A/N: Thanks everyone! Happy holidays! Sorry I haven't been able to update! Jeez, I have updated since the 11th! Lets see…I was in my school's holiday concert Tuesday, auditioned for a play Wednesday, was in another concert Saturday, worked on projects Sunday, auditioned for my school play Monday, had a field trip Tuesday, singing half of the auditions Wednesday, callbacks Thursday, then went to my friend's house for a mini-Christmas party Friday. Some of this actually doesn't have anything to do with why I didn't have time to post but most of it does. lol. So with all that and homework and stuff, I had no time. I'll be able to update a lot now that I'm on break though. Maybe I can even finish up this story! Only 4 chapters left after this one! Ok, this chapter is the start of Michael's storyline! Onto my oh-so fabulous reviewers!

sarah – Thanks! Dana and Logan come back next chapter! Yay! lol. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Mrs. Bam Margera – Ooh, a flame. Well, this chapter starts Michael's storyline and Dana and Logan come back next chapter so maybe that'll spice things up more. Let me know. Happy holidays! Thanks for reviewing!

anayomous – Thanks! There's a lot of Zoey and Chase in this chapter and Dana and Logan come back next chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

scarlet emerald – Wow, I completely forgot about that Rich guy! lol. Hmm…that might make things interesting. I'm going to keep that in mind. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

melonbar92 – There's more Nicole stuff this chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

music4mysoul – Thanks! There's more Zoey and Chase and more Nicole in this chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

ashlee – Thanks! There's more Nicole and Richie this chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

chichicutie24 – Thanks! There's some Nicole and Richie and Nicole and Ben this chapter. More Zoey and Chase too. She is still sad, but you're right, I haven't mentioned it lately. There's just so much going on. I think she kind of seems fine for the rest of this story. Dana and Logan finally come back next chapter! Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

tutorgrl323 – Thanks! Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Ashley – Thanks! Yup, Michael's storyline starts this chapter! There's more Nicole stuff this chapter too. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

lemony4life – Thanks! Logan and Dana will be back in the next chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Queen Latifah-Missy Elliott14 – Thanks! I'm glad you decided to read it! Michael's storyline starts in this chapter – I hope you like it! Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

kim – Thanks for reading! Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Callmemaddy – Thanks! Dana and Logan are coming back next chapter! There's more with Nicole and Ben and Nicole and Richie this chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

xOxpRettyNpInkxOx – Thanks! Dana and Logan will be back next chapter. Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Rupertsbabe – Thanks! Dana and Logan are coming back in the next chapter! Happy holidays! I'm glad you're liking the story! Thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own Zoey 101 or any of the characters, except Richie Maxwell, Ben Nichols, and Cassandra.

Chapter 36

Friends.

The word rang through Chase's head. Now he was angry. He'd never stopped liking Zoey once in the over 3 years they'd known each other! He loved her more than anyone ever would! The only thing he wanted in life was to know that she felt the same way about him that he felt about her! Angrily, he turned and stormed off towards the beach.

Zoey was surprised. What had just happened? Chase seemed so angry and upset now. She ran forward, chasing after Chase. She realized it was a bit ironic…chasing Chase. If she'd only known how Chase felt about her, it would be even more ironic. Chase has been chasing after her since he first laid eyes on her, after which he proceeded to ride his bike into a flagpole. Remembering that still could make Zoey laugh and Chase blush.

Zoey caught up to him and touched her hand to his arm. Chase stopped immediately upon feeling her touch. "Chase, what's wrong?" Zoey asked, her voice soft and concerned.

Chase sighed. Maybe he should just tell her. Maybe if she knew, she'd realize that she liked him too. Or maybe she'll hate me. he thought bitterly. He couldn't do it. He was too nervous. He couldn't predict what would happen. He couldn't know. He didn't want to risk losing her. He wasn't a daredevil. He'd rather be her friend than nothing at all…right? Then again, there's always that nagging "what if". What if she liked him too? What if they started dating? What if they got married? What if they lived happily ever after? Then things took a negative, bringing him back to square one. What if she got mad? What if she thought that was disgusting? What if she never spoke to him again? What if he became a loner? What if he never got married? What if she's just always been waiting for him to come clean and admit that he likes – loves – her? What if he told her now, and what if there was a happy ending? But, then again, what if he told her now, and what if there was a terrible ending? What if he lost her forever? What if he lost her friendship and the hope of there ever being something more? What if they never spoke to each other again? What if he could've made her fall in love with him? What if she already had fallen in love with him? So many possibilities and he couldn't answer any of them until he spoke up. Until he told her how he felt.

"Chase?" she questioned.

Chase snapped back to reality. He looked at Zoey. She was beautiful. She was amazing. He'd never know how she felt and what would happen until he told her how he felt. He had to do this.

Chase opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Come on Chase! Just tell her already! he instructed himself. Zoey looked at him inquisitively. Chase took a deep breath. He tried again to tell her how he felt but, once more, nothing happened. He couldn't make the words come out. He decided to try something else. "Zoey, what do you think of me?" he inquired.

"You're one of my best friends," she told him.

Chase frowned. "That's it?" he wondered, his voice clearly laced with disappointment.

Zoey was surprised. Chase didn't like her like that…did he? No! They were just friends, nothing more, and neither one of them wanted anything more…right? "I-I don't know," she stammered, now unsure of what was going on.

Chase took a deep breath. Just tell her! he yelled at himself. "Zoey, I–"

Nicole took another bite into her slice of pizza and watched as Richie finished off his third piece. "Why is it that guys can eat so much?" she asked.

Richie shrugged. "I guess guys have bigger stomachs," he reasoned.

That sounded about right to Nicole. Besides, she already thought of Richie as the smartest person she knew, so why not trust him? She smiled. "Think you can eat the rest of the pizza by yourself? I don't think I'll be able to eat much more," she told him, before finishing off her first piece of pizza.

Richie laughed. "I suppose I could handle it," he teased, already a quarter of the way through his fourth slice.

Nicole laughed as well. "I guess I'll have a second piece," she decided, grabbing one of the three remaining slices.

As Nicole bit into the pizza, Richie smiled at her. Suddenly, the ringing of a bell was heard. Richie turned around. Ben was back from his delivery. Richie glared at Ben, who was smiling at Nicole.

Nicole swallowed the bite she took and waved Ben over. She slid over on the bench to make room for him to sit down. "Hey Ben!" she exclaimed.

"Hey Nikki!" he replied cheerfully, sitting down next to her.

"Want some pizza?" Nicole offered.

Ben smiled. "I'm starved. But are you sure? I mean, it's your pizza," he pointed out.

Nicole waved her hand. "No big deal. You can totally have a piece. Right Richie?" she questioned.

"Sure," Richie mumbled.

Ben smiled and grabbed one of the two slices. "Thanks Nikki," he commented.

Nicole smiled as well. "Anytime!" she chirped.

"Hey, have you seen a pair of sneakers around here? I can't find my damn shoes."

Michael looked up from the TV, only to find, in his opinion, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, searching the room for the sneakers in question. "No, sorry, but I'll help you look. I'm Michael Barrett," he introduced himself.

The girl stopped searching and turned towards Michael. "I'm Cassandra. Or Cassie. Or Sandra. Or Sandy. Or Cass. Or whatever other nicknames people can come up with," she told him. "My brother always calls me Casanova," she added.

"What name do you like best?" Michael asked.

Cassandra thought it over. "I never really thought about it. I like that my brother's the only one who calls me Casanova. Cass bugs me sometimes. Cassie tends to make me feel childish. Cassandra's so formal. Sandra's like a whole 'nother name. Sandy just isn't me. So…great, that leaves nothing," she realized.

Michael laughed. "What about…Casa?" he suggested.

Cassandra had to laugh at that. "It sounds so weird. It's bound to start getting on my nerves. Hell, I'm so restless I'll probably get tired of any name eventually," she remarked.

Michael grinned. "Then I'll just have to be extra creative," he declared.

Cassie grinned as well. "Best of luck to you," she taunted.

"Zoey, I–"

"Zo!" Nicole voice came ringing through the air.

Chase sighed to himself as Nicole and Richie approached them. "Hey Zo! Hey Chase! What's up?" Nicole chirped.

"Nothing, we were just heading down to the beach. You guys want to come?" Zoey suggested.

No! Chase thought angrily. He didn't want Nicole and Richie there! He didn't want anyone else there! This was just supposed to be him and Zoey!

"Do you wanna go Richie?" Nicole asked, her eyes begging him to say "yes".

"Sure," Richie agreed.

"Yay!" Nicole exclaimed happily, getting a smile from Richie.

Chase, on the other hand, was definitely not smiling. "You guys go ahead without me. I have to get back to my homework," he lied, knowing perfectly well that he was just going to go back to his dorm and kick himself for not telling Zoey when he had the chance. Then he remembered that he couldn't go back to his dorm because Logan and Dana were probably still there. Then I'll go sit in the lounge and reflect on what an idiot I am. he decided bitterly.

Zoey frowned. Chase seemed upset. Well, Nicole had interrupted whatever it was he was going to say. Maybe she shouldn't have invited them along.

"It's only 6 o'clock, Chase! You have all night to work!" Nicole pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I'd rather have all night to not work, so, bye," Chase stated before turning and walking off, leaving Nicole and Zoey shocked.

"What a jerk," Richie muttered.

Zoey whirled around towards Richie, fire in her eyes. "He is not a jerk!" she yelled, catching the retreating Chase's attention. He stopped and listened as Zoey continued, "Chase is the nicest and sweetest person I know! No, forget that! Chase Matthews is the nicest and sweetest person you ever have or will meet! In fact, I'm the one who's just been a jerk because Chase was trying to tell me something when you guys came over and I invited you guys along without even asking him and now I think he's mad at me and I don't want him to be mad at me! So see – I was the jerk here and Chase was innocent! You don't know anything about anyone here so next time, think before you make judgments like that, or better yet, don't make any judgments like that at all – and especially don't make them about Chase because he doesn't deserve that! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go make sure he doesn't hate me!"

Zoey stormed off, but she didn't have to go very far. She turned the corner and literally ran into Chase. She stumbled backwards, losing her balance. She started to fall but Chase caught her. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"I should be the one saying thanks. I heard what you said," he told her.

Zoey blushed. "Oh, well, he had no right to be saying those things about you," she commented.

Chase smiled. "Thanks Zo," he whispered.

Zoey felt like her skin was entirely red. Why was Chase suddenly making her so embarrassed? She was usually never embarrassed around Chase.

"Zo," Chase began, "I think I should tell you what I started to say before."

Zoey's heart sped up. What's going on? she wondered. "O-ok," she stammered.

Chase took a deep breath. This was it. It was now or never. He was finally going to tell her how he felt.

A/N: Chase tried and failed once, but what will happen this time? Unfortunately, you won't get to find out next chapter. On the bright side though, Dana and Logan are back next chapter! I know, I know, finally. lol. There's more with Michael and his storyline and more with Nicole, Richie, and Ben too. It's about 3 typed Microsoft Word pages Times New Roman font size 12. Only 4 chapters left! I'll post this next chapter after I get at least 5 reviews! Oh and I'm thinking of starting a Zoey 101 forum but I want to know if anyone would go look at it if I made it and what you would want it to have. Ok so, let me know in your review. Thanks! Happy holidays! Bye!

DramaQueen3303