Balanced on a Knife's Edge

Summary-Sequel to 'Brotherly Love'. Zack thought that he was safe when his father was put in jail. But now Kurt is back from good behavior, will anybody believe the twins and their friends as they desperately try to prove that Kurt hasn't changed? 'You're life is like a knife's edge, when you fall, you will get cut'

A/N: Sorry it's kind of short. I was in a rush. But, the whole story'll be better. H-ope you enjoy the first chapter.

Ch.1-The way life is supposed to be

Zackary Martin (15) smiled as his friends, Maxine 'Max' Montgomery, Christopher 'Tapeworm' Michaels, and Rikku Hiroshima walked up to him, once he got off of the bus to his boarding school, Revolutionary Middle School.

"Hey Dude, how's it goin'?" Max asked hugging him. Zack grinned and hugged her back.

"It's been cool, Cody, mom, and I have been getting along really well" he replied. His smiled slightly faded. "Considering, well, you know" he added.

Rikku, Tapeworm, and Max nodded. They knew, first hand, all of the bad things that Zack and Cody had encountered. Rikku knew worse, her father also abuses her, but her family can never catch him in the act.

"Yeah, well, at least he's in jail" Rikku said as she pulled her red hair, with black tips, away from her equally red eyes.

"Uh, that's what I have to tell you about" Zack said as he nervously rubbed the back of his head.

"What do you mean?" Rikku asked in her flat tone. Zack hesitated.

"Nothing, never mind" he replied. Zack grinned. "Let's get to class"

"You sure?" Tapeworm asked. Zack nodded. "Ok, let's go" the four walked to their math class. They were comparing their summer vacations. But Zack wasn't listening. He was thinking when his father was going to strike. He was scared for his family.

"Zack are you ok?" Rikku asked him. Zack forced a smile.

"Sure I am, sweet thang" he replied. Rikku rolled her eyes.

"Typical Zack" Max commented. "Never changes"

'I've changed Max,' Zack thought sadly. 'And not for the better'

"Cody!" a voice cried. Cody Martin turned, just to be crushed in the arms of Ashley Brown (15). "Oh my god, I haven't seen you all summer! You look great! Have you gotten taller"

"How've you been Ashley?" Cody asked as Ashley pulled away. Hey hair grew longer and she now had blue braces.

"I-I mean, we've been great!" Ashley said grinning g widely.

"Thanks a lot" a dull voice commented. Cody turned and his smile grew wider.

"I can't believe you forgot us" Dorian McKnight (15) said as he and Rumiku Hiroshima (15) walked up to them.

"I didn't" Cody smiled and hugged them. "By the way, mom and Zack want to say thanks for helping us get rid of dad"

"Tell them, the pleasure is all on the 'Disciplinary Committee", we'll do anything to help a friend" Rumiku replied as she crossed hr arms across her chest and smiled slightly. Though, for Rumiku, it was more of a smirk. She hasn't really shown her emotions since she was nine. All Cody knows is that she and her family are in trouble, and are constantly running from the police.

"Ok" Cody nodded.

He grinned, he liked the way his friends made him feel. As if they were another family. They haven't been hanging out as much over the summer because Carey wanted to seem like she wasn't a bad mother, took Zack and Cody on a long vacation. They had a lot of fun, but missed their friends a lot too. Now, Zack and Cody are never apart, unless they're at school.

They need each other.

"Let's get to class" Rumiku said nodding towards the school. A shadow of a smile showed through. But it disappeared fast.

They started to go to their first class. Ashley and Dorian were arguing over something. Rumiku was listening to her CD player, and Cody was looking at the scenery. It's just the way things were supposed to be.

"Cody, are you ok?" Rumiku asked. Cody looked surprised as he looked back at her. "You look kinda distant"

Cody forced a smile.

"Just thinking about my summer" he lied.

He was actually thinking g about his father.

Worrying, actually.

It was only a matter of time before he came back.

But for now, they were going to live their lives without a care.

To bad their father was planning a way to ruin Zack's and Cody's lives forever…