TIME BOMB

Dan Schneider and Nick own all.

"Can I walk a pretty lady to class?" Chase asked Lola with his trademark lopsided grin.

"Of course." Lola replied and slipped her arm through the one Chase offered.

"So, you figure out that algebra assignment?" he asked her. Lola's groan told him all he needed to know.

"I hate algebra!" she stated dramatically causing Chase to cover his mouth to prevent laughing, "At least it's not due until Friday."

"I'll help you tonight." Chase told her. Lola really needed to fight the urge to kiss her friend. No need to start up rumors. Especially since she already had a boyfriend. Lola had been amazed and grateful for how easily Chase and Vince got along. Chase said that he long ago learned to forgive and forget and could tell how Vince had changed. The two were now actually good friends much to Lola's delight.

"You really are the best friend a girl could have." Lola stated resting her head against his shoulder. "you're practically one of us!" she finished brightly.

"Um, thank you, I think" Chase responded with a confused expression that made Lola giggle.

That's when the pain struck.

"AHHHH!" Chase screamed and put his hand over his right eye, shutting both eyes tightly. "Not now!" he whispered.

"Chase!" Lola cried as the young man fell to his knees, breathing heavily. Lola knelt down beside him and put her hands on his shoulders, her eyes wide with concern and fear. After a few minutes the pain subsided and Chase removed his hand from his face. He regarded his surroundings with clear confusion.

"Chase?" Lola practically whispered. Chase seemed not to hear her as he continued to scan the bright sunny campus.

"This isn't England." he murmured to himself. After a while he begin to recognize familiar markings. He was back at PCA!

"Chase, are you ok?" Lola said softly, tears welling in her dark eyes. Chase finally turned to his friend and a huge grin spread across his face. "Lola!" he cried enthusiastically, surprising the girl by throwing his arms around her petite frame. Lola's eyes became huge and her mouth dropped open in confusion as she carefully returned Chase's hug.

"I'm back!" he cried in triumph.

"Yeah, you've been back for a month now." she informed him. Chase held Lola at arm's length and looked at her, clearly confused. Realization brought a look of horror to his eyes and a distinct redness to his face.

"Oh God."

"What is it? What's going on?" Lola asked clearly afraid. Chase studied the girl's face before finally taking a deep breath.

"Just before I went to England, I started getting these blinding headaches. When I got there they got worse and I started to have blackouts. So I checked with a doctor who told me that it was because some of the blood vessels in my head were weak."

"Oh my God." Lola said "how bad is it?" Chase avoided Lola's gaze which spoke volumes to the girl. Tears fell from her eyes again.

"Why didn't you tell us?!" she wailed. Chase pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worry."

"We're your friends, Chase." she said with a chuckle though she was still crying, "We worry about you all the time." After a while they ended the embrace and stood up. Chase, who was still weakened and listing heavily to his left, leaned against Lola for support as they made their way to class. Lola was now very tuned in to even the slightest change in Chase. That's why she was ready when Chase collapsed against her, but because he was bigger then she they both dropped to the ground. Lola quickly rolled over and looked at the boy's face. What she saw there filled her with terror. His eyes had rolled back in his head and his entire body seized up, then went slack.

"CHASE!" Lola screamed which drew attention for passers-by. "Somebody get an ambulance!"

Lola was grateful that the ambulance crew had believed that she was Chase's sister. She didn't really want to have to fight to stay with him. All the way to the hospital she held his hand, willing him to open his eyes and tell her it was all a joke. Now she sat next to Chase's bed still holding his hand. After they examined him, which is the only time Lola allowed herself to be seperated from him, the doctors had confirmed the worst. Chase had a stroke and the doctors couldn't even tell her if he would wake up. She had told them that she would inform "their" parents but in truth she had no way of knowing how to get in touch with the Matthews. Lola did know someone who could do it. Someone who also deserved to be told.

"Hello?" Zoey's voice answered after a couple of rings.

"Zo, it's Lola." she said, her voice rough after all the crying she had done.

"Lola, where are you?"

"At the hospital." Lola could hear Zoey's sharp inhale.

"Are you ok?!" Zoey asked.

"I am, but..." Lola closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. It didn't work. "Chase isn't." She choked out with a sob.

"What do you mean?" Zoey asked nearing panic. Lola explained to her what happened and before she was done both girls were in tears.

"I'll be right there."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Zo."

"Why not?!" Zoey asked, flustered.

"He's in intensive care. The only reason they let me come with him is because I told them he was my brother. Besides, someone needs to let his parents know and I don't know how to contact them." Zoey recovered from her shock enough to realize the wisdom in what her friend was saying.

"Ok, you stay with him and I'll get a hold of his parents. But you let me know the moment anything changes, you understand?"

"I will." Lola said dabbing her eyes with a tissue from the box on the table next to Chase's bed. After she disconnected the call Lola looked back at her friend sleeping peacefully beside her. "Don't you dare leave us, Chase Matthews." She whispered, resting her chin on her arms near his head. Soon she felt the energy created by the crisis drain out of her body. Lola layed her head down on the same pillow and closed her eyes.