Chapter 17- Rainy Days at PCA

Zoey opened her eyes. Rain pounded against her window.

She groaned and turned over on her side. It never rained. Today was definitely going to be a long day. Her alarm went off. She lazily reached out and turned it off. Today was the first full day of being Sawyer's girlfriend. She wasn't sure how she felt about that because she was in love with him, but she felt bad for keeping it a secret.

Nicole stepped into the dorm with three bagels and a carton of juice.

"Oh wow Nicole you got breakfast for us?"

Nicole nodded, "Yeah, I thought we all might need some brain food with this nasty weather."

"Tell me about it," Zoey said crawling out of bed. More sleep, she thought tiredly.

Nicole sat down on the floor Indian style, "Come sit on the floor Zoey,"

"I have to get dressed," Zoey said through a yawn.

Nicole shrugged, "Well, I met this really cute guy yesterday."

Zoey turned around to face Nicole with lightning speed. "You met a guy?"

"He actually saved my life,"

Dana snored loudly.

Nicole turned around to look at her funny, and then looked back at Zoey.

Zoey smirked, "Someone else besides Sawyer?"

"Sawyer's your boy toy," Nicole said flatly.

Zoey quickly turned around to look through her clothes. It was such a depressing day, maybe she should wear a hoodie and some jeans. And while she focused on that, ignore Nicole's comment.

Nicole took a bite of her bagel, "Oh man, I forgot to warm it up."

Zoey turned around to look at Nicole's frozen bagel, "Did you warm any of them up?"

Nicole shook her head, "No, I was thinking about Jordan's mouth to mouth,"

"What do you mean?" Zoey asked with wide eyes.

Nicole placed the ice bagel onto her press, "I almost drowned yesterday."

"No you didn't!" Zoey exclaimed in disbelief.

Dana sat up, "Is Jordan the guy that came by here yesterday?"

"Uh huh," Nicole said in excitement.

"I'm impressed," Dana replied.

Nicole smiled from ear to ear, "And so am I."

Zoey glanced over at Nicole's "Sawyer" screensaver. It was gone.

"So you don't like Sawyer anymore?" Zoey asked as nonchalantly as possible.

"I…he's cute, but my heart belongs to a new boy."

Zoey smiled back at Nicole encouragingly, "Well I am happy for you."

Nicole looked down. She was kind of upset that Zoey never admitted to liking Sawyer, but she would deal with it. After all Zoey was her best friend.

"So do you talk to Jordan?" Zoey asked.

"Just met him, after he saved me,"

Zoey hugged Nicole, "Well I have to thank him myself because I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."

"I have to find him." Nicole said.

Zoey grabbed a light blue hoodie, "Well PCA isn't that big,"

Nicole shrugged, "I know, but I want to find him ASAP, and maybe get started where we left off at."

Zoey smirked, "And where was that."

"Duh, CPR…well not the whole chest compressions part, but the mouth to mouth is fine with me."

"Well your not drowning now."

"I could always pretend," Nicole teased.

Zoey giggled, "Nicole, your silly."

(Break)

"Man! I almost beat you in pool…I was so close," Michael said placing down his pool stick.

Chase shook his head, "I wasn't even trying."

"Don't be so modest, so are you still going to try out for soccer today?"

Chase nodded, he walked over to a table and sat down. "Why wouldn't I."

Michael pointed to the window, "Have you looked outside?"

Chase shrugged, "I'm not scared of a little rain."

"It'll flatten your famous fro,"

Chase grinned and patted his hair, "I do not have a fro,"

"Yeah okay, it's not ordinary hair,"

Chase watched as Sawyer walked in. Maybe his hair wasn't perfect like Sawyer's but so what.

Michael glanced over at Sawyer as he came in, and then over at Chase.

Chase looked back at Sawyer with an expression of discontent. Just because Sawyer looked like the typical California guy didn't mean he was better than him. Sawyer sat down by some guys and then turned towards Chase.

Chase tried to look away, but he was trying to see what was so special about this guy…nothing.

Sawyer waved at him.

Chase caught off guard turned around.

"Oh, the battle begins," Michael said with a laugh.

"What are you talking about?" Chase turned towards a waitress, "Hey ma'am can I get a coffee…black, and a donut,"

"Sorry honey, I'm on my break," She said.

Chase scowled, "Okay, thanks,"

She nodded.

Michael leaned across the table, "I have a feeling things are going to get ugly between you and Sawyer…my suggestion is you find another girl,"

Chase looked back at Michael in disbelief, "What…your supposed to be my friend! Not Sawyer's."

"I'm not…"

Chase watched as the same waitress that had told him she was on break, went over to Sawyer and took his order. "I get no respect."

"Well he did used to work here," Michael said glancing over at Sawyer.

Chase sighed, "Yeah, I guess."

"You came back kind of late yesterday, what were you up too?" Michael asked.

"I was…" Chase flashed back to Charlie beating up that kid the other day. He clenched his jaw, he wanted to tell Michael about what he saw, but he couldn't risk it.

"Is it something big, like did you and Zoey make out and your not telling me about it?"

"No, I would've told you that believe me."

"Uggh, I hate rain!" Dana screamed fixing her hair.

Chase looked up at Dana. He felt bad for keeping this from her but she couldn't know.

(Break)

Zoey reached for her bookbag, she heard some noises by the door, and then saw a note being slipped underneath the door. Zoey stepped back, and watched in amusement. Was this Logan giving his first letter to Dana? As soon as Zoey heard the person walk away, she went over to the note. Sure enough Dana's name was scribbled on the front in messy writing. She wanted to read it...but she wasn't going to. Zoey placed the note down on Dana's bed, and then headed to her first period.

As usual Zoey arrived late to Food Nutrition. She was surprised to see Logan sitting in Dana's seat and Dana sitting in Logan's seat. "What's going on?" Zoey asked him.

Logan glanced over at Dana who returned him a murderous glare. "Hey baby," he cooed to her.

Dana pounded her fists together.

"Oh, I'm just shaking…you got me so scared Dana," Logan said.

Zoey sat down her book bag, and looked between Dana and Logan somewhat annoyed. This was really childish. "Um…why are you sitting in Dana's seat."

"Have you noticed Walsh isn't here today?"

Zoey glanced up front at the attractive substitute teacher. She had to be in her early 20's.

"In case you guys haven't noticed I am not Mr. Walsh, my name is Miss Sugars and I will be your substitute today,"

"Hi, Miss Sugars," Logan said flirtatiously.

"Hi there," She said.

Zoey glanced at Logan, "Are you seriously flirting with our substitute."

Logan smiled, "She's hot, and she wants me, why not. By the way where is my money."

Zoey rolled her eyes, "Why are you asking me?"

"Tell Nicole, I want my cash… if she wants to make her payment by check, or credit card, then I guess I would be okay with that."

Zoey smiled amused, "Will you let Nicole pay you back in separate payments."

Logan shifted his attention towards Miss Sugars who was bending down up front. "Yeah,"

Zoey scowled. She turned around to look at Dana who was staring at Logan dreamily. "Dana?" Zoey whispered.

Dana snapped out of it, "I mean Eww,"

Logan turned around to look at Dana as well, and then turned to Zoey, "What was she looking at?"

"The rain," Zoey lied.

"Why would she say Eww to that?" He asked.

Zoey shrugged, "I don't know. By the way are you still going to give Dana those…"

"Don't even say it." Logan replied.

"What?" Zoey asked confused.

Logan reached for Zoey's notebook.

Zoey made a sudden grab, "What are you doing!"

Logan reached for his pencil, "Writing you a note,"

"Write it on a loose leaf…not that," Zoey tried to grab her notebook again, but Logan grabbed her hand.

Dana sat up defensively. Zoey already had Sawyer and Chase, why was she flirting with Logan. Yeah Zoey was her friend, but she would fight her for Logan. Dana sighed, Was she serious?

The guy next to her started to breathe heavily.

Dana turned to him with a mean expression.

"Uh…Hi Dana,"

Dana stared back at him with a stone expression. "Um…yes?"

"You smell really good."

"Turn around," Dana ordered. She was being meaner than usual, but how dare this guy annoy here when Logan and Zoey were flirting right in front of her face. Zoey was a man stealer.

"Logan please!" Zoey growled.

Logan opened her notebook, "Zoey heart Sawyer, Zoey heart Chase, I love them both, and I can't choose." Logan closed Zoey's notebook and then turned to face her with a smirk. "You really wrote this?"

Zoey snatched her notebook away from Logan, "Yes,"

"Well Sawyer really likes you." Logan glanced over at Dana, "I'm not doing the note thing anymore,"

"Why not?" Zoey said still embarrassed.

"Because I moved on…I'm over her," Logan said with a content smile.

"Can I use a volunteer?" Miss Sugars asked up front.

Logan raised his hand.

"Okay…Mr…"

"Reese," Logan finished.

Dana rested her head against her cheek. Why was Logan doing this to her.

(Break)

Quinn knocked on Jack's door.

"Jack," She called.

No one came to the door.

Quinn turned the door knob, surprisingly it was open.

Jack looked up from the painting he was working on.

"Hey, I brought you breakfast, freshly squeezed orange juice from my genetically enhanced orange tree. Eggs from my pet chicken, and sausages…from the Cafeteria."

Jack looked up slowly. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked exhausted. "Thanks Quinn,"

Quinn nodded and sat down across from Jack. "This will energize you, How are you feeling."

"Like crap," Jack said. He was a little hurt that Nicole didn't stop by but then again she didn't know.

Quinn placed her hand on Jack's shoulder, "Are you not going to classes?"

"No, I don't want too."

Quinn pouted, "Well I'll stay with you."

"You don't have too, I know you have science and your working on crossing the genes of a monkey and a chicken."

"Oh, that's my own experiment." Quinn replied.

"Oh," Jack said looking back down at his painting.

Quinn glanced down at his painting. "What is it,"

Jack shrugged, "I'm just blending together warm colors, I'm trying to feel something…the rains not helping."

"Let's talk," Quinn said placing her hand on Jack's.

Jack slowly looked up, "It just doesn't seem real to me, after you left I was in denial."

"That's not unusual," Quinn replied.

Jack sighed, "I'm glad you were there, The viewing is three days from now."

"I'll be there," Quinn answered.

Jack smiled back at her weakly and then leaned forward to hug her, "I don't want to live with my dad."

"Why not," Quinn asked.

Jack scowled, "I just want to run away, and not come back."

Quinn's eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes, "And leave me behind?"

Jack shook his head, "No, I would take you with me."

(Break)

Nicole sat down in her English class. Jack shared this class with her, but for some odd reason he wasn't there today. Hmm, Nicole thought curiously.

"Nicole right,"

Nicole's mouth dropped open in shock, "Jordan!"

Jordan stepped back, "Yeah, hey."

Nicole sat up straighter.

Jordan sat down as well.

Nicole checked out his eyes, light brown, hair, dark brown, and smile…perfect.

Jordan opened his book bag and pulled out some books. "Apparently a lot of reading material has been covered in this class."

"Really?" Nicole asked surprised.

Jordan slowly nodded, "You were here all semester right?"

"Oh yeah," Nicole said staring into Jordan's eyes.

"Well, do you think you could help me get caught up?"

"With what…but sure," Nicole said.

Jordan grinned, "Your very funny you know that."

Nicole laughed, "Yeah that's me, a very funny girl."

Jordan smiled, "I like you already."

"I like you too."

"Okay, well when do you want to study." Jordan asked.

"Study, what does that mean?" Nicole asked placing her hand under her chin and giving Jordan her full attention.

Jordan grinned once again, "How about the Cyber Bean…"

Jordan was interrupted by a random girl.

"Me and my friend just did a poll of the hottest guy in the class, and guess what, you won."

Jordan smiled back at them oddly, "Okay,"

"You get to choose which one you want to take out on a date."

Nicole looked down as Jordan looked between the two girls.

"Um…this is a hard choice…neither, I'll choose Nicole." Jordan turned back around to Nicole.

Nicole clapped her hands together, "Yay,"

Jordan playfully mimicked her, "Yay, your hilarious Nicole,"

Nicole bit her lip in order to hide her smile.

The teacher stepped in, he glanced at the class through his thick glasses. "I have graded your tests and I am happy to announce that there was only one D in all of my periods."

Nicole sunk down in her seat. That D was definitely hers. Somehow she had to help Jordan get caught up on all of the reading that she didn't do, and at the same time appear to be smart. Jordan wasn't going to slip through the cracks like Sawyer, she needed a plan.

(Break)

Chase yawned as he looked up front at his history teacher.

"World War 2, began in blah, blah, blah. World War 2 was caused by blah, blah, blah."

Chase reached for his pencil. This was so boring. He glanced outside at the miserable weather. It was foggy, and depressing outside so he couldn't even make out the Pacific Ocean in the background. Did he really want to try out for soccer, what if Sawyer out shined him on the field and made him look pathetic in front of Zoey. Chase shook his head. He couldn't think like that. Yes, he was the under dog against Golden Boy, but his chance was still coming right.

Chase sighed, "I surely hope so,"

Chase looked down at his notebook. He had been thinking about writing the story lately, but he was nervous, what if someone saw it. Chase clenched his jaw. If anyone found out about the story he planned on writing with Zoey playing his girlfriend, he would be embarrassed beyond belief. But then again, how would anyone find out unless he lost the notebook.

Chase winced. Did he really want to do this. He closed his eyes and imagined kissing Zoey the other day. Yeah, he wanted to write it. Chase started to write feverishly.

"The Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up." Zoey said.

"I know," Chase said looking back at her with his heart in his throat.

"Will you go with me?" Zoey asked.

"Without a doubt," Chase said stepping out of character and kissing Zoey.

Chase smiled. As long as no one found this book. He was going to write about his love for Zoey, until he won her heart.

(Break)

"Is that Zoey Brooks I see?" Sawyer said walking towards her.

Zoey smiled. Sawyer's smile was contagious. She hugged him, and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. Oh wow, so much for "secret dating".

Sawyer leaned forward and hugged Zoey.

Zoey playfully pushed him away, "You'll all sweaty."

Sawyer pushed back his long dirty blonde hair, "Well we were playing an intense game of…ping pong."

"Ping Pong?" Zoey said with a laugh.

"Nah, I'm just kidding we were playing basketball,"

"Ohh," Zoey replied.

Sawyer smiled back at her, "So where are you going."

"Anywhere to get away from Logan and Dana, they are trying to make each other jealous at all means necessary."

Sawyer shook his head, "Of course they are."

Zoey sighed, "So I had to get out. Where are you going?"

"I was going to get you out of Food Nutrition." He said linking hands with Zoey.

Zoey smiled, "We are so bad at keeping secrets."

"Well then let's not." Sawyer leaned forward and kissed Zoey.

Zoey looked into his hazel eyes adoringly. He was taller than her which she liked. "We have too,"

"Yeah, I guess so, because you don't want to hurt Chase,"

Or maybe because I still like Chase, Zoey thought with guilt.

Sawyer shrugged, "Well I guess I could deal with it."

"Your going to have too." Zoey teased letting go of his hands.

"So are you going to cheer me on at soccer tryouts, Sunshine?"

Zoey nodded, "As soon as I hunt down an umbrella, I'll be there."

Sawyer playfully squeezed her cheeks, "Your so cute, Thanks Zoey."

Zoey turned to the side playfully, so her hair covered her face. She didn't know she had it in her to be so mushy.

"I don't like that guy." Sawyer said.

Zoey turned around to see who Sawyer was looking at, she scowled once she saw Charlie.

"Hey Zoey," Charlie said.

"Hey," Zoey said quietly.

Charlie narrowed his eyes at Sawyer, "What are you looking at Preppy Boy? Is there a problem with your eyes that you want fixed."

Sawyer continued to stare at him.

Charlie balled his fists. "You better watch your eyes."

Zoey stood in front of Sawyer protectively.

"Zoey…" Sawyer tried to push her to the side.

Zoey knew Charlie was dangerous, how come Dana couldn't see that? She flashed back to how Charlie beat up that poor kid the other day. He was aggressive and brutal. Zoey didn't want Charlie anywhere near Sawyer or anyone else she cared about. He was out of control, and just recently it got worse.

Charlie threw down his book bag, "Come on Prep, you got a problem, let's settle it right here, and right now."

(Hey guys thanks for the reviews again…much appreciated. I'm not sure if you guys noticed but last chapter I accidentally called Charlie..Chase, when he was beating up the kid. Sorry about that. Mrs.LoganReese, you rock too, and I hope I gave you a good enough description of Sawyer in this chapter. Also this story is far from over, that's why I update so much. Spiffy Bell…I promise Chase will get his moments to shine. Zoey is still pretty much torn between them both.)