Prank Week
Zoey was trying to pack her things. After pranking the boys back by dressing the statue of Mr. Bradford in front of their dorm in women's clothes, Mr. Bradford had wanted to return PCA to being a boys-only school. Zoey didn't want all her friends to be punished so she had taken the blame for everything instead of all the girls. So now she was the only one being expelled.
She was trying to pack, but Nicole kept pulling her clothes out of her suitcase begging Zoey to think of something that could fix everything. But Zoey was all out of ideas. Nicole had cried herself out so that she couldn't cry anymore no matter how much she wanted to. Dana may not be as emotional as Nicole, but Zoey could tell despite all the arguments the three of them had had, Zoey knew she didn't want to see her go either. Zoey was going to miss her roommates and all the rest of her friends.
Her friend Sarah called her down to the lounge to reveal the rest of the girls and a cake to thank her for everything she had done for them and to try to have one last fun night as a going-away party since she had to leave the next morning.
Zoey was hugging everyone while fighting back tears. She didn't want to leave PCA, but she wouldn't back out even if she could. She would gladly sacrifice herself if it meant everyone else could stay.
The guys, aka their prank war opponents, walked in led by Chase, Michael, and Logan.
"Sup?" Chase asked.
Zoey walked back through the pack of girls surrounding her so she could see everyone. "Just sort of saying goodbye."
"Listen Zoey, we, we feel kind of bad because the whole prank week thing kind of got out of hand. And you know, we didn't know anybody would um…Listen we didn't want you to…you know what I'm saying?" Chase could barely get the words out, all he could think about was how this would be the last 24 hours he would ever see Zoey again.
"You don't even know what you're saying." Michael told him. He then turned to Zoey, who unnoticed by everyone else had a small smile on her face at Chase's apology attempt.
"Look Zoey, we just came here to say that we think it stinks that you have to leave. And we got you something." Michael held out a green gift bag and passed it to Zoey.
She dug through the tissue paper, "Awwe, it's a bunny with a PCA shirt on it." She smiled at the guys in gratitude.
"Chase picked it out." Logan informed everyone.
"OK, why do you tell people?" Chase whined.
"Well at least I know I don't have to worry about any hidden cameras, Logan." She shot him a pointed look. And then sent Chase a smile that warmed his heart just as much as always.
"You know this is your last chance to make out with me. I know plenty of places we can get some privacy if you want."
"Yeah, no thanks."
"Come on let's eat some Zowie cake." Sarah offered instead.
As everyone started taking pieces of cake Michael started whispering to Chase, both of them holding themselves back. "Come on man."
"What?"
"You know what." Michael turned his head to glance at Zoey. "Zoey's leaving tomorrow and if you don't tell her how you feel now…that's it. Last chance."
"Yeah, I don't know-"Chase started to give his excuses for why he couldn't tell Zoey he loved her like always, but Michael shoved him in her direction making him stumble his way up to her.
"Hey," Chase awkwardly waved at Zoey since he was suddenly right in front of her.
"Hey." She said back.
"Listen, Zoey, um." Chase lightly grabbed her shoulders and steered her away from everyone else. "I just wanted to say that I think it's been really cool getting to know you and hanging out with you and stuff. And playing foosball and seeing movies and doing homework together, and I kind of wanted to say something." While he continued to ramble nervously Zoey had a smile on her face, a little confused, but that was no surprise, he barely knew where he was going with this. "Would this be a good time?" He asked her.
"Well, yeah, I'm standing right here." Zoey smiled at him, giggling a little bit, and shaking her head.
"Yeah, yeah, there you are, right." Chase's nerves were rising so he couldn't look her in the eye, no matter how much he wanted to. "Right there."
"Hi."
"Hi." Chase awkwardly waved, again. His palms felt so sweaty, he kept wiping them off on his jeans. "So what I wanted to say was…Zoey I really like you, and you've been one of my best friends from the moment we met."
"I know. You're the best guy friend I've ever had." Zoey nodded.
"Right, and you're my best girlfriend. I mean girl best friend. Not girlfriend. But there's something I've been too scared to tell you but now you're leaving…"
Zoey was silent, just patiently waiting for Chase to finish whatever he was trying to say.
"And I look, I just want to say, I really like you. As more than just friends, but I never wanted to ruin our friendship because its been so great, but now you're leaving. And I know we may never see each other again which I can't even imagine in my worst nightmare, but… I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know."
"Chase, I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, I never expected you to like me back in that way." Chase looked down at the floor.
"No Chase, I'm sorry, but I'm so sorry. I think I feel the same way about you, but I'm leaving tomorrow."
"I know, wait did you say you like me too?" Chase raised his head back up to meet her sparkling brown eyes.
"Yes I did, Fuzzyhead. You're always there for me and we always have the most fun when its just the two of us together. You always make me happy, well except for when you were fighting a prank war against me." Zoey let out a halfhearted chuckle. "I like you too, as more then friends, but I'm sorry. As much as I want to, our time is up. I have to leave PCA tomorrow. I don't have a choice. I'm so sorry Chase, I would like to be with you, but we can't."
"Well, don't you want to try? We can do long-distance or something? Sorry, I know I should know this but where do you live again? Is it near Baltimore so we can see each other in the summers instead? And we can talk over the phone and go on dates over webcam, and-"
"Chase, no, I'm sorry. But I don't think that will work. I live in Louisiana, which for all intents and purposes might as well be England or Timbuktu. I don't want to leave you, or PCA, but this is where we are. I can't get us out of this mess this time."
"I understand, I guess."
"Hey, we can still talk and text each other every day. We can still be best friends, but I don't think it would work out if we tried to be boyfriend and girlfriend with hundreds of miles separating us."
"I get that." Chase sighed.
"You know what? I'm going to miss you the most." Zoey stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug around his torso. Chase automatically snaked his arms around her waist, holding her just as close.
"I'm going to miss you so much." Chase squeezed her tighter, and when they looked up at each other, they both had tears in their eyes.
"Hey, you can still have fun with Michael and Logan. Play foosball, and basketball. Make sure Logan's head doesn't get too big for his body and you can keep making your cartoons with Michael."
"I know, but PCA will never be the same without you here, and what will you be doing?"
"I guess I'll just be back at my old school and living with my parents again. Whoo! Go tigers. And I'll see some of my old friends again…like Bailey, Carly, Addison…Don't worry I'll still be alright. And I'll be able to show them PCA games like Confess or Stress, and Would You Rather, not that I would ever want to play that with anyone but you."
"Come on Zoey, we can think of something if we work together on this. When has anything ever stopped us when we all work together?"
"No Chase, because if I don't leave then all the girls have to leave. I hate it and it sucks and I think Mr. Bradford is a sexist idiot with a boatload of daddy issues, but this is where we are, and there's nothing we can do. This has to be goodbye Chase. I'm sorry, this is the hardest thing I've ever done, but can you just let me go? You can find someone else for you, I know you can. I can't say yes when I know we have to say goodbye tomorrow."
"No girl here will ever compare to you, Zoey. Just, just don't leave tomorrow until I can say goodbye for real, because I…I don't want to let you go yet." Chase still couldn't help himself from squeezing her tighter, as if he never let go she would never have to leave.
"I won't leave without telling you goodbye Chase, I promise. Now enough tears." She insisted, taking a step away from him and drying her tears, "let's, let's have some cake before everyone else eats it all."
"Whatever you want." Chase followed her back to the cake, no one else seemed to notice their private moment besides Michael, who shot him an excited grin before reading Chase's depressed expression that he tried to force into a smile for Zoey's sake.
That night there were several sleepless students lying awake in bed long past midnight.
Zoey's mind was a whirlwind of all the amazing memories she had made already at PCA, thinking about all her friends, and how much she would be missing them. But most of all Chase. He really was her best friend, maybe even more so than Nicole. They always told each other everything and played games and helped each other study. Chase had helped make PCA her home from the moment he ran into the flagpole. Something between them had clicked immediately and before she knew it, Chase had become her favorite person in the entire world. No one could make her laugh like he could, and he was always ready to drop everything and help her at the drop of a hat. She had been wrestling with her feelings for a while, trying to decide whether she saw him as a friend or something more.
He was cute and sweet, and kind. Yet humble, almost like he didn't expect her to think every idea he came up with had so much more behind it. The entire time though, she had always been convinced he only saw her as a friend. And she had been alright with that, and earlier in the day when she made her decision, she had always known the hardest one to break the news to would be Chase. She had plenty of friends in her hometown at her old school in Louisiana, but even though they had only known each other for a few months, it already felt like forever.
Even though her head was still swirling full of all her thoughts and memories she did eventually manage to sleep for her last night at PCA.
A few buildings away in the guys' dorm. Chase was just as restless while he tossed and turned in his bunk. He had always imagined that the worst-case scenario when he finally told Zoey the truth would be that she would say she didn't love him back, and never speak to him again. Oh no, this was much worse. She said she liked him too, but that it was too late and since they would probably never see each other again, they couldn't be together. Unfortunately, no matter how much he hated that she was just as right as she always was, he knew he had to learn to accept it.
But could he live without Zoey here? The last two years of school here didn't even compare since the day he met her. Chase knew he had Logan and Michael, and he was still friends with Quinn, Dana, and Nicole, but without Zoey, who would he study and joke around and just talk and talk about anything and everything? No one will ever know him the way Zoey knew him. They always knew how to cheer each other up when they were down or struggling with any problems, from roommate issues, bullies, or Logan, nothing could stop them when they worked together. Chase would follow Zoey to the ends of the earth if she asked him too, but he knew he couldn't just move to Louisiana with her. He could just imagine that conversation with his parents.
Unless one of Quinn's Quinnventions could erase memories, Chase had no clue how to fix this mess, and for once Zoey wasn't looking for a better solution. He sighed quietly to himself once again.
"Hey, will you cut that out?"
"I'm sorry Logan, I'll try to go to sleep."
"Let me guess thinking about your little girlfriend?" He teased.
"She isn't my girlfriend Logan, and now she never will be."
"I know it sucks, she's never made out with me yet either, and to be totally honest, with her and Dana on the team, we're dominating basketball."
"Oh yes, those are exactly the reasons I want her to stay." Chase shot back sarcastically.
"Hey do you want my help or not?"
"Help with what?" Chase asked.
"Zoey, duh."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure you have something that can keep Zoey at PCA when Zoey can't even think of anything that will let her stay without Mr. Bradford kicking out all the girls instead. She's convinced she has to be the tribute to keep everyone else here. And you know she'll never go along with anything you suggest."
"I'll ask again, do you want my help or not?"
"Fine, what do you have in mind? And this better not involve you making out with Zoey, because despite what you might think that won't solve anything."
"Fine, you know what, I'll save it for the morning."
"Why?"
"Because it takes beauty sleep to look this good, and you're being annoying. Go dream about Zoey and tomorrow when you wake up you'll be in a better mood."
"Fine, whatever man. Goodnight." Chase had no idea what Logan could possibly come up with and could actually work.
The next day. Zoey was standing on a stage with Dean Rivers and Mr. Bradford, in front of Mr. Bradford Sr's statue, most of the kids in their grade watching them below. Zoey felt even worse seeing all her friends in front of her, most of all Chase.
"Alright students," Dean Rivers spoke into the microphone. "Zoey would like to say a few words before she leaves. Zoey." He stepped aside from the podium to let Zoey take his place.
"Fellow classmates, I just want to apologize to all of you. And most importantly to Mr. Bradford's family, for dressing his father up in lady's clothes. And I know it was very wrong and disrespectful. And I'm just really, really sorry." Zoey stepped down from the stage to join her friends for the last time. Nicole wrapped her in a comforting hug, but it didn't help much. She and everyone else were still too sad.
"Thank you, Ms. Brooks." Mr. Bradford now stepped up to the podium. "Now I'd like to say a few words about my father." He turned around to face the statue for a moment before turning back to the crowd. "Although he wasn't a good looking man, my father had a great vision when he founded this school, Pacific Coast Academy. He wanted to teach promising young men important things like languages and trousers that fit properly…"
While he was in the middle of his speech, all the students started laughing, because it now looked like the statue of Mr. Bradford was peeing.
"What in the world"? He demanded, he stepped closer and tried to block the flow unsuccessfully with his hand, getting his suit all wet and making everyone laugh even more. "Who did this? I demand to know who's responsible! Who did this?" He yelled into the microphone, his voice booming.
"I did." Logan raised his hand proudly.
"You! Well, let me tell you something, Mister!"
"Wait I helped him." Chase now raised his hand.
"What?"
"Me too." Michael added.
"Yeah, in fact, all of us guys did it together." Chase announced. "Come on raise your hand if you had anything to do with this." All the guys in the group raised their hands proudly.
"It wasn't just the guys!" Dana burst in.
"Yeah, it was us too!" Nicole and all the girls also raised their hands.
Another chorus of yeah's sounded out. Zoey glanced around confused, was everyone really in on this? What were they trying to do?
"Rivers!" Mr. Bradford shouted.
"Well, what do you want me to do sir? Expel them all?"
"He's right, if you expel Zoey you have to expel all of us." Chase demanded.
"YEAH!" Everyone cheered.
"Alright." Mr. Bradford finally gave up after a few more moments of panic and anger that quickly deflated. "Just stop my daddy from peeing, and no one gets expelled."
"Yeah!" Everyone started clapping and celebrating that their plan worked while Logan took out a remote control and shut off the water.
"Rivers. I think I'm having a spell. Drive me to the clinic."
"Yes sir." Dean Rivers rushed to follow him as Mr. Bradford started walking away, but even more surprisingly, he shot the group of pranksters a thumbs up and a smile.
Zoey ran in front of Chase. "Chase you're the best!" She jumped forward and hugged him and he immediately hugged her back just as tightly. She could get used to this.
"Thanks, but actually it um, it wasn't my idea." Chase admitted.
"Michael?"
"Not me."
"Then who?"
Michael pointed at Logan of all people.
"Logan? Why would you want to help me stay at PCA?"
"If you weren't here who else would I pick on?" He answered. "Besides I have to admit you girls won the prank war, so you deserve to be here just as much as the rest of us. No need to thank me, but I will be accepting kisses from anyone who feels grateful for my awesomeness."
"Thanks, Logan, but don't get your hopes up." Zoey replied.
"I've done it. I've done it, I've done it." Quinn happily ran up to them, again holding onto her most recent Quinnvention. "I've perfected the sonic neural neutralizer! It's time for revenge against the boys." She giggled maliciously.
"Quinn, will you stop?" Nicole asked, sounding exasperated.
"It's over." Dana added.
"Over?"
"Yeah the guys helped us, I can stay at PCA." Zoey announced happily, giving Chase another side hug.
"Yeah, we don't need your neural neutralizer thingy." Nicole said.
"Which wouldn't have worked anyways." Dana rolled her eyes.
"Fine, make me do all this work for nothing." Quinn grumbled and threw it in a nearby trashcan and marched away.
"So, Zoey, um about what I said last night…" Chase started.
"Yeah?" Zoey smiled.
"Now that you're staying at PCA…can we…?"
Whatever Chase was about to say next was drowned out by the neutralizer letting out another ear-piercing screech that knocked everyone unconscious and they all fell to the ground.
About an hour later, many of the students started to wake up from their impromptu naptime. Many of them just picked themselves or their friends up and headed back to their dorms or to their next class. Eventually, it was just Michael, Logan, Dana, Nicole, Chase, and Zoey left on the ground. Since they had all been closest to the trash can they were most affected by the neutralizer when it sounded off.
Dana was the first to open her eyes, she glanced around confused at why she was lying on the grass for a few moments until her memory caught up to her, it seemed like Quinn's dumb sonic thingy actually worked this time. Then she realized someone's arm was resting across her back. She rolled over and was shocked to see Logan with his arm draped across her back so she rolled over and pushed him away with a hard shove.
"Ahh. What time is it?" Logan opened his eyes and gave her his cocky smirk that she hated. "Why hello."
"Don't get any ideas buster, I don't know what just happened, but you keep your hands off me."
"Oh come on, you know you want me."
"I want to punch you in the face."
"Hard to get, I like it."
"Keep dreaming, you disgust me." Dana finally stood up and seeing Michael and Nicole still snoozing close by to her, so she shook them both awake. "Hey wake up!"
"What just happened? Why are we asleep?" Michael asked.
"It was Quinn's dumb sonic thing. It looks like either it only affected us or everyone else already woke up."
"That girl's insane, I can't believe that thing knocked us all out. Do I have grass or any bugs in my hair?" Nicole asked nervously.
"No, you look fine." Dana told her.
"Where's Chase and Zoey, we better wake them up too." Michael stood up and turned around, but stopped and smiled at the sight in front of him. Everyone else turned around too, noticing his pause, but all of them had grins on their faces as well.
Chase and Zoey had fallen asleep right next to each other. Zoey's head was resting in the crook of his elbow, while his hand was thrown around her shoulder. One of her arms was resting against his chest.
"Awwe, they are so cute together. Should we wake them?" Nicole cooed.
"Naw, let's leave them where they are, they'll wake up eventually. But not before we get a picture, this will be a good birthday present for Chase." Michael laughed.
"Wait a minute, you don't think that…?" Nicole asked.
"Maybe? I know he finally told her last night, but she said no since she was leaving. So I don't know what will happen now."
"Then we should definitely leave them like this." Dana said, snapping a picture herself. "Let's let the lovebirds finally work everything out."
"Good plan. Now, how about you and me go make out?" Logan suggested.
"Even if we were the last two people alive on the planet, I would still never kiss you." Dana crossed her arms over her chest.
"Please, of course you would, I'm already the hottest guy on the planet if I was the only guy on Earth you wouldn't be able to resist me."
"I think I would manage, come on Nicole." Dana started pulling her away.
"Where are we going?"
"Wherever Logan isn't. We'll talk to Zoey later after she wakes up."
"OK, do you think our teacher will accept Quinn as an excuse if we're late for class?" Nicole asked her as they walked off.
"Should we wake him up?" Logan asked Michael.
"No, let him enjoy this, and also make him talk because he's gonna have explaining to do when they do wake up. Let's go, we should probably get to class too."
Logan felt his head for a few moments. "The right side of my hair is all messed up! I can't go to class looking like this, I have a reputation to uphold!"
"Yeah, what reputation?" Michael smirked.
"Um, the hottest guy on the planet. Duh. Well besides that best kisser, best basketball player, best-"
"Whatever see you later then." Michael shook his head with one more glance at Chase and Zoey. He hoped it would work out between them, not just because it would make Chase happy, but also so he wouldn't have to hear every single thing he felt about Zoey but could never tell her. Something about today, he had a good feeling though.
A few minutes later, Chase finally opened his eyes. It took him a few seconds to blink away the blurriness, and then he froze, seeing Zoey lying on the ground beside him. He hurriedly tried to figure out what was going on, he quickly remembered that Logan's plan had worked, and then Quinn had come along and said something about her latest quinnvention, but everyone else shot her down. So why was Zoey here with him and where was everyone else? He glanced around a bit, but the whole area around them seemed deserted. Chase wondered what time it was, everyone was probably in the middle of class.
One thing he knew for sure, he was not going to move until Zoey woke up. But he also tried to get his thoughts in order again, last night had sucked for him, but he finally told her, and now she was staying again, so he had one more question to ask her.
After a couple of minutes of Chase enjoying studying her calmly sleeping, beautiful face, she opened her eyes and they immediately found his own.
"Hey Chase, what's going on?"
"I'm not really sure, I assume whatever Quinn's thing was made us fall asleep."
"So it finally works huh? Where's everyone else?"
"I don't know it's just you and me here. I woke up a few minutes ago and was waiting for you to wake up too."
"Well, you could have shaken me awake or something." Zoey finally sat up and Chase quickly followed her lead. "Sorry I fell asleep on you."
"I don't mind Maybe I didn't want to wake you up when I found you right beside me." Chase laughed nervously. "Now Zoey, you know how I told you I like you and everything last night?"
"Yes Chase?"
"And you said we couldn't be together because you were leaving, but now you're staying. So Zoey Brooks, will you go on a date with me? And if you enjoy it, maybe be my girlfriend?"
"Of course Chase. I hated telling you no last night, but I knew it wouldn't work out. But I promise, I'm not going anywhere." Zoey reached out and gently grabbed his hand. Both felt sparks flying from the other's touch.
"That's so great! So do you want to grab some sushi or tacos or something? Maybe we can hang out on my roof tonight?"
"That sounds fun, and your dorm definitely has the best roof. It's a date Chase, and I know I would love to be your girlfriend."
"Yes! I mean it's cool, but so great." Chase smiled again, what felt like the biggest grin he had ever had.
"But I do want an explanation buster."
"About what?"
"What exactly was Logan's plan?"
"Well you saw it, we ran a hose through the statue and Logan express ordered a remote control valve to turn it on and off. No one wanted you to leave so we told pretty much everyone except you about our plan and we agreed to all take credit for it. We even talked to Dean Rivers and he supported us one hundred percent since even he thought Mr. Bradford was being unreasonable and he didn't want to see anyone expelled from PCA, much less you for such a dumb reason. Plus he said something about how he was proud of you girls winning Prank Week, apparently it was the best thing he's seen since he went to school here."
"Wow. And Logan came up with all of this?"
"Sometimes it helps to have a devious, egotistical roommate. Sometimes."
"I guess I have to agree. I'm just happy I get to stay at PCA and be with you. So how did you convince Logan to help?"
"I kept him up last night because of how upset I was that you were leaving. So to get me to shut up he promised he had a plan he would show me in the morning. Because I had no clue what to do that would keep you and all the girls at PCA if Mr. Bradford had to punish someone. Logan pointed out that he couldn't punish all of us. I'm happy you're here too Zoey. PCA would not be the same without you here." Chase stood up and pulled Zoey up along with him. "You know it's almost lunchtime, want to see if the cafeteria has any grapes?"
"Yeah, I couldn't even eat breakfast this morning I was so upset, I'm starving."
"That settles it, math class can wait then, this is much more important."
"I'd have to agree." Zoey nodded along as they walked away. "Chase, thank you for finally telling me. You mean the world to me, and I was scared to tell you how I felt too. And thanks for not giving up on me."
"I will never give up on you Zoey. I promise."
"I do really love the bunny though. It's so cute. I would have slept with it last night but I couldn't sleep and sometime around three in the morning Nicole crawled in my bed, again."
"More roommate drama?"
"Just enough to keep things interesting, but as long as I'm here and I have you, I can deal with it. Now let's go get those grapes."
"As you wish Zoey." They both started jogging through the mostly empty campus still hand in hand and laughing together.