School Dance

It was the day after the school dance. Chase still felt suckish for what he had done to try to get Zoey to go with him, and he acted even worse when she chose Glen. He should have just filled out his personality test and hoped for the best. No wonder she was so mad at him.

Chase was sitting out by the duck pond, stuck inside his head. Zoey was his best friend, and he probably ruined any chance he had of ever going to a dance with her ever again. He chucked a few rocks into the water, halfheartedly trying to make them skip across the surface, but most of them sunk just as low as his heartfelt.

He heard someone's footsteps walking up behind him, so he turned around, it was Zoey and just like every time since he first saw her, butterflies in his stomach started doing jumping jacks.

She sat down beside him for a few moments as he threw the rock in his hand out into the water where it joined its brethren in sinking to the bottom with a loud PLOP!

"Look, I'm sorry. What I did was really wrong." Chase apologized again, he still felt so ashamed, he could only look at her out the corner of his eye.

"Yeah, it kinda was." Zoey agreed.

"I don't know I was just being dumb." Chase tried to explain himself, not that he really expected anything to change.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why would you go through all that trouble just to go with me to a stupid dance?" Chase could hear the smile as she spoke, she almost sounded amused, maybe there was some hope they could still be friends after all.

"I…uh…cause I wanted to…protect you." Alright, that sounded lame even to his ears.

"Protect me?"

"Well…yeah! I mean you're my friend and you're a girl. You know guys, a lot of guys are jerks. And I just didn't want you going to the dance with a jerk."

"So to protect me from a jerk…"

"I know. I acted like a jerk. Oh, the irony." Chase said as he picked up another rock to throw into the pond. "I guess it wasn't the best plan huh?"

"No," Zoey agreed, "but it was sweet."

"Sweet?" Chase's heart started racing like it always whenever Zoey said something like that, that made him think maybe, just maybe they could be more than friends someday.

Zoey nodded and shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah…but…"

"But?" Chase asked nervously again.

"You're lame at throwing rocks."

"What?"

"And I can tell you aren't telling me something."

"What? No, of course not, I'm pretty sure I covered everything, I was just a dumb jerk because I wanted to protect you from dumb jerks."

"Chase, you're my best friend, I know you. That's how I knew you had no idea about Logan's bear. But its fine, you don't have to tell me."

"But you still forgive me?"

"Yeah, you're still my best friend. Everyone messes up sometimes, like when I told Quinn Mark said yes to her date, or when we took Prank Week too far and almost got expelled."

"To be fair, I think you can blame us guys for making you do it, and if Bradford wasn't here you would have won with that. It was pretty awesome."

Chase was silent for a few moments as Zoey picked up a few rocks to skip across the water, with much more talent than he had. He argued with himself until he finally made the choice he should have made weeks ago.

"Zoey…"

"Yeah?"

"Um…you're right. I had another reason for wanting to go to the dance with you."

"Go on." Chase could see he now had Zoey's full attention.

"I…I really like you Zoey, you're so smart and talented and creative in everything you do. And from the first day I saw you, I knew I wanted to spend as much time with you as possible. The more time I spent with you, whenever we did anything, going to class, eating lunch, studying. You quickly became my best friend this year. Don't tell Michael, he'll be pretty devastated." Chase tried to joke. "And…" Chase fell silent, as just like every other time he tried to do this, something was stopping him.

"Don't worry I won't tell Michael, but I am happy that you're my best friend too. Just don't tell Nicole." Zoey quipped back.

"Zoey, how would you like to be more than friends?"

"Chase…as in?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Chase blurted out before continuing, as he went on he started speeding up and rambling. "To be totally honest I think you're the most amazing person on the face of the planet, every morning when I wake up, you're the first person I think about, and the last person I think about when I go to bed. And I think you always look cute no matter what you're wearing. And you're funny and always laugh at my jokes and always want to help everyone you meet. And, before the whole match thing I was totally planning to ask you to the dance myself, assuming I could somehow work up the nerve to finally do it this time. But I understand if you don't see me that way because you're you, and I'm me and—"

Zoey reached out for his wrist. "Chase. Calm down, take a breath." She advised.

Chase followed her instructions, taking a deep breath in and releasing, it helped calm his racing thoughts, but his heart still felt like it was pounding in his chest even harder as he awaited her answer for what felt like an eternity to him, but in reality was probably only ten seconds.

"How long have you felt this way?" Zoey asked, looking directly into his eyes.

"To be perfectly honest, ever since I saw you on move-in day and ran into the flagpole, and every day I spend time with you it grows a little bit stronger."

Zoey thought for a few moments before she smiled. "Yes, Chase. I will be your girlfriend."

"I understand…Wait, did you say yes?"

"Yes, of course, I did. Chase, you are literally my best friend here at PCA from the first day we met. I like spending time with you too, and you may be clumsy, and act like a dumb boy sometimes, but you are always there to help me. I would love to be your girlfriend."

"Great! This is amazing! I mean cool, it's cool. So Zoey, will you go out with me tonight?"

"Yes Chase, where do you wanna go?"

"How about Sushi Rox?"

"Sounds delicious."

"Cool, can I swing by your room at 5:00?"

"Sure, it's a date."

"Great." Chase reached out without thinking, spreading his arms wide. "Um sorry, would you like a hug?"

"I'd be happy to." Chase you don't need to be nervous around me just because we're dating now." Zoey pulled him in and they happily embraced. "Just be yourself, melt the stress away. This doesn't have to change things, you're still my best friend, just also my boyfriend now."

"OK, well for now, can I walk you back to your dorm?"

"Sure, I have to get ready for tonight, and tell Nicole and Dana everything." Zoey reached out her hand and Chase happily grasped it as they walked back side by side to the dorms.

"So did you come up with your personality test plan by yourself?"

"No, Logan suggested it."

"Well, there's your first clue it was a bad idea." Zoey playfully swatted his bushy head. "I know you're too sweet to do something like that on your own."

"I don't know whether to be proud or insulted that you think I'm too sweet for something like that."

"I get that you're probably just as new to this as I am, but I'm pretty sure if the girlfriend's happy the boyfriend's happy."

"Duly noted."

"I guess one rule I should mention, is don't go to Logan for advice, I can pretty much guarantee it will be the wrong answer. Michael, I can maybe trust, but don't be afraid to talk to me. "

"Got it. I hope you know you can always talk to me too."

"I figured that out pretty quickly," Zoey looked down at their joined hands as they walked, "also don't be afraid to hold my hand or give me a hug, this is nice." Zoey smiled.

"Got it."

"Any other boundaries?"

"Well since I'm already planning an interrogation from Dana and Nicole, I guess its fine if you tell Michael and Logan about us. But no Dustin yet."

"Why not?"

"Because if he knows he'll tell my parents and my mom will want to know literally every detail of your life, and my dad will probably go into Dad mode and give me the I'm too young to date speech." Zoey rolled her eyes.

"Oh, that makes me feel safe."

"You're safe for now. I'll tell them eventually, but I want to see where this goes, although they probably already think we're dating since I talk about you in all my emails."

"You do? What have you told them about me?"

"I mentioned Elvis when we kept him in our room for a week, and how I was really excited for your play until Logan joined, and how you helped us trick Logan many times, or just helped me out of any trouble I found myself in."

"I liked your ending better. It was much more realistic to the story, and plus it put Logan in his place."

"Too bad you weren't cast like you were planning, I would have stuck to the script if you were the handsome lifeguard."

"Oh really? I'm handsome lifeguard material?"

"For sure, your bushy hair is kinda cute. But no picking up any pretty aliens that crash land on the beach."

"Scout's honor, if I see any aliens, pretty or otherwise I will keep moving along. Besides in the sequel, we find out it was all a trick so Zorka could abduct the lifeguard and dissect his brain, but he doesn't have one."

"Really? If Mr. Fletcher ever lets us perform a sequel, then Logan can still be the lifeguard if that happens. And then you can be my alien boyfriend."

"Woah, don't give me ideas, you're playing a dangerous game." Chase jokingly warned her.

"Do you have anything you want to set?"

"Not really, just promise me this isn't some kind of punch-induced dream from last night."

"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure this is reality." Zoey reached out and pinched his arm with her other hand.

"Ow!"

"Did you feel that?"

'Yes, I did. OK new rule, no pinching."

"Got it." Zoey laughed.

"Well, Room 101. See you tonight."

"See you tonight Chase. Bye." Zoey reached out for one more hug that Chase happily returned.

After Zoey closed her door Chase walked calmly outside but he could have sworn he heard excited screaming coming from the hallway behind him.

When he made it outside, he looked around, and thankfully no one else was around him. He couldn't contain himself any longer. "YES!" Chase screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Chase?"

Chase turned to see Michael, walking Elvis with Ollie's sister he met last night.

"Michael you're never gonna believe this."

"Well based on your face I assume either you finally told Zoey the truth or you just got a free Jet X."

"Come on, I have to talk to you, and yes it is one of those things. And since I don't have a helmet…"

"Congrats man, let's go. Give me the details."