Hey There,

Welcome! Sorry this is reaching you all SO MUCH later than planned. I went to two different doctors appointments that required labs withing a week of each other (yes, several vials bloodwork each!) and got very unexpectedly ill afterward. Like can't get outta bed ill. It took over and ruined my whole week. But I am almost back to 100 percent now. And DEEPLY apologize for this unexpected lull. I hope whenever and wherever this reaches you. I hope it's worth the wait. And EVERYTHING you've been hoping for. That I can do Quinn and Logan even better justice than they got in the show. Along with all of these other GREAT characters! YAY! It's a swing shifting chapter and the first I get to write about their secret all coming out! DOUBLE YAY! It's finally done and here! So let's get to it!

Special thanks to the new followers, who favorited this story, or placed it on your favorite stories list. Also the few of you new who have favorited me an authoress, or placed me on your Author's Alert list. It's been the only way I can see any of you are still reading these past three weeks because of some weird glitch happening with my stats and I can't thank you all enough!

Special thanks to my reviewer: Guest (thank you so much for the joke! The best part about it is Baltimore is one of my favorite places on Planet Earth and I LOVE the Ravens. So writing Logan's honest opinion was tough for me. I think he was taking a little revenge on both Chase and me. LoL! But thank you so much for the joke! It brightened my day! Hope you're still reading and enjoying! Take Care and Much Love!)

Standard Disclaimers Apply - I don't own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, Nickelodeon, MTV or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I also don't own the bits and fragments of actual episodes mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own twisted amusement, most will be returned unharmed.

Enjoy!

"The Collective Trials of a Quinnventor… and Logan"

Chapter 35 - The Prom L-Bomb!

(FINALLY!)

(Quinn's Perspective)

So Dustin was full-on ditching me at this point in the Prom, and I was okay with it. Logan clearly wasn't happy about this, but I was. Dustin had been calling me 'old' for days. If not his 'sister's age' like that was somehow worse. I was relieved to see him having some fun with girls he considered 'more his age'… even if I didn't appreciate the open jabs he kept taking at me. When the girls he was talking to were roughly a year or two younger than me, if not the exact same age as me (not such an insurmountable difference, little man)… So, I was happy to see him go.

Since my date was missing in action, I had been mostly hanging out with James. Which was really fun, even if Logan looked like he was gonna lose his temper any second. And I don't know why! James is in on our secret now. It's not like he's trying to steal me or anything. He's always been harmless and now he's sworn to secrecy, what could possibly make Logan so mad?

Besides, I wasn't making James my new date or anything; he was here stag, and so was I, basically. I was helping him search for someone he wanted to see tonight. And he was my dance partner a few times throughout that search effort. Like when an Abba song had played. I need to remember to thank Lola for that later, or Stacey. One of them had gotten DJ Leon to include "Dancing Queen" on our Prom playlist. And James had made sure I had a partner for that song.

Apparently, Lydia Reynolds had made a FANTASTIC impression on James. Last weekend at 'Mystic Mountain,' she'd talked to him and gave him some solid advice when he needed it most. So I was dancing with him and helping him look for her. Since Lydia had hinted at knowing me pretty well (and I had backed that up), it made perfect sense for him to come to me for this. But there were a LOT of people here. I'd even gotten Paulina and Gleb's help in this. Searching the crowds, but everyone was so dressed up, some people I saw every day looked like total strangers tonight. So it wasn't the easiest thing to accomplish, even with help.

And I thought my secret boyfriend, was too preoccupied with his own date. To worry about me… Boy! Was I wrong about that!

So even though James and I couldn't find Lydia. James thanked me for my help and ran off to keep searching the areas surrounding Prom where some of the wallflowers were hanging out together. I would probably be joining those wallflowers pretty soon myself. It wasn't looking like Logan was gonna get away from Stacey anytime soon. And we weren't even at the halfway mark of this Prom yet. I just couldn't stand watching Stacey wrap herself around my guy another minute. Especially while I couldn't do a thing about it… No offense to Stacey. I'd reached my limit and I didn't even have a dance partner anymore to keep my mind off of it.

Dustin ended up coming back over to me when I sat down at a table. He still wasn't gonna dance, but he did pull out his deck of cards. The same one he'd been sneaking into the gym all week during dance practice. So we were playing with those, to pass the time. I told Dustin he didn't have to stay. He'd been very nice to come with me and get my friends off of my back about bringing a date. But I told him he was off the hook and could do as he liked. He didn't have to hang around me anymore.

And Dustin shocked me, by saying. "I'm sorry Logan didn't ask you himself. He clearly cares more about me being your date than ANYONE else."

"I know, and I can't figure out why." I lied, thankfully Dustin didn't pick up on it or my shock.

He guessed, instead. "I bet he wanted to be your date himself. But something held him back from asking you. Probably his rep or all the teasing he's gotten about dancing so much with you for gym class. That sounds like something he would do."

I just agreed with him, it was easier than trying to explain any alternative. Even if I knew there was so much more to it than that. I couldn't take the chance of giving too much away… You know?

I glanced up at Logan and Stacey, regretting it immediately. I knew that this was gonna be how the rest of the night went. There was no way Logan was gonna be able to escape Stacey's kung-foo grip on him. They're gonna be dancing together the rest of tonight. And I'm gonna be sitting or standing… certainly not dancing and not sneaking off either. Even if that had been the original plan.

Yeah, clearly Prom Queen material. How could I think otherwise?

This was exactly how I knew things would be. And it made me so glad, again. That I hadn't said anything that could ruin things between Logan and me. There was still the matter of the note in his pocket, but I could easily sneak it out before he noticed. The next time I got close enough. There's no way he's had time or opportunity to read it. Not to mention it's pitch dark out here tonight, even with a brighter phase of the moon hanging overhead. It's not like he could read my tiny handwriting just anywhere out here. It's probably not even something he could interpret even if he tried, my handwriting isn't the prettiest or clearest… it's been compared to doctor's notes before.

It's easily remedied… All I gotta do is win this hand at the card game called 'Rummy' against Dustin and call it a night with my supposed date. That was what I had been thinking anyway. But of course, the universe had other plans for the rest of my night. Because as we were playing there was some commotion on the dance floor that was getting everybody to stop. I figured this was just some of the typical prom drama that you hear about happening any place with this many teenagers. I wondered who could be in the middle of it.

I had no clue at all, that this particular drama would be coming straight at me. If I had, I would have paid a whole lot more attention and I wouldn't be trying so hard to NOT look at my boyfriend and Stacey. That's for dang sure!

Because the next thing I heard was Logan's voice, yelling… something. I have no idea what he said at first, it zipped by so quickly that I just noticed his tone. And tried to stay focused on my unimpressive hand of cards.

But the next thing he yelled, I HAD to be hearing him wrong. Because what I think I heard him yell at Stacey was. "BECAUSE-I-LOVE-QUINN!"

Even though I knew I had to be hearing wrong, he was probably saying something else entirely. My eyes popped wide open and my head turned to look at him. Even if I had heard him wrong, the whole Prom had halted. All the couples around them, all of the faculty and staff lining the sides of the dance floor. Paulina and Gleb both shot me excited looks. All of the wallflowers not dancing, the band, the MUSIC the band was supposed to be playing… ALL of it came to a screeching halt and not just in my mind either. It really did happen just like that. Everyone was at a standstill and Stacey asked him, "What?" After she threw a glance at me. Mirroring my shock.

One of the football players around Logan asked him, "You? Love? Quinn?"

So I hadn't heard that wrong? He really had said that? Or something close to it… So I was fully prepared for him to deny it, to cover it up by saying he'd said something that SOUNDED like that. And that he would easily bat it away. Like he had during the whole of this relationship, but… That's just it. For the first time, he didn't do that. I think I'd heard him say, "That's right." Like he was happy about it. Before he had turned around completely to face me, and I stood up from my seat across from Dustin.

I stood shell-shocked by my seat and locked eyes with my secret boyfriend. For a long moment, we just stared at each other. Having a full-blown silent conversation in front of EVERYONE. He looked more vulnerable than I think I've ever seen him, and he still owned it. As only he could, I saw so many peers laughing and pointing already in the shadows. I glanced around at all of the other eyes on us. Trying to remind him, this was happening in front of a lot of people. I seriously considered running out in embarrassment. Just because I didn't know what else to say or do. That's what television and movies have programmed us to do in these heavy situations.

But then my secret boyfriend shouted it a second time and this time he wasn't just looking at me. He was looking me right in the eye when he yelled it again. "I-LOVE-QUINN-PENSKY!"

I was smiling so BIG, I almost couldn't shout back. "AND-I-LOVE-LOGAN-REESE!" But somehow I'd gotten the words out and he'd heard them. And guess what…While other people around us were shocked and probably disgusted… Logan's smile was all I saw.

Dustin had dramatically left saying, "You used me?" Like this was a soap opera or something. Even if he'd been waiting for an opportunity to dump me all night, we'd even talked about it. Like he'd been expecting something like this to happen. This was public enough to win him ANY of the group of younger girls he'd been pursuing. I wasn't worried about him at all, and I heard him, I didn't really see him..

I know it's crazy to think even in this predicament, that saying what we said. Could still destroy everything we've built together. In a way it almost ruined Stacey's night, so the notion still isn't completely wrong, but what I realized in that confessional pause was that I simply didn't care anymore. Who saw us, what they thought, or how they objected to us. Not even if any of them had been our friends. ALL I noticed was how nice it had felt to finally say it. Along with the smile he was wearing, as he ran towards me.

Suddenly my feet couldn't get me there soon enough, CURSE these heels. And that spill I'd taken before even walking in here. Not to mention the scrapes and scratches I'd been sustaining throughout the night from that injury. Off of Dustin's bicycle, but I finally made it to Logan somehow and kissed my not-so-secret-ANYMORE boyfriend. In front of everybody! I've never felt so alleviated by any other kiss we've shared. Be it in private or with this many witnesses.

Stacey ran out and I did need to make sure she was okay in a little bit. I did feel bad for her and expected her to be furious with Logan and me both. She had every right to never speak to either of us again, but I really hoped I could apologize and leave no hard feelings. Stacey's been a good friend to all of us for too many years. While the others may undervalue her presence and impact. I never have, or try not to.

But not right now, she probably needed to think, maybe even cool off. And this was our moment and… I let myself get wrapped up in it for a little bit… Okay, okay! Maybe a little more than a little bit.

The music started back up, at some point, don't ask me when. And everyone finally started dancing again around us. We were still kissing off to the side of the floor. I could feel Logan leading me a little more off of the floor. But when I tried to end our contact so we could just walk easier. His kisses got way more insistent and even stronger. He even complained, "Nope… no… not yet." Like he wasn't ready to let me go just yet. So we stumbled and tripped several times, a silly mess. Till we were someplace a little less populated. Even if some people were still around us, some were still pointing, laughing, gawking if not just staring in shock, or snapping pictures with their phones.

I still didn't care, I'd been missing him like crazy all night. And I'd been wanting to tell him I loved him for AGES! But I hadn't done it because I was afraid. Of too many after-effects to even list. I had been petrified of when this could happen or how. But even my wildest dreams had never imagined things would happen like this.

Or how much this tiny change, would make our entire surrounding atmosphere feel like a WHOLE-NEW-WORLD. It was the BEST thing to happen ALL night! No competition…

If only more of our friends had seen it when it happened… So we didn't spend half the night re-explaining everything… we probably could have spent a lot more time together. But even though we ended up doing a ton of things with our friends. Most of the rest of the night we spent together just like this… and the worst night ever quickly became the BEST.

{AN: BECAUSE I can, and I couldn't choose between these two! I let them both share a peek of that moment}

((Logan's Perspective))

[A few minutes prior]

I really don't know how much longer I can take this. ANY of this!

I can feel my patience running thinner and thinner by the minute. Like the ways I used to torture Chancey when we first hired him. Except either I'm gonna scream, erupt, or explode! Chancey just made me do chores before I learned how to talk my way out of them.

James and Chase may be in on our secret. But both of them were doing absolutely NOTHING to make me feel better, right now. First James keeps trying to steal Quinn as a date to this thing. He KEPT dancing with her! The Freaking TRAITOR! Then Chase didn't just hug her when he aaw her. No! He'd picked Quinn up, and swung her around when he saw her. And I had had to hear that laugh for someone else. Another Guy too! Who cares if he's the closet thing I have to a real brother too! What was that about? Was he trying to get knocked out?

Dustin wasn't doing a thing to keep his date either. He was like "Take her!" The Jerk!

He should be dancing with her right now, but instead, he's playing cards with her… Like that's the same thing! Are they all TRYING to make me PUNCH somebody TONIGHT? Is that some hidden GOAL their all keeping from me? Because I felt like I could have punched a hole through Michael's STUPID car. Lisa would have loved that. He wouldn't stop talking about it all night long. Good for Lisa getting pissed at him. I would have been too! If these other three guys weren't making his car talk just seem SAD! So WHAT if you learned how to stick shift! I already knew how to do that since I had to drive in a movie when I was fourteen! You don't see me bringing it up! IT'S-NOT-ROCKET-SCIENCE!

As if Dustin, James, Chase and STACEY weren't enough to provoke me. My Dad was sitting at home watching the live feed from this Prom on his couch! Even though all our house staff has been swearing he's not home all week! {I just knew they were all covering for him} He was watching it as it came in through his filming company and he kept sending me all of these texts about what he thinks about things. The outfits, dances, drama, and every other text is about Quinn and how badly I've messed up lettign her come with ANYONE else. And trust me, between him, Chancey and his latest girlfriend. The comments alone would have been enough to send me over the falls. They were all riffing like comedians, and I found myself doing my anger management breathing techniques… but they weren't helping!

I somehow locked it all down, even though I was going crazy. But it all came unglued when Stacey kissed me. It gave me war flashbacks to when I had HAD to kiss Gretta Getts. Or the last time I'd had an on-screen kiss. Where you just feel nothing at all, except WRONG! Like the make you wanna throw-up kind of ICK! Worst of ALL I felt like I was betraying Quinn and I prayed she hadn't seen it.

Before I could even think of stopping myself I was yelling at Stacey, "I-DON'T-WANNA-KISS-YOU!"

Stacey argued dumbly (even if she couldn't help it), "Why wouldn't you want to kiss me? My Lips are moist?"

I ended up screaming at her, "BECAUSE-I-LOVE-QUINN!"

I didn't even realize I had done it out loud till the world surrounding us stopped. All the other couples, the band, the music, ALL went earshatteringly QUIET! You know besides the buzzing of texts messages going on in my lower pockets.

Stacey threw a look over my shoulder at where, I know, Quinn was still sitting. If everyone here heard me… it was a good bet Quinn had too. There was a whole second there, where I didn't know what to do.

Then J.T. (one of my football teammates) leaned in and asked over Stacey's shoulder, "You? Love? Quinn?" He said that like it was the craziest thing he'd ever heard me say.

Which made it feel that much better when I told him, "That's right!" It had been easy owning it when I wasn't looking at Quinn, but when I turned and looked at her. It got a little harder for a second.

Till I noticed, her face didn't look as embarrassed as I had been expecting. She looked worried, and she glanced around us, to remind me. This was happening in a very public way for two people who've hidden nearly EVERYTHING happening between us for so long. I could hear some people laughing and probably pointing at us too. But I didn't look around, I only looked at her. And it hit me, I hadn't actually said it to her, I'd said it to Stacey. So I repeated myself facing her, it came out in a shout, because I wanted her to hear it.

"I LOVE QUINN PENSKY!"

She was fighting it, but she still got the brightest smile before she yelled back. "AND-I-LOVE-LOGAN-REESE!"

I know a lot was happening around us as people reacted. But I really didn't hear or care about any of it, I ran across that floor and to my REAL girlfriend. I pulled her to me and into the most relieved kiss we've shared yet. And I hadn't wanted it to end.

Eventually the music started again and so did all of the dancing around us. But I needed to talk to her, I'd been needing to talk to her for HOURS! But I still didn't want this kiss to end either. So I'd kept kissing her and led her off to one of the halls beside the dance floor. When I finally let the kiss end, Quinn had let out this little laugh and hugged me.

I think we've both been anxious about missing this, about never getting this chance tonight. So when we finally got to each other, almost everything I'd wanted to talk about. Flew right out of my head, and I couldn't think of a single thing to say. So I ended up saying, "Hi."

She'd laughed again, and said, "Hey." Before she took hold of my chin and said. "I don't think this very pink gloss is really your color."

I felt like I needed to tell her, "Stacey kissed me."

She just popped one of those make-up-removing wipes out of her bag and joked. "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting it to have been your choice to wear so much bubble gum pink lip gloss on your face."

She could see it all better than me, so I asked her "Could she get it, for me?" and she did. While she was working away, I asked her. "How come your makeup doesn't do that?"

"Well, I don't wear tons of it usually." She admitted and I'd noticed it. "Even if tonight's the exception to that rule. But even tonight, all of my make-up is cruelty-free, more natural tones, pretty good quality and few things Peony and Paulina showed me that don't smear easily."

"Whatever you're doing, teach Stacey," I told her, and she shook her head at me. When she announced she was done. I asked her, "It's really all gone?"

"Yep, all gone."

I leaned my forehead against hers and said the first thing that came to mind. "Sorry it took me so long to get here."

"I took just as long, if not longer." She'd said as she'd wrapped both arms around my neck. I put my arms around her waist pulling her closer still. While she said, "I can't believe we just did that… said that… And you said it first!"

"No, I didn't." That was the MAIN thing I had been wanting to tell her. I remembered now and probably the main thing that made me FINALLY fess up. Even if Stacey kissing me had been the last straw. "Technically you said it first."

"How's that?" Quinn had asked stepping back just a hair to meet my eyes. And I held up the note she'd written to me.

And she realized, "You read it… But when did you have time and how could you see it in this kind of darkness?"

"Not important," I sidestepped, I wasn't gonna kill the mood admitting it had been one of my trips to men's room hiding from Stacey. This night wasn't over yet, so I just informed her. "The important thing is I read it and you said it first."

"But no, I didn't." She argued, correcting me. "I wrote it first, which was difficult too. But you still said it first and in front of EVERYONE! And I answered you in front of that same crowd."

I sighed and caved, "Fine, I said it first. But you still did it first, by writing it down and it didn't ruin anything. Okay, it only made things better. And I think it will keep on only getting better from here."

My girlfriend said, "I really hope you're right."

"I know I am!" I said just as some more commotion was happening at the back of Prom. That made a bunch of people leave to check it out. But instead of going to see what was happening (Mark hitting Stacey with Michael's car, Chase and Zoey arriving officially boyfriend and girlfriend, and Stacey's 'S's sounding normal). I asked my officially public girlfriend, with a bow. "Could we please dance now? Together?"

She'd curtsied back on cue and said, "Sure." But as she stood more normally, she said. "I don't know if I'll be very good dancing, tonight."

"You'll be just fine." I had no doubt.

"I don't know, that fall has been hindering my performance all night. Even when I was just acting silly during that Abba song."

I had to get her to relax more than her other partners had; so I asked her, "That was Abba? Dancing Queen?"

"YES! How do you not know that?" She'd flipped out as I was hoping she would.

"I don't know, I've never been around too much old music till Chase and Michael. And thankfully they don't blare a lot of disco… at least I don't think they do."

"Maybe so," She said like she was gonna school me. "But I happen to know that Michael obsesses over Diana Ross and the Supremes. When Diana broke out and went solo that was during the Disco era. And I know for a fact that Chase does listen to Led Zepplin, David Bowie, Boston, The Guess Who (different band altogether from the British band The Who) and Pink Floyd which were all happening around that time too."

"God, you're hot! Whenever you start showing how smart you really are-"

"Stooooop it!" she said as I pulled her with me back out on the dancefloor.

I told her on the way, "That dress is just making it so much worse, too!"

"Too much?" She asked like she was worried again.

I finally pulled her to me and whispered in her ear. "In the BEST way!"

She shook her head and said, "I might have known."

"You should have!" I accused before we started to finally dance together. But just like in all of our rehearsals. It was too easy, too fun, and some of those mini-lifts and Latin holds… Whoo! Steamed up Quinn's glasses for a reason.

But here's the thing about our huge confession in front of all these people. NONE of those PEOPLE were any of OUR real FRIENDS! Can you believe it? We have this HUGE moment! I go through hell in back GETTING Chase here from England, getting James here when he kept hinting he might not come. I wear my heart out on my sleeve and every single ONE of our friends missed it. Not a single one of them saw it. So after a couple of dances together. The first of our friends to show up and point this out were Lisa and James. They found us out on the dancefloor together and asked if "they'd missed anything?"

The JERKS!

James was still looking for a girl, that's why he missed it. Lisa was the first to reappear and find us in the crowd. She even specified, "Apparently some big L-Bomb was dropped epically that happened while I was gone. All the good stuff tonight waits till I'm not around! I keep hearing all the whispers about it. But who was it?"

It was out now, I wasn't about to go back to keeping it a secret again. So I knew we had to just start telling anyone who missed it. But when I started I didn't think it would be EVERYBODY! When I was still wondering how I should tell them. Do I start now and hopefully finish before school let's out for summer or do i wait till everyone's here together? While I was about to answer Lisa, Stacey was carried in between James and Mark. Pointing to Quinn and me accusingly, "IT WAS THEM!"

Chase and Zoey (STILL dressed normally, though I don't know or care why) walked in behind them asking Stacey. "What was them? What did they do?" Zoey asked.

While Chase had gotten a glimpse of our faces and tried to cover. "Yeah! I mean they were dancing? How could they have any part in this, Stacey?"

Stacey spelled out for them, "They're the reason I ran out in front of a car before looking both ways-"

Quinn said before I could, "Stacey! Your diction it's-"

"Perfect, I know!" Stacey said excitedly at Quinn. "I ran out in front of Michael's car and Mark was driving. He struck me just right where my 'S's SOUND PERFECT! SEEEE! NOTICE THE SOUND?"

"Wow!" I had to compliment her too. "That's amazing!" Stacey went on thanking Mark for hitting her, while I asked Quinn, "What was that word you just used?"

Quinn repeated, "Diction… it's the style and enunciation in speaking or singing."

"Oh! Okay, I heard something else." I said as she elbowed me. "What? I learned something new."

Quinn said, "Wait a minute? You were HIT by a CAR?"

Everyone around us confirmed. "YES!" As Mark bailed on the conversation, his face all confused looking and probably freaked out if he really did hit Stacey like they say he did.

"A car in motion? How are you still here and not in the hospital? Or at least getting checked out by an EMT? What if there was more internal damage or more than your 'S's that was altered-" Quinn asked in kind of a panic.

But Stacey took Quinn's hand and assured her. "Oh! I'm fine, really, Quinn. But I do think I saw my short life flash before my eyes when I was pressed against Micheal's windshield." She'd shared before Quinn was pulling out her cell phone and trying to call 9-1-1.

Stacey pulled the phone out of her hand, flipped it closed and pulled Quinn a little further down and told her. "I know you're trying to help me, but I'm fine really. And I know I seemed really upset a moment ago, maybe even mad when I ran outta here. But it's important to me that you know, that wasn't how I feel at all. Okay, I'm not mad at either of you and I won't hold a grudge."

"Stacey-" Quinn asked stooping down beside her. As Stacey sat for a minute, I stooped down with Quinn beside her.

I (Logan) told her, "Stac, you have every right to be totally pissed at both of us. We never meant to hurt you, but-"

"I know!" Stacey cut me off with a huge smile. "I know that! And that's why this is so easy. I kinda of thought you two had a thing for each other. Because I have been in the gym week after week and even if my 'S's sucked, there's nothing wrong with my eyes! I knew there was something there, and I was totally shocked when you asked me, Logan. And not this girl." She said swinging Quinn's hand still held in her's before letting it go. "She's AMAZING! And I knew she would have said 'yes,' if you'd asked her. Even as I was getting ready for our date tonight, I was still kinda wondering why you DIDN'T ask her."

"I was trying to hide how I felt, from everyone, even Quinn." I admitted and Stacey, pat my cheek and said.

"You don't have to do that anymore." Then Stacey took my hand and Quinn's and put them together. "You can finally stop fighting and hiding. And just be happy, I want that for the both of you."

Zoey asked, "Stacey, what are you talking about?"

Stacey spelled out for our group, as she let go of our hands. "The big love confession, the L-Bomb everyone's talking about, was these two. Logan ended up screaming it at me right on the dance floor."

Zoey pointed between us, "You guys? Wh-wh-WHAT?" Covering her face. While James, Chase and Lisa all looked slyly at us like they knew… I get James and Chase looking like that but what was up with Lisa's reaction?

I didn't expect her to answer me before I could even ask. But Lisa said, "I knew it!"

Zoey turned to look at Lisa, and freaked out. "You KNEW? YOU? KNEW? AND-NEVER-TOLD-ME?"

Lisa shrugged, "It wasn't my secret to tell… besides I've only KNOWN since last Sunday after we got back from 'Mystic Mountain.'"

Zoey asked her, "HOW?"

She pat Zoey's wrist and reminded her, "Remember how I snuck into your dorm before I went to my own dorm for the night? I returned that lip gloss you lent me in the park to your nightstand. Like you asked me to."

"Yeeeah," Zoey followed along with the rest of us. Quinn and me stood up from where we'd been crouched down beside Stacey.

"That just so happened to be during that same time when Logan had carried Quinn in there and put her to bed too. Remember?" She asked while Quinn was already covering her face and turning into me. The room had been very dark and I can only imagine what Lisa had seen. Because it sounded like she had witnessed the HOTTEST goodnight kiss we've EVER shared. That had happened in Quinn's bed last Sunday. And hadn't said a thing to anyone for almost an entire week! But she had been a little noticeably kinder all week long. To the both of us… Maybe my friends aren't ALL such jerks.

She spilled to Zoey now, "I accidentally walked in on their goodnight kiss I believe. But I didn't hang around, I put your lip gloss where it belonged and got the hell outta Dodge."

Zoey asked, "They were kissing?"

"Girrrrrrl," Lisa stressed, while Quinn buried herself further into my shoulder at the sound. Lisa whispered something to Zoey that had made the both of them giggle. Zoey later revealed, Lisa had said it was 'the sexiest thing she'd ever seen in real life.' Michael, buddy? You gotta work on that, man!

Zoey flew over to Chase and asked him. " Can you believe this? Lisa knew? And didn't say a thing."

"I knew too." He said, with ease.

And Zoey revealed, "I kinda thought you did."

"Really?" Chase asked Zoey.

Before James added, "I found out earlier today."

Zoey had fists on her hips as she insisted on an explanation from both of them. When they'd found out and how and I imagine Chase and James had both re-explained. But I was completely preoccupied with the heat I could feel coming off of Quinn's face. She was blushing so hard, that I was starting to worry if she wasn't running a fever… or crying! I had to ask her, "If she was okay?"

She said, "yes." But I could barely hear her and it had been behind her hands. I pulled her hands away from her face and kissed her still-burning cheek before I whispered in her ear.

"You've got nothing to be embarrassed about, we're officially public and if they don't like it. That's on them, not us. Okay?"

Quinn quietly said, "I know… you're right… thanks."

Before Zoey, with crossed arms said. "Okay! Lisa's known a week, James has known a day, and Chase has known GOD only KNOWS how long. Yet EVERYBODY seems to be hinting at a much longer stretch of time here? Just how long have you two been keeping this gem of a secret from all of us?"

Quinn's voice sounded much better as she admitted, "Since that day you guys couldn't talk me outta dressing, talking and acting like Brooke. Trying to win Mark back."

"Quinn! That was back in FEBRUARY! Like right after Valentine's Day February!" Zoey complained.

I said, "Yep."

The same time Quinn said, "That's right."

"It's almost JUNE, now!" Zoey erupted.

Quinn just said, "I knnnnnnow."

James jumped between the girls and asked, "Might I make a friendly suggestion here?"

Me, Quinn, Lisa and Chase told James "Yes!" Zoey said "NO!"

Chase noticed, "It's Four to One, Majority wins. Carry on, James."

James suggested, "Michael should be back any second, Lola and Vince are hopefully going to also be here soon. I've been getting some strange texts about a nature trail their walking back to Prom. Might I suggest we leave the explanations till EVERYONE is here. So poor Quinn and Logan aren't telling the same stories all night long and get to actually enjoy their first date out in the open air a little bit? Before this Prom is playing it's Last Dance?"

I (Logan) told James, "I like that idea! Let's just all dance and forget about all that stuff till EVERYONE's Here." Then I told Quinn so only she could hear me, "Or the after-prom could work too when we're all not eating and chilling after the craziest night ever."

"Yeah, that could work too." Quinn agreed, before she noticed, Del Figgs lingering kinda by our table. Where Stacey was still sitting and all of our friends were making an effort to include her in ALL of our plans. Even for all of our after-prom plans and my plans for the after-after-prom that was just for our gang.

I was glad my friends were all trying to make sure Stacey's night wasn't ruined. But something else I noticed was Mark. He was hovering nearby, staring at Stacey with this blank look on his face. It was somehow blanker than normal. Quinn noticed it too and told me. "Hold on a second. I get the feeling we're not through yet."

"Me too," I told her before I added. "And if you think I'm letting you outta my sight, to even go talk to Mark. You've got another thing coming, you're stuck with me for the rest of the night, Professor. Where you go, I go."

She turned to me and flirted, "Aww, you said that like it was a bad thing."

"It isn't. But if we're gonna do this. I'm going with you, so that when we're done I can pull you back out on that dancefloor. For the REST of the Night-"

"Till the last musical note is hit?" She guessed smartly.

And I told her, "How could we end our Prom any other way?"

She agreed, "We can't, but help me make this short and sweet. Because I want to be back out there just as badly as you."

I promised her, "You got it" and we stepped back over to where Mark was lingering.

(Quinn's Perspective)

The look on Mark's face, appeared blank and unresponsive as ever. To the untrained eye, but when you've dedicate two years of your life to memorizing the subtle differences in the guy. You learn the slight differences between all of his few expressions. That don't vary as drastically as most and I could tell that my ex may need an ambulance even if Stacey didn't. He was freaking out poor guy, his hands were shaking, he was sweating quite profusely and he seemed dazed like he could be in shock.

It even took me a few tries before he even realized, I was there. Or talking to him, and even then he'd jumped out of his skin and said. "Quinn. You snuck up on me, I didn't know you were there."

I checked him out to make sure it was ONLY shock and not anything more critical. Thankfully he seemed to have a pretty strong case. While I checked him over, Logan got him some water too and we both talked to him till he wasn't struggling to listen to us or respond on cue. But even then I noticed, his eyes were glued to Stacey. When our friends got her up dancing and on the dance floor. His eyes followed her, as he said. "I hit her with the car, and I've never been so scared in my entire life… then she thanks me for hitting her cause it fixed her 'S's and she keeps saying she feels great… How is that possible?"

I admitted, "Stacey's pretty awesome, surprisingly forgiving… I guess we can also add resillent to that list."

Then Mark asked us, "How can I ever make it up to her? That I almost killed her?"

Logan suggested, "You know, I sorta bailed on her. When I confessed all epically to Quinn earlier-"

"Confessed what exactly?" Mark asked, sounding lost again for a second.

Logan answered his question with another question, "What do you think? What else do you really confess to someone?"

Logan was forgetting who we were talking to, we would never have enough time to explain this to Mark. I interrupted and tried to get things back on track saying, "The material point, here! Is that Stacey could use a dance partner, for the rest of Prom. If not a date, I know you just ended things with Brooke but… it could be nice, you know? If you're up for it."

Logan tried to back me up, adding. "Or if you're really feeling that guilty about hitting her with Michael's car."

"Lo-Gan!" I cautioned.

He claimed, "What? I'm helping." Before he actually did say something really good. "Yeah! Stacey doesn't have anyone to dance with anymore. If you danced with her for the rest of Prom and didn't let her sit down so much the whole time. I bet she'd love that, she's pretty good at it, too. Not Quinn-good but, ya know, not bad either."

I added to Logan's encouragement, "And you've gotten pretty good in class too, Mark. Why don't you dance with her? Just see how it goes?"

To both of our shock Mark simply stood up from the chair he'd stolen sometime throughout the course of my checkout behind him. Mark said, "Okay." Before heading straight for Stacey, clearly on a mission. To make up for almost ruining her Prom night.

After that Logan didn't even hesitate. We were back out there too and having a blast with all of our friends. Micheal rejoined us finally and the Sci Club arrived right after him. Supposedly, (Vince says) that they had been taking the same nature trail to Prom that Vince and Lola were on. The nerds had been running because Lola had reminded them Zoey had no date. But when they ran in and noticed Zoey dancing with Chase… even they knew a lost cause when they saw it [for once]. But they'd charged after another girl after that, who had her heel caught in one of the chainlink fences nearby.

Little did they know, they'd chosen the wrong girl for the second time tonight. Because the girl caught on the fence was Lydia Reynolds. And when the nerds had b-linded for her. Her self-defensive instincts had kicked in and she'd put every one of them on their asses. Even though she was technically one-legged at the time.

This awesome showing of martial arts, and quick thinking. Had drawn enough attention to her, where James FINALLY spotted her. And smoothly showed up beside her to say. "Where have you been all night? I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Well, you found me, Garrett." She smiled, before teasing. "Is that where you're plan ended? Are you gonna just stand there or are you gonna ask me to dance? No one else has, so I don't blame you if you wanna follow the trend. I'm not all that good with coordinated moves… or coordination period, really."

"Neither am I, but let's at least go out there and suck at it together?" He asked offering her his arm.

Which she shrugged and took finally, playing it so cool! She was so chill about it, but before reaching the dancefloor, she'd sent me freaking-out reaction behind James' back at me. Silently mouthing, "Oh! MY! GOD!"

I laughed and happy clapped at them both, before Lola and Vince FINALLY arrived. And got to see Chase, they both freaked out and we were finally all dancing together. At our Prom! Zoey was with Chase, they were both SO happy, just to be with each other. Michael had Lisa, and they had already made up about their little fight earlier. Lola was with Vince, and they looked so great together. Even if they both kept picking leaves, branches and other natural wonders from each others clothes and person. Stacey didn't miss a dance with Mark, for the rest of the night, and they weren't bad together. James was FINALLY dancing with Lydia and they looked TOO CUTE! Such great chemistry. I tried to take it all in, or else all I would remember about this night was that Logan loves me. And that I finally told him that I loved him too. And once we got to be together, nothing could come between us.

I had to keep glancing at my friends and try to remember their happiness too. On this night too because as the night went on and as I got to finally stay with Logan. And we didn't have to hide anymore… You wouldn't believe the heat we both brought to that dance floor. Which is why when we went for our Prom pictures, after our confession and all that steamy dancing. My face is so red-looking in almost ALL of our pictures… leave it to my guy to think that had been the BEST part of that picture. How red I was.

But that wasn't the only picture Logan had booked. No, leave it to my man to think of everything. He'd reserved time for our picture together, as well as his picture with Stacey (which they did take together so when they tell this story later there's photographic evidence to back the whole thing up), he even booked a picture for Stacey with someone else if she wanted it. She'd asked Mark to step into that one with her. A picture of me with Dustin and another of Dustin with whoever he wanted (and he chose the dance club sophmores) so Dustin was 'SURROUNDED in babes' for that pic. And Logan had even said, "Well, he's having a ball."

He'd also taken the liberty of ordering a timeslot for Chase, while he was still overseas. Made sure these were happening near Michael's slot, Vince's slot, and James' slot, so that after ALL couples pictures had been captured. We had one HUGE group photo of all of us together. The photographer loved our group so much he took a few pictures of the group. But Logan was convinced that had been the work of his Dad. Who apparently has been watching the Prom all night from his couch at home.

I couldn't help but ask Logan, "If he's watching did he see what happened between us?"

"Oh yeah, he didn't miss it… even if EVERYBODY else did." He'd told me off to the side of all of these pictures snapping.

I asked still worried, "What did he think of it?"

Logan worried me when he shot me a dark look, before admitting. "He wondered what the HELL took me so long. Chancey was even more brutally honest, and my dad's girlfriend of the moment thought it was a theater performance. It was so epic… given she's not the brightest person my Dad's ever dated." These Reese men? Are there anymore like them in the world? I'm really starting to doubt it, I think they're both so unique.

After standing so long waiting to take the photos, posing for so many, and dancing before and after too. I had really needed to sit down for minute, but when we got back to our table… the one I had been keeping for our group ALL night, I might add. Some of the chairs had been stolen by surrounding tables. And all remaining chairs were taken, there were so few chairs that all of the guys had stolen seats and they ALL had a girl sitting on their lap. Chase had Zoey, Michael held Lisa, Vince gripped Lola, and James was even holding onto Lydia that same brave way. Mark even said he was trying to make Stacey more comfortable by holding on to her. Claiming he was "naturally padded for such emergencies."

Stacey seemed impressed and… Wow, they were certainly being chummy… it could be the sheer adrenaline they both experienced when everything was okay, after such a terrifying accident… but seriously, Mark never held onto me like that… not in the two years I dated him.

Logan coughed to my left, where he'd somehow secured a chair. And looked at me expectantly, and even though I got this cue. I couldn't just give him what he wanted so readily, could I? Especially when this isn't something we've done… not in front of anyone anyway (Gleb and Paulina don't count!). Not even during all of the high society parties we attended for his Dad. And this was a whole new world to us both. Being this open about our feeling with each other and our friends… after ages of keeping every little thing locked down like Fort Knox. I had to have a little fun with him.

I asked him, "Great, you got a seat. Did you happen to see one more of those?"

"Yeah." He said before patting his lap. And even pointed out, "Like they're doing."

I told him, "I'm not gonna sit on anyone after I've already taken a terrible fall tonight, no thank you."

But he caught my hand and tugged me to him, "Come here, trust me."

So I let him help me sit across his lap, and I folded my hands behind his neck. Asking, "How is this even possibly comfortable for you."

"Oh! Trust me, I'm fine." He smiled up at me we both adjusted ourselves. Till we were quite comfortable. Not knowing that this was when Lola would start questioning… well, EVERYTHING… That she hadn't gotten the chance to ask about before. Starting with James' choice in date.

"Anyone gonna care to clue me in here? On how Lydia Reynolds my somewhat theater nemesis. Had scored a spot on James lap? Why they've been joined at the hip all Prom LONG?" Lola had asked. "Why aren't we more mad about this?"

Zoey answered before I could, "She talked to James last weekend at 'Mystic Mountain.' Apparently, she impressed him so much that he was looking for her most of the night and now they're like inseparable."

Lola pointed out, "Kinda like Michael and Lisa. I take it you two made up for all the fighting you've been doing the past couple of days?" She asked them.

But both Lisa and Micheal were in their own little world together. They didn't hear her, so Vince concluded for Lola. "I think they'll be just fine."

Lola told him, "I figured that already. I knew they'd make up… speaking of a sure thing… Zoey? What's up with you and Chase?"

Zoey said, "Ah, thought it was obvious but-"

"Nothing's ever true because it's obvious with you guys. Help me out here." Lola said while Vince chuckled, she did have a point. And I know Zoey finally confirmed Chase is her boyfriend. And they're going to Hawaii together this summer to work together. And build on what's starting here tonight. But Logan shifted me and I laid my head against his as we both relaxed even more into our small bubble. I was wrapped up in that contact, warmth and unexpected comfort we'd discovered between us and how perfect it was. Lola had to call my name a few times before I realized she was even talking to me.

"Huh?" I finally asked, and Logan laughed into my shoulder. Making me swat his arm.

Before he quickly dipped me backward and reminded me, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Because the way he was holding on to me, he was keeping me up and I had swat an arm that was holding me pretty tightly. I was laughing the whole time in his face, and he was just as jubilant if not more so. Even though his words were supposed to be a warning. When he sat me back up, Lola's face had both of us laughing even harder.

She looked so disturbed, as she asked, "What hit you two? I thought Dustin was your date, Quinn? and Stacey was yours, Logan?"

Stacey again, answered before we could, "I was and Dustin was, till Logan screamed that he loved Quinn more than once out on the dancefloor. The L-bomb everyone's still whispering about. Was them."

Vince responded first, with a big smile, "SHUT! UP! Really?! WOW! I knew there was something happening between you two. I called it! Wow! That's awesome!"

Lola was saying, "No, no… You guys gotta be kidding… no WAY."

"Way!" Lisa helped out now. "It happened when everyone else in our group wasn't on the dancefloor. But it totally happened, my friends from my bible studies club showed me the replay. They recorded it on their phones. And it was swoon-worthy, what I could see! Even if the goodnight kiss I saw you guys share LAST weekend was still way hotter."

Lola looked like she wanted to talk but just couldn't form words. "La-la-last weekend?"

Zoey said, "Chase found out first, the same glitch that happened before with those webcams in the guy's room. Lisa found out last Sunday night, and James found out this morning. I found out when I walked into Prom. But Lola, they've been dating and hiding it from us since February."

Lola was saying so loud, "FEB-RU-ARY? FEBRUARY!"

Logan cool as a cucumber said, "And this is exactly why we didn't tell you, guys. Because neither of us wanted to deal with your reactions. We knew you'd never get it and we planned to just keep it between us. Pretend it didn't happen in the beginning… but every time we tried to let it go… neither of us could."

I had to say, "I know it sounds cliche, but we, neither of us! Would have ever guessed that we would end up completely falling for each other… but we did. And we're not hiding it anymore. From each other or you guys."

Vince asked, "Had you ever said you loved each other before tonight?"

We both answered together, "No."

Logan admitted, "I think we've both said it without actually saying those words. Like a hundred times, but both of us haven't had the best of luck with that in the past and we were both afraid to even say it to each other. Quinn even said it could ruin EVERYTHING, because we've both been in situations where it did. Or seen situations where it did. But out there tonight, I couldn't hide it anymore."

Lola stood up from Vince's lap came over and took my arm and almost pulled me out of Logan's grip. But he held me unrelenting as Lola said, "Quinn, nooooo! You're better than this. Better than him! He's gotta be just a rebound."

I was so shocked, I faltered and Mark spoke up, during my fight to pull myself together. "I don't know, Lola. Quinn was never as happy or confident with me as she has been lately. And it's a good bet that's been the case since February, when we broke up. Maybe Logan's had a good impact on her too. You know?"

Lola told him, "Oh! Shut it, Mark! Why start having an opinion now?-"

I stood up and still held on to Logan's hand. "Lola! You have no idea what you're talking about-"

"Are you kidding me right now? Of all the people you could have gone with and started dating… you're telling me that he's the best you could do?" She'd barely gotten out before she started to laugh. Not only did no one else laugh, but I kinda lost it on her.

"No, YOU shut up LO-LA, and listen to me for a change." I'd said way stronger than I even thought I could. For the second time tonight, everything around us froze, but this thankfully didn't stop the whole Prom this time. There was still music and dancing happening behind us.

I told her, "I know your opinion of Logan isn't good and I can even guess several reasons why. His track record with me was far from spotless when this started too. I know that you're trying to look out for me because you think I'm making a mistake. But the one messing up right now is you."

"Oh, really?" Lola asked quite curtly.

I was even generous enough to say. "I even acknowledge that this is partially my fault for keeping you all in the dark about it. But I'm telling you now that I love him. And the same way you asked me to accept this from you. I'm asking you to respect this from me."

"And you're serious?" Lola asked before telling the rest of our friends. "Because Vince is an actual good person, and Logan's awful!"

And I stressed "YES! Really! You've been so happy with Vince that you have no clue about anything beyond that, really. You even said that to me as we were getting ready this afternoon yourself-"

"Yeah!" Lola admitted before clarifying. "But I didn't mean I was this gone. This Brainless! Quinn how can a girl so smart be so stupid?"

Logan had stood up at these words and I'd pushed him back in down in his seat. But he'd still said between clinched teeth. "Would you get over yourself! Quinn ISN'T dumb, You're the one trying to fight right now."

He's right, but I had this. So I told her, for myself. "I'm not being stupid, and I know this isn't even about me and Logan. No, this is about Vince's reception into this group, not being too warm at the start. That we could have all done better in your opinion, and I'm not denying that's true. It's so easy for you to forget that even you were completely against him in the beginning. Till you got to really know the person he's become now. And he had all the appearance of a returning villain when he first showed up. He had a lot to overcome, it's completely different with Logan, he's always been our friend-"

"Yeah, but he's never been that CLOSE of a friend- Not to any of us girls, anyway." Lola still tried to fight. Even when Chase Michael and James had all stood up for guy, and I noticed he'd really seemed to appreciate that. While all of the others were trying to make sure this didn't escalate anymore.

Lisa had even kidded, "Well, we can't say that no more." And laughed it up with everyone else. Lightening the mood.

While Lola still was staring me down. Or shaking her head saying, "This has got to be a joke," and "This can't be real."

Vince said, "Come on, you had to know this was coming! You've been in the same dance lessons with the rest of us… all this time. You had to know this was coming, or a possibility."

Lola at the time still maintained, "Noooooo, I really thought Quinn was smarter than this."

But even as Lola let her boyfriend draw her in and EVERYBODY was trying to talk her down. I knew this was only the BEGINNING of her backlash. Lola was not gonna accept this, as kindly as everyone else. And I knew why, I knew she thought she was doing me a favor. While gaining a little revenge for Vince… a vendetta he wasn't even interested in. But she wanted for him regardless, because she still wasn't thrilled about how everyone had questioned her loyalty and intelligence when she'd let us all know she was dating Vince.

I should probably be more worried about this. And what the rest of this year's gonna be like, before summer break. But as Logan tugged me back to him, as I let him rein me in… and I saw that I wasn't the ONLY one who needed a little consoling after that mini-tift with Lola. As I got to be pulled back in that happy bubble of my own boyfriend's OPEN affections. And didn't have to wait to sneak off or be alone with him. As we got to just freely hug and check on each other. Not caring who saw us, it was more than a godsend of comfort. It was an absolute freedom I was still too happy about to let it be spoiled. Even by one of my best friend's open barbs and cruel comments. Directed at both Logan and myself.

I guess the others managed to talk Lola, down. Cause she didn't openly confront us about it anymore during the Prom part of the night. But I knew this was FAR from over… Just like I KNEW loving Logan was far from wrong.

Logan kept swearing he wasn't hurt and he'd expected this from Lola. He even tried to sell that he'd expected it from more than JUST Lola. He was surprised no one else had had anything negative to say. Not even Michael, who he'd expected to be just as hard to convince as Lola.

But all Michael had said was, "Well now? I think I've seen everything! Nothing else in this life can surprise me anymore. And they do make a cute couple, don't they?"

We danced for a little bit more, before Dean Rivers came up on the stage to announce the Prom Court. First they announced the Senior Court, then their King (Stan Hillard) and Queen (Gretta Getts). And then the Senior royals all got to be the only ones to dance for a whole song together. I asked Lola and Stacey, "Why not announce both courts, kings and queens before getting both to dance for one song, one shot and get it over with?"

But they both set me right, telling me. (Lola)"If I were Queen I didn't want to share the floor with a drama queen like Gretta or her clique."

(Stacey added) "And it was CERTAIN, that they would all win for the senior class."

Lola had even kidded, almost smiling. "Yeah, the Dean didn't even have to bother reading that index card." She was trying, I could see her trying, to not let this ruin the night. But if this wasn't Prom and wasn't so important to her. I know her well enough to be just as certain, that we couldn't be talking and smiling this easily if it weren't Prom.

So after that song dragged on for far too long and my guy was yelling over the claps. "WE'RE-CLAPPING-CAUSE-IT'S-OVER!"

And I laughed, even though I knew I shouldn't encourage him. But in my defense, his arms were still around me when he'd been clapping. He hadn't even let me go enough for that. And after the way this night had begun… He pretty much had me wrapped around his little finger and he knew it too.

Then Dean Rivers came back up and announced, "But wait! We're not through yet. Now it's time for our junior class prom court. And the reason we're letting it go last is because… well, this has just been the craziest voting experience this school has ever had." Our class went wild cheering and flipping out that we'd beat out the Seniors on originality… if nothing else.

Dean Rivers went on. "The Prom Court of PCA has always been three crowns, since girls have been allowed to attend. You saw the senior class was able to keep that tradition, just now. But this year it has to be four crowns for the juniors, because of an unprecedented late ballot rush. So with no further ado, allow me to introduce the Four Princes of the Junior Court."

Then the Dean read off the first name, "James Garrett…" Our group went nuts, and crowd went wild before he ran up to the stage.

The Dean carried on "...Vince Blake…" The crowd got louder when Lola had kissed her boyfriend before letting him go.

"... Michael Barret…" The crowd stayed loud, and we were all cheering him on louder than anyone else.

"... and Jeremiah Trottman..." Say what you want, but I noticed a definite decline in the applause, even if the AV-Club were cheering like they'd just won the Super Bowl. All four guys lined up next to the Dean and put these heavy-duty plastic spray-painted silver crowns on their heads. Before the Dean went on to announce the girl's court. But Logan wore a smug grin and estimated, "Bet you I already know who the King and Queen are gonna be."

He was still gripping me from behind, so I had to really turn my head to catch a better look at his face. To ask him, "Do you mean that you think this crown's in the bag for you?"

He said, "Well yeah, by process of elimination, I'm the only popular guy not up there, and Chase was gone for a big part of this last year. Of course, I'll be King, but I think I know who the Queen will be too."

I told him, "Whoever it is, dance with her, play nice, and thank her for the dance when it's over. No matter who it is, don't make a stink. We've stirred up enough drama tonight."

He was trying not to laugh as he promised me. "If the Queen is who I think it is, you won't hear a thing outta me. That I can guarantee… but the playing nice thing… no promises." He'd said like a flirt. But I didn't understand how that could possibly b-

No. Is he joking? He's got to be joking… he can't think- he can't… can he? He doesn't think, because of that earlier weird ballot that I could be Queen… Does he?

As he watched me realize where he was going with this. He started laughing and I told him, "Logan be serious! That isn't gonna happen, you're dreaming. If you even think that for a minute-"

But he was having too much fun, he wasn't listening to me. And the Dean started calling out the Princess Court, Starting with, "... Zoey Brooks…"

Chase was notably louder than everyone. Even if he admitted, "Thought she would be Queen, for sure."

Logan answered him too honestly to not find my elbow in his side. "I didn't-oww!"

"What?" Chase asked me and I lied.

"He's shocked too, aren't you baby?" I asked him again, and could tell from Chase's face. That he'd heard Logan perfectly before now. As I'd corrected him, effectively.

Because he was trying very hard not to laugh when Logan changed his tune. "So surprised."

The Dean announced, "...Lola Martinez…" While she acted surprised walking up to accept her silver crown. Followed by "... Lisa Perkins…" who had high-fived us all as she went up there.

After both were crowned, the Dean explained, " And now, the student who caused the greatest last-minute rush we've ever seen for any Princess before her… Stacey Dillsen!"

She may have been getting crowned in silver. But the way she cried and was carried on stage because she was too emotional and soar to handle the stairs. That crown should have been real gold. She was the true Queen tonight, if you ask me. And it had been so sweet the way Mark wouldn't let other people help him. He personally carried her up there and crowned her himself. Before stitching himself to her side to help her back down again. As she blew kisses to the crowd.

The Dean laughed good-naturedly, and said, "It doesn't seem like anyone or anything could possibly top what we've just seen. From these eight outstanding Juniors but there are two names that I think have more than earned the title of King and Queen. This year's Prom King is… Logan Reese."

I cheered loudly, "WHOOOO!" With Chase, and Lydia. We were all that was left of our crew. And Logan had laughed, and before quickly running up to get his crown. While the Dean boasted, "No student has ever gone to the lengths to make sure everyone was gonna look good dancing tonight. Not just all of you students either, but he welcomed the faculty, brought in pro dancers and even introduced some new dances that are likely to be PCA traditions from now on. Logan did all of that and more than earned that title and crown. Even if we all know he'll just run with those bragging rights for the next year more than anything."

Everyone laughed and I could hear Logan even though he wasn't close enough to the microphone. Asking Michael comically, "What is this a roast?"

And Michael answered him, "Nah! It's TRUTH, man!" And Michael got a punch in the shoulder.

The Dean said, "Finally the Prom Queen is… by the most unanimous vote in Queen History." A bunch of people, including my friends were all cheering already. Though even I can't fathom why, not even writing this hours later. I almost missed it all together when the Dean announced, "Quinn PENSKY!"

I was so shocked, Chase and Lydia had to hug me and push me towards the stage. Or I think I would still be sitting there thinking "no way." And as I walked I really felt like a breeze could have knocked me over. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard… How? In all of creation, is this possible? My friends and boyfriend are all popular… I'm not! But so many people as I passed them were telling me they'd voted for me. But how is this my life right now?

Zoey, Lola, and Lisa all were hugging me when I got to them, and the guys all came over too. To get to me before Logan claiming, he wouldn't let them near me once he had me. Even Mark had given me a side squeeze when I got to Stacey. He'd kinda hugged me and Stacey, but it still counted. Nothing could have prepared me though for when my baby put my crown on my head telling me, "I knew you were gonna win."

I hoped I'd thanked him for having more confidence in me than I did. But things get a little fuzzy once I was up on that stage with him. With that crown on my head.

My friends later told me that what the Dean had said about me was all so kind. I even stole the little index card he'd read on my behalf. It was all very flattering and professional. The kind of thing that would look great on a college recommandation letter. But when I'd gotten to Logan, and we'd locked eyes. I don't even know if he'd grabbed me or I'd grabbed him. All I do know is that we'd kissed and the crowd had been reacting to us. But poor Dean Rivers thought his compliments were going over that well. As our class fully cheered us on for this kiss happening behind his back.

I just remember that kiss, then the next thing I knew. We were standing in the center of the dancefloor. I know I must have walked there and I'm almost certain I had been on Logan's arm… I just couldn't remember it for the life of me. One of the songs we'd been listening to on loop (because it had the perfect beat for our Victorian dance). And Logan was bowing to me on cue. I laughed as I always did because I really never thought I'd see the day. That Logan would ever bow to anyone, even if it was required… least of all me.

He shot me the same disapproving look as always when we had an audience. And told me, "Come on, do the girl thing already."

I told him, "You know it's called a curtsy." Before I did a pretty good one even if it did come off a bit shaky. Just because of my tumble onto blacktopped pavement earlier.

But when Logan pulled me into that first position, he didn't keep me at the safe school distance. He'd pulled my shamelessly against him like he had on our beach, the movie sets we visited, and smoosh parties we'd attended. I could feel the look I gave him filled with question marks.

He'd pulled me closer still and a few people around us catcalled and whistled… I'm not entirely sure, but I think that could have been our friends. They had no idea how much we'd been holding back for class.

Logan said softly in my ear as we started to move. "Forget they're here… it's just you and me."

"Is that wise?" I asked him back matching his voice volume.

He let out this breath and admitted, "Probably not, but is it necessary? Absolutely."

I asked him, "Are you trying to give your Dad a great show? If he's still watching?"

"Hmm? No, no… He's still texting me ever so often so I know he's still watching. I just haven't gotten to do this with you in days." He complained as we came to the first dip and I let my whole upper body go limp in his hold. My hands almost touched the floor before he'd pulled me back up. The trust, the steam, the precision… I'd missed it more than just tonight. And I clearly hadn't been alone in that. Logan looked just as affected as me when we'd let our foreheads touch when I came back up. Our crowns collided, because we forgot they were still on our heads. So I'd laughed, even though I tried to keep it in.

He whispered to me, "I… love you… you know?"

"I love you too." I whispered back. Still not used to hearing him say it, even though I've known I've loved him for ages. I think I even told him, "I think I may have been telling you that. With this dance, long before I could say it."

But he didn't even pause, before admitting, "Me too."

And I really wondered with the exception of Lola's diva-fit. Could this night be any better?

((Logan's Perspective))

I'd known all along that Quinn was gonna be Queen. I knew it!

But even knowing she would win and knowing I would probably get King. I had no idea that we would have overcome so much together. When we were dancing together, with those crowns on. That I would get to actually dance with my girlfriend, LIKE she was my girlfriend. Or how many times I would keep telling her I loved her just during that dance. Or how many times she would say, she loved me. It couldn't have been better.

But that song choice, told me even if Lola hated me. Or just hated me with Quinn, she'd anticipated this win. For the both of us and planned it out… even while she had been running for Queen herself. And playing it up all month like she would win. So even though I knew I was probably the last person on EARTH Lola wanted to talk to right now. I still made a point of thanking her, for setting that all up for us. And I knew it was Lola who'd done this too, because when I'd tried to thank Stacey, she'd said, "Lola had been behind all the music selections." That had been one of the ONLY things she didn't hand off to Stacey.

Lola had made a face at me, but still said. "Sure… you guys looked great out there too. Dancing together, and Quinn seems super happy since you took over for Dustin… I still don't trust you, but I can thank you for making her night."

I'd nodded, "Sure." It wasn't great, but I somehow feel like it could be a start in the right direction.

It wasn't terribly long after that, Leon was warning over the speakers, it was nearly midnight and nearly time for the last dance. Some people were already leaving and getting ready for the after Prom, and a bunch more were already bragging about booking hotel rooms too. But I was not leaving till the last dance was over. While I was still standing there with Lola, I asked her. "Did you know Quinn has a favorite song called 'Last Dance?'"

Lola said, "Yeeeees," slowly. "I think the bigger question here is YOU know that? You know about Donna Summer's Last Dance?"

"I've never heard it before, but she swears nothing can beat it. Since Stacey said you hand picked a lot of the music with Leon and Michael. I was wondering if you'd thought of that?"

She actually smiled and admitted. "I'll let you in on a little secret. I may have taken it a little further than just simply playing 'Last Dance.' Because since she introduced it to us, it's become a girls night must and WE ALL LOVE IT! Just be ready to dance and catch her when she freaks out."

And I assured Lola, "Got it."

Right before midnight and before the last dance could play. Lola got up on the stage and thanked everyone for coming, thanked everyone who helped her. Thanked Michael for starting the prom so well when she wa slate, but she brought Micheal and Lisa up on the stage. ANd got them to perform a song together before that last song. The song they performed was another Donna Summer song called, "Heaven Knows." The beat was so disco and dated, but the vocals I have to admit were AWESOME. Michael and Lisa just killed it.

And my girlfriend was saying, "I know Lola won't play Donna's 'Last Dance,' but that was probably the best she could get away with right there." The CD, that was playing, Lola had warned me wouldn't leave a lot of time, "Heaven Knows" was gonna lead right into "Last Dance." But since I'd never heard either before. I was just hoping there would be a distinct change between the two.

NOTHING could have prepared me, for when the song changed and Quinn realized what was happening. That Last Dance was FINALLY the actual Last Dance tonight. ALL of the girls were losing it, but Quinn was so happy she was almost tearing up for the soft romantic beginning of the song. She was that overwhelmingly happy about it, and after the rest of tonight had been just as much of an emotional rollercoaster. It had been a thrill to pull her close and enjoy all of the slow music at the beginning. Then… as promised, the tempo changed to a fast, upbeat, party beat. It was everything Quinn had hyped up, but I think it was so much better just enjoying her reactions to all of the changes throughout that one song.

Like she warned, I may be ruined FOREVER on any other last song at any dance now. But as much as Donna Summer should get that credit. For wailing such a fun song that somehow captured it all like that. I think I still need to say that's all Quinn's fault.

And as I looked around at the rest of our friends dancing too. And tried to remember ALL of tonight. How glad I was that our friends were with us too. I knew nothing could compare to just having this girl with me. Finding out that she loves me and FINALLY telling her that I love her the first time. I hope I never forget it, any of it.

And even though this week had had such a dumpy start. I would change a thing about it, because it all led to this moment. This happiness, and I couldn't remember ever being happier.

When it was all over, the song had ended and everyone was heading for their after prom plans. I still had her hand in mine and I knew…The whole new world we've just walked into, really began now. Because the guys and girls needed to split up and get out of these fancy clothes. The tickets to the after-prom party happening on campus was a t-shirt you had to wear. So everyone needed to change and get more comfortable. Girls needed to go change in their dorms and we needed to go change in ours. But all of us were ALL having the hardest time letting go of each other. I want to say Chase and me were struggling more than the other guys. But in all honesty, Vince, Micheal, James and even Mark seemed to be struggling just as much as me.

In fact the ONLY way Stacey had gotten Mark to quit carrying her everywhere had been a quick kiss she'd planned to plant on his cheek. But he'd turned his head to ask her something and they'd ended up kissing right on the lips. And he'd finally put Stacey down, at the entrance to the girls dorm. They'd both frozen like, they'd felt something too. I know what that look means, I had the same one sitting on a bench next to Quinn. It was funny to see someone else dealing with it now.

Stacey thanked Mark, and walked inside, before Lisa said. "Hmm… well, it worked for Miss Stacey let's see if it works for me." Then she planted a kiss on Michael's mouth and said, "Thank you Boo. See you in a few."

He said, "Yeah! Meet you at the After-Prom entrance." But instead of leaving to get ready himself. Michael walked over to Mark and asked him, "Ya okay?"

Mark nodded his head up and down. While Lola said, "Okay, I'm tired of picking twigs outta my hair and dress. I'm gonna go get more comfortable. Bye babe!" She said kissed Vince. "Meet ya there!"

"Yeah, see you there, hot stuff." Vince grinned before heading over to Michael and Mark.

Chase and Zoey had been kissing for a solid ten minutes. Trying to say "Bye for now" not even "Byr for the night."

But when I turned and noticed this, I also saw Lydia give James a peck on the cheek and said, "Thanks for making my Prom night not nearly as suckish as it started."

He said, so lamely, "You saved mine too, it was the least I could do. Will you meet me at the after-prom entrance too?"

She said, "I'll look much more normal by then, good luck recognizing me. But sure, I'll see you there."

Then she disappeared and Zoey managed to get away from Chase too. James and Chase walked off together talking. Leaving me and Quinn FINALLY on our own. She was still dorking out over how cute all of those other moments had been. When I turned to her and trapped her saying, "Bet we got 'em all beat."

Then I pulled her into a good night kiss, I'd meant to keep short. But it just wasn't something we were very good at tonight. Short and not steamy, she broke off the kiss to beat me saying it. "I love you."

I laughed, I couldn't help it. It was too new, still too nice to hear. And it was the first time she'd beat me like that. So I said, "Love you too. And I'm already missing you in this dress, but go change so I don't have to let you go again for a while."

"Kay." She answered and we both walked away from each other only to rush back and kiss a couple more times. Before we both were telling each other to "Go!" Or "Bye!"

I really had thought I was on my own when Quinn went inside. But then I heard, "AWWWWW!" And all of this clapping as all of my guy friends came rushing out from all of their hiding places to tease me. They had just waited around to razz me about how soft and sappy Quinn's made me.

The worst part is I didn't even care, and old me. Would have tried to probably beat them all up… maybe not Vince. I don't think I was that stupid, but the others, sure! I have changed, and a lot of that was Quinn's influence and love. I know it, but what I didn't know was my guy friends had all waited because they wanted me to know. These changes were hilarious but also for the better. They all slapped me on the back and told me, they were happy for me.

So maybe I still have a way to go before our female friends felt the same. Especially Martinez, but maybe our friends aren't all jerks after all. Maybe this after-prom thing will be as awesome as the Prom was, or what I have planned for the rest of everybody's night. I mean come on, it could at least beat the beginning of the night. Right? And there weren't gonna be DA's checking us all into curfew tonight. There were more reasons to celebrate than we could possibly pass up!

That's all folks!

Well, for this chapter anyway! But I will be back on schedule by next Thursday! No worries there! Sorry again for it being so late and such a weird week. But hopefully this is all reaching you very well! Please write in if you can, I would love to hear from you. Now comes all of the unchartered territory, where I can go crazy, because we're almost officially in beyond the episodes awesomeness. I mean there's still the review chapter where Zoey Stacey and Chase are talking to young hopefuls who are thinking about attending PCA. But of the episodes we all watch and enjoy most. My work is done, and I get to have a ball filling in the rest of these gaps! SO EXCITED about that. I hope you've all enjoyed this coverage of Prom night, even if after-prom and after-after-prom is still to come. Hope October is being good to ALL of you! Hope you have a marvelous week. See Ya next Thursday! Take Care Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85