Chapter 13

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...

Boston, Massachusetts

Zack paced back and forth. He completely understood where Cody was coming from, but his timing was lousy. Zack needed some more time with Maya to tell her the truth. After that, he could try to figure out some way to make all of this work out somehow. But to do that, he needed time to think. Add that to the fact that Maya hadn't returned his call yet that day, and he had a lot of thoughts swirling around his mind. Of course, he couldn't ignore the fact that Woody was still looking at him funny.

He sighed. "What?"

Woody shrugged. "I don't know. It was dawning on me that I should have figured this out sooner. I mean, you were cutting farts with me, and Cody has never done that before. That should have been my first clue. And then watching you play basketball and play it well should have sent off warning sirens. I should have known you weren't Cody then. I mean...the only way he knows how to shoot a basketball is granny style..."

Zack shook his head. "Okay, okay...I could have been a little bit more subtle. I saw Maya and tried to impress her a little bit..."

"Maya...lets talk about her now. She thinks she went out with Cody yesterday. She's going to be awfully upset to find out that she didn't..."

Zack sighed again. "I know, I know...I'm hoping she'll understand why I've done what I've done..."

"Are you ever planning on telling her?"

"I was going to last night. I was about to let it all out when Mom showed up. Maya had to be leave to get home then, and I couldn't. And I was going to do it today, but she hasn't returned my phone call yet." He shook his head. "I never expected to meet anyone like her while I was here..."

Woody paused and just looked at him. "You really like her, don't you?"

Zack nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Huh...Wonder if Cody has met anyone in Seattle like that?"

Zack laughed. "Doubtful...He's been busy doing my summer school for me. The only girl he's actually spent time around there is Addison, and that would just be weird..."

"Why would it be weird?"

"Because Addison looks at me like I'm her brother. Even though she knows its Cody, she'll still see me when she looks at him."

Woody paused. "Maybe I'd like her then?"

Zack laughed again. "Again, I doubt it. Anyway, we need to focus here."

"Hurtful!" Woody paused again. "Besides...who's to say that Cody hasn't met someone else? I mean...he is doing your school work for you. Which means he'll be at your school and around the girls you go to school with..."

Zack just looked at him. "That is true..." He shrugged. "Oh well, if he does, good for him." He paused to think of something and shuddered.

"What?"

"Cody can do what he wants, but there is one girl I hope he stays far away from...even though they are a lot a like." Zack shook his head. "Forget about. Never happen. She still thinks he's me and would never give him the time of day..."

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"I'm not sure. But on Friday afternoon, be ready to do some baking..."

Woody grinned. "Can I like the bowls clean like Cody lets me do?"

Zack shrugged. "Be my guest..."

"Awesome!"

Zack just laughed. "Woodchuck...you're a strange guy...but I like you."

At that moment, the door to the suite opened, and Carey walked back inside. When she saw the two boys, she smiled at them.

"Hey Woody. What are you two boys up to?"

"Nothing much, Mom...I thought you were at rehearsal?"

She shrugged. "I was, but the sound system in the cabaret started shooting sparks and all the microphones went haywire. Arwin's trying to fix it right now, but if he can't, my show is canceled tonight." She laughed. "I seriously doubt anyone would want to hear me anyway unless they like Alvin & the Chipmunks..."

Woody laughed. "I'd love to hear that! I love the Chipmunks!"

Carey just looked at him. "Of course you do, Woody...So, what are your plans for the evening?"

"Nothing definite, Mom. Still waiting to hear back from Maya."

"Well, I know you went to see a movie with her yesterday, but if you don't hear back from her, why don't the three of us go see a movie together. That movie Doggie Come Home that you wanted to see is now out in the theaters."

Woody's eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh! That sounds awesome!"

Zack rolled his eyes and mumbled to himself. "Really Cody?"

"What did you say, Cody?"

Zack turned to his Mom. "Oh...I said Okie Dokie..."

About that time, there was another knock at the door. And as quickly as he could, Zack went over to answer it. To his relief, he opened it to find Maya standing there smiling at him. Zack couldn't help but to smile back when he saw her.

"Maya!"

"Hey, Cody...Sorry about not returning your phone call yet. I've kind of had a hectic day..."

"What happened?"

She laughed. "My little brother stuck a crayon up his nose, and I've spent the past several hours at the emergency room waiting for it to get removed. Anyways, they don't allow cell phones in the ER." She shook her head. "Can you imagine anyone sticking a crayon up their nose?"

Zack gave a nervous laugh. "Hey...it could happen to anyone. But the important thing is that he's okay now..."

"I guess so...Anyways, there's another reason I stopped by. There's something I need to tell you..."

"Something I need to tell you too..." He looked around and noticed his Mom and Woody were watching him.

Maya sighed. "It will have to wait. As we were leaving the hospital, we got a call from my Grandma. She fell and hurt her hip, and my Mom wants to send me to spend time with her and help her out. My flight leaves in a couple of hours. I just wanted to stop by and tell you everything in person and make sure you knew I wasn't blowing you off." She smiled. "I really do look forward to us hanging out again when I get back."

Zack wasn't sure what to say. "Yeah...me too."

She grinned at him. "So, you'll wait on me until I get back?"

He smiled back. "Yeah...I'll be here waiting."

"Good. I'll call you once I get there." She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you soon, Cody..." And with that, Maya was gone again.

Zack closed the door and leaned against it. He had butterflies in his stomach from the kiss on the cheek, but then it dawned on him. He was going to have to stall Cody as much as possible to make sure he was still in Boston when she got back.

Seattle, Washington

Cody hung up his phone and just shook his head. Woody was his boy and all, but how in the world had Woody managed to bust Zack? Of everyone in Boston, he figured Woody and London would be the two easiest ones to fool. He shrugged. Oh well...at least Zack couldn't hold it over his head that Cody had been busted and he hadn't any longer. But his mind suddenly remembered he was about to do something before the phone rang. He turned to Bailey and smiled.

"Sorry about that..."

She smiled back. "Don't worry about it. Your friend Woody seems...interesting."

Cody laughed. "That he is...but he's a good friend." He paused. "If I did end up moving to Seattle, I'd really miss him. I'd miss a lot of things about Boston." He looked back up at Bailey. "But I think it would definitely be a move I was willing to make..."

"Good...Besides, I think we were about to do something before your phone rang..."

"You just read my mind..."

Both began leaning in towards each other again when they heard someone laugh.

"Wow...What am I interrupting here?" Both looked up to see Addison standing there.

"Well, nothing now!" Cody sighed and shook his head. "I'm starting to think that having siblings is vastly overrated..."

Bailey laughed. "I've had that same feeling at times..." She looked up at Addison. "Nice timing, Addie...thanks."

Addison just grinned. "Anytime. Everything is back in the safe now. So, what else did I miss?"

"Zack called. Seems my buddy Woody figured out he wasn't really me, and I had to help talk Woody down."

"Will he cause any problems?"

Cody shook his head. "I don't think so. I was telling Zack about my thoughts about Mom and Dad, but Mom showed up and he had to hang up..."

Addison paused and smiled again. "Did you two happen to mention to him that you two are an item now?"

Cody and Bailey looked at each other. "Well, not exactly. I was planning on telling him, but he had to go so quickly..."

"Just let me know when you do..." Addison laughed. "...because I want to be there to see it!"

Cody paused and smiled. "I know just the time to do it. He has to bake a cake for someone's birthday on Friday afternoon, and I have to walk him through it via webcam." He turned to Bailey. "I'd be honored if you would be my sous chef..."

Bailey smiled back at him. "I would love to...but I can't. My Mom has to go for her appointment at the ophthalmologist that afternoon. I have to babysit my younger sisters then."

"Too bad..."

"I know. You just better make sure you save me a piece. If this is your specialty, I can't wait to try it." She looked over at Addison. "Which means I fully expect you not to eat it all and find you flying around her like a bumblebee..."

Addison rolled her eyes. "As if..."

Bailey just looked at her again, and Addison sighed. "Fine..."

Bailey turned back to Cody. "But while I can't be here Friday afternoon, we still have Saturday..."

He smiled. "I know...I can't wait."

"As for now, it looks like you have a plan. If I were you, I'd just worry about spending as much time with your Dad as possible before you have to tell him the truth."

Cody nodded. "Good idea..." He paused. "And at some point, I should study for Zack's two tests on Friday..."

Bailey just began laughing and Cody joined her.

The next couple of days were pretty much the same for Cody. During the morning and late evenings, he spent as much time with his Dad as he could. But between those times, he spent as much time with Addison and Bailey as possible. Addison was definitely great, and even after such a short period of time, Cody already found himself thinking of her like a sister. And Bailey? Every day, Cody found himself falling for her more and more. It seemed like he was constantly learning something new about her that he found completely endearing. And he wasn't the only one who felt that way. By Friday morning, Bailey refused to even consider the the thought of Cody having to move back to Boston.

Friday morning was test time. Beginning at 8:00 AM, Cody had four hours to finish both exams. As he looked through them, he noticed they were either problems or multiple choice. This was going to be way too easy. He flew through the world history test in about thirty minutes. He was about to set it aside when he remembered he was supposed to be Zack. So, he went back and intentionally changed some answers to ones he knew were incorrect. Next was the math test, and he flew through it as well. But this time, he made sure he did 'B' level work from the beginning. By ten thirty, he had finished them both and turned them both in.

When he was home by a quarter till eleven, Addison was surprised to see him, but Bailey wasn't. She actually grinned at him.

"Did you ace them?"

He grinned back. "Nope. I think I did solid 'B' level work. I will say though...it felt weird turning in a test where I knew I had intentionally put down wrong answers."

"I bet...I think that would drive me crazy..."

He laughed. "It just about did. So, what did you two do this morning?"

"Addison and I took the shopping you list you gave us and went to the store. After seeing what all was in it, I definitely can't wait to taste it now..." Bailey checked her watch. "Unfortunately, I have to be going now."

"I wish you could stay."

"Me too..." She smiled at him. "But just remember tomorrow. Now, you have fun cooking and have fun with your Dad tonight. And try not to root for the Red Sox too hard..."

He smiled back. "I can't make any promises there..."

"Just try..."

"Alright...I'll try...for you."

"Good." She paused and leaned in and kissed his cheek. When she pulled back, she smiled. "I'll talk to you later." And with that, Bailey headed out the back door.

Cody just stood there with a dopey grin on his face as he placed his hand up to his cheek. He knew he needed to speed up his plan even quicker now.

To be Continued...