Who Do I Choose?

CHAPTER 3

Chase looked at Zoey. Did he hear right? Did she just say what he thought she just said?

No it can't be… can it? he thought

Zoey was beginning to get worried. Chase hadn't said anything for a couple of minutes now.

"Chase?" she said softly. "Now would be a good time to say something. You've been really quiet and I'm starting to get worried."

He was quiet for another 30 seconds before he said, "So this is James… your b-b-b-boyfriend?" He was having difficulty saying that word about somebody who was like that to Zoey.

Zoey nodded and gulped. This is not as easy as I thought it was gonna be, she thought to herself.

All of a sudden, Chase burst out, "How could you do this to me?"

Zoey's facial expression turned to a look of shock. "WHAT?!"

"You heard me! How Zoey? How could you betray me like this?!"

Lola and Quinn took that line as their cue to leave. But, they saw that Michael, Logan, and James were still standing there. Lola went back and grabbed Michael, while Quinn grabbed Logan and the two girls dragged them away.

"James," Zoey said, "I think you should head back to your dorm."

"No," James said firmly. "I want to be here to defend you."

"Chase and I have to talk privately," Zoey explained.

James gave in. "Talk to you later," he said and gave Zoey a kiss on the cheek.

Chase made a gagging face and sound as James walked away.

"Chase," Zoey began. "Why do you think I betrayed you?"

"C'mon Zoey," Chase said giving her a don't-play-dumb-with-me look. "We both know that you told me you loved me. Now I'm here and I see that you've hooked up with-with-that," he finished pointing in the direction where James left in reference to "that".

"His name is James," she corrected him. "Chase, you know that you and I also discussed what would happen if we met somebody else. You and I also made a pact that if either of us ever got a girlfriend or boyfriend, that we wouldn't let it affect our friendship."

"But that was before we said we loved each other," Chase pointed out.

"Maybe years from now, if I ever breakup with James. But for right now, I'm staying with him," Zoey said and started t walk away. She turned around for a brief moment to say with no enthusiasm and more annoyance, "Welcome back Chase," and the continued to walk away.

Chase watched her as she did so. He knew she'd never betray him and that it probably just happened. He sighed.

"Maybe it's a sign," he told himself. "Maybe we're not meant to be."

-Who Do I Choose?-

Zoey slumped down on her bed. She put her face in her hands.

How could I have messed things up so badly with Chase?! she thought. He's my best friend and I now I don't even know if I can have a conversation with him face to face again!

Zoey took back anything she said about liking no classes on Sundays. She wished she had a couple to get her mind off Chase. This was not going exactly as she had planned it.

Lola sat down next to Zoey on her bed. "You OK Zo'?" she asked.

Zoey shook her head. "What am I gonna do?"

"Does James make you happy?"

"Of course he does."

"Does Chase make you happy?"

"Well… yeah."

"Well then I'm no help here," Lola sated and got up, picked up her tote bag and walked towards the door.

"Thanks Lola," Zoey said sarcastically.

"Anytime Zo'!" Lola said smiling. "If you ever need advice, talk to me. Right now, I'm gonna go find some peanut butter."

"Good luck," Zoey said sarcastically again.

When Lola had left, Zoey's smile turned into a frown as she put her head in her hands.

Both James and Chase feel right for me. James is my boyfriend and Chase is my boyfriend. James and I fit and Chase is really cute.

Zoey felt her eyes pop out of her head. Why am I having thoughts of Chase like that? Stop it Zoey or you're liable to end up crazy!

Zoey's cell phone going off interrupted her thoughts. She picked it up.

"Hello?" she mumbled.

"Zoey?" James's voice said.

"Hey James."

"You alright?"

"Yeah. I need some time to just chill."

"We still on for our date tonight? Because if you still need time, we can postpone it."

"Don't be ridiculous," Zoey said. "We're still on," she insisted.

"Great. Pick you up at 7:00?" he asked.

"Yup."

"See ya then."

"See ya. Bye."

"Bye."

-Who Do I Choose?-

Many hours later, Zoey had changed into a red mini dress with red heels and a red flower decoration in her hair.

"Zoey, you looked absolutely gorgeous," Quinn gushed.

Zoey smiled. "Thanks Quinn."

There was then a knock at the door. Lola, Zoey, and Quinn squealed. Zoey opened the door. James stood there gawking.

"Wow," he said when he regained his voice.

"Too much?" Zoey asked worriedly looking down at her outfit.

"No, No, No, No, No," James said quickly. "It could never be too much."

Zoey smiled, grabbed her purse, winked at her roommates, and left with James.

-Who Do I Choose?-

Zoey and James had just placed their orders at Sushi Rox and were getting very comfy. Something then caught Zoey's eye. In the corner of the restaurant was Chase. He was sitting alone, looking through a menu, but clearly his eye was on Zoey and James.

"Would you excuse me for a minute?" Zoey said to James.

She got up and walked over to Chase. She had to settle the uneasiness. Zoey pulled out the chair opposite Chase and sat down.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," he replied. "You're ditching your date?"

Zoey rolled her eyes. "No. Chase, we need to get something clear. James is my boyfriend and I really wanna be with him. But, that doesn't mean it should get in the way of our friendship. Our friendship still means a lot to me."

Chase looked at her. He was starting to get her drift. "Our friendship means a lot to me too."

"So," Zoey said. "Can we please still be friends?"

Chase smiled. "We had never stopped."

Zoey leapt out of her chair. She ran to Chase and hugged him tight.

"We're good?" Chase asked after the hug had ended.

"We're good," Zoey confirmed. "I'm gonna get back to James now."

"Talk to you later Zo'."

"See ya later Chase."

Zoey walked back to her table and sighed with relief.

"What happened?" James asked.

Zoey smiled. "I just got back my friend" she said.

Author's Note: So Zoey and Chase are friends again. Yea! Hope you liked Chapter 3. Don't worry, this is not the end. I got more chapters coming. Plz in the meantime review, any kind. I want you to voice your opinion. To all who reviewed: You will be especially thanked at the end of the story. Coming up soon, Chapter 4! Thnx.