Authors Note: I know that all of my stories in the past have been lacking… Well, have been lacking an IQ and a bottle of beer, so to speak. But now that I have more than half a brain, I shall try to write this one better. Okay? Okay. ;)

Disclaimer: If I owned anything, why would I be stuck writing this? Anyways. Nothing is mine, besides the plot and… Just the plot is mine.

Long Time Coming By Brizendine

A blank stare was cast upon the car as it shone in the bright sunlight, but Zoey grimaced with impatience. Where was Chase? He had said he would meet her here, and what did she come to find? No Chase. She was hungry, too, and he had said he'd either bring lunch or take her out. It was their last and final year at Pacific Coast Academy, and it was a withdrawn temper that Zoey realized she had so much to do, and so much left to see. She had never liked teaching, so it was basically impossible for her to imagine herself taking that position, and walking around campus as an adult would look creepy.

And so Zoey was stuck being miserable… What fun, right? Just then, she heard footsteps behind her, and Chase was soon in her sights, panting like he had just run a marathon… Or two.

"Sorry." Was his only, rather panted, response to her eyebrow raise.

"Whatever, let's just go, alright?" He nodded to her comment, and got into the car, slamming the bright red door and waiting for Zoey to climb in.

Chase had gotten over his long time crush on her a while ago, and now most of the ladies at PCA liked him. In his opinion, it was slightly weird, but okay all the same. "So…," Chase mumbled.

Zoey didn't respond. What was up with her, anyways? God. It was like all of a sudden it was just for the money.

"I want Sushi." Zoey commanded, her blonde hair creating a sunlit pathway as the car zoomed along campus.

"Okay." Chase responded, a shrug resting upon his shoulders. In truth, they could have just walked to the Sushi store, since it was on campus, but… Zoey just really seemed to like his car, for whatever reason.

But then, all of a sudden, Chase halted the car, swerving to miss a red headed female walking in the middle of the street, having not seen the car.

All Chase could remember was Zoey's scream, and the car spitting sparks before unconsciousness took him.

The beep of machinery filled Chase's ears as he groggily opened his eyes, only seconds after regretting doing so because of not only the bright lights around him, but the mangled and bloody body of Zoey Brooks on the hospital bed next to his own. Damn it.

"Ah, he's finally awake." A doctor entered the room, professionalism sweeping around her like a hula skirt.

"Wha - ? What happened?" Chase croaked out, sitting up against the pillow unwillingly as the doctor, who was female, poured sticky and distasteful medicine down his throat.

"Car crash. Lucky, Miss Robbins, the girl you missed, apparently, called for help right away. Miss Brooks…," The doctor's tone softened as she glanced at the mangled blonde on the opposite side of the room, "Miss Brooks wasn't so lucky. I'm deeply sorry for your loss, Mr. Matthews." The doctor left, leaving Chase to wallow in his own misery.