The Notebook

Friday, November 3, 2006

Chase,

I knew it! I knew you liked Hannah. Ha ha. And you were trying to hide it from me. Don't you know that I can read you like a book? Ha ha. :) Well, I hope you guys have fun tonight. You two seem like a really good match. It seems like-

Zoey stopped over and looked at her letter. Never had she written something that had so many lies in so little words. What was this feeling that had come over her? It was kinda like when he and Lola went out last year... only much worse. When Chase went out with Lola she had known it would never last because of their clashing personalities. But Hannah- she seemed right for him. And that's what scared her. Was that the feeling? Fear of losing her best friend to his girlfirend? Or was it something else?

Jealousy. The word echoed in her head. Zoey tore the sheet of notebook paper out and tossed it in the garbage. She threw the notebook under her bed. Suddenly she didn't feel like writing to him.

Chase knocked on the door to Hannah's dorm a red rose in his hand. Zoey answered the door. Chase almost forgot that it was Zoey's dorm too. Wow. "Hey, Zoe."

"Hey," She stood there not really knowing what to do in this particular situation,"Um... do you want the notebook? I didn't write anything in it and I don't think I will be either. I'm busy with... things."

"Nah, that's alright. I don't have much to write either," Chase ran his fingers through his hair and tried to look at anything but Zoey. Wow. That ceiling fan was mezmorizing.

"Hi Chase!" Hannah came out. She wore her long blonde hair in big curls. She pulled a few of the curls back on each side into a clip so you could see her big blue eyes. She had a blue sleeveless cotton top and a stylish gray striped skirt.

"Hey," Chase looked at her once more and smiled,"You look very nice."

"Thanks."

"Shall we leave?"

"Sure."

Zoey was still standing there awkwardly,"Uh...bye. Have fun you two!" She said half-heartidly.

"Bye Zoey," Hannah replied with a small wave. She and Chase walked out the doors of the dorm and into the sunset.

"So what's first? Sushi Rox?" Hannah asked. She tried to sound excited but raw fish made her sick to her stomach.

"Nope. I decided to think out of the box tonight," Chase started," What do you think about a picnic on the beach while watching the sunset?"

"That sounds very romantic. And well thought out. I'm impressed," Hannah said.

"Well you know. I'm just such a hopeless romantic," Chase said with a laugh,"It wasn't really my idea."

"Oh? Who's was it?"

"A hobo's."

"You're kidding,' Hannah looked at him and laughed in disbeleif.

"Nope. Once I was in New York and my Dad and we met this hobo. He was a real nut. He rambled about the weirdest things.Like different kinds of noodles and his deathly fear of chipmonks. And than he started talking about if he ever lived by the beach he would take the one he loved to the beach and have a picnic as the sun went down. I don't know why but that really stuck with me."

"Ok. Who's afraid of chipmonks?" Hannah burst out laughing.

"That's exactly what I was wondering!" Chase shook his head and joined her in laughter.

Once they reached the beach and settled down on the blanket Chase had brought they started to eat. It was quiet, but a comfortable quiet, not the kind where you want anything to happen just so you could stop the awkwardness.

Once Hannah was done eating she spread herself out on the blanket and gazed at the sky,"This sure is beautiful."

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you met that hobo. He had a good idea."

"Hannah?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't get it. You were so shy when I first met you but now you're so different. So talkative and open."

"Well we have something in common," Hannah said quietly.

"What?"

"You've been to my hometown. I thought I was the only one from my tiny town in Michigan," Hannah started.

"So? There are really plenty of kids here at PCA that are as nice as I am," Chase replied.

"Do you want to know why I had to come to PCA?" Hannah asked quietly.

"Sure."

"I lived with my mom and dad my whole life. We were happy. They never fought. I had friends that I could tell anything. I loved everything about my life. And than one day I was at school and got a pass to go to the principal's office. They told me that my parents got in a car accident and died that morning," Hannah said hiding her face.

"Oh God, I am so sorry," Chase said.

"It's ok really. I mean I know they are in heaven and that one day we'll meet again. But now my perfect life is completely upside down. I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle. They kept me for the summer but decided to send me here in the Fall."

"Wow. That must be really hard."

Hannah nodded pushing a few tears back,"It just stinks because sometimes I want to be held by my mom so much. I want a big hug from my dad. And that's impossible."

Chase put his arm around her. He seemed to have a gift for making people feel better so he just let Hannah rest her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes Hannah wiped her eyes and pulled away from him.

"Sorry. I didn't want that to happen tonight. I mean I didn't really want to talk about it on our first date. What a way to ruin the night," Hannah muttered.

"No that's ok. I'm glad you told me. It exsplains alot," Chase said,"Well it's getting a little dark. Why don't we go see a movie."

"Alright." The two started the short walk back to the PCA movie theature hand in hand.

Zoey wondered what they were doing. Was the date going well? She picked up the notebook again, started to write something and than stopped again.

Why is it that both of us haven't been able to write lately? Zoey thought.Not being able to tell him how she felt was weird. And she didn't like it.

It was strange how comfortable he felt with Hannah's hand in his. It was strange how there were no awkward silences or uncomfortable moments with her. Throughout the whole night- (the movie, the dinner, the walk around campus talking until it was nearly midnight) he was comfortable. Strangley this felt right. Here's a scary thought: What if it was Hannah he was meant to be with? What if he and Zoey were just supposed to be friends? Confusion flooded Chase's mind but that didn't take away the wonderful feeling that rushed over him when they kissed good night.

"Good night, Chase," She whispered softly.

"Good night," Chase whispered back,"Um, Hannah?"

"Yes?"

"I'd like to see you again. Maybe tommorow if your not busy?" Chase couldn't beleive how easy the question came out.

"Sure." She smiled.

"I'll call you," Chase said. She then tip-toed into her room and he walked back to his own dorm like he was walking on clouds.

A/N: Well, I have nothing much to say. Except that my hands hurt. Last night I randomly decided to retile the bathroom floor. It took seven hours and I slept till one in the afternoon. Yeah, on Christmas. I surprise myself sometimes.

Go look at the link in my profile for my writings on Zoey 101. It has pictures of Wisconsin in it. YEA!

Anyway...Merry Christmas This update is my present to all of you. Now to give me a present that I would love would be if you ALL reviewed.

haha...

-Noelle