Author's Note: As I promised, here's how our favourite Drama Queen's day has unfolded.

Disclaimer: Zoey 101 and all related characters are not my own.

Assumptions: Lola
Thursday, November 9th, 2006 (12:42 pm)


So today started out as any other day; Zoey's alarm clock rang, we got up half an hour later, I enjoyed a hot, hasty shower. Call me psychic, but days that start out as any other day usually prove to be, well, days like any other day.

Just past eight and I'd already made my first wrong assumption.

Zoe and I rushed off to History (Nicole had Art), grabbing some fresh fruit from the cafe on our way. Fortunately for us, we made it just in time. Unfortunately for us, everybody else in our class gets up when their alarm goes off, leaving the only available seating behind Logan. Grumbling about our misfortune, Zoey and I took our seats as the bell rang, signaling 8 o'clock. I scowled at her, my disapproval receiving a nod of sympathetic understanding.

I've always been told I'm a good actress.

Sitting behind Logan was exactly what I'd felt in the mood for that morning. I think I'm falling for him; falling for him hard. I came to this realization this morning between brushing my teeth and drying my hair. So, it was just my luck that I was forced to stare at the back of his head for the entirety of the class.

Ninety minutes later the bell rang and the classroom was instantly filled with kids rushing to get out of the hell-hole that is American History. Zoey and I, being much too wise and sophisticated to do the same, walked out the door a few minutes later; this, of course, had nothing to do with Zoey's binder popping open unexpectedly as we packed to leave, showering the classroom with her notes.

Next we had English, we meaning Zoey, Nicole, Chase, Logan and myself. Michael and Quinn had Math. In this morning's class, we were assigned groups for a project about 'Much Ado About Nothing' by none other than William Shakespeare. I'd acted in this play once, playing the role of Hero, Leonato's beautiful daughter.

Overall, this assignment appealed to me. For one thing, our final project would be a reenactment of two corresponding scenes. Secondly, my group consisted of Michelle (total ditz), Isaac (nice guy), Anthony (no comment), and finally, Logan. I pretty much figured this was turning out to be my lucky day.

Say hello to my second wrong assumption of the day.

We were left to read and discuss our interpretations of Act 1 within our groups. While we were all discussing the point of Act 1 (obviously the introduction to the main characters, the forming of relationships and misconceptions), Logan decided that we should just watch the movie and get it over with. I disagreed and we started arguing heatedly. The whole production reminded me of Beatrice and Benedick, two characters who are very competitive, yet secretly infatuated with one another.

After a while, the lunch bell rang and we all left the classroom, heading for our usual table on the patio. Nicole ran ahead, anxious to get the 'freshest bagel' and Logan stayed behind to talk to Mr. West so it was only Zoey, Chase and I. Needless to say, I felt like a third wheel. Thankfully, Quinn, Michael and Nicole (bagel in hand) were already eating when we arrived, Nicole chatting Michael's head off. A look of relief spread across his face when we joined them, mouthing a thank you to Chase. Logan soon arrived, and after a few minutes of gossiping, Zoey realized she'd forgotten something in the English class, so off she went to retrieve it.

As soon as Zoey was out of sight, the boys started talking about the Chase and Zoey dilemma. Honestly, can't they find anything else to talk about? Chase, getting the same answers from Michael and Logan, ignored their comments and asked us all for our opinions. Well, all of us with the exception of me. He probably still thinks I like him. Poor, naïve, bushy-haired kid.

Now that I think back on it, it looked like his hair had grown since yesterday. I wonder if Quinn had anything to do with it.

Nicole was off on a ramble (myself nodding along with her), and Logan and Chase left, probably driven away by the mindless blabbing. They're still not used to it, I guess. I dunno why; I almost am.

So here I am now; sitting at the table finishing off my grapes, watching Michael's facial expression as he listens to Nicole. It hasn't changed for close to three minutes. I won't bother telling Nicole he's not all there; she's not really talking for his sake, anyway.

"Hey guys, found my paper," Zoey says triumphantly as she slides onto a red plastic chair, waving her trophy at us before placting it on the table.

"HI ZOE! Ohmygosh, you'll never guess what happened! Guess! Come on, gu…"

"Uh, Lola?" she asks me, stopping a plum on its flight path to her mouth.

"Yeah?" I ask in reply, munching on my own purple fruit.

"Why is Michael looking at Nicole like that?"

"Oh," I say, grinning. "He's not actually listening… I think. He's been like that for a while now."

"Okay. For a second there, I thought Nicole had been saying something that made sense and I'd missed it," she jokes, taking a deep bite of her plum.

"Haha, nope. Not yet."

"Michael… Michael!" Zoey says loudly, snapping her fingers in front of his face. He blinks twice, looking up at her in confusion.

"Oh, hey Zoey. 'Sup?" he asks her groggily, looking around for, presumably, Chase. "Wait… where'd Chase go?" Bingo.

"He left with Logan a while ago. I met them on my way here, and Chase said something about coming to rescue you. So I suggest you go; I think he's starting to worry," Zoey informs him, following up her explanation with a sip of Blix.

Michael jumps up and gives Nicole a withering glare. "Aright, thanks Zoe. See you guys later." And with that, he leaves the table, taking the east exit.

"Why was he glaring at me like that? That's so mean," Nicole whines, her eyebrows furrowed in utter confusion.

Zoey laughs, shaking her head and glancing over mine for a second. Making a double take she stands up, abandoning her plum on the green tray.

"What, what?" Nicole and I both inquire, turning around in our seats and craning our necks to see what Zoey's staring at.

I don't see anything. Nicole, however, catches on.

"Oh my god," she whispers, almost inaudibly. "OH MY GOD!" No more whispering. She shrieks and jumps out of her seat, sprinting (there's something I never thought I'd see) towards… a girl.

As far as I can see, the girl's nothing special. She's standing alone in the middle of crowds of kids, some of them stopping to talk to her. Just-barely-shoulder length hair, aviator sunglasses, skinny jeans; like I said, nothing special.

Call me crazy, I've got a feeling I'm about to be proven wrong.

I can see Nicole latch onto the girl, laughing hysterically. The girl grabs her in a short hug and smiles back. A few seconds later and she's trying (failing) to pry Nicole off of her body. Then Zoey appears, helping with barnacle girl and giving the new kid a hug as well.

"Sure guys, I'd love to come meet somebody," I muse, watching the meeting unfold.

"Who are you speaking to, Lola?" I hear a voice behind me ask. Quinn. I'd completely forgotten she's still here with me.

"Zoey and Nicole," I tell her, turning around to start a conversation with my new best friend.

"But they can't hear you, they're off talking to that gir—" Quinn's sentence stops abruptly as she peers through her glasses.

"Sweet Mother of Alexander Graham-Bell!" she exclaims, leaving the table to follow after the other two who shall remain nameless. Oh joy unbounded, more greetings and exchanging of hugs for me to watch.

The four girls, who by the way are having a grand old time without me, start to make their way over to our table. What? What! This is our table; ours. Oh no, they're not replacing me are they? They can't do this to me. Okay Lola, think. You need something smart to say when they break the news to you.

"Hey, Lola? We want yo-"

"I never liked you guys anyways!" I shout at Zoey, folding my arms and leaning back in my chair, a satisfied smirk on my face. That'll teach them not to mess with Lola Martinez.

"Um, okay?"

Wait, something's wrong; Zoey looks thoroughly confused.

Oh crap.

My fourth wrong assumption of the day; my third was suspecting that the girl wasn't all that important. If three strikes mean I'm out, I must be clear out of the ballpark by now.

"Sorry," I mumble. I try to retain my cool composure; actresses never let their emotions control them.

"Anyways… we want you to meet Dana Cruz. She was our roommate in eighth grade." Zoey says, flourishing her hand to show off Dana as if she were first prize on a game show.

Wait; this is Dana Cruz? The Dana "Danger" Cruz? I've heard so many stories about her it's ridiculous. Even Nicole, who supposedly fought constantly with Dana, recited stories in such detail it made me feel as if I had been a witness to their entire eighth grade year. It also made me feel a bit like a nuisance; taking the place of their best friend and whatnot.

So here, standing in front of me, is the girl who had caused me about a two weeks worth of sleepless nights in my first month here, and Zoey wants me to meet her? I had felt unwanted and disliked by the entire gang, simply because she had run off to France and I happened to live with her old roommates. I later learned that this wasn't true at all, but that's not the point. It still hurt.

"Oh, hey," I say, sticking out my hand. "Lola Martinez."

Taking off her sunglasses, she grasps the offered hand and shakes it. "Dana Cruz."

"So I've heard."

Dana turns to Nicole.

"You guys didn't tell her stories about me, did you?" she asks, rolling her eyes.

"Well, duh we did," Nicole replies, beaming. "I mean, you were our roommate, of course we told her about you. Like that time you and Logan got paired up for the dance? Wow, that was insane. You guys were soooo mad! And that time that we played disc golf, and we thought Michael was dead, so you were all like "Are you dead?" and he was all…"

My ears start to burn as Nicole talks about the unfortunate dance pairings. I had almost succeeded in forgetting that. Dana stares at Nicole and shakes her head, turning back to me.

"Did she seriously tell you all those stories?" she asks me, raising an eyebrow.

"Hmm… nope, can't say I've heard much about you at all," I say, lying through my teeth.

I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of knowing that her best friends – excuse me, old best friends – talked about her for hours.

Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit harsh.

"Lola! Don't listen to her Dana, we didn't instantly forget about you. I'm sure we told Lola all sorts of things about you," Zoey tells Cruz, giving me a look. Dana, probably remembering how Zoey always tries to step in and spare everybody's feelings, interrupts her.

"Zoe, forget it. I don't care if you talked about me or not. I'm here now," she says, placing a hand on her hip and smirking.

"'Kay, but seriously, we did talk about you. A lot," Zoey reassures her, looking to Nicole for back-up. Nicole nods. Only nods?

We all look at her expectantly. She doesn't say anything, so we stare harder.

"What?" she asks nervously, eyes shifting back and forth.

"Never mind," I say, thoroughly exasperated with this whole situation. I jam my headphones into my ears dramatically and pretend to switch my mp3 player on. I stare off into space and throw in a bit of finger tapping to add to the impression that I can't hear them anymore.

"Drama Queen?" Dana asks, sunglasses dangling on one finger.

Zoey shakes her head as she swallows her sip of water.

"Actress."

"Ah."

Cruz makes plans for later and leaves with a wave, probably looking for more of her old chums.

I switch on my music for real and scoff. Nicole gives me a look so I move my head from side to side, pretending I'm into the music while thoughts start forming in my mind.

So, Dana Cruz is back, eh?

This is the start of an interesting friendship.


Author's Note: And there you have it; my last chapter for two or so weeks. Don't worry, I'll be back soon enough, hopefully with the next four chapters just waiting to be uploaded.