A/N: Thanks you guys! Yay – a faster update this time! lol. Only 5 chapters left after this one! Still no Dana and Logan. This chapter is mainly a Nicole focus with a section of Zoey and Chase thrown in. Onto my oh-so fabulous reviewers!

scarlet emerald – Thanks! No Dana and Logan just yet. Not next chapter either. I think they might come back after that though, but I can't remember. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

sweetgurl05 – Thanks! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

tutorgrl323 – Actually, I have been reading your stories! I need to start reviewing stories more though. But I'll try to review today. If not today then…maybe Friday. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

ashlee – Thanks! There's a lot of Nicole and Richie this chapter. And there's some more next chapter too. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

melonbar92 – You're welcome! This update was much faster than last one too. There's some interesting things with Nicole and her two guys in this chapter – along with some Zoey and Chase too. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Ashley – Thanks! I love all of the Dana and Logan stuff too. They're still not in this chapter or the next one though. They may be in the chapter after that, but I can't remember. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

AME – Thanks! I love Dana and Logan too. Cool! Is your story up here? I'd love to read it! Zoey does get annoying at times. I'm trying to keep them as close to their characters as possible so I'm glad you think she's acting like her character! Unfortunately, we won't find out what happens with Dana and Logan in this chapter or the next one. They may be in the one after though…I can't remember. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Happymoose101 – It shouldn't have taken me so long to update though. Especially considering I already have it all written out. I just need to add author's notes and stuff and then post it. Well, this one's up faster, so…yeah. lol. Thanks! I really try to keep them true to their characters. I remember I had trouble figuring out what class they'd be taking. lol. Lets see…they're 16…juniors…ok. Hmm…I think that's how my high school works. You take pre-calc in 11th grade? I think that's right. Yeah because then I think you finish your math requirements so calculus is an optional 12th grade thing. I think. lol. Thanks! I'm mostly better but I'm still coughing. I lose my voice occasionally but that's kind of gone now too. I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

iLuvDegrassi – Thank you so much! I know it's really long and does take up a lot of time so I'm really glad you found it worthwhile! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own Zoey 101 or any of the characters, except Ben Nichols, Richie Maxwell, and Jim Walters. I also own PCA Pizza.

Chapter 35

"And there's our on campus pizza place!" Nicole announced. "They deliver. Zoey and I got a pizza delivered last night." Nicole smiled as she remembered her encounter with Ben. Then she turned and looked at Richie. Her smile widened. This was very confusing.

"Want to go inside and get some pizza?" Richie suggested. "My treat. It's the least I can do to repay you for all your help today."

Nicole smiled. "Ok, thanks!" she agreed.

As soon as they walked in, Nicole could smell the pizza. It was a delicious smell. A boy about their age walked over to seat them. "Hi, welcome to PCA Pizza. How many?" he asked, the way he'd surely been trained to do. Then he noticed Nicole. "Nicole! Hi! I'm Jim. Jim Walters. Remember me? I delivered your pizza last night. With Ben. Ben Nichols," he rambled.

Nicole's eyes widened at Ben's name. "Oh yeah, I remember you guys!" she exclaimed. Of course, she'd been remembering Ben all day, but she now vaguely remembered Jim too.

"Are you on a…a date?" Jim questioned, his face falling.

"No, I'm Richie Maxwell. I'm new here and Nicole was giving me a tour of the campus," Richie explained.

Jim's face brightened again. "Oh, cool. So, is anyone else coming?" he inquired.

Nicole was scanning the building for Ben but he was nowhere in sight. "No, just us," she answered finally.

"Right this way," Jim declared, grabbing two menus.

Just as they were about to head to their seats, the bell chimed and in came Ben. "Ben!" Nicole called.

Ben turned and saw them. He walked over. "Hey Jim," he greeted his coworker. "Hey. Nicole, right?" he asked.

Nicole nodded eagerly. "Yeah. Hi Ben!" she exclaimed.

Ben laughed at her excitement. "Hey Nicole," he replied. "And I don't think I know you," he noted, turning to Richie.

"You shouldn't. I'm Richie Maxwell. I just moved here from New York. Nicole's showing me around campus," Richie introduced himself.

Ben nodded. "Cool. I'm sure Nicole's a great tour guide," he remarked, grinning at Nicole.

Nicole felt her stomach do another somersault, just like it had when she'd first seen Richie. "Thanks Ben!" she chirped.

"No problem, Nikki," he replied, then hesitated. "Do you mind if I call you Nikki?" he questioned.

Nicole's eyes brightened at the thought of him almost having a pet name for her. "NO!" she shouted, rather quickly. "You can totally call me Nikki!"

Ben smiled. "Cool. Ok, well, I gotta get back to work. Later Richie, cool meeting you. Bye Nikki, I'll see you around," he remarked before heading into the back of the restaurant.

Nicole felt like she was melting. She was now positive Ben liked her. After all, he called her Nikki – which no one else did – and he told her that he'd see her around. If that didn't scream like, then Nicole didn't know what did.

Zoey opened her eyes. "Thank you Chase," she remarked suddenly.

"For what?" Chase asked.

"For this wonderful moment," Zoey told him.

They'd stopped walking and were now facing each other. Chase felt his breath catch in his throat. Was it just him or did Zoey look even more gorgeous and stunning than she normally did? "Your welcome," he managed to choke out.

Zoey turned to continue walking to the beach but Chase stopped her. "Zoey, I have something to tell you," he announced, shocking himself.

"Yeah?" she questioned.

Chase froze up. There was no way he could tell her how he felt. She'd probably freak out, run away, and hate him for the rest of her life. No! He wasn't going to let that happen. He quickly thought of something else he could say. "You look beautiful," he told her.

Zoey was a little confused. She thought he'd had something more important to say than that. That's what he'd made it sound like. Nevertheless, she appreciated the honest compliment. "Thanks Chase. You know, I was just thinking that you look really handsome too," she commented, though she immediately felt ridiculous after she'd said it. What made me say that? she wondered.

Chase was shocked. "Really? Wow. Uhh, thanks Zo. I…uhh…thanks," he rambled.

Zoey smiled. "Your welcome," she replied.

Chase looked into Zoey's eyes. He desperately wished he knew how she felt. What she was thinking. What she thought of him.

I mean, we're friends as it is.

That's what Zoey had said when he'd commented on how them dating would make more sense than Dana and Logan. They're friends. Just friends. We were friends, we are friends, and that's all we'll ever be. he thought bitterly. Just friends.

Nicole glanced from Richie, who was reading the menu, to Ben, who was standing at the counter, waiting for the chef to hand him the delivery order. Suddenly, Jim appeared beside her. "Can I get you guys something to drink?" he asked.

"Umm, sure. I'll have a Sprite," Nicole decided.

"I'll have a Diet Coke," Richie announced.

"Would you like a few more minutes or do you think you're ready to order?" Jim questioned.

Richie glanced at Nicole. "I eat any type of pizza," he told her.

"Ok, then, umm, I guess we'll have a cheese pizza. Oh and could I have a salad? With Italian dressing. Do you want anything else Richie?" she inquired.

"Nope, I'm good. Just the pizza," Richie declared.

"Ok, coming right up," Jim remarked, heading off into the kitchen, sneaking a glance back at Nicole.

Nicole shot him a smile as she wondered why he was looking at her. Did she have something on her face? Did her breath smell bad? Suddenly panicked, she turned to Richie. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go to the ladies room," she excused herself, as politely as possible.

On her way there, Ben stopped her. "Hey, can I ask you a question?" he wondered.

"Umm…sure," Nicole answered.

"Do you like that Richie kid?" he quizzed.

Nicole was a little taken aback. "I-I don't know," she stammered. "Why?" she added.

Ben looked down. "Nothing, I just…I don't trust him, Nikki. I don't want to see you get hurt," he commented.

Nicole smiled. "Aww, thanks Ben!" she exclaimed, giving him a hug.

Ben was surprised but he hugged her back. He noticed Richie watching them. The two boys locked eyes. They seemed to be sending a warning to each other. The gaze was finally broken when Nicole pulled out of the hug, vying between embarrassed for hugging him like that and pleased that he hugged her back.

"I have to go make this delivery now, but maybe we could hang out later," Ben suggested.

Nicole's face lit up. "Sure, I'd love to!" she chirped.

Ben smiled. "Cool. So, see you later, Nikki," he noted.

"Bye Ben!" Nicole called.

Completely forgetting why she had left the table in the first place, she made her way back to Richie, who, unknown by her, had been watching them the whole time. As soon as she sat down, Richie began to interrogate her. "Do you like this Ben kid?" he snapped.

"I-I don't know," Nicole stuttered, just as she had when Ben had asked her about liking Richie. "Why?"

Richie quickly looked away. "Well, you hugged him. And, I thought he seemed like a bit of a jerk. You deserve better than him, Nicole," he informed her.

Nicole was flattered. She had two hot guys worrying about her. How lucky could a girl get? "Aww, thanks Richie!" she squealed.

Richie smiled at her. Just then Jim reappeared with their drinks. "Here you go – a Sprite for Miss Nicole, and a Diet Coke for…her friend," he proclaimed.

Nicole giggled. "Thanks Jim!" she piped up.

"Yeah, thanks. And my name's Richie," Richie stated, an almost menacing tone to his voice.

Jim took a step back. "Umm, your food will be right out," he notified them before scurrying off to the kitchen.

Nicole frowned. "Richie, why were you so mean to him?" she queried.

Richie looked down at the table. "I was protecting you," he mumbled.

"Protecting me? From what?" Nicole investigated, slightly confused.

"He clearly likes you," Richie pointed out.

Nicole was surprised. "Jim? Don't be silly, he doesn't like me!" she laughed.

Richie was weary. "I think he does," he affirmed.

Nicole thought about. Well, regardless, she didn't like him, so it didn't matter at all. No worries.

A/N: Nicole's so funny in this chapter. lol. And poor Chase – he was so close! Next chapter is onto a 5th typed Microsoft Word page Times New Roman font size 12. It focuses mostly on Zoey and Chase and Nicole and Richie, with a section of Michael mixed in. This is the start of Michael's storyline. So I'll post the next chapter after at least 5 reviews. Thanks! Bye!

DramaQueen3303