"Oh, for crying out loud..." Scott stared at them angrily, "What do you guys think you are doing?!"
"Hey, calm down..." Mark raised both arms, "It's not like we wanted to do this..."
"Ya!" Zack jumped in, "It's Max's fault!"
"...Max's fault?"
"Ya," Mark continued, "He went over to see Luke after you left, saying he'd be back shortly to separate us."
"But then he forgot about us and went to school! Leaving us stuck like this!" Zack started pushing on Mark, "I didn't want to go to school and have everyone gawking at me..."
Scott started chuckling, "Ok, well, that explains why you're home. So... shortly after I left. That's what, almost six hours you guys have been together..." Zack and Mark both nodded, and Scott grinned back at them, "How have you guys been holding up, locked together like that?"
"It's awesome!" Zack cheered and hugged Mark, "I get to miss school, watch cartoons, eat junk food, and best of all... I finally get to hang out with Mark! It's everything I've always wanted!"
Mark smiled and rubbed his head against his brother's, "Ya, it's been pretty fun."
"Well, as long as you're mother doesn't find out. I'm glad you're having fun Zack!" Scott stepped forward, hugging them both and putting his head near their left shoulder so only Mark could hear him. "And I'm glad you're including him, spending time together without getting angry or making him mad. It means a lot to me Mark, but not as much as it means to him." Mark could see the sincerity in his dad's face, and hear it in his voice as he rubbed Mark's back. "You guys want to split?!"
Mark and Zack glanced at each other, "Ya, we probably should..."
"Oh well, you guys are gonna have to rough it out until Max or Luke get home, they're the only ones who could split you..."Scott trailed off in thought,"unless Ethan gets home home first."