Zoey's Tutor
Chase and Michael were walking back to their dorm from the gym after Michael received a "sports-related injury" by tripping over a basketball on the way to the bathroom, so Chase had to help him limp along when they ran into two of their friends.
"Oh Hey, Quinn and Lola." Chase waved. "What up females?"
"Hey." both girls responded.
"What have you guys been doing?" Michael asked.
"I've been watching Quinn research rat brains for the past three hours." Lola answered, sounding exasperated.
"Yeah, yeah, you'll change your tune when I trap that rat and lock him away forever."
"Um, what rat?" Michael asked.
"What happened to your foot?" Lola asked him back.
"Sports-related injury."
"He tripped over a basketball on his way to pee." Chase corrected.
Both Quinn and Lola burst out in giggles at that.
"Why don't you broadcast it on the PCA news?" Michael demanded.
"Hey was Zoey with you guys?" Chase asked.
"Naw, she went to a movie." Logan answered
"No, she told me she was taking a yoga class." Michael corrected her, confused.
"Who cares, I've got to go prove to my rat that no rodent can outsmart Quinn Pensky. Are you ready for me rat? Are you ready for a piece of Quinn?!" Quinn shouted into the night air as she walked away.
"Weird, why would Zoey tell you guys two different things?" Chase asked his friends.
"Who knows, maybe she went to the movie after her yoga class?" Lola suggested.
"Yeah, that's probably it. Goodnight Lola, and good luck with your rodent problem." Chase said, cringing slightly.
"Quinn better catch that thing soon." Lola sighed. "Later."
Chase finally carried Michael back to their room, but when they opened the door, Chase couldn't believe his eyes. Zoey was in their room, alone with Logan, and he was holding her in his arms, and then they quickly jumped away when they noticed Chase and Michael standing in the doorway.
"Oh Hi!" Zoey said, Chase could tell she looked nervous.
"Hey." Chase answered back.
"Hello." Michael said.
They both glanced at each other again but looked away nervously.
"What are you guys doing?" Chase asked.
"Nothing, talking, nothing." Zoey rushed out. Something was definitely going on with them.
"What are you guys doing?" Logan asked, "I thought you were shooting hoops until ten?"
"Oh he was on his way to pee and-"
"Quiet." Michael ordered. "I thought you were taking a yoga class?" He asked Zoey.
"And Lola said you were seeing a movie." Chase added.
"Yeah, it was a movie about yoga, which I came to tell you guys about, and now that you know…Goodnight." Zoey grabbed her backpack and quickly left the room, the gazes of all three guys following her out the door.
"We gotta see that yoga movie." Logan told them.
"Are you going to tell us anything?" Michael asked.
"Just that movie sounds super interesting."
"So that's really why Zoey was in our room, alone, with you?" Chase asked after helping Michael sit down on his bed.
"Yeah, in fact, she was looking for you like always, but she got lucky and found me here instead." Logan shot Chase his signature cocky grin.
"Right…" Chase thought to himself, something wasn't adding up here. He could have sworn it almost looked like they were hugging but that made absolutely zero sense. But the more he thought about it that night, the more confused he became. The yoga movie was obviously fake, the on-campus theater was playing some romantic comedy, and as far as he could tell it had nothing to do with yoga. So even more strange, why would Zoey lie to him? He knew he shouldn't be thinking anything, he knew sometimes lies and secrets are for the best like his biggest secret that could ruin his friendship with Zoey. After tossing and turning half the night he decided, he had to get to the bottom of this.
The next day, Chase had everyone, except Logan and Zoey gathered in the lounge.
"Alright, I assume we all know why I called you here?"
"Yes, on what should I waste my valuable time while a rogue rat runs hither and yonder mocking my intelligence." Quinn pouted.
"No, we're not here to discuss your rodential problem. We're here to talk about what's going on between Zoey and Logan! They've been sneaking around, telling us lies, I want to know what's up!" Chase paced back and forth in front of everyone.
"Why do you care?" Lola asked.
"Because I'm a caring person!"
"Well obviously Zoey and Logan are secretly dating, may I please go catch my rat now?" Quinn asked.
"Yes, go catch the rat." Lola nodded her head.
"No! No one's going places until we figure out what's going on. Now let's consider the possibilities."
"I think they're dating." Michael agreed.
"Dating." Lola nodded.
"The other possibilities."
"I thought Chase was over Zoey." Quinn asked.
"So did I." Lola nodded, both looking over at Michael.
"What do you mean? I never had a two-year crush on Zoey. Right Michael?" Chase said nervously.
Michael rolled his eyes and deadpanned. "Yes, there was no crush, you silly people."
"Then why do you care if Zoey and Logan are dating?" Lola asked him.
"She's not dating Logan! OK? I've known Zoey since the first day she came to PCA and I know she'd never date a jerk like Logan!"
"He's one of your best friends." Lola reminded him.
"Which is how I know he's a jerk!"
"OK then, if Zoey and Logan are sneaking around, spending all this time together, you tell me what the other explanations are." Michael asked him.
"Well, you know they could be uhh, For all we know they could be um, I'm gonna go find out. You guys really aren't helping." Chase ran out of the lounge.
"So Chase had or still has a crush on Zoey?" Lola asked.
"What do you think?" Michael responded sarcastically.
"I'd say yes." Quinn said.
"Like it wasn't obvious. So he definitely broke up with Rebecca for Zoey right?" Lola asked.
"Yeah, you heard how nervy that girl was, he told me the whole Rebecca thing was an attempt to just be friends with Zoey, but I think we all know he still has feelings. Plus just the fact that she tried to make him stay away from Zoey was obviously never going to happen."
"That's too bad about Logan though. Do you really think Zoey would really date him? Because it sure looks like it." Quinn asked.
"I have no idea why Zoey would date Logan, I thought she hated him and only tolerated him because him, me, and Chase are a package deal."
"Well, you have to admit he is hot, even though he doesn't have a heart, or a brain most of the time." Lola admitted.
"Yeah, I agree, forget everything about Chase, why would Zoey date Logan?"
Lola shook her head. "I don't know, but it would make sense why they are sneaking around. I think its maybe the Rebecca thing, Zoey was even more in denial that Chase could possibly love her, or that she likes him as more than a friend since that whole episode."
"So are you going to do anything about it?" Quinn asked.
Michael sighed, "I'm sure I'll probably have to something at some point, either listen to Chase completely freak out over Zoey for the hundredth time, or possibly keep him from killing Logan, because you know he'll lord this over Chase somehow if we're right."
"Yeah. And we definitely are because I can't think of anything else they would be doing together." Quinn added, "Now goodbye, I'm off to catch a rat." Quinn stood up and left the lounge.
Chase stormed into his room, "I want to know what's going on!"
"I'm just taking pictures of myself like I always do. See?" Logan struck a pose as the camera flashed again.
"I meant, I want to know what's going on between you and Zoey!" Chase demanded.
"Why? What do you know?" Logan looked nervous.
"That you two guys have been sneaking around, spending a whole lot of time together. Why?"
"Why?"
"Yes Why! It comes right in between X and Z!"
"Well….um…uh…the truth is…Zoey and I are dating?" Logan sounded like he just desperately made that up to hide something else, Chase didn't believe it for a second.
"You liar!"
"It's true!"
"Zoey would never date you. You're you!"
"Fine, don't believe it."
"Alright, I'll go ask Zoey." Chase turned around and was about to storm back out the door, but Logan grabbed onto his arm to stop him.
"No! She's not going to tell you the truth."
"Why not?" Chase almost growled.
"Cause…she knew you wouldn't like it. Ha! You know that makes sense." Logan snapped his fingers and pointed like he just solved a chemistry equation as if he could.
Chase thought it over for a minute, that would make sense but… "I still don't believe it."
"Well, you should."
"Prove it."
"OK, I will. Just wait until this afternoon, that's when we're having our next date." Logan wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Chase stormed out again, later when he was eating lunch with Zoey he tried to test her but she still wasn't giving anything away.
"Hey Zoey, want to play would you rather?"
"Sure."
"OK, would you rather, kiss Logan or Otis?"
"Ugh that sounds disgusting either way." Zoey practically gagged. "Where?" She asked nervously.
"Um, the lips for both of them, that is if alpacas have lips."
"I suppose Otis, it would still be gross but I'd still have my pride intact. So Chase, would you rather fight against Vince Blake or Quinn's robot?"
"Oh totally Vince, I'd still have a chance to survive." Chase laughed as they continued, so Zoey was definitely not dating Logan, but he still had zero clues as to what was really going on though.
That afternoon, Chase was walking through campus with Logan, where he said he was going to prove him and Zoey were dating. "OK now what?"
"Get in that bush." Logan pointed.
"No!"
"Get in the bush."
"I don't want to be a bush."
"I told you, Zoey's never going to admit to you that we're dating."
"Yeah, 'cause you're not. She told me at lunch she would never kiss you. She couldn't live with the shame. So ha! You aren't dating Zoey!"
"That's just because she wants to hide it from you. I will prove it to you if- Here she comes!" Logan pointed and Chase turned, his eyes could never help staring at her and he felt his heart speed up just like it always did whenever he saw her.
"Bush!" Logan ordered one more time.
"Alright! I don't like being in bushes." Chase grumbled as ducked down behind it as Zoey walked up to Logan.
"Hey." She greeted him with a smile, that didn't mean anything, Zoey gave her gorgeous smile to everyone she met.
"Oh hey, what are you doing here?"
"Um, weren't we supposed to meet here at four o'clock?"
"Yes. Hey!" Logan spread his arms around her in a hug and she awkwardly leaned into it.
"Hey…" Zoey sounded confused like she wasn't sure what Logan was doing, Chase still didn't believe it.
"Where should we go today?" Logan asked.
"I don't know. Library? Your room?"
"Yeah, you know, wherever we can be alone."
"Right." She wanted to be alone with him? For what? How could the options be Logan's room or the library? Chase was ninety-nine percent sure Logan had never set foot in the library before. Why would she want to be alone in his room?
"Um, I think this is working out pretty good between me and you. Don't you think?" Logan asked her.
"Sure, I mean it's kind of weird but it's working for me." Zoey nodded.
"Yeah, listen I gotta tell you something, I told Chase what's going on between us."
"What? I thought we decided no one should know?" Now Zoey looked nervous and slightly angry at him. So whatever was going on, she really didn't want him to know, and that admittedly hurt a little.
"He's my friend, I thought he deserved to hear the truth. Are you mad?"
"I guess not. I mean, I hate that I've been lying to Lola and Quinn."
Zoey's anger evaporated in an instant. Was that a sign that she actually did like him? Normally when Logan made her mad she stayed angry until she could vent to Chase or one of the girls, and it usually involved planning justice to teach him a lesson first. Zoey never just forgave Logan, and was she really that mad that Chase knew? Did Zoey not trust him anymore?
"Exactly! We shouldn't have to keep secrets from our friends!"
"Yeah, I know it's just chemistry."
"Yes, chemistry, which you know, we have together."
Chemistry? Ugh, there is no way Logan and Zoey had any chemistry together. No way. Sure Chase wasn't doing too hot in chemistry either but one thing he knew was that Zoey Brooks did not belong with Logan Reese, or he thought he did, but it looked like he was wrong.
"Alright!" Chase jumped out of the bush. "I've heard enough!"
"Chase?" Zoey asked, shocked at his appearance.
"Chase! What were you doing in that bush?" Logan acted surprised.
"Hearing everything!"
"Look, I wanted to tell you but I was embarrassed."
"You should be embarrassed. I mean, Logan?"
"I know but he's been teaching me so much."
"Oh God!" Chase cringed away, not missing the smirk on Logan's face behind her.
"It's true, I mean he really knows his stuff." Zoey continued. Not noticing Logan puckering his lips behind her in Chase's direction.
"Augh Oh God!" Chase stumbled away looking disgusted, Zoey's words, unfortunately, made his brain start to imagine just what she could mean by that, and he really didn't want to think about any of that, he couldn't even look at the two of them together.
Chase sprinted back to his room as fast as he could and threw his backpack to the ground. Then he just sat on his bed and stared at the wall. His brain couldn't process everything. Zoey was really dating Logan, and there was apparently nothing he could do about it. But if it was true…why would Zoey hide it from him? He suddenly understood completely how Zoey must have felt when she walked in on him and Rebecca kissing. Was that really what Logan and Zoey were doing when he walked in last night? But he felt like this had to be even worse.
Zoey had always hated Logan, maybe tolerated at best, and there was never any question why. Why would she go out with him? She refused to kiss him at the play, but she had also started to like him when they were practicing. But then he was a jerk again and she refused. But almost every time Logan and Zoey interacted Logan was almost always making her mad by being a jerk about one thing or another. When they started arguing on Chase and Michael's web show or how much of a jerk he was when the girls first started coming to PCA. And every time he jokingly asks if she wants to make out and Zoey always responded with utter disgust. How could that all change? Logan certainly hasn't changed, he still only cares about himself. Why would Zoey like him? Logan's Logan, and Zoey is perfect. It just doesn't make sense.
Zoey is way too smart to ever fall for one of Logan's tricks, and she's the nicest girl at PCA, Logan is like the opposite. Why did everyone have to be right?
Of course, Chase didn't believe Logan for a second until he heard the proof with his own ears. He had been praying for some other explanation but nope, everyone else was right. They are dating.
And what did Zoey mean by teaching her things? Chase didn't even want to think about what that could mean, but that wasn't stopping his traitorous brain from its wild imagination.
By this point he was lying face up on his bed, staring up at Logan's bunk above him. He slapped his forehead. "Stop stupid brain!" He told himself.
And Zoey sounded happy with him? How could he possibly make her happy? And if he did, did Chase ever stand a chance of being with her if he ever told her the truth? Obviously, if she didn't even want to tell him they were dating then he probably couldn't change her mind, or maybe she didn't want him to know so he couldn't tell her what a colossal mistake it would be. Which it totally was.
And how could Logan be dating Zoey? He never went out with a girl more than twice. Why would he be dating Zoey of all people? Yes, she was the most beautiful girl at PCA in Chase's totally biased opinion but it was Logan. The only person Logan had ever loved was himself.
He felt in his heart that this couldn't be true, but his brain was telling him otherwise. All his friends and even Zoey confirmed that it was true. But they still had their pact, that they wouldn't let boyfriends and girlfriends get in between their friendship. So the best thing he could do was talk to Zoey and try to move past this. They could still be best friends, he had to believe it.
He walked over to Zoey's room and entered with a knock on the door. Zoey, Lola, and Quinn were all here already., all drinking some Blix from their fridge.
"Hey." He greeted.
"Hey." They all greeted back.
"Listen Zo, sorry I freaked out on you back there. In the bush." Chase said, much quieter now.
"Yeah what was that about?"
"I just…" No Chase don't cry, he could hear his voice shaking, "I guess it's just kind of hard for me to understand why you would want to date a guy like Logan."
Zoey spat out her drink in surprise. "Date him? You think I'm dating Logan?" Zoey yelled.
"Well, yeah?" Chase asked, even more confused now.
"Yeah?" Lola asked.
"Aren't you?" Quinn questioned.
Zoey looked completely revolted, "No gross! Eww! Why would you think that?"
"Cause you guys have been sneaking around." Lola answered.
"And lying about it." Quinn added.
"And…Logan told me you were dating." Chase slowly admitted.
"I am not dating Logan Reese! He's tutoring me in chemistry!"
"Chemistry?" Chase asked, as his brain slowly turned this new information over.
"HA HA HA!" Lola and Quinn burst out laughing. "Logan? Logan Reese is tutoring you in chemistry? HA HA HA!"
"YES! I KNEW IT!" Chase shouted out. "OH THANK GOD! I knew there had to be some other explanation. I knew you would never date Logan I was right! That's why you said you had chemistry and he was teaching you stuff! Oh, Thank God, the Lord, the Force! Hah, I was right!" Chase was able to calm himself down a little seeing that now Zoey was looking at him like he was even more insane, and Quinn and Lola were sharing knowing smirks between themselves. "I mean…I was right, just wanted to make that clear."
"Yes it's true, the one thing he's good at is chemistry apparently. He really knows his stuff. What did you think I meant?"
"Um…trust me you don't want to know." Now it was Chase's turn to blush, "Just how you said it and he was acting like you were really dating. I'm sorry for doubting you."
"Cough, and freaking out. Cough." Lola fake coughed into her fist.
"What?" Zoey asked.
"Nothing." Chase denied, "I just knew it couldn't possibly be true, that's all." Glaring at Lola and Quinn's smirks behind her.
"I can't believe Logan said we were dating ugh." Zoey groaned again.
"You should get him back somehow." Quinn suggested.
"How can I do that?" Zoey asked.
Chase's eyes finally landed on the rat trapped on Zoey's bed. "Hey Quinn you finally caught your rat."
"No, I didn't. Zoey did." Quinn pouted.
"What about it?" Zoey asked.
"Let's just say I have an idea." Chase let out an evil grin. Logan was so going to pay.
Chase, Zoey, Quinn, Lola, and Michael were sitting out by the fountain, with plenty of Blix and snacks to wait for the show to start after their successful stealth mission.
"You put it in his pants?" Lola was laughing out loud along with everyone else.
"Yep." Chase answered.
"How long until he notices?" She asked.
"AHHH! AHHH!" Screams started coming from the guys' dorm and they could see Logan's shadow frantically running around the room.
"I think he noticed." Zoey laughed.
Everyone joined in as the show continued for a while.
"Forget chemistry I didn't know you could be such an evil genius." Zoey said, still laughing, leaning slightly against Chase's shoulder. "How did you think of that?"
"Well, Logan's already a rat for lying to me about my best friend, I figured he should have another one spend the night with him."
"So why didn't you just ask me? We had the agreement to pretend like nothing was going on but if you had asked me point blank I would have told you. Logan didn't want to be razzed for being a chemistry geek and I didn't want anyone to know Logan was tutoring me."
"Oh, yeah we're definitely making fun of him for it." Michael nodded.
"Well…to be perfectly honest, Michael and I found you hugging last night when we walked in on you. What was that?"
"I don't know? I must have tripped on something and if you had walked in at literally any other second we wouldn't have been anywhere close to each other. Believe me, I was only ever there for help on chemistry."
"Yeah, well then I talked to everyone else and they all thought you must be dating too, so I asked Logan, and he used you to trick me at the bush."
"Again, why didn't you just ask me?"
"I tried to, remember our would you rather game?"
"Oh yeah." Zoey thought back for a moment, "I still said I would never kiss Logan then too!"
"I know, but Logan just told me you wouldn't want to tell me to my face so he acted like you two were dating by the bush. I was just in denial because I know you would never actually date Logan, but I couldn't come up with any alternatives, so I decided to follow our pact. I will always be your friend."
"I know Chase. I guess it would make sense if there was a girl version of Logan and our roles were reversed and you weren't acting like yourself I would be confused and upset too. Because despite your perfect evil plan, you are way too sweet to lie like Logan did."
"I never want to lie to you Zo, well, except, I…hey where did everyone else go?" Chase looked around seemed like everyone else deserted them, and neither of them had even noticed.
"I don't know, well Logan isn't screaming anymore so the rat must have left."
"One of the rats you mean."
"Of course." Zoey smiled.
"Um…want me to walk you back to your room? I don't really want to sleep in a room with a rat crawling around. I should have thought of that earlier." Chase chuckled.
"Sure." They both stood up and made their way back to the girls' dorm.
Chase thought for a few minutes as they walked and then he made his decision. "Hey Zoey, you know how you said I wouldn't lie like Logan did?"
"Yeah…" Zoey asked inquisitively.
"Well, not that I lied to you, but there is something I've been keeping from you."
"What is it?" This got Zoey to stop in her tracks and she turned to face him.
"I really like you, and before you say anything else. As more than just my best friend, I'm in love with you. That's really why I was so freaked out at the bush. Both because you and Logan make zero sense dating and because I lost my chance to ever tell you how I feel."
"Do you mean it?"
"More than anything. I love you Zoey." Chase reached out and gently held her cheek.
"I love you too Chase." Zoey smiled back.
"You do?"
"Why wouldn't I? I know we've always been friends, but literally no one makes me feel the way you do. I think it could be love, I just never realized it before…wait a minute. Is that what happened with my Tekmate at Spring Break?"
"Um…yes. Michael was telling me I should just tell you I love you but I was against that because it would ruin our friendship, and I sent you that message by mistake, so then I was freaked out and everything happened, and I was going to tell you at the fountain. I swear, but we were interrupted and you never brought it up again."
"Yeah, cause we only had a week left and we were so busy and I was just happy to be friends again. Then I tried to distract myself all summer and then Lola and Quinn tried to tell me I was completely oblivious to you loving me, but then I walked in on you and Rebecca and I really believed we were just friends. But I am happy you finally told me."
"Then Zoey, how about tomorrow, we catch a movie? I promise no rats, and no chemistry."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, I think we have plenty of chemistry."
"I do too, just don't check my grades."
"Maybe now that Logan's taught me everything I can start tutoring you."
"Sure, I bet we can have much more fun than you had with Logan."
"Oh I guarantee it, I can actually stand you for one, and I would actually kiss you."
"You would?" Chase asked, surprised and suddenly nervous once again.
Zoey leaned closer to demonstrate,, her lips pressed against his, it lasted for only a moment, but it was the new greatest 5 seconds of Chase's life.
"Hey, you know what would be fun?" Chase asked after his brain rebooted from the kiss.
"What?"
"How about we really go to that yoga movie? Both you and Logan said it's really good." Chase smiled sincerely.
"Oh, it was." Zoey laughed, rolling her eyes slightly. "I'm sorry I ever made you think I would date a pig like Logan, you are so much better in literally every way, except chemistry, dancing, and walking upstairs."
"What are you talking about?" Chase asked, right before he tripped on the stairs so that Zoey had to catch him. "OK, I get it." Chase laughed as he glanced up at Zoey's laughter-filled smile.
"But you have the most important thing, a great heart." Zoey said, placing her hand on his chest as they arrived at the door to her building.
"And it only beats for you. I love you Zoey. Goodnight."
"I love you too Chase. Goodnight."
They shared one more hug before Chase started walking back to his dorm.
Michael jumped out of some bushes as he was walking past.
"AHH! What are you doing?"
"Did you have a good time with Zoey?"
"Yeah, it's Zoey, when do I not have a good time?" Chase tried to be a bit evasive and was careful to control his smile.
"Come on, we all left you two alone for a reason, this would have been your chance. Especially with how freaked out you were the past day and a half."
"Dude, forget it, it's not happening. We're just friends."
"Oh really?"
Chase's calm façade broke down. "OK no, I finally told her! And she said she loves me too!"
Michael clapped him on the back. "Great now that's Zoey's your girlfriend, I can be your best friend again!"
"Dude you've always been my number one best friend."
"Yeah, I'm sure, but now that Zoey is your girlfriend, it's finally official again."
"Hey, we also promised to not let boyfriends and girlfriends ruin our friendship, so she is still my girl best friend, and also my girlfriend." Chase said proudly.
"Whatever, do you think Logan got rid of the rat somewhere? I sure hope so. That was the most hilarious thing I've seen in forever, but I don't want anything nibbling my potato chips."
"Want to see if we can stay with the girls instead?" Chase suggested.
"What? You want to spend the night with Zoey already?"
"No! Not like that! Dude!" Chase denied, blushing scarlet.
"I'm joking but let's just go back to our room, and if nothing else we can go crash with Dustin or Del Figalo or literally anyone else."
Michael clapped him on the back once more as they walked back to the dorm together. Confusion had given way to the greatest happiness and sense of relief that Chase had ever felt. He couldn't wait to see Zoey tomorrow, and spend as much time as possible with her, as her boyfriend, and with her as his girlfriend.