Disclaimer: I do not own Zoey 101 or "Behind these Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson. It's sad, right...?
P.S. The reason I'm writing in third person is because this is a special chapter (it is also in multiple points of view).
April sat on her bed. It was the night of the dance. And she did not care. She was not going.
April felt so lost. She tried to forget about her mother's death. But maybe it would have been better to talk about it. Because it was haunting her.
April stood up. She did not want to be alone. She did not want to be with anyone. She felt no need to leave her dorm. And yet she hated it so much.
Her feet seemed to lead her through the door and into the lounge. She saw Michael sitting on the sofa, totally alone. He seemed to be nervous. April walked toward him. That was one way that she dealt with her problems besides ignoring them. She concentrated on other people's problems.
"Wussup?" April asked. Michael looked up.
"I - I have a problem."
April swallowed the lump in her throat and sat down beside Michael.
"Lay it one me," she said.
"Well, I made a bet with Logan," April stiffened at the mention on Logan. "He told me I would not be able to get a date for the dance. This is the first dance I went to, seeing as there has never been a dance here. I ... don't have a date," he finished.
April sighed. Sure. Everybody's problems had to be about something stupid like a dance. But April tried to be sympathetic - for once in her life.
"Don't worry! You'll find somebody in time. Who cares about that jerk Logan anyway?" asked April. Michael bit his lip.
"Tonight is the dance! How can I get someone in time? Everybody's taken!" exclaimed Michael.
"I don't have anyone. See, not everybody has a date. I'm sure someone is still single," answered April. Michael's eyes widened.
"April... maybe you could go to the dance with me," said Michael, his face lighting up.
"What! I - I'm not going," answered April, crossing her arms protectively. Michael looked down.
"But I could make an acception," said April. Michael smiled. Jeez, was she actually helping this kid?
"Thank you!" cried Michael. He leapt up and embraced April in a hug. April, who was not expecting this, flinched.
"Whoa! Whoa, yes, yes you're welcome! Now let go of me!" cried April, pushing Michael away. He blushed, realizing what he had done. April crossed her arms again, ashamed.
"I - I'll see you," said April, getting up.
She knew Michael was just going with her so he would not make a fool in front of Logan. But she felt strangely - happy.
I don't like him. But... he offered to put up with me. Even someone date-less would not do that to me.
April walked into her dorm. Her roomie was getting ready for the dance. A pink mini-skirt and matching pink top was laid out on her bed. April snorted. But she made no comment.
Caitlin was perched on a chair in the lounge. She was watching Chase. He was hanging out with Logan, Quinn, Dana, Nicole, Michael, and Zoey. Caitlin felt a pang of jealousy. Unfortunately, Chase saw that jealousy.
"Hey, Caitlin! Wanna hang out?" called Chase. Caitlin blushed and nodded. She approached the group.
"H - Hey," greeted Caitlin, taking a deep breath.
"You excited about the dance tonight?" asked Zoey. Caitlin's eyes widened.
"Um... actually... I wanted to talk to you, Chase," said Caitlin.
"Sure," answered Chase. Caitlin beckoned Chase to follow her. She led him to a corner of the room.
"What is it?" asked Chase.
Caitlin's heart was thumping in her chest. What was that thing Mom had told her? Empty
your mind when you are nervous. Take a deep breath and clear your brain...
"Chase, will you go to the dance...with me?" asked Caitlin. She sucked in her breath, waiting.
"Uh...sure," answered Chase, looking surprised. But he accepted.
"Thank you!" cried Caitlin, running away. She was so embarrassed, she had to get away. But she was happy.
Skye was feeling guilty. She had set her sister up. It was the only choice of words she could think of.
But I did all this to make April happy. I was doing the right thing... wasn't I?
Skye heard a knock on her door. She stood up and opened it. It was Dustin. Woo-hoo.
"H - hi, Skye," stuttered Dustin. Skye forced a smile on her face.
"Hey, Dustin. What do you want?" asked Skye, a bit annoyed.
"I - I wanted to ask you something. The - the dance is tonight. I was thinking that - that - " Dustin bit his tongue. He had gone over this with Zoey. He needed to ask her. He needed to tell her.
"I...You... Do you want to go with me?" asked Dustin.
"To the dance?" asked Skye. Dustin nodded nervously.
"I don't know. I mean..." started Skye. She looked at Dustin. How was she going to put this?
Dustin, you are driving me crazy. You are always there. And not in the good way. You can't give me a chance to breathe! I have enough on my chest.
That was what Skye wanted to say.
"I can't. I have some stuff to do... with April," said Skye, hoping that would get rid of him.
"Really?" asked Dustin. He seemed a bit hurt. "What kind of stuff?"
"Family stuff," said Skye firmly. "Now I have to work. 'Bye," said Skye, slamming the door in the love-sick boy's face.
She didn't want to hurt him. She really didn't. But she had no experience with boys. How was she supposed to know what to do? She bigger problems of her own...
Danny was totally killing himself.
I can't believe it. I guess this is what you get for being sympathetic. Danny thought to himself. Quinn was a freak! No one could deny that. And yet, Danny was going to the dance with her...
Danny groaned and sat on his bed. The dance was in a little while - which meant in a little while he would be dancing with Quinn. Yuck!
Danny did not feel the need to dress up. But he didn't want to look like a slob. So he pulled on a red and blue t-shirt and jeans. He combed his hair... and sat back down. It's not like Quinn would be totally dressed up, anyway.
Danny opened the door to greet Quinn and take her to the dance. But he didn't see Quinn. He saw a cute girl with long auburn hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a shocking pink dress with gold trimming. Gold bracelets covered her arms, and gold was braided into her hair.
"Who are you?" asked Danny.
April was ready for the dance. She was wearing a black tank top, baggy black pants, black sneakers, purple nails, and eyeliner - can't forget the eyeliner!
The dance would be starting soon. Whoopee. Yeah, right.
Michael knocked on the door to April's room. April opened the door.
"Yo," she greeted. Michael waved in response.
"So, we gonna do this thing or what?" asked April, looking bored. Michael nodded, surprised. April seemed to have a lack of desire in the dance. Maybe she really didn't like them...
"Out of my way, jerk," snapped April. Michael was yanked out of his thoughts. Logan was standing in front of April, a smile on his face.
"So, Michael? This is your date? Haha! I thought you would have picked someone a little more... stable," said Logan.
"Stable!" April pushed Logan to the ground. "You might want to be a little more stable on your feet next time," said April, stepping over Logan's body. Michael stared at April.
Whoa...
The pair walked outside to the courtyard. There was a long table that was covered in snacks and drinks. A small stage was set up with blue curtains. The entire dance was over looking the beach.
"Wow!" admired April. She had never quite realized how beautiful the beach was in the evening. The twinkling stars illuminated the waves breaking on the shore.
Michael, however, was staring at something else: Chase and Caitlin! Caitlin was wearing a silver tank top and white capris. She looked really happy. And the weird thing was, so was Chase.
Caitlin! I thought Chase liked Zoey!
Michael and April sat down on some chairs. They watched everyone dance around them.
"I don't really like dances," said Michael randomly. April turned to him.
"Why not?" she asked.
"I dunno... I just never liked anyone before. I feel kinda left out sometimes," he admitted, looking down.
"So? You can't just force yourself to like somebody. It happens at different times," said April wisely.
"Have you ever liked someone?" asked Michael. April gaped at him.
What! How dare you ask me that! What makes you think you have the right to invade my privacy? What's it to you? Was what April was going to say.
"Nope... Doesn't really matter to me, anyways. Who needs a guy?" answered April. Why was she telling Michael this stuff?
There was an awkward silence between the two.
"You know what this dance needs? Some entertainment," said Michael. April nodded as the principal came up on stage.
"Settle down, everyone! And now we are going to have a performance by our very own... April Sanders!" announced the principal. April nearly fainted.
"WHAT THE FREAK'IN HECK!" screamed April. April got up and ran behind the curtains to settle the problem. There, she saw Skye sitting in a chair, her head in her hands.
"Skye? Do you know why they are asking me to sing?" asked April. Skye looked up at her.
"Y - yes. I do," started Skye. She looked close to tears. "April, please don't hate me! I was only trying to make you happy. I told the staff that you were going to sing up there," April's eyes got very wide.
"You what! Skye, how could you do that?" asked April in shock.
"I - I was trying to help you! I knew that you liked singing... I wanted to bring the family closer together!" cried Skye. Now there were tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Skye, there is nothing wrong with our family," claimed April.
"I just wanted everyone to be happy..." said Skye.
April looked at her sister. She had not meant to do something wrong. She just wanted to help...
April sighed and walked onto the stage. The whole crowd was watching her. There was a blinding light in her face. A few people were standing behind her, holding instruments. April took a deep breath and held the microphone to her mouth. She sang the only song she could remember:
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
The band behind her started playing their instruments. Skye, still behind the curtains, held her breath.
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 tears I've cried
The crowd started dancing to the music. April sang with more passion.
Behind these hazel eyes,
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
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 tears I've cried,
Behind these hazel eyes
April started rocking her body to the song.
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've cried,
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've cried,
Behind these hazel eyes.
The crows cheered. April tried to hide the smile on her face, but she couldn't help it. She smiled the biggest smile she could manage. Skye was cheering for her also. April ran backstage and hugged her sister.
"I'm sorry, April," said Skye.
"It's alright. You were only trying to help. But next time, don't set anybody up," replied April. She smiled at her sister and hugged her some more.
Hello! Hope you liked my chapter! I just wanted to tell you that Michael and April are not going to have a romantic relationship. They will just be friends. Ciao!
