Bad Girl

OK, this is bad, this bad, this is so very very bad. Chase ran into the girl's lounge. "Why can I never say no to Zoey?" Thankfully he quickly found Zoey and Lola playing foosball.

"Zoey! We've got to talk." He could hear his voice shaking from his nerves.

"OK, one second." Zoey turned back to their very intense game. Zoey and Lola weren't giving an inch to each other, the ball never got any closer to the other's goal.

Chase tapped his foot on the ground for about a minute before he ran out of patience and swiped the ball from the table.

"Hey!" said Zoey.

"Give us back our foosball ball." Lola demanded

"Wouldn't you just call it a foosball?" Zoey asked.

"No. foosball's the name of the game, so you call the ball, a foosball ball."

"Maybe but I still think you-"

"Let me tell you what," Chase interrupted, "how about we just call it a foosball ball ball ball! I have got to speak with Zoey!" Chase pulled her away from Lola to the Blix machine.

"OK, you gotta help me."

"What you couldn't talk Trisha out of dating Dustin?"

Chase shook his head "Ooh. I talked Trisha right out of dating Dustin."

"Great so what's the problem?"

"You stole my girlfriend!" Dustin ran up behind Chase.

"That, that's the problem." Chase pointed behind him.

"You asked Trisha out?"

"No. Gross."

"Come on Mathews Let's go right now!" Dustin raised his fists in a fighting stance, hopping back and forth.

"You see? You see what you get me into." Chase asked, motioning to the very angry 10-year-old.

"I'm standing here!" Dustin shouted.

Chase turned around. "I'm not gonna fight you dude."

"Yeah, you are!" Dustin pulled off his shirt and threw it to the floor still keeping his fists raised. "Let's go!"

"Dustin stop acting like a freak right now!" Zoey demanded.

"Alright. But you listen to me, Chase Mathews." Dustin poked him in the chest. "You stole my girlfriend, and you're gonna pay."

Dustin picked up his backpack and left the lounge, still without a shirt on.

"I was just threatened by a topless boy."

"Just tell me what happened with Trisha."

Chase took a long sip of Blix. "Well I was telling Trisha why she shouldn't date Dustin but she thought I meant you know, date ME!"

"Why would she like you?"

"Well, I guess she somehow overlooked my terrible personality and hideous face." Chase deadpanned.

"You know I didn't mean it like that, why don't you just tell her you don't like her?" Zoey smiled.

"I tried but she still won't leave me alone. I was working out in the gym, and she showed up and took digital pictures!"

"Why?" Zoey couldn't keep a straight face at that news.

"She thinks I look cute when I sweat."

"Are you?"

"Sorta." Chase shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, what are you gonna do about this?"

"You are going to go talk to Trisha and get me out of this." Chase demanded.

"No no no. I cannot butt into his life."

"You're always butting in, you're like the queen of butting in."

"That is so—"

"True. Just like you know I can never say no to you, and you get me into these messes. Now please talk to Trisha and get me out of this."

"OK." Zoey sighed.

"And talk to Dustin too, before he tries to kill me in my sleep."

"Come on he's my little brother."

"And the whole problem was you didn't want him dating Trisha, who knows what deadly things that crazy girl's taught him already?"

"Good point, so you really can't say no to me?"

"What do you think? Why do you always ask me to do these things? Heck if you told me to kiss you right now I would do it, no questions asked."

"Fair enough, that's because I know I can always rely on you. Don't worry I'll get Trisha off your back." Zoey promised before walking out the door.

"Oh well, that was worth a shot." Chase just took another sip of his Blix.

Later that night, Chase came back into the girl's lounge to check in with Zoey. "So how'd it go with Trisha?" Chase asked as he slid into the booth.

"About that…I didn't have very much luck either. That girl is impossible."

"So she still think's I'm her boyfriend? Curse my bushy hair. I'm always looking like a snack."

"I um, she wasn't listening to a word I was saying so…I might have told her the reason I want you to break up is because we're boyfriend and girlfriend." Zoey started out slowly but then quickly sped up.

"Wait, you told her we're boyfriend and girlfriend?" His voice rose in surprise and unfettered happiness.

"It was the only thing I could think of."

Chase tried to control the smile that was fighting to break out of his face. "So problem solved then right?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"She didn't believe we were really dating."

"Well, what did she say?"

'She's seen the two of us around campus and there's no way we can really be boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry I really tried." Zoey apologized.

"I know you did, it's cool."

"No, now Trisha's gonna be all over you."

"Well…"

"What?"

Chase turned away, he just had the best idea of his entire life, maybe this nightmare could turn into a dream come true, even if just for a day.

"We could…convince her we really are dating." Chase said slowly.

"How?"

"Well…I got it." Chase snapped his fingers like he just solved all their worries.

"Yeah?"

"We just have to make sure she sees us tomorrow acting like we're boyfriend and girlfriend."

Chase's heart was pounding in excitement as Zoey was nodding along.

"We make her believe it and she'll leave me alone." He continued.

"OK. I'm in. When we see Trisha tomorrow, you and I are boyfriend and girlfriend."

"OK." Chase smiled after Zoey got up to go back to her room for the night. Chase took a sip of water and then splashed himself with it. Oh my god, this isn't a dream. Now I have to make sure everything is perfect tomorrow. He thought to himself as he headed back to his dorm.

The next morning, Chase met Zoey as she was walking to class with Nicole and Lola. "Hey, Sweetie."

"Sweetie?" Zoey asked.

"Sorry is that too much? Because I was up last night and-"

"Hold up, Wait a minute Sweetie? Are you two dating?" Nicole demanded.

"No, we're just going to fake it to get Trisha away from both Chase and Dustin." Zoey explained.

"Ooh this sounds fun, can I watch?" Lola asked.

"No we want to make this as realistic as possible, so no spectators." Zoey replied.

"Speaking of real, I was just thinking, we should get our love story straight in case she asks us any questions." Chase said.

"OK, so what are you thinking?"

"Well, I fell for you, literally, when I first saw you on move-in day and I fell off my bike."

"OK, good, so what happened next?"

"Well, then we had our first date at the movie theater. Flowers and Chocolate."

"Hey didn't I see that movie with you guys and Dana, right at the beginning of last semester? Nicole asked."

"Yeah, but for this, it was our first date."

"Go on, Chase, this sounds just as great as your play." Zoey smiled at him.

"Speaking of, that's where the fireworks really started when we had our first kiss on stage since I played the hot lifeguard. That was when you really fell for me."

"Right out of my starship?"

"Exactly."

"So we've been dating for about 6 months then?"

"Sure sounds good."

"Fine if I can't see it, I still want you to tell me all about it. Later Zoey. Good luck." Lola said as she turned away to head to her first class.

"OK Lola."

Later, around lunchtime, Chase and Zoey were watching as Trisha left the science building.

"OK, there's Trisha. Ready to be my boyfriend?"

"Yep, absolutely." Chase couldn't hide his smile.

"Ok hold my hand." Zoey ordered.

"Right." Chase nervously took Zoey's hand and everything went into overdrive. I'm holding Zoey's hand, as her boyfriend, not really but this is amazing!

Chase and Zoey walked over, trying to be nonchalant, not that Chase felt like he was doing a good job since he was already on cloud nine, and trying to maintain the composure of his sanity.

"Oh look there's Trisha." Zoey smiled and loudly greeted her.

"Hey, Trisha." Chase waved.

"Hey."

"Listen Zoey told me she talked to you about us and uh…I hope you understand."

"We can't help that we're in love. Haha." Both shared a nervous giggle.

If only she knew. Chase thought to himself.

"Are you sure this is for real?" Trisha asked.

"Oh yeah totally."

"Absolutely." Chase said with complete honesty.

"Oh really? How long have you been dating?"

"Six months." Both answered in unison.

"Yep, she caught my eye right when school started last year." Chase said.

"And it didn't take me long until I felt the same way." Zoey added, leaning her head on Chase's shoulder. Suddenly Chase's skin was crawling with heat feeling Zoey press close to him.

"OK, if you're boyfriend and girlfriend…let's see a kiss."

Chase and Zoey both lost their happy couple façade as they quickly darted their eyes at each other nervously before glancing back at Trisha.

"I'm sorry, what?" Zoey asked.

"She wants to see us kiss." Chase whispered.

"I heard what she said." Zoey whispered back through her teeth clenched in a smile.

"Do it. Kiss." Trisha demanded.

"Come on, is this really necessary?" Zoey asked with a nervous laugh.

Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes. Chase prayed to himself.

"Yeah."

"She, she said yeah." Chase nervously mumbled.

"Um Trisha…" Zoey started.

"I knew you were lying." Trisha interrupted.

"OK listen Trisha-" Chase started, this obviously wasn't working, he just had to flat out say he was dumping her or something.

"Fine! We'll kiss." Zoey interrupted Chase.

"What?" That completely derailed Chase's entire train of thought.

"She doesn't believe we love each other, we'll show her." Zoey said, nothing but confidence and determination on her face.

"Show, show her?"

"Just kiss me like you always do."

"Oh! Right Zoey, of course. No biggie. Just like we always do, because I love you so much." Chase and Zoey stood to face each other and Zoey gave him a nod of confirmation.

Chase took a deep breath. OK, here it goes. Chase took Zoey's hands in his and pulled her closer, slightly tilting his head to the right while Zoey did the same. Chase's heartbeat was pounding in his ears as he counted down the seconds, right before they made contact, he closed his eyes at the very last moment. When their lips met, it was soft, sweet, and gentle, Chase had to hold himself back from giving his everything into it as they moved slowly together, they stayed connected for a few moments longer before pulling away. When Chase opened his eyes he could see Zoey's eyes sparkling, and it took everything he had to not start grinning like a maniac.

"So Trisha, was that enough proof for you? Chase is my boyfriend and only mine. I love him with all of my heart."

Chase was still mostly speechless and Zoey's declaration of love really wasn't helping him focus. When he was suddenly tackled from behind by a small, blond-haired blur. "AHHH!"

"Dustin?" Zoey shouted in surprise.

"I told you I'd get you for stealing my woman." Dustin yelled at Chase.

"Why do these things happen to me?"

"Wow Dustin, I never knew you were so manly." Trisha walked up and grabbed Dustin's hand.

But Dustin pulled away. "Yeah, too late Trisha." Dustin walked away but paused when he passed Chase. "Now we're even." Dustin said, in a pretty menacing voice for a ten-year-old.

"OK?" Chase said, still lying on the ground.

Zoey offered a hand to pull him up and he dusted himself off. Still playing the part, Chase couldn't stop himself from placing his arm over Zoey's shoulder. "Well, see Trisha, we are dating, and I love Zoey, and I have from the very first day we met."

"Whatever, I don't want to date an older man that gets knocked down by a ten-year-old. See ya!" Trisha turned around and held up a very rude hand gesture as she walked away.

"Well, I better go get my homework done." Zoey awkwardly punched Chase in the shoulder, "sorry my brother attacked you."

"You know me, that's why my hair is so bushy, if I didn't fall to the ground once a day it would be weird."

"Yeah, and sorry I made you kiss me." Chase could have sworn he could a blush painting Zoey's cheeks.

"Trust me Zo, you don't have to make me kiss you. I will say you've proven again that you're an amazing actress, in fact, I think you could give Lola some competition."

"Thanks, you were a good actor too. Good call on coming up with a story for us to follow. If I didn't know any better I'd believe every word."

"Yeah." Chase let out a short chuckle, "Um maybeIwasn'tacting."

"What?"

"I said, I wasn't acting, some of it obviously, but Zoey, I really like you."

"Yeah, I really like you too Chase. You're my best friend."

"But as more than friends, that whole love story I made up for us, that's what I've been trying to do ever since I met you. All those things I talked about, I tried to make happen, but usually, someone else would get in the way and mess it up.

"So you've what, been in love with me from the moment we met?"

"Yes, that's why I was so mad when Logan got cast as the lifeguard and you didn't quit the play, and why I stole your quiz answers for the dance, and why I wanted to know what you said about me in your time capsule video. And why I even helped you with Dustin and got us into this mess, because I can't say no to you Zoey. I will do anything to make you smile. I love you."

Zoey just paused for a minute, chewing her lip in indecision. "Well, Chase, I may have not been completely acting either."

"Wait, what?"

"Speaking of my time capsule video, there is a reason I didn't want you to see it because it was the first time I was really honest with myself how I felt about you, because I missed you a lot last summer even though we were still texting and talking every day, I missed you more than you can imagine, but I wasn't sure if you felt the same way."

"Yes, absolutely yes, I do love you, if you love me."

"Yes Chase, maybe I do love you. I'm willing to try being more than friends if you are."

"You don't even have to ask. So Zoey, will you go on a date with me?"

"Sure Chase. Anytime, just tell me when."

"How about Saturday, we could have a picnic on the beach?"

"I thought our first date was a movie?" Zoey giggled.

"Yeah, that was my first plan that backfired, but sure whatever you want to do."

"I'm good with a movie, but how did your plan backfire, we still saw it together?"

"Remember that was when you, Dana, and Nicole were constantly fighting, so I suggested we should see a movie together so you can get away from them, but then you made up and brought them with you. It was still fun, even though Nicole and Dana fought over the aisle seat, but it wasn't the romantic first date I had planned."

"Oh yeah, well this time it can be just the two of us, I promise. See you later."

"Bye Zoey." Chase gave Zoey's hand one last squeeze as she walked away.

Well this turned into one of the weirdest weeks of his life, into one of the best, he kissed Zoey and told her how he felt, and now he finally had a real date with her. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Chase walked away with a grin on his face when he felt something land in his hair.

He lifted it off his head to reveal a smashed cupcake, he searched the nearby buildings and saw Trisha up on the rooftop, laughing at him. Nope, not even she can ruin this for me. Chase threw the cupcake away and headed to his dorm since he was now in need of a shower, not just for the cupcake though, he wondered if Zoey thought he looked cute with how much he had been sweating during that whole ordeal.