A/N: Next chapter of Hollywood Rivalries. I'm going to wrap this up soon, and start the sequel. Besides, I'm getting bored with this, unfortunately. This chapter will be like the final and then the really long epilogue to tie up loose ends.

Chapter 29: Waiting

She was tired, as she drove the road from her Guess Jeans photo shoot. Vanessa had been doing well for herself, juggling a boyfriend, school, and a budding career that had she had worked for since the tender age of six. Filming the first season of her show would take place every Sunday, meaning both her and Logan had to be up by 4 am, and on set by 5:30.

Too much drama was in her life right now. Vanessa was happy she was going to be an aunt, but not when her sister would be a single mother. She remembered the nights they'd listen to their parent's yelling. Sometimes Natalie would end up crying, and as the starlet grew and continue to be in the middle of those arguments, Vanessa had grown bitter towards her father for causing her mother so much trouble…as if the divorce wasn't enough.

It was then that Vanessa was convinced that her dad was responsible for her mother's untimely death. She didn't care about the logic. She didn't really care for the reasoning although everyone around her said it was an accident.

Bullshit, she thought with a roll of eyes, and then kept them trained on the road.

Was it karma?

Did God have something against the famous people?

Why did everything spin out of control in a matter of two weeks?

Vanessa pushed all thoughts aside, as the Welcome to Pacific Coast Academy sign blurred past her window. She needed answers to so many of the questions she had. Vanessa always knew she was destined to entertain people with her acting, and her dancing and music, but what if?

That question buzzed incessantly in her head.

She parked the silver car in its usual parking lot, and hopped out of the car using the vertical car doors and shut it, the sound meaning that she was here. At PCA. Away from the glitz and glamour…even if it was for a little while.

Vanessa put her shades in the bag she was carrying and walked out. She would be talking to Michael in the morning, and…

…come clean about everything.

One thing confused her though, as Vanessa made her way towards Brenner, she couldn't help but notice a bushy blob put of the corner of her eye.

It was Chase, and just a few minutes later, appeared Zoey.

"Ah, screw it," Vanessa muttered, going in through the back way. Come tomorrow, that photo shoot with her rocking Guess Jeans would be known to everyone with the help of Teen Scene Magazine.

Vanessa was dead tired, and looked exhausted.

It was 6:30 in the evening, was it too early to turn in? Yes, but right now her brain was into the process of becoming tapioca pudding.

After a recording session that take two hours, a photo shoot that took about three, and a stupid interview that seemed like in eternity when it was actually an hour… yes, she was going to bed.

Anyone that got in her face would be dealt with…

"What are you doing here?" Zoey asked him, with crossed arms. "…and you're picking Quinn's lock?"

"Yes, I'm picking the lock," Chase answered, shortly as he jiggled the little bobby pin in the keyhole. He stopped when a little click was heard and opened the door. "Yes…"

"What are you—" she started to ask, but Chase yanked her in, and closed the door before she could question it. "As I was asking, what are we doing here? You and I both know that we don't know half the things she does in here."

"…and the other half?" he asked, looking around. This was going to take a lot of work.

"We're just too scared to ask," Zoey replied, inching away from a bubbling beaker containing a pink concoction. "Quinn will kill us, well you…"

"Ok, one Quinn's probably with Matt. Two, Quinn's the one rooming with her. I highly doubt she cares about her roommate's well-being, so you gonna help me get her back, and possibly out of PCA or what?"

Zoey thought about it, and honestly she was never the vengeful type. She was a lot of things, but never the conspirator of revenge plots. That was more of Logan thing, and the more she watched Chase…she realized that revenge plots weren't really Chase's thing either, so what was his motive besides making Chelsea suffer?

"When did you become so hell-bent on revenge, and what exactly are you planning?"

Chase looked at her. This morning he had snapped. The shock of Chelsea being within 200 feet of him had finally got to him. Right now, he wasn't even sure of where and Zoey stood. In his mind, they were still together, but somewhat not. He had to act like it did bother him when it did. God, it bothered him to the full extent.

He sighed, "Doesn't matter."

Zoey put her hand on his to stop Chase, "Yes, it does matter. I actually did a lot of thinking on the beach after school, and I came to talk. So I'm here to talk now."

"Here?"

"Yeah," Zoey answered, and then looked around at all the chemicals. "…even though, something might explode and kill us."

"Wow, that's comforting…"

She gave him a knowing glance, "You know what I mean, but let's get out of here to be on the safe side…"

"Oh, we're not going to sabotage Chelsea's shampoo?"

"No, because once Quinn holds you up with a DNA scrambler, you're pretty much her mortal enemy for life," she explained with a slight smile. "Besides, it's Quinn. She'll think of something."

Zoey grabbed Chase's hand and pulled him out the room, closing the door behind them. They walked into the lounge.

She sat, and soon so did he.

"Talk, and I'll listen," she said, after a minute's silence.

"Okay…"

Stan Crowe had just awoken from a turbulent nap. Azure eyes stared ahead, as he walked aimlessly around Pacific Coast Academy. Stan felt like a total asswipe, as a sigh escaped his lips. He sat on a nearby bench, groaning loudly as he grabbed fistfuls of his shaggy brown hair in frustration. He replayed that kiss, over and over in his head.

With every second that it replayed, Stan felt worse, and was a step away from hating himself. Chelsea just finished a last-ditch effort on getting him back. Was he up for hearing how she loved him? No, because when you loved someone, you didn't exactly break the person heart…twice (directly, and indirectly).

Stan knew Chelsea. He knew she wasn't as evil as she acted, but other times he just didn't know.

"Stan?"

The voice made him look up, and unwillingly anger washed over him.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Go away," he responded, coldly and turned away. "…as if you haven't done enough already."

"What? So wanting you back is a crime?" Chelsea shot back, heatedly. Stan stood up, reaching his boiling point, and absolutely couldn't believe the gall she had.

"If you loved me, you wouldn't have broken my heart…twice!"

"Don't judge me, okay?" she replied, still sad and angry at the same time.

"I wouldn't do that, Chelsea because it's not my right," Stan replied, and stood up. "I know I shouldn't have kissed you back, because it hurt Nicole. I don't want to grow to resent you…or even hate you, but after you did I'm not really in control of my emotions anymore."

Chelsea quietly sniffled, "So, what? You're not even going to try to give me a chance?"

"That's pretty much it. There are no chances to give because they were never reserved for you to begin with. What I'm saying is, we're done. Our relationship is dead, okay?… now, if you don't mind I have to go find Nicole, okay?"

"Stan…"

The tears rolled down her cheeks. He hated seeing Chelsea cry, but right now, Nicole was on his mind. Stan's mind had always been filled with Nicole ever since that day at the smoothie stand. He sighed, and walked away, hoping to God that she would at least talk to him…

"Hi…"

Stan looked up, and saw her. Nicole was there, standing there awkwardly. He moved over, making room for her.

"You can sit…if you want," he offered. Nicole sat down, and there was a silence in the air. She played her fingers, as she stared at her fingers, the tears threatening to fall. She just didn't get it, and after everything she loved him. Stan looked at her, and broke the silence. "Nicole, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, and I understand if you hate me, but I just want you to know that."

She looked up at him, and surprisingly Stan gently wiped the tears away with her thumb.

"You hurt me…" she said, her voice barely a whisper. Stan gently lifted her chin up, and smiled.

"I know… which is why I swear I'll never do it again."

Nicole had her doubts, although he seemed genuine. Stan did it once, who's to say he wouldn't do it again?

"I really want to trust you, I do," she assured, taking his hand, and then grew sad. "…but what if you do it again?"

"Okay, here's the deal. If I ever hurt you again, you have my permission to have Vanessa and Dana both beat me up at the same time… I will be gracious and take it."

For the first time, Nicole found herself laughing and giggling with him. She knew she could never stay mad at Stan for too long. He was a sweetheart deep down, and on top on that, he was cute. Nicole hugged him, and Stan slid his arms around Nicole, sighing in satisfaction.

"I forgive you," she said, grinning and she pulled away, and squealed. "You're my boyfriend, yay!"

"Yeah, yay. You're my girl, and it'll stay that way. So I can kiss you now, right?"

"Yes, and just me," Nicole answered, and kissed him in happiness…

Zoey was in shock, after listening to Chase for a good forty minutes. She felt terrible for overreacting this morning, and now she knew why he had kept it from all of them.

"She scares you that bad?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "…I've never admitted this, but yes. Ever since, the age of four. My brother was around but somehow she always tortured me. I almost had a panic attack the morning I saw her…the talent show. That's how scared I was. I could stand up to her, but it was just too much for me to keep in. I didn't tell you because Vanessa picked up on it first. She had to squeeze it out of me. She gave me…that look."

"Oh…that look. The one that says 'Tell-me-or-I'll-kill you' look…"

"Exactly. So now you know, and Vanessa didn't say anything to anyone because of me. She didn't want to betray my confidence. She was being a good friend," he explained. "There, now you know…"

Zoey didn't say anything, but to his surprise, she kissed him.

When she pulled away, Chase was shocked…not that he didn't want her to kiss him, but it was just unexpected.

"What was that for?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I understand if you're mad at me. I'm sorry though. I should have been more understanding."

"Zoe, I could never stay mad at you, ok? It's okay. Let's just put it behind us," he answered, putting a lock of her hair behind her ear. He smiled. "Now, it's my turn to surprise you too."

She leaned in too, "…but I already know what's coming. So, just kiss me already."

"I'd love to…" he whispered against her lips, and captured them with his own…

The basketball court.

Dana only laughed at the irony because this was the place where her and Logan would not only get into heated disputes, but only heated games. Only Logan would bring her here, but he knew the significance behind the dimly-lit court.

"You want to talk so talk…" she said, sitting on the bleachers. He sat next to her, opening his mouth to say something, but Dana quickly beat Logan to it. "…Oh, and just for record, I hate your mom."

"Uh, you don't know her."

"I know her well enough to know that she hates me! She would like nothing more than for you to be with Vanessa…" Dana retorted. "…and as her best friend, I'm actually entitled to break that face of yours, but I can't."

"You love me, don't you?"

Dana rolled her eyes, knowing this was true, "Even if you're an insufferable dipwad sometimes, yes…"

"So, are we back on?"

"Maybe, maybe not…" Dana replied with a playful smirk. "…but answer my question and be honest about it: do you still love, love Vanessa?"

Logan shrugged, "Sure, I always will, but I'll tell you what I told my mom. Vanessa's my past, and just being friends and ending that stupid rivalry is enough. Besides, we kind of had to because… Vanessa's gonna be an aunt, and I'm going to be an uncle. That's why I was on edge for a while. I was kind of shocked."

Dana could only blink.

"Marissa's…pregnant?"

"Yep, with my brother…" Logan explained, shortly. "…but as I was saying, I love Vanessa, yes. But I'll always love you a billion times more. No joke."

"Swear on a pile of mirrors…"

"Dana…"

"Just do it!"

Logan grabbed her hand, "I swear on a pile of mirrors that I, Logan Anthony Reese, declare my undying love for you, Dana Cruz…"

She lightly punched in the shoulder with a smirk, "We're on, but you can't kiss me."

"And why is that?"

"Because," she smirked, expertly bouncing a random basketball. "…you have to earn it. So, here's how it works. You win, and we make out right now but if I win, we wait until tomorrow. That too hard to handle?"

"Nope," he replied, as Dana did a chest pass. Logan shot a hook shot, and SWISH. Nothing but net. He laughed, "Well, look at that. I'm wining already. That's two, Cruz."

"Check it, Reese…" she shot back, with a challenging look in her eyes…

Once Dana had the ball in her grasp, the game was on…

It was now 10 pm, and PCA was now asleep. The basketball game had raged on for two hours (finally ending at 9), and Dana won by a single point, so Logan would fall asleep rather quickly, and in the morning he wanted that make-out session he was promised. Chase was asleep, now that he hadn't seen Chelsea for a while, he could sleep easier, knowing he and Zoey were on their way to being friends, and even better…having a strong and truthful relationship. Michael Barrett slept soundly. Vanessa was his girl, and now he didn't have to worry about a threat. He knew that they would be together a long time. It was pretty far-fetched considering he was just sixteen, but damn, she just felt right. He would talk to her in the morning. Stan and Matt were asleep in their respective dorms as well in peaceful slumbers…

Five boys would all sigh and smile contentedly in their sleep…

The girls of Brenner were silently content as well. Zoey had Chase back again, Nicole was giggling in her sleep, dreams of Stan playing in a loop all night. Yes, she was very happy. Dana Cruz would even crack a small smile.

"I don't have to like your mother, do I?"

"Nope, I'm not asking you too…" he answered, with a small smile.

Dana sighed in relief, "Thank God…"

Vanessa slept and had been asleep since six-thirty. Zoey, Nicole, and Dana all walking wanted to talk to her, but when they looked in her bed. Vanessa was in her pyjamas, sound asleep. If you didn't hear her breathing, you would think she was dead. Thankfully, she wasn't. She was alive so that she could be with Michael forever. Vanessa Barrett-Stevens had a nice catch to it, right? Quinn slept in her dorms, as happy as anyone could be. Today, she had become a woman. It surprised her, that she would be doing something so impulsive.

Was she nervous because it had been her first experience with sex? Yes.

…but like Matt promised, he was so gentle, and God…did it feel great. Quinn experienced sensations she had never thought she'd experienced in a billion years.

Yes, Quinn Pensky was officially a woman…

Now ten friends would wait for the next morning…

A/N: I think thirty is a good solid number. So, this story will be ending soon, and I'll start writing the sequel ASAP.

Next: The girls talk. We find out what happened to Chelsea and the rest of the other not-so-important characters, and the epilogue will be on a very special occasion…Vanessa's Seventeenth Birthday.

REVIEW!

-Erika

Check out Letters To You, and Fire and Ice if you haven't…