'Ready, Chase?' Zoey whispered excitedly. Although inwardly Chase was groaning, he plastered a smile on his face as he leaned across his desk towards Zoey. 'Ready.'
Getting to her feet, Zoey cleared her throat and clutched Chase's hand. Their class all turned round and stared. Mr Bender squinted at them, confused. Zoey raised her voice, deliberately stressing her Texan twang. 'Well, everyone, we wanted you to be the first to know. Chase and I… are getting married!'
Mr Bender's jaw dropped as Zoey raised her hand, wiggling her fingers so that a cheap gold-sprayed ring on her right ring finger caught the light. She giggled delightedly, enjoying their shocked reaction. Out of the corner of the eye, she caught Logan and Michael giving each other a high five.
Mr Bender finally regained his composure. 'Uh, well, Chase, Zoey, I'm sure we're all very… happy for you. A-are you sure about this?'
Zoey trod lightly on Chase's foot, and he leapt into life. 'Oh, yeah, totally. I mean, one hundred per cent sure.' He took a deep breath. 'I love Zoey. She's the love of my life.'
He could feel Michael's eyes boring into his back. How easily the words came out when he was only having to pretend!
Zoey swung an arm around his shoulder. 'You bet! The best part is, the wedding's going to be on prom night! We'll use the school hall after all the dancing's finished, and you're all invited!'
Some of the girls in the class cooed excitedly, while others leapt into huddles to gossip. The guys were still looking, shocked, at the 'couple'. Mr Bender was pale. 'Wow, prom night, huh? That's… very, very soon… well, I… are your parents OK with this?'
Zoey waved a hand. 'Oh, yeah, yeah, they're cool. Oh, Mr Bender, we want you to make a speech! It would be so adorable if you would! Oh, please, please, please!'
Mr Bender looked incredibly uncomfortable. Lola snorted behind Zoey at her flash of inspiration, and Nicole was baby-clapping hysterically under her desk. Zoey couldn't help grinning with delight. This was going to be so much fun!
/--------/--------------------------/-----------------------/------------------------------/------/
'Zo? Zo!'
'Huh, what?' Zoey came grudgingly awake. 'What is it?' She blinked her eyes open in the daylight to see Chase standing over her. 'Chase! What are you doing in here?'
'You forgot, didn't you?' he said quietly.
She frowned. 'Forgot what?' She glanced around. 'Where are Lola and Nicole?'
'Out in the campus parking lot with the guys. Zoey, come on. Don't tell me you forgot our tradition!'
'Oh my gosh, Chase, I'm so sorry!' How could she have forgotten? Every year after the summer exams, she and her friends drove down to a beach about twenty miles away for their own little camp-out party. This would be their last one. 'It's just… the whole marriage prank thing… I forgot…'
'Yeah, well, I know, that's cool,' Chase said reluctantly. 'Can you get ready and come join us?'
'Sure, sure, I'll be real quick,' she promised him. 'Give me fifteen minutes and I'll meet you all in the parking lot.'
He nodded and turned to leave.
'Hey, Chase?'
'What?'
'I'm really sorry.'
'That's OK.' He shrugged, trying to look as if he didn't care, and quietly closed the door. But Zoey could tell he was hurt.
/--------/--------------------------/-----------------------/------------------------------/------/
Zoey arrived at the parking lot in her board shorts and pink tee, to find it distinctly empty of her friends and their cars. Chase's old school chevy was the only one remaining in its space, and she could make out his bushy head behind the wheel from a long way away.
She approached, confused. 'Hey! Where is everyone?'
Chase got out and went around the front of his car to open the door for her. 'They all decided to go on ahead in Logan's limo. I elected to stay behind and take you in this old rustcan.' He patted the bonnet fondly, and Zoey smiled as he got into the driver's seat. 'Thanks, Chase.'
'No problem-o. Got everything?'
'Yep!'
'Then let's hit the road.' He kicked up the engine and manoeuvred out of the parking lot. Zoey laughed as they got onto the freeway. 'Hey, do you remember when we started this tradition, my first year here? We had to get a taxi to take us there. Now we can all drive and we all have our cars.'
He laughed light-heartedly. 'I know, weird. Haha, and Dustin was, what, nine then? Now he's bigger than Logan.'
Zoey shook her head. 'It doesn't seem that long, does it?'
They were cruising along over the Pacific now, the turquoise expanse stretched out below them. Chase shrugged. 'I guess not. I'm just trying not to think about it, leaving you, you know? And the others,' he added quickly.
Zoey nodded. 'I know. At least we're going out with a bang, though, right? This whole prank. It's hilarious! I can't believe they're all falling for it. Lola's a genius.'
'Yeah, she's a real… feisty one,' Chase finished weakly, at a loss. He glanced away from the road to look at her, the wind teasing at her shoulder-length chestnut hair, sunglasses masking her eyes. 'Hey, Zo?'
'Yeah?'
'Am I convincing enough?'
'What do you mean?'
'Acting like I'm in love with you, and… yeah.'
She laughed. 'Well, yeah, Chase, you're fine.'
'Good. Because I'm not acting.'
She raised an eyebrow and pulled down her sunglasses, eyeing him over the lens. 'Chase?' she asked, uncertainly.
'I love you, Zoey.'
She gave a scream.
'OK, OK, sorry –' he said quickly, instantly regretting his confession; not knowing Zoey had seen what he hadn't. A split second later, they hit the oncoming truck.
/--------/--------------------------/-----------------------/------------------------------/------/
Ooh, cliffhanger… I hope! Thank you all so much for the reviews – every comment, compliment or constructive is extremely appreciated. Look out for next post soon and let me know what you think of this one \m / \m/
