The bell rung at 3:30, the end of the day was finally here. The gang was going to our favorite beach straight after school, it was the one we all accidently got stranded on at the end of our first year together at PCA because the taxi driver was given the wrong address, but never mind we all had a great time in the end. We introduced Lola to it in her first year and James just after we started dating. Chase and I were walking hand-in-hand along the beach whilst everyone else was minding their own business. That was when I saw it, I looked up to see Lola and Michael kissing! "Didn't you know Zo?" Chase looked at me with surprise. "When Lola told us what Vince had done, Michael was fumming and went straight to confront Vince. It got violent of course knowing what Vince is like, but Lola thought it was the sweetest thing and then they sorta confessed their feelings for each other." Chase explained and I felt so happy for my two friends, glad my theory about them having a thing going on was now proven to be true. James and Nicole were talking but I noticed whenever Nicole was distracted by Lola and Michael talking to her, James glancing over at me, I quickly looked away everytime. When Chase and I went to join the others sitting on the large rocks seperating the beach and the hill leading up to the road, Logan was running up to us, he had been on the phone to Dana. "Guys, Dana's parents said yes! She'll be coming back to PCA on Friday!" Logan was being totally out of character, jumping around in hysterics. We all laughed as he is obviously "crazy in love".
Throughout the week, Logan was getting more and more excited about Dana's upcoming return and the more time Lola spent with Michael, the more she forgot about how Vince was an asshole towards her. That was all she needed really, just a real boyfriend to love and protect her. Nicole and I were getting back to way we used to be, her year at an all-girls school has really made an impact on her, she was now easier to talk to because she doesn't get distracted so much by boys anymore.
On Thursday, I was going to see my younger brother Dustin, he had sent me a note demanding that I come to help him with a problem he had. I had no objection towards this, only that I was surprised, seen as he thinks I mother him too much, which I think is so not true. "So, there is this girl..."Dustin explained when I arrived at his very messy and un-organised "typical boys room". He said that he wanted some advice about how I gotten together with all the boys I've dated in my life so he could try some of these on this girl. "Well, Dustin you have understand that my love life isn't exactly amazing-" I was cut off by Dustin "I know but how did you actually get together with James?" I told him the truth, I wasn't gonna lie, James and I started as friends having dinner together at Sushi Rox and then the next thing you know, we've started kissing. I must admit, the day James arrived at PCA and the moment we first layed eyes on each other we did have a connection. "I suppose I could try asking her to have dinner with me, maybe after we've gotten to know each other something might happen" I nodded my head in agreement. Job well done Zoey. I praised myself for being the helpful big sister as I got up to leave. "Zoey?" Dustin said just as I opened the door, "What happened with James? One minute you were perfectly happy, the next your with Chase. I don't get it" Dustin had a point, I was hardly minutes away from breaking up with James when Chase and I had our first kiss. "I don't really know Dustin, I guess I just had a moment where I didn't really know what my heart was trying to tell me".
I was leaving Dustin's hall when my phone vibrated in my pocket as I recieved a text, from James;
Will you please come to my room? I just want to to talk - J.
I hesitated as I turned in the direction of his hall and through the corridors towards the room my boyfriend shares with his two best friends and my ex-boyfriend. I knocked on the door and let myself in. James was sitting on his bed, the bottom bunk of one the two sets of bunk beds, as this has now become a four bedroom dorm since Chase returned. He smiled at the sight of me and stood up immediatly. "Zo, I'm glad you came." He said this with small amount of excitement in his voice. "I just wanted to talk about what really happened that night at the end-of-year dance. You know when you...when you left me?"
I could feel the guilt I have been trying to avoid since I found out Chase and James were going to be roomates this year...and both in love with me. "James, I am so sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I just didn't know what to do." He looked at me as I said it, he was fiddling with something in his hand. "It's just that...when you told me you loved me, I didn't know what to do because...because Chase had already told me he loves me and I really didn't know what to do." He didn't look at me this time, just carried on fiddling with whatever was in his hand. "So, you thought the best thing was to just get with Chase?" James said this with a slight anger showing on the last three words.
"Well, all I was going to do when Chase surprised me with the news that he was back, and being his clumsy self he fell down the stairs. I only wanted see if he was okay and ask him about his feelings towards me. Trust me, I was still hurt over our split, but then he and I just kissed and then...we went to the dance together and everybody was so excited that we were finally together I just didn't have a choice. My dad then invited him to come on holiday for the summer with us and I didn't have the time to come find you, James" I explained it all quickly hoping he wouldn't get mad (the thought of me with Chase romantically did not seem to sit well with him) he just nodded, still fiddling with what's in his hand, I took a step closer to him. "Zo, when Chase kissed you, did you...did you forget all about me?" It wasn't when Chase and I kissed it was the holiday that made me forget about James and our unexpected break-up.
"No, I never forgot about us, honest" I said grabbing his hand. "You know, when I told you I loved you...did...do feel the same? You never told me because of...Chase." It was true I never did answer his question, as soon as I heard the words "I Love You" and because they weren't coming out of Chase's mouth, I was distracted by the thought of him to even consider my feelings towards James. "We had some amazing and wonderful times together James. But I think-" James stopped me, mid setntence. "Are you trying to tell me that your choosing him because you've known him longer and he's won you over with some sob story about love at first sight?" Those last words hurt, they also showed me the misunderstanding and jelously about how much James knows about mine and Chase's whole history. "Zoey, do you even know weather the feelings are mutual when it comes to him? You can't just say that you love him just because he claims to have loved you since the day he met you?" James was right. If Chase was certain about his feelings towards me, I was still left confused about my own feelings towards him and James.
James was now looking at me, his blue-green eyes looking directly into my brown ones. I really didn't know what to say next. But there was no need, James' lips were now pressed against mine. At first I refused, not saying anything just shaking my head but James wouldn't stop, eventually I gave in kissing him back. He always had a way with me, and I had missed his gentle touch and that warm feeling whenever he kissed me. He pulled me in close and I was so carried away I wrapped my arms around his neck. I couldn't believe it, Zoey Brooks is a cheater.