All Friends Check-In (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)

17. Rock Star in The House

There was no point in reading my book while hearing the screaming of girls coming from outside the hotel. I was about to pull out an audiobook when Uncle Marion went around the lobby, looking for any fangirls who managed to get inside. It turned out that the rock singer, Jesse McCartney, checked into the hotel, and the crazed fangirls were trying to get in to see him. Personally, I didn't care. However, I've heard a few of his songs, and I liked "Beautiful Soul" the best.

"Please remove these two and check behind the couches for more," Uncle Marion told one of the staff after finding a couple of girls hiding behind a ficus. 

I heard a sneeze coming from one of the discarded duffel bags.

"I think that bag has a cold," I pointed out after checking to make sure I wasn't sitting on anybody.

Uncle Marion picked it up and unzipped it, revealing another fangirl. "Out!" he told her. "And take your matching duffel friend with you."

Another girl stood up, and both of them headed for the exit, disappointed.

"What are all these girls here for?" Cody wondered after he, Zack, and Carey arrived in the lobby.

"We happened to have a very famous rock star checking in this afternoon," Uncle Marion answered.

"It's so silly how insane women get when it comes to musicians," Carey giggled.

"Who is it?" Zack asked.

"That McCartney fellow," Uncle Marion replied.

"Paul McCartney?" Carey asked with eyes wide. "I love Paul McCartney!" She screeched and jumped in excitement.

"Who's he?" Cody inquired, not knowing who the former Beatles singer was.

"Not Paul McCartney, Jesse McCartney," I corrected Carey.

"Who's he?" Carey wondered in confusion.

Additionally, Uncle Marion tasked me with ensuring London didn't try to stalk Jesse, as she had with several celebrities who had stayed at the Tipton. Her dad contacted my uncle, stating that she should be kept away from all celebrity guests staying at the hotel, not wanting a repeat of an incident involving Orlando Bloom. I had to guess that London had stalked the Pirates of the Caribbean actor when he was a guest.

Maddie informed me that she only wanted to interview Jesse for her school newspaper, and London had offered to help her.

"You heard my uncle," I told London just as she and Maddie were figuring out an alternative way of getting into the ballroom where the singer was rehearsing. "If he catches you in there, it's shipped off to a boarding school."

However, my words fell upon deaf ears as London believed Jesse was her future husband. When London and Maddie pulled a disappearing act on me, I suspected they found a way into the ballroom.

There was some screaming coming from there. I followed Uncle Marion into the ballroom.

"Ah, is everything okay in here? No screaming girls?" my uncle asked Jesse.

"No, but there were a couple of screaming waiters," the singer told him.

I turned to find a rolling table and saw four pairs of hands moving towards the exit. So I discreetly followed it.

"Look, this has gotta stop," I shook my head at London and Maddie. "Just leave the guy alone. He's got too many fangirls tailing him, and both of you are adding to the count."

"It's just a professional interview," Maddie informed me.

"With my future husband-to-be," London jumped in. "Wait a minute, Marley, are you in love with Jesse too?" The ditzy heiress gave me a suspicious expression.

"What? No! I mainly like his songs. I don't know him as a person," I stated.

Later, once again, London and Maddie pulled a Houdini on me. I found out some of the fangirls had managed to sneak through the lobby, all the way to the 23rd floor in an attempt to get into Jesse's room. One of the security guards was a tall man, taller than Uncle Marion, and had used himself as a barricade, keeping the insane fangirls from getting past him.

I found London and Maddie at the Martins' suite with Zack, and I confronted the girls after discovering they had snuck into Jesse's room. Plus, Zack had gotten into the room and was stealing items and random objects that Jesse had touched, as if the latter were a god to the fans who would pay any price. Like me, my allowance, and the latest Nintendo DS game! 

Knowing that I would inform Uncle Marion and security, London, Maddie, and Zack took me against my will as they snuck into Jesse's room to return a bracelet Zack had stolen. I hated going through the vent system. 

When we arrived in the room, Jesse was asleep on the bed.

"He looks so adorable when he's asleep," London smiled.

"Like an angel," Maddie added.

"You two are being total creeps," I shook my head as Zack yanked me out of the vent and turned to him. "Just put the bracelet back wherever you found it, and we all get the heck outta here."

He nodded at me.

"And no stealing any of his personal items. It's bound to land you in jail," I warned Zack.

The drawer where Zack had found the bracelet was stuck. London laid on the bed next to Jesse's sleeping form and took a selfie with her camera. Maddie accidentally ended up being hugged by the singer around the neck. London thought she was stealing Jesse from her.

"Just hurry up," I whispered to Zack, who was struggling to get the drawer open.

"Marley, take a picture of us," Maddie told me.

"No way," I shook my head, refusing to be a part of my friends' shenanigans.

Zack yanked the drawer out. The noise woke up Jesse. Maddie quickly ducked as London bumped into the curtains, causing them to open.

"What's going on?" Jesse wondered sleepily. 

"Hi. You don't know me, but we're gonna be married," London smiled as she took two steps close to the bed.

That's borderline creepy. I thought.

"Security!" Jesse called out.

"Run!" Maddie gasped.

London used her camera to temporarily blind the security guards who came into the room as she and Maddie escaped through the vent. The guards grabbed Zack and me. We both explained our stories to Jesse. When he learned that a couple of twelve-year-old kids hung out with two fifteen-year-old girls, the singer thought that it was impressive. Jesse thought it was awesome that I, as a girl, kept a cool head while around him, since a lot of girls were crazy for him. The security guards let Zack and me go.

Jesse expressed that, even though he enjoyed fame, it came at a price. I felt bad for him when he added that he would like to do regular stuff like shooting hoops and playing video games. Zack invited him to play some video games over at the suite. 

Zack and Jesse started playing a racing game on the gaming console. They didn't mind me hanging out in the suite. London and Maddie hung outside the door, though Maddie asked Jesse what his favorite color was. London stated that she just wanted to marry him.

"Good grief," I shook my head and went over to the door. "Guys, just lay off. Give 'im a break. Let 'im be a regular joe for once!" I shouted and turned to the singer, my expression apologetic. "Sorry about my friends. They're just as nutsy as those fangirls downstairs."

"No problem, Marley," Jesse nodded, and he and I fist bumped each other.