102- Suite Life On Deck (Zack and Max)

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by Ameliashepherdwife

by Ameliashepherdwife

Zack Martin stood on the sun-kissed deck of the S.S. Tipton, the salty breeze tugging at his graduation cap. The sea stretched out before him, a vast canvas of memories—of laughter, friendship, and unexpected love.

Maya, his girlfriend, had just broken the news. She was joining the Peace Corps, assigned to Chad in Africa. Two years apart. Zack's heart clenched; he'd never been good at goodbyes.

He found Max sitting on a deck chair, gazing at the horizon. Max, with her unruly curls and mischievous eyes, had always been a mystery. They'd shared late-night conversations, secrets whispered under moonlight. But now, the ship's imminent sale meant their paths diverged.

"Hey," Zack said, taking a seat beside her. "You okay?"

Max shrugged, her fingers tracing patterns on the armrest. "Graduation's bittersweet, huh? Endings and new beginnings."

"Yeah." Zack's voice wavered. "Maya's leaving."

Max glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "And you?"

"I don't know." Zack stared at the waves. "Maybe I'll join the Peace Corps too. Follow her."

Max chuckled. "You? In Chad?"

"Why not?" Zack grinned. "I can learn to build wells or something."

Max nudged him. "You're a goof, Zack Martin."

They fell into silence, the ship's engines humming beneath their feet. The sun dipped lower, casting golden ripples on the water. Zack's heart drummed; he needed to say it.

"Max," he began, "I've got something to tell you."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"I love you." The words spilled out, raw and unfiltered. "I've loved you since that basketball game, when you kissed me impulsively. And I realized it wasn't just a kiss—it was you."

Max blinked, speechless. Then she laughed, a little teary. "Zack, you're an idiot."

"Probably." He grinned. "But I want to be your idiot."

She leaned closer, their shoulders touching. "Zack, I'm not leaving for Chad. I'm staying here. I've got a job at a marine research institute. I want to study the ocean, explore its depths."

His heart soared. "So, no goodbyes?"

"Nope." Max's lips brushed his. "Just hellos."

And so, on that sun-drenched deck, Zack and Max found their beginning. The sea whispered secrets, promising adventures and shared sunsets. As the ship sailed toward the horizon, they held hands, ready to dive into their forever.