Zoey slept with a peaceful smile upon her face. She was dreaming of herself and Chase, the two of them were having a picnic. Chase was sitting upright against a tree and she was sitting between his legs leaning against him. He had his arms wrapped around her, holding her tight, she felt safe, secure, loved. They were feeding each other chocolate covered cherries. She felt the sweet chocolate on her tongue which only made her smile grow bigger.
Knock, knock, knock
Zoey looked up trying to figure out why there was a wood pecker hanging out in the tree. It was then Zoey was suddenly awakened with a squeal of joy coming from Nicole. She shot up so fast that she accidentally turned and came face to face with the floor. Blearily eyed she looked up and tried to focus of what Nicole was so happy about when she saw standing in the doorway... "Lola!" Zoey screaming happily as she made a very sad attempt to scramble up off the floor. Finally Dana yanked her up off the floor sending Zoey flying in to Lola's already out stretched arms. The three girls did a little jump dance hug sort of thing, while Dana stood there looking and feeling a little left out.
"Oh my god what are you doing here?" Nicole was still squealing.
"Well I'm kind of looking at my new roommates." Lola told them with a smile. Again the girls joyously squealed. Lola stopped and looked up.
"Oh Dana how was France?" Lola continued talking as if she and Dana were old friends.
"Ummm you are?" Dana asked
"Dana this is Lola Martinez" Zoey introduced, "Lola Dana Cruz. She was our roommate last year when you to France."
"And now she back" Nicole clapped happily.
"Well it's nice to meet you Lola." Dana extended her hand, "And you Dana" Lola said while shaking her hand.
"Well France was great but it's nice to be back, I missed my friends"
"I kind of know the feeling; I sometimes got a little homesick being here and homesick for here when I was home, never mind if I was half way around the world. But it's so great to see you guys." Lola finished while gripping Zoey and Nicole into a hug.
"Wait a minute? It's October, you're a little late to be starting the school year aren't you?" Dana questioned.
"Umm yeah I had a family emergency; everything's all straightened out though just as long as I pull a B off on my midterms they say I should be fine"
"Don't worry we'll help you study, you can have my notes, and will make quiz cards and.." Nicole chattered happily until she stopped at the looks of Zoey, Lola, and Dana.
"Or you can have Zoey's notes and she can help you study and I just go buy the index cards later?" Nicole finished.
"Now that sounds like more of what's going to happen." Dana said while flopping back down on her bed, "So there's going to stick the four of us in here?"
"Yeah Dean Rivers told me later they were going to turn Zoey's bed in to a bunk bed loft sort of thing." Lola said cheerfully.
"Yeah, ok cool just as long as I can keep the bottom." Zoey gave Lola her best pleading look.
"Yeah well after that performance with you and the floor I'd say that's a good idea." Dana was grumpy she didn't like to be awaken so early especially on a Saturday.
"Yes we don't want you to end up like Logan." Lola giggled.
"Logan?" Dana perked her head up, "What happened to Logan?"
"Why Dana I've never heard you sound so concerned before, least about a guy" Zoey winked at Nicole and Lola immediately caught on.
"Yeah especially when that guy is Logan Reese" Nicole teased.
You see Nicole might be a total dimwit at times but when things are explains and it has to do with 'love', dating and boys, Nicole can surprisingly retain and awful lot of information. Not to mention the fact the she and Zoey had a little bet going to see who would crack and be that first one to proclaim their love for one another. Any idiot, even Nicole could see that Dana and Logan belonged so perfectly with one another it could almost be mistaken for I don't know Chase and Zoey?
Dana threw her best glare, she was really good at hiding the flushed she felt run through her face, and snapped "I was just trying to be friendly and start a conversation with my new friend Lola! Is that a problem!?"
"Wow you make it tot the ranks of friend on your first day with Dana, impressive" Zoey giggled.
"But seriously what happened to Logan?" Nicole's curiosity got the better of her.
"He broke his arm."
"When did he break his arm? He was fine when we saw him yesterday." Zoey say down on her bed.
"Apparently last night he had some sort of horrific nightmare and fell out of his bed." Lola explained.
Dana sat up straight on her bed, "He fell out of his bed? No one breaks their arm from falling out of their bed. Wait a minute how do you know he was in the infirmary?"
"Well since I got in late last night, so Dean Rivers told me to crash in the infirmary. Then a few minutes later Michael shows up with Logan complaining that his arm hurt. So when she took some x-rays, she said it was broken and then asked how he broke it. Then he looked kind of weird and then Michael said that he fell out of bed. At first Shannon didn't buy it but Logan insisted that it was the truth. But I don't know I think Dana's right nobody really can break their arm falling out of bed, unless… does Logan have the top bunk?" Lola looked around the room for an answer.
"No he and Michael alternate every year, because Chase has his fear of getting up and whacking his head on the ceiling every morning." Nicole piped in, "Besides we have guard rails."
"Yeah that's why I think they just made it up to keep from getting into trouble." Lola continued while following suit with Zoey,
"Why would they be in trouble?" Nicole leaned against the door.
"I have absolutely no idea, but what I do know is how beautiful the moon was last night. It was so full, especially last night there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I never realized how bright it could be and how much it could light up the outside. It was beautiful particularly over the bridge, did happen to see it Zoey?" Lola smiled.
"Well I'm gonna go take a shower" Dana announced leaving the room, she wasn't much for talking about the 'beautiful' moon.
"The moon?" Zoey asked.
"Mhm, over the bridge." Lola stared directly into Zoey's eyes.
Zoey's eyes widened, "Over… the bridge?"
"Me too, I got to wash my hair" Nicole grabbed her towels and walked out of the room, completely oblivious to what was going on.
As soon as the door closed Zoey grabbed Lola by the shoulders and screamed, "Ok spill how much do you know?"
Lola was laughing at Zoey's hostile mood, "Just that a certain blonde girl and a bushy haired boy shared a very intimate kiss in the moonlight last night"
"Oh my God!" Zoey grabbed her pillow and buried her head under it.
"Zoey what's the problem, I'm happy for you."
"Well that's not the whole thing." Zoey brought the pillow down from her face.
"There's more?"
"Well Chase told me he loved me?"
"Well it's about time" Lola bounced on the bed.
"I told him I loved him back" Zoey's hand flew to her mouth as soon as she said it.
"What?!, You did? Oh my God I'm so happy for you, both of you" Lola pulled Zoey into a tight hug.
Just then the door to room 101 flew open, it was Chase "Zoey we have a situation…oh you're busy"
"Yes I know, Lola knows"
"Knows what?"
"I saw you guys last night on the bridge, it was so romantic, I am absolutely thrilled" Lola gave Chase a hug.
Chase returned the hug, "It's good to see you too Lola" Chase wasn't sure whether to be happy or embarrassed but he was confused and that was good enough for now, "Ok well I was just going to say Elvis got loose. Dean rivers finds out he's here and I'm in big trouble"
"I thought Elvis was dead" the three of them turned around to seen Nicole standing in the door way her hair in a towel and the rest of her in a thick fuzzy robe.
"No Nicole he is, but we're talking about Elvis, Chase's dog" Zoey informed her confused friend.
"Oh"
"You know if Logan was here and he saw you in that robe he probably come out with some really stupid comment." Chase said completely trying to avoid looking at Nicole, even thought she was covered up he still felt weird seeing her in her bath robe. It was like he was invading her privacy.
"Yeah he probably come up with something stupid and perverted like 'Hey baby why don't you let me see what you're wearing under that?'" Dana said in a retarded mocking male-ish voice. Suddenly Chase found the floor very interesting since now Dana was standing in the doorway next to Nicole. Only problem was she was worse than Nicole, she only covered up by a towel and her wet thick curls clung around her back and shoulders.
"Chase I'd be glad to help you look for him, but I haven't even showered yet. I must look frightening." Zoey said while combing her fingers thought her bed head.
"Nah you look beautiful as always" Chase realized what he had just said and in front of who. Dana and Nicole looked at each other with raised eyebrows, like 'well, well, well' and Lola stifled a giggle. Chase just lowered her head to the ground; red began to creep to the sides of his cheeks and his ears.
"I'm already dressed, so why don't I help you look for Elvis, and we'll let Zoey take her shower and Dana and Nicole can get dressed" Lola said as she took Chase by the arm and led him down the hall.
"Thank you" Chase said when they were a good distance away.
"No problem, I love Elvis" Lola said flicking her hair behind her shoulders, as they walked across the campus to the boys dorms.
"Elvis is asleep under my bed."
"So why did you said he got loose?"
"Because I wanted to talk to Zoey alone without… you know arising suspicion. I just said thank you for getting me out of that embarrassing situation"
"Wasn't a problem. So do you think that you and Zoey", Lola laid each of her hands out side by side, "will become, you know you and Zoey?" Lola brought her hands together to show what she meant.
"I don't know"
"Well you want to right?"
"Yes! I mean if she wants to, I hope she wants to. What if it doesn't work out?" Chase began pacing.
"She kissed you didn't she?" Lola offered.
"Yeah"
"And this morning when you saw her, was it weird?" Chase just stared at her, " I mean besides Nicole and Dana"
"Well no, it was like always."
"She told you she loved you?"
"Yes"
"And you love her?"
"Forever"
"Then you have nothing to worry about. You two were born for each other. Trust me I know things." Lola winked at him.
"You know something Lola, you scare me sometimes."
"As long as you don't hurt Zoey, you and I will be ok" Lola told him, "You promise you won't hurt her?"
"Of course I won't Lola I love her."
"Are you sure? I mean you absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure you love Zoey. That's it's not just a crush?" Lola moved closer to Chase.
"Yes" Chase answered her, curious as to where this was going.
"So if I did this…" right then Lola kissed Chase, it lasted for about thirty seconds, "you didn't kiss me back, so I guess it meant absolutely nothing?"
"Nothing like it was with Zoey. I'm sorry Lola."
"No, no, no Chase that's a good thing. This means that you're really in love with Zoey. That was the only reason I did that."
"Knock, knock" Zoey said out loud while walking into Chase's room, "I'm ready, any sign of Elvis?"
"Right under here" Lola pointed to Chase's bed, "Little guy must have wanted a nap away from the sun, probably hurt his eyes"
"Yeah I've seen Dana do that before. I swear she's a creature of the dark, wait until you see how 'easy' it is getting her up for classes." Zoey smiled.
Lola giggled, then sensed the awkward silence that filled the room.
"You know what" Lola started, "I'm going to go see how Logan is and maybe find Michael, Quinn, and Dustin, you know say hey."
Lola quickly excused herself and left Chase and Zoey alone.
"What happened to Logan?" Chase asked.
"Oh he broke his arm, something about a nightmare and falling out of his bed. Umm Chase can we talk about last night?"
"Sure, umm well… umm"
"Chase, last night went I said I loved you…"
"You just said it not to hurt my feelings?"
"No I… I meant it, I love you."
"Really?" Chase asked in a suave tone.
"Mhm" Zoey crossed the room towards Chase and put her arms around his neck, "Why do you think I got so upset when Lola asked you out that time? I was worried that you and she might hit it off and then I would never get the chance to tell you how I felt."
Chase locked his hands together and let them rest on the small of her back. He gave her a gentle tug to close the gap that was left between their bodies; he felt her body on his. Since Chase was a few inches taller the she, Zoey stood on her tip toes and closed that gap that separated their lips.
"I love you Chase Matthews"
"I love you Zoey Brooks, I've loved you since the first day I met you and I don't think that's ever going to change."
Zoey blushed at this then suggested "How about to celebrate our long awaited rendezvous and we go on our first official date?"
"I like the sound of that"
"But it should be something discreet; I mean I really think we should wait awhile before we tell anyone."
"What ever you want baby"
"Chase?"
"Hmm?" Chase parted him and Zoey just enough so he could look down at her face.
"Are we or aren't we?" Zoey asked him.
"Like I said whatever you want baby…. but I would like to be."
"What if doesn't work, then we ruin a perfectly good friendship?" Zoey spoke more into his chest, then to his face.
"Tis better to have loved and lost, than to have never to have loved at all."
"Quoting Tennyson now are we?"
"I would have thought differently about this a year ago, but now that I know how you feel I think I am going to have to agree with Tennyson. Zoey I would rather spend time with you now whether or not it works, then to live the rest of my life wondering what if."
"Really?" Zoey stepped back from him, but not out of arms length.
"Yeah"
"Me too." Zoey kissed him again.
Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one will include more Dana, Logan, and Lola. Actually we might be taking the focus off Chase and Zoey for a while since the two of them are such common denominators in stories. I'm just dying to do my LLD trio. Watch out for more updates because things are going to heat up and I don't just mean between Chase and Zoey ; ).
Lots of Love
Kisses,
Ms. HellFire 4590