A/n: Hahahahaha. Isn't it ironic? The second you get your comp de-virused so you can get back online, your phone line gets cut off and you STILL can't get online. Dah. The repair men are paying us a visit, so we're paying them a tonne. It should be up and running by Monday.
Chapter 1: The ring.
Zoey was sat braiding Nicole's hair. Dana was laid across the length of the sofa, blowing a huge bubble in her bubblegum, whilst reading her magazine. Quinn was doing a weird experiment on Dustin ("She paid me ten bucks to sit still while she sticks me with a syringe!" Dustin had gabbled, showing his sister the ten dollars excitedly). Michael and Logan were having a staring contest (Logan quite blatantly cheating). All this in the girls dorm room.
"Hey!" Zoey cheered. "Sushi's here." Chase handed Zoey a platter before flopping onto the sofa beside Nicole. He pulled his work hat over his eyes and gave a heavy sigh.
"You look beat." Zoey said in concern.
"Hey, come eat with us." Said Michael. "There's enough to go round."
"As much as I'd love to, I can't." Chase dragged himself to his feet again thankful for his… 5 second rest? "I have work to do."
"When I was working there, I never worked that hard." Logan said taking a roll.
"You never worked at all." Said Dana pointedly.
"And you weren't taking extra shifts." Said Chase plainly.
"Why're you working extra?" Zoey asked. "You're worn out as it is."
"Eh, I need the money." Chase shrugged. "Does anyone have a towel? Some jerk just soaked me with a water pistol."
"Ah, there's one in our room." Said Dana randomnly. "Just don't touch my stuff."
"Chase, remember to bring back their diaries, bras and uh… lipstick if you feel like it." Logan ordered. Chase rolled his eyes and went upstairs.
"Hey Zoey, how come yours and Dana's beds are messy and Nicole's isn't? I would've pegged you to be a cleaner." Chase said descending the stairs while rubbing his hair with the towel.
"I am…" Zoey said looking puzzled. She turned to her little brother. "Dustin?"
"Not guilty!" Insisted Dustin, standing up but instantly fainting.
"Quinn?" Zoey asked. "Did you kill my little brother?" She asked. Quinn shook her head innocently. Chase shrugged.
"See you guys. I need to do several more deliveries." He groaned. He gave Zoey a small wave before he left. She furrowed her brow.
"I made my bed this morning." She said determinedly.
"Face it Zo, you're just not as perfect as you thought you were," Logan said. Zoey stomped her foot.
"I'll prove it to you!" She said storming off upstairs in a mood. Logan rolled his eyes.
"I'm not sticking around for one of her hissy fits." He said "I'm out." Logan scarpered and Michael soon followed. (Making sure to take some sushi with him)
Dana and Nicole walked upstairs preparing to take the blame for trashing Zoey's bed. Quinn followed, leaving Dustin unconscious downstairs. Zoey was on the floor among a heap of covers. She had pulled everything off of her bed and was setting it all up again.
"Zoey?" Asked Nicole. "What's that?" Beside Zoey's bunny with the PCA shirt on it (From Chase) was a small box. Zoey looked curious.
"Was it on my bed?" She asked.
"Yeah, and it's not mine." Dana said enviously. She recognised those sort of boxes. Zoey picked up the box and opened it. She gasped. Glistening in the coastal sun was a ring. A Sapphire in the centre surrounded by 8 Cubic Zirconia.
"Oh my god." Said Nicole. "Where did that come from?" She asked. Zoey was momentarily breathless. She removed the ring from the box and tried it on. It fit her engagement finger.
"How'd they know your ring size?" Quinn asked. Zoey found a note among the debris of her bed.
"Zoey Brooks,
This ring is paled in its beauty only by your dazzling good looks.'
"Aww! He's a poet." Cooed Dana sarcastically.
"It must've cost him a fortune." Said Nicole admiring the ring on Zoey's left hand. She tilted it at every angle.
'You're easily the best looking girl at PCA…. I hope that you'll be mine someday.'
"Is it signed?" Asked Quinn curiously.
"No." Zoey said glancing at the ring. Who'd like her enough to spend that much money on her?
"$100 easy." Said Dana.
"Any ideas?" Asked Quinn as she glanced in dismay at the note. It was typed. So she couldn't analyse handwriting.
"Just the one." Zoey said. "And it's a bit of a long shot,"
"Hey girls." Called Michael beckoning the girls over. Zoey took her seat first taking every opportunity to flash her ring.
"Where'd you get that from?" Asked Logan instantly.
"Oh, she got it from her secret admirer." Blabbed Nicole.
"Shut up Nicole." Zoey snapped.
"Hey! I think it's romantic… isn't it romantic guys?" Asked Dana. Michael looked impressed.
"The dude must really love you if he's willing to spend that much cash on you." He said. Logan took her hand and surveyed the ring.
"24 Carat… Sapphire and Cubic Z, do girls go for the over expensive romantic gestures?" He asked.
"The girls go for a name and room number!" Zoey said stubbornly. "But it's nice…" She noticed Chase's lack of enthusiasm. He was lying with his head on the table, apparently sleeping. "Isn't it Chase?" She pushed her hand infront of his face. Chase raised his head sleepily.
"Nice..." He mumbled before laying his head back on the table.
"Gee, nice to see someone's happy for her." Nicole said sarcastically. Dana looked awkward.
"You really have to stop working yourself so hard Chase. You'll burn yourself out." Zoey said sympathetically.
"Yeah well, like I said…" He stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. "I need the money." He looked at Dana. Mouthed something to her before scootering off.
"Man, I need some romance tips from this Romeo of yours." Logan said. "The good looks and great attitude just don't seem to do it for the ladies anymore." Zoey frowned. Her one lead had just turned out to be a dud.
"Logan?" Laughed Dana.
"Well it fit!" Zoey protested. "He was in our dorm all day. As soon as I left to check out my room he split. And he's the only one I know with that kind of cash to throw around." Zoey said flopping onto the bed. She held her hand up and looked at the ring, creating a mini-disco on the wall. "I'm stumped… I mean it can't be anyone I know, or I'd have caught him out by now, right?"
"Poor Chase." Said Dana staring out of the window at Chase who was rushing all over campus. "He must be exhausted."
"Wow, that was random." Said Nicole. "I think it's a record even for you Dana."
"Can you two stop changing the subject." Zoey demanded. "We were talking about my mystery guy!" Dana rolled her eyes.
"You two are annoying." She snapped stubbornly she got up and stalked into the shower.
"What's her deal?"
"Does Dana need a reason to get all…. Stroppy-ish?" Asked Nicole.
"I suppose not…" Zoey paused. "Hey, you don't think SHE sent me the ring do you?" Joked Zoey, the two roommates fell about laughing.
After two weeks Zoey was no closer to finding out who her mystery man was. After two weeks Chase stopped running so many shifts. After two weeks Dana was a little less moody. After two weeks and three days Zoey received a gift. On her bed was a single white rose.
"Gee nobody taught him how to play it cool, you start small and work up. Not start with an expensive gift and go cheap." Said Logan who was in the room. The whole gang had come up to Zoey's room to play Cluedo. ("I confess, it was me, in the bedroom, with Zoey." Laughed Logan. "You wish!") Zoey took the rose, she twirled it a few times around her fingers and inhaled deeply.
'Be mine?' Read the note. Zoey smiled.
"I think it's romantic." Zoey said.
"Wear it in your hair, it'll only die in a vase." Suggested Dana.
"I second that motion." Said Nicole. Dana sat Zoey down cross legged infront of her and affixed the Rose to the front of her hair. Chase smiled.
"It looks nice. You think you'd ever go out with him?" He asked.
"I don't know." Zoey said with a sigh. "It depends…"
"On what?" Asked Logan curiously. Zoey smiled wickedly.
"On how good a kisser he is." She joked. Dana inhaled and exhaled deeply. Today was not a good day.
Zoey was in the shower. For some reason she always sang in the shower. Today was no different.
"Won't you be my Romeo oh-ay-oh." She walked into the room dressed in two towels.
"This came for you, it was under the door when we came in." Dana handed her a letter. Zoey quit the singing and snatched the note.
"Dearest Zoey. Tomorrow lunch time at 1:30 exactly I want you to close your eyes. And keep them closed no matter what." Hey eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
"What on earth!" She showed Dana and Nicole the note. Nicole screamed excitedly. Zoey frowned. She hated it when Nicole screamed. It was incredibly irritating.
"Sorry… but… maybe he's going to kiss you." Nicole teased. Zoey's face contorted. She wasn't sure if she liked this idea or hated it. On one hand he evidently really liked her, and on the other hand she'd never met him… or what if she had met him? What if it was Marc or something? Or Nicholas? Or Glen? Well… Glen wouldn't be so bad but… no. Glen would be very bad.
"And maybe he just wants you to look stupid, you'll not find out until tomorrow. The sooner you fall asleep the sooner you'll wake up so just let 1:30 roll on." Dana lay down on her bed and clapped the lights off.
"Gee what bit your biscuit?" Snapped Nicole. She curled up. "Night Zo, good luck tomorrow with Romeo."
Zoey fiddled with her ring. "Yeah. Night Nicole."
A/n: I think we all know who Romeo is. And what Romeo has in store for Zoey… but review or else you won't find out.