Chapter 25- Wake my Dreams
Chase knocked on Zoey's door.
Zoey looked up from the collage she was busily working on. "Hey Chase,"
"Hey, can I come in?"
Zoey nodded, "Yeah," she patted a spot on the floor next to her.
Chase sat down and looked down at her collage, "Oh, what's that?"
"Oh, it's just the project I have to turn in for class tomorrow." Zoey pulled her hair out of her face, and then picked up a picture to paste.
"Do you mind if I look at it?" Chase asked.
"Of course not," Zoey placed the last picture strategically next to a picture of her family, and then handed the fluorescent pink poster to Chase.
Chase smiled down at Zoey's collage. She had multiple pictures of him and her. In all of them they were smiling…and they looked so happy. "Is this a collage that represents you?"
Zoey nodded, "How does it look?"
"It's really nice,"
"There's a lot of pictures of us up there because you're my best friend." Zoey said with a smile.
Chase felt his heart start to pick up pace.
"Chase we need to talk."
"We do," He added finally.
Zoey placed her collage ontop of her bed, and then gave Chase her undivided attention. "I haven't been a good friend these last couple of days…"
"Zoey…"
"No Chase, please let me finish. I've been selfish, and I hurt you so much, and I never intended too."
Chase looked down.
Zoey reached for his hand. "Your such a great guy, and it's no surprise that you're a catch to any girl."
Chase blushed, "I know what this is…it's the I finally made my decision, I want to be with Sawyer speech."
"No Chase you got it all wrong." Zoey placed her hand to the side of her face, and then wiped at her eyes, "This is more like the I don't deserve you speech. You've been there for me through thick and thin, and I love you for how compassionate you are…"
"Zoey…" Chase said with hurt in his eyes.
Zoey tilted her head to the side, and then squeezed Chase's hand harder. "I love you so much, and I always will, but I can't do this to you…Chase I'm with Sawyer."
"I know," Chase said with his head bent.
Zoey pouted. She had to do this. She had to clear her conscious, and the only way she could do that was by settling things once and for all. Chase would always be her best-friend, and she would always love him, but she couldn't hurt him anymore.
Chase stood up, "I got it Zoey,"
Zoey stood up as well, "Please don't hate me."
"Are you kidding? I could never hate you. I just need some time."
Zoey bit her lip. No matter how many times she told herself she was doing the right thing she felt like it was all wrong. But she had made a choice a while ago, and she had chosen Sawyer.
Chase gave her a small smile, and then walked out of her room.
Zoey stared back at her closed door. Her heart was in a million pieces, and all she could think about was Chase's face. He looked so hurt. She closed her eyes, and collapsed onto the floor. All Zoey wanted to do was do the right thing. She placed her hands to her eyes, and then grabbed her pillow off of her bed.
(Break)
Nicole knocked on Jack's door.
In her hand she held all the books she needed to help Jordan catch up on his English reading.
Jack opened the door a couple of seconds later. He had his bookbag on, and he looked like he was headed somewhere.
Nicole looked back at him surprised. "Hey Jack, did I catch you at a bad time?"
"Um…kind of." He said.
"Where are you going?"
"I just need some air."
"Can I come?" Nicole asked.
"Are you sure?"
Nicole nodded, "Yeah, I need a break from being smart. I was going to ask you to help me understand these books but we can do it some other time."
"No, we can do it now." Jack said quietly.
"Nah, later. I have a headache the size of Massachusetts. Jordan is cute and all, but between looking at him, and trying to understand this stuff…I need a break. My brain is on overload."
"Okay…" Jack closed the door behind him.
"So how are you and Quinn doing?" Nicole asked.
"Um…good. I really like Quinn she's a special girl, and she's been there for me you know…"
"She likes you a lot."
"I know…and I like her too. If it wasn't for her then I don't know how I would've gotten through my mom's death."
"What!" Nicole asked with wide eyes.
Jack bit his lip. He had forgotten that Nicole didn't know.
Nicole latched onto Jack's sleeve, "Jack…Oh no, your mom died."
Jack closed his eyes. He didn't want to talk about his mom right now, he just wanted to focus on getting away. He felt bad for leaving Quinn behind, but he would be back tomorrow. "Nicole, maybe…"
"No, I'm going with you. Jack, I can't believe you didn't tell me…"
"You were busy Nicole with Jordan…and I didn't want to stand in your way." Jack explained.
"I wish I could've been there."
"Well, I'm going to see her now." Jack said.
Nicole nodded, "I'll go with you."
"Thanks Nicole,"
Jack leaned forward to hug Nicole. "Thanks,"
"Your welcome, I just want you to know that I'm here for you…and no matter how busy I might appear you can always come to me."
(Break)
Dana sat down across from Logan. She rested her head on her hand.
Logan drummed his hands against the desk. This was so worthless, it was such a waste of his time.
Dana glanced down at Logan's hands, and then looked away.
"What?"
"Can you stop that?" She asked with a hint of anger.
"Stop what?"
Dana mimicked Logan by drumming her hands on his desk. "That, it's annoying now stop!"
Logan smirked and then reclined back in his seat, "So I'm getting under your skin huh?"
"You always get under my skin. Now just leave me alone." Dana said turning away from him.
The principal stepped in, and closed the door behind him. "The mediator didn't show,"
"Great, can we go?" Dana asked grabbing her purse.
"Actually you can't. Apparently word got around PCA about you two, and everyone wants to steer clear, not one mediator wanted to sign up for the job."
Logan glanced at Dana with a smile. Did they really have a reputation that notorious. "What kinds of things do people say?"
"That's not important Mr. Reese,"
"I think so," Logan added.
"Well I don't. Since no one would take this mediating job, I was forced to step in. Together we're all going to work on building a healthy relationship." The principal sighed, and then opened his desk.
Dana stifled a yawn. This was so boring.
The principal pulled out a book called, "The Dummies guide to solving bad ass juvenile's problems." He nodded as he read the first couple of pages.
"Are you going to read that whole book?" Dana asked somewhat irritated.
The principal lowered the book, and then placed it down on the table. "No, the book says I should let you two talk, so go ahead and talk."
"I can't talk to him," Dana said snobbishly.
"You have before, hell we've even kissed!"
Dana gasped, "Logan!"
The principal raised an eyebrow. He fought the urge to jump up, and grab some popcorn really quick.
"What, it's the truth baby doll." Logan fired back with a mischievous smile.
"I swear if you call me that one more time I will hang you up to dry with clothespins by your ears!"
Logan tapped on the principal's desk. "Hey, she's getting threatening."
The principal snapped out of it, "Right, um…watch your tone and continue."
Dana turned to the principal, "I swear I won't argue with him anymore, just let me go. I don't want anything to do with him anymore, not even arguing."
Logan scowled. "C'mon, you know it's the highlight of your day."
"What, watching you treat Kate like shit…"
Logan laughed, "Are you kidding me! You call her beaver teeth, and…"
"It's stupid, yeah she looks like a beaver, but I'm not dating her. It's so obvious you don't care about her."
"Just like it's obvious you don't care about Charlie!" Logan yelled. His face was red and he was starting to get heated.
Dana's mouth closed. She glanced at Logan pleadingly, and then looked at the principal who was watching them as if they were on a trashy episode of Jerry Springer. Dana shook her head, why was she even doing this. "I have to go," She stood up.
Logan sat back in his chair, and then looked down at the ground.
"Your not finished with mediation yet," The principal said standing up.
Dana shrugged, "Actually I am, I have to go."
(Break)
Quinn knocked on Zoey's door.
Zoey was on her bed looking back at her collage sadly. Why did she feel as if she had just lost her best-friend. She wiped at her teary eyes, and then glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and red.
Zoey sighed, "Great, I look like a zombie from Night of the living Dead,"
Eventually realizing it was a worthless cause Zoey walked over to the door. She opened it to find Quinn. "Hey Quinn," Zoey said with a weak smile.
"Hey Zoey, do you know where Jack and Nicole are at?"
Zoey shook her head, "No,"
Quinn looked down.
"Why? Is everything okay?"
"Well not really," Quinn whispered.
Zoey stared back at Quinn in confusion, "Why? Is something wrong with Jack and Nicole?"
"Can I come in?" Quinn asked.
Zoey stepped aside so Quinn could come in. She closed the door behind her, and then waited for answers.
Quinn walked towards the window, and then looked out.
Zoey walked over to her, and looked out as well. It seemed as if Quinn was looking for Jack, expecting him to come any second.
Quinn bit her lip, "I'm worried about him Zoey,"
Zoey was concerned. She always knew Quinn wasn't as weird as she appeared, but she had never seen Quinn scared before. Something was really wrong. Zoey's heart started to pick up faster. Quinn was definitely not acting like herself. "Quinn…what's wrong."
"Jack is taking his mom's death really hard."
"His mom died?" Zoey asked sadly.
Quinn nodded, "Yes,"
Zoey closed her eyes. She had never lost anyone before, but whenever she heard about deaths she became emotional. Just because she knew after a person died all that was left of them were memories, and they were never coming back.
"Anyways…" Quinn pulled off her glasses, and then wiped at her tears.
Zoey's lips started to tremble. She was about to start crying as well. Not only was she worked up over Chase, but the news about Jack's mom was upsetting as well. Zoey reached on Dana's desk for some Kleenex, and then handed it to Quinn. "Here you go Quinn,"
"Thanks Zoey," Quinn said accepting it with shaky hands.
Zoey used some Kleenex for her as well, and wiped at her eyes.
Quinn swallowed down a lump in her throat. "Jack's asthma has gotten worse lately."
Zoey's eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes, "Is it because of the stress?"
Quinn shrugged.
Zoey wrapped her arm around Quinn. She didn't even think about what she was doing, although she didn't always understand Quinn she knew she needed her now.
Quinn started to sob, "He left his inhalers in my room yesterday."
"What?" Zoey asked with wide eyes.
"I was so scared because he was having trouble breathing. We went to the nurse, and she told him to take his medicine as he always did."
"So she didn't think anything was wrong? She thought he was having normal attacks?" Zoey said in a soft voice. She was trying her best to reason with Quinn, and make her feel better.
Quinn placed her hand to her heart. "I made him stay with me last night…I know it sounds silly but I wanted to monitor his breathing."
Zoey laughed through her tears, "It's okay…it doesn't sound silly at all."
Quinn gave Zoey a small smile, and then looked down, "He needs his inhalers, and I don't know where he is. We have to find him."
Zoey looked down at her watch. She had promised both Chase and Sawyer that she would show up for their first practice.
Quinn stood up, she wiped at her eyes. "I promise I'll never come to you like this again…how out of character right."
Zoey shook her head, "Not at all. We're going to find Jack, and I have no idea in my mind that he's going to be okay."
"I hope so, because Zoey…" Quinn paused and looked down.
"Yes?" Zoey asked.
"I love him,"
Zoey was speechless. Quinn was in love with a boy, she was in love with something else besides science! "Quinn, that's great."
Quinn nodded bashfully, "Yeah, maybe I'm just worrying to much."
Zoey slipped on her flip flops, and then opened the door for Quinn.
Quinn stepped out first, and Zoey closed the door behind them.
"Let's check the Cyber Bean first," Zoey suggested.
(Break)
Storm clouds were pulling low over PCA. Sawyer scowled and looked out towards the Pacific in the background. Today was a suckish day to be starting out practice. He turned away from the unsettled California horizon and then looked towards the bleachers, he was looking for Zoey.
Sawyer clenched his jaw. Where was she? He looked down sadly. Well, maybe she had something more important to do, after all did he really expect her to be with him 24/7?
"Hey Sawyer," Chase said coming up behind him.
Sawyer turned to Chase in shock, "Oh uh…hey Chase,"
Chase smiled and gave him a small nod. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm cool, with you and Zoey dating."
Sawyer was shocked, that was a very honorable thing of Chase to do. "Wow,"
"What?" Chase asked.
Sawyer shook his head, "You're a good friend to her,"
Chase shrugged, "I just want what's best for her…and I'm not saying that it's you, but if you make her happy then I'm happy."
Sawyer extended his hand to Chase. After all this time, he was just realizing what a decent guy he was. "I really appreciate this man…"
"Don't hurt her, Zoey is a special girl, and I just want you to know that if you do…I'm going to come after you and…"
Sawyer smirked, "Like the Godfather huh?"
Chase forced a smile, "I tried to be threatening, but I guess it didn't work. But seriously treat her well, she's in love with you man."
Sawyer nodded once again. "Chase you're a cool guy. I know there's a special girl for you out there somewhere."
Chase looked down as small droplets of rain started to fall from the sky.
(Break)
Dana closed her door behind her. Why did she walk out of mediation like that! She could've stood up to Logan, she had certainly done it before. Dana walked over to her bed and pushed piles and piles of clothes off, and then flopped down on her bed. She didn't want to like Logan anymore. She just wanted to get over him, and not think about his selfish, and stuck up ass anymore.
There was a knock at the door.
Dana sat up with lightning speed. Was that Logan. She scowled. She was doing it again! "Who is it?"
"Charlie,"
Dana groaned. She wanted to tell him to go away, but she was just going to deal with him. She forced herself up, and then walked to the door. She opened it seconds later.
"Hey Dana," He said.
"Hey," She repeated back lifelessly. She was tired of using Charlie. At once she had tried to convince herself that she liked him, but now she knew it was all a lie. Charlie had been her scapegoat, her weapon to deny all feelings for Logan. Dana smiled at herself, how dumb had she been.
Charlie hugged her, "I was thinking about you all day."
She remained silent. She always thought Charlie had an edge to him, and for some reason she had thought that she could soften him, but once again she was wrong. Dana closed the door behind him, and thought over what she was going to say. She was tired of using him, he wasn't helping with her Logan problem, so she had to let him go.
"Charlie," She started.
"Hold that thought, I have a call." Charlie unconsciously grabbed his cell out of his bookbag, and then left his bookbag on the floor as he went outside to take the call.
Dana sat down on her bed as she mentally thought about what she was going to say. She glanced down at Charlie's bookbag, and then looked back at the door cautiously. Dana reached out, and then paused. What did she think she was going to find?
Dana bit her lip. Oh what the hell. She reached out and grabbed Charlie's bookbag. With adrenaline and anxiety pumping through her veins, Dana unzipped the front. She found textbooks…she was surprised that he even studied. Dana closed the top portion of his bookbag, and then opened the bottom portion. Dana gasped. Her eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes, and she shook her head in disbelief. "Charlie…how could you." She quickly closed his bookbag and threw it down on the floor like it was poison.
Dana placed her hand to the side of her face still in disbelief. How could he do this? How could he?
(Break)
Nicole and Jack had gotten off of the bus about five minutes ago, and they were walking towards a one story ranch style house.
"Where is this Jack?" Nicole asked resting her arm around Jack.
Jack was feeling short of breath. He stopped for a second and struggled to regain his breath.
Nicole slowly took her arm off of his and looked back at him worried. "Jack are you okay? Do you need your inhaler."
Jack shook his head, "I think I only have one with me…so I'm going to wait."
Nicole squeezed Jack's shoulder, "Are you sure?"
Jack took in a mouthful of air, and then nodded. "Yeah, thanks Nicole,"
"No problem, I'm so glad I could be here with you."
"I'm glad you're here with me too."
Nicole tilted her head to the side, "Jack, you're such a good friend. I don't even deserve you."
Jack was thinking the opposite, He didn't deserve Nicole.
A couple seconds later they were at the door. Jack took the key out of his pocket and then opened the door. He allowed Nicole to step in first and then stepped in after her.
"Wow, this place is beautiful. It looks like Martha Stewart's house," Nicole said breathlessly.
Jack nodded, "My mom loved to decorate…before the…"
Nicole turned to Jack and gave him a small smile, "I know,"
"I know you think I'm weird for coming back here…"
"No," Nicole said quickly.
Jack sat down on a chair and then picked up a framed picture of him with his mom. "I just need to be with her for a second, before the funeral."
Nicole sat down on the edge of the chair, and looked down at the picture. "You look so much like her,"
"I loved her. When my dad ran off with another woman, she stayed there and took care of me. He was never there for me, it was always us two…I know it sounds corny but we called ourselves the dream team."
Nicole wiped at some tears. Jack's story was touching. "So that's why you don't want to live with your dad?"
Jack slowly nodded, "Yeah, he's never been there for me, but she always has…and now that she's gone…"
Nicole looked down sadly at Jack, "If it's any consolation, you have Quinn and I to lean on."
Jack stared back up at Nicole with hope in his chestnut eyes.
Nicole placed her hand on Jack's shoulder, "And not only do you have Quinn, and I, but you also have Zoey, Chase, Sawyer, Dana and the rest of the gang."
Jack sighed. "You mean a lot to me Nicole…and so does Quinn and everyone else."
"Believe me Jack…the feeling is mutual."
Jack stroked the silver framing of the picture.
Nicole was starting to get all teary. She knew that her mascara was running, and she looked like a beast. "Jack, where's the bathroom?"
Jack pointed towards the stairs, "Right upstairs to the left."
Nicole playfully ruffled Jack's hair, "I'll be right back, you don't go anywhere okay."
"I'm not going anywhere," Jack said.
Nicole walked upstairs.
Jack placed down the picture, and then smiled to himself. Maybe his life wouldn't be so lonely after all. He had Nicole, and Quinn and he knew they would help him through this. Jack closed his eyes. Nicole was the best-friend he could ask for, even though she had been preoccupied with Jordan lately, just the fact that she came out here with him proved she cared. Quinn on the other hand, showed her love for him, by her constant worry. A smiled crossed his face, Quinn had changed a lot, and at first he thought she was extremely odd, but now he knew who she really was. Quinn was compassionate, and caring, despite her attempts to try her sometimes lethal experiments on humans.
As Jack continued to reminisce he felt his lungs start to close up. Jack's eyes widened. Not now, not now. He was going to fight it like he did the first one. Jack struggled to breathe air into his lungs. He gripped the chair handles so hard his knuckles turned white. You have to fight it Jack, You have too. Jack tried for a couple seconds longer, but he was struggling. As he started to wheeze, he tried to call out for Nicole. But he couldn't. Jack's breathing grew more sporadic, as he desperately grabbed his bookbag. He opened the top section, and frantically searched around for his inhalers. Jack opened his mouth wide, and tried to suck in a mouthful of air. He wasn't getting oxygen. Tears started to stream down Jack's cheeks as he fumbled around with no luck for his inhaler. Jack fell to the ground. He balled his fists together and continued his struggle to breathe.
Nicole help me! Please help me! He thought frantically. As Jack struggled on the ground, he kicked over a vase with his foot.
Red shards of glass slammed onto the floor.
(Break)
Nicole leaned away from the mirror. She could swear that she had just heard something break. "Jack?"
Nicole tossed the tissue that she was using to wipe at her mascara into the trash, and then opened the door. "Jack?"
Nicole walked quickly towards the stairs. She took them two at a time. Nicole looked around the den frantically when she couldn't find him.
"Hel…Help…breathe…I…"
Nicole screamed. "Ohmigod! Jack!" she screamed. Nicole ran over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Your having a asthma attack! Oh…what do I do…what do I do." Nicole cried. Scared and confused Nicole frantically picked up Jack's bookbag and started to search for his inhalers. Nicole looked twice, but both times came up with nothing.
"Jack, where are your inhalers,"
Jack's face was starting to turn purple.
Tears started to stream down Nicole's eyes. And she started to cry. She didn't know what to do! Confused Nicole placed her mouth over Jack's and struggled to breath into his lungs.
Jack coughed and started to struggle violently.
"Jack, please stay with me!"
"Ph…Phon…"
"Phone!" Nicole ran to the phone. She dialed 911 with the speed of lightning.
Jack started to convulse.
"Please pickup…Please…Yes my friend is having an asthma attack…I don't know…please! You have to get here…"
"Ni..Nic…I can't"
"Jack!" Nicole screamed.
Jack stopped moving.
Nicole threw down the phone and ran over to Jack. With her heart beating fast, and her body shaking violently, Nicole felt as if she was stuck in a horrible nightmare. But it was all real, and Jack was really having an asthma attack.
Nicole rested her ear against Jack's mouth. "Breathe Jack! Listen to me you got to Breathe!"
Jack's body remained motionless.
Nicole took action, she placed her mouth against his and started to breath air into his lungs, "Breathe Jack! Breathe!" Nicole collapsed onto him balling her eyes out. He wasn't breathing! What if he died before they got here. No she couldn't let him die.
Nicole looked around frantically. There was someone next door! She stood up, and then fell. "No, please." Nicole forced herself back up, and then placed her hands around Jack's shoulders. She couldn't leave him. Nicole struggled to bring him to the door, but it was useless…he was too heavy for her.
Jack's breathing was now shallow, and he sounded like he was barely hanging on.
Nicole had to go next door and get help.
"Don't…Don't…leave…me," He said with a very weak voice.
"Jack, I have to get help!"
"I…can't breathe…stay…" His eyes opened briefly and then closed.
Nicole placed her hands to her mouth and started to cry. She ran back over to him, and held his hand. "Hold on to me, Hold on to me tight…and I swear I'm not going to let you go."
(Break)
Zoey and Quinn had looked all over PCA's campus for Jack and Nicole.
Quinn looked around the field where the boys were now playing soccer.
Zoey waved at Chase.
He waved back at her, and then skillfully intercepted a pass to some other guy.
Zoey bit her lip. Hopefully he would still want to be her friend after all of this.
"Hey Sawyer, your ball!" Some guy yelled.
The guy kicked the ball towards Sawyer.
Zoey smiled. But she was sure she had made the right choice. She loved Sawyer. She loved how he wrote her songs, and spoiled her with magnolias. Hopefully Chase would understand.
The ball went out into the street.
Sawyer turned around as he headed out into the street.
His eyes rested on Zoey. A smile crossed his face and he waved.
Zoey waved back at him.
Sawyer bent down to pick up the ball.
Down the road a car was coming fast, their music was up loud, and they didn't see him or hear the screams of everyone telling them to slow down.
Zoey's eyes widened, and she felt a shrill scream escape her throat. It was coming so fast that she didn't have time to react.
"Move Sawyer!" The coach yelled.
But the car was coming to fast, and Sawyer didn't seem to hear them.
"Sawyer!" Zoey screamed. Within seconds she was running towards him, as if she could push him out of the way.
Sawyer heard her, he dropped the ball, and turned to her in surprise.
"Move!" She screamed with tears in her eyes.
But it was too late. The quickly approaching car tried to screech to a halt, but it was too late. The sickening sound of metal and turning wheels echoed throughout the field as the car spun around wildly. Sawyer was thrown forward. His body was propelled like a toy over the car. Breaking the windshield, and then rolling over the hood, and then onto the asphalt in a lifeless position.
"Sawyer!" Zoey screamed hysterical. She was screaming uncontrollably, and she couldn't move. Chase ran over to her. He struggled to calm her, but she continued to scream, and cry hysterically. "Let me go! Let me go!" She screamed.
Chase held her in his arms. He knew he had to hold her. Sawyer was hit badly. Chase felt his whole body start to shake, and he felt as if he was going to be sick. There was no way Sawyer could be alive after that. Chase winced as tears started to sting his eyes.
"Sawyer!" Zoey screamed again.
(Hey guys…thanks once again for the awesome reviews. Sorry for the sad chapter, but if it isn't obvious already either Jack or Sawyer will die. Sorry. Classic Rock N' Roll fan, you're so awesome, thanks a lot. Post your story soon, I am definitely reviewing, and I'm sure it is going to be good…I write so much, because I have no life..Zxxbsmgirl3148, Logan is using Kate…like Dana is using Charlie. He has no feelings whatsoever for her, and Kate stays with him because she has low self esteem. I know you don't know that because I haven't really talked about Kate…and I'm sorry about that. Spiffy Bell, you are so right…Logan wouldn't kiss any girl "beneath him", and he's not going to…he has something else in mind for the kissing booth…or he did, after Sawyer's accident, I'm not sure how that will change things though. And I know this story kind of drags…but I'm used to writing long stories so it's a habit, and it's taking so long to get to the battle of the bands..because my mind works overtime with new plots…I have to calm that down, and finish my old ones first…thanks for the heads up. Otempora, another good grade, thanks a lot, Jakusa, and Mrs.Logan Reese, you guys rock. Peace.)