'Till I See You Again
-Chapter 2-
Zoey continued to stare at the screen, even after Chase left the room. She felt frozen to her computer chair, unable to speak, unable to think, just trying to process what she had just heard. It was the weirdest feeling she had ever felt in her life. "I don't just miss her. I'm in love with her." The words played over and over again in her head. How was she supposed to react? Should she call him? And if she did what would she say? Should she pretend she didn't hear it?
"Chase wants to tell you he's in love with you!" Lola had told her the first day of school last year. Zoey didn't want to believe her. She knew that they were just friends. They were nothing more than just a girl and guy who happened to be with each other all the time. Nothing more, nothing less. All the walks, the long talks, dinners at Sushi Rox, it was just them being best friends.
Memories weaved in and out of Zoey's mind. The eighth grade dance when Chase was so upset that she had chosen Glen Davis over him, that play he wrote, when he was going insane because she was going to kiss Logan, when she wasn't doing so well in Chemistry and she went to Logan for help, Chase thought they were dating and started hiding in bushes, trying to find out what was going on, and every time she even mentioned anyone that she might be interested in, like Danny. It finally hit her, Chase was jealous. It was all coming together, all the secrets, the techmate, the general Chase weirdness. It was all making sense. Completely overwhelmed with that awkward tingly, hot feeling Zoey managed to stand up and move toward her bedroom door.
But...there was a hint of hope that Zoey had always kept hidden so deep inside her heart. It was always there. The simple wonder of what it would be like to be with him as more than just friends. And there was always the feeling of attraction because of their natural chemistry. Their bodies naturally leaned closer than with any of her other guy friends. And there was the occasional romantic vibe. Like when they had to hold hands, pretending to be girlfriend and boyfriend so Trisha would quit stalking Chase. Zoey had felt strange with his hand enveloping hers at first. But after the first five seconds she felt something different- his hand was rough yet soft at the same time. She felt secure and warm. And then there was the dance. He had spent hours working on that dance so she wouldn't have to drop out. He had ended up sleeping in but they danced anyway. He held her, spun her, and looked at her in a way that made her want to melt.
Zoey's head was spinning, and just as if she was on a merry-go-round, she felt overwhelmingly dizzy with her feelings- happy that Chase could love her so much, angry that he had just let her move to London without even a good-bye, sad because she missed him and needed her best friend, and one more feeling. What was it? It was a mere flicker in the midst of confusion. Suddenly she knew. But that's ridiculous, Zoey thought. Yet she still walked out her door and into the kitchen where her parents sat, paying bills.
"Mom? Dad?"
"What is it Zoe?" Mrs. Brooks asked.
"I need to go back. Just for a weekend."
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks looked at each other, looks of befuddlement written across their faces.
"Why?" Mr. Brooks asked.
"I need to take care of something. Then I promise I'll be back for good."
Smiling, Mrs. Brooks looked at her husband and they read each others minds. It was an inside joke of theirs.
"Sure, hon. As long as it's really important," Mr. Brooks said.
"It is."
"I'll call the airline," Mrs. Brooks said.
"I'll call PCA," Mr. Brooks said.
"Thanks," Zoey walked back into her room, flopped on her bed, and smiled into her pillow thinking, I love him too.
A/N: Part 3/3 will come by next Friday. I'm glad I was the first to write one of these because if I wasn't I would probably let other people's ideas screw up my own. Did you like my use of the word befuddlement? Haha. Good times. Review please! You guys are awesome!
Noelle
