A feather From My Heart
Disclaimer - I don't own Zoey 101
Chapter 3 - Chases Secret
"Chase, Derek I'm going to the mall with Lola and Quinn. Any of you guys want to come?". Zoey asked as she grabbed her purse.
"No mom, I have some homework to finish up". Derek was sitting at the kitchen table.
"And I'm heading to Logan's house to talk about the movie that he wants to do with my book". Chase added as he washed the dishes.
"Okay then, I'll be back in one hour". Zoey said closing the door behind her.
"Bye!". Both Chase and Derek replied.
Chase took awhile to finish washing and drying the dishes. When he finally finished, he turned and looked at Derek, who was really focus in the homework that he was doing.
Chase let out a smile.
He pulled out a chair and sat down next to his son.
"Wow, homework on the first day of school huh?". Chase asked.
Derek looked up and grinned.
"Yeah, but is simple stuff, believe me". Derek responded.
"Good".
"Hey dad, I know that it may be weird for me to ask you this but, can you tell me how you and mom meet?". Derek asked as he closed his history book.
"Its not weird for you to ask Derek. Okay umm... well your mom and I meet at a school named Pacific Coast Academy. Her dad was dropping her off along with his brother Dustin, and I just happen to pass by and I saw her, her beauty amazed me, and I couldn't help but smile. As I got close to where she was standing I said 'Hey'. She smiled and 'hey' me back with a small wave. Because I was looking at her and wasn't paying attention to where I was going, I crashed my bike into a flag pole. Your mom rushed to where I was laying and helped me up and for that moment on, I fell in love with her". Chase stated.
Flashback
(Chase rides over on his bike)
Chase: Hey!
Zoey: Hey!
(Chase crashes into flagpole)
Zoey: Are you okay?
Chase: Uh, yeah! I was just uh...checking the flag! ...It's a flag.
Zoey: Um, I think your arm's bleeding.
Chase: Oh! Yeah uh, sorry, that's what happens when um, when I get wounded.
Zoey:(giggles) I'm Zoey.
Chase: Chase. So uh, are you like a new student here at PCA? Okay, that was a stupid question, why else would you be here? I guess you could be like, dropping someone off, or uh...you know what, I'll bleed, you talk! What's up?
End of flashback
"Did mom felt the same?". Derek asked.
"Umm I don't think so. Zoey and me became really good friends. She trusted me a lot, more than her 'Girl Friends', and I trusted her more than I trusted Logan and Michael. As the years passed, I got to know your mom a little better and I realized that Zoey wasn't just another crush. I was sure that I was in love with her. I kept this love as a secret for 3 years".
Flashback
Chase: Man I am so psyched for spring break.
Michael: You and me both, I need to de-stress.
Michael: Hey, how many pairs of underwear should I pack?
Chase: Uhh, I don't really feel qualified to help you with your underwear math.
Michael: Let's see, we'll be at Logan's house for 6 days, and I'd like to change it at least once a day...(Chase suspectedly packs cologne in his suitcase)
Michael: What'd you just pack in your suitcase?
Chase: Nothing.
Michael: Yeah you did, what was it?
(Michael tries to see what it is and Chase blocks him)
Michael: Psshh. Fine don't let me see it. (Michael runs and grabs the cologne)
Michael: Ha! (smells it) Cologne!
Chase(suspiciously lies): No, it's medicine for pimples.
Michael: Well you must have some sweet smelling pimples.
(Chase grabs back cologne)
Chase: What a pimple can't smell nice?
Michael: Well I think you want to smell nice for a young lady that goes by the name of Zoey.
Chase: Maybe I want to smell nice for you. Ever think of that?
Michael: You know what you'd ought to do on the spring break trip?
Chase: What should I do?
Michael: You should tell Zoey you love her.
Chase: Man go do your underwear math.
Michael: This is the perfect time, spring break, Santa Barbara, right by the beach, it's very romantic.
Chase: So?
Michael: So it's the perfect time to tell Zoey you love her.
Chase: Would you stop saying that so loud?
Michael: Why?
Chase: I don't want people to know okay?
Michael: Everyone on planet Earth knows you love her! The people on Neptune even know. Yeah they're up there right now on Neptune saying...Michael (impersonating an alien): Did you know Chase loves Zoey? Michael (impersonating another Alien): Why yes I do, the whole galaxy knows Haha.
Chase (annoyed by Michael): You talk so much.
Michael: The only person who doesn't know you love Zoey is Zoey. Why don't you just tell her already?
Chase: Because I don't want Zoey to know I love - (Logan walks in) - brustlesprouts!
End of flashback
"Wait, did you just say 3 years". Derek questioned him surprised.
Chase nodded.
"Why?".
"I know it sounds pathetic, but I was afraid that if I told her how I felt, our friendship would suddenly end, because I thought that she might my not feel the same way as I did. but one day your grandparents came to PCA because they had great news for your mother and uncle. Your grandad was offered a job in England and they told you mom and uncle if they wanted to go or stay at PCA. Dustin didn't had to think it twice, and decline the offer but your mom had to think about it a little bit more.
She went to talk to her friends about what her mom and dad told her and she decided to talk to me before she made a choise.
Flashback
Quinn: Chase doesn't know about this yet?!
Zoey: No, and his opinion means everything to me.
Michael: Well, why haven't you asked him yet?
Zoey: 'Cause, you know...we're really close friends. And it's just hard to tell him I might be leaving.
End of flashback
Then things got worse". Chase gave a long sight.
"Worse how?". Derrek asked as he ate some green grapes.
"Well, I guess some people heard the conversation your mom had with her friends and started to spread rumors about her leaving. At that time I didn't know about Zoey thinking on leaving PCA, until a friend of mine mentioned it. I was so confused, and I reassured him that Zoey wasn't leaving, but he then looked at me with a serious face and told me that she was really leaving. That...that really crushed my heart, I mean how can Zoey leave and tell the whole world about it without telling her best friend first?
Flashback
Mark: So, what do you think about Zoey?
Chase: What about her?
Mark: Leaving PCA? Moving to London?
Chase: Okay, where did you hear this?
Mark: Everywhere! I heard it from like three different people. ...Zoey didn't tell you?
Chase:(looking angry) No...she didn't.
End of flashback
Later that day she came to my dorm room and told me she wanted to talk about the opportunity her mom and dad had given her to study in Convinton, England. Me, thinking that she had already made up her mind, I started advising her on what clothes to wear, now that she was going to move there. After she saw how rude I was being with her, she asked me if I was asking her to leave PCA and transfer to Covington, I said yes and she left.
Flashback
Zoey: That's all you have to say?
Chase: Oh yeah! They drive on the left in England, so be careful crossing the street.
Zoey: Thanks...I appreciate the advice.
Chase: (sadly) Anytime...
(Zoey walks away)
End flashback
That evening when Zoey left, I didn't bother to go to her goodbye party because I knew that seen her was going to hurt me.
Flashback
Zoey: Chase?
Michael: I told him when you were leaving...
Quinn: So did we...
Zoey: Okay.
Michael: Hey...you know Chase. He was probably on his way here, and fell down some stairs...landed on his big bush of a head!
End of flashback
That night Michael, Johnny's dad, came to talk to me about not saying goodbye to your mom.
Flashback
Michael: Zoey left!
Chase: Oh yeah...today was the day. Listen, do you think you could help me with my serve, 'cause if we're gonna win this tournament- (Michael takes Chase's volleyball and throws it)
Chase: You heaved my ball!
Michael: What's your problem?
Chase: Well...my volleyball's way over there now...
Michael: How can you not care that Zoey left?
Chase: Who says I don't care?
Michael: Well you don't act like it!
Chase: And since when are you in charge of how I should act?
Michael: I'm just trying to talk to you, man.
Chase: Well let me know when you want to talk about something else.
( Michael Grabs Chase by his arm.)
Michael: How can you just let Zoey leave like that!
Chase: Because she didnt talk to me first about leaving PCA! I had to hear about it in the halls, and all over campus! Do you know how that made me feel? She didn't even care enough to tell me herself, before I had to hear it from Del Figgalo, and some other guys I barely know!
Michael: Woah, woah, wait a second-
Chase: If she doesn't care about me, then why should I care about saying goodbye to her?!
Michael: Zoey cared about your opinion the most!
Chase: Yeah, right!
Michael: YEAH, right! She said, "Chase's opinion means everything to me!"
Chase: Then why didn't she come talk to me about it before she decided to go?
Michael: She did! She hadn't made up her mind yet when she went to talk to you! And guess what! If you had said "don't go," she'd still be here!
Chase: (running his hands through his hair) Oh God...I'm an IDIOT!
Michael: Hey! Finally we're on the same page!
End of flashback
"But did you ever apologize to her". Derek asked.
"The next morning Quinn was helping me in video chatting with her and when we started talking I gave her my most sincere apologies. She accepted them, but when I asked her when she would be back at PCA, she told me that she wasn't planning on moving back, so I accepted her decision and tried to move on with my life. A couple of weeks later I meet this girl named Gretchen, she was almost an exact replica of you mom. I try to replace that empty space that your mom had left with Gretchen. My friends quickly notice how obnoxious and disgusting Gretchen was so Logan and Michael decided to have a talk with me. After the arguing Logan and Michael made me realize that I could never replace Zoey with Gretchen because she wasn't Zoey. The only thing I didn't know was that my roommates had left the web can on by accident, so your mom saw everything that I had said.
Flashback
(Zoey listening in on the webcam)
Chase: You're right... Everything you guys said is true.
Michael: We know you miss Zoey man.
Chase: I don't just miss her... I'm in love with her. I've been in love with Zoey ever since I met she got out of her dad's car, and I saw her standing there, and I rode my bike into that stupid flagpole
(Zoey softly smiles)
I was in love with Zoey before I hit the ground, and I don't think that feelings ever gonna go away.
(Zoey looks surprised)
End of flashback
"So mom saw you confess you feeling towards her!?". Derrek asked surprised.
Yeah and I decided to transfer to England. I got there and went to her doorm room but then her roommate told me that she had transfer back to PCA. Then I send Michael a video chat request, but for my surprise Zoey answered it. She told me that she heard me say that I was in love with her and that she transfered back to PCA because she thought that there was a possibility that she might feel the same way as I do. I wanted to kick my self for transferring to Covington, but hearing that she might feel the same as I did made me breath in relief. Unfortunately I couldn't transfer back to PCA because my parents told me to stay at least a full semester, so Zoey and I decided to try and be together when my semester in Covington ends. As the semester ended I quickly packed my stuff and jumped in a plane in my way back to PCA. It was prom night and Zoey was walking down the starts when I decided to call her.
Flashback
(Zoey's phone rings; she answers)
Zoey: Hello?
Chase: Hey, Zoe.
Zoey: Chase! How's England?
Chase: Ah, you know. Boiled food, people driving on the wrong side of the street. You've seen movies.
Zoey: I have.
Chase: How are you doing?
Zoey: Okay... I guess
Chase: That doesn't sound very Zoeyish.
(Zoey sights)
Zoey: I haven't been having the greatest night.
Chase: What's wrong?
Zoey: I don't know
Chase: Wait isn't PCA having their prom tonight?
Zoey: Yeah, but I kinda blew it off.
Chase: How come?
Zoey: Cuz I didn't want to go by myself
Chase: Ah.... Then turn around
(Zoey slowly turns and looks up)
Zoey: Chase!
End of flashback
"So after that night Zoey and I became Boyfriend an girlfriend".
"So happy ending. All of you and moms problems ended?".
Chase stood up and looked at his son.
"Let me tell you something Derrek, life isn't perfect, and even though your mom and I had a happily ever ending, that doesn't mean that problems will not show later in the future. The only thing you need to know is that you have a mom and dad that love you, and that every time you need an advice or just a friendly shoulder to cry on, remember that we'll always be here for you... Always".
Derrek stood up and have Chase a tight hug.
"Thanks dad. I'm feel proud to say that I feel lucky in having you and mom as my parents". Derrek said as he broke the hug.
"And we're blessed to have a son like you Derrek". Chase confessed as he patted Derrek's back.
"Okay, now that we're talking about your mom, can I trust you on something?". Chase nervously asked.
"Of course dad".
"But you need to promise me that you'll keep it as a secret". Chase whispered.
"I promise dad, but tell me what's going on?".
*******************AFeather From My Heart************************************
Zoey, Lola, Quinn, Ashley, Giselle and Madison where all wondering around the mall.
"So, neithere of Chase or Derrek wanted to come to the mall?". Ashley asked Zoey as they walked.
"No, Derrek had some homework to do and Chase was meeting with Logan to talk about a movie he wants to produce with one of Chase's books". Zoey replied excitedly.
Lola and Quinn looked at each other showing a small smile.
"Hey mom, can me and Giselle go and look around?". Madison asked Lola.
"Sure, but don't go to far". Lola responded.
"No worries mom". Madison said as she grabbed Giselle's arm.
30 minutes passsed and Madison was dragging Giselle all around the stores of the mall.
"Wait, wait!. We've been running all around like crazy, and you still haven't picked a present for Derrek". Giselle said annoyed.
"Sorry, but I want Derrek's present to be something special, just like he is to me". Madison responded.
"Oh boy". Giselle rolled her eyes.
"Hey what about this best friend heart necklace with this blue Versace cologne?". Madison showed her a bronze heart shaped necklace with the cologne.
"That looks like a present that Derrek will appreciate".
Madison smiled and sniffed the cologne.
"What are you buying?". Madison asked Giselle.
"This pair of black Van's shoes and this white polo shirt". Giselle said proudly.
"Nice choice".
*******************AFeather From My Heart************************************
"Are you serious dad". Derrek asked surprised.
"Oh, I'm dead serious. So are you going to help me with this?". Chase asked.
"Of course! But, tell me, how long have you thought of doing this?".
"I've been working on this for 2 whole months!".
"Wow, and I never notice".
"Well that's how sneaky I can be". Chase responded with a grin.
"Now go get ready, because your grandparentsae will be here in just a minute". Chase stood up clapping his hands.
"Wait, why are they coming?". Derrek asked as he stood up.
"Because I need to talk to them". Chase eyed Derrek and he finally understood what his dad was up to.
There was a knock on the door.
"And they're here". Chase quickly rushed to the door and open it.
"Good afternoon Mrs. And Mr Brook's". Chase hugged them.
"Chase, is so good to see you". Both of Zoeys parents happily greeted.
"Dustin I missed you man!". Chase hugged Dustin next.
"Me too Chase!".
"Please come in". Chase stepped aside for them to entered.
They came in and Derrek greeted also greeted his grandparents and his uncle with a big thight hug. They sat down in the couch.
"So Chase, you wanted to talk to us?". Mr. Brooks asked.
"Well, umm…" Chase clears his throat before continuing.
"Im sure you all know that after the reunion that we had at PCA a couple of years ago me and Zoey decided to have a small marriage along with Lola and Vince. Well now I'm more in love with Zoey, than I ever had been before in the past. And I want her to be safe, loved, protected, and taken care of for the rest of her life. I believe I can provide that kind of safety, comittment, and happiness for her until I die. So, I'm wondering may I have your daughter's hand in marriage?". Chase finished.
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks just stared at Chase with big grins on their faces. They both pull Chase into a hug before releasing him.
"That's a good sign right?". Chase thought
"Yes. Of course you can darling". Mrs. Brooks answers.
"I was waiting patiently for you to asks us this Chase. Good job, and congratulations". Mr. Brooks agreed.
" Thank you so much. I know how much Zoey loves and respects the three of y'all, and it didn't seem right to do this behind your back." Chase replied.
"Me, my husband and Dustin appreciate your courage Chase, and like we said you have our blessing." Mrs. Brooks reassures Chase.
"Have you picked out the ring? And when are you proposing? Do your parents know?" Dustin asked Chase.
"I have the ring in my pocket if you would like to see it. I plan on popping the question at Derrek's birthday party which is the day after tomorrow when all of us are gathered together. Lola and Quinn have been helping me a lot, and are equally excited. And yes, I actually went to my parents first." I respond.
"Can we see the ring?" Dustin smirks.
"Sure" Chase reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a black ring box. He hands it over to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks.
"Wow!" They whisper in shock and awe.
"It's very beautiful". Mrs Brooks commented.
"Just like your daughter". Chase retorts.
They all look up and smile at him.
"The ring I paid for myself by working extra hours at my office. It's not much, but she deserves the best, and I'm gonna give it to her, the best I can." Chase tells them.
"And we have complete faith in you Chase. Take care of our little girl, or else". Mr. Brooks jokes.
"You got it sir". Chase smiled.
"Well, unfortunately, I have to go and handle personal problems. We'll see you both at the party". Mr. Brooks said as he, his wife and Dustin stood up.
"Of course and thanks again for giving me this opportunity. I won't disappoint you". Chase honestly tell them.
They all just nod, as Chase and Derrek escorted them out.
Chase close the door behind and looked back at Derrek.
"So what now?". Derrek asked
"We need to meet with Michael, Logan, Lola and Quinn". Chase said as he took his phone put and dialed some numbers.
"Lola? Hey, yeah it's me. Listen, can we meet up someplace? Some bad thoughts and worries are lingering around me about the proposal. I could use some support." Chase tells Lola.
*******************AFeather From My Heart************************************
"Chase? Yeah, definitely. We're just about finished here. We can drop Zoey off at your house before meeting you at Quinn's house in half an hour or so?". Lola suggests.
"Sure, sounds good. See ya soon, thanks." Chase replies.
"Of course. No problem." Lola answered before hanging up.
"Who was that?" Quinna asks out of the blue.
"Chase." Lola replies.
"Chase? Is everything alright?" Quinn questions.
"Yeah, he's just having pre-proposal jitters is all. He asked if we could meet up with him to provide some comfort and support. I can't have imagine how much pressure and stress it has been on him. Not to mention keeping it a secret from Zoey." Lola tells her.
"Keeping what a secret from Zoey?" Ashley shouts loudly as she gets in the car.
"Discretion Ash, please?" Lola scowled.
"And you know what too. Chase's proposal." Quinn adds.
"Right. It's so romantic and sweet!". Ashley sighs.
"Anyway, what are we going to do about Zoey? It's not like we can bring her to meet up with Chase". Quinn commented.
"I've got it covered." Lola assures them.
"You have what covered?" Zoey asks as she approaches them.
"Jeez Zo. You scared me." Ashley scoffs.
"Sorry." She nonchalantly apologizes before stepping in and sitting across from Lola in the passenger seat. Quinn, and Ashley sat at the back of the van and Madison and Giselle sat an the very backseats.
"Umm…Lola was just telling us about her new role in this movie. We had asked her if she was ready to go." Quinn explains.
"Oh, okay." Zoey doesn't question her reply, and they all remainedbsilent for the rest of the journey toward her house.
When they reach it, Lola pulls into the driveway and stops the car.
"This was fun. Thanks ladies." Zoey said.
"Sure." Quinn nods.
Thay all smile at her.
"Later." Zoey waves goodbye.
"Later!" They yell back.
"Whoo…that was a close one" Lola said in relief.
"Off to the Quinns house then?" Ashley asks.
Lola pulled the car out of Zoeys driveway, and we head the other direction to meet Chase.
It's was relatively quiet ride over to the Quinns house until we heard Madison comment from the backseat.
"Oh my God! I can't believe Choey Matthews is getting engaged!" Madison said in exitement.
"Choey Matthews?" Lola asks her.
"Yes. You heard me. Every couple and relationship has a shipping name." She adds.
"Maddie, I think you've been getting way to involved into your fanfiction and fandoms." Lola retorted.
"Wait. What's mine with Logan? Don't give me that look Lola. I'm curious." Quinn said.
"That would be Quogan, Mrs. Resse". Maddie replied.
"I like my shipping name". Quinn let's out a smirk.
We reach the Quinn's house in record time. Let's hope Chase hasn't gone insane yet.
*******************AFeather From My Heart************************************
-ChoeyForever