"Zo-ey!"

Nicole began bouncing and squealing upside down.

"Okay, puh-lease tell me that I did not just see you and Chase locking lips to Incomplete!"

She blushed furiously.

"Eh. My. God. It was, wasn't it? You did!"

She began squealing again, this time hopping from foot to foot like she was on hot coal.

"That is sooooooo sweet," she screamed, clapping her hands together. Michael drummed his fingers on the table.

"I think everyone saw it coming though," Addie Rennison piped up, "I mean, he so loved you. Like, real bad."

That was the first time Zoey had heard Addie Rennison speak. She had an All-American-Texas twang to her voice, and whenever she spoke, her head moved a little, so her curls would bob up and down.

"We're so happy for you guys!" Addie continued, embracing Zoey tightly before stepping back, slipping her hand into Michael's and sliding off somewhere.

"She's real odd," Nicole frowned, watching her back, "I mean, yeah, she's nice and all, but some of the things she comes out with. And her laugh. It's like…a cat. Laughing. Even though cats don't laugh but if you just imagine a cat laughing then you'd imagine her laugh. Not like she miaows or anything but it's like she –"

Zoey let Nicole continue to talk wildly as she thought back to what had happened during 'Incomplete.'

She had kissed Chase, hadn't she? Her best friend, and now, she supposed, her boyfriend. She was in love with him.

Why don't I feel a bit more elated?

She began chewing her lip.

Okay Chase is what I definitely want but what if our relationship goes haywire, will we separate and never talk to each other again? Will we go our separate ways? I couldn't deal with that, I really need him.

"Hey Nicole!"

She recognized that voice. There could only be four people that made Nicole wave as wildly and excitedly as she was, and one of them spoke with a deep boom (so it wasn't him), the other was extremely American-Jock-y (so it wasn't him), and the other two were English. Of course, one of them, had developed more of an American accent in his tone, and whoever just called 'Hey Nicole' sounded as British as you could possibly imagine.

Art Sinclair strolled over, his hands in the pockets of his low-rise jeans, the 'Calvin Klein' sticking just over the belt. His dress-shirt was artfully ripped and had various sewn labels on it. His hair was it's usual, irresistible floppy self, the dark brown flopping into his sapphire blue eyes. When he smiled, he showed off two rows of perfectly straight teeth, each gleaming white, contrasting with his coffee-coloured tone.

"Hi Art," Nicole said coyly, wiggling her fingers delicately, "having a good time?"

"I suppose…" he looked back to the dancefloor, "Adrienne's totally wild."

"She is? Well…" Nicole paused for a moment and looked around. Addie Rennison seemed to be waving her over.

"I gotta go," she said, "nice talking to you though."

She disappeared into the throng of dancing people.

Zoey was perfectly aware she was now standing with Art alone. Well, with a punch bowl and some potato chips, but they didn't count.

"So…" he sunk his hands even deeper into his pockets so his jeans slid dangerously lower, "are you having fun?"

I was. But not any more. I'm freaking out. I can't stand the fact that the guy I love will most likely eventually hate me. I mean, come on! Our relationship can't last forever, we're only fifteen!

But we could try.

But we would fail.

But we love each other.

But we're fifteen. It's gonna all end in tears.

"Uh…hello?"

Art's waving hand in front of Zoey's eyes caused her to stop arguing with herself. She shook her head, as though shaking off a vat of water and smiled.

"Sorry," she raked her fingers through her flaxen hair, hoping to give it the 'windswept' look she'd seen on a girl who helped Art get dropped off on the first day of term, "I was…I was in another world."

"Well, do you want to dance?" Art smiled playfully, "In this world, I mean."

"Uh…" Zoey looked around. Where was Chase? Nowhere to be seen.

Probably already hating me.

"Sure," she smiled, taking his hand as he leaded her onto the dancefloor.

Michael handed Addie a glass of punch. She swirled it around, watching the contents make a small whirlpool effect in the middle of the glass then knocked it back in one. Michael stared at her.

"What? You never seen a girl knock back before?" She asked, running her finger up and down Michael's left arm, "Listen. I heard you're into video games. My Dad works on video games, in fact, he worked on Doom X. I have an advance copy up in my room. You wanna go play it?"

Michael's jaw dropped – to the floor? Probably.

"You like video games?" He repeated disbelievingly.

"Yeah."

"You have Doom X?"

"Well, actually, I have like, two or three copies, so you can have one if you want," she ladelled herself another glass of punch and began swirling it again, "but we can bail this lame dance and get started on it right now, if you want."

Michael looked behind him.

No.

He looked over at the dancefloor.

Dana was dancing with Logan, her face buried into his shirt shoulder.

Well, what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

Besides, it'll just be a quick game. I won't even take the advanced copy off her. I'll just have a quick game then I'll forget about it.

Zoey realized she was in the same position she was about two songs ago. 'A Moment Like This' by Kelly Clarkson began to play. The same rush to the dancefloor, girls dragging guys, guys dragging girls.

What are you doing?

You're not in love with Art.

You're in love with Chase.

But he'll hate me…hate me forever when I break it off. Perhaps it's better if we just start the relationship over when we're older.

Besides, Art is so hot.

Art was maybe a little taller than Chase, because she found her head slightly lower on his chest than it was on Chase's. Art was a much better dancer. Not that Chase was a bad dancer, but Art moved with ease, elegance.

Hotness, if that's even a word.

Chase came back through the doors. He noticed Michael and some girl with angelic blonde curls come towards him.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

Michael looked shifty for a second.

"To play…Doom X. But you can't tell Dana, man. It's totally confidential, or I'll tell Zoey all about your socks."

"They're not that bad!" Chase protested.

"Oh yeah?" Michael raised an eyebrow, "What about the pair I found crawling in mould and worms at the bottom of your bed?"

Chase flinched.

"Okay, okay…" he surrendered, the cue for Addie to drag Michael away. Before Michael turned the corner and disappeared, Chase shouted,

"Hey Mike! Have you seen Zoey?"

"Uh…she should be in there Dude. Whatever. S'later."

Zoey dared herself to look up at Art. Of course, she actually just got a good view of his chin, but when she stepped back, she could see the whole of his angel-chiseled face.

It should be a crime to look that good.

"Hey…you smell like sea breeze!" She exclaimed, sniffing the part of her dress where she'd been against his body.

"I was at the beach for a little longer than you guys," he explained, "I left five minutes before the dance began."

Sea breeze? This isn't happening…

"What's the matter?" Art asked, looking at her puzzled face.

"Nothing…nothing…" she bit her lip. If she bit it any harder, then it'd probably bleed.

Art placed her curled finger underneath her chin, tilting it up slightly. He leaned in. She found herself doing the same.

Zoey…what are you doing?

Kissing him.

I need to make sure Chase is the one I love. He can't just be an obsession. Besides, it'd never have worked…I care about him too much.

As their lips locked, Zoey's head began swimming. His lips were soft, like he'd put on lip balm or something. As was his hair, which she was running her fingers through. It was glossy, soft to the touch. Everything about Art was perfect.

As they parted, Zoey put her face back on his chest, turning so she could look sideways.

Her heart plummeted.

"No…no…"

"What?"

Zoey's eyes filled with tears as she saw Chase standing on the side of the dancefloor, evidently having seen everything with an extremely hurt and angry expression on his face, before turning on his heel and walking out.

Zoey pushed herself away from Art and tore through the crowd.

What have I done?