Chapter six

(A/N: Hey you guys! Now, as you can probably tell, the plot is kicking in. So…um…stay tuned!)

Zoey was in shock. She ran out of Double Shot, Dana trailing behind. Half-blinded by tears, Zoey kept on running. She couldn't believe it…Chase! That was her Chase. Who did that girl think she was? That—that boyfriend-stealer!

"Zoey!" Dana screamed. Zoey kept on running.

"ZOEY!"

Dana was much more athletic than her friend, and easily caught up with her. She tried grabbing her arms.

"NO! Stop it," Zoey screeched, struggling free. Dana was getting frustrated: didn't Zoey know she was trying to help?

"Stay—here!" said Dana, pinning her arms to a tree. Zoey was silent. Tears still streamed down her face.

"Now, are you going to listen?" Dana asked.

Zoey didn't reply.

Dana crossed her arms, willing to wait. "We could be here all day, Zoey."

"Fine, I'll listen," Zoey muttered reluctantly.

"Good," Dana smirked. "Now, Zoey, why are you so mad at me? You practically put my eye out running away."

Zoey sighed. "I'm sorry, Dana. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at her."

"Who?"

"That girl Chase was kissing!" Zoey exclaimed. "Who does she think she is, kissing my boyfriend?"
"Uh, Zoey?" Dana bit her lip. "You broke up with Chase. So, technically, he's anyone's game."

The truth slowly dawned on Zoey. "Oh my gosh…you're right! Oh, but Dana, it was a mistake! I didn't mean it!"

"Okay, okay," said Dana rolling her eyes. She was through with being Ms. Nice Friend. (A/N: Does that sound more like the Dana you know and love? I know that this chapter started out with Dana and Zoey not really being themselves. Zoey was just being weird because of the Chase/Alyssa shock, and Dana…well, she's back to normal!)

"You're right, Dana!" Zoey suddenly exclaimed.

"Right about what?"

"Right about the fact that I should try to get back with Chase," said Zoey.

"I said that?" Dana asked, then she looked at the expression on her friend's face. "Oh, I mean…yeah. Thanks."

"Totally," said Zoey. "But I've got to talk to Chase!"

She sprinted back to Double Shot. On the way, she ran into Chase and Alyssa themselves.

"Hey, Zoey!" called Alyssa.

Zoey turned to the blonde girl, who was wearing a shirt that said 'I see you've met the twins' and booty shorts. "Who are you?"

"Alyssa," the girl answered, blowing a bubble with her gum. Zoey found herself wondering if the girl had been chewing that while she was kissing Chase.

"Oh—I'm Zoey," Zoey started, but Alyssa interrupted her.

"Yeah, I know all about you," Alyssa said.

"Really?" Zoey's face brightened.

"Yeah, Chase talks about you all the time," she answered.

"Really?"

"Um, no," Alyssa laughed. Chase laughed uncomfortably with her.

"Chase, can I talk to you alone?" asked Zoey, her tone not too friendly.

Chase started to answer, but Alyssa interrupted him.

"Chase, you said you'd walk be back to my dorm!" she complained.

Chase glanced at Zoey. "Can I walk Alyssa back to her dorm?"

"No," said Zoey, grabbing his hand and dragging him to a private spot, while Alyssa crossed her arms and pouted.

"Chase, who is she?" Zoey demanded. Chase detected jealously in her voice.

He scratched the back of his head. "Uh—Alyssa."

Zoey rolled her eyes. "I know that! I mean why did you make out with her."

"Well, I was eating breakfast in Double Shot," Chase started.

"And?" Zoey prodded.

"And then Alyssa came and sat down beside me. She said I was really cute," he continued.

"And?"

"And she said there was cream cheese on my face. She said that she'd get it off for me…and the next thing I knew we were making out."

"Nice story," said Zoey, crossing her arms. "But don't think I believe it."

"It's true!" Chase protested.

"Uh-huh, whatever," Zoey said, walking away.

Chase grabbed her arm. "Look, Zo. I really liked you—you know that! But Alyssa has made it clear that she wants a long-term relationship. And so do I. Don't be mad…remember, you're the one who broke up with me."

Zoey looked straight into Chase's eyes. "Chase, would you consider going out with me again?"

Chase bit his lip. He said nothing for a whole minute.

Zoey stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

"I love you," she said, in barely a whisper.

Chase looked at her. She couldn't read his expression. "Zoey, I love you too—"

"So you'll take me back?" Zoey asked joyfully, preparing to give him a hug.

"—Or, I used to," he finished. "But once you finished it, Zo, you finished it. I really like Alyssa. The end."

He walked away, much to the satisfaction of the dumb blonde Alyssa, who'd been watching.

Zoey sighed sadly and looked at the ground. "So much for happily ever after, huh?"

bReAk

Logan knocked on the door of Room 101, flowers in hand.

No answer.

He knocked again and scowled. He had paid Jem Whistle five bucks for those flowers, someone had better answer the door. And soon. Logan knocked for a third time.

"One second!" came an annoyed voice.

Logan sighed dreamily. Ah, the lovely Dana.

"Okay, this had better be important, I'm in the middle of my—" Dana said, opening the door. She stopped short when she saw Logan.

"Why are you in a tux?" she said finally.

Logan smirked and tilted his chin, knowing he looked hot. He always did. "I brought you something, Dana. May I come in?"

"Uh—sure?" Dana stuttered. It came out sounding more like a question.

"Hmm, nice place," Logan remarked as he stepped in, as if he had never been there before. "Now, what did you say you were in the middle of?"

"Um…" Dana stepped in front of her dresser and over turned the Yoga for Beginners DVD that was lying on top of it behind her back. "My Emails! I was checking my email. I had a lot. You know…"

"Totally," Logan grinned. "These are for you, by the way."

He handed her the roses. She gaped at him.

"Well aren't you going to take them?"

Dana shook her head, erasing all the thoughts like, Wow, he's hot and How sweet! that had come rushing to her. "Logan, what's the deal? What about that girl you were going to take to Piers?"

"You mean Alyssa?" Logan asked without thinking.

"Who?" Dana responded immediately.

"Never mind," said Logan. He knew that if he told Dana the girl she would kill her. "Forget about her."

Dana plopped down on her bed. "How can I? How can you? I thought you two were having a hot date tomorrow."

Logan sighed, frustrated. Couldn't she just forget about his stupid tool? "Dana, she doesn't matter to me."

"Yeah?" Dana stood up. There was a malicious glint in her eyes. "That's probably what you told her about me, right? Well what I am? Someone you sweet-talk to make another girl jealous?"

"No!" Logan exclaimed. "No, Dana—"

Once Dana got herself worked up she was…well….worked up! "Just leave me alone, Logan!" she yelled.

"Dana, be reasonable," said Logan.

"Do you want me to shove you out? 'Cause I'll do it!"

Logan looked at his sneakers in defeat. "Bye, Dana."

As he walked down the hallway he stuffed the roses in a trash can.

What a waste of five bucks.

bReAk

Nicole was nervous. She had never been alone with Ty before. After their Late Night out, he hadn't forgotten about their date to listen to his favorite artist Shakira together.

"Do you like radishes?" she blurted.

"Radishes?" Ty repeated. "Uh, I guess."

"Cool. I love radishes," Nicole answered.

Ty didn't answer. He was fiddling around with his mini Ipod.

"Do you like green?" Nicole asked, referring to his Ipod. "I like green. Green's a cool color—do you think it's a cool color? I think it's a cool color…"

"Found it!" Ty exclaimed.

Nicole frowned. "Found what?"

"La Tortura," Ty responded with an obviously fake Spanish accent. "I love that song. Don't you?"

"Duh!" Nicole replied. When Ty turned his head she made a panic face.

Suddenly, the instrumentals to La Tortura filled the small room. When a woman's voice came on Ty sang along with her bashfully.

"I can't help myself," he blushed.

Nicole looked at him—he was definitely the cutest guy she had ever laid eyes on.

Ty grinned at her. He sung something in another language. 'Don't you want to sing along?" he teased.

"I'm not a very good singer," Nicole lied. She actually wasn't a very good singer, but that didn't usually stop her. She was lying for another reason.

"You think I am?" Ty laughed. He sang some more unfamiliar words. Nicole resisted the urge to ask what language it was; if she did it would totally blow her cover as a Shakira-fan.

"Come on," Ty urged her.

Nicole listened some more. "I don't speak Chinese," she said finally. "Sorry."

Ty cracked up and put his arm around her. "Nicole, you're the best."

bReAk

Jem waited for someone to answer the door. He was waiting outside of Room 103, not completely sure what he was doing there but having a feeling it was going to help. He wanted to talk to someone about Nicole, and he was sure that her friend Quinn lived there. Rumor said she was a little nutty, but Jem had it bad for Nicole.

The door opened to a slim girl with huge, beautiful eyes. Her jeans were a light wash and pre-torn, and she paired them with a simple, tight white spaghetti-strap tank top. Peacock feathers dangled from her ears, and her dark hair was flipped back so that her part wasn't visible.

"Quinn?" Jem asked, confused.

"No," the pretty girl giggled. "Quinn's not here. I'm her roommate Charlotte."

Jem sucked in his breath. He remembered her now from last night—but he had forgotten how gorgeous, beautiful, and sexy was. Wow. "Uh—I'm Jem. Hi. Remember me?"

Charlotte moved out of the doorway so that Jem could come in. "Uh-huh, I think so," she answered.

"Well remember Nicole?" Jem blurted. He knew that if he didn't bring the topic up soon he'd just sit there gazing at Charlotte.

"Long really straight hair, bubbly personality?"

Jem nodded. That was Nicole all right.

"Yeah, I do," Charlotte said, opening a mini-fridge. "Want anything to drink?'

"Well—do you know if she had a boyfriend? Or likes anyone? Coke, please," said Jem.

"We didn't really talk. Except for last night," Charlotte pulled out a can of Vanilla Coke and an Orangina. "Vanilla okay?"

"Yeah," Jem said, taking the coke. "Well, I was just wondering."

"Do you like her?" Charlotte grinned. She re-flipped her back and graced him with a dazzling smile.

Jem shook his head, trying not to get infatuated with the stunning new girl. "Well—"

Charlotte laughed. "I can tell you do. That's so cute. So do you know if she likes you?"

"I can't really tell—she's friendly to everyone. But she did flirt with me at Ryder's cousin's lacrosse game," Jem answered with a grin.

Charlotte took a long swing of Orangina. "I think you should ask her out. Even if she does like you, she seems like a girly-girl, so she won't make the first move."

Jem considered the advice. "But how should I ask her? And where should I take her?"

"Be romantic," Charlotte advised. "I don't know about Nicole, but I like that."

"What would your ideal scenario be?"

Charlotte thought for a few seconds. "Well, first of all, the guy would have to be Brad Pitt for it to be perfect. Just kidding. Well, not really. Anyway, we would be hanging out and he would ask me causally. We would go out to a nice place, and then, if everything had gone well, he—this is the fun part—would pull out a really pretty ring and ask me to be his girlfriend! Like an engagement ring! Get it?"

"You've thought about this, haven't you?" Jem asked.

Charlotte laughed and put up her hands. "You caught me! But that is romantic, don't you think?"

"Ugh, romantic and me don't really mix," said Jem, scratching the back of his head.

"Maybe Nicole likes romantic guys," Charlotte offered with a shrug.

"Yeah, probably," sighed Jem. "Charlotte, will you teach me how to be romantic?"

bReAk

Dana and Zoey watched The Titanic on their couch. Zoey was wiping a tear from her eyes and Dana munched on some popcorn kernels.

"How sad!" Zoey sniffed.

"Whatever," Dana muttered. "Zo, you're taking all the blanket!"

They each had broken hearts, so Zoey had suggested a tear-jerker. With nothing better to do, Dana had reluctantly agreed.

"Are you even going to give Logan another chance?" asked Zoey.

"Maybe," Dana answered. "Are you going to try to get Chase back?"

"Naw, I don't think so," said Zoey.

"So you're flying solo?"

Zoey shook her head. "I'm going to ask Ty out tonight."