Thanks to withflyingcolors for my review :))

Hopefully you'll like this new chapter.

Disclaimer: I would've cast a new Zoey, and ordered more seasons if I owned Zoey 101. But I don't. So they ended at Season 4. Shame.

Zoey and Chase

Logan and Michael knew something was up as soon as they got back to their dorm. They had video-chatted with Chase several times while he was away on his one-semester visit to England. And they could always see the look of sadness in his eyes.

But it wasn't because he missed Logan and Michael. Yes, he did miss them, but he could deal without seeing them for a couple months. In fact, sometimes he still wished he could, because of the frequent arguments that arose over the stupidest issues.

No, he was depressed because he missed Zoey. His caring best friend, with whom he had been head-over-heels in love with since the moment he saw her (and fell off his bicycle). She was everything he could have hoped for, and just because of some stupid rumors he had heard from fellow PCA students, that he foolishly listened to, he was several hundred miles away from her.

Several girls had asked him out, because apparently the afro he had sported for so long was "in" in Covington at the moment, and after a while, he began to accept. Because he couldn't just stop living, right? And he could only hope that while he was away, no boys would take a particular interest to his blonde best friend (even though they had both promised it be okay to continue their social lives and date other people).

But when Logan and Michael got back to their dorm room, they could see the brightness that made Chase's eyes so alight with happiness, and knew it was because of one of the residents of Room 101 in the girl's dorms at PCA.

Chase had even offered to make the other's beds, and it was a well known fact between the three boys that Chase hated making the beds. He wasn't even complaining that he had to sleep on the floor, because someone else was occupying his old one for a whole four months.

He and James had even chatted for a while, and while they were chatting it up, Logan and Michael made a silent agreement not to tell the two about their interest in the same girl. Unless... Zoey brought it up, but then, it'd be her problem, wouldn't it?

Lola and Quinn were something like the best of friends at PCA. They loved Zoey just as much, but they were like sisters. The ones who were always left in the dorm room, chatting away at the most random of things. So it wasn't a surprise when they quietly were exchanging a looks as they noticed their blonde dorm mate humming away happily.

It was like the peppiness and brightness that had been absent that whole week before the prom had returned within the course of events during the dance. And they were happy for her. Curious too, because although everyone always knew Chase was completely in love with Zoey, they could never tell whether she held the same ones for him.

And they also couldn't understand why she didn't love James back. In truth, pretty much the whole gang forgot about Chase's confession of love to his best friend after James arrived. Only Zoey held a spot for him, a part of her mind that never spoke or acted out. Because she couldn't just admit her sadness over his absence. Not when she had a boyfriend.

And James did make her happy, they could tell; yet nothing can replace a deep, 3-year friendship, not even a sweet, charming boy who honestly cared for her. Because no matter how much she tried to argue with herself, she knew Chase cared for her more.

Lola and Quinn, on the other hand, absolutely loved James, seeing him as a "Chase replacement." Not that they didn't love Chase, they missed him just as much as Zoey for the first couple of days, but unlike Zoey, told themselves it was no use moping around for a semester which wouldn't be filled with witty, sarcastic remarks. And James' presence encouraged their forgetfulness.

So, Zoey might have been described as the happiest person on earth, when she turned around, and saw the bushy 'fro she hadn't seen for over four months. And she didn't regret the kiss she shared with him on the steps he had fallen down so many times. Her thoughts of guilt for James vanished completely.

She ignored the whispers she heard during the after-party. Because, honestly, she didn't care. "OMG, Chase is back. Are they together? They must be, I heard they were in love since the moment they met. But I thought she had a boyfriend, the really hot one? Nope, she dumped him- must be 'cause he's back. I think they are dating. I liked her better with the blonde dude.

They were insulting, but these people didn't know her. These people only caught glances of her on campus, and only believed the garbage rumors they heard from their friends. And she valiantly kissed him in front of a throng of people she knew were watching from the corner of their eyes. Because people still couldn't believe she had dumped the blonde hottie for a guy with such an unnatural afro.

And after they went to Sushi Rox, and underwent the shock of Logan and Quinn's secret (to be honest, she thought it was really cute) James had walked in, hand in hand with another girl, a brunette. All of her friends were angry (though Chase was unaware of Zoey's ex-), but while Chase was using the bathroom (or 'lavatory', as he said) she told them she couldn't care less.

Because first of all, Chase could technically count as a rebound too (which he wasn't), so why would it be bad if James had gone to someone too? James noticed Zoey after he had ordered, and gave her a friendly smile and wave, then proceeded to starting a deep conversation with his date. Second, James still loved her, and she loved him. As friends.

Zoey knew her friends saw her happiness, and were just as glad as the new couple was that they finally got together. Finally.

In fact, after the story of 'Quogan' (as Zoey secretly called it), her friends starting questioning Chase and her of what happened while Zoey was 'blowing off' the prom.

"This is so weird. And we're gonna have to get used to this?" Lola asked, extremely insensitive.

Quinn, who was offended by the comment, held up her wrist to reveal her zap watch, which she had used seconds ago on Chase.

"Never mind," she muttered and looked down. But seconds later, she perked up.

"So... Zoey. You and Chase, huh?" she started the girl-talk, as though the boys (most of all Chase) wasn't even sitting there with them.

"Um, yeah," Zoey cleared her throat, to let Lola know she'd give more details inside the safety of their dorm.

But Lola, as always, was persistent when she wanted something- especially when it was gossip. "So, how'd it happen?"

"Well..." Chase looked at his new girlfriend. Now they both understood Logan and Quinn's extreme uneasiness when everyone was questioning them.

"I was just walking around PCA when Chase called me," Zoey began.

"And we were just talking about how she ditched the prom, 'cause she had no date." Chase continued for her. "I guess you never dated anyone for the whole semester then, right Zoe?" Chase grinned. He didn't notice the looks everyone else exchanged with each other.

"Go on," Lola chirped, helping Zoey skip the question, so she could continue without adding the difficulty of explaining James to Chase.

"And he told me to turn around in the middle of the conversation," Zoey added.

"I was sitting on the fence above the stairs behind her," Chase grinned a second time, as the romantic memories from three hours ago flooded back into his head as images.

"And as usual, he fell off," it was Zoey who smiled this time. Logan and Michael, being Chase's roommates and best friends for so long, smirked at this. Lola and Quinn, being Zoey's roommates and best friends for so long, leaned forward in anticipation. Lisa and Vince just listened patiently, and Dustin (and his date) moved to a different table, for Dustin realized what they were talking about and didn't need to know about his sister's private life.

"And then I fell down the stairs," Chase went on. "And she ran up to me, and my arm was bleeding... and yeah." Chase blushed as he remembered the next part.

"And yeah?" Logan said, surprised by the abrupt ending. "What do you mean, and yeah? Did you guys kiss, or what?"

Everyone looked at him with a duh look, including Quinn.

He was hit with realization, then looked down ashamedly. "Oh. Never mind."

Lola, who always knew the two would be a couple one day, let out an "Awwww..."

"Wait, wait, what?" Quinn's head snapped towards her best bud. "What! They get an 'aww' and Logan and I get a spit take?"

Lola, who looked frightened at the dangerous expression on her roommate's face, excused herself to go to the bathroom.

Zoey, who was watching Lola leave, wondered why in the world she, of all people, missed most of prom. She was the one who was in charge, for Pete's sake!

She leaned in towards Vince. "So... what' s the story behind you and Lola missing prom?"

Vince closed his eyes, and muttered something about a stupid taxi driver.

Shorter than the last one, I know, but I'm going to do a continuation of each chapter. :)

Thanks for reading this far, and please review!

~viciousboar