Hey There,

Welcome! It's Thursday! It's FINALLY ready! I apologize again that this is happening a whole week later than planned. But silver lining, I am posting more than once this week. So that you guys are getting the whole PROM this week. It's three chapters instead of one, I'm posting today tomorrow and Saturday. So I hope all can be forgiven and that sweetened the deal a little. It has been an absolute blast bridging all of these gaps. But I am sorry again for it taking so incredibly long to capture.

I have to admit to feeling a bit emotional about this one. THIS was the goal I've kept to myself this whole time. Wishing I could get here! And now we're finally doing it, it's Prom time and I couldn't be more excited about what we KNOW happens here, as well as all the blanks I intend to fill that happened here… and AFTER this. I don't know how much I'm gonna squeeze into this chapter. But I promise to give it all I can and I hope it's been worth the wait to you guys. Thank you all so much for sticking this out with me. Whether you waited two weeks or years, I hope it's as much fun for you as this has been for me! But enough of my wacky yakking! Let's get to it!

Standard Disclaimers Apply - I do not own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, Nickelodeon, MTV, or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I also don't own any of the episode moments I'm tweaking or repeating. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own premises and plots. Most will be returned unharmed.

Special Thanks to those who just found this story, and placed it on your Favorite Stories or Story Alert list. Special thanks also to those who have placed me as a favorite Authoress or on your Author's Alert lists. Not to mention all of you who have kept up with this story through all of these days, months, and years. God bless every single one of you!

Special thanks to my reviewers: (and friend!)Rose-Aki (Hey girl! Thank you so much for writing in, I know that you've been majorly stressed too and haven't had much time lately either. Congratulations on your three latest posts too! Amazing! Yes, Logan poor baby can't sleep so much when he's away from Quinn. I'm so thrilled you liked the idea of Quinn practicing confessing while Logan was asleep too. That both of them would feel even more anxious about saying 'I love you' after James and Zoey break up too. I was so nervous about all of those things when I posted it. Your words let me relax a little more going into these Prom moments. God bless you! I hope this chapter reaches you well and it's worth the wait. Thank you for kindness and friendship! Take Care and Much Love!), and RomanticRose25 (Oh my gosh thank you so much, I'm so glad that you found this story and that you enjoyed it that much. I hope you're still reading and enjoying since those were reviews for the first couple of chapters. And you wrote two reviews! I'm still blushing from your compliments! Thank you so much! I hope that these later chapters and situations still feel like the show for you. That they add to your enjoyment when you watch the series again and I hope you're having a great week! These comments made my day! Take Care and Much Love!)

Enjoy!


"The Collective Trials of a Quinventor… and Logan"

Chapter 33 - Day of the PROM!


(Logan's Perspective)

Do you remember, last Sunday, when I had to keep kissing Quinn like I was saying goodbye? Because I really didn't know if I was going to get to keep her. After she'd found Mark, and I had been so jealous and nervous. Even scared, of having to let her go? Not knowing how things would go?

Last night when Quinn kissed me goodnight at the end of the night. Right before we went back to our dorms to check in for curfew… That was how that kiss had felt to me… it was like that all over again, only it hadn't been from my end this time. It had been like SHE was trying to tell ME goodbye! And it scared me way more than any other kiss we've EVER shared. Even the first one! And that had been so shocking I'd felt like I'd almost crapped my pants!

As you've probably already guessed, I didn't sleep a wink all night. I sat up just replaying it over and over in my mind. If I didn't keep myself good and distracted with other things. I knew how her usual goodnight kisses went. And that wasn't it! What on EARTH had that been about?

Was she mad because I had fallen asleep? Did she think I was bored or something? Because that wasn't it! I was just too tired, and I couldn't seem to relax whenever I'm away from her anymore. I rest so much easier when she's around, or when she's there with me. I hoped that wasn't it.

As if things needed to be worse. I wasn't sitting up alone. James was up too, but he couldn't sleep because of a broken heart, not a troubled one, like me. He hadn't left our dorm for three days (besides for class). And everyone kept going on and on about how silent he was and what a witch Zoey was. Dumping him right before Prom.

It hadn't happened like that at all, their breaking up had been James's idea. He's the first to admit that, even now, and their break up was mutual after that, I know that. But the rumor mills and PCA newsfeed were all the cause of those false storyboards. Casting Zoey as 'the Wicked Witch' and James as an 'Ugly Duckling' that would turn into a swan for any girl who asked him out.

Brooke Margolin really seemed to want James as the Prom King when she won Prom Queen. She really thought she could still win too, even though her name hadn't been on the final ballots today (and Quinn's had along with Zoey, Lola, Stacey, Lisa, and a few others). God, what a nutjob! I can't believe I'm even saying this, but what did Mark ever see in that girl? She's not even that pretty! And she's just horrible… hateful, and DUMB!

Shockingly, all of these desperate girls throwing themselves at James since the breakup. Wasn't making him feel better either. So Vince, Michael, and me had all begun running interference for him ever since their break-up went public. I think James had been a little afraid of how all of us would treat him after the breakup. When he wasn't with Zoey anymore. I can't speak for everybody, but it was important to Michael and me that he knew. He still had us as friends no matter what. And it looked like Quinn, Lola, Lisa, Vince and even Zoey had done all they could to let him know that. I hoped that had helped him a little. He seemed a little more like himself now that that had been cleared up.

Since neither of us could sleep and I still had a ton of pictures I needed to touch up before I sent them off to be printed up (Again! The first prints turned out AWFUL!). And James needed a good distraction… I got him to help me out and work on one half of the gallery while I worked on the other half. I had given the safe side to James. The ones that were ALL of the pictures were group shots of our friends, none of the ones I didn't want anyone to know I had. But still, halfway through the night. After DAYS of nearly no conversation (just yeses, nos and maybes mostly from the guy). The first thing James said to me was. "You know… there's a lot of Quinn in here."

For him to say that, I was afraid I'd given him the wrong external hard drive and the wrong gallery to browse. Especially since he said this after a few hours of browsing. But he was right, even my average gallery carried a lot of her. To the point that it was noticeable even to his broken-hearted, restless-minded attention. I said as coolly as I could manage, "What makes you say that?"

"Because she's EVERYWHERE in here." He said pointing out even older pictures, from before we were together. Some of them even included both Chase and Zoey from before all of this Covington crap! I'm so glad I hadn't given him the wrong hard drive. It would have been a total confession if I had. The unsafe hard drive had a bunch of sentimental pictures on it along with the photos I'd scanned from our trip up north and all of the pictures from Mystic Mountian last weekend. The first prints of those pictures had arrived but they weren't good at all!

But as I started to browse the selection he was working on for myself. Just making sure, I had to admit it again. Even before we were together I had had a problem! She was in every other picture, or she was every other picture.

I denied it, but James was annoyingly stern about this. Even when Michael (the only one of us to sleep and signify morning when he popped up) woke up and we were all trying to start our morning together. By running out to eat breakfast together. That was all James had to say about helping me re-touch photos all night. He repeated for Michael, "There was a lot of Quinn in there, like ALL over the place. And a lot of them I bet she doesn't know he'd snuck."

Michael had quirked an eyebrow at me while he directed his question to James. "Was there any Stacey Dillsen in there? You know, the girl Logan ASKED to accompany him to his junior Prom tonight? Did she appear all throughout his personal yearbook? This year? Or any year prior?"

James even said, "Sure, but not like Quinn."

"Well, now! Isn't that interesting?" Michael asked, smacking me around while we stood in line at a coffee cart.

I retaliated as I told him to, "Grow up! Michael!"

He told me, "No! You're the one acting a fool! You should have just asked Quinn when you had the chance. But no, now you're stuck with Stacey… it sends shivers down my spine, just thinking 'bout it."

"Well, then it's a good thing she's not your date!" I told him and James before I asked them. "Why would I ask Quinn?"

They both told me, in one voice. "YOU WANTED TO ASK QUINN! IT WAS WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE!" Michael had added 'stupid' to the word 'face,' and James didn't. Nice to know who my real friends are.

But James ruined it backing Michael, when he said, "When we were grilling you about getting a date you couldn't take your eyes off of her. You've gotten so much meaner since you had to stop dancing with her and practice with your Prom date… And don't even get me started on how many pictures you're hiding of her. I tried to count them but I kept losing count whenever I reached the thousands."

I facepalmed as Michael repeated, "Thousands? Not hundreds but THOUSANDS? LoGaN!"

"What?!" I demanded.

"That can't be a coincidence, man! What is going on with you? Hey! Talk to me, bro! What is this?" Micheal asked me, so point blank he made it very hard to sidestep him. Even when it was our turn to place our orders. He was gonna get me talking or he was gonna fight me trying.

I was just glad that Brista Lydia isn't just the best because of her coffee. She also knew how to handle Michael, pretty well. So she'd known to step around the cart and him to ask for our orders while I was still trying to not fight him. She said as she stood between us, "Gentlemen, this is not time for a duel it's past dawn already. And we haven't the pistols, bullets or time. BESIDES! SO much more IMPORTANTLY, Tonight there would be two LOVELY ladies looking for their dates while you two would probably be in the hospital. So let's get some CAFFEINE in those veins and start feeling better! What'll it be?"

We both placed our orders and she stepped back around her cart and wrote them quickly on our cups before turning to James for his order. It would be terrible if we were both sporting black eyes in our Prom pictures. Because he doesn't know how to take a hint. The girls would be getting ready together most of the morning. My date (Stacey) had even booked a full spa experience this morning. And wouldn't be back for hours, (thank you God!) So she would look perfect standing next to me in our prom pictures. So we knew we wouldn't be seeing any of the girls… most likely. Because they were all probably off doing all of those weird girl rituals like that…

Or at least we thought we wouldn't see any of them. But Thank GOD Little Lisa happened to run up and get in the back of the line when she did. Michael ran back to her and finally let me go.

When I turned to face Lydia and James, I did not expect her to be apologizing to him. But she was, and James was telling her, "Oh no. Your advice was just and sound, I wish the results had been better and not exactly what I had been suspecting. That wasn't anyone's fault, it just happened."

I had to ask him, "What are you guys talking about?"

James explained, "Lydia talked to me in the theme park last weekend."

She cut in saying, "And I feel really bad because it was ultimately my little nudge that made him lose Zoey-"

"No! It wasn't!" I was saying with him, but James was quicker.

James spelled out, "Zoey and I mutually parted ways, even if that wasn't how Jeremiah covered it on the school news. And all you did was try to help me, again. I appreciate your honesty and keen eyes... really."

The redhead said, "Well drinks are on me anyway! Hope you guys have a blast tonight!"

We both tried to pay her, but she said, "Guys it's three coffees, not three kidneys, caffeinate and chill before the party of our LIVES! HAPPENING TO-NIGHT! I better see you all there!"

I said, "You're gonna be there too, no moonlighting tonight?"

"Nope! I'm off and it's gonna be the party of the year!" She cheered and everyone who already had their coffee cheered with her. Those standing in line behind us still stood waiting for coffee. Just made a noise like a pack of zombies.

As James and I, handed off Michael's coffee to him. We started walking back towards our dorm together. James said, "That was nice of her… to feel bad like she did, and treat us like that."

I had to tell him, "DUDE! She treated us, cause she likes you. Read the room!"

"What, Noooo!"

"Yeah!" I insisted.

"No! Sh-she felt guilty, she sa-said so-" James stuttered.

I explained, "That was just a cover, look Lydia's a penny pincher. She doesn't just go around treating everyone all the time. Even if she's the best Brista on campus, she totally likes you, trust me. Didn't you date anyone before Brooks?"

"Of course, I did." He said, taking a big sip.

"Just not a lot?" I guessed and he admitted.

"Yeah, not a lot at all. Girls at my old school all thought I was a nerd, and they were right." He told me. "I was never this popular before this school."

And I just did manage to say. "Well, we won't let the girls here at PCA find that out-" But that was when Zoey & Lola walked by. They were leaning on each other still looking half asleep, and like the leaning was the only way they were getting around. The sight of Zoey had frozen James, but that wasn't what had gotten me. It was what Zoey had been yelling over her shoulder that turned me to stone.

"Quinn! Come on!" Zoey called, before telling Lola in a softer voice. "Oh no, I think we lost her."

Lola yelled, "Yeah! Lydia's got a pretty good line this morning! No time for a Lab Run, woman!"

Then I'd heard Quinn answering them off in the distance, "Comin', comin'! Hold your horses!"

After being up all night, thinking about her, there she was. And even as she barreled past us to keep up with her roommates. Not very sturdy at all on her feet, she just knocked me out, on sight.

But James and me were off to the side and none of them saw us. Quinn came rushing past just like the other two had. She must have been so concentrated on keeping up, she didn't look our way either. They all greeted Michael, Lisa, and Vince who had just walked up but before we could go back. I caught a glimpse of James's face. I could tell he wasn't in a social mood.

So it didn't surprise me at all when he told me, "Go on. I'll meet up with you guys when you get back."

"Where are you heading?" I asked out of curiosity.

He said, "I'm gonna see if I can finish up those pictures I was working on. Catch ya later." He said heading back towards our dorms.

I was going to go say "hi," to the girls (but really, Quinn). At least, but my cell phone started ringing. I had to talk down my Dad's head-gardener at our main house for the fifth time in 24 hours. I've never really asked for anything specific to be done outside of any of my dad's houses before. I only ever cared about the basketball court and playground really. The one time I do, he goes freaking nuts. Acting like I asked him to bring me one of those snowdrop flowers from the tip of EVEREST! It was just a very IMPORTANT bench that the Dean had tried to REPLACE…to throw away! And a bunch of bulbs I wanted to plant? LOTS of Tulip BULBS! What's the big deal?! I wasn't even asking him to do it, I wanted to work on it myself. During the summer, which wasn't gonna start for a few weeks yet.

He'd made such a big stink about this RUINING his outdoor demographic. And my Dad not being there to authorize any of this. That I had to move this project to my grandparent's house… for now! I would be spending more time there this summer than any place else anyway. They were totally cool about it and they were sending their gardeners to pick up these things today. But Dad's gardener was freaking out about these two people even more than he did when these things were delivered yesterday.

I also had to call my grandparents and thank them again, for understanding. And it turns out they didn't send someone to get these things for me, they went themselves in my Pop's Pick-up truck. Leave it to them to be that AWESOME. They said if it was this important to me, they weren't gonna let anyone else handle it. Do you see why I love them so much?

PCA was changing out a bunch of the outdoor benches that were getting worn and old-looking. One in particular bench was being lifted and changed out when I found out about this YESTERDAY! I'd nearly had a coronary, right there!

I paid for it on the spot and got some of Dad's people to come pick it up. It had even sat in my dorm room for a little bit because I was afraid to let it outta my sight. Thank GOD my roommates never saw that. It was sent to my Dad's main house in Beverly Hills and put into a corner of one of my dad's garages till I get home to work on it. But now it was in my grandparent's shed, till I got there for summer break. And I'd ordered bags and bags of tulips to plant around it. I don't think I have to tell you why. It was something I was not gonna let get thrown away. I couldn't! I had to keep it!

But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Because it made me look at my text history and voicemails again. And it turned out I had several from Chase, that I hadn't seen yet. STUPID GARDENER! Chase was supposed to be arriving HERE by now, but when I read all of his messages and listened to my voicemails. He was telling me he had been stranded at an airport in London for hours before his flight cleared. Something about the runway being flooded and too wet for take-offs. He was on his way now but it would still be hours before he was actually here (I looked it up on goggle and the flight alone would be 11 hours and fifteen minutes on a non-stop flight from London to L.A. soooo yeah.). It wasn't hopeless yet, he still could get here an see Prom but he was gonna be cutting it way closer than planned. So I called our driver who was waiting for him at the airport and let him know about the delays, and got all of that handled first.

When I looked up again, everyone was gone from where they had been all standing together.

I thought I'd missed my chance, but then I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned, there was Quinn handing me the rest of my breakfast. Telling me, "Thought I'd treat you for a change."

"Thanks," I smiled, I couldn't help it. She even knew what to order, even though I usually do that. She pays attention to details like that.

Being the only other person in on this surprise today. Quinn knowingly asked me as we walked towards the table where ALL of our friends were already eating together. Off in the distance, "Any word from Chase yet?"

I pulled her off to the side and let her know how everything was getting shifted. Because his flight was held back. She said, "Well, at least he's on his way now and it was delayed not canceled."

She had a point, but so did I. I told her, "Yeah, but now I can't guarantee I'll be around when he gets here. I promised Stacey we'd meet up early because she doesn't want to miss a second of this Prom. Lola practically made her plan the whole thing and she's way proud of it."

Quinn reasoned, "As she should be, they accomplished a lot in a very small window of time."

"They, my butt! Lola didn't do squat!" I complained, "The dance and the after-prom thing too. It was all other people, I know you were helping out too. But I don't know how, because you won't tell me."

"You'll find out soon enough." She did flirt quietly. And almost distract me from my point... almost.

I recovered though and said, "The point is! I can't be here waiting around for Chase when I have to play Stacey's date to this thing… EARLY! I think we'll be there before the band and teachers."

Quinn said, "At least she's excited for it, Zoey acts like it's a funeral or something. She's so underwhelmed."

I had to admit, "James too, he got one peek at Zoey just now. When she walked past with Lola and went right back to our dorm. I don't know if we're gonna get him to even go to Prom or not."

She admitted, "That's a shame, he should go." She was saying between bites.

I agreed "He should," between my own bites. "We'll all miss him. I told him that, but I don't know."

"Yeaaaah, you can only do so much." She said leaning against the wall behind her and I leaned in closer to her too. As close as I dared still out in the open. I was dying to ask her about that last kiss, I wanted to know what that had been about. But we were still partially out in the open. If any of our friends had spotted us, I'd be screwed. Especially since all of that teasing Michael and James had already been doing this morning.

But since they were all chowing down, still waking up, I saw my chance and took it.

Since I knew a hiding place was right behind her. I pulled her with me over to it. It was a very TIGHT hiding spot where we both barely fit inside of it's cover, standing up, and pressed close. We'd found it together at nearly the beginning of this whole hidden relationship, and I asked her. "Are we gonna talk about that last kiss, last night?"

And she shrugged but didn't meet my eyes when she asked, "What about it?" Taking a nervously big bite.

"It was different from all of our others, it felt like you were the one saying goodbye, now." I told her point blank.

She'd swallowed first before speaking and shrugged again, "Whatdoyamean?" It had all come out as one word, and she still wasn't looking at me.

So I turned her head towards me, when I told her. "I know how you kiss, okay? I know how it's supposed to feel, what was that about?" I'd finally said the words that had been burning inside of my head all the rest of last night.

She came clean, "I wasn't saying goodbye… Not really."

"Then what was it?" I asked, even as Lola could be heard going past our hiding place yelling for Quinn. And Quinn almost stepped out to let them know where she was, but I grabbed her just in time and shushed her. I had to hear what she was gonna say and she couldn't blow our cover… not yet.

"Quinn! Where did you disappear to?!" Lola said aggravatedly. Before complaining, "And So FAST too!"

Zoey met up with Lola, right outside of our spot. Agreeing, "That was so fast. I wonder where she went?"

Lola said, "If she's in her lab checking on her inventions today, so help me. I'll pry her out with the jaws of life."

Zoey's voice trailed off as they walked away together. "It shouldn't happen, we hid all of her protective wear, remember? We even got her stuff inside of her cubby in her lab. Just to make sure she doesn't do that stuff today…"

When they walked off still talking together, Quinn tugged against me in the teeny space and reasoned, "I really should let them know where I am. And that what I heard's so NOT COOL! They're not gonna give up easily."

But I said right back, "They can wait another minute… Quinn? What's going on? Talk to me."

She finally explained, "I know I had you ask Stacey because I knew she was harmless and I didn't have anything to worry about with her…"

I encouraged, "But?" Cause I knew one was coming.

She surrendered, "But I was feeling very jealous yesterday in dance class and… I don't know, I was still feeling it last night. I was putting all the things I couldn't say to you, into that kiss. Sorry, I made you think I was saying something else."

I could have gone a few ways with my answer, but I decided the best way to go. Would be to make her laugh, so I went for 'classic Logan's reaction and asked, "Let me see if I've got this straight? I asked Stacey, because you made me, thinking she wouldn't make you jealous. Then I made you ask Dustin out of pure revenge thinking I wouldn't get jealous of him. But now we're both jealous anyway? Is that right?"

She rolled her eyes but laughed too as she said, "God! I knew I would regret telling you the whole truth, on that one."

"So you've been missing me during that class too?" I had to get her say again. Because most of last night had been my whining about how much I missed her. How pissed I was about DUSTIN NOT DANCING with her. But just sitting with her or swaying with her. HOW is that dancing, I ask you?! And she'd been so quiet, that whole time. Letting me vent! I needed to know I wasn't alone in this.

She admitted, "Significantly more than any other time of day, yes. We've counted on it for so long, it just seems so unnatural to not still be doing that. Especially when you were dancing our dance yesterday, with somebody else… it was just-"

"Torture!" I said before she could!

"It WAS!" She agreed.

"For real." I nodded with her. Before trapping her against the tiny back corner and telling her, what I had been planning to say. The moment I got her alone today. "No matter what I say or do today. To cover up for what's really going on here, between us. The thing I'm looking the most forward to is that moment when it's just us. Okay? And we don't have to act anymore. Okay?"

When she didn't answer me right away, I nuzzled my head against hers and she said. "Me too." And she hugged me tight, as she said. "But I feel like I'm gonna be putting on a full-blow stage performance to conceal my real feelings all night."

"Me too," I bumped my nose to hers, and she took a deep breath.

She confessed one last thing "I also HATE all of this not knowing how or when we'll accomplish our sneak off. And not being sure of how much time we'll get to be like that. It's all of that uncertainty that's twisting my insides today, I think."

I had the same knots and nerves going on, but I utilized those last few minutes. To assure her, we were in this together. So I spent the rest of our time squeezed together there. Making sure she knew that without a doubt. So yes! We made out, but it was cut super short! Because Zoey and Lola STILL don't know when to quit. They'd circled back and came by AGAIN yelling for Quinn, and this time she'd slipped back out before I could stop her. Even though I'd had her trapped with me for that little bit. It wasn't enough, not by half. But it would have to do till we got our chance to be together tonight.

After finishing our breakfast with the rest of our groggy gang. I headed back to my dorm and found James still working on the photos. I told him, he'd done enough and the rest could wait. But he insisted. "No-no, I want to see if I can finish. I haven't got a lot left."

"Okay," I shrugged, and I was about to ask him something else. But can't remember what it was.

Because before I could say anything, James told me. "I'm not going… to Prom, I can't. I saw Zoey and… I just can't."

I said, "Hey, it's okay… you'll miss out, but it's okay. Really."

"You think?" He asked.

"Yeah! I mean this is your Prom too, just as much as anyone else's. You've gone to school all these years and you only get two shots at Prom. You've still got Senior Prom next year, and all of your new friends will totally miss you. But they'll understand too, you can't help how you feel… no one can. And actually, you might be helping me a ton if you don't go or are a little late for Prom." I said as new and better plan started taking shape in my mind as I talked.

"What do you mean?" James asked.

Since it was looking like Chase was getting here a LOT later than planned. Between plane and traffic delys, and I had a date I HAD to get to tonight. And James didn't anymore, I asked him. "How good are you at keeping secrets?"

"I'm pretty good at it," He said wearing a peculiar smirk. Before he asked, "Why?"

I hinted, "Because I'm kinda part of a BIG surprise tonight and things just aren't panning out the way I'd hoped they would. Could you hang here and help me, before you head to Prom? Or if you want to skip it altogether, can you just kinda watch for a friend of mine?"

"A friend?" He asked before adding. "Besides our usual gang?"

"It's Chase, he's home…"

"He is, really?!" James said surprised, but thankfully even after all of this crap with Zoey. It didn't look like that was such a bad thing to James.

So I went on, "And he's heading here as soon as his plane lands. He made some kind of crazy deal with the people over there in England. So he could leave early, and still get here in time to still go to Prom with everyone."

"He's coming here? Is he originally from here? Or something?" James asks. And I know what he meant. Why wasn't Chase just going home if school was over for him?

"No, he's not from here. He's an East Coaster, his family's in Maryland… Baltimore to be exact. Try not to give him too much crap about being an Orioles or Ravens fan. He can't help it if both his home teams suck. But he's heading here to finish out the year with us. He was supposed to be arriving right now but his flight got delayed and he's still airborne as we speak. I can't sit around and wait for him when-"

James finished for me, "Stacey's expecting you to come get her eventually?"

"Yeah! Can you tell nobody about this and just help him when he gets here? His room assignment is he's gonna be sharing with Vince down the hall. Not great, but all I could find last minute and that was only because of that Kirk kid getting expelled last week."

James shook his head, "I know that was so stupid, who streaks through a Yoga class?"

I reasoned, even though I didn't want to, "Ninty percent of that class is female."

James reasoned right back, "Sure! But everyone's eyes are closed, the only way they knew about it had been when he'd passed out from exhaustion."

"Dumbest thing to happen around here in a while." I had to agree.

Even if James went on, "But I doubt he'll be missed very much. Vince was always complaining about him… and his smell."

"Eww!" I had to say!

James said, "Hopefully, that hasn't lingered."

I tried to think on the bright side and said, "If it has I'm sure Quinn can think of something. Remember how she helped us out with that coffee smell in here after the coffee ban bust?"

"Yeah, that's true. Maybe mention it to her if you see her at Prom." James said, not knowing he was giving me a perfect excuse to need to talk to her. Which I needed a good hundred excuses just to get me through the first hour I was gonna be staring at her from across the room.

The rest of that time was James showing me what he'd done to the photos he'd been working on. I have no idea why, but he'd split the whole gallery of doctored photos into two folders. One was Labeled "Safe" and the other was labeled "AM." And I had no idea why he'd done that… until Michael came through, got his tux and other stuff and went to get ready. Almost as soon as he was gone… And I had been promising to be right behind Michael. I needed to get ready too…

The moment Michael was gone, James started showing me the contents of the "AM" folder. Because "A.M." had meant "After Michael." He shared his work on photos that had me FREAKING OUT INTERNALLY. Those were the pictures from our trips to both of my Dad's sets. The ones I'd snapped myself on the sly, or stolen from Dad's principal photographers, and movie-tographers. Even the ones captured by paparazzi that I'd scanned of us dancing and smiling together at Dad's parties and all over Dad's sets. I HAD given him the wrong external hard drive after all. As he went on showing his work our first pictures together as a pair that we'd taken last weekend. He'd tweaked them and while they looked flawless now, I knew I had some explaining to do.

James asked me coolly, "So, do you care to tell me what's going on here? Or did you want to ask me again about how good my secret-keeping is?"

"No, I think you've proven that you're good." I had to admit.

He said, "So you noticed how I didn't drop this on you till Micheal was gone?"

"Yeah, I appreciate that, and I owe you an explanation-"

James specified, "And please no bull shit about her just being your dance partner. Or just being a good friend to you. Because I've been looking through your gallery and there's no way she's not more than that. Level with me here, Logan. What's really going on?"

So it came out, in a rush. "I love her, okay! I love her… I really do."

"Clearly, but does she know that?" He asked.

"No," Which is true.

"So what is it? Are you guys hanging out? Dating? What is happening?"

"We've been dating since February and keeping it secret from everybody."

"Since FEBRUARY? So almost my WHOLE time here?" He'd asked.

"Yeah, nearly." I came clean.

"Why did you ask Stacey to the Prom then? If you're dating Quinn already?" He asked me. And I knew it made no sense.

It made even less sense when I said, "Quinn made me." Even if it wasn't a lie.

"Quinn made you?" James repeated, before saying. "Sorry, but you're gonna need to give me a little more than that, Reese."

So I ended up telling James a summarized version of just about everything. How we'd gotten together, how we'd been sneaking around together, dating, ALWAYS hiding it. It had all started that crazy week when Michael was getting followed around by that Horse. And the week Quinn had gotten dumped by Mark. How does that seem so long ago, now?

I let him know that he's the second friend to find out, because Chase accidentally found out first. Almost in the beginning when our webcams glitched a second time in our dorm room {Ch. 4}. When it was all out there and I had nothing else to say, I really was expecting blackmail threats and a lot of teasing. I tried to face it head-on and let him get it over with.

But all James said was, "Okay."

"Okay? Okay? O-kay, WHAT!? What does that even mean-"

"It means, that I'm glad you do seem to actually love her. That's all I need to hear to be okay with this. But our other friends may not be so easy on you. Particularly all of our female friends." He tried to explain.

But I was still asking him, "What?"

James went on, "I think everyone's got their suspicions now. But I think they're all more worried that you could be just catching Quinn on a rebound, using her, or that you're just leading her on… or something."

"Seriously? What do they take me for? These are my friends we're talking about?" I fumed.

James reasoned, "I think that's something all of our friends are worried about. I think if you start with 'you love her' like you just did with me. They might come around a little easier. But I think Lola is gonna be the toughest on you. She hasn't been exactly singing your praises lately."

I had to say, "Yeah, no shit!" She's ALWAYS been like that.

"BUT!" James got my attention and said, "If she can see what I saw in those pictures. How happy you guys are together. I know she'll come around, I know I'm still new. But I've never seen either of you that happy before, not even in dance class… and that was the happiest I'd ever seen either of you till today. I think you two have something really special… between you."

"Me too." I had to admit.

And it was his turn to ask me, "Have you ever loved anyone like this before?"

"No," I was honest with him.

And he'd smiled as he said, "Hurts like hell doesn't it?"

"It does! And you feel so freaking CRAZY all the time… it's awful!" I complained, even if it felt good to admit it.

"But also amazing, right?" He guessed.

"Yeah," I affirmed. "And I haven't been able to tell her for weeks… then you told Zoey you loved her and it went all to HELL. We've had to hide it all this time. Because we didn't want to have to deal with everyone laughing at us or all of the teasing we'd get just from our friends…Can you blame me? After getting to know our friends, and how they are? Can you blame us for hiding it?"

"No, I can't say I do," James admitted before he also said. "But I knew it had been a gamble. Telling Zoey how I felt, and I almost expected the reaction she gave me. That didn't make it hurt any less, it just made it that much worse, in my case. But I don't believe you'll get the same reaction from Quinn."

"You don't?" I had to ask, I hadn't gotten to talk to ANYBODY like this besides Chase. And that hadn't been in person. And Chase wasn't really here to witness everything like James has been.

"No, I don't… I think she's just as gone on you as you are on her. The pictures spoke a thousand words, even the ones I know she didn't realize you took. She just lights up around you… the same way you light up for her. I think you should tell her how you feel. Because I'm almost certain she feels the same… and if you've got something that awesome between you. You both shouldn't hide it, from each other or anybody else. No matter what anyone else may say or think… you should just, do it."

Before I could say anything else, our dorm room door flew open. Both Michael and Vince were standing there fully ready for Prom now. In their perfectly pressed tuxedos, aviator sunglasses, and shiny dress shoes trying to rush us on. Michael was yelling, "Where in tarnation are you two! Or are you both planning on wearing THAT to your Prom? I can't wait to see those Prom pictures at the reunions!" He asked throwing off on our shorts, t-shirts, and shoes. Like he wasn't totally jealous standing there in the three-piece monkey suit!

Vince even warned, "Yeah guys, hurry up, the girls are gonna be waiting on us."

James said, "Nope, I'm not going at all and Logan was just heading out to do the same as you two. Weren't you, buddy?"

Michael said, "Yo-yo-yo-You're not? You're not going?"

Vince even whined, "James? But it won't be the same without ya, pal."

"I'm not up to it, but Logan's heading out now… Don't want to be late for Stacey."

"Yeaaaaah," I agreed… slowly, "That's right."

When I turned back to James. He was already assuring me, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for that package you're expecting. Just go get ready and I'll still be here when you circle back. We'll talk more about those prints you wanted to order by tonight." He'd said, but he'd winked at me on the sly where neither tux-wearing friends could see it. He knew we still had more to talk about.

So I gathered up all the things I needed and disappeared to get ready. Before I got pulled into any of their arguing, about EVERYTHING. I rushed for the bathrooms, leaving Michael and Vince trying to convince James to go to prom. I left it to them, knowing I'd already said all I could and tried to get him to come too. But the rest of it was up to him, in the end. I hoped he wouldn't let this whole mess with Zoey ruin his night. But I had… [sigh] a date to get ready for. And even more important sneak off to plan. I tried to think of getting ready for Quinn instead of Stacey.

While I was getting ready, so was Dustin. And I'd helped him with his tie, while I scolded him about not letting his date sit too much. Quinn was famous throughout PCA for her dancing, he can't just let her sit there tonight. He HAD to get up and dance with her.

He said, "Okay, okay, GOSH! What's it to you, anyways."

I spun it like, "Quinn and me have kinda been partners in all of this. And it just wouldn't be right if I'm dancing all night somewhere, while she wasn't at all. You know?"

Dustin even admitted, "She is really good at it."

"She is." I had to boast, why wouldn't I? She was the best!

"But she looked so good dancing with you and guys her age. I don't think I can dance with her like that." Dustin worried, but I was glad that I'd gotten him thinking about it. Do you know he didn't get her a flower, like I got for Stacey? So he was bringing Quinn a Canadian Dollar? Like that's the same thing? Was I really this dumb when I was his age? Or is there something that wrong with Zoey's little brother?

"Just try, okay!" I said, as I spun him and let him see for himself. He's tie looked much better now.

He said, "Okay, I'll try but you have to do something for me too."

"What? Why?" I had to ask.

He held up this little scrap of folded paper, that looked like it had been folded by a preschooler trying to learn origami. It was basically balled up, but the paper looked like some of Quinn's favorite stationery. I'd seen her writing on it a million times, if not sketching blueprints, and Dustin said. "Look, I don't know why Quinn asked me to her prom. I was kinda worried she might have feelings for me or something at first. Because I don't like her like that."

"She knows that," I felt like I needed to tell him. "She knows that! She wanted to go stag but all of us made her get a date. She picked you because you're nice and you're not gonna try to come on to her. She's not ready for that, because of Mark."

"Well, that makes sense." He admitted, but went on explaining the paper in his hand anyway. "But before you said all of that, I had no idea what was going on. So Zoey got me to do a little detective work, to find out why she'd picked me. And the other day in that last dance practice. I saw Quinn write this little note on the fly in gym class while we were hanging out in the bleachers together. She tucked it in her purse and zipped it up. So I stole it when she wasn't looking and peeked at it, just to be sure-"

"Dustin! What the HELL!" I complained. He knows better than that, and why the hell was Zoey making him snoop? What kinda shoty sistering is she pulling on this kid? And WHY? Why was he telling me about this and NOT just giving it back to the person he'd stolen it from?

He said, "I know it's bad! I know I shouldn't have, but the worst part about this whole thing. Is that it wasn't a note for me at all. It was a note for you, and I think she was planning on giving it to you. She just didn't get the chance because it disappeared on her. I caught her rifling through her bag looking for it later. And she kept calling it a sign, that the note had disappeared from planet Earth. Like it wasn't meant to be or something, kinda romantic for a science chick? Isn't she? Anyways, has she given you any other notes since then?"

I tried to still argue with him that this wasn't right. That he should be handing it back to Quinn, or at least putting it back where he'd found it. But Dustin stayed firm, "Has she written you any notes since then?"

I finally answered, "No."

He tucked it in my jacket pocket and said, "Take that with you." I tried to fight him on this but he said "No, I feel terrible and I think it's something you need to see. But don't read it now, just… you know, if you get bored with Stacey or have a minute to yourself. Take a look at it." He said before he was waving and leaving the room and saying "See you at the dance."

I asked him, "Wait a minute, if Zoey told you to snoop… did anyone else see this note besides you?"

"Nope," He said, "Just me, but it's addressed to you… that's why I gave it to you. So, catch you later." Then he was gone, and I felt like he'd just left a brick in my pocket. I didn't want it to fall out of the too-small and slanted pocket he'd stuck it into, down at my side. So I put it into the concealed upper pocket on the inside of my jacket. I was so worried about losing it before I could give it back to her. I didn't even realize till I was looking myself over in the mirror. That I had put her note in the left side of my jacket… so it was right over my heart. I didn't even know what it said yet and already I was holding on to it that protectively.

I wanted to hand it back to Quinn without reading it. Because I don't know if she really meant for me to see it or not. But Dustin had said it was written for me, that I should see it and that did perk my curiosity. I probably would have read it right then and there, even after Dustin told me not to. But there were too many guys all around me, competing for the mirrors too, trying to get ready too. It just wasn't the right place, so I tucked it in my pocket and decided to think about it later…

I had bigger things to worry about right now. A date and three HUGE secrets weighing on my shoulders (A secret relationship, Chase's homecoming and now this note too). Along with the stifling suit jacket and these AWFUL sleeves. Then Stacey was going to attach herself too the sleeve. And make me want to cut them off even more. At least she wouldn't be digging her talons into my bare arm.

When I got back to my dorm, James was still there as promised. Whatever Michael and Vince had said to him had gotten him even more conflicted about missing Prom. He even had his suit out now. As much as I hoped he would go, I was so glad for his help, and coolness all around too.

I had to run through everything he needed to know and I needed to swear him to secrecy at least one more time (even if we'd already done that a few times, I'm new at people knowing this around us! And tonight there would be at least two if not three, Dustin may know now too, if this letter really is for me). Just to make sure I didn't miss anything. He was already telling me, "Both of your secrets are safe with me. When you tell Quinn later about this, can you please assure her of that too?"

I did tell him to, "Tell her yourself, when you get there."

"I plan on telling her first thing, IF I go. But when you warn her about me knowing, could you let her know anyway? In case I don't go tonight?"

I told him that, "I would," before I told him, kidding. "If this doesn't tell you you're in this group for the long haul. I don't know what will."

He'd laughed and said, "You're right, I had no clue that the hardest guy to win over could trust me with this much. But thanks, and I'll make sure to text you when Chase is here. When he's all settled and when he's on his way-"

"And if you're coming text that too." I asked nicely.

He said, "Will do! I kinda don't want to miss this, really." Doesn't that sound so much better than how he'd been talking before?

That was all of the stalling I could pull off. Before I was walking to the girl's dorms to pick up my date. The WORST part of this whole thing (I thought) would be walking PAST the door where I knew Quinn was. To go to Stacey's door instead, I thought it could possibly kill me. I had so much I needed to talk to her about. I needed to warn her that James knows! I needed to give her back this letter Dustin stole and I needed to probably see her in her Prom dress somewhere not public. So I have a chance to pick my own jaw and tongue off of the floor, and I can stick my eyes back inside their sockets when they bug out at her.

But as I walked into the hallway. Zoey was storming out still dressed normally, she said "Hi," flatly as she passed me. Even if she'd spun and told me, "You look really nice, Logan. Not that you're shocked."

I said, "Uh… thanks, Zoey?"

Then when I was closer to the girls room, Lola and Vince were coming out of their dorm room door, arm in arm. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Lola was so jazzed about Prom, she greeted me all happily! "HI Logan! See ya LATER!" It wouldn't be completely weird if Lola had ever sounded that happy to see me before. But Since BOTH of Quinn's roommates had just passed me, I hoped that meant she was on her own. So even though I was on my way to Stacey's door. I did stop at Quinn's door first and knock.

I heard her voice say, off in the distance. "It's open, come on in."

When I poked my head inside, she was alone. I was glad that I had gotten to see her like this, without an audience In a place where I didn't have to hide my reaction. The dress was a more popping and bright shade blue, and looked more like something Quinn would wear. The fabric sparkled and her hair was all down, and wavy curly goregousness!

I soundless came in and closed the door. While she was still looking at the full length mirror on their closet door. She didn't turn to see me till the door had made a noise when it closed. Hands went on her hips and she said, "I thought I specifically told you no peeking when you go to get Stacey?"

I had to tell her, "Wow! You look so good!"

"Thanks, you too… of course," She complimented.

"You know blue can almost be a superpower for you since Stella got you in that other dress. But I like this one even better." I had to tell her. Not only was she able to move and breathe easier, it just looked more like something she would wear… and totally rock. I needed to thank Paulina AGAIN when I saw her. Not to mention it was WAY sexy on her. How was I supposed to look anywhere else tonight? I knew this was gonna be the North Pole all over again. Dancing with her whenever I can get away with it and staring at her the rest of the time.

She smiled and admitted, "I may have been specifically looking for a red or blue one. After all of your comments since that dress. And the practice skirt that made you so nuts."

I snuck a kiss on her hair and told her, "You couldn't have chosen better."

"Neither could you," she'd complimented. Before she snuck a kiss on my cheek and wiped at it after. Making sure none of her lipstick wore off on me. She said, "Don't wanna mess you up, or anything."

But I'd gotten a hand on her waist while she was close and pulled her to me, to steal a real kiss. So good the room spun under us for a second. And I just held her there close for as long as I could get away with.

She was giggling so cutely as I cuddled her just for a second and she tried to change the subject. She'd asked, "Is there any other reason you're stopping by, or were you just coming to sneak a peek?" I was so glad that she did. Because she had almost distracted me from the main reason I'd needed to come here. Damn, my girlfriend is hot.

I let her know, "James knows."

"About Chase?" She asked, straightening my jacket for me.

And I let her know, "Well, yeah, he's helping with Chase too; since he's still not sure about going to Prom. But he also found out about our other secret too."

She freaked out accordingly, "WHAT?" Before she could cover her mouth with a hand and try to contain her reaction.

I somehow kept talking, "I just finished explaining everything and swearing him to secrecy eight ways to Sunday. He wants you to know he'll keep our secret too. I just wanted to tell you, whether he goes tonight or not. He's still on the fence, but I wanted to warn you."

"How did he find out exactly? Did he guess? Did he see us, this morning? What gave it all away? We've been so careful… and James wasn't even one of the people I've been so worried about finding out."

"I know, and I promise I'll explain better later. But I just wanted to tell you in person before we're both on dates. You know… with other people… And I really wanted to peek, I won't lie, and I'm glad I did. I wanted to see you before I have to be in front of everyone."

"Oh my God!" Quinn seemed to realize as I was heading for the door. "Chase is coming back today and he knows… And now James knows too! This is gonna be so weird!"

"Tell me about it, but we'll be fine. Just have fun, and don't think about it. Okay?" I tried to ease her mind, even though I could almost hear wheels and gears in her head cranking away. As she walked me to the door, her eyes looked miles away and I took the opportunity to kiss her one last time. But she'd grabbed me and broke my kiss to steal her own and I was powerless till she broke it off.

By some miracle, I remembered to tell her when we stopped, "What I wouldn't give just to go and skip this part of the night."

She told me sadly, "Stacey's waiting for you."

I let out a breath as I leaned my forehead to hers and let her know. "Dustin's on his way too. Just have fun and don't try to think about all of that other crap tonight."

"Easier said then done, but you gotta go." She said pushing me towards the door. It still took me a few minutes to leave even though both of us knew we were cutting it close. We were getting the last of our flirt on. While we could.

GOD! This was already worse than all of the other times I had to stay away from her. And we aren't even AT the Prom yet! We're just dressed for it! Why did she have to look so SEXY tonight? There's no way any of the other girls were outshining her tonight! Not even our friends!

It wasn't till I was on the other side of her door and she was outta my sight again. That I realized, I should have given her back the note that Dustin stole. That I'd had the perfect opportunity, why hadn't I given it back to her? Why hadn't I even mentioned it? I knew it was because she was too freaking GORGEOUS! But I still promised myself I would give it back to her as soon as I could. I would just have to do it at prom now, or maybe the after-prom party.

I wasn't gonna read it unless she told me to. I wasn't, even if I was dying to know what she'd written that got Dustin so insistent on me reading it. Why was being the good guy never EASY as being the BAD guy?

It was with lead feet and a heavy heart that I walked the rest of the way up that hallway. To Stacey's cotton swab-trimmed door sign. I must love Quinn, because that is the ONLY way that I would ever agree to this kind of torture. But I knocked on her door and took that medicine like a man. A very sick and twisted-humored man, but a man nonetheless

Can I black out now and you guys just tell me when it's over?!


((Chase's Perspective))

My plane landed safely and the familiar surroundings of the airport closed around me. It was the exact same airport I used to go to PCA every year. I was so glad to be here, that even this airport was a sight for sore eyes! We were in bumper-to-bumper traffic the whole way back to PCA, Logan's driver he'd sent was on his cell phone, and texting Logan the whole time about the delays. I was SO HAPPY to be home, NOTHING could dim my spirits. Not even the hours ended up sitting on the plane or in this swanky car. That probably belonged to Logan's dad.

I was more home here than I think I'd ever felt in Baltimore. And I really never thought that could be possible. But when my parents had helped me work out a deal with the good people of Covington. A deal where I could return in time to go to my Junior prom, with all of my friends. And take all of my exams here instead of there. I think even my parents knew I NEEDED this. I'll have to think of a way to thank them someday. I know how crazy I've sounded on all of our recent phone calls. And they've been so great… I'll really have to think of something great though.

And I may have to get out of this car when we get close enough and just start running the rest of the way. I'm that anxious to get back and to get to that dance. I've never been more excited to dance in my whole life. I'm gonna be too thrilled to see EVERYONE! I'm so thrilled to be back home.

I'm probably gonna even freak out over Stacey Dillsen when I see her. She is gonna be Logan's date after all. It's not like I won't see her. I really did think he would be taking Quinn. He loves her, OBVIOUSLY! But he's with Stacey for some strange reason. And Quinn's with Dustin for even stranger circumstances. I really did think she'd lost a bet or something when I heard that. But apparently, Quinn asked Dustin and he had a whole spiral about not wanting to hurt her feelings. Because he didn't like her like that… Oh! The twisted webs we weave in life, huh?

And yes! I really am RUNNING back to this crazy place and all of it's crazier inhabitants. And Liam and Lucy are both considering attending PCA next year. After all of the stories of the wacky paradise school. That just so happens to exist very close to places that could significantly help little Lucy stay in remission better too. If those worlds collide, you know I'll love it all that much more!

Logan says James is waiting for me, and he's gonna help me get settled. I probably should be nervous about that. But I'm just not. I know him a little now, and I know he isn't with Zoey anymore. That they broke up a few days ago and it's been rough on both of them. Logan said that neither of them seem very interested in even going to prom now. But that just doesn't sound very Zoey-ish or James-ish to me. Zoey's been one of my best friends for years, and I've been getting to know James over video chats for months. I really hoped we could get both of them to go.

But even if my reappearance wasn't enough to pull them both out of their funk! I'm too stoked to be here! To be HOME! To be in the United States again! AHHHHHHG! I think I would be dancing even if there wasn't an event for that tonight. And believe me, I shouldn't. I have never been very good at dancing.

I've been watching videos of Quinn and Logan dancing for weeks and practicing with Lucy, Liam, and their Mum, GrandMum and Aunts for this occasion (how do all british people know how to dance so well? Or was that just EVERYONE at and surrounding Covington?). I have been trying to prepare for all of this. I don't think any of it helped, but here's hoping!

I can't wait to get there! Even if I did have the driver pull over to the first McDonald's we passed in this traffic for a real cheeseburger and fries. I know they have them in London too, just not where I was! And they're not on every street corner in England like they are here in the States. I even treated my driver to lunch! I was that grateful to him for his time and patience. He's a nice guy too, I think I've ridden with him before too. But Logan had been with me then.

I love America! Officially! God, it's great to be home! Did I say that already? I almost kissed the ground when the plane landed, but a few people in front of me did that and made me self-conscious. I was afraid of kissing the same spot they had, and it would have just been this whole weird thing… you know?

Look out PCA! Your boy's coming home! In time for the PROM! Miracles do happen! And it's gonna be a night we never forget in the BEST way. I'm willing it to be!


(Stacey's Perspective)

Tonight! I was living the dream! I was going to my junior Prom the exact way I ALWAYS had in my dizziest dreams. Wearing the prettiest pink dress I have ever seen. It was shipped to me from my second family in Sweden, by first-class air mail. My stuffy sister Savannah, still jealous about my measurements, when I sent them. I was wearing the kind of footwear my silly sister Suzanne always called "Hooker Heels." I'd managed to squeeze my generous bust into a strapless bra, even if it was a little snug… Well, EVERYWHERE! And I would be floating on the arm of LOGAN REESE!

I've lost count how many times I'd pinched myself since he asked me! And I'm fully aware of just how many potential prom pretties I beat out to stand here. I really did think he had been ignoring all of my persuasive 'come on's and offers - this month or since I arrived at PCA, but here we were. FINALLY on a date, and Finally, he has taken notice of me!

Me!

I had become one of the people who strongly suspected that Logan would ask Quinn. He's been dancing with her for weeks on END. And he never seems to want to dance with anyone else. Gets super sulky whenever he sees her dance with anyone else. But I guess it really is how Quinn said. They're just good friends who have grown closer lately, and nothing more. I'd really thought she'd just been saying that because he hadn't asked her yet. But when I told her he'd asked me she looked so thrilled for me… so, at least there weren't any hard feelings over it. And we're still soul sisters!

And best of all, I was finally getting my dream date with my dream hunk! But I had to be smart about this. I had to keep his interest the WHOLE night, and not let him outta my sight. Or this could be the ONLY date I ever have with him. All of those almost-dates that got interrupted or thwarted before don't COUNT! This was it and I wasn't gonna let this boy outta my sight. Not even for a minute, if I could help it! This was my big chance to show Logan that I was the one for him!

And my chance to possibly sport the title of future Mrs. Logan Reese!

I will not fail to wow him and everybody else tonight. With my superior wit, smooth charm and strength of character! This night's gonna ROCK!


((Logan's Perspective))

I won't go into how Stacey terrorized me when I picked her up. Or how she'd never stopped talking as I walked her out to my dad's sport's car he'd let me borrow for the night. How she hadn't stopped talking the whole short ride over here or the walk from the parking lot to where the dance was happening.

As Stacey had wanted, we were some of the very first people walking into the Prom. Arm in arm, barely anyone else was here yet. People were all just standing around dressed to the nines. Making small talk, waiting for this thing to kick off. Michael and Lisa weren't far behind us and neither was Quinn and Dustin.

When I had been making these plans with Stacey. I had heard Michael planning to drive Lisa himself, and I'd made plans to do the same. Vince had been planning on taking Lola out to dinner before Prom. Trying to get her to relax and spoiling her before dancing all night together. So I had asked my date if she wanted to grab a bite to eat together before the Prom. I'm so glad that she'd guessed she would be too worked up to eat before it. And we'd just planned to eat at the after-prom party like the smarter half of our class. [And thank GOD again my secret girlfriend is the most brilliant of us all] Because I wanted this part of the night over with! As soon as possible, the moment it officially started. Even though I knew fully well, this was gonna be HOURS of my life I wouldn't get back… it was just how I felt.

All of a sudden, James and Zoey hadn't been so crazy wanting to skip this. I wondered what the hell Chase was rushing back for and WHY had I let Zoey's BABY brother TAKE my BABY! If he wasn't even gonna dance with her? What the actual HELL is WRONG with him? Had he heard a single word I said? Or did he zone out when we were talking earlier?

I know it sounds mean, but I didn't mean any offense to Stacey. Not really. I just didn't want to be with her… like at all. It wasn't her fault really, she just wasn't my girlfriend, wasn't the person I loved. She was just here with me, and in a lot of ways just as stuck as I was.

That's what I had to keep thinking, or I would snap at her. She couldn't help it if this night would never end. Or that the only place I really wanted to be was in Dustin's place, with Dustin's date. And more than anything, I wanted to dance with her. Like we've practiced for all this time. It's become something we do, even before we know it. And dancing with Stacey… it just confirmed everything I already knew.

That Quinn really was the BEST dance partner I've ever known or had. While I could make anyone look good, it took a lot more work to do that with everybody else. Stacey included. While Quinn, it was as easy as breathing, even when she was just learning the steps, or I was. Because we'd proven, so much during review this week. That even if we didn't have a planned routine… we always looked like we did when we came together. Because we knew each other that well now. Dancing with anyone else was just so hard... like 'not worth it' hard!

I had already been grabbed and dragged by Stacey so much. Just getting to this location, I was already used to her break-neck jarring grabs. But when a different hand had jerked me away from Stacey, not so roughly, I knew who was toting me off and away from Stacey before I even saw her. I even knew her grip on my arm.

Quinn had managed to sneak me off to the side to yell at me, "I can't believe you made me come here with Dustin!"

"Oh! And I'm having a BLAST with Stacey!" I yelled back just as annoyed. But both of us kind of realized, mid-complaint that we didn't want to fight. Especially if no one was around, save all of our arguing for those times.

Speaking softer, and regretfully, Quinn admitted, "Maybe we should have just come here together."

And it had made me so happy to hear her admitting it. Outright, like that, but at the same time. I knew I had to remind her we'd done things this way for a reason. Before I forgot it myself, took her hand and ran off right now. While Stacey wasn't looking at us. I asked her, "And let everyone know we like each other?"

"No!" She'd reasoned more logically, "I couldn't take the abuse we'd get."

"Me either." I agreed, even though I wanted to hug her or pull her closer. But I knew if I did that… I'd never be able to let her go. So I stayed two feet away, and kept my hands to myself. But it was so hard, like trying to teach calculus to a cactus difficult!

Stacey called out "Logie, Come on!"

I yelled back all aggravated, "I'm COMING!"

Just before Stacey followed the sound of my voice like a blood-hound. I told Quinn, "Look, I promise, sometime tonight we'll find a way to sneak off and be together." And just saying that to her made me smile. Even if I've been saying it all week.

The little smile she'd given me back was just… All of it, EVERYTHING. And she told me, "I like you."

Before Stacey showed up beside me right on time to ruin it. And ask me, "Logan? What's the hold-up, buttercup?"

I covered by saying, "I was just telling Quinn how much I don't like her."

She said so half heartedly, "Yes, you're such a jerk."

Before I put out my arm to Stacey and said, "Let's go, Dillsen."

While she took it and said, "Whatever you say, Reese."

I shot Quinn a look of misery, mentally screaming. "THE THINGS YOU MAKE ME DO!" Knowing ONLY Quinn could have convinced me to do this! But the look Quinn had been giving me back was just as painful and agonized.

That was it, for a while… Stacey was walking around and talking to everyone and dragging me with her. For what felt like days! I was so glad when some of my football and basketball teammates. Were asking Quinn to remind them. What to do for each dance, how to stand and hold their partner. Until she started letting all of these guys hold her for these examples. I'd had to flag Dustin down and tell him. "Are you gonna let all of those guys grab your date like that?"

He'd shrugged at me, "I don't know? She is kinda their teacher, isn't she? So were you, right?" I don't know why I even bother with this kid. Quinn was limping around a little the whole hour before the music started, because she'd fallen off of Dustin's bike on the way here.

Dustin sassed me, "If it bugs you so much why don't you go show them what they're doing wrong? They're your teammates, classmates and students. They could eat me whole and spit out my picked clean skeleton without even chewing."

So I had stepped in and made them let go of her. As soon as she was close enough, I had pulled her out of that "moron-sandwich," and I was at her side telling them. "Let me show you idiots one more time, how it's done." As Gleb and Paulina came running over and helped us pose examples from two different ends of the dance floor. We reminded everyone of the starting pose for each dance, even if we knew everyone would be a little more relaxed about things when the music started tonight. This was just refresher course of the way we'd taught it in class, and everyone was mimicking us all around. Even these massive defensive players and super TALL basketball players were all using each other to remember. Before some of their dates arrived or came back from primping in the bathrooms.

I tried to concentrate, I really did. But the second her waist was in my hand. And her hand was in my other hand, all the surrounding noise started sounding far away to my ears. As I looked into those eyes, I kept forgetting I needed to be teaching. When her knee gave (probably because of that fall) I'd caught her. I didn't want to let her go for anything. Dustin had to come take her from me, and Stacey had to come get me too. And pull me back to reality, telling me. "I'm glad you went and got Quinn, those players were tossing her back and forth like she weighed nothing. Her feet weren't even touching the ground anymore. But next time, let me be your example. I am your date after all, and Quinn's kinda out for the count from that fall. She probably should see a nurse about it."

I kept promising myself, the second I could sneak off with her, that I would.

I HAD to. And I had to remember the note in my pocket too! How did I keep NOT telling her about that?

But Stacey was already making it seem impossible. She was on me like stick on rice! She wasn't even letting me talk too much to anybody else now. She just wanted to keep my full attention all the time. She came and found me talking to Michael and Lisa. She'd even waited for me right outside of the bathroom exit door when I'd pretended to go, just to see what happened. She was WAY harder to thwart than ALL of our friends combined. But I'd the areas of both Prom and after-Prom mapped out in my head. I knew where all of the best hiding spots were. Even if I knew tonight, there would be a fight for them. Because I wasn't the only one who knew about some of these places. It wasn't gonna be easy, but we would make it work… somehow.

And I was going to have to be very careful with my reactions. Because our third-string varsity quarterback had been asking Quinn for advice on a lift his date could do. And he'd lifted her in the air, before she was ready for it. I saw her over this dolt's head, pointing to the floor and asking to be put back on her feet. I was across that floor so fast. I didn't have time to think about stopping myself. Stacey had been hanging on to me and I had dragged her with me. Demanding, "Put HER Down! That's not how you do it!"

Where the HELL is DUSTIN!? The dummy quarterback did as I asked but asked me to help show him how it's done. But Stacey tried to get me to use her as my example. Dustin helped me out (Doing the first useful thing since he got here tonight). He'd said, "Stacey no offense but you're lifts with Logan are still a bit clumsy looking and new. Maybe borrow my date for a minute Logan. We all know you could probably lift her in your sleep."

He even got everyone around us to agree. Before I showed these knuckleheads for the umpteenth time. "You don't swing your partner over your head when you feel like it. There's an asking and accepting in the way that you both move. And in the way she takes your hand."

Paulina and Gleb were watching and could have taken over anytime. But they stood off to the side and let us demonstrate. (Another thing I was gonna have to thank them for) I showed the differences in the way Quinn gripped my hands. As we danced to let me know she was ready for a dip, lift, or trick. It was all in the way she'd gripped my hand or shoulder. And it was the same way ALL of the girls had been taught. I know because I'd helped explain it ALL Month long!

But I really went on autopilot explaining this, the moment she took my hand. The minute her grip told me each different thing. It was hard to ignore the screams inside my head that NEITHER of us WANTED to let GO of each other! But we still fell right into sync with each other for each move. And at the end, it had been agony letting her hand slip back out of mine. And letting Stacey immediately pull me back over to her again.

Wondering how the hell am I gonna make it through this night. When this is already killing me, and the music hasn't even started yet. Not to mention, Stacey is watching me like a HAWK. How am I gonna sneak away when she's watching me closer than a nervous new parent?

The only way I finally got to talk to Quinn, was when we both sat at a table and no one else did. Dustin was completely M.I.A. But if I so much as moved, Stacey would come rushing back so I asked Quinn during this almost chance, "Having fun yet?"

She said, "Oh yeaaah! Party of the year, can't wait for the pro DJ and Band to start up. How 'bout you?"

I told her "Just watch Stacey the moment I move." Then I barely waved at Quinn and Stacey's eyes zeroed in on me making sure I wasn't talking to anyone besides Quinn.

Quinn put a hand over her face so she could try not to seem like she was laughing in my face. But she still was. While Stacey was turning back to her conversation across the room and while it was looking like this could be my ONLY chance. I asked Quinn, "Did you happen to lose this the other day?"

And I held up the folded piece of paper Dustin had given me. And for some unknown reason, not only did her eyes pop so huge behind her glasses. But she seemed to turn to solid stone in her seat. She even stuttered. "Wa-Wh-Wh-Where didja get that?"

"Not important, it had our names on it. So it found it's way to me." Dustin owes me so big for not ratting him out just now. What was he thinking?

The first thing she wanted to know was, "Did you look at it?"

"No," I said honestly, but her reaction had me even more curious now. And I wish I had peeked at least.

But she asked, "Really, you haven't looked at it, at all?"

"Nope, not even a glance." I couldn't help it I asked, "Why would someone think I should read it. What is it?"

She shrugged, "Just a collective trial I've been conducting for some time."

"Why's my name on it then? Was it one of the things we did together? Or something?" I tried to get more specifics.

She said, "I guess you could say that, you know something, hold on to it. If you get to a point tonight, where we can't get any time alone like we've hoped to. Because that seems like a real possibility at the moment… Just read it then, okay?"

I told her again, "That's not gonna happen, we'll make it work."

Then Stacey came over and cut this moment too short too. As I'd placed the note back in my pocket on the sly. I don't know when I would manage to get out from under Stacey's sight. To read this thing or sneak away with my REAL girlfriend. But As Michael walked up on the stage and started gathering everyone to start the Prom. Stacey dragged me front and center behind Lisa knowing there was going to be a yearbook picture here, as well as a movie camera filming the beginning of the night, and Stacey wasn't gonna miss it.

As Michael got everyone revved up, and the Band began to play. I really tried to treat this like one of my dad's sets. And another role I was playing, I tried to focus on Stacey, because she was who I'd casted as my stand-in. But as my eyes locked on Quinn across the floor. And I saw the almost middle school way Dustin was dancing with her, our eyes locked… I've never been more sick of any other role I've played before. Given I've never had to keep up a character this long before either. But I was so sick and tired of all the things keeping me from her. In my entire life, I'd never failed to act well, but this could be where I lose that impressive streak.

More than anything else I hoped I could find time to be with her sooner rather than later. Because even right this minute, it felt like the only thing keeping me here was Stacey's fingernails, more like talons, digging into me keeping me in place with her. I have no idea how long I can stand this.


That's all folks!

Well, for this chapter anyway! But don't worry, I will be posting another chapter tomorrow, you read that right! Tomorrow! I'm not gonna make you wait any longer than I have to. I'm trying to get this whole mini-arc posted all together. So hope you enjoyed today's update. Please review if you can, I would love to hear from you. Hope you're having an awesome day and till tomorrow, take care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85