A/N: Greetings, earthlings! I gave up my favorite TV show Bonanza for Lent, and so I've tried to find good substitutes and found The Suite Life on Deck. And this is what comes of watching multiple episodes in one day. And noticing how badly the brothers treat each other. And how ridiculously perfect that landing on the island in Lost at Sea was. So I decided a little something angsty should happen, mwahaha.

Disclaimer: I don't own this. Disney does. (Disney could be the new East India Company.)

Prologue

It was windy tonight, and there was sand digging into his bare skin, making him cringe. He was glad nobody else was awake to see him in such a state, see him succumbing to his fears and dark thoughts. he was glad that nobody else ever saw that side of him - because that was why he wore the mask; so nobody else could see it.

He didn't know how Cody could stand it. Being insulted every day of his life and still managing to get along peaceful and happy. Cody had the girlfriend; Cody was well off; Cody had all the brains. Cody was the one that would get the good job and all the best friends. Cody knew what he was going to do with his life. Cody knew everything.

And of course, he knew nothing. Sure, he knew what pants to wear with what shirt, but what did that really matter in the end? When he thought about it, was anything Cody did even something that would matter in the end? What was it he'd heard speech of - ah, yes. Judgment Day. The final hour. All that jazz. It was supposed to happen in 2012, and he knew it. He didn't believe it; it was more likely that the world would explode in the next minute than on a specific day in 2012.

His thoughts were digressing. He rolled over in the makeshift hammock and faced the ground, squeezing his eyes shut. Maybe if he cleared his head he'd fall asleep. And soon enough, he did.

Things were becoming a blur. Bailey cheesing at him trying to make Cody jealous. Cody sulking in any corner he could find. Woody stalking London. London pretending to be in a 5-star hotel. It was all stupid and worthless in his eyes; they were going to die anyway. It was hot and there was nothing to eat but bugs, and he'd already tried a couple of those; they didn't treat his stomach very nicely. And as Zack thought about it, Bailey returned to camp with a couple of berries.

"Hey, look what I found," Bailey said cheerfully. "Zack, don't you want some?"

Actually, he didn't, but he supposed it was better than sand. "Sure, thanks," Zack said dully, taking the berries from her. Bailey stood there with her arms crossed watching him, as if waiting for him to eat them. Zack was violently reminded of a scene from The Return of the King. Or perhaps it had been The Two Towers. In any case, he was Aragorn and she was Eowyn, and he did not want to eat these.

But Bailey stood there expectantly, so Zack popped them into his mouth and chewed. They tasted fine until he reached the insides of them - then they got a little bitter. But hey, at least they had some taste. The more Zack chewed the more bitter the berries were, but Bailey stood there and waited, and Zack swallowed them. "Thanks," Zack forced out, and Bailey grinned.

"You're welcome, Zack," Bailey said, and sat down beside him, which did not exactly make Zack want to leap for joy. "You know, if there's anyone I had to be stuck on a deserted island with, I'm glad it's you."

Zack didn't feel the same way, but he didn't say anything; he stared at the sand instead. He didn't care what Bailey thought about him. He didn't care what Cody thought - heck, he didn't even care what he thought. He only wanted this to end sooner. He hated this. He hated it so much he didn't know what to do with himself. How many days had they been here? He didn't even know anymore.

And everything turned back into a blur.