Hey everyone! I just started college this week, so that's the reason for the wait. I wrote this late the past two nights and am quite content with my new chapter. Hope you are too!

Tonight Will Be My Night

Chapter Four

Zoey woke up the next moring in a daze. She glanced nervously around the room as she became completely awake. And to her happiness, Logan and Michael were both absent from their beds. She turned over to face Chase and found him sleeping the same way she often found him after parties. But now the feelings inside her felt so different.

She was surprised that it had taken her so quickly to realize that she had loved Chase all along. And now, as she looked lovingly upon his sleeping face, gently running her fingers through his hair, she wished that she had realized it sooner. With the school year almost over and a short summer before college near, her time with Chase was limited. And she regretted her foolishness and ignorance. But now, she imagined with a smirk, they had so much catching up to do that the next few months would be quite fun for the new couple. Especially after last night's events.

Chase moved slightly in his sleep. Zoey leaned closer to him and softly kissed his jaw line, which caused Chase to make a little noise from the back of his throat. In his sleep, Chase subconsciously pulled their naked bodies closer together. She giggled lightly as she placed her head on his chest. She listened intently to his heartbeat for a few moments before being unable to let him sleep any more. She kissed him fullon the lips.

Chase was now fully awake and took the opportunity to continue kissing Zoey. She loved when he kissed her. She could hardly understand why his kisses affected her so strongly. Never before had any kiss she's received made her feel quite the way Chase's did. But then again, she had never been in love.

As they laid in each other's arms and afew moment later, Zoey began to think about love. She tried to explain it to herself in her mind, explain the power and control that it now had on her, but it seemed impossible. But she knew that she was a different, a better person even, because she loved and was loved.

They laid in his bed for another hour or so, basking in the warmth of their bodies. Zoey was completely happy. By the time it was 10:00, however, he thought that maybe it would be a good idea to let Michael and Logan come back to their room. And sure enough, after getting dressed, they past he two very tired and very hung-over boys in the hallway. Zoey was so happy, in fact, that she didn't care to make a snide remark to Logan when he winked at Chase as they passed.

The sun was shining just as it always does in California, but today Zoey felt the rays on her skin as a person who had never experienced the light of the sun before. The wonderful and cleansing feeling of the warm sun washed over her body and she leaned closer to Chase.

They approached a table in the courtyard where a very delighted looking Nicole sat with an equally delighted Dana and Quinn. Zoey knew that she would eventually have to talk with them and tell them everything about the previous night, but now, of course, was not the time.

"Hey guys," said Chase and he sat on the bench, "What's up?"

"Lot's of stuff, I guess." said Dana boringly, quickly changing her face. "But we should be asking you the same question. And don't say nothing." Her demanding eyes looked right at them, and Zoey began to feel a little uncomfortable. But just as quickly as her expression had changed from delighted to bored, it became delighted again.

"Just kidding! So…The whole school's talking about you guys."

"What!" exclaimed Zoey. "Why?"

"Everyone saw you two leave the party together last night," stated Quinn. "And, since this is high school and everything, word gets around." Noticing the worried look on both of their faces, Nicole finally jumped in.

"But don't worry, guys. Everyone's really happy for you. You have no idea how long our class had been waiting for you to get together."

"They've been waiting? How long?" Chase asked, leaning his elbows on the table.

"Since our first year." She stated, matter-of-factly.

Both Chase and Zoey were surprised by this news, but pleasantly surprised, in a weird way.

"Look, we'll see you guys later. We want to get together for dinner tonight, hopefully order out from that seafood place ten minutes from here. But Zoey," whispered Nicole, even though Chase could still hear, "we want to talk to you later. You know, just the girls?"

"Yeah," answered Zoey, smiling at the look of confusion on Chase's face, "We'll definitely talk later." Zoey winked at her before she ran after Dana and Quinn.

"It's kind of weird that people have been waiting for us to get together. Don't you think?" asked Chase.

"I guess…Hey Chase?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I took so long to figure out that I loved you. I feel like we wasted so much time just being friends."

"Look, Zoey. I would never trade the friendship that we had for anything in the world. You don't have to apologize. I was happy being your friend and you were happy being mine. And we're together now…"

"I meant what I said last night, Chase. I do want to be with you forever." He smiled at her as he placed his forehead against hers.

"You will be." They kissed lightly, unaware of all the faces that had turned to look in their direction, before eating their lunch. Zoey knew that Chase would never lie to her, and she quickly felt better. All that mattered was that they loved each other. Nothing else could prevent that.

The new couple spent the entire weekend together, not that that was abnormal for them. Even when they weren't dating, Zoey and Chase spent much of their time together. But now she enjoyed his company even more. The touch of his hand as they walked on the beach after a good dinner (and an exhausting conversation with the girls on Zoey's part) was welcomed in a different way than it had been before. Even through the light touch she could feel more passion and love between them than ever before. She loved how they laid on in the sand and looked up at the same stars that they had looked at the night before. It was comforting to know that they would always be there, just like Chase would be. They walked at the edge of the ocean with their shoes held in their hands. Chase carried Zoey on his back all the way to her room where he kissed her goodnight and told he loved her for the thousandth time that day. The next day came with similar events. Zoey and Chase didn't need extravagant events to be content, just each other.

Sunday night Zoey sat at her laptop, just beginning to type the history paper that she had been procrastinating for weeks. It was due tomorrow morning and she quickly regretted putting it off for so long. Instead of spending time with Chase and the others, she was stuck in her room. Her phone rang from it's place on her desk.

"Hey Zo."

"Hey Chase!" She answered, a smiling quickly finding its way to her face.

"I'm going out to return some videos. Do you want me to get you anything? A coffee perhaps? I know how boring the paper is to write."

"Yeah, that'd be perfect. Can you get me some McDonald's fries, too? I've been craving them all day."

"Sure. I'll drop it by when I get back. Love you."

"Thanks Chase. I love you too."

It wasn't long until Zoey suddenly felt weird. It was like something important was happening and she wasn't apart. 'Probably because everyone's out without me. This sucks. I can't wait to graduate.'

A few minutes later the door swung open so fast that Zoey jumped in her seat. IN walked all her friends. Nicole, Dana, and Quinn all looked very shaken up, and their eyes were red with tears. Michael and Logan looked grim as well.

"Guys, what's going on? Why are you guys crying?" Zoey felt worried. Something wasn't right. Michael was the first one to speak.

"Zoey…it's…"

"It's what! What's wrong?" Her heart was beating fast in her chest. Her hand began to shake.

"It's Chase." Tears slowly began to form in her eyes. She looked Michael straight at Michael. "He was driving to the store, and a drunk driver came speeding around a corner through a red light." Her heart stopped. "He hit Chase into the trees…" He paused.

"He's going to be okay though. Right? Chase is going to be okay?" Her voice was cracking as Michael and Logan let tears of their own fall. He slowly shook his head.

"He died on impact, Zoey."

The world stopped and the next thing Zoey knew was darkness and a numb feeling as her body hit the ground. She could hardly hear the cries around her or feel Logan's arms as he picked her up and put her on her bed. She felt nothing.

Review please! It's the only way to let me know what you think.

dorkiss