Son of a Dean

"I can't believe him!" Michael shouted.

"I am really upset." Chase groaned, he and Michael had just finished telling Logan why it was his fault that the two of them were getting sued by Friday Night Live because the cartoon idea he gave them came from their show. Logan of course just shrugged it off and left the room to hand out his Dancing With Logan DVDs to every girl he came across.

"I am really upset." Zoey walked into their room and closed the door behind her.

"Wow, that was weird," Chase said as she sat down across from him and Michael.

"Yeah, it's like you two have some special connection." Michael grinned at him. "What are you ticked off about?" He asked Zoey.

"Yeah, I heard you won that raffle to go to the movie premiere. You should be psyched." Chase smiled at her.

"I was psyched until Quinn and Lola accused Lance of rigging the raffle!"

"Who's Lance?" Michael asked.

"Dean Rivers' kid. The guy Zoey's been going out with." Chase said, being careful to keep his face neutral as he said that. It was totally fine, he and Zoey still had their pact, and luckily Zoey's boyfriend wasn't as crazy as his last girlfriend. Chase and Zoey had still been able to spend all the time they wanted together. No matter how much he hated the taste of that sentence on his tongue, he was totally fine with Zoey having a boyfriend.

"Yeah," Zoey agreed, "and just because he's Dean Rivers' son and he's going, they think he rigged the raffle so he and I could go together!"

"Well, did he rig it?" Chase asked her.

"No! He wouldn't do that." Zoey defended Lance.

"Then who cares what Quinn and Lola think?" Michael asked her.

"I have to live with them. Should I not go? Chase, what do you think I should do?" Zoey turned her head to look directly into his eyes.

"Nah, they're just mad that they didn't win." Chase tried to act nonchalant about it, even though part of him was screaming inside to tell her not to go. He won't ruin Zoey's relationship. She's his best friend and he doesn't need to change that fact.

"Yeah, you'd be crazy not to go. I mean, come on, a limo, a big premiere in Hollywood," Michael counted off on his fingers.

"I know. I'm going." Zoey declared, "and I'm going to go pick out something to wear. And its going to be super cute. How about that?" Zoey stood up and left the room.

"Super cute." Michael smiled over at Chase.

"Hey, hey." Chase stood up as he got a flash of inspiration.

"Hey, hey what?" Michael asked him.

"Zoey's going to LA Friday night in a limo…Lot of room in a limo."

"So?"

"So, we hide in the back, go to LA, and explain to the producers of Friday Night Live it was an honest mistake. That we didn't mean to steal their idea."

"Interesting." Michael nodded in agreement.

"So are you in?"

"Sure, I'm in. But tell me the truth, is that your only reason?" Michael raised an eyebrow at him.

Chase shrugged his shoulders, "Well, yeah, why else would I want to go to LA?"

"Well, since I've known you since sixth grade, and more specifically eighth grade, do you want to do this to spy on Zoey's date?

"No, of course not, why would I want to do that? It's great that Zoey's going out with a guy, well assuming he didn't rig the contest for her. She would so hate that. I uh speak from experience."

"Look, I know Zoey's just as oblivious as she always is, but you really don't have a problem with her dating someone else?"

"No." Maybe. "Dude, as long as Zoey's happy with this guy, I think it's great. Besides, we still have our pact and nothing has to change between us."

"What pact?"

"So you know how Rebecca tried to make me and Zoey stay away from each other? Well after I broke up with her, Zoey and I promised we would never let boyfriends and girlfriends get between our friendship because both of us are too important to each other."

"What? Seriously you two made a pact like that? Why didn't you tell her everything?" Michael ran over and shook him around while shouting in exasperation.

"Because, like I have told you a million times, my friendship with Zoey is the most important thing I care about in the entire world, and I don't want to mess it up by telling her I'm in love with her. Which I'm not, I am over it. Zoey is my friend."

Michael rolled his eyes at him, "Sure. Well keep in mind I'm your best friend and I know what's really going on."

"Back on topic, are you in to go to Friday Night Live?"

"Yeah, I guess I'm in." Michael shrugged his shoulders. "Plus I know the truth will reveal itself eventually."

"What are you talking about?"

"Like you're not going to react to hearing Zoey and Lance be all cute and flirty together for the hour it takes to get to LA? Like I said, Zoey is literally the most oblivious person at PCA, because you are so obvious to literally everyone else."

"Enough of this. So anyway, do you have any more cartoon ideas?" Chase attempted to change the topic.

"Actually yeah, see I was thinking we'd have these dolphins-"

"No Dolphins!" Chase shouted, and then he was somewhat relieved when he and Michael started rehashing their previous argument again, at least it wasn't on their current topic, because Chase knew there was nothing he could do, and he was perfectly fine with that, no matter what Michael might assume.

Zoey leaned back in her seat in the limo. She had been having so much fun with Lance on the way to the premiere, and there was no way Quinn and Lola were right, it was just fate that she got to spend the night with such a great guy.

"We'll be there in about five minutes," Lance reported after checking with Gus, their driver.

"I've got to tell you, this is the coolest night ever." Zoey sighed in happiness.

"Yeah, lucky you won the raffle," Lance said, holding up his fingers in an air quotes gesture.

"Uh, why did you put the air quotes around lucky?" Zoey asked him.

"Come on, you know why you won right?" Lance chuckled.

"Yeah, I had the winning ticket."

"Yeah, 'cause I rigged it." Lance declared proudly. "So we could go together. How romantic am I?" He grinned in his charming smile that Zoey had always found super cute, but instead of butterflies, her stomach was tied up in knots. All she could think about was how Quinn and Lola were right all along.

"Lance!"

"What?"

"You rigged the raffle?"

"Yeah?" Lance scoffed, "You can do that kind of stuff when you're the son of the dean."

"Dean Rivers knows?"

"No, why would I tell my dad?" Lance shook his head and pulled out a notepad. "Hey, think we'll be able to get Bruce Valance's autograph?"

"You can. I'm not going." Zoey crossed her arms.

"What's your problem?"

"You rigged the raffle! That's wrong." She couldn't believe she was explaining this to him.

"You didn't have a problem with me getting your friends a new mattress and a big refrigerator." Lance pointed out.

"That didn't take things away from someone else." Zoey scoffed at him, "You know, my roommates accused you of doing this, and I defended you."

"Zoey-"

"Just go to the premiere by yourself." Zoey shook her head and looked away from him.

"Fine. Whatever." Lance said, his voice hardening.

"Whatever." Zoey agreed.

Thankfully only a few minutes later the limo parked in front of the red carpet, but Zoey didn't leave her seat. Lance got out and Zoey stayed put. She told Gus that she wanted to just go back to PCA, and right before he closed the door, suddenly Chase and Michael appeared, and while she was confused, her mood instantly lifted just a little bit.

"Chase? Michael? What are you two doing here?"

"So, remember how I told you we're getting sued by Friday Night Live?" Chase asked her.

"Yeah?"

"Well, we wanted to go plead our case and tell them we didn't mean to copy them. So we hitched a ride in the trunk of your limo," Chase explained, but then his voice softened, "and I'm sorry we sort of eavesdropped on your date, are you OK?"

"I don't know. I mostly feel bad about getting mad at Quinn and Lola, and I'm mad at Lance, and at myself for trusting him." Zoey looked down at the floor.

"Hey Zoey, don't worry you'll be alright. Now I totally understand if you want to go straight back to PCA, but can we make a quick stop at Friday Night Live?" Chase asked her.

"I suppose. Climb on in." Zoey agreed. Zoey grabbed the phone and told Gus the address and away they went.

Michael took Lance's abandoned seat while Chase sat right beside Zoey like normal and she had no problem with that.

"Are you doing ok? Really, how are you feeling?" Chase asked her. He knew her so well.

"I'm upset, both at Lance and at myself, why do I always go out with the worst guys?"

"What are you talking about Zoe?"

"Well, Lance, and when I went to the dance with Glenn in eighth grade and he cheated just to go with me too. I should have just gone with you we would have had so much fun together, and at least you apologized. And then Quinn's germ messed up my date with Danny so I never saw him again. I don't know there's always something that gets in the way."

"Well, like I said before, guys can be jerks, sometimes even me," Chase said, smiling a bit to try to lighten Zoey's mood.

"Yeah, I know but it's always like a guy will ask me out and then I find out he had to trick me into going out with me instead of just being honest, or I start to like him and then I figure out a few days later how much of a jerk he really is."

"Well…" Michael spoke up, "maybe it's just cause you haven't been looking for the right guy yet, or he's just waiting for the perfect time to ask you out."

"I wish, but I doubt that would ever happen." Zoey shook her head, oblivious to the glare Chase was sending Michael from the seat right beside her.

"Hey, I'm sure you'll find the guy for you eventually, he might be even closer than you think."

"Maybe you're right Michael, but I still doubt it." Zoey sighed.

Right then the limo came to a stop. "We've arrived Ms. Brooks," Gus announced.

"Great, you guys can go do whatever you need, I'll stay out here to wait for you. Good luck."

"Thanks Zoey, we'll hopefully be back out here faster than two shakes of a dolphin's tail." Michael smiled before jumping out.

Chase lightly squeezed Zoey's hand, "I'll be right back Zoey, when we get back, if we have good news, want to play a game of would you rather to cheer up?"

"Yeah, I think I would like that Chase." Zoey smiled at him.

Chase jumped out of the limo and closed the door behind him. "Dude, seriously what is it with you and dolphins?"

"Because dolphins are hilarious, but dude, come on, this is your chance!" Michael shouted as they started looking for the entrance to the studio.

"My chance for what?"

"To finally tell Zoey you love her. Dude, she's still upset about Lance, you can comfort her and show her how the right guy for her has always been in front of her the whole time, he's always just been too chicken to say anything."

"What? No! She just broke up with Lance and she's mad at him. I can't just swoop in and try to sweep her off her feet or something."

"Yes, you can, that's exactly what you should do. If we get the lawsuit taken care of, I'll even sit up front to give you two the privacy to make your move."

"No way, I'm not going to do that. Zoey is my friend, and if she needs some comforting, I'll do it as her friend, not by trying to be her new boyfriend. That sounds like a Logan plan."

"Well don't go as far as Logan would obviously, but I really don't think it would hurt to tell her the truth. And don't try to deny it, everyone knows you are not over Zoey."

"Let's just find the producer and get this $70,000 dollar lawsuit off our heads." Chase knew it was a losing battle trying to convince Michael he was wrong, mostly because honestly he could admit he would never be over Zoey no matter what he told himself, but he also knew tonight wasn't the time to try to change things. Chase finally found a stage door and they snuck inside.

Zoey sat in the limo waiting for the guys to return, and she hoped they came back soon, not because she was impatient, but because she didn't want to be alone right now. When Chase and Michael showed up, nothing could have possibly made her happier, and she knew both of them would be able to take her mind off Lance. She didn't even want to think about him anymore. Sure, he helped out her friends, but she hated when people cheated at things just because they could. Lance was just like Logan, except maybe even worse, at least Logan didn't try to hide it when he was throwing his money around.

She thought over what Michael had said about there being the right guy for her out there somewhere. She liked to believe she could find the one someday, but it probably wasn't going to be anytime soon. Besides Michael and Chase, and to a lesser extent Mark and Logan, she didn't have that many close guy friends, much less many that could be boyfriend material that she already knew well enough.

She hoped Chase would be back soon, he always made her feel so much better.

About a half hour after Chase and Michael had left they came back with giant grins on their faces.

"So, how'd it go?" Zoey asked.

"We're no longer being sued! Apparently Friday Night Live stole the bowling pin idea from another show before we did, and they took it from like another three shows before that or something." Chase explained.

"That's so great!" Zoey reached forward to pull Chase in for a hug. Leaning her chin over his shoulder and feeling his bushy hair tickled the side of her face, she completely forgot about all her worries and anger. Just being near Chase always made her feel better.

"So now that I don't have to worry about finding a lawyer. I can focus on you. What do you need Zoey? How can I make you feel better?" Chase asked as they separated, and they both leaned back into their seat.

"I'll be fine Chase, I only need you. Oh, and you too Michael. Want to play would you rather with us?"

"Hmm, well, I would, but honestly, I'm kind of tired from trying to think up of twenty cartoons this week, so I'll just head up to the front seat with Gus, and you two can play your game. Plus I know you two only play it with each other. So I'll just leave you be. Have fun!"

"Michael." Chase said through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry Chase, you know no one else likes our game besides us for some reason. We'll be fine without Michael, even though you are more than welcome to join us."

"Naw, it's fine. Just call me on the phone if you need anything. See ya!" Michael stepped back out of the door and they both heard the slam of the front door of the limo close, and moments later, they started the drive back to PCA.

"I know, it belongs to us." Chase agreed. "So Zoey, would you rather go the rest of your life without coffee, or yours truly?" Chase motioned at himself and made Zoey giggle.

"Ohh." Zoey chewed her lip in indecision. "Now that is a tough one. I would not survive any of my morning classes without coffee, but I also know I can't live without you in my life Chase. Chase, or coffee…"

"I really don't know if I should be flattered or offended that this is such a hard decision for you." Chase joked.

"Well, I think you should be flattered because I choose you over coffee. I'll always choose you Chase." Zoey reached out to hug him in a side hug for a moment and Chase let his heart fill with the warmth radiating off her.

"I would always choose you every time too Zoe."

"Oh really? So Chase, if you had to never see one of us ever again, would you rather never see me again, or never see Michael again?"

"Uh oh, you aren't pulling any punches tonight are you? And are we sure Michael and Gus can't hear us up there?" Chase whispered loudly.

"I don't think so. Hey Michael!" Zoey yelled, but they got no response. "Seems like the answer is no."

"Good, now you can never tell Michael this, but it's not even a contest, I will always choose you over anyone or anything else." Chase whispered, making her giggle as his breath tickled her ear.

"Your secret's safe with me Chase. Because I feel the exact same way."

Chase smiled at her, but then they both broke off into silence, just looking into each other's eyes.

"Chase…" Zoey broke the silence, "you know how we have our pact?"

"Of course I do, it's just like we said, no one is ever going to get between us."

"Yeah, well, that was one thing Lance didn't try to do behind my back. After our first date, he asked me about you and I made it clear that you were my best friend. I wasn't going to let you go through what Rebecca tried to do to me."

"I'm so sorry about that again."

"Chase, you have nothing to apologize for, and Lance said he understood and he was totally fine with it."

"So where are you going with this?"

"I…I don't know, tonight has just reminded me how much it's true. I'm still mad at Lance, but I also couldn't care less about him, especially compared to you, and Michael, and all the rest of our friends. I'm going to have to apologize to Quinn and Lola when we get back to campus.

"I'm sure they'll understand." Chase rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "Maybe they'll give you a few I told you so's but I'm sure they'll forgive you for not believing them."

"Yeah, I know. But Chase…."

"What is it Zoey?"

Zoey shook her head, "Um, nothing, let's just keep playing. It's your turn again."

"Right, hmm…OK, would you rather be a bowling pin about to be hit by a bowling ball, or be one of Logan's mirrors?"

"Oh that's an easy one, I would rather be a bowling pin, being knocked over a hundred times a day would still be better than having to stare back at Logan for hours on end every day." Zoey laughed, and Chase joined in.

"OK Chase would you rather…?"

The more Chase and Zoey played, the more she felt like herself again, Chase always brought out the best in her, and she thought she brought out the best in him, there was definitely no guy like him in the world. He was completely perfect, from his bushy head and down to his feet that couldn't dance to save his life, but she wouldn't change a thing.

Zoey felt like an idea was forming in her head, or really, more like a hope. Something that Michael said, about how maybe the right guy for her was closer than she had ever realized.

"Oh," Chase glanced out the window for a moment, "we just passed a sign saying ten miles to PCA, we'll be back on campus in about fifteen minutes Zoe."

"OK. But before we do anything else, I just want to thank you again, Chase. You made this a night I want to remember forever."

"The pleasure was all mine. I'm just happy to be here with you." Chase smiled back at her.

"I know, and I have one more would you rather to ask you," Zoey said, she felt her heart rate picking up as she carefully planned her words, this was a risk, but she wanted to take it. Maybe Michael was right, and maybe Quinn and Lola were right about this too, but if she really wanted to know, there as only one person she could ask. "Are you ready?"

"You bet, lay it on me Zoey." Chase smiled at her.

"OK…um Chase, would you rather…." Zoey took a deep breath in for a few moments, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart, "stay friends, or possibly be something more?"

Chase's jaw dropped open and he just froze for a few seconds in shock, making Zoey panic that she had just made the worst mistake of her life. "I'm sorry Chase, it's just, you're always there right when I need you and I-"

"Zoey. Hold on." Chase reached out the gently hold her hands in his own. "There is nothing I want more in the entire world. So yes, I would rather be more then friends if that's what you want." Chase started smiling the brightest smile she had ever seen.

"It is, Chase, I think I love you."

"I know, I love you Zoey." Chase lightly squeezed the hands he was still holding. "Can I ask though, what made you say it now?"

"Because like I said, you're always there for me. And tonight is no exception, I guess I just finally realized that you've always been the guy I was looking for even when I didn't know it. Everything we've ever done, we've always been the best of friends that I never even thought of us being more, but I promise I'm done being blind to what's right in front of me. You know what? I love you, Chase."

"I love you too Zoey." Chase smiled at her. "I knew from the day we met you were the perfect girl for me, but I was always terrified of possibly scaring you away if you knew the truth."

"I would never be scared away from you Chase. And this is just another thing Quinn and Lola were right about, but I always just ignored what everyone else, and my heart was telling me. But I won't do that anymore."

"So then, I have one more question for you, would you rather be my girlfriend or my girl best friend?"

"How about both? We promised to not let boyfriends and girlfriends get between our friendship. You will always be my best friend Chase, nothing will ever change that. So I choose both."

"Hmm, I think we have to check the would you rather rules, but I'll accept it because I think that's the greatest idea you've ever had. So Zoey, will you be my girlfriend, and also my best friend?"

"Yes, I will Chase." Zoey leaned forward and captured his lips with her own, and all they could think was that this was the best kiss of all time as they felt the sparks flying all around them.

"Hey guys, we're back on campus," They heard Michael's voice say, before he screamed, "OMG! YES! CHASE YOU DID IT! I TOLD YOU SO!"

Chase and Zoey broke apart to see Michael smiling giddily at them after he must have rolled down the privacy screen.

"What are you talking about Chase doing?" Zoey asked him.

"He finally manned up and told you everything! Right?"

"Actually…" Chase started.

"No, I was the one who told him first." Zoey proudly declared.

"Of course you did, that doesn't surprise me in the slightest." Michael rolled his eyes but he was still smiling brightly, "I'm sorry for doubting you Zoey, I thought you would never break your obliviousness."

"Well, I did, and that's all that matters. We're together now."

"You bet we are." Chase squeezed her hand in reassurance.

"Well, congrats. This is the greatest day ever. Oh, I know Chase, how about a cartoon where a dolphin saves another dolphin from a shark that's a jerk? And then after freaking out for a bit he reveals he had been in love with her all along, and she of course tells him she loves him too, and their friend, the handsome crab tells both of them how obvious they were both always being."

"For the last time, no dolphins!"

"Actually, I think you should do it Michael, I bet it would be hilarious to watch." Zoey laughed.

"Really?" Chase looked into her eyes for a moment, "Fine, but only because I can't say no to you."

"Thank you." Zoey kissed him again. "I can't wait to see what you two come up with."

"Aren't you two just the cutest, and do you know how long I've been waiting for this? You know what, I have got to go tell Lisa." Michael jumped out of the limo and started hopping up and down in excitement.

"OK, Michael, I don't know who's happier about this, you or us." Zoey laughed, stepping out the limo while holding Chase's hand.

"Trust me Zoey, it's definitely me. This is the best night ever." Chase promised her.

"I couldn't agree more."

"Can I walk you to your room?"

"Yes, you may." Zoey smiled at him. "Will you face the hailstorm of I told you so's we're about to walk into?"

"For you, I would do anything Zoey."

"Well, have fun you two. I'm going to go tell Lisa the good news!" Michael ran off ahead of them while Chase and Zoey walked at a more leisurely pace.

"I love you Chase, you really are the perfect guy I've been searching for."

"And you are the most perfect girl I've ever laid eyes on. I love you Zoey."

"I love you too."