Summary: Sequel to Reawakening The Past. Zoey and the gang are back for freshman year of PCA. And everything's about to change, especially when they meet the new kids. Trusts will be shattered, hearts will be broken. Thanks to Hybrid Speed for the title. Summary kind of stinks, but the story is really good, I promise!

A/N: Not much to say in this particular A/N. Sorry. Here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Zoey 101. I also do not own Behind These Hazel Eyes, by Kelly Clarkson.

Accepting The Present

Chapter 7:

No Heart Instead Of A Broken One

Dana's POV

"Okay, where are we going?" Logan questioned, slightly angry. Ugh.

I sighed. "I need to tell you something." I opened the door to room 101 with my key and motioned for him to follow.

"What?" he asked, kinda concerned now. I sighed. I dunno. I just had this feeling that everyone would hate me after I told. They would call me a traitor…or…something.

"Okay, the truth is…" I took a deep breath. "Monte is – "

"Whoa, wait a minute!" he said suddenly and angrily. "I get what this is about!" Huh?

"Logan, what are you – "

"You're cheating on me with Monte, aren't you?"

WHAT? WHY WOULD HE EVEN SAY THAT?

"No, Logan! That's not – "

"And you were gonna break up with me!" he said, astonished. "I'm onto your little plan now!" He waved his finger at me and backed away. I couldn't believe my ears? What was going on?

"Logan, Stop!" I cried.

"No, so you can dump me for a Hevenofsky?" I yelled. "I don't think so, Cruz. We're done." He stomped out the door and slammed it behind him.

I just stood there in shock of what just happened. And so fast. What? How?

I sighed. Everything was going wrong.

What a jerk…he didn't even hear me out. I plopped onto my bed, the lower bunk, millions of annoying questions buzzing in my head. I felt like the walls were closing in on me.

I refused to cry. Danger Cruz did not cry under any circumstances. It just didn't work that way.

I now had to pretend I had no heart instead of a broken one. Great. I turned on my bed to the side and jumped twelve feet in the air when I saw Lola staring at me from across the room on her top bunk.

"Um…hey Lola…" I said, trying to sound not-upset. "Didn't see ya there…"

She climbed down her ladder and approached me. "I heard what happened with you and Logan…you okay?" I sighed.

"Do you want the fake Danger Cruz answer or the real answer?" I asked her sadly. She sat down next to me.

"The real one," she urged on.

"No." I said honestly. "I'm really not."

"Logan's a jerk for not listening to you." Lola stated. I nodded, "duh's" going through my head. "You wanna tell me what's been goin' on? 'Cause honestly, we're all extremely confused." I thought for a moment. "I won't tell anyone. Please?" I sighed and took another deep breath.

"Okay…" I started, then shut my eyes. "Monte is my cousin." Lola's eyes went wide.

"How?" she asked, amazed. And when I explained the story to her, she couldn't believe it.

Normal POV

The next day…

Nicole Bristow walked with her lunch tray out of the line. She bought Caesar salad, mangos, and apple juice. She entered the area where all the tables were but stopped dead in her tracks. Where was she to sit?

Near the end of the area, Zoey was sitting by herself, and by the looks of it, she wanted it to stay that way.

Dana and Lola were at a table not far away, in a deep conversation, and Chase was sitting at the far end of that table, looking depressed.

When had Dana and Lola become such good friends?

Michael and Logan were at a table far, far away, probably talking about boyish stuff.

Quinn was at a table with Mark, and they were feeding each other broccoli and cheese.

She had nowhere to sit. Pretty much. Expect by herself.

So she did, and she sat in silence for a few minutes. It took her a while (shocking!) but then it hit her…

She felt lonely.

She knew somehow she would be pulled into this mess. Tears threatened to fall but then she heard a voice.

'Hey, Nicole. Mind if I sit with you?" She looked up and smiled.

"Sure," she agreed, still grinning. He sat down.

"So, what's wrong?" he asked, obviously concerned.

"I feel like my friends have all parted separate ways." She confessed with a sigh. "It sucks more than a chipped manicure."

"Oh, I'm sorry." He added. 'But I think I know a way to cheer you up." She perked up a little.

"Really? How?" she said excitedly.

"You wanna go out with me? To dinner?" he asked calmly. "Like on a date?"

Nicole grinned happily, butterflies in her stomach. "Sure, Monte. I'd love to."

Zoey's POV

I was still sort of in denial.

"I still don't understand," I confessed to Quinn after 15 minutes straight of silence. We were supposed to be working on our project. All I was doing was sitting there, my heart shattering more and more by the heartbeat.

"No one does," she spoke out. "Not even me."

"But with her?" I cried. Tears threatened to fall but I didn't let them. Pull yourself together Zoey! You got over heartbreak once…you can do it again. He took a part of you, but not all of you. The only people worth crying over are the ones that would never make you cry…

But I just felt so empty. Chase Matthews was my other half…at least, I thought he was…

Quinn waited a few moments. "Do you still love him, Zoey?" I wasn't even going to think about answering that question.

"Let's just get back to the stupid project!" I dismissed. I turned on the camera and we proceeding with our discussion about our project.

"What is so wrong with a video about volcanoes?" Quinn yelled. "Everyone loves them! They're so cool! They blast out hot, freaky lava!"

"That kills hundreds of people!" I defended. "Can't we just do, like, a music video or something?"

"No!" Quinn shouted. "How about a gorilla chase?"

I stopped dead in my tracks and my heart felt hollow. My face was frozen in hurt. Quinn's eyes widened.

"Zoey, what's the matter?" she asked, concerned. "Zoey? Zoey? ZOEY?" I walked over and turned off the camera.

She said chase.

Chase.

"I'm going for a walk!" I told her suddenly.

"Do you want me to – "

"No, I'll be back soon."

Normal POV

She just needed time to think.

But lately, thinking things through wasn't exactly her forte.

She walked along the beach in silence as the sweltering sun warmed her heartbroken face. But even the sun couldn't take away that depressibly serious, icy stare in her eyes.

Seems like just yesterday

You were a part of me

I used to stand so tall. I used to be so strong

Your arms around me tight

Everything, it felt so right

Unbreakable, like nothing could go wrong

She kicked a seashell that lay all alone in the middle of her path. Her eyes watered.

Seashells.

FLASHBACK

"So, what'd you do at the beach?" I asked Chase over the phone in the middle of August. He had just gotten back from his trip to Bethany Beach with his friend's family.

"The usual stuff," he said casually. "Walked around, went to some places, looked for seashells…"

"Did you find any of those really cool ones?" I asked excitedly.

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

"Well, this is gonna sound so dumb – "

"Nothing you say is dumb," he reminded me. I smiled and held the phone closer to my hear.

"Thanks," I continued. "Well, I've looked for seashells before, like last year at PCA, but I never found any of those spiral ones. They're gorgeous, and I've always wanted one. I would've just bought one, but it didn't feel right."

"How poetic!" he commented.

"Thank you, you're too sweet," I said with a laugh.

A week or so later, a package arrived. I ripped it open and found a box about the size of a football wrapped in gold and pink paper. I opened the note.

Dear Zoey,

Found this at Bethany Beach. I thought you would like it. It's special, like you. Okay, I'll stop chees-ifying this letter now. I hope you like it.

Love,

Chase

I opened it and gasped.

A large, pink and blue spiral seashell, still a little wet from the ocean. Tears of happiness stung my eyes.

I had Chase Matthews.

I was the luckiest girl in the whole world…

END FLASHBACK

She never wanted to see another seashell ever again. She picked up the shell and threw it onto a big boulder, smashing it into a million pieces…

Just like her heart.

Now I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hanging on

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the eyes I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

All of a sudden, she saw a head of bushy hair in the distance.

He called her name. She ran.

Chase Matthews was in the mood for a walk, too. Little did he know who else was.

He saw his (ex?) best friend and she saw him. He knew this because she began to run. He did the only thing he could do; run after her.

"Zoey!" he screamed, all his emotion flowing out of that one one. "Will you please hear me out? Please?"

Zoey just kept running, even though she didn't truly want to. It was what she had to do. Her brain told her to run. So she did. She couldn't believe she ever trusted him…or anyone.

Now, she was broken.

Not that she wasn't before…

I told you everything

Opened up and let you in

You made me feel alright

For once in my life

Now all that's left of me

Is what I pretend to be

So together but so broken up inside.

She ran until her legs were about to fall off, then leaned against a palm tree, catching her breath. She reached for her key necklace for comfort, only to realize it wasn't there anymore. Guess I dropped it on the way…

'Cause I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hanging on

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the eyes I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

Then, Zoey Brooks began to cry.

Even though she tried her very hardest not to…

Swallow me then spit me out

For hating you, I blame myself

Seeing you it kills me now

No, I don't cry on the outside

Anymore...

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes


Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

"Aww…look who's sad!" Someone mocked from behind the tree. Zoey Brooks looked up.

Loretta Hevenofsky.

A/N: I left you guys with many questions again, didn't I? How is Dana related to Monte? I know you're thinking there's no way possible…but…there is. There's somewhat of a hint in chapter 2 (not including prologue) of Reawakening The Past…look REALLY closely at one of the flashbacks…again, it wouldn't tell you a lot, almost nothing, but it would leave you with another question. My only advice…LOOK AT DETAILS! Poor Zoey. What does Loretta want now? Only I know.

Byeas! Review!

FutureStArLeT101