Chapter 7- California Storm

Logan locked the door. Hopefully Michael and Chase weren't coming back soon. He then walked over to Chase's bed. Where did Chase put that journal/poem book of his. Logan pulled back Chase's blue sheets, and then shook his head. It wasn't there. Logan sighed, and then looked around the room. He had to write the first letter to Dana before Chase and Michael got back. Logan closed his eyes and flashed back to last night. Him and Dana in the pool, and then him leaning forward to kiss her. A smile formed on his face, He would never say it aloud but Dana was the best kisser he had came across. And that said a lot because he had kissed plenty of girls in his lifetime. Logan glanced down at the floor. Maybe Chase hid his little book under the bed. Logan dropped down to the floor, and started to search under Chase's bed. He pulled out a shoe box. "What is this?" Logan said quietly to himself.

He leaned against Chase's bed and then took the cover off of the box. "Logan, you've struck gold!" He pulled out Chase's small blue journal and held it proudly in his hands. All girls loved poetry, well at least the girls he had been with. Logan bit his lip and then started to leaf through Chase's entries and poems. He paused on an entry.

Hey Journal,

Your going to be a journal…because I think diaries are for girls. I um…I met this girl named Zoey today. We were playing dodgeball today, and it was the first day that girls were allowed into PCA. The teams were split up into girls and boys. When I got the ball, I immediately went after her. I didn't want to take her out on purpose…she was just the first girl that caught my eyes. She was talking to this other girl, and chewing gum simultaneously. I know this sounds crazy…but it was so cute how she chewed her gum. I have officially gone crazy. But anyways I did get her out. When it was my turn to go in, she went after me. Zoey is a good thrower. She took me out within minutes. Zoey is the most beautiful girl I have seen in my life. She does things to me that I can't explain. When I see her I become tounge tied…I just want to talk to her.

Chase

Logan grinned, "How corny, Chase is such a loser." He glanced down at the entry once again. Would Dana find something like this romantic? Logan gagged. I can't believe I just used that word. Romantic…I don't want to be romantic, I just want to make Dana mines. Logan turned the page. A poem caught his eye. Maybe he could send Dana a poem. After all he wasn't good at writing so why not. Logan focused on the poem, "Warm Glow," He read. This must be about Zoey too.

"Jade Green is as beautiful as it seems. So deep, so dark. What a wonderful arc. Mystery paints your eyes. Cocoa swirls, yellow sunshine blends in. As your warm smile swirls something so angelic. So warm, with you I am so safe. Because I know you will do me no harm. Your voice is soft. Caring, but yet daring. You pick me up. Tell me the truth. I love how you can soothe. Chase away my worries. Drown my fears. Your never in a hurry. Which makes me see your love clear. I pray the day never comes when you go away. Because your warm glow I need to always stay, so my life and existence can flow."

Logan raised an eyebrow. He couldn't send that to Dana. Dana would probably laugh in his face if she found out it was him. "I got to find some better material from Chase, not this mushy crap." Logan closed the book and then looked down at the rest of the items in the box. He grinned, as he pulled out a collection of Zoey pictures. Chase was obsessed with Zoey. Logan tossed the pictures back into the box. "Too bad Sawyer has a crush on your girl Chase, and I think she likes him too."

Someone knocked at the door.

"Shit," Logan whispered frantically to himself as he tossed all of Chase's items back into the box. He then shoved the box back under his bed. "Coming."

Logan checked his hair in the mirror. And then straightened out his polo, and glanced down at his khakis. "Looking sharp." He said to himself.

The person knocked louder.

"Hold on," He yelled meanly.

Logan reached for his hairspray and sprayed his hair. "Now, I'm ready."

He opened the door to reveal Dana's friend Skyler. Logan smiled, he looked past her for Dana but she wasn't there. What did she want. "Hi,"

"Hi," Skyler smiled.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Do you need something…besides me?"

Skyler grinned, "Actually I was stopping by to ask you what your doing later tonight."

Logan shrugged, "Chillin"

"Well, there is going to be a night yoga class and I was…"

"Yoga? Do I look like a yoga type of guy. Believe me babe, I didn't get this body from doing yoga."

Skyler shrugged, "Okay, well I'll just go with Dana then."

"Dana's going?" Logan asked interested.

"Yes, why?" Skyler asked staring back at Logan curiously.

"I'll go then, just to torture her."

Skyler smiled, "Great, then it's a date."

"Yeah, see ya." Logan closed the door in Skyler's face and then leaned against the wall. Sawyer was coming with him.

"Um…a banana smoothie?" Nicole asked nervously.

The man behind the counter nodded sternly, "Yes, I said that five times."

"Oh…okay," Nicole said swallowing down a wad of nervousness. She reached under the counter for a banana. She closed her eyes, Sawyer said two right? What the heck. Nicole grabbed another banana from under the counter and then went over to the mixer. Take off the skin Nicole. She nodded to herself, and started to peel the bananas. How long was Sawyer's break? She needed him here now.

The man tapped his hands impatiently. "I have a meeting in fifteen minutes, so can you hurry up, please."

Beads of sweat started to form along Nicole's hairline as she tossed the bananas, milk and ice into the blender. The man walked over to her. Nicole looked up at him nervously and then placed her hand on the power switch.

"Don't you want to close…" Before he could finish his statement, the blender shot his banana smoothie on his face and onto business suit.

Nicole gasped and promptly turned off the blender. "Oh, my gosh, I am so sorry."

"You idiot! Look what you did to my suit! It's ruined!" He yelled.

Nicole struggled to hold back the tears, "I said I was sorry!"

"Where's your manager, I am not leaving this place until your fired!" He screamed.

Sawyer stepped out of the back. He took one glance at the angry customer and then at Nicole. "What's going on?"

"When did this place start hiring idiots."

Nicole stepped back and then slipped on the smoothie juice on the floor. She fell on the floor, and then looked down.

"Hey, there is no need for that." Sawyer said walking over to Nicole and helping her up.

"Where is your manager!" The man yelled.

Sawyer turned to Nicole, "Why don't you get cleaned up. Don't worry about it, it's my fault."

Nicole's mouth started to tremble.

Sawyer gave her an encouraging smile, "First days suck. Go ahead and get cleaned up."

Nicole sniffled, and then smiled back at him. She tripped two more times before reaching the bathroom.

"Can I see your manager…or am I going to have to go back there and get her myself?"

Sawyer rested his hands against the counter, "I am really sorry about that. Nicole is new and today is her first day."

"So," The guy said.

"Well it's not her fault, I am going to get the manager, but you minus as well blame me because I was supposed to be training her."

"Then where were you?" The guy asked.

The manager stepped from the back with ketchup and mustard around her mouth and a hot dog in hand. "What's going on." She finished scarfing down the hot dog in her hand and then grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth.

"Look at me!" The guy yelled.

The managed narrowed her beady eyes at Sawyer, "What happened here?"

Sawyer looked down. "I…I made a mistake."

"You're fired!" She yelled.

Sawyer's mouth dropped open and he stared back at her in bewilderment. "I need this job, and your short staffed."

"We were short staffed. Nicole will be taking your place after she is trained formally. There is no place for silly mistakes like that. After you finish your shift turn in your uniform." The manager then turned to the angry customer. "I am sorry about your suit."

"Hmm." He groaned glaring at Sawyer and then walking away.

Nicole came out of the bathroom, slightly cleaner and feeling as if she was on cloud nine. Sawyer stood up for her and he even smiled at her. She took in a mouthful of air and then exhaled with a smile. Sawyer was her baby. Nicole giggled at her new nickname for Sawyer. From now on when she talked to Zoey she would refer to Sawyer as her baby.

"Thanks Sawyer," Nicole said.

Sawyer glanced at her and then looked away, "We have to clean this up. Get a mop."

Nicole was slightly taken aback by his harshness. But that was okay…he was still her baby.

Sawyer shook his head as he stared after Nicole. He got fired over her stupid mistake.

"This smoothie is good." Zoey said taking a sip of her blueberry strawberry freeze smoothie.

Chase looked down at Zoey's longingly. "I'm sure yours tastes better than mine. I could swear mine had old mangos in it."

Zoey giggled, "I told you the mango chunky island jam didn't sound like a winner, but you wouldn't listen."

Chase smacked his lips together, "I'm parched."

Zoey handed him hers, "Here have some."

"Really?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, Chase you better take it before I change my mind."

Chase reached for Zoey's smoothie and took a sip. Hmm..it was good. Chase took a couple more sips.

Zoey glanced at one of the shops along the boardwalk. It was starting to get dark, and Chase hadn't applied anywhere yet. "Um…Chase do you want to apply at Surf and Tame?"

Chase gave Zoey back her smoothie, "Yeah, I'll apply there."

Zoey gave him a thumbs up, "Good luck."

Chase rubbed his hands together excitedly and then disappeared into the surf shop.

"I hope Chase gets the job." Zoey whispered to herself. Zoey walked over to a bench facing the ocean and sat down. She rested her arm against the back of the seat and stared off at the ocean dreamily. Sawyer asked her and Nicole to go surfing with him. Maybe some other day, it was getting too late. Zoey's cell phone vibrated in her purse.

It was Nicole. "Hey,"

"Hi Zoey, today was unbelievable. Sawyer and I got closer."

Zoey forced a smile on her face. She should be happy for Nicole, but she was kind of upset. Zoey scowled, what was wrong with her. Nicole was her best-friend and she deserved to be happy. "I am so happy for you, tell me everything and don't leave anything out."

"Okay, well my first day on the job was a disaster."

Zoey started to tune Nicole out as she saw a guy that looked like Sawyer. She sat up and fixed her hair. Was that Sawyer? He turned around to look at her, and smiled. Zoey relaxed. False alarm, it wasn't Sawyer.

"And anyways now I am working on a Sawyer screensaver."

"What?" Zoey asked.

"Oh, I am scanning the pictures from my "Sawyer binder" putting them in my pictures on my computer and creating a screen saver. Zoey do you think I am Sawyer crazy?"

Zoey thought she was, but Nicole was her BF she couldn't say that. "No, your just in love."

"I am…I would totally die if he broke my heart."

Zoey looked down and started to play with the strings on her pleated skirt. She needed to stop thinking about Sawyer and Chase. Too many other things were going on.

"So where are you?" Nicole asked.

"On the beach with Chase, he's still applying for jobs." Zoey had an incoming call, "Wait one second Nicole."

Zoey clicked over, "Hello,"

"Hey Zoey, it's Sawyer."

"Hi Sawyer," Zoey cleared her throat after she recognized the flirty tone in her voice.

"Where are you? Are we still on for the beach?"

"Um…I don't know. It's kind of late and Ch… I mean I am at the mall. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Oh, okay."

"Nicole would love to go." Zoey added.

"I'm kind of beat, I think I am going to grab dinner and go to sleep." Sawyer said.

"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Have a good night."

"Thanks Zoey," Sawyer said in a low voice.

Zoey closed her eyes, "Bye Sawyer,"

She switched back to Nicole, "Hey girlie,"

"Hey, I just finished my screensaver. Are we still on for the beach with Sawyer later?"

Zoey winced. "Um…He was kind of tired. So he said that he was going to get some sleep."

"Oh, you talked to him?"

"Yeah…he was going to call you Nicole, but he didn't have your number." Zoey bit her lip. Why was she lying. She shook her head.

"Oh, well I guess I'll just go surfing with Sawyer in my dreams. Bye Zoey,"

"Bye Nicole," Zoey clicked her cell phone off and tossed it back in her purse. Maybe a walk on the beach would help. She pulled off her shoes and walked barefoot on the boardwalk and then jumped onto the warm sand below. "You got to let it go Zoey. Both Sawyer and Chase can only be your friends."

"Chase, right?" The manager asked.

Chase nodded and extended his hand to him. "Yes,"

"My name is Boyd and I am the manager here. Do you have any surfing experience?"

Chase scratched the back of his head, "I um…I sometimes read surfing magazines."

Boyd scribbled something down on his notepad. "Okay, so why do you want to work here Chase?"

Chase sat up, "Well let me see, I um…I shop here sometimes and I…I like the atmosphere, yeah…"

"Hot girls stop by year round." Boyd added with a smile.

Chase grinned back at him, "I've noticed,"

Boyd nodded, "Okay, so why should I hire you?"

"Because I am a hard worker, and I make sure I do everything a 100" Chase answered. There was no way Boyd could turn down his textbook answer.

"Decent, okay, we'll call you back tomorrow." Boyd extended his hand to Chase.

Chase wiped his hands on his jeans and shook Boyd's hand firmly. He thought he made a good impression. Hopefully so he could say goodbye to that lame cafeteria job.

"So is that girl out their your girlfriend?" Boyd asked.

Chase was somewhat surprised by Boyd's question. "Oh um…Zoey?"

"The blonde," Boyd replied.

"She's my friend." Chase said.

Boyd nodded, "I was just asking because girls swimsuits are on sale, and I'm sure you would like to see her in something nice."

Chase blushed, "She…I'll ask her."

"Nice meeting you, we'll be giving you a call tomorrow."

Chase smiled, and walked out of Boyd's office. He glanced at the girls bikinis on the way out. Boyd was right Zoey would like nice in most of them, but he wasn't going to ask her.

Chase stepped outside and looked down at his watch. It was six thirty. He had to find Zoey so they could catch the last bus. Chase spotted her on the beach. He walked off the boardwalk, and took the steps towards the beach. Once he reached the last step, he pulled off his shoes and ran on the beach towards Zoey.

"Zoey!" He yelled.

Zoey bent down to pick up some stranded sea shells and then turned to Chase, "Hey, how did your interview go?"

"Great." Chase said.

"I saw a really cute bathing suit in there. I want to try it on, but I think the bus leaves soon."

"Well we are right by the pickup point, I think we have twenty minutes." Chase said.

"So do you want too? I think if the manager saw you buying clothes then he would want to hire you even more." Zoey said.

"Yeah, he asked me…" Chase looked down. Why was he going to tell Zoey about Boyd asking if Zoey was his girlfriend?

"What did he ask?" Zoey asked.

Chase avoided Zoey by reaching for one of the seashells in her hand, "Oh, look I can hear the sea."

Zoey smiled, "It sounds so peaceful. Let's hurry up and check out Surf and Tame before the bus comes."

"Yeah, I'll race ya." Chase said.

"Ready, set go!" Zoey screamed breaking off into a sprint.

Chase and Zoey were neck and neck, but Chase slowed down so Zoey could win.

Zoey turned to him out of breath, and placed her hands on her hips, "You so let me win that Chase,"

"No, I didn't" Chase lied nonchalantly.

Zoey playfully ruffled Chase's hair, "Come on knucklehead,"

"Knucklehead?" Chase asked with a smile as he opened the door for Zoey.

"Thanks," Zoey said.

Chase went over to a pair of swimming trunks. "These are nice,"

Zoey eyed a light blue bathing suit with white trimming. "Ohh, this is cute." She pulled it off the rack and headed to the back.

Chase took the trunks off the rack and followed Zoey to the back.

"We have to hurry up Chase," Zoey called from her dressing room.

"Yeah, I know." Chase said back.

A couple of seconds later Chase stepped out in his trunks, Zoey stepped out as well from the other side. She smiled, "Those look good on you Chase,"

"Your bikini looks nice." Chase stared back at Zoey dreamily. Actually her bikini looked beautiful on her.

Zoey playfully turned around. "I'm going to buy it."

"I'll get it for you." Chase said.

Zoey waved off Chase's offer, "Chase, that's okay."

"No, I want too. Remember I was supposed to buy you lunch, well let me get you that."

"No Chase," Zoey reasoned. She disappeared back into the dressing room.

Chase sighed, and headed back in to get changed as well.

After Zoey bought the bikini they quickly left the store and walked toward the bus stop. No one was there. Zoey glanced down at her watch. "Hmm…Chase can you check the schedule really quick."

"Sure," Chase reached in his bookbag, and his hands came across nothing. "Shit."

Zoey stared back at Chase taken aback. She had never heard him curse before, something was wrong. "Did you forget the book Chase?"

Chase nodded, "I must have left it on your bed."

Zoey sighed, "So this bus could of came already."

"Yeah," Chase said placing his hands behind his head and staring around the boardwalk. "I was positive the bus came at 7:15, but now I'm not so sure."

Small raindrops started to fall from the skies. Both Zoey and Chase looked up at the grey clouds.

"A storm is coming." Zoey sat down on a bench in defeat.

"Don't worry about it, I'll get us back."

Zoey grabbed Chase's arm and pulled him down next to her. "Let's just stay out here and wait until the heavy rain starts."

Chase leaned forward on the bench, "I'm sorry Zoey,"

"No, it's okay." Zoey said staring away from Chase.

Dana laid out her mat, and sat down indian style. She glanced over at Skyler who was doing some preliminary stretches. Dana knew she should be stretching too, but she couldn't get Charlie's words out of her head. Why was she going back out with him? She liked him, but they both fought for control in the relationship, which always turned out to be bad. "I am breaking it off with him tonight." She whispered to herself.

Skyler stretched her arms out in front of her, "We have a surprise guest joining us for yoga today."

"Oh really?" Dana asked half-interested.

"Hey ladies, guess who you have the pleasure of yoga-ing with." Logan said setting down his gym bag.

Sawyer stepped behind him.

"What are they doing here!" Dana growled.

"I invited them." Skyler said.

"What!"

"Logan, Sawyer, over here!" Skyler called.

Logan pulled off his shirt. "I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a lot of sweating so I don't need this." He then tossed his shirt in Dana's face.

"You ass." She groaned tossing his shirt back at him.

Logan sat down by Dana, "I wish I had a dollar for every time you called me an ass."

"You would be rich, now stop taking my space." Dana stood up, grabbed her mat and walked over to the other side of Skyler.

"Hey Sawyer,"

"Hey," He said.

"That's okay Logan, you can be my partner." Skyler said.

"Sure," Logan flexed his muscles.

"Nice," Skyler said feeling them.

Dana scoffed and turned away. What kind of friend was she. All over him like a teeny bopper at a Jesse McCartney concert. Why was she even letting this get to her?

"Was Zoey back when you left?" Sawyer asked.

"No," Dana said staring at Skyler and Logan jealously.

Zoey sighed. The bus was definitely not coming. She stood up, and then looked down at Chase.

He was sleeping. Now was definitely not a time to be sleeping. Virtually everyone had left the beach, and they had to find a way to get home.

"Chase," Zoey said tapping his shoulder.

Chase woke up swinging, and grabbed onto Zoey's hand. Zoey jumped back scared.

Chase smiled embarrassed, "Oh, I'm sorry. I was having a fight with Tyson and he was going for my ear."

Zoey couldn't help but laugh.

Chase slowly stood up, "Wow, it's dark."

"I think I'm just going to call a taxi." Zoey took her purse off of her shoulder.

"Hey can I use your phone?" A random guy asked approaching them.

Zoey's eyes widened. This guy looked really scary.

Chase stepped closer to Zoey protectively.

Zoey wanted to be nice and let him use her phone, but then again what if he tried to take it. She was being silly. "Um…Sure."

Zoey took her purse off her shoulder. Before she could react the guy grabbed her purse, and pushed Zoey into Chase with a quick, and painful motion.

"Ahh!" Zoey screamed falling onto Chase as he fell against the boardwalk hitting his head.

"My purse!" Zoey screamed.

Chase helped Zoey up, "I'm going to get it back Zoey."

Zoey rested her arms on Chase's shoulders, "No Chase, are you crazy…"

Before Zoey could finish Chase took off running after the purse snatcher.

"Chase stop!" Zoey screamed.

The rain intensified, and started to fall harder from the skies. Zoey lost sight of Chase and the purse snatcher. Without giving any second thought she ran after them both as well.