A/n: Ooooo. So I left you wondering: did she or didn't she? I guess you have to wait a little longer.

Chapter 5: It's the heat.

Dana blearily opened her eyes. She spent a while focusing. She half didn't want to wake up. Reality bites.
"Dana! Thank god!" Zoey said. She looked incredibly worried. Dana avoided her eyes. She looked around. She was in the schools' sick bay. Now what was she doing there? Even after being accused of being a murderer her friends cared enough to get her second best. Gee, that was such a comfort. Dana started to cry. "Oh come on D, drink this." Zoey handed Dana an ice cold glass of water. Dana sniffed.
"I didn't mean to." Dana confessed.
"Shh, come on you're not well." Zoey said soothingly.
"I'm perfectly well thank you very much. I know what I'm saying!" Zoey looked at Dana patiently.
"Tell me all about it." She said.
"Logan just got on my nerves some times. But that didn't mean I hated him!"
"I know. I know." Zoey laughed. "You guys really get on my nerves too. But if you'd just take the time to admit you fancied each other…" Dana sighed. She'd openly admit it now. She had a crush on Logan. Or she had had a crush on Logan. She was confused. Past tenses were never her favourite thing.
"Yeah I did. But that's never going to happen now is it?" Dana continued to cry.

Zoey handed her a tissue.
"Come on he'll forgive you."
"He already has done. I know deep down he has." Zoey sighed.
"Yeah well you concentrate on making yourself well again, yeah Dana?"
"Will you quit going on about me like I'm sick! Sick in the head maybe. Sick of my life maybe…. But not sick as in ready to throw up sick." Zoey realised Dana wasn't quite with it today.
"You're not sick of life. You're just frustrated,"
"No Zoey I'm not! I'm going to spend the rest of my life in prison! He's barely cold and I'm already going mad!" Dana was close to hysterics and Zoey was beginning to worry about her friend.
"What ARE you talking about?" Zoey asked.
"I killed him. I already told you."
"You killed who? Your hamster in fifth grade? Yeah you told me." Zoey said pouring another drink of water. Dana looked confused. What was Zoey talking about? Was the blonde completely barmy? Or maybe the honey haired brat was a bit bonkers?

"What day is it?" Dana asked.
"Tuesday. The 28th." Informed Zoey speaking like a child who had been taught to remember her phone number and address.
"Tuesday… the 28th? That's impossible. You… you tied me to Logan. You handcuffed me to him, look!" Dana raised her left hand to show the manacle and sawed through chain only to find her wrist was bare apart from her wrist watch which she never took off.
"It's the heat. You're delirious, Dana." Zoey said with a giggle. "Why would I handcuff you to Logan?"
"Because you were sick of us arguing! You said so…" She had said that… hadn't she.
"Yeah I did say so. You pushed me so far I was at breaking point…"
"Then you handcuffed me!" Dana said adamantly
"Then…" Zoey said simply. "You fainted. Like I said... it's the heat. It caused you to faint because you weren't drinking enough fluids. I did tell you to drink plenty. And you weren't doing yourself any favours by sitting around in your PJ's all day." Zoey said pointing at Dana's attire. Dana looked alarmed.
"I fainted?" It had all been a dream? Goddamn Reality again. Just when you think you've met it's boundaries it strikes up again
"Yeah which is probably why you're acting a little kookie today."

"How long have I been out?" Dana demanded forgetting her head ache and sitting up.
"A couple of hours." Zoey said checking her watch. "You're on the bench tonight."
"The bench?" Dana queried downing her water in one.
"Tonight's the big game. Honestly Dana!" Zoey laughed. "I can afford to skip practice. Logan wanted to shoot a few hoops with Chase and some of the other boys. He told me to keep him posted on you. He really does care you know." Zoey grabbed her cell phone.
"Logan!" Dana said coming to a realisation. If she'd never been strapped to him she'd never killed him! She stood up.
"Dana! Where are you going! You're supposed to stay in bed!" Zoey whined. The nurse would blame Zoey.
"Tough."
"Dana!" Zoey cried. "You can't go out dressed like that." Dana shrugged. Logan had seen her in less. Well… actually he hadn't. That had been part of her sick twisted water deprived dream hadn't it?
"Watch me!" Dana was already out.

She was scarcely dressed but couldn't care less. She had to see if she was really here. Was he really here? Was any of it real? She couldn't tell what was what any more. She was trapped. She was in her own private prison. She was a prisoner of love. Damn. A lot of boys stared at her and some wolf whistled in the ultimate chauvinistic manner. She made her way onto the basketball court, the tarmac burning her bare feet. The setting sun crashed down on her, making everything glow an eerie gold colour. She felt that the heat was pressing in on her at all sides. Or maybe she was suffering from dehydration… or quite possibly insanity. Most likely a little of both.

There he was. He was alive and well and showing off.
"Reese takes the ball and he drives it up the court. He dribbles past Matthews… eat my dust Chase. He's standing at the three pointer line… he shoots and…" There was no and. He froze. He had just locked eyes with Dana. He stopped mid shot and went to a neutral stance.
"Now that you've woken up, sleeping beauty…" Logan said in his usual 'I'm-obviously-so-much-better-than-you-so-why-are-you-even-trying' tone. "Come to apologise?" He asked snottily. Dana looked at him wide eyed in utter disbelief. There he was alive and insulting her! "Well!" he demanded "I'm waiting."
"I am so sorry." She tried not to cry, she really did but her hand flew to her mouth to stop the escaping attempt of the sob. She didn't do a very good job. His face contorted in confusion. She was crying? Why was she crying? He hadn't seriously upset her had he? "I am. I'm awful. I'm sorry I'm such a vindictive little…" She couldn't speak. Her words caught in her throat. The basketball team looked at her in confusion. Chase was used to girls crying, he was probably more in touch with his feminine side than Logan. Dana was shaking.
"You're not awful. Yeah you're a little nasty sometimes but…" Chase said. Dana shook her head.
"That's not for you to decide Chase. It's up to Logan." Logan looked confused. He looked alarmed at being asked for his opinion on something to do with her. Dana stepped towards him until she was inches away.

"What do you say? Forgive me?"
"I guess I don't have a choice." He said coolly.
"Don't be like that." Dana said shaking her head. Logan realised she was still crying.
"Why are you being so soppy?" he asked. He'd never seen her cry. Only in her dreams. She shook her head and shrugged. "Oh come on who died?" Dana couldn't help laughing. He'd hit the nail bang on the head. "See!" Logan said with a smile. He dropped the basketball and allowed Chase to pilfer it. He mock thumped her in the jaw playfully, clicking his tongue twice. "There's that smile." Dana blushed. "You're pretty when you smile. As opposed to when you're beating me up." Dana's blush deepened.
"Logan?" She asked. He raised his eyebrows in response. Dana closed her eyes and sighed. "Nevermind."
"Go on… You dragged yourself out of bed long enough to comeALL the way down here didn't you? You might aswell say what's on your mind." He snapped at her. She raised her hand and took both of his in hers. He looked utterly confused. He was even more confused when she placed his hands around her waist and lay her head on his chest. He tightened his grip across the back of her chest.

"Don't say anything." Dana whispered hugging him tightly. She was so relieved that he was alive, she found she couldn't stop crying. She really was a wreck. He shrugged slightly. He lay his chin on her hair breathing in her scent. He could tell she was very distressed and no matter how nasty she could sometimes be he had forgiven her. Her had been stressed out because of the whole summer school thing but decided that there was no shame in getting a tutor. He rubbed his hands down her back in a comforting manner to try and calm her down. He succeeded and her crying slowed. He realised she was only in her PJ's but didn't question her. He just held her tightly. The way she was clinging to him it made it seem like it was a matter of life or death.

This continued for some time. There was a pleasant silence as the two stayed in each others arms. The setting sun shone down onto the two creating one long shadow. Logan was the first to break the moment.
"You're going to have to let me go you know Dana. I have to train." He said it very quietly.
"Can't you skip practice for once?" She whispered.
"God. You are so manipulative. If you weren't so hot I swear I'd have killed you by now." Dana had officially invented the reddest shade of red ever "No I'm not skipping practice. You can shoot a few with us… you know if you want to." She laughed. He released her but slid his arm across her shoulder and walked her into him. "But I guess you shouldn't..." He said remebering that Dana had spent the day in the hospital bed."You shouldn't be out of bed."
"Yes Doctor Reese." She said with a salute. She was glad to have use of her left hand again.
"No seriously- When you fell did you hit your head? Crying, giggling, smiling. I'd think you're Nicole… except a hell of a lot prettier." Dana blushed as he led her to the stands.

"You think I'm pretty." She asked coyly. (Think School Dance)
"What am I blind?" He asked playfully.
"Well. You've never said so before."
"Have too!" Logan stuck out his tongue at her. Dana sat beside him. His arm which had been around her should slid to her waist and she lay her head on his shoulder.
"Logan… that scar on your head… where did it come from?" She asked surveying the wound on the back of his head.
"When I was younger I slipped in the shower and cracked my head into a tap." Logan brushed his hair back to cover it. It was the one blemish of his perfect looks.
"You weren't by any chance brain damaged in the process were you?" She joked. She found it creepy. Her mind had created a re-enactment of something that had actually happened. Logan had never told her about it.
"Me brain damaged… says you." She said nothing just tilted her head up. "Logan. I think…"
"Oh god. She thinks? I was wrong you're not Nicole." Dana thumped him. "Now how would you feel if in doing that you stopped my heart?"

"To be honest I don't care about your heart." She said. Not true. He had just ever so slightly scared her. Her dream still seemed too real to just brush away. "I care about mine." Logan nodded and watched as David scored a two-pointer.
"What about it?"
"I think I like you." You wouldn't believe how much energy it took for her to say that. She closed her eyes. She was incredibly tired.
"Uh! Finally one of us admits it. You're not as stubborn as I thought you were." Dana glared slightly.
"Well…"
"Well what?"
"You're supposed to say: 'I know I know everyone loves me I am the almighty Logan Reese and I don't blame you for having a crush on me, but I can't just have one girl it wouldn't be fair on the rest of my species.'" Dana didn't breathe in that sentence. Logan could tell she was anxious of his response. He wrapped both of his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his knee.
"Don't tell me what to say.I don't want to say that."
"Well…" She yawned. "What do you want to say?"
"I don't want to say anything." He whispered into her ear. He stroked his thumb down her jaw line. "I want to kiss you."
"Well what's stopping you?" She asked. Logan realised that she wasn't going to hit him and took this as the invite to continue.

He leaned forward and cautiously placed his lips against hers. She relaxed and wrapped her arms around his neck. She slipped her fingers into his curls and dared to deepen the kiss. He didn't complain and after all why would he? This was Danger Cruz! He pushed his tongue against her lips, becoming desperate. She allowed him. She still felt bad for killing him. After a few minutes the two broke apart.
"Good?" He whispered.
"Hm, incredibly." She yawned.
"Oh do I bore you Cruz? One kiss and you're fed up." He snapped playfullyat her. She didn't get that he was playing.
"I'm tired!" She complained. He lay her forehead against hers.
"I know."

"Aww." Zoey cooed. Chase had broken away from the game and the two were stood on the orange hill silhouetted against the blood red sky and the golden sun.
"They make a good couple. You know… when they're not killing each other." Chase said.
"It makes you wish doesn't it?"
"Wish what?" He asked cluelessly.
"Wish that… I don't know. That there really is someone special out there. Someone who thinks you're pretty and not pretty hopeless."
"You're not hopeless." Chase assured her.
"Who said this was about me?" Chase rolled his eyes.
"Nobody said anything. But I know you're thinking it. You're not hopeless. Yes you're pretty. Every guy in the school will tell you that." Zoey muttered something viciously under her breath. "What was that?"

"I said: not every guy."
"Oh, I get it." Chase said, a look of dawning comprehension on his face. A boy. "You've got your eye and someone and he doesn't like you like that?"
"He's my friend. He'll never see me as more than that." Chase sighed. He'd just got her over her little Logan fetish and now… this.
"Then he's not worth it. If he can't see how amazing you really are then, shame on him. He's lucky to have your attention."
"He is?"
"He is." Chase sighed. Zoey looked down at Logan and Dana. They were cute together. If they hadn't have gotten together soon, Zoey would've had to do something very drastic…. Like handcuff them together! The thought made her smile. She stole a glance at Chase who looked very depressed.
"Cheer up." She said. "You're lucky to have my attention." He raised his eyebrows.
"huh?"
"God… and I'm the hopeless one?" She asked with a giggle. His eyes widened and he pointed at himself. She nodded. "It's okay if…you know… you don't…"
"Ah Zo!" Chase laughed. "Me?"
"For the last time yes." She snapped. Chase took a deep breath and took her hand. He gave it a small squeeze. She looked at him in confusion. He didn't have to say anything. She already knew it.

"Watching the game tonight?"
"I'm in it stupid!" Zoey giggled. Chase blushed.
"Oh yeah uh…"
"But I do need to get changed…. Walk me back to my dorm?" She asked.
"Gladly." He turned and walked her away.

Logan laughed. He slipped his arm underneath her legs and picked her up. She screeched.
"Come on, If you're tired you're going to bed. I'm not having you embarrassing me at the game tonight by falling asleep while I score." Dana held onto him tightly, not trusting him not to drop her.
"What I'm not allowed to sleep, now?" She complained.
"Oh yeah. Just… fall asleep on your own time. It doesn't look good to have my girl fall asleep when I'm showing off."
"Oh so I'm your girl now?" She asked raising her eyebrows.
"You know it."

Zoey and Chase hovered at the doorway.
"Well I'll uh… see you tonight?" Zoey asked.
"Yeah you will." They paused. Zoey then stood on tiptoe and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Oh for god's sakes. Get a room!" Logan said with a laugh.
"Is she asleep?" Zoey asked peering at the girl who was laid floppily in Logan's arms.
"Yeah she's tuckered out. I don't blame her." Zoey opened room 101 for Logan and allowed him to dump her friend on her own bed.
"So are you two a thing now?" Chase asked.
"Are you?" Logan quipped. Chase shrugged.
"Zoey can answer that." He ploughed his hands into his pockets.
"I don't know yet. We'll have to wait and see." Zoey blushed.
"Yeah well. Me and Dana are a thing…" He paused and regained some of his dignity. He didn't want to sound too gaga over a girl."I think. I just uh... haven't told her that yet." Logan looked at her sleeping blissfully unaware that she was dreaming about the time she cracked his head open. He ducked down and kissed her.

"We gonna win tonight?" Chase asked,
"When have we ever lost?" Logan said giving Chase a high five.
"Will you two shove off?" Zoey snapped. "if you want your star player on the court you have to leave so she can get dressed." Chase nodded and Logan rolled his eyes mumbling 'Star player, yeah right' but both boys complied and left.
"He gone?" Dana asked sitting up. "I have SO much to tell you." Zoey smiled.

The sad truth was that however interesting Dana's story was to tell, Zoey didn't believe it. She didn't tell anyone it again after Zoey had laughed at her. However she and Logan had lost the handcuffs and were now voluntary prisoners of love… if that makes sense. And if it doesn't… then in the words of Logan Reese: Who cares?

A/n: THE END. Please hit the pretty purple button... PRETTYPlease?