the last ten years, I can count on one hand the number of dates you've been on. And none of them have been a second date. And I know its not because of a lack of offers..."

She smiled. "Cody, I'm fine."

He paused again. "Does this have anything to do with my father?"

Carey paused and looked away. But Cody continued.

"How come you never like talking about him?"

She shook her head again. "You better be going or you're going to miss your flight."

Seattle, Washington

Fifteen year old Zack Martin was lounging back on his bed watching his best friend in the whole world pack his bags for him. In the morning, he would be off to Austin, Texas for a three week long basketball camp at the University of Texas. And he was really looking forward to getting out of Seattle for a while and the opportunity to be around college girls. He was daydreaming about all the possibilities when her heard someone clear their throat.

"You're all packed now. I have no idea how you talked me into doing that for you though..."

Zack grinned. "Because you're my best friend, Addison...And you know I'm absolutely terrible at packing."

Addison rolled her eyes. "How would you know that? I seriously doubt you've ever packed a bag before in your life. You probably got your Dad's manager to do it for you..."

Zack laughed as he thought about that. It was true. His Dad was Kurt Martin, the lead singer of one of Seattle's popular but not Nirvana level popular alternative bands. For as long as he could remember, it had been he and his Dad on the road being guys. Of course, he could see Addison just looking at him again and rolling her eyes. But Zack was used to that...she had been doing that too for as long as he could remember. Addison's Dad was the drummer in Kurt's band, and she and Zack had grown up together. And when her mother died when she was little, she and her Dad had actually moved in with Zack and Kurt. The two Dads thought it would be easier raising the two kids as a team. So, Zack and Addison were as close as any real brother and sister.

"You know I appreciate everything you do for me, Addie. You're the closest thing to a sibling that I have."

She just shook her head. "Yet you would think I would know better by now..." She paused. "Then again, you did talk the basketball coach into letting you miss the first three weeks of summer school to go to this camp..."

Zack laughed. "Hey...when you're good, you're good."

"Uh huh...One of these days, one of your schemes is going to backfire on you in a major way. And you're going to expect me to be there to pick up the pieces."

He grinned. "Oh come on. You will be. Just like I've done for you. Who was it that helped settle you down when we found that bag of pixie sticks?"

She shook her head. "We were seven! And you're never going to let me live that down!"

"You're right about that!"

Addison checked her watch. "Well, I have to be going anyways. My other best friend is leaving tomorrow for a physics camp at Cal Tech. I want to go say goodbye to her before she leaves..."

This time, Zack rolled his eyes. "I still don't understand how you can be friends with her? She's such a good two shoes...and a brainiac! She's so boring!"

She shook her head. "No, she's not. Bailey is one of the nicest people I've ever met. You're just upset that she is one of the few girls who is impervious to your charms. She just prefers the smart, sweet, sensitive types..."

"Like those actually exist!" He just shook his head. "Besides, she hates me!"

Addison paused and laughed. "Well, can you blame her? Her family had just moved here from Kansas before school last summer..."

He interrupted her. "That's another thing! All she talks about is farm stuff!"

She ignored him. "You put a whoopee cushion in her chair the first day of school..."

Zack laughed. "Yeah...that was pretty funny!"

"And then you destroyed her science fair project!"

He shrugged. "Hey...it was an accident. No harm done..."

"She had been growing that bacteria for months!" Addison sighed and mumbled under her breath. "Maybe she is right when she says you're nothing but an overgrown child..."

But Zack heard that and sat up. "She said what?"

"Forget about it Zack."

He just shook his head. "I hate people like that. People who think they are so great just because they get good grades and teachers like them. I thank God everyday that I'm not like that!"

Addison sighed. "Whatever...I'm going to go say goodbye to her. Just leave her alone from now on, okay?"

"Why should I? What's she going to do?"

"Well...she once told me she neutered a bull with her bare hands...Think about that."

Zack winced hearing that. "Really?"

"Uh huh. I saw pictures..."

"You'd step in, wouldn't you, Addie? Like I said...you're the only sibling I have..."

That caused Addison to look away and pause. Before her mother had died, they had been looking through photo albums together. But one picture in particular had caused her a great deal of confusion. There were three babies lying in a bassinet together. She had asked her mother about who the third child was, and due to the pain meds her mother was on, she told Addison everything. One was her. One was Zack. And one was...

"Addie?"

She looked up. "Huh?"

"You okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just spaced out for a minute. Anyways, I'm off to see Bailey. Try to behave yourself while you're gone."

Zack just shrugged and laid back on his bed. He had better things to think about. Like sweet young college coeds he would soon be charming in Austin. He couldn't help but smile. His type of girl was one who was beautiful, athletic, cool and knew how to have a good time. Only problem was, he hadn't met anyone like that yet. But maybe he would while he was gone. He just knew his three weeks at UT were going to be ones he would never ever forget.

The next morning, Kurt took Zack to Sea-Tac Airport and got his bags checked. And when they had done that, Kurt walked him over to security.

"Zack, I want you to behave yourself while you're gone..."

Zack grinned. "You mean don't do anything that you used to do when you were younger?"

Kurt smiled but quickly wiped it off his face. "Something like that. I just don't want to have to come pick you up because you got kicked out of college before you were even enrolled in one."

"I'll try...No promises that I'll be able to, but I'll try."

"Good."

"What about you though...Are you going to be alright with out me? For so long, its been me and you against the world, Dad."

Kurt nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine." He laughed. "I don't think Addison would let us be otherwise. Besides, we're heading back into the studio to work on our comeback album..."

"Why? We already have plenty of money from all of your royalties."

He smiled. "Its about the love of the music Zack. Music has been one of the two great loves of my life. I could never give it up."

Zack paused. "What's the other love of your life?"

Kurt paused. "Don't worry about it. Anyways, I'll be here when you get back. Just remember to have fun and don't do anything crazy..."

Zack kept at his Dad though. "Was the other one my Mom?"

That silenced Kurt, but Zack kept talking.

"How come you never talk about her very much?"

Kurt shook his head. "You better get going or you're going to miss your flight."

To be Continued...