p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The overhead lights illuminated the dance floor, as the tenth grade class happily danced, knowing that the year with them as tenth graders was drawing to a close./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"But for Chase and Zoey, this was only the beginning. In the past three months, Chase's body had been separated from PCA, but his mind still remained, thinking of this very moment every night as his head hit his pillow in England. He couldn't have thought of a better reunion for him and Zoey, well, besides those two falls, but the euphoria of being in Zoey's presence as his boyfriend removed the sting of his badly scraped body. Their hands lightly intertwined as they swung their limbs back and forth. They didn't know what dance they were doing or what beat they were dancing to, but it didn't matter. Chase had been waiting for this night for four years, and as he took it all in, his crooked smile occupied his face, taking occasional long glances into the brown eyes of Zoey. With many breaks to look around, it wasn't that he didn't want to spend his time in her eyes but rather, it was still a little hard for him to get used to dating his best friend of four years, and he didn't dare risk making her feel uncomfortable with an intimate staring contest, even though he craved it for some reason./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey's heart felt whole again. How could she had not realized that Chase was the missing piece, the thing in the way. It didn't hit her until she saw him sitting there, perched on that black fence, with those curly locks and cute smile. Now here they were dancing in any stylespan style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"—/spanit span style="font-size: 14.08px;"didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was finaly back, and so was a part of her heart. It was such a beautiful moment, not just for her, but for everyone. She scanned the floor. Everyone wore smiles and danced, Michael with Lisa, Lola with Vince, Mark with /spanStacyspan style="font-size: 14.08px;", and/spanspan style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"—/spanspan style="font-size: 14.08px;"oh yes/spanspan style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"—/spanspan style="font-size: 14.08px;"the shock of the night, Logan and Quinn. What an awesome way to end grade 10. Her happy observations were interrupted by Chase's gentle right hand on her shoulder as he pulled her to the side and leaned in to talk over the noise./span/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""There's something I want to ask you, Zoe."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey shot him a confused look, and he smiled and continued. "I should've asked you this a long time ago, and I wouldn't dare let this night end without it being said."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey smiled as she kept her ear by his mouth enjoying the feel of his breath, she then adjusted her lips to be hovering around his ear, as she playfully responded, "Sorry, Chase, but I'm a little too young for marriage right now."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"They pulled back their heads slightly to be in eyesight. Chase put on his best fake disappointed look, and then he flashed a smile./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"It was coming back: their humour, the way the could joke with each other. After such a long time apart, it would take a while for things to be normal again, especially considering they were now expecting a completely new paradigm in their relationship./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase returned his mouth to the entrance of her ear./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Well I never imagined asking it like this, but here it goes…since you won't marry me…how about a date?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey did not risk another sarcastic remark, as her heart leapt, and she gave an excited "Yes!"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase reached down, and held her hand tightly. "Well then, let's go!"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Right now?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yeah, I still have a blown date to make up for."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ha ha, very true. Well then, lead the way, Curly Sue!"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Wow, even now that I'm your boyfriend, you're not gonna let that name go, huh?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey laughed. "Never."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"They both had smiles as Chase held Zoey's hand. As they enjoyed each other's presence, they were captivated by each other and fell numb to the surrounding environment of noise and people. Their steps harmonised and Zoey let her body brush up against his. This alone sent shots of adrenaline rushing through her body. The feeling was intoxicating, and the happiness indescribable./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase and Zoey's feet hit sand, as they walked gingerly on the beach./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey spoke up. "Are we going for a swim?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"He laughed. "Not quite. You'll see."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"They approached the spread that Chase had set before he had met up with Zoey./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey's breath got caught in her throat. She spotted a simple white blanket draped over the sand, bordered by white candles dancing in the slow sea breeze./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Wow," was all Zoey could think to say as they continued to the blanket. Chase dropped himself onto the blanket and helped Zoey down to her back. They settled into their spots and let out a harmonizing sigh, unshakable smiles sat on both their faces, as they looked up at the beautiful clear sky, illuminated by a half moon./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I missed you, Chase," Zoey said, keeping her lips close together in a whisper./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase locked his eyes onto hers./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I missed you, too," he stated quietly. "Is this kind of weird? I mean we've been best friends for so long...and here we are after three months of separation and three years of being friends, alone and on our first date." Chase questioned./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Not really. I mean, I'm so comfortable around you. The only uncomfortable aspect right now is that I'm cold." She looked to him, silently asking for his embrace./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase smiled. "Well, that won't do."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase slowly lifted his arm and secured Zoey in his grasp. Zoey rested happily on Chase's chest. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and said, "I love you, Chase."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase heart leapt as his mind digested her words./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I love you, too, Zoey."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Goofy wide smiles were plastered to both of their faces. They couldn't help it. This moment was perfect. Chase held Zoey as they gazed at the stars./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"If Chase only knew what events would unfold in Hawaii, he would've held her a lot tighter/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"But for Chase and Zoey, this was only the beginning. In the past three months, Chase's body had been separated from PCA, but his mind still remained, thinking of this very moment every night as his head hit his pillow in England. He couldn't have thought of a better reunion for him and Zoey, well, besides those two falls, but the euphoria of being in Zoey's presence as his boyfriend removed the sting of his badly scraped body. Their hands lightly intertwined as they swung their limbs back and forth. They didn't know what dance they were doing or what beat they were dancing to, but it didn't matter. Chase had been waiting for this night for four years, and as he took it all in, his crooked smile occupied his face, taking occasional long glances into the brown eyes of Zoey. With many breaks to look around, it wasn't that he didn't want to spend his time in her eyes but rather, it was still a little hard for him to get used to dating his best friend of four years, and he didn't dare risk making her feel uncomfortable with an intimate staring contest, even though he craved it for some reason./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey's heart felt whole again. How could she had not realized that Chase was the missing piece, the thing in the way. It didn't hit her until she saw him sitting there, perched on that black fence, with those curly locks and cute smile. Now here they were dancing in any stylespan style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"—/spanit span style="font-size: 14.08px;"didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was finaly back, and so was a part of her heart. It was such a beautiful moment, not just for her, but for everyone. She scanned the floor. Everyone wore smiles and danced, Michael with Lisa, Lola with Vince, Mark with /spanStacyspan style="font-size: 14.08px;", and/spanspan style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"—/spanspan style="font-size: 14.08px;"oh yes/spanspan style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"—/spanspan style="font-size: 14.08px;"the shock of the night, Logan and Quinn. What an awesome way to end grade 10. Her happy observations were interrupted by Chase's gentle right hand on her shoulder as he pulled her to the side and leaned in to talk over the noise./span/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""There's something I want to ask you, Zoe."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey shot him a confused look, and he smiled and continued. "I should've asked you this a long time ago, and I wouldn't dare let this night end without it being said."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey smiled as she kept her ear by his mouth enjoying the feel of his breath, she then adjusted her lips to be hovering around his ear, as she playfully responded, "Sorry, Chase, but I'm a little too young for marriage right now."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"They pulled back their heads slightly to be in eyesight. Chase put on his best fake disappointed look, and then he flashed a smile./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"It was coming back: their humour, the way the could joke with each other. After such a long time apart, it would take a while for things to be normal again, especially considering they were now expecting a completely new paradigm in their relationship./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase returned his mouth to the entrance of her ear./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Well I never imagined asking it like this, but here it goes…since you won't marry me…how about a date?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey did not risk another sarcastic remark, as her heart leapt, and she gave an excited "Yes!"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase reached down, and held her hand tightly. "Well then, let's go!"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Right now?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yeah, I still have a blown date to make up for."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ha ha, very true. Well then, lead the way, Curly Sue!"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Wow, even now that I'm your boyfriend, you're not gonna let that name go, huh?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey laughed. "Never."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"They both had smiles as Chase held Zoey's hand. As they enjoyed each other's presence, they were captivated by each other and fell numb to the surrounding environment of noise and people. Their steps harmonised and Zoey let her body brush up against his. This alone sent shots of adrenaline rushing through her body. The feeling was intoxicating, and the happiness indescribable./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase and Zoey's feet hit sand, as they walked gingerly on the beach./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey spoke up. "Are we going for a swim?"/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"He laughed. "Not quite. You'll see."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"They approached the spread that Chase had set before he had met up with Zoey./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Zoey's breath got caught in her throat. She spotted a simple white blanket draped over the sand, bordered by white candles dancing in the slow sea breeze./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Wow," was all Zoey could think to say as they continued to the blanket. Chase dropped himself onto the blanket and helped Zoey down to her back. They settled into their spots and let out a harmonizing sigh, unshakable smiles sat on both their faces, as they looked up at the beautiful clear sky, illuminated by a half moon./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I missed you, Chase," Zoey said, keeping her lips close together in a whisper./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase locked his eyes onto hers./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I missed you, too," he stated quietly. "Is this kind of weird? I mean we've been best friends for so long...and here we are after three months of separation and three years of being friends, alone and on our first date." Chase questioned./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Not really. I mean, I'm so comfortable around you. The only uncomfortable aspect right now is that I'm cold." She looked to him, silently asking for his embrace./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase smiled. "Well, that won't do."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase slowly lifted his arm and secured Zoey in his grasp. Zoey rested happily on Chase's chest. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and said, "I love you, Chase."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Chase heart leapt as his mind digested her words./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I love you, too, Zoey."/p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Goofy wide smiles were plastered to both of their faces. They couldn't help it. This moment was perfect. Chase held Zoey as they gazed at the stars./p
p style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"If Chase only knew what events would unfold in Hawaii, he would've held her a lot tighter/p