TO THE shock of most, Bailey and Cody had broken up in Paris. It was a complete misunderstanding, but they decided to break it off regardless.

And though Cody and Bailey were going through their issues, didn't mean Zack wasn't going to let his brother's heartbreak get to him.

It was finally time for him to settle down at get with the girl of his dreams.

Raven St. James.

He knew that this moment was the perfect time to ask her out.

No girl had ever rejected him before and he made it his mission to at least go one one date with the girl before he graduated.

If he made it to graduation that is.

"Oh, Raven, I made you a Honeydew Dream because today your dreams come true."

Raven threw her cleaning rag over her shoulder and smiled, placing the drink on the table.

"Don't tell me you got me an all expense paid trip to finally get away from you."

She liked him, don't get it twisted, but she wasn't going to act on her feelings, not with him.

"Then I won't." He smiled, "I meant the one where you get to go out with me. So, what do you say?"

"No."

"Great, so I'll pick you up at 8? Maybe a little dinner— Did you say no?"

"Yes."

"Oh, good, that's what I thought you'd say."

Raven smiled, "I said no, as in, I'm not going out with you. I've been on this boat with you for almost two years now and I've seen you go dates with different girls back to back. So, no. But nice try."

Would it be a shock if this was the first time that Zack had asked Raven out? Well, be shocked. He had only ever flirted with her.

He never thought about asking her out until just now.

It almost hurt him. In a very weird way it hurt.

And what did he do with that pain a sorrow? He went out with another girl of course.

And it just so happened to be the day Raven was training to new girl, Maya.

"So, Gina, thanks for agreeing to go out with me at the last minute." Zack smiled.

"How could I say no? You blast off at 0600 to destroy that asteroid and save the world."

Raven smiled, bending down between the two, "You just love a delusional girl don't you?" Raven sat their menus down in between them, "Here's your menu commander?"

"Commander?" Gina questioned, "I thought your name was Zack."

"Oh, and she's stupid." Raven chuckled, "Do I need to get her one of the menus with the crayons?"

"Oh, come on. Those are only for kids."

Raven nodded, holding a tight lip and made her way back towards the counter with Maya.

"He's trying really hard isn't he?" Maya asked.

"Yeah, it's weird because it's the first time." Raven answered.

Maya Bennett was the new girl, like fresh meat new. She started Seven Seas High yesterday and had already latched on to the whole Raven and Zack plot line... expect, you know, without known that Raven liked the blond boy.

Raven soon returned to Zack and Gina's table with the kids menu, just in time to hear Gina learn that adorable was a real world and not a combination of words that Zack had made up.

Raven sat the menu down in front of Gina with a smile, "I was told to bring extra crayons just in case. And even though they are non-toxic I suggest you don't eat them. Or do. I'm not responsible for that."

Raven walked off to wait another table. Zack's eyes never leaving her sight.

Something was different. This wasn't very normal for Zack. Something in Paris had shifted for him and he actually wanted to be with Raven. Not just some one of thing.

"Why are you staring at the waitress?" Gina asked.

"I'm not! You are the only girl I see."

But that's wasn't true. It was like everywhere he looked he could only ever see Raven. Her jet black hair and her smile that was oh so rare.

"I can't believe this." He scoffed, "I think I'm falling in love."

Gina gasped, "Really? Me too! Can we get married on the sun? We can go it at night so it won't be too hot."

"I'm not talking about you. I meant her!"

Though he meant to point towards Raven, he instead pointed at an older woman who could've been the same age as his grandmother.

"What? You're grevolting!" Gina gagged, "That's gross and revolting!"

She threw her menu down and stormed off and Raven turned towards Zack. She had seen and heard it all.

"Hey, at least you won't get married on the sun." She joked.

THE NEXT day, Raven had once again been at work training Maya. She was cleaning off tables when she heard her name being called.

"Hey, Raven." Zack smiled.

"Finally got Gina off your back?" She asked, "Thought after she heard about your granny issues she would've bounced permanently."

"I bounced her off the wall and never came back. Hey, listen, I think you have the wrong idea about me being a player. Truth is I'm actually a great guy. Just ask anyone."

"Zack, I've been for awhile. I've heard and seen enough. There's no one that convince me that you're not a player."

"Oh, there you are, Zack!" Cassie smiled, making her way towards the duo, "I just heard from... you're ex-girlfriend that you were the best relationship that she's ever had! So respectful, loving, sweet, and definitely not a womanizer."

"Oh, why, thank you, Cassie. What an unexpected yet entirely accurate compliment."

"Okay, I'll play along." Raven smiled, "I Who's this ex?"

"Uh..." Cassie dragged, "Me?"

"You?" Raven questioned, "You two dated and I didn't know?"

"We sure did." Cassie smiled as Zack hugged her shoulders.

"Okay, that's weird. Because last night when I was telling you about Zack's date with Maya in the room you said, "I'm never dated him. It would be gross.""

"You talk about me?"

Raven licked her lips, "I always talk about you. It's never good."

"What about the dip?"

Zack turned to face Cassie with a smile, "Dip?"

"Yeah, when you dipped her. When you were trying to teach Woody how to flirt."

"Oh, Cassie." Raven sighed, "I hope you sleep with your eyes open." She smiled.

"What dip?" Zack asked Raven.

"Fine, I may have liked when you dipped me and I remember thinking it was cute. I thought you were cute, but it was really stuffy in the room and I may have lost a brain cell hanging with you and Woody for too long."

"You thought I was cute."

Soon, London came around the corner, "Are you trying to move in on him?"

"London, that plan is over." Zack called.

"Honey, hold my earrings. I'm about to throw down."

Zack grabbed London by her waist as she made her way towards Raven. He struggled to drag the fighting girl away.

"If there's anything you take away from this chance meeting it's that I'd make a great boyfriend."

"Let go of me, you jerk!" London shouted, "I don't know why I ever dated you! You're so controlling."

"Is that normal?" Maya asked.

"Sadly."

"SURPRISE!" Zack shouted as Raven made her way onto the deck, "Welcome to the Kettlecorn Mulch festival."

"Okay." She sighed, making her way towards him, "I believe we did this already. With Bailey and London brought her ex-boyfriend on board. Do you not remember that?"

"Must've been a chapter I skipped." Zack sighed, "But you're about to be crowned the Queen of the Corn."

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"No, and you don't look very happy. Doesn't at this gay remind you of home?"

"I'm from Florida, Zack."

"Then let's pretend you're not and bob for a cob."

Zack placed his hand on the back on Raven's head and pushed her head into the bucket of water and corn.

He lifted her head up with a smile and her makeup was now smeared across her face.

She's turned towards him with a smile and just when Zack thought this would the most positive smile she'd ever given him, she raised her foot and stomped on his.

She left the sky deck and Zack alone with all the Kettlecorn crap.

Cody soon entered the sky deck and when he saw the Kettlecorn festival on deck he knew that Zack had tried to get the six month plan to work on Raven.

He suggested that Zack just dip his toes in the water before jumping on board with a relationship.

So he did.

Nightfall came quickly and Raven stood on the sky deck, standing near the edge of the boat as she looked down at the water.

"Raven... Can I talk to you for a second?"

Zack soon stood by her side.

"Only id you promise not to dunk my head into the ocean."

"I'm sorry about that." He sighed, "I admit it in the past I was a player, maybe even the most valuable player."

"Whatever you're doing, it's not working." She said.

"I'm getting to my point. It's over. The player stuff. It's over."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Okay." She smiled, "So you're down to be just friends?"

"Sure... Buddy. How about we head over towards the sports lounge and watch the Sox-Yankees game?"

"I rather go to the arcade."

"Fine by me... Buddy."

Raven smiled, "I appreciate it. I may even consider you a real friend after this."

And even though Zack wasn't use to this type of slow and steady pace, it would hopefully be worth it in the end.

You know what they say, slow and steady wins the race.

— lucy has something to say !!

zack love interest and personality doesn't thrive until [REDACTED] comes

maya and zack don't happen here i use to hate maya so bad

anyway finding out that zoey dutch was a nero baby hurt me so bad

also might be a shorter story as i am already on season three 😝

bye :))))