You barely remember the fifteen minute drive home, as your thoughts are consumed with Chase, and your meeting tonight with him.

He looked different, yet still the same. His hair was as bushy as it was when they graduated from PCA, not short like it had been when they had last spoken. He was slightly more muscular, and his face was matured. But his eyes were still the same, still green, soft, familiar.

You're anxious about having to be alone with him. You had just began to move on with your life, having gone on a few dates with a few different men. None of them were amazing, but you felt almost free, having been tied down for so long. You're still unsure about your feelings for Chase, so you call Lola, hoping to get some advice. Although you're usually the one fixing problems, Lola always seemed to understand her situation.

"Hey Zo, what's up?"

"Hey, listen. I have a problem. Is this a good time?" You can hear people moving around in the background and you guess that she's on set for her movie.

"I'm on a break right now, so of course. What's wrong?"

"I ran into, um, someone from PCA this afternoon, and I'm meeting them later for dinner." You don't say his name, but you know she'll figure it out.

"Does this person happen to be tall and awkward with extremely bushy hair?"

"Maybe"

"What's Chase doing in Malibu? I thought he was in New York?"

"Apparently his job was too stressful, and I guess he wanted to reconnect with all of us, so he moved out here."

"Oh boy. What are you going to do?" You can practically see her rolling her eyes on the other end of the line.

"I have no clue. Last time I saw him, over three years ago, he was a completely different person. Today he seemed more like his old self, but I still don't know."

"Is it a date tonight?"

"I'd hardly call it a date, he just wants me to come over for dinner."

"Just see how things go. He's really going to have try hard if he wants you back. Do you still love him?

"I don't know. I think I might, but he really hurt me. I don't want to go through that again."

"Just go with your gut. If you think this is a good idea, it probably is. Have you talked to Michael?"

"No, I'm going to let Chase call Michael himself."

"Good idea. I have to get back to set, but call me afterwards. I want to hear what happened."

"I will. Talk to you later."

The line clicked dead.

"Turn around"

You turn, phone still pressed to your ear, to find him standing behind you, grinning ear to ear. You cannot contain yourself as you run to him. He wraps his arms around you, lifting you off of the ground.

"What are you doing here?" You shout. "I thought you were at Covington until the end of the semester!"

He smiles, still holding you. "My parents called me. They knew I wasn't enjoying myself and my mom didn't like me being on the other side of the world so they let me transfer back."

As you look into his eyes for the first time in over six months, you feel something changing. You realize that this, this is what it feels like to be in love. And you couldn't be happier.

You take his hand and lead him to the stairs, sitting down at the bottom.

"So I have a question, Brooks."

"Yes?"

"Why do you not have a date to prom? Michael said you have a boyfriend." You can see him trying to hide the sadness in his eyes.

"Well I had a boyfriend." You smile at him. "I broke up with him."

You laugh as his eyes widen, a grin forming on his face. "You WHAT?"

"I broke up with him."

"Why?" He asks, but you know he's beyond excited.

"He told me he loved me" You say, watching his reaction. His face stays neutral. "I didn't love him back, so I broke up with him. I couldn't figure out why, until now."

You watch his face go from confusion to disbelief as he pieces things together. "And that would be..?"

"Do I really have to explain, Fuzzyhead?"

"I'd like to hear it."

You smile at him, "Because I'm in love with you, Chase. I think I always have been, I just didn't figure it out as fast as I should have."

You see how shocked he is, and you don't think twice as you lean in and press your lips to his. You pull back for a moment, and you both lean in again. He kisses you back and you can feel all the stress, all the worry, all the heartache from the previous semester melt away. It feels as if his lips are made for your own. You kiss for what feels like an eternity, yet it ends too soon.

"Wow" he says. You laugh because it is just so Chase-like to be at a loss for words.

You kiss his cheek and feel his skin flush.

"I definitely was not expecting that" He says after forever. "I love you too, Zoey."

As you look into his eyes, you see love and nothing else.

Conveniently, Chase lives only a five minute drive from your house, so it doesn't give you much time to panic. You dressed casual, wearing jeans and a cardigan. It's just Chase, you think to yourself, but it doesn't ease your nerves.

You remember a time where seeing Chase was the best part of your day. Now, you regret agreeing to see him again.

He opens the door to his house before you can even knock, with a big smile on his face. It doesn't surprise you at all that he bought a house, even though he's twenty four and single. He likes to plan ahead, and you used to love that about him.

He walks over to a sofa and sits down, pulling you with him.

"Nice house" you say, trying to create small talk. You've never been very good at it.

"Thanks. I made steak for dinner." He knows you all too well and it's freaking you out a little.

"Sounds good."

You eat in silence for a few minutes before he speaks again.

"So what are you doing for a living?"

"I'm a marketing agent for a sales company."

"Fashion?"

"You got it."

More silence continues, both of you not looking at each other, not attempting to speak.

Finally, you finish your (incredibly good) meal, and he pulls you back over to the couch. You are the one to speak first.

"Look, Chase. I see what you're trying to do, but I don't think we can just pick things up where they left off. I don't even know you anymore."

He sighed. "Zoey. I don't love you the way I did as a teenager anymore." You hear these words and they sting, but you pretend they don't bother you. He pauses, and then continues. "When I saw you earlier, I fell in love with you in a different way. I love you. I'm in love with you. It's the same feeling I had eleven years ago, but this time I know for sure. We're adults, and I want to love you like one."

Tears fill your eyes and you don't try to stop them. "Chase, I can't do this."

You get up to leave, but he grabs your hand as you near the door.

"Zoey, I've lost you twice now. I don't want to lose you again."

"Twice?"

"The first was when you went to England, because I acted like a dumbass and didn't stop you. It was my fault you left, and it hurt so much. The second was when I decided that a stupid job and another girl were more important than staying in touch with the woman I was in love with. Yet another stupid mistake, and you were gone. Again."

You're crying because you can see how much pain he's in.

"Zoey. I've screwed up. A lot. But I am saying, I love you with all of my heart. I don't deserve to have you, especially now. And if you walk out, I can promise that I'll never bother you again."

You turn to look at him, and you see a glimmer in his eyes that you've seen before. You know he loves you, and something in you knows that you love him too.

You take the two steps necessary to stand in front of him. You wrap an arm around his neck and tilt your head upwards, pulling your face up to meet his lips. After the initial shock, his kisses you back. The softness, the warmth you remember returns, and you swear that you see fireworks.

You end the kiss, saying "I'm not walking out on you."

His face breaks out into his goofy, lopsided grin, and he pulls you back into the living room.

"I know things won't be like they used to for a while, but maybe we could start fresh."

"What do you mean?"

"Nice to meet you. I'm Chase Matthews"

You laugh. "I'm Zoey. Nice to meet you too."

Your guard is still up, but you don't feel nearly as defensive. Immediately, the awkwardness breaks away and you're talking to him the way you used to. You talked for hours. You feel your heart being stitched back together, slowly, and it feels so right being here with him.

"I really should get going, it's almost midnight." You say.

"Yeah, I guess. I'll call you tomorrow, though, okay?" He says with a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Of course. But I'm not the only one you'll be calling."

He looks at you with confusion.

"Lola's the only other person who knows you moved out here. Michael, Logan, Quinn. You need to talk to them."

"Oh yeah" He looked down. "How much to they hate me?"

"Logan and Quinn not so much, but Michael's pretty pissed at you."

"Maybe I'll go see him tomorrow then."

"Good idea. Oh and Zoey?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

You take a deep breath. You don't know if you want to say it back yet, but something in the back of your mind possess you to anyways.

"I love you too. Goodnight."

He kisses you one more time before you leave.

When you get home, you collapse on your bed. You can't help but smile. You shouldn't trust him, but he seems so familiar, and things felt right, felt normal, after they had kissed.

You feel as if you are back in tenth grade after prom, starting a relationship with someone you already know so well.

But yet, it feels like a fresh start. And you needed one desperately.

A/N

I hope this didn't come out too fluffy.

I have another chapter in progress, involving Michael and Chase. Shit is going to go down, I hope you're ready.

I didn't think Zoey would be one to hold a grudge, and I believed that she truly loved Chase the way he loved her. I think it wouldn't take much for her to take him back.

Let me know if you want me to update.

PLEASE LEAVE REVIEWS! SERIOUSLY!

I love hearing your thoughts so give me a shout if you have any comments. I don't bite, I swear.

-Sarah