Chapter Ten

Never Settling

DISCLAIMER: I do not own ZOEY 101

The next morning dawned too early for Zoey. She groaned as the alarm clock went off. They had to go to school today and begin preparing for their finals at the end of the week. Once they passed those they were home free. The last week was filled with graduation preparations, such as photos, cap and gown fittings, etc.

But for once, Zoey didn't really care about exams, or class in general. She felt like her world had fallen apart and she had no clue how to fix it.

"Guys, we gotta get up." She called to her roommates.

They had all shared the same room since junior year when Nicole had returned to PCA. It had been a tight squeeze at first but they had managed. Zoey wondered what it would be like to not wake up every morning to Nicole's hairdryer or some strange bubbling substance of Quinn's. Although she complained about both all the time, it would be strange not to have to hear them anymore. Zoey was starting to get nervous about graduating again. She hadn't had time to think about it really since they'd left for New York, what with all the drama but now her fears were coming back full force.

"Ugh! We're going to be late!" Nicole cried. That sent everyone into panic mode.

They rushed about the room getting ready before hurrying out the door. They slid into their seats just as the bell rang.

Michael, Chase, and Logan snuck in minutes later.

"Nice try, guys. I'll see you in detention later." Mr. Bender said grinning.

They groaned.

Chase couldn't concentrate on a single word that Mrs. Smith, their English teacher, was saying, which

wasn't a good thing since they were reviewing for their final. Logan and Nicole's words kept repeating themselves over and over in his mind like a broken record.

"Don't settle for anything but everything."

"You're dumber than I thought if you every thought that you came in second with Zoey."

It was like they were taunting him.

You should just talk to her. He told himself.

But what about Glen? He argued.

She hasn't even looked at him all day. Maybe you're making a mistake.

Chase sighed. He was talking to himself. Just, great. He banged his head on his desk in frustration.

"Mr. Matthews, is there something I can help you with?" Mrs. Smith asked.

Chase opened his mouth to respond but before he could his phone started going off.

"Ah, a text message. Care to read it to us, Mr. Matthews?"

Everyone turned around to look at him, including Zoey.

He met her gaze and swallowed. "Actually, I'd rather not."

"Too bad what you want doesn't matter. Read."

Chase gulped. "Umm… Chase, I really miss you. Call me later. Hugs and Kisses, Tina."

There were more than a few snickers.

He stared at Zoey as she turned around. Were those tears in her eyes?

"Can I be excused?" She asked.

"Ms. Brooks, whatever for?"

"I need to go to the bathroom."

The teacher nodded in consent.

"I gotta go to the bathroom too." Chase exclaimed suddenly shooting his hand up in the air.

"Mr. Matthews, if you honestly think I'm going to let you go after you violently bang your head on a desk and your phone goes off in class, you're insane."

"Please, Mrs. Smith. I'm going to piss myself if you don't let me go." Chase begged.

"You're going to what!" She exclaimed, appalled at his use of language.

"I gotta go!" He exclaimed as he jumped up and hurried out of the room.

"Detention, Mr. Matthews." She called after him.

"Zoey!" Chase cried as she walked out of the girl's washroom.

"Chase?" She asked, confused.

"Zo, are you mad at me?"

"No." She said, turning away from him.

"Then why are you avoiding me like the plague?" He demanded, circling around to face her.

She turned away from him again.

He sighed in exasperation.

"Zo, we're best friends. You can tell me anything."

She laughed bitterly. "Not this."

He grabbed her by the shoulders and roughly turned her around to face him. He was shocked to see tears streaming down her face.

"Zo, what's wrong?" He asked gently.

"Please just leave me alone. Everything will be so much easier if you just leave me alone." She sobbed.

Chase let go of her shoulders. He felt like he'd been slapped.

"Is that what you want?" he asked slowly.

Zoey let out a sound halfway between a sob and a laugh.

"It doesn't matter what I want."

He didn't know what she meant or what to do to make everything better. So, he just turned and walked away. He stopped after a few steps and turned to ask, "Is this about Tina? Because if you don't like her, I'll end it." He said seriously, half hoping she say it was.

Zoey was silent.

"Zo, you're my best friend. I'll always choose you first, you know that, right?" He pleaded.

She lifted her head, her eyes red from crying and asked, "Chase, where are you going to college at?"

He paused for a moment. He wasn't sure what to say. He knew where he was going now but it was an odd way to answer his question.

"Uh, NYU?"

She smiled sadly. "Then I think you've made your choice." She replied before turning and walking away.

Chase stood there, speechless. He wasn't sure what had just happened but for some reason, he felt like he might've just lost Zoey forever.

Michael walked into their dorm room to find Chase facedown on his bed.

"Ok, spill."

"What?" Was Chase's muffled reply.

"The episode with you and Zoey in the hallway. Everyone's talking about it. Apparently everyone in Mrs. Smith's English class heard every word you guys said."

"Great, as if my life didn't already suck as it is."

"Why exactly does your life suck?" Michael asked, settling himself on his own bed.

"It just does."

"Because how I see it, you have a future as a doctor and a great girl waiting for us at NYU."

Chase sat up, suddenly angry and he had no idea why.

"Maybe it's because I don't want to be a doctor. I want to be a writer. I want to do something for me for the first time in my life and my dad thinks it's a stupid idea."

"Then be a writer, Chase. It's your life, not his and maybe it's time you started realizing that." Michael said seriously.

Chase nodded. "Maybe you're right."

"So what about the girl? Does that suck too?"

Chase sighed. "You're all right. I'm settling. I always settle."

Michael frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I always settle for something less than what I want. For the past five years, I've been love with one girl, Zoey Brooks. I'm still in love with her. I'll always be in love with her. But, she's never gonna see me as anything but her goofy best friend, if we're even that anymore. And I have to move on or I'm going to be miserable for the rest of my life."

Michael stared at him. "Dude, you've got to tell her."

"I can't. Look, could you maybe just leave me alone. I need to call NYU about this fall." Chase said.

Michael nodded. "Sure, whatever you want."

He stood up and left his best friend sitting alone in the room. He knew they'd promised Lola that they weren't getting involved anymore, but he couldn't just let it end like this. He headed across the campus. He had a job to do.

Michael knocked on the door of room 101 and slowly pushed it open.

Zoey looked up from where she was stretched on the couch, crying.

"Hey." He said, softly, crossing the room to her.

"Oh, Michael!" She sobbed, vaulting herself into his arms.

"Everything is so messed up!"

"Shh, I know, Zo. But it's going to be ok."

"How do you know that?" She demanded, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Because you love Chase and he loves you and nothings going to stop that…Except maybe yourselves." He said slowly.

"Hmph. Chase doesn't love me. He loves Tina."

"No, that's where you're wrong. He only went out with Tina to make you jealous. Zoey, Chase has been in love with you since the first time, he saw you. He's just being a bit of an idiot, right now."

Zoey looked up at him.

"He told you he loved me?"

"More times than I can count."

"Then why is he acting this way?" She asked, tears threatening to fall again.

Michael shrugged. "I guess he doesn't think you feel the same way. He's just trying to be happy even though his heart is breaking."

"Why didn't he just tell me how he felt?" She asked.

"Zo, guys are cowards. Even though we don't like girls to know, we get hurt just as much if not more than you guys do." Michael admitted, smiling.

"Where is he?" She asked suddenly.

"Calling NYU to let them know he's coming in the fall. You know you can probably still catch him if you hurry."

Zoey's eyes lifted up to meet his. She nodded before rushing out the door. She sped out of the lounge door into the bright California sunshine and raced across campus. She had to reach Chase before it was too late for them. Before his heart gave up on them completely.

She burst through his dorm door, causing him to drop the phone that he had been dialing.

"Zoey, what the-"

"Chase, I know I might be too late and if I am, that's ok, I can live with that. But if there's a small chance, I'm not; I'm begging you not to finish that phone call." She interrupted.

"Zo, what are you talking about?" Chase asked, confused.

She took a deep breath.

"Come to UCLA with me."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because I love you, Chase Matthews. I should've told you a long time ago and saved us both the heartbreak. You and me, that's how it's supposed to be, I'm sorry about the trip and I'm sorry about Glen and my stupid jealousy. All I want is you. It's always been you, even when I couldn't see it. You're the guy for me, Chase Matthews." Zoey declared, out of breath.

Chase just stood there, staring at her. He didn't know what to say. The one thing he'd thought was completely impossible had turned out to be completely possible. Zoey Brooks loved him. Logan had been right. He had always been first with Zoey. Tina didn't even matter anymore. Logan had been right about that too. Chase was just settling for second best. Just like he always had not anymore. Zoey Brooks loved him. And he was standing here like an idiot, saying nothing.

"You're not too late." He said softly, walking towards her.

"I'm sorry for being an idiot. I'm sorry for not telling you I love you the moment I met you." He whispered their faces now inches apart.

"Well, you could make it up to me." She whispered, grinning.

"Oh and how would I do that?" He asked, grinning as he placed his hands on her waist.

"Kiss me."

Chase's reply was to lower his mouth to hers and capturing her lips with his own in a sweet, gentle kiss.

After what seemed an eternity, they pulled apart.

"I love you." He whispered, their foreheads pressed together.

"I love you." She whispered in return.

Chase laughed and kissed her again.

Logan entered the girls lounge, scanning the faces until his eyes landed on Lola flipping through the channels on the TV.

"Lola!" He called, making his way over.
"Hey." She said, turning off the TV.

"Listen, I need to talk to you." Logan said seriously.

"Ok, shoot."

"What would you say if I asked you out tonight?"

She looked at him, shocked.

"Are you serious?"

"Completely. So, what do you say?"

Lola hesitated. She really liked him but she was still wary of his reputation.

"Look, I know I can be a bit of a jerk but I'm really going to try to be different. All I'm asking for is a chance." He said, gazing at her without a hint of a smile.

"Ok." Lola said simply.

"Ok?" Logan's face broke out into a grin.

"Yes." She giggled.

Logan let out a shout of triumph before throwing his arms around her in a tight embrace.

Nicole smiled at them from where she was standing at the door watching them.

"Everything cool, here?" Michael asked as he appeared at her side.

She nodded.

"Perfect. What about on your end?"

Michael smiled.

"I have a feeling everything's going to be alright."

They shared a smile before turning to watch Logan and Lola again.

AN- Sorry that it's been so long, I've just been really busy plus some major writers block, I didn't want to keep dragging out the angst but I wasn't sure if I wanted to let everyone get together before the end but I decided too go ahead and let them get together! I hope that makes up for the long wait! The next chapter will deal with Logan and Lola's date, Quinn angst, and Chase and Zoey adjusting to this new aspect of their relationship. I hope you enjoy and thanks so much to everyone who reviewed!