Sorry doesn't fix it
Zoey went into Chase's room without even knocking.
Chase had his head in his hands and was crying softly.
Zoey gently touched his arm and said "Chase we need to talk."
Chase sobbed "Zoey I get it I was a complete idiot. I don't know what happened to me. When you gave me back the ring my heart split into a million pieces. I couldn't think I couldn't even eat without missing you. So would you give me a second chance to prove how much you mean to me?"
Zoey said "I came here to say I was sorry for over reacting about last night." Quinn said some things that really made me think. I just got so mad when you did that because you scared me. I thought I lost you."
Zoey swallowed she was determined not to cry because she knew that Chase had enough on his plate. Chase turned to face her and saw the tears that were threatening to fall down her cheeks.
Chase spoke gently "hey Zoey do get upset. I'm right here and I promise I'm not going anywhere."
Zoey voice shook she threw her arms around Chase and said "I thought you'd killed yourself because you couldn't be with me. Please explain to me how I'm supposed to just forget all the pain fear that you put me through last night?"
Chase said "Zoey I wouldn't do something that stupid. Yes I love you but I also love life and my friends. You're also one of my closest friends don't ever forget that."
Zoey hugged Chase hard and let the tears fall. Chase rubbed her back and stroked her hair. He hated it when Zoey cried but this time he wasn't going to tell her to stop. He was just going to hold her close until she felt better again. He was going to show her that he was her best friend as well as her boyfriend.
After a long time Chase heard Zoey stop crying. He looked at her red eyes and said "Zoey when I did this I wasn't expecting you to get this upset. I never meant to hurt you. I heard what you said when I was in the hospital you said Chase if you can hear me I love you. That was when I realized it all had to stop because you did love me and I screwed it up. Everything will be different now I promise." Zoey stood up and said "I really should go. I don't want you to have to sit there while I cry. I know you hate that but the good news is you won't ever have to see it again. I can't deal with someone who can't admit it when he makes a big mistake. Goodbye Chase. Oh don't even think Logan will fix this one for you because until you can come up with a better reason I should still love you then you're my best friend this is over!"
Zoey left the room in tears. Chase was too mad to care but part of him knew that Zoey was right. If she really was his best friend he wouldn't have done it. He wanted to follow her but Logan came into the room and put something in front of the door so Chase couldn't leave the room.
Logan said "Zoey just left this room in tears what did you say to her?"
Chase said "I did a very dumb thing and she won't accept my apology. She asked why she should forgive me and I said she was my best friend. She got upset and said that until I can come up with a better reason we weren't friends anymore."
Logan said "Chase what ever you did you can tell me. I'm your friend remember. Maybe I can even help you fix it. I came back early to help you two fix this because you and I both know that you can't live without her in your life."
Chase sighed you're right but how can I spend the rest of my life with a girl who hates me."
Logan said "Chase get a hold of yourself. Zoey doesn't hate you she's just upset. Tell me what you did and I can talk to her for you."
Chase looked at Logan and said "you've changed."
Logan said "hey my girlfriend doesn't run away from me in tears. I'm not the one who needs to explain to my girlfriend why I did something stupid. So just listen to me and maybe we can get to the bottom of this before the end of spring break."
Chase said "I don't want you to fix it for me Logan. You're right I made a mistake and I have to fix it. All I want you to do is get Zoey for me so she and I can talk about this."
Logan sighed "Chase getting her back isn't going to be as easy as saying I'm sorry. If you pulled the plan I think you pulled it's going to take a miracle to get her back."
Chase snapped "I don't care how long it takes just get her!"
Logan shrugged his shoulders and said "alright but she slammed the door in my face when I asked what was wrong."
Chase started to cry once he was sure that Logan left the room and was out of earshot. He grabbed his cell phone and called his mom.
His mom answered and she was crying. Chase was shocked he had only heard his mom cry like this twice. Once when his grandmother had died and again recently when his grandfather past away.
Chase spoke softly "mom it's me Chase is everything alright?"
His mom let out a sob and said "Chase Ann is really sick. The doctors have no idea what's wrong with her. I've been waiting for you to call for a few days now but you couldn't even be bothered to call and let us know you're alive!"
Chase said "let me talk to Ann please. I want to sing to her tonight so she has a reason to hold on and knows that her big brother loves her very much."
His mom said "Chase I'm so sorry. Ann is at the hospital she's been there for three days now. Your dad's staying with her I'd be there too but I just couldn't stay it hurt too much. Rose is here though and she can't sleep maybe you could sing to her."
Chase said "mom put Rose on the phone I haven't been a good big brother it's time I start. Rose said "Chase is Ann going to be ok? I'm scared and mom won't stop crying enough to help me."
Chase slowly began to sing "A million rain drops upon your face tears disappear without a trace of a million rain drops let them fall and kiss your face."
Rose said "thank you Chase but are you sure you're alright?"
Chase said "Rose just give the phone back to mom. I'm fine just go to sleep."
Chase's mother said "Rose is worried about you. Please tell me what's wrong you did call for a reason right."
Chase said "mom don't worry about me. Just take care of Ann and Rose. I promise I'm alright."
Chase hung up and for the first time in a long time he was thinking clearly. He heard Zoey knock on the door softly. He opened the door and hugged her.
Before Zoey could even apologize Chase said "Zoey you're right I did a dumb thing. The sad thing is I don't even know why I did it anymore. You have every right to be angry with me. I wasn't thinking about how you would feel. I love you so much I can think unless you're beside me. So I'm asking again please think about everything we've been through together and remember I will always love you."
Zoey sighed and said "Chase that is a good reason why I shouldn't be angry with you. You made me remember why I said yes in the first place. If you love someone no matter how far you drift apart or what stupid things they do you always love them.
Chase I love you and I just need a little more time before we get married. Maybe you and I are better off a boyfriend and girlfriend for right now. I'll take back the ring but not as a wedding ring."
Chase asked "what do you mean Zoey?"
Zoey laughed and said "going steady. That makes it official that I'm your girlfriend. Then the whole school will know and it won't be just between us anymore."
Chase said "I don't think that my grandmother's wedding ring should be used for that. Close your eyes because I have something else for you Zoey."
Zoey was confused but she closed her eyes and felt Chase put something around her neck.
Zoey opened her eyes and reached for her key necklace. In its place was a gold locket.
Zoey asked "Chase how did you afford this? It's beautiful I love it thank you."
Chase said "don't thank me yet you haven't read the engraving on the back."
Zoey had Chase take the locket off her neck and hand it to her.
Then she turned it over and she read the poem on the back "a thousand words caught in a storm. Do I tell you or is it the wrong time? Winds of change are blowing. I go my way you go yours. I want you to stay in the worst possible way. I did dumb things played tricks but when I say I do it won't be just for kicks Zoey and Chase forever."
Zoey's eyes filled with tears when she read the last line of the poem.
She threw her arms around Chase and said "this is the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you for your heart as well as your hand."
Chase felt his own eyes fill with tears he tried to smile at Zoey when he said "mom found this in a box of my grandfather's stuff that was meant to go to me. I just took the picture of him and grandma out and put a picture of you and me in.
My grandmother wrote a poem about me and you before she died. When I took the locket in to get it polished I had them engrave the poem on the back and put our names on it."
Zoey hugged Chase and asked "are you sure you want to give this to me? I haven't been there for you when you needed me. Half the time I didn't know you did needed me."
Chase couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Zoey felt his body loosen up as he leaned against her.
She rubbed his back gently and whispered "Chase I'm right hear. Talk to me please."
Once Chase had calmed down he sniffed and said "oh god I feel like such a jerk right now. I ask you to come so I can talk to you and then start crying."
Zoey said "you aren't a jerk you're the farthest thing from it. You're the sweetest guy I've ever met."
Chase said "Zoey can I ask you never to tell Logan, James or Michael that you saw me cry."
Zoey said "Chase why do you care if any of your friends besides me see you upset.
I've seen you at your best and your worst. Michael and Logan have only seen what you've allowed them to see. How can Michael call himself your best friend if he's never seen you loose it? Do you know how many times I've held you close to me and helped you just like I'm doing now?"
Chase said "Zoey it's late and I don't want to fight with you. So I'll walk you to your dorm and we can talk in the morning."
Then Chase remembered that tonight was the end of spring break. If he waited until morning to talk to Zoey he wouldn't be able to talk to her alone.
He quickly looked at Zoey and said "I don't want to be fighting with you on the last night before we go back to classes. Can we talk now? I'll buy you a coffee and some sushi."
Zoey sighed and laid her head on Chase's arm. It was midnight and she had to go to class in the morning but she figured that whatever Chase had to tell her was important.
Chase looked at Zoey and asked "is that a yes or a no?"
Zoey said "I'll go but stop being so dumb it's not like you to beg."
Chase laughed and said "you make me do some things that I would never think of doing in a million years."
Zoey said "I'm going to have to say the same thing about you Chase. Let's just get some coffee and forget about the talk because I don't want to fight with you either."
