🎧: ✅
🕶️: ✅
💭: None
😰: 0%

On that very first day of school, after classes, the very energetic twins—Zack and Cody Martin—have dragged themselves to the gleaming and sunny bus stop, now teeming with children of all shapes and sizes. Zack took a chance to approach Drew's huge clique, badly wanting to appear with it in their midst as they walked by.

Zack: *Smiling, lightly elbowing Cody* "Cody, check it out. It's the Drew Crew. Yo, Drew. What up, dawg?" *He raises his hand, expecting a hi-five.*

Drew and his crew turn around.

Drew: Hey, look, it's the clones.

The crew laughs along with him and walks away from them.

Zack: Did you hear that? The Drew Crew just mocked us!

Cody: *Slightly flails his hands in the air* Woo-hoo... we're in...

Zack's smile fades with the realization of a couple other children, mainly a little gangster-like girl with her green hat on backwards, a white shirt with "pizza" written across it, and a little jacket and camo leggings attached. And there is a tall, nerdy-looking person with her dressed in a very professional white and black shirt plus jean shorts.

Girl: The Drew Crew will never accept you. Don't beat your head against a wall.

Tall guy: Though it feels good sometimes.

The girl looks up at him, and the twins do the same.

Girl: *Smiles* I'm Max, by the way. And this is Tapeworm.

Zack: What kind of name is that?

Max: The kind you get when you eat 20 hot dogs in less than 2 minutes. *Crosses her arms*

Cody: Cool! Beats my record.

Zack: By 18.

Cody looks at him. Then Zack peers beyond Max and Tapeworm to catch sight of a bald boy attired in a yellow shirt and khakis sitting down in a green chair at a green table. This boy wore noise-canceling headphones and dark shades and seemed to be waiting for something as he fidgeted with his fingers under the table.

Zack: *Points at him* Ooh, who's he?

The other 3 look at him, with Max and Tapeworm turning around.

Max: Him? I'm... not sure. All I know is that he's quite a loner.

Zack: Perfect! Let's go see him.

When the group approached him, they had no idea that the boy looked up quickly at each member of the group. Just at that moment, the child was about to talk when Zack broke in.

Zack: Yo, what's up, dude? Nice shades!

😰: ⬆️ 20%

The boy decides to remain silent and drops his gaze once again to the holes in the green table as he observes the openings.

Tapeworm: Um, does he even speak? Or is he even aware that we're here?

Max: Of course he does.

Kid: *Serious* ... Do you guys need something?

Everyone was caught off guard for a few moments after he spoke.

Zack: *Smiles nervously* Um... I-I just wondered if you wanted to come with us to our house for a while?

Tapeworm: Wait, does that include us?

Cody: Of course it does! The more, the merrier!

Tapeworm: Did you hear that? Someone wants us to come over to their house!

They look back at the kid with anticipation.

Zack: So what do you say... uh, what's your name?

Kid: *Soft-spoken voice* ... Xander.

Zack forms his hand in the shape of a cup and puts it against his ear.

Zack: Sorry, couldn't hear you. What?

Xander: ... Xander. My name?

Zack: *Leans backwards a bit, then forward again* Ah! Xander.

Xander continues to sit there and stare at them.

Max: In case you didn't realize it, he's just messing with you.

Xander: ... Well... I'm not sure; Dad is supposed to come take me home soon.

Zack: Oh, come on! A few minutes wouldn't hurt you, would it?

Xander: *Sighs* ... I guess not.

Xander rises up and carefully slings his backpack over his shoulders, revealing his tall but slim figure.

Cody: Woah! You're huge!

Tapeworm: He's almost like another me!

Max: I hope not.

Zack: What are we waiting for? Let's go!

As the twins bring the strangers to their house, Xander starts feeling a little anxious about not waiting at the bus stop as he usually does. Luckily, it's not too far away. A few sidewalks down, a left turn, a quick right turn, and past a few traffic lights in between. Xander struggles to grasp the liveliness of the streets at that moment, from people playing sports to the left to cars driving in front and backward, noting that he's not in his father's truck to just take him home.

By the last traffic light, he stops and looks up at the massive building that they're heading into. From the outside, it has a white-grey painting on the outside, with a bunch of silky dark green roofs against the top of the bottom windows. The biggest one at the entrance, saying "The Tipton" in gold cursive text.

Xander: This place sure looks fancy. Manny, Mario, come!

I-Mario: Sure, what do you-a need- *Looks up* woah! Xander, you didn't-a tell me that you-a brought me to-a castle!

I-Manny: *Giggles* It's not the type of castle you're thinking of...

Xander checks around the outside again.

Xander: Hmm... Now that I think about it, it does look like a castle. Do you two think I should go inside with them? I could get... lost.

I-Manny: Xander. You're with four others; I'm sure you won't get lost with them around.

I-Mario: Right!

Xander: What would Dad think if he doesn't see me there, though?

😰: ⬆️ 50%

I-Mario: Xander, I think it's about-a time you develop your-a sense of adventure! And even if you do get-a separated from-a them, you still have-a us!

Xander: I guess so...

Zack: Hey, Xander!

Xander snaps out of his trance and looks at the entrance to see the other four there, all squished together, Zack waving inward to come in.

Zack: "You coming? Or are you going to stand there all day?"

Xander walks in, still questioning if he's doing the right thing or not.

Xander: Just stay close, ok? This place is still unknown.

I-Manny: Sure. Besides, in a place like this, there are bound to be a lot of things to fix!

Upon entering the building, Xander's correct about it being fancy. Fancy doesn't even begin to describe it. Despite it being tiny, it too, like the rest of Boston, is bustling with both workers and guests alike. There is a theme of red, brown, and dark green on the furniture and flooring, along with the bright lightbulbs that look like candles hanging on the walls, and a few plants near the entrance.

Max: *Looks around* Woah, you guys LIVE here?

Tapeworm: *Looks around* This place looks way better than what Drew's place would ever look like!

Cody: Well, we don't live on the ground floor; we have a suite we stay in.

Zack lightly elbows Cody's arm and crosses his arms.

Zack: Heh, jealous?

Max: *Holds her hands out to her sides* Uh... yeah!

Cody: What do you think, Xander?

Xander: ... I think it's... bright... and noisy.

Tapeworm: Even with those sunglasses and headphones of yours?

Zack: Yeah, can you reveal yourself under there? We're inside now. And I want to see what your face looks like.

After a few moments, Zack approaches Xander, but he flinches when he gets too close to him and prevents him from removing them. Zack backs off and gives him some space.

Zack: Woah, sorry, dude. I didn't realize those things were so important to you.

Xander: ... Sorry.

Max: So can we go see your suite now?

Tapeworm: Yeah, I'm curious to see it.

Zack: Well, follow me then, everyone!

When they get into the elevator, it is quite spacious, allowing Xander to tuck in the corner farthest away from the others. I-Mario and I-Manny, are standing directly next to Xander.

Xander: ... So, um...

Cody: Yeah?

Xander: ... What's a suite?

Cody: Oh! Um...

Max: You could think of it as an apartment.

Xander: ... Oh.

After a moment passes, Zack crosses his arms and loses his smile at Xander.

Zack: You don't get out much, do you?

Xander: ... Get out of what?

Max snickers softly. Zack glances at the floor for a moment before returning his focus to Xander, slightly smiling.

Cody: If you didn't realize what a suite is, did you even know that this is a hotel?

Xander: ... Nope.

I-Mario slowly sinks to the floor, covering his face with his cap.

I-Mario: How come you-a didn't-a tell Xander that this is a hotel?

I-Manny: I wanted to see if Xander could figure it out for himself, but I guess he couldn't...

Zack: Yup. He's hopeless.

Cody lightly bumps Zack's hip.

Zack: I-I mean, Xander, listen, when you're with us, you're, uh... definitely going to be living the suite life. *Crosses his arms, nervously smiling*

Cody lightly facepalms himself.

Tapeworm: *Slightly looks at the ground, hands on his hips* Dude...

Max: *Crosses her arms* Never say something like that again.

When they exit the elevator and enter their suite, a woman dressed in a pink shirt and black cardio pants is practicing her choreography routine by dancing around a bit, sidestepping, even walking backwards and shaking her buttocks a bit, completely oblivious of Zack, Cody, and the others being present.

Woman: ♪ Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh, and cross and kick and step uh uh and a... no, no, no, no, no, no, no- ♪

Zack: Mom!

Woman: O! K. *Readjusts her hair*

I-Manny: Well, that's something you don't see every day.

I-Mario: She did have some-a nice-a moves though.

Zack: What are you doing?

Woman: Apparently, I'm embarrassing myself in front of your new friends- *Smiles* You made friends!

She gets in front of Max, Tapeworm, and Xander to an uncomfortable degree, making the 3 of them bend backwards.

Max: Maybe.

Max sees a white radio in the living room and decides to turn it on.

Max: Whoa! This is so tight!

Woman: *Speedwalks to Max* I was just rehearsing for-

Some hip-hop music starts playing, and Max starts dancing.

Woman: My new... show. Man, look at you go!

Max continues to dance by wiggling her arms and body around, to the point where her hat falls onto the floor. Everyone becomes astonished by her moves. Xander begins bopping to the music as well.

😰: ⬇️ 30%

Woman: *Puts her hand on her chest* Wow! Can you show me how you do that?

Max: Sure.

Max finishes dancing by getting lower on the floor, performing a 360-degree circle with her legs, and ending with her legs in the air, just as the song ends.

Woman: *Bends down to her level* Ok. No. The part a mom can actually do.

Max: *Smiles* Oh, ok.

The woman approaches Xander after he's done dancing.

Woman: And I can tell you enjoyed that too. *Puts hands on her hips* Along with moves I can actually do.

Zack: Are you sure you want to do moves that Xander did? All he did was just move up and down a few times.

She looks at Zack, then back at Xander.

Woman: So that's your name? Xander?

Xander: ... Uh huh. M-Me llamo Xander.

Everyone's eyes widen, and Max gets back up and dusts herself off.

Max: I'm Max, and this is Tapeworm.

Tapeworm: *Waves at her, smiling* Hi, ma'am.

Carey: Oh please, call me Carey.

I-Mario: Now that's a name you don't-a commonly hear.

Carey looks at the twins.

Carey: *Whispering* Do we need to get a translator?

Zack: No, he can speak English just fine.

Cody: We didn't even know he was bilingual.

Carey looks back at Xander.

Carey: So, what's with the headphones and sunglasses?

I-Manny: I guess Xander might as well get used to people asking this question.

I-Mario: Well, better now than-a later!

Xander: ... It can be bright and noisy for me. I prefer to keep them on right now.

Carey: Sure! Sure.

Tapeworm: He really likes them. Zack tried to take them off earlier, and Xander flinched back.

Carey: Hmm... I see.

A couple of moments pass, and Xander realizes that he should probably return to the bus stop.

Xander: ... I'm sorry, I-I need to leave.

Cody: But, Xander, where are you-

But Xander's already gone, almost as if he vanished.

THE NEXT DAY

🎧: ✅
🕶️: ✅
💭: None
😰: 15%

Back at the bus stop, the group of five walk by Drew and his crew, about to return to the Tipton, all talking with each other. Drew and his crew get curious about them.

Drew: Hey, clones. Is it true that you really live in the Tipton hotel?

Cody: *Crosses his arms, smiling* Yeah, our mom sings there.

Max: *Points down with her finger, smiling* And it makes your place look like a dump.

Tapeworm: *Mimicking Max* Yeah.

Drew: And are there really hot babes serving ice cream by the pool?

Cody: *Points 3 fingers up* 3 flavors.

Zack: And we're talkin' 'bout the girls. *Smiles, crosses his arms, and slightly leans back*

Xander darts his eyes at the ground for a couple moments, then Drew signals the twins to come to a slightly more private location, not even 5 ft away from both groups.

Drew: Maybe we'll, uh... come over and hang out.

Cody: *Points at himself with his folded hand* You wanna hang out with us?

Zack: *Loses smile, lightly hitting Cody's back* Of course, he does.

Drew gets between them, wraps both of them in his arms, and the three of them walk to the bus.

Drew: You know, I've always liked you 2.

Cody: No, you didn't.

Zack lightly hits Cody in the back again and slightly flicks his finger at Cody's ear.

Cody: Ow! Quit it!

Max, Tapeworm, and Xander watch as they leave, with Max crossing her arms.

Max: Something bothers me about Drew.

Tapeworm: What do you mean?

Max: Didn't you just see how he suddenly took a liking to them? Xander, what do you think?

Xander: ... Huh? What do I think about what?

Max: Ugh! Let's just get to the Tipton; I have a really bad feeling about this.

As the children stampede into the hotel, screaming and shouting, they see a gigantic table of free snacks, laid out on a big, red tablecloth, and run to it to chow down. Tapeworm gets stuck in the revolving door and gets squashed by it. Xander stands at the entrance, staring through the glass doors on the left, looking at the food from afar, but decides not to go to the table because he doesn't prefer any of the goodies laid out.

Drew: Check it out, crew. All this stuff is free.

The hotel manager, Mr. Moseby, wearing a gray suit with a pink shirt underneath, walks at them to clarify what the snacks are for.

Mr. Moseby: F-Free for our guests, who spend $2,000 a day.

Drew Crew Member: *To Mr. Moseby* Do you have any hummus?

Mr. Moseby looks at the child, and Tapeworm eventually catches up to the table.

Tapeworm: Ohh. Who ate all the finger sandwiches?

Drew: Who invited Ringworm?

Tapeworm: It's TAPEworm.

Mr. Moseby: Whatever type of worm he is, please take him and the rest of your mongrel horde upstairs and out of sight.

Cody: Come on, guys. Let's hit the pool!

Each of the children sprints by Mr. Moseby, and even though he says not to run, they ignore his instructions, and he falls into Carey's arms.

Mr. Moseby: Just the person I wanted to talk to.

Carey notices Xander standing at the entrance.

Carey: Hang on a moment...

She lets go of Mr. Moseby, standing him straight back up, and walks to the entrance with a smile on her face.

Carey: Hey, what's the matter, honey? Did they leave you behind?

Xander walks inside along with her, and they walk to Mr. Moseby in the middle of the lobby.

Mr. Moseby: Ah, why not add one more hooligan to the list?

Carey: *Loses smile* Wait a sec, Mr. Moseby, there's something different about... *To Xander* Honey, I forgot your name.

Xander was about to speak, but then someone came through the revolving door.

Henry: Xander!

Carey: *Smiles, pointing her finger in the air* Xander! That's right!

Xander's eyes nearly shrunk and froze in place upon hearing his voice. Henry walks to the middle of the lobby, relieved and yet still panicking. He then puts his hands on his hips.

😰: ⬆️ 70%

Henry: Hey, bud, why aren't you at the bus stop like you usually are?

Mr. Moseby: Henry?

Henry: Marion?

After a couple moments, they both do their special handshake, which involves doing a few high fives and a shoulder bump that only they know, saying "ay!" at the end.

Henry: *Smiles* I-I can't believe it's you! I barely recognize you without your afro!

Mr. Moseby: *Smiles* Oh trust me, THOSE days are behind me.

Carey: *Leans her head a bit to the right* You two know each other?

Henry: *Waves his hand at her* Oh yeah, we go WAY back.

Mr. Moseby: College days. We haven't seen... or contacted each other in a decade.

Carey: Well, what are the odds of that?

Henry looks at Xander and decides to get back to the reason he's really here, slightly losing his smile.

Henry: So, bud, why aren't you at the bus stop like you usually are?

Xander: I suppose I can tell the truth right now; we are in public after all. ... A couple of other kids wanted me to come here.

😰: ⬇️ 40%

Henry: Who?

Carey: My twin boys. Zack and Cody.

Henry: Zack and Cody, huh?

After a brief pause, Henry asks Xander to go into the truck that's parked in front of the entrance. And he only begins talking to Carey and Mr. Moseby once he ensures that Xander's in the truck.

Henry: *Puts fingers on his forehead, eyes closed for a moment* So, let me get this straight, your twins asked Xander to come here?

Carey: I do believe so. I asked them to try and find some friends, and Xander just happened to be one of them.

Mr. Moseby: Heh, knowing them, they probably pressured him into coming here.

Henry: Pressured? Can you give me a couple of examples?

Mr. Moseby: Oh, gladly. Not too long ago, they skated in the lobby full of people, nearly causing that priceless vase *Points to the white vase with an animal and plant pattern on a table near the entrance* to fall and break! And at a more recent time, they ruined an entire wedding by attempting to take a photo of the groom and bride kissing for $20,000.

Henry: Heh, they sure sound like a handful. Did they get punished for it?

Carey: Oh yes, they did. I told them that they were grounded on the *Points to where their suite is* 23rd floor, and during the time of that wedding, I hired a babysitter to help watch them. That is until all 3 of them crawled through the vent system to take that photo anyway.

Henry: That sounds like quite an irresponsible babysitter. A-and did you say that they crawled through vents?

Mr. Moseby: *Slightly smiling* I didn't even know that those vents were crawlable until I tried them myself.

Henry: I'm not sure if I want Xander here with those two; they sound like a bad influence.

Carey: However, the wedding incident was my fault, because we're broke, and they're just trying to help. And of course, I explained to them how it isn't the child's responsibility to make money and support the family. That's the parent's job.

Henry: I completely agree; their job should be to go have fun and to be a kid. So, you say your boys need some friends, right?

Carey: Yeah, and they seem to take quite a liking to Xander.

Henry: That's interesting. With Xander? Well... let's just say he has difficulty making friends. Does Xander like being with them?

Carey: I... can't really tell yet. The only thing the kid spoke with me about is his headphones and sunglasses.

Henry: Oh, that... Listen, if he spends time here, you two need to know a couple of things.

Mr. Moseby: Sure, what are they?

Henry shared with both of them about Xander's diagnosis of autism and the challenges that come with it, such as his sensory sensitivities, his need for routine, and with him being a very literal person.

Mr. Moseby: Well, I can assure you that there are a few places here that he can decompress if he needs to.

Henry: That's good to hear. Now, there is one other major thing with him.

Carey: Yes?

Henry: He's considered to be incontinent.

Mr. Moseby: And?

Henry: Meaning he has to be diapered 24/7 because of it.

Mr. Moseby walks to the check-in desk and slams his head on it a few times, almost accidentally hitting the check-in bell.

Carey: Really? I had no idea that he does. I mean, I assumed his shorts looked a little baggy, but I never assumed that. I'm glad you told us.

After Mr. Moseby's done, he returns to the group, defeated.

Mr. Moseby: *Sigh* If it's not one thing, it's another.

Henry: So, how about this: Xander can come here every day after school and play with your boys until I get out of work? Where I work, it's only an hour away, so I should be here by around 11:00pm.

Mr. Moseby: That sounds wonderful. It would be nice to see you every day as well.

Henry examines the blue poster advertising Carey singing in the lounge.

Henry: You sing here?

Carey: I do! I sing in the lounge.

Mr. Moseby: I just hired her, and the guests love her.

Henry looks at Carey up and down one more time, trying not to let them notice.

Henry: Maybe I should come see you sing sometime.

Carey: Sounds like a plan!

In Henry's truck, when Xander sees him approaching, he becomes nervous, questioning whether or not he had done something wrong or whether he was on the chopping block. For around a couple of minutes, though, they stayed silent. Henry decided to break it.

😰: ⬆️ 80%

Henry: So, Xander, you really scared me back there.

Xander doesn't respond, looking at the back of Henry's seat.

Henry: Listen, you're lucky that these are trustworthy people. I can't imagine you going off with a few complete strangers and never returning.

Xander still refuses to speak, and Henry softly growls to himself.

Henry: Well, anyway, you like it there, right?

Xander: ... The hotel?

Henry: Now he talks. Yes, of course I am. You like being with... Zack and Cody, right?

Xander: ... I'm... not sure yet.

Henry: Well, how about this: for a few days after school, how about you stay with them and just... be friends? It would be better than staying in your room all day.

Xander considers what to do but doesn't think about it too much, because he usually demands a near-immediate answer.

Xander: ... I guess. Let's do it.

Henry: Good boy, now let's get home; it's been a big day for the both of us.