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The polished marble of the SS Tipton lobby gleams under the massive crystal chandeliers, reflecting the bright November sun spilling through the atrium windows. It is late morning, and the usual hum of wealthy tourists checking in is drowned out by the rhythmic, anxious tapping of Cody Martin’s loafers. He paces a tight circle around a towering ficus plant, clutching a color-coded itinerary so tightly his knuckles are turning white.
A few feet away, Zack leans heavily against the reception desk, his posture the exact opposite of his brother's. He's idly tossing a crumpled juice box wrapper into the air and catching it, completely unfazed by the opulent surroundings or Cody’s mounting hysteria.
"Zack, you're not listening to me," Cody histrionically sighs, adjusting the collar of his pressed polo shirt. He stops pacing and fixes his brother with a desperate, wide-eyed stare. "How am I supposed to break the news to Barbara? She’s coming all this way for a visit, expecting the same old us, and I have to completely shatter her reality."
Zack catches the wrapper one last time and tosses it toward a nearby recycling bin, missing by a solid three feet. He blinks at Cody, his expression a mix of boredom and genuine confusion. "What news? Did you finally admit that your hair gel smells like old broccoli?"
"No!" Cody groans, throwing his hands in the air. "About Bailey! And... whatever it is that's happening between us. The connection, Zack. The delicate, burgeoning romance that I am currently cultivating. It’s a logistical and emotional minefield."
Zack lets out a snort, crossing his arms over his hoodie. "Dude, you've been pining over my roommate since we boarded this floating bathtub. If you think you and Barbara are still a thing, you're living in a fantasy world. You managed to 'pause' your relationship with her just because you got transferred to Seven Seas High, but you never actually broke up with her. Band-aid ripped, Cody. Just tell her you moved on."
Cody rolls his eyes, a look of profound, intellectual superiority washing over his face. He steps closer to Zack, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Please. It is not that simple. And don't think I haven't noticed what's been going on with *your* love life. I know you're secretly dating one of our classmates. I see how much time you're spending away from the room, sneaking around. You’re totally in a relationship and you're just trying to keep it a secret from me so you don't have to admit I'm the mature brother."
Zack stares at Cody, a wave of profound amusement washing over him. Cody actually thinks he's dating some random girl from their class. And even more, Cody is under the mistaken belief that Zack's new roommate, Bailey, is a girl—a total tomboy—and that Bailey secretly harbors a crush on him. In reality, Bailey is a trans boy, and he's early in his transition. He doesn't have a crush on Cody at all. Zack has actually been playing ultimate wingman, pulling strings with London to help Bailey out. London has surprisingly softened up and become fiercely supportive ever since she started secretly dating Maddie a year ago, so Zack has been helping Bailey get access to quality binders, helping him navigate testosterone consultations, and keeping the nosy ship staff off his back.
"Yeah, Cody," Zack says smoothly, leaning back against the desk with a secretive grin. "You totally caught me. I'm a deeply romantic guy. You figured it all out."
Before Cody can press for more details, the lobby elevator doors slide open with a crisp chime. Bailey steps out, wearing a pair of heavy-duty denim overalls and carrying a massive, mud-stained duffel bag that looks like it weighs more than he does. He spots the twins and jogs over, his short hair slightly messy.
"Hey y'all!" Bailey chirps, giving them a bright, country-fried wave. "I'm just heading out to the helipad. My cousin's truck is meeting me at the port in Miami. I’m so excited for the weekend!"
"Ah, the alligator wrestling tournament," Cody says, his voice dropping into a dreamy, enamored register, completely oblivious to Bailey's true identity. "Stay safe, Bailey. Don't let those apex predators ruin that beautiful smile."
Bailey blinks, looking slightly confused by the intense stare, but brushes it off. "Oh, don't worry, Cody, I can handle a few gators. See you guys Sunday night!"
He gives Cody a quick, platonic pat on the shoulder and rushes out toward the deck, leaving a faint scent of swamp water and vanilla perfume in his wake. Not even five minutes after Bailey’s departure, the main gangway doors open, and two familiar faces walk into the lobby. Barbara looks as sharply put-together as ever, her glasses pushed up her nose, while Bob stands beside her, looking slightly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the cruise ship.
"Cody!" Barbara squeals, abandoning her rolling suitcase.
"Barbara!" Cody cries out.
The two collide in an incredibly stiff, structured hug that involves exactly three polite pats on the back. Meanwhile, Zack ignores his brother entirely. His eyes lock onto Bob. A genuine, radiant smile breaks across Zack's face—a smile he rarely shows anyone else. He steps forward, meeting Bob halfway. They don't do a polite, formal greeting. Zack pulls Bob into a tight, lingering embrace, burying his face into Bob's neck for a second before pulling back, his hands resting easily on Bob's hips.
"Hey," Zack murmurs, his voice dropping an octave, entirely ignoring the rest of the room.
"Hey yourself," Bob replies, a soft flush creeping up his cheeks. He looks up at Zack through his bangs, his eyes shining with a mixture of relief and deep affection.
While Cody and Barbara immediately launch into a hyper-specific conversation about the ship's water filtration system, Zack subtly steers Bob toward the shadow of a large decorative pillar, shielding them from the other two.
"I missed you so much," Zack admits bluntly, his usual cocky persona completely melting away. "The ship is cool, but it sucks without you."
"I missed you too," Bob says, gripping the sleeves of Zack's hoodie. "But listen, are we... are we going to tell them? About us? Because being long-distance since you transferred to Seven Seas High has been brutal, Zack. I don't want to hide it this weekend."
Zack looks over his shoulder. Cody is currently demonstrating a proper posture technique to Barbara, and Barbara is staring at him like he hung the moon. Zack sighs softly, turning back to Bob and running a thumb over Bob's knuckles.
"Look at them," Zack whispers, gesturing to the duo. "Cody is a neurotic mess trying to figure out how to handle Barbara, and Barbara looks like she wants to resume their middle-school romance. If we drop the bomb that you and I are together, Cody’s brain will literally short-circuit. Let's just... carry on like normal. Let them figure it out on their own. It'll be hilarious, and it saves us the headache."
Bob considers this for a moment, looking at the chaotic energy of the Martin brothers, and lets out a soft chuckle. "Fine. But you owe me. A real, proper date."
"Deal," Zack grins, giving Bob's hand a firm squeeze before letting go as Cody and Barbara finally wander back over to them.
— — —
The next three days descend into a masterclass of teenage awkwardness and miscommunication. Cody spends the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday attempting to craft the perfect, scientifically sound speech to break the news to Barbara that he wants to officially end their paused relationship because of his feelings for Bailey. Every single time he opens his mouth—whether they are at the juice bar, mini-golfing, or sitting by the pool—he chokes. He ends up pivoting to topics like the migration patterns of monarch butterflies or the economic stability of ancient Rome. Barbara just nods along, entirely used to his quirks.
Meanwhile, Barbara keeps trying to engineer "quality time" with Zack. She remembers their brief, chaotic past when both twins were courting her, and she mistakenly assumes Zack still harbors a secret flame for her.
"Zack, do you want to study the marine biology exhibit with me?" Barbara asks on Saturday afternoon, cornering him near the ping-pong tables.
"Uh, sorry Barb, I gotta go... help London with a thing," Zack lies smoothly, already backing away.
In reality, Zack is spending every spare second he has sneaking off to Bob's cabin, or hanging out with him in the less frequented corners of the Sky Deck, sharing stolen kisses behind the lifeboats. Barbara remains completely oblivious, assuming Zack is just being his usual, evasive, academically challenged self. She has absolutely no clue that Zack’s heart is entirely occupied by the boy standing right next to her.
By Monday morning—Day 4 of the visit—the tension finally reaches its boiling point. The four of them are sitting at a circular table in the Fiesta Deck lounge, sipping smoothies. Barbara clears her throat loudly, setting her strawberry banana smoothie down with a decisive thud. She looks between the twins, her expression deadpan and resolute.
"Alright, I can't take the suspense anymore. Cody, Zack, we need to address the elephant in the room."
Cody freezes, his straw halfway to his mouth. Zack raises an eyebrow, taking a slow sip of his own drink. Bob sits quietly next to Zack, watching the drama unfold with a mix of anxiety and amusement.
"I've thought about it a lot," Barbara announces, looking directly at Cody. "And despite our time apart, and despite how distant you've been this weekend, Cody... I want to resume our relationship. I think we are academically and genetically compatible, and I am ready to un-pause us."
Cody’s eyes widen to the size of saucers. A choked, strangling sound escapes his throat. He panics, his brain firing in a million different directions. He can't tell her the truth—he's too terrified of her reaction. So, he leaps blindly into a desperate lie based on his own delusions.
"Uh! Barbara! Wow! That is... a hypothesis!" Cody stammers, his voice cracking violently. He scrambles for a way out. "The thing is... I can't. Because I am... already in a deeply committed, highly exclusive relationship with Zack's roommate, Bailey! Yes. We are officially together."
Cody internally high-fives himself. It’s the perfect crime. Bailey is miles away, currently wrangling reptiles in a swamp, and Cody mistakenly thinks Bailey feels the exact same way about him. He figures he can get away with the lie for the rest of Barbara's visit.
"Oh, really?" Barbara's eyes narrow into slits behind her glasses. "Bailey? The roommate?"
"The very one!" Cody beams nervously, sweating through his shirt. "A match made in heaven. It's a shame you won't be able to meet—"
"Hey, guys! I'm back early!" The lounge doors burst open. Bailey walks in, looking exhausted but triumphant, a small scratch on his cheek and a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. "My cousin's tractor broke down, so I caught an early flight back to port. What did I miss?"
Cody's soul visibly leaves his body. His jaw drops so low it nearly hits the table.
Barbara stands up slowly, her gaze shifting from Cody to Bailey like a heat-seeking missile. She crosses her arms tightly. "So. You're the one he's in a relationship with."
Bailey blinks, looking completely baffled and utterly oblivious to Cody's massive lie. "The what now? Cody, what is she talking about? We aren't in a relationship." Cody tries to send frantic, desperate facial signals to Bailey, winking and twitching his eyebrows, but Bailey just looks more annoyed. "Cody, do you have a neurological twitch? Do you need to see the ship's doctor?"
"No!" Cody squeaks.
Barbara scoffs, glaring at Bailey with deep, immediate resentment. She holds a massive grudge instantly, assuming Bailey is just playing hard to get or trying to mess with Cody's head. "I see how it is. Well, Bailey, I hope you're happy. You've clearly manipulated his impressionable, academic mind."
"Hey! I didn't manipulate anybody!" Bailey shoots back, his country pride flaring up, even though he still has no idea what he’s being accused of. "I don't appreciate your tone, Glasses!"
As a full-blown argument erupts between Barbara and Bailey, with Cody desperately trying to interject and shrinking smaller and smaller into his chair, Zack catches Bob's eye. They both share a look of utter exhaustion. The teenage drama is reaching critical mass.
Bob clears his throat, stepping into the fray to salvage what’s left of the day. "Hey, uh, guys? How about we all take a breath? There’s a movie night on the Sky Deck tonight. They're playing a double feature. Maybe we should all go together, defuse the tension, and just relax?"
Barbara glares at Bailey one last time. "Fine. I will attend. To observe."
"Great, I'll be there too. I love movies," Bailey says defensively, still thoroughly annoyed.
"Excellent! Group bonding!" Cody cries, relieved to have escaped immediate death.
Everyone nods and begins to disperse, leaving Zack and Bob sitting alone at the table. Zack sags back in his chair, a look of profound dismay washing over his face.
He turns to Bob, his lip pouting slightly. "A movie night? Seriously, Bob? With them?"
Bob smiles gently, reaching under the table to rest his hand on Zack's thigh, out of sight of any lingering passengers. "What's wrong with movie night?"
"I wanted tonight to be our night," Zack grumbles, his voice entirely devoid of his usual sarcastic edge, replaced by a genuine, sweet vulnerability. "I had this whole plan. I was gonna steal some of those fancy chocolate-covered strawberries from the first-class lounge, snag the best lounge chairs in the back row, and we were gonna have a real date. Just you and me. No Cody, no ex-girlfriends, no roommates. Just us."
Bob's heart melts a little at the admission. He squeezes Zack's leg, his eyes softening with deep affection.
"Hey," Bob says softly, leaning in a little closer. "We can still sit in the back row. And you can still steal the strawberries. I'll just be holding your hand the entire time while they scream at each other in the front row. Deal?"
Zack looks at Bob, the annoyance fading from his eyes, replaced by a warm, hopeless grin. "Yeah. Deal."
— — —
The dark, expansive theater room on the Sky Deck hums with the low static of the massive projection screen. Rows of plush, navy-blue lounge chairs are filled with students, the soft glow of the cinematic lighting washing over the audience. In the back row, hidden safely in the dim shadows, Zack leans back with a small, triumphant smirk. He slips a hand into his jacket pocket and pulls out a silver foil container brimming with stolen, white-chocolate-dipped strawberries from the first-class lounge.
"Told you I’d deliver," Zack whispers, sliding his arm along the back of Bob’s chair.
Bob chuckles softly, picking a strawberry from the container. "You're terrible, Martin. But I appreciate the hustle."
He takes a bite, his other hand sliding effortlessly into Zack’s open palm. Their fingers intertwine in the darkness, a quiet, grounded pocket of peace. Unfortunately, that peace is entirely confined to the back row. Three rows ahead, the atmosphere is a volatile cocktail of teenage angst and absolute delusion. Cody is hyperventilating. Every few seconds, he glares over his shoulder toward the center aisle, where Barbara is sitting next to a group of classmates, entirely ignoring him. He looks back at Bailey, who is sitting to his left, completely focused on the screen and happily chewing on a handful of buttered popcorn.
Driven by sheer panic and a desperate need to wound Barbara's pride, Cody decides to initiate what he considers "alpha boyfriend maneuvers." He lets out a loud, theatrical yawn, raising his right arm high into the air, and awkwardly drops it over Bailey's shoulders.
Bailey freezes. He lowers his handful of popcorn, looking down at Cody’s arm like a poisonous snake just landed on his denim overalls. "Uh, Cody? What are you doing? Your arm is blocking my peripheral vision."
"Just relaxing, sweet cheeks," Cody says, his voice dropping into a bizarre, nasal baritone that he clearly thinks sounds rugged. He leans in closer, intentionally raising his voice so it carries over the rows. "Isn't the cinematography beautiful? Almost as beautiful as our deep, spiritual connection."
"Are you having a heat stroke?" Bailey asks, leaning away from Cody’s suffocating proximity. "Why are you talking like a bad soap opera?"
Before Cody can execute his next move—which involves trying to feed Bailey a stray raisinet—Barbara snaps. She turns around in her seat, her glasses catching the harsh glare of the movie screen. Her face is a mask of pure, unadulterated fury.
"Cody! Tell your girlfriend to keep it down!" Barbara histrionically demands, pointing a sharp finger at Bailey. "Some of us are trying to study the narrative structure of this film, and your little display is completely disruptive!"
The word echoes through the quiet theater. Girlfriend. Bailey stiffens. The casual, country-boy confusion drops from his face instantly, replaced by a cold, sharp realization. The puzzle pieces suddenly click together: the weird comments in the lobby, the sudden possessiveness, the bizarre romantic overtures. It isn't just that Cody is using him as a prop for relationship revenge against an ex-girlfriend. It's much worse.
Cody doesn't see him at all. Cody has completely rejected his identity. Bailey stands up abruptly, the heavy wooden armrest clattering against the chair.
"Girlfriend?" Bailey’s voice cracks with a mixture of betrayal and fierce anger. He glares down at Cody, who is shrinking into his polo shirt. "Is that what this is? You've been lying to her, telling everyone we're dating?"
"Bailey, please, keep it down, it's a delicate diplomatic strategy—" Cody frantically whispers, waving his hands.
"No, I won't keep it down!" Bailey snaps, his southern drawl sharpening. "I am not your girlfriend, Cody! I'm not a girl at all! I am a boy. I'm your brother's roommate, and I'm a guy! How dense can you actually be?"
A collective gasp ripples through the nearby rows. Cody’s face turns an aggressive shade of crimson. "But... but the overalls! The farm! The... the emotional sensitivity!"
"He's a guy, you idiot!" Zack’s voice booms from the back row. Zack stands up, abandoning his chocolate-covered strawberries, his protective instincts kicking in. He steps down the aisle, standing firmly beside Bailey. "He's been my roommate for months, Cody. I've been helping him get binders through London. He’s a guy, and if you actually paid attention to anyone other than yourself, you would’ve realized that ages ago instead of using him for your pathetic ego trip!"
Barbara stands up now, her jaw dropping as she looks at Cody. "You lied to me? You invented an entire relationship just to make me jealous and avoid admitting you couldn't handle me un-pausing us?"
"Barbara, wait!" Cody scrambles out of his seat, completely surrounded. He looks at his brother, his eyes wide with desperate pleading. "Zack! Come on, back me up here! You know how complicated girls—I mean, people—can be! Tell them I’m the mature one! You’re secretly dating someone from class, you get how hard it is!"
Zack lets out a harsh, mocking laugh, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not dating anyone from our class, Cody. And I'm done hiding things just because your brain can't handle reality."
Zack turns, reaching into the shadows of the back row. He takes Bob’s hand, pulling him gently but confidently down into the light of the aisle. "By the way, I'm dating Bob," Zack announces clearly, his voice steady and fiercely proud, his fingers tightly locked with Bob's. "We've been together since before I transferred to Seven Seas High. We've been doing long-distance, and we're in a real, committed relationship. So stop using your weird delusions to justify your own messes."
Bob stands tall beside Zack, a small, brave smile on his face as he faces the stunned lounge.
Cody looks from Zack and Bob, to Bailey, to Barbara. His brain completely short-circuits. "Bob? But... Bob is a... and Zack is... and Bailey is..."
"We're leaving," Bailey says flatly.
He turns on his heel and storms out of the theater room. Zack, Bob, and Barbara follow immediately behind him, leaving a completely isolated, profoundly confused Cody standing alone in the flickering light of the movie screen. The heavy double doors of the theater room click shut, muffling the sound of the movie dialogue. The hallway of the Sky Deck is quiet, illuminated by the soft, golden sconces of the ship's corridor. Bailey stands by the railing, staring out at the dark, moonlit ocean, his chest still heaving slightly.
Barbara steps forward first, her usual rigid, academic posture softening into something genuinely remorseful. "Bailey," she says softly, walking up to him. "I want to apologize. I am incredibly sorry for my behavior in there, and in the lounge earlier. I let my temper get the better of me, and I made a horrible, disrespectful assumption about who you are. It wasn't right."
Bailey looks at her for a long moment, the tension in his shoulders dropping slightly. He gives a small, tired nod. "Thanks, Barbara. I appreciate that. Just... tell Cody to buy some thicker glasses."
Barbara offers a small, wry smile before turning her attention to Zack and Bob, who are still standing side-by-side. "And to both of you... I'm sorry for barging in this weekend and making everything about my past with the twins. You two are... actually really wonderful together."
"Thanks, Barb," Zack says, his defensive walls finally dropping. He leans his shoulder against Bob's, a relaxed, genuine smile returning to his face. "Appreciate it."
Barbara sighs, taking off her glasses and wiping them on her cardigan. "You know... I came here this weekend because I already paid in-full for a semester transfer to Seven Seas High. My classes are scheduled to begin in January. I was going to use this trip to give Cody time to prepare for my arrival." She lets out a bitter, dry laugh. "But after witnessing... whatever *that* was? I have absolutely no desire to be stuck on this ship with him for the next six months."
Bob blinks, looking surprised. "So you're canceling the transfer?"
"I can't get a refund," Barbara explains, a sharp, pragmatic glint returning to her eyes. "But the Tipton curriculum allows for tuition and housing credits to be legally transferred to another student prior to the winter deadline."
She looks directly at Bob, a genuine smile breaking across her face. "Bob... you clearly care about Zack, and I know how brutal long-distance can be. I want to offer my tuition credit to you. If you take it, you can transfer to Seven Seas High in January. Fully paid. You can go to school here, with Zack."
Bob’s breath catches in his throat. He looks at Barbara, utterly stunned, and then turns his head to look at Zack. Zack’s eyes are wide, a brilliant, hopeful light shining in them that completely eclipses any prankster smirk he’s ever worn. He grabs Bob’s hand again, his grip tight and eager.
"Are you serious? Barb, for real?"
"Completely serious," Barbara nods. "Consider it my contribution to a much more stable relationship."
Bob looks at Zack, a massive, radiant smile spreading across his face. "January," he whispers.
"January," Zack repeats, pulling Bob into a sudden, joyful hug right there in the quiet corridor, the long-distance distance finally finding its expiration date.
The soft lighting of the Sky Deck corridor highlights the short, textured layers of Bailey's brown hair, which is still slightly disheveled from his chaotic trip back from the swamp. Standing by the ship's railing, he wears an unbuttoned black shirt layered over a casual grey t-shirt, his hands tucked comfortably into his dark jeans. A silver wallet chain hangs from his belt loop, catching the golden glow of the hallway sconces, while a wide, studded black leather cuff sits securely on his left wrist. Despite the intense confrontation that just unfolded in the theater room, a resilient, grounded confidence radiates from his posture. The boyish charm and sharp, stylish edge visible in his short hair and dark wardrobe make it completely obvious to everyone in the hallway—except, of course, a hopelessly oblivious Cody—exactly who he is.
Zack looks at Bailey, giving him an appreciative, validating nod. "Y'know, Bailey. The look suits you. Don't let my brother's total lack of situational awareness get under your skin."
"Thanks, Zack," Bailey says, a genuine, warm smile finally breaking across his face, completely transforming the tension into a moment of shared understanding. He adjusts the small silver pendant hanging around his neck. "Honestly, just having it out in the open feels like a weight off my shoulders. Even if Cody's brain is still stuck in dial-up mode."
Bob laughs softly, leaning into Zack's side. "I think dial-up is giving him too much credit."
Barbara smiles, looking at the three of them standing together under the ship's lights. The quiet confidence in Bailey's expression only reaffirms her decision to hand over her tuition credits, leaving the drama behind for something far more genuine.
The cool ocean breeze carries the faint scent of saltwater as the group makes their way down the grand carpeted stairs of the SS Tipton. The adrenaline from the theater confrontation is beginning to ebb, leaving behind a hollow, late-night hunger that everyone is eager to satisfy.
"Honestly," Bailey says, rolling his shoulders and adjusting the collar of his black shirt, "all that shouting made me realize I haven't eaten a real meal since I boarded that early flight from Miami. What do y'all say we head down to the Aqua Lounge? The kitchen stays open late, and they make a mean club sandwich."
"I am entirely on board with that," Barbara agrees, stepping into stride with him. "A highly volatile emotional dispute is a scientifically proven stimulant for metabolic cravings."
Zack laughs, his arm naturally wrapping back around Bob’s waist as they walk. "See? I knew there was a reason we kept you around, Barb. Lead the way, Bailey."
The ship's restaurant is warm and dimly lit, a sharp contrast to the stark projection light of the theater room. They slide into a spacious, semi-circular booth near the back, safely removed from the rest of the late-night diners. The atmosphere instantly shifts into something comfortable and remarkably normal. True to her word, Barbara keeps the conversation light and completely respectful. Her questions are purely academic and noninvasive, asking Bailey about life in Kettlecorn and how he’s adapting to the rigorous, ocean-bound curriculum of Seven Seas High. Bailey handles the questions with an easy, charming grin, his accent thickening slightly whenever he talks about his family’s farm.
"So," Barbara pauses, stirring her iced tea with a plastic straw. "If you don't mind my asking, and please feel free to decline answering... are you currently dating anyone? Or are you simply focusing on your transition and academics for the semester?"
Bob shifts slightly in the booth, giving Bailey an encouraging smile. Zack leans forward, propping his elbows on the polished wood table, genuinely curious.
"Actually, I am dating someone on the varsity basketball team," Bailey reveals, a slight blush creeping up to his ears, though his expression remains thoroughly proud. "We've been keeping it pretty quiet just because things have been busy."
Zack’s eyes light up instantly. As the ship’s resident sports enthusiast—and someone who spent a considerable amount of time dodging gym class by hanging around the athletic courts—he knows the roster inside and out.
"No way!" Zack grins, a competitive, knowing smirk splitting his face. "A basketball player? Man, you gotta tell me who it is. Let me guess. Is it Marcus? He’s got a solid three-pointer but his defense is kind of sloppy. Or wait, is it that guy from the sophomore deck, Danny? The one who always wears the mismatching high-tops?"
Bailey chuckles, shaking his head. "Nope. Neither of them."
"Alright, alright," Zack says, snapping his fingers as his brain rapidly fires through the team lineup. "Gotta be the team captain, then. Or maybe Big Mike? Though I don't see you keeping up with someone who eats four steaks for breakfast. Or what about that guy with the massive jersey from the junior varsity line?"
Zack goes on, casually rattling off names, positions, and stats like a human sports commentary track. But as he talks, his mind subconsciously skips over one very specific name. It's a completely involuntary mental blind spot. Zack entirely overlooks Max—the energetic, backwards-cap-wearing player with the mischievous grin who used to be a permanent fixture in Zack's own life back at the Boston Tipton. Because Zack and Max used to date, his brain automatically shelves that entire chapter under a strict 'do not disturb' policy when scanning the current basketball roster.
Bailey waits out the list, his smile widening as Zack completely misses the mark. Finally, he leans back against the plush leather booth and crosses his arms. "It's Max," Bailey says softly.
Zack stops mid-sentence, his mouth hanging open as the name registers. The cocky, knowing expression drops from his face instantly, replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated shock. He blinks rapidly, his brain forcefully colliding with the exact memory he had just subconsciously bypassed.
"Wait... Max?" Zack stammers, his voice jumping half an octave. He stares at Bailey, completely caught off guard. "Like... backwards cap, 'Pizza to Go' t-shirt, hyperactive energy, can out-dribble the entire varsity squad Max?"
"The very one," Bailey grins, thoroughly amused by the absolute short-circuit happening across the table.
Zack runs a hand through his hair, his mind racing. Max. Of course it's Max. Back in grade school, she was the powerhouse athletic cis girl who constantly rocked men's clothing and played alongside Zack, Cody, and Bob on the co-ed basketball team. Zack and Max had even dated for a short, chaotic while in middle school before realizing they were much better off as friends. Bob lets out a sudden, delighted laugh, nudging Zack's shoulder with his own.
He remembers the old grade school days perfectly. "Well, Martin. Looks like your past is catching up to you. Small world, huh?"
"Small?" Zack groans playfully, burying his face in his hands for a quick second before looking back up at Bailey with a genuine smile. "Man, she is going to absolutely run circles around you on the court, Bailey. But honestly? Max is the best. She's hilarious."
"She really is," Bailey agrees, his expression softening with deep affection. "She actually helped me a lot when I first got on the ship. She didn't care about any of the gossip—she just handed me a basketball and told me to play."
Barbara looks between the three of them, adjusting her glasses with a look of intense satisfaction. " Fascinating. The sociological grid of this ship is remarkably interconnected. It seems everyone has a shared athletic and romantic history."
"That's the Tipton for you, Barb," Zack sighs, finally catching his breath and reaching over to grab another white-chocolate-dipped strawberry. He bumps his shoulder against Bob's, the shock fading into total warmth. "Just wait until January. It's about to get a whole lot cozier around here."