New Roomies

They had been back to school at PCA for about a week, and Chase was happy to be back. As much as he missed seeing Logan, Michael, and the rest of his friends over winter break, he never would have imagined just how awesome it was to have girls at PCA for the first time ever. Alright, if Chase was honest with himself, it was mostly one girl in particular.

Zoey Brooks, he had only met her a week ago, and she was quickly becoming one of his best friends. She was funny, kind, fun to be around, and super creative. She told him how she had redecorated their bathroom to suit the girls more, and he just thought that the whole problem was hilarious in itself. Plus how she stood up to Logan and almost led the girls to beating the guys in a basketball game. That just made Chase like her even more, anyone who could take Logan down a peg was automatically a saint in Chase's book. Logan had been one of his best friends for years, but he knew he could be a jerk sometimes.

Chase didn't understand why Logan wanted to be a jerk to all the girls, as much as he claimed to be a chick magnet, the last two and a half years at PCA had been guys only. Why he would do something to make all the girls mad at him seemed counterproductive.

Anyhow, back to Zoey, move-in day had been going great, he hadn't been able to claim the single bed before Michael got to the room, but he was fine with the bunk bed, he unpacked all his stuff then decided to ride his bike around campus, little did he know that decision would change his life.

When she got out of her dad's car, he saw her standing there. He rode his bike into that stupid flagpole. He was in love with her before he hit the ground.

Then she came up to him and he awkwardly introduced himself, dazzled both from hitting his head, thankfully he had his helmet and bushy hair to protect him, but also tongue-tied just looking into her eyes.

Thankfully she didn't seem to notice the effect she had on him, and the tour he gave as he led her to her dorm room went off without any problems, the more he got to know her, the more he felt something he never felt before. Like the only thing he wanted was to make her smile, and his life would be complete.

They had hung out a lot so far, if he wasn't with Michael he was probably with Zoey, eating lunch, playing foosball, studying, somehow they ended up with the exact same schedule other than one class, so he got to see her almost the entire day, and they always had an excuse to hang out if they really needed it.

Right now they were playing foosball in the lounge, Yesterday, Zoey had moved in with Quinn to try to get away from her constantly fighting roommates. But it sounded like Quinn wasn't much better.

"She attached wires to your head?" Chase asked for clarification.

"Yes, and other places."

"Wow, um maybe you should move back in with Dana and Nicole, maybe they miss you."

"Naw, they don't want me back." Zoey rolled her eyes, "Guess I'm stuck with Quinn and her Quinnventions."

"Quinnventions?"

'Yeah, she combined her name with the word invention."

"Ah. So she's Quinnsane?" Chase joked.

"Exactly," Zoey laughed. "Hey, do you want to see a movie this Friday night?"

Well, this got Chase into emergency mode. Was Zoey asking him out? "Me?" he asked, "Uh sure, totally."

"Cool, cause I just need to hang with a normal friend for a while."

Friend. Right, of course, so not a date, just hanging out as friends. "Hey, Normal's my middle name…actually it's Bartholomew…Don't tell people."

Zoey pointed behind Chase and looked shocked. "Woah, look at that huge hamster!"

"What?" Chase glanced behind him but heard the smack of the foosball ball as Zoey sent it into the goal.

"Ha, you lose!"

"You know one day there really is going to be a huge hamster behind me and I'm not gonna look and you're going to be really sorry," Chase warned her, who was shaking in silent laughter at his dramatics. "Come on, rematch."

"Can't, gotta go to class. See you." Zoey turned around and grabbed her bag.

"Later." Chase waved as she walked out of the lounge, thinking about the possibilities that going to the movies with Zoey could turn into, but also debating with himself that it was too soon and he should enjoy being her friend first and get to know her more.

Later that day Chase went back to his room, when he got there Logan and Michael were watching TV.

"Sup Chase?" Michael asked.

"Hey, what's up guys?" Chase opened the fridge to grab a Blix.

"One over here!" Logan called out, so Chase tossed him a Blix and grabbed another for himself.

"Hey, are you going with us to the game on Friday night?" Michael asked.

"No I can't, I'm catching a movie on campus." Chase tried to hide his grin, but his face felt like he was probably failing.

"Who with?" Logan asked.

"Zoey." Chase answered, still smiling but keeping his voice even.

"Awe, your little girlfriend." Logan teased him.

"Dude, she's not my girlfriend, we're just hanging out cause she's fighting with her roommates."

"Oh, that's bad." Michael shook his head.

"No, that's good." Logan corrected him.

"Why?"

"Cause dude, if she's fighting with them, she'll have more time to hang with you."

"Dude, that's sick, who thinks like that?"

"You know you like her."

"Look, Zoey's my friend." Chase tried to deny it.

"Well, if you want to make sure you can keep hanging with your friend, you better make sure she keeps fighting with her roommates." Logan warned him.

"Will you stop?" Chase asked.

"Cause the second she makes up with them, it's bye, bye Chase. You know I'm right."

"Michael, what do you think?"

"Well, I don't think Logan is completely right, but he also sort of is. If she does keep fighting with her roommates she will have more time to spend with you, but I don't think she'd abandon you just because they make up again. But good luck man, if you do like her, have fun on your date."

"It's not a date. Friends remember?"

"Sure, well good luck, but she refused to make out with me for some reason, so I can't imagine you'll have much luck. But if you want more advice you know where to find me."

"Yeah, sure, I'll get right on that." Chase shook his head and sat down next to Michael to watch TV with them for a while, but still all his thoughts were on Zoey. He knew Zoey hadn't asked him out on a date, they were just friends. Was he really that obvious that Michael and even Logan already knew about his crush? Did Zoey know? He doubted it. And he doubted it was even possible that she felt the same way he did. It was like she said, she needed a friend to hang out with and all her other friends were driving her crazy right now, so she picked him. No romance was involved at all, but as much as he told himself he was cool with that, he couldn't lie to himself and say he didn't want more.

Chase was standing outside the theater on Friday evening, the last few days he had thought about Logan's advice, some of it at least, he had still been spending plenty of time with Zoey, but he didn't do anything to encourage more fighting. He gave his advice whenever she asked for it, but she hadn't mentioned anything today when he saw her in class so he didn't know what the current roommate situation was.

The part of Logan's advice Chase was thinking about was, that even though this started out as hanging between friends, maybe it could be more. Chase would love to have a real date with Zoey, but he already didn't want to do anything to mess up the awesome friendship they were building. He had bought a rose to give to her, but he kept arguing with himself over whether it would be a mistake or not to try to turn this into a date.

"Sup Chase?" He heard Michael walking up behind him

"Um, hey." Chase said nervously, trying to hide the rose behind his back.

"Who's the rose for?" Michael asked.

"Oh what this? Um, alright you caught me, its for you." Chase held it out to Michael.

"Thanks." Michael took the rose from his hand, but then handed it back after giving it a sniff. "How about you give it to Zoey instead?"

"Hey, there's an idea. Look, don't tell Logan alright?"

"No worries man. Hey, good luck." Michael patted him on the shoulder before walking away.

"Later." Chase waved.

"Chase!" Moments later Zoey walked up behind him so he turned around and once again hid the rose behind his back.

"Hey, wow! You uh, you look great." Chase said honestly, she always looked great but if he wanted this, it couldn't hurt to turn on the charm.

"Thanks, you look great too." Zoey smiled back.

"Thanks I got you something-"

"I got the gummy worm blues-" Someone was singing off in the distance.

"What's that?" Zoey asked turning around towards the sound of a guitar. They both followed the noise to find Dustin playing a guitar and singing a song about gummy worms for money.

"Dustin? What are you doing?"

"Making money, nothing else has worked."

"Let me guess, you only know about two sentences of Spanish Senorita Dustin?"

"Yeah, guess not my best idea."

"Well, here you go," Zoey put five dollars in the guitar case. "Just don't spend it all on gummy worms again. Come on Chase."

"Yeah, just wait a second." Chase thought for a moment, they were just friends hanging out, giving her a rose would just be weird, plus where would she put it if they had to sit and watch a movie for the next hour and a half? Chase threw his rose into Dustin's guitar case, maybe he could get some better use out of it.

"So, are Dana and Nicole still trying to kill each other, and you?"

"No, we made up, and I think we found solutions to all our problems. One of Quinn's Quinnventions is a silent leaf blower, so now Nicole can dry her hair without waking up Dana. And we made a big screen of a neatly made bed that we can pull down in front of Dana's bunk so at least it looks clean and Nicole and I don't need to look at her mess.

"Cool, honestly, Logan could probably use both of those, he takes forever to get ready in the morning cause his hair has to look perfect, and also, just between you and me, Logan has never lived without maids and butlers cleaning up after him, which unfortunately means me and Michael get stuck picking up his messes."

"Knowing him, I'd believe it." Zoey laughed.

"So what was their problem with you again? You're perfect. I mean…" Once again Chase had to stop himself from saying too much.

"That I always forget my key, but I solved that too. See?" Zoey held up the silver chain around her neck.

Chase leaned closer to look, with some nervousness because this felt like a trap, but his eyes caught the pink and white painted key Zoey was now wearing as a necklace.

"Wow, fashionable, and practical." Chase turned his head back to her face to make sure he wasn't caught staring at anything he shouldn't be.

"Thanks, now I'll always have it with me. So no more roommate problems."

"So where are Dana and Nicole?"

"I invited them to join us, but they both said they already had plans tonight. Nicole is going to the game to look at cute boys and Dana said she has a date with her pillow now that she can finally catch up on sleep. Plus they said they didn't want to get between us when I said I was going with you, whatever that means."

"Oh, that's too bad, but we can have fun just the two of us right?"

"Of course, I always have fun with you. You've literally been the only one keeping me sane this week."

"Well, if you ever need more help with roommates or a better place to crash our room is always open."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure Logan would really appreciate that."

"Good point, like I said, I have a difficult roommate too. Michael's cool though."

"I know, both of you are cool. Now let's get our tickets and popcorn already."

"Yes, Ma'am." Chase followed her along as they entered, got their tickets, and a large bag of popcorn plus two Blix's to drink. When they sat down to the theater, they happily ate their popcorn and joked with each other about the different ads playing. By the time the movie started the theater was about half full so they still had plenty of space and were constantly telling each other jokes about the movie that only they could hear. The movie was funny enough on its own, but the two of them made it absolutely hilarious to watch together.

About halfway through, they had settled into a comfortable silence for the moment, they may or may not have gotten a few shushes from the other viewers, but they were both enjoying their time together, but Chase kept arguing with himself, he knew what he wanted to do, he wanted to show Zoey how much she meant to him, and he may have chickened out earlier, but he still wanted to do something that could maybe turn this into more than hanging out as friends.

Then inspiration struck, onscreen the leading guy did the classic yawn and stretched his arm around his love interest's shoulders, even though they weren't officially together yet. Chase knew it was cliché but he didn't have any other ideas, he certainly couldn't just grab Zoey's hand or worse yet kiss her out of the blue, this seemed like the safest bet, but he had to do this right. Zoey was smart, if he did it, he'd have to be committed, because she would see through any excuses he could try to make in a heartbeat.

But did he want to risk it? He didn't want her to think he was Logan, who only hung out with girls to try to make out with them. They were already super close friends, he hadn't felt so connected so quickly to another person since he met Michael two years ago. Did he want to risk breaking what was already becoming one of his greatest friendships?

He wanted more, he wanted so much more, but if he wasn't careful, he could end up with nothing. Chase fought back and forth so much that he missed Zoey's latest whispered joke about the movie.

"Chase?"

"Oh, yeah, what is it Zoe?" He turned to her.

"I know it's snowing in New York, but do they need to keep this place so cold? I feel like I'm freezing more than the actors are." Zoey smiled and whispered, making herself shiver a bit.

"Yeah, it is a bit chilly." Chase agreed, then he realized, this could be his chance. He slid the armrest up that was previously dividing them, then moved over, and threw his arm over her shoulder. "Want me to keep you warm?" He tried to make his voice calm and confident, even though he was bursting with every emotion you could think of on the inside, mostly heart-pounding fear that he had just made the worst mistake of his life.

"Alright, Thanks Chase." Zoey said happily. To Chase's utter shock and delight, she moved closer to him so her head was resting against his shoulder, and Chase suddenly wanted the movie to last as long as humanly possible if it meant they could stay like this forever.

He thought he did a good job keeping his wits about him on the outside at least. They continued their friendly banter about the movie but now whispered directly into the other's ear while they stayed connected. When the movie finally ended, both of them were still smiling and laughing together.

The lights of the theater turned back on, signaling it was time to leave, but Chase didn't want to make the first move to get up. They just kept joking and laughing together, making fun of any weird or funny names that showed up in the credits as the theater slowly emptied around them.

"Well, looks like everyone else is gone." Zoey said, finally moving her head away from Chase's shoulder and standing up.

"Yeah, it looks like it is." Chase stood up beside her. They slowly walked out side by side. All Chase could think about was how he didn't want the night to end yet, and of course, still debating internally if he should tell her how he really felt. He was hyper-aware that her hand was swaying just a few inches away from his own, but he couldn't just grab it, no matter how much he wanted to.

They exited the building, mostly alone other than a few other late-night moviegoers heading back to their dorms.

"Well, it looks like it's getting pretty late." Zoey said, glancing at the rising moon and stars up above, it was just after sunset, the blue sky gradually shifting to indigo across the horizon, lit by millions of pinpricks of light.

"Do you want me to walk you to your dorm?" Chase asked.

"You don't have to do that."

"You're right, I don't have to but I want to, just call it an excuse to spend some more time with you."

"Alright, you shouldn't have to worry about my dorm advisor and the curfew. When I told her I was moving back in with Dana and Nicole she seemed more excited about her awesome date with her boyfriend Carl."

"So what are they doing?'

"I don't know, she was eating ravioli while I was talking to her, all I could understand was date with Carl."

"That's…interesting."

"Yep, that's Coco." Zoey nodded.

"So besides Logan and your roommate problems, how have your first two weeks at PCA been?"

"The time of my life. It's so much fun here, feeling the sun and seeing the ocean every day is just awesome. Basketball practice has been fun so far. Even though Logan's there."

"But from what I've seen Dana doesn't let him get away with anything. Which I think is great, Logan needs to be taken down a few notches, if anyone argues with him about anything he always just throws his money in their face."

"Yeah except for asking me to go make out with him at the beginning of every practice. What a pig. But of course, since you're there it balances out."

"I'm glad you two are on the team, if Dana had played the first half I know you girls would have kicked our butts last week."

"It doesn't really matter, we proved our point that girls belong at PCA too."

"No argument from me, I think it's great that you're here. All the girls are here I mean, but you too especially. I mean." Chase rambled nervously fighting against himself to say too much or not.

"Oh I'm sure, let me guess you already found a girl you like?" Zoey teased him.

"Well…" Chase debated with himself. Should I? Sure it's worth a shot, let's see where this goes. "Actually I have met one girl, that I do really like."

"Ooh as in, like-like?" Zoey asked, smiling mischievously.

"Umm, yeah, like-like." Chase smiled, his cheeks flushing.

"Can I guess? I already know pretty much all the girls in my dorm. Is she in my dorm?"

"You know what? Sure, guess away. And yes, she does live in your dorm hall."

"Alright, you have to give me some hints though."

"Well, she's a lot of fun to be around, really funny, but also from what I've seen so far, she never backs down from a challenge."

"Hmm, wait a minute! Is it Dana? Do you like Dana?"

"No, not like that, totally honest she seems cool, but she scares me."

"Yeah, she scares me a little too." Zoey admitted, "but it really isn't Dana?"

"No, it is not."

"Have you been spending lots of time with her?"

"Yeah, we've hung out every day this week, and every time has been a blast."

"So when did you meet her?"

"Move-in day."

"Well, jeez, that narrows it down." Zoey rolled her eyes. "Give me more details, what does she look like? Favorite color or anything?"

"Um, well, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, I fell for her the moment I saw her. She has the prettiest brown eyes that I can just get lost in, and blonde hair that perfectly frames her face. I don't know her favorite color for sure yet, or anything, but I would assume pink. Not because she's a girl, but she seems to have lots of pink things." Chase couldn't stop himself from glancing down at Zoey's key necklace as he finished.

Zoey didn't seem to notice his downward glances as she scratched her chin, thinking. Who has brown eyes and blonde hair besides me? "Is it Jeanie? She's been fun to be around so far, have you been hanging out with her?"

"No it's not Jeanie."

"Sam?"

"No."

"Addison?"

"No."

"Well, then I don't know, who has blonde hair and brown eyes other than me? Is she in lots of our classes with us, because usually when we hung out this week it was just us, so who else do you hang out with?"

Chase waited with bated breath as Zoey got so close to cracking the truth, but she moved right on past it. Does that mean she just sees him as a friend so much that she couldn't even imagine it was her?

"Do you give up? Do you want more hints?"

"I'm still thinking, but I will figure this out." Zoey promised him. "So are you going to ask her out or anything?"

"I want to, really I do, but we've also gotten to be such great friends, I don't want to risk ruining that. Even though I've only known her for two weeks, I can't imagine not seeing her every day."

"I think you should Chase, why wouldn't a girl go out with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're fun to hang out with, you tell the best jokes, and your hair is bushy and super cute."

"You think I'm cute?"

"Yeah, should I not? You look great Chase, even when falling off your bike and bleeding." Zoey patted his bushy head.

"Sorry, usually I just hang out with Michael and Logan and I don't think they've ever called me cute."

"I guess that makes sense since guys always have to be manly cavemen right? Nicole and I always compliment each other on our clothes and hair."

"Yeah, I definitely don't do that with my roommates, but I do have to agree with Nicole then, you're beautiful."

"Thanks Chase."

They walked along in silence for a few minutes, Zoey still seemed to be thinking over who his secret crush could be, but the longer it was taking her to realize, the more scared he was. So he tried to change the subject.

"So, are you crushing on anyone right now?"

"No, well, I guess, sort of, I don't know maybe." In the growing darkness, Chase couldn't see her blush. "There is one guy that I met that's been super great every time we hang out, but I don't think he likes me like that. I'm sure he just wants to be friends."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, he's never done anything to show that he may like-like me, plus you know we've only been here two weeks. But every time I see him, it just makes me happy."

"Oh, yeah I get that." Chase sighed, trying to hide his disappointment. Of course, she already likes someone else. I don't have any chance at all then, this was never going to turn into a date, was it. "So who is he? Maybe I know him."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure you know him." Zoey revealed.

"As long as it isn't Logan right?"

"God no! I would never date a pig like Logan. Yuck!"

"OK, Michael?"

"No, but he does live in your dorm."

"Hmm, Glenn?"

"No."

"Lance?"

"No."

"So can I have more hints?"

"We've already gotten super close these last two weeks, I've been complaining to him about all my roommate problems and he did his best to offer solutions, even though none of them really worked."

Who else has she been hanging out with besides me? I know we spend lots of time together but it isn't every second of the day, but she said I was the only one keeping her sane this week. Who else could it be? It doesn't matter, all this means is that I don't have a chance with her. I'm firmly in the friend zone, no matter what I do.

Chase kept wracking his brain for any time he saw Zoey hanging out with another guy, but he literally couldn't think of anyone else. Until he started replaying her words in his head, and his heart once again started beating with hope filling his chest, maybe just maybe could it be...?

Zoey had been walking along beside him, and when they reached the fountain in the middle of campus they both turned to each other and shouted eyes wide.

"Wait a minute! Is it me?" They both asked each other simultaneously. Both of their eyes widened in disbelief, shock, and surprise as they realized what the other had said.

"I know I'm probably stupid but are you talking about me? Do you like me Zoey?" He didn't think his heart could beat any faster than it had been tonight already, but he was being proven wrong as he waited for her answer.

"Um…yes I do like you Chase, there's just something about you, I can't ignore it, but whenever I'm with you, you make me happy. Do you like me?"

"Yes, I do, from the moment I saw first saw you, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I really, really, like you. And I mean as much more than just friends."

"So…if you like me…"

"I do, and if you like me…Zoey, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes Chase, I would like that, a lot." Zoey grabbed his hand. "So did you mean all those things you said about me?"

"Every word, and so much more, I was just so scared of scaring you away or making you think I was a pig like Logan. You are beautiful Zoey, but it's what's inside of you that I love so much more."

"I know you aren't Logan, I never thought that for a second, and I know you Chase Bartholomew" Zoey smiled when she teased him about his name, "you are one of the nicest and sweetest guys I have ever met, and I can't wait to learn everything about you."

"Trust me I feel the exact same way." Chase replied.

They continued on their way back to Zoey's dorm, now hand in hand. When they finally made it back, Zoey took her key off her necklace and unlocked her door, pulling Chase inside with her, where both Dana and Nicole were sitting on their couch, watching TV.

"Hey guys." Zoey greeted.

"Hey Zoe." Nicole glanced at them for a moment, then turned back to the TV, before her head shot back to study them closely. "OMG! Are you two holding hands?"

"Yeah, we are." Zoey said.

"Are you dating?" Nicole demanded.

"Yeah, now we are." Chase smiled at Zoey.

"Hah! I knew it. Dana, you owe me five bucks!"

"Fine, you were right." Dana sighed, standing up to pull a $5 bill out of her dresser.

"Right about what?" Zoey asked.

"That you and Chase going to the movies was a date. I mean, I wasn't one hundred percent sure since you tried to invite us to come along, but see, I was right."

"It wasn't a date, we decided to start dating after the movie was over. What makes you think it was a date?" Zoey asked.

"Well, A Chase is so obvious, B I know we haven't been talking much this week, but I know you were spending all your time with him, then C you were going to a movie with him. How would it not be a date?"

"Well, it wasn't but we have everything out in the open now. That's all that matters." Chase said.

"So you were wrong, which means I get to keep my money." Dana declared.

"No, I was right because it did turn into a date. You owe me five bucks."

"No, I don't!"

"Yes, you do!"

"Oh boy, you better get out of here while you still can." Zoey whispered in Chase's ear as Nicole and Dana started arguing, again.

"You sure you don't want to come to my room tonight?" Chase joked.

"I'm sure. See you tomorrow Chase. We should go on a real first date."

"I would love to. I'll see you tomorrow, but if anyone kills each other tonight, call me and I'll help you hide the body."

"Oh, I will. Goodnight Chase." Zoey gave him a hug that was officially one of the best things that had ever happened to Chase.

"Goodnight Zoey." Chase walked out the door with a smile on his face, even though he could still hear the arguing in Room 101 all the way down the hall, nothing would be able to change his mood. This night had gone better than he had ever expected, and he couldn't wait to see what the rest of the semester would bring.