It has been about a week since Chase realized that he wanted to ask Zoey to the dance. Ever since then, he had trouble talking to her. He was so nervous that every time he had a chance to ask her the dance, he always hesitated and back down. However, if he did find the courage to talk to her, he always said something stupid or inane.
He wanted to ask Zoey to the dance. He wanted to be her boyfriend. Nonetheless, did he have courage to ask her?
Later on, Zoey, Chase, Michael, Logan, and Nicole were in their English class. Chase walked by Zoey.
"Hey Chase. How are you doing?" Zoey said.
The sound of Zoey's voice made him dubious. Even though it was not a difficult question, Chase panicked and said, "Yea!"
He knew he sounded like an idiot. Therefore, he quickly walked to the other side of the class (away from Zoey).
Zoey, who was clueless about Chase, did not know why he was acting so oddly. It was as if he was avoiding her or taunting her. It was starting to annoy Zoey.
"What's wrong with Chase?" Zoey asked Nicole.
"Boys? Besides the physical features, there's too many things wrong with them." Nicole said ironically.
After a few moments, the English teacher, Ms. McGhee walked into the classroom with a stack of folders.
"I'm sorry I'm late class," She said heading to her desk, "I had trouble carrying the folders... Just give me a moment to settle down." She sat down.
"Hey man," Michael whispered to Chase, "Why haven't you talked to Zoey… More importantly why haven't you asked her to the dance?"
"I don't man. Maybe this dance is not the right thing for Zoey and me… Maybe I should wait awhile?" Chase backed down.
"How long is awhile? When you graduate?" Logan joked.
"Don't worry about it." Chase instructed.
"Now class," Ms. McGhee continued, "it's the last semester and as eighth graders, you have to write a research paper… It will be worth one third of your exam grade, but you do not have to do all the work by yourself. You'll be paired up."
Zoey leaned over to Nicole and was going to ask her to be partners, but all of a sudden, Ms. McGee said, "But I'll be picking the partners."
"Ahh." The class complained.
"I know, but I want certain people together. I'll start… The partners are Michael and Nicole, Jamie and Lee, Joshua and Marshall, Chase and…"
"Please Zoey! Please Zoey! Please Zoey!" Chase whispered to himself. Chase thought that if Zoey and he were partners, it might give them the chance to get closer.
"…, Chase and Logan." Ms. McGhee finished.
"Great…" Chase said to Michael.
"It might not be so bad." Michael issued.
"Please. Logan does not know the definition of partners… Logan probably expects me, his partner, to do all of the work and he gets to put his name on it." Chase clarified.
"And lastly," Ms. McGhee finished, "Zoey and the new student, Will Capelin."
Zoey rolled her eyes. Out of all the peers in her class, she had to be stuck with the biggest jerk. She knew she would have to do all the work.
