Dance Contest

Zoey was walking through campus late at night. It had been the night of the dance contest, but without a dance partner she couldn't compete. No matter where she looked she couldn't find another partner after Gene got hurt. She had been upset for most of the week, mostly because her grandparents had come to watch her, but after she explained everything they were fine with it and even found their own way to have fun. So even though she regretted missing it, she was totally fine with how things turned out.

She found Michael, Logan, and Quinn all sitting together near the library so sat down with them. "Hey guys."

"Hey," Logan replied back.

"Hey, where are your grandparents?" Quinn asked, setting down the notebook she had been scribbling something down in.

"Vegas."

"Vegas?" Logan asked.

"I thought they drove all the way here from Boston to watch you in the dance contest?" Michael asked her.

"They did, but when they got here and I told them I wasn't going to be in it they were like ooh, blackjack. Let's go to Vegas!" Zoey shook her head in amusement. She had been upset at first about losing her dance partner and being unable to find any replacement. But she was cool with it. It would have been fun, but seems like some things weren't meant to be.

Logan sat up. "Wait, you didn't compete in the dance contest tonight?"

"How could I? You guys know Gene got hurt and couldn't dance with me."

"Well yeah, but…?" Logan trailed off and glanced over at Michael.

"Didn't someone else offer to be your dance partner?" Michael asked.

"Someone clumsy and awkward?"

"With a crazy Jewish afro?"

Zoey laughed, just like usual her friends weren't making very much sense "OK, what are you guys talking about?"

Logan and Michael shared another knowing look between them. "Chase?" Michael asked.

"What about Chase?"

"Didn't he offer to be your dance partner?"

"Yeah, a few days ago, but you guys know he can't dance." Zoey laughed again at the idea of Chase dancing.

"Did he by any chance talk to you today?" Michael asked.

"No, come on guys, what's going on?"

"When Chase found out Gene was hurt, he made us teach him how to do the routine," Logan informed her.

"How did he make you teach him?" Quinn asked.

"That's not important," Michael rushed out, "But he actually got pretty good."

"Decent." Logan corrected, "Somehow, that was the longest day ever."

"Are you guys being serious? Chase learned the dance?"

"Yeah, we're as shocked he actually did as you are."

"Well, where is he?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen him all day."

"Me neither, last we saw him was last night but he said he was going to run through it a few more times," Michael said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Yeah, we've all been too busy trying to be the coffee customer of the week. Ulgk." Quinn gagged. "I should have known that was a scam."

"Well, I need to go find him. Do you think something happened to him?"

"Like what, think he got ran over by another rogue golf cart?" Logan joked.

"Not funny." Zoey glared at him while she stood up.

Zoey quickly walked away. If what Michael and Logan said was true, she needed to find Chase. She felt so touched by what he had tried to do, but if this dance contest was so important to him that he learned how to dance, she knew nothing would have stopped him. Which means something, anything could have happened to him. She had to find him. She tried calling and texting him, but he didn't pick up, so she started searching first his dorm room, which was empty, then all his favorite spots on campus, but the more she looked the more worried she grew.

Until finally, she arrived at the fountain. One of Chase's favorite places on campus to think. She glanced around for a few moments and saw someone laying stretched out in a lawn chair. She would recognize that bush of a head anywhere. She walked over and smiled down at him. He was entirely dead to the world, and even drooling a little in his sleep. But her anxiety disappeared in an instant to see that he looked just fine. Totally relaxed and peaceful. As her worries disappeared she could feel her heart filling with gratitude for him. She reached down to shake him awake.

"Chase…Chase." Chase felt someone nudging his shoulder and saying his name. He drowsily opened his eyes to see the stars above in the night sky as he slowly woke up.

"Is the carpool here?" He asked, yawning. He glanced to his side as he stretched to see Zoey standing in front of him, his heart always sped up whenever he saw her. He could see he was in a lawn chair in the middle of campus, what was he doing sleeping out here?

"Not really." Zoey smiled down at him.

"Hey, Zoe." Chase smiled back. Then his brain started to catch up with him and he remembered everything he had been doing the last day and a half. All the hours of practice with Michael and Logan. And all the practice he did himself most of last night. He had finally stopped dancing this morning when the sun rose, planning to get a few hours of naptime in before the dance contest, but he realized it was once again nighttime around them.

"What time is it?" He stood up quickly, all his emotions going off at once. "The dance contest! We have to-!"

"It's over." Zoey smiled at him.

"What?"

"It ended like two hours ago."

"Two hours, what?" Chase pulled out his Tekmate to check the time. It was nearly 9 pm. "I slept through the contest?"

"You did." Zoey nodded at him.

"Ugghh." Chase put his face in his hands and sat back down on the lawn chair. All that time practicing until he literally fell asleep from exhaustion, all for nothing. He ruined his plan to help Zoey out. "I'm the worst."

Zoey sat down beside him. "You're the best," She corrected him, "You practiced dancing for almost 24 hours straight, just so I wouldn't have to drop out of the contest."

"Well-" Chase started, glancing down at his lap, but Zoey interrupted before he could continue putting himself down.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"Yeah?" Chase asked softly.

Zoey nodded back at him.

"Well, thanks but it was all for nothing."

"Oh, I don't think so." Zoey smiled at him. She stood up and pressed PLAY on the speaker Chase had been using all day. "Come on, let's see what you've got."

Chase smiled back at her and stood up. They ran over to the fountain and started dancing and to both their surprise, they quickly began moving in perfect harmony. The whole time all either of them could think about was how much fun they were having together. They went through the whole routine, cartwheels and somersaults included and Chase didn't even miss a single beat. They could have kept going on forever until the song ended and they stopped dancing in favor of an impromptu game of tag as Zoey started chasing him around the fountain.

She finally caught him and they both sat down on the edge. Both of them laughing with each other.

"OK I was wrong. You can dance." Zoey giggled at him.

"Apology accepted, but you should really be thanking Logan and Michael, they are miracle workers. You do not want to know how many times I stepped on Michael's toes or accidently dropped Logan on the ground or just ran into him. Or tripped myself and fell on my face."

"I can imagine. Seriously Chase, you are literally the best. Tell you what, if they hold a dance contest next year, you're my partner no questions asked."

"I would be happy to. I'm still so sorry I shouldn't have fallen asleep and ruined it for you."

"Stop. You didn't ruin anything for me. You had the best of intentions, and it really is the thought that counts. I had fun. And I know my grandparents are having plenty of fun in Vegas."

"Vegas?"

"They went to Vegas instead since they couldn't watch me."

"Gotcha." Chase nodded his head. "Well if you were really that impressed with my dancing skills-"

"Oh, I was."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure if you wanted to do literally anything else I'd have two left feet again. But I'm sure I can convince Michael and Logan to teach me anything else you want to do."

"Or I could teach you."

"Oh, I like that idea much more. You wouldn't laugh at me when I fall on my face the first dozen times right?"

"I make no promises. But seriously Chase, I could never thank you enough for doing this for me. You really are the best."

"Only for you Zoe, only for you." Chase smiled.

They both sat in companionable silence for a while, just content to sit together, looking up at the stars.

"Chase, why did you decide to help me without me asking you? Even when I specifically said no to you being my partner."

"Well, when I heard about Gene, I knew how important this contest was to you with your grandparents driving all the way from Boston. I know you wouldn't want to let them down, and it was probably too late for you to find any other partner. So I knew I had to step up to help you if no one else would."

"You were right about that, I had enough trouble just finding Gene."

"And then I knew, just like before you would never want to dance with me unless I could prove to you that I could actually dance. If not well at least somewhat decent. Of course, I also wanted to be as perfect as possible so that we could win. Hence why I was up all last night still practicing."

"But I was wrong, I should have given you a chance."

"Oh no, before yesterday you were absolutely right, I said it once, I'll say it again. Michael and Logan are miracle workers." Chase laughed.

"Maybe, but don't count yourself short Fuzzyhead. I never would have imagined anyone would ever do something like this for me. You're always there when I need you, even when I don't even know it." Zoey scooted closer to him so that their shoulders were just barely touching.

"Oh, I just remembered one other dance that I know how to do."

"What is it?"

"The Macalena." Chase grinned, and they both broke down into laughter.

"Yeah, even you could probably get that down. That can be what we do next year. We'd win for sure."

"You know it, the most embarrassing song in all of human history. The one thing I wouldn't screw up since anyone already looks weird doing it."

"Exactly. Was there by chance any other reason?"

"Well, besides you being my best friend I guess. I'll always help you out with anything."

"Yeah, but I just realized, I don't think we've ever actually danced before, just you and me."

"Yeah, I think you're right." Not for lack of trying. Chase groaned inwardly.

"Um, Chase, not to bring up bad memories, but do you remember the dance from 8th grade?"

"Um yeah, when I was a jerk?" Chase blushed at the memory, both from their fight, and the lies he told her then to cover up his real intentions.

"Yeah, but was that really it? Did you want to dance with me then?"

"Um, yeah, I did." Chase said with a blush staining his cheeks, he really hoped the night could hide it from her.

"And then we didn't dance at your birthday party. I wanted to then, so I could show you how much you mean to me and we can have fun together. Not that I'm blaming you at all for that night. Besides the obvious, I wouldn't change anything about how that night ended for us." Zoey quickly corrected herself, she didn't want to make Chase feel guilty or anything, that night, just the two of them alone at the fountain had popped into her head again for some reason.

"I know Zoey. Thank you again for that. That's why I wanted to help you out because you always help me when I need it."

"I know Chase. And I can never tell you enough how much everything you do for me means to me."

Chase and Zoey had been moving closer and closer together, looking right into each other's eyes, but as the silence continued they both backed away suddenly, each at a loss for words. Both prayed the shadows could hide their blushing faces from each other.

"You know, the stars are beautiful tonight," Zoey said offhandedly like she was trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, they are." Chase agreed, what was that moment, had they been about to kiss? But Zoey backed out of it? Did I back out of it? Or did we both back out of it? What should I do?

Had he done this mostly to help out Zoey as her best friend? Absolutely, not that he would have ever minded the chance to dance with her. The entire semester ever since he came back to school with Rebecca he had been trying to tell himself he was over Zoey, and he felt like he had done a good job. He was totally fine with being just friends and he never wanted to change that. He still hadn't had any luck with any other girls since he broke up with Rebecca, not that he was trying very hard. That was because as long as he had Zoey he didn't need a girlfriend, and he didn't need her to be his. They were just as close as they always were, perfectly platonic and that was totally fine.

If he was being one hundred percent honest with himself the thought had crossed his mind that this would impress Zoey, not like he expected it to make her fall for him or anything. It would have just been the two of them having fun just like always. And he was right, it had been fun, honestly just being alone with her was much more fun than being on stage for a contest. Even with all his practice, there was probably still a twenty percent chance he would have fallen off the stage or something.

"Um, speaking of it's getting pretty late, although I bet my sleep cycle is all out wack now thanks to me sleeping the day away."

"I bet." Zoey nodded along, "Um… Before you go, there's one more thing I have to do.

"What is it Zoe?"

In response, Zoey leaned over, and Chase felt like he was watching her in slow motion in between his pounding heartbeats until he felt her lips gently press against his cheek for just a few seconds that Chase could have sworn stretched into forever.

When Zoey backed away again they just stared at each other in equally shocked and nervous silence.

Zoey wasn't really sure why she had done that, but she knew she wanted to, and it felt like the right thing to do, even though she had never thought about Chase in this way before. She was terrified she had just ruined her closest ever friendship.

Chase had no clue how he was supposed to respond, or even make sure he wasn't still sleeping in that lawn chair dreaming. In all the possible ways tonight had turned out, he had never imagined it would end up like this.

"I'm sorry, Chase. I'll just-" Zoey stood up like she wanted to leave but Chase grabbed her hand, pulling her back.

"What are you sorry for Zoe?" Chase softly whispered.

"I don't know what came over me. I don't want to ruin our friendship or make you feel weird or mad at me." Zoey looked down at the ground instead of his face.

"Zoe, why would I ever be mad at you for giving me a kiss? If you think I would be mad at you about that, then you don't know me at all."

Zoey looked up at him again, eyes still filled with fear. "Chase, what are you saying?"

"First, can you tell me what that kiss meant? Was it just a thank you for the dancing? Or was it something else? Something more?"

"Um, both I think. Chase, you've always had a special place in my heart, and tonight you proved why in spades. Only you would ever even think of something like this, and I know it's because of how much you care about me."

"You got that right I would do anything for you. I, I care about you so, so much. More than you could ever know. In fact, a lot more than you know."

"Ditto, I think I like you, Chase, as more than friends, I'm sorry. I know we're best friends but you always make my day better like no one else can. I just don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Zoey, I feel the exact same way. I like you too, as more than friends."

"You do? Since how long?"

"Since the day we met? How long for you?"

"I don't know, honestly, part of me since the day we met too, I just never realized it before."

"You know what that means then?"

"What Chase?"

In answer, Chase leaned closer to her and captured her lips with his own, after Zoey got over her initial surprise she started kissing him back. She had had plenty of kisses before, but none like this, all the doubts and confusion she had been feeling moments ago disappeared, she learned three things tonight, Chase could dance, he cared more about her than she ever knew, and she felt the exact same way.

They eventually broke away and just smiled dopily at each other.

"You know what I said about it being late? Since I'm wide awake now, how about we go get ice cream or something?"

"I would love to Chase. Is this our first date?" Zoey couldn't stop smiling at him if she tried.

"It's whatever you want it to be Zoe."

"Then I say it is our first date. Boyfriend?" Zoey gently squeezed his hand.

"Yes, it is, girlfriend." Chase grinned at her and squeezed back.

They stood up and started walking through campus. "Where are we going to get ice cream at this time of night?"

"Oh, I can't believe I've never told you this, but in sixth grade, one night, Michael, Logan, and I ran out of snacks in our dorm and the PCA store was already closed but we were super hungry. Like we didn't even have a single potato chip in our room. That's how hungry we were so we decided to sneak into the cafeteria and we found it unlocked and the ice cream machine was still on. So then whenever we want a late night snack we know where to find one."

"Smart. So who's idea was that?"

"I'm honestly not sure. But are you in?"

"As long as I'm with you, I'll do anything."

"Good, because I just realized, I slept for like twelve plus hours, but haven't eaten since yesterday." Right as Chase said that, his stomach growled loudly, making him laugh, slightly embarrassed.

"We better get going then, I can't let my dance partner go hungry."

"So I'm officially your dance partner now?"

"Yep, I only want to ever dance the night away with you."

"And I am all for that."

They walked away from the fountain, after a moment of hesitation Chase reached down to grab her hand once more, and Zoey beamed at him in response. He had been denying himself far too long, no matter what he had said about Rebecca, he was never over Zoey. His days of pretending were over, from now on he will spend every single day letting Zoey exactly how he feels about her.

Hearts full of emotion they began their quest for ice cream to fill their stomachs, but nothing could ever be sweeter than what tonight had already become. The blossoming of a new chapter in their lives that will never be the same again.