A/N: First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed for the last chapter. I couldn't believe I got over 150 hits in merely two days! I also am trying to make this fanfiction as realistic as possible, so it may be a while before Zoey gets to even talk or see Chase.
Zoey woke up, realizing she had forgotten to change out of her school uniform. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was 6 in the morning. So if Los Angles was 9 hours back that would make it--- 3 in the afternoon? She wasn't sure. The time zone change was really taking its toll.
"Good morning, Zo!" said her mom, walking into the room. She looked exhausted in her blue terry-cloth bathrobe.
"Hey," Zoey said groggily, rubbing her eyes.
"You ready to go to school?" her mom asked kindly. Like everyone in the family, Mrs. Brooks was pretty tall, blonde, and skinny.
"Uh huh. I just need breakfast," she said, climbing out of bed.
"Your dad had to go to work early. But I got English muffins with jelly waiting in the kitchen."
"Thanks," Zoey said gratefully.
They walked together down the stairs. Their house was so huge! Before Zoey and Dustin attended PCA, they lived in a 3 bedroom ranch just within walking distance of the beach. Now, they lived in a five bedroom home that was nearly four times as big as her old house.
"Mom?" Zoey asked as she buttered her English muffin.
"What is it sweetie?"
She poured herself a mug of coffee and sat across from Zoey.
"Do you think it was wrong of me to come to England?"
Her mom paused, taking a sip of her coffee.
"I wouldn't necessarily say it was wrong. It must've been a difficult decision for you, I can imagine."
Zoey nodded, picking listlessly at the strings that embroidered her place mat. How could she say this to her in the most mature way possible? Wouldn't they be ticked if they realized she wanted to go back?
"You know how last night I told you guys that I was planning on staying in England?"
Her mom's eyes grew slightly wider, lowering her coffee mug.
"Have you changed your mind?" her mom asked curiously.
"Sort've," Zoey said meekly.
"Sweetie, its okay if you haven't adjusted to England yet. It'll take time."
"But I miss my friends so much! I know it sounds crazy but, do you think it's possible if I could go back?"
Her mom twiddled her thumbs, clearly trying to think of the best way to respond.
"I want you to be happy, Zoey. I really do. But you do realize how much money it cost to get here?" her mom asked.
"I know that, and I'm really sorry. But there's just this issue I wanted to resolve. And its one of those issues I can't do over the phone. I need to do it face-to-face." Zoey explained.
"But we installed that webcam for you!" her mom pointed out.
"It's not the same, Mom!" Zoey insisted.
"So once you resolve the issue, you just want to come back to England?"
"No. I want to back to PCA."
Her mother sighed, taking a bite of her English muffin. She chewed thoughtfully for a few minutes.
"Well?" Zoey asked after she finally swallowed.
"I'll have to talk to your father. And we'll see what he says."
"Thanks mom!" Zoey grinned, getting up and hugging her.
"I'm not making any promises. Now hurry up and get ready. You still have school to go to."
Zoey hurried upstairs and showered quickly. Her hair was still wet, and by the time she got out of the shower, it was 6:30.
"Crap!" she muttered, blow drying it desperately.
"Zoey! Hurry up! We're going to be late!" her mom called up the stairs.
"Coming!" Zoey replied.
Hurrying to her closet, she pulled out another school uniform. Covington was so rich that it gave students two uniforms each. That way, it wouldn't be such a burden to wash the same uniform every single day. Even though her mom was honking the car horn by now, Zoey checked her email. She had only three: one from Lola, one from Quinn, and one from Chase. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened the message.
Hey Zoey,
Just wanted to say we missed you. Lola and Quinn barely smile anymore. Write back soon.
From, Chase
Smiling, Zoey quickly exited the email and hurried out to the car.
Eight hours later and Zoey finally came back home. Her day hadn't been so bad. She managed to sit with a few girls at lunch and her biology quiz had been easy.
"So was your day alright?" her mother asked as Zoey headed upstairs.
"Yeah mom. I'm just going to do some homework!" she lied.
Taking her cell phone out of her bag, she called Lola. The phone rang for what felt like ages.
"Hello?" Lola asked groggily.
"Hey! It's Zoey!"
"Why are you calling me so early?"
"What are you talking about? It's three in the afternoon" Zoey laughed.
"It's five in the morning here," Lola explained.
"Sorry, do you want me to call you later?"
"Nah, its okay. I'll wake up Quinn and we'll both talk."
She could hear Lola trying to wake Quinn.
"What is it?" Quinn asked on the other line.
"Zoey's on the phone!"
"ZOEY!" Quinn screamed.
"Shut up! We can't wake Stacy!" Lola was saying.
"What do you mean you can't wake up Stacy?" Zoey asked, slightly confused.
She could hear a door being shut on the other line.
"Now we can talk privately. After you left Stacy's moved in with us!" Lola told her.
"What? Where are you guys? I can't hear you that well!"
"We're in the bathroom. It has really crappy service. But it's the only way we can talk to you in private," Lola clarified.
"We miss you so much Zoey!" Quinn added.
"How have Chase and those guys been?"
"Chase is all anti-social. He barely talks anymore. Michael's been really moody lately. Even Logan doesn't seem as egotistical as he once was," Lola said.
Zoey wondered if she should tell Lola and Quinn about hearing Chase's confession. But she decided against it. He had gotten upset when he had to hear from other people that she was leaving. She didn't want to do that again.
"So how's Covington?" Lola asked.
"It's okay. I miss you guys a lot though," said Zoey.
"Us and nearly everyone at PCA!" Quinn snorted.
"Speaking of PCA, I asked my mom if maybe she could send me back--"
Before she could continue, though, she heard Lola and Quinn screaming at the top of their lungs. She could picture them jumping up and down, hugging each other.
"What'd they say? What'd they say?" they chanted.
"I don't know. My parents were going to talk about it."
Suddenly, she heard the front door slam downstairs.
"Honey! Zoey! I'm home!" called a masculine voice. Zoey brightened up, realizing it was her dad.
"In fact, I think they're gonna talk about it right now. I'll call you guys back as soon as I get the news!"
"We'll keep our fingers crossed!" Quinn vowed.
"Alright, talk to you later," Zoey said.
"Bye!" Lola and Quinn said in unison. Snapping her phone shut, Zoey hurried downstairs, preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
