Hey There,

My fellow Quinn-quoters and Logan-loyalist, Welcome to part two of the Vince Blake madness as promised. I hope this topsy-turvy version of events tickles your fancy and I hope to finally finish this story, God willing. I have several other concepts for this couple and fandom that I'm brewing. But I don't feel right about posting them till this one is complete. And I really want to finish this story before we get the new thing coming out this summer too! So punching a time clock now, I hope we can get this DONE! Then ENJOY whatever the cast has cooked up later this year too! Sorry to anyone who's been reading it the whole time. I know it's been years, but bear with me just a bit longer and we'll get there. It's been a crazy ride since chapter one.

Day two of this mini arc and I hope you're all having as much fun as I am!

Standard disclaimers apply - I Don't own Zoey 101, nickleoden or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things for my own twisted plots. Most will be returned unharmed.

Enjoy!

"The Collective Trails of a Quinnventor… And Logan"

Chapter 13 - Sympathies for Coyotes

(Logan's Perspective:)

I got up today, went to class and tried to pretend everything was normal.

But nothing was even close to ordinary.

Because as I had been putting Quinn to bed last night. Something had occurred to me besides the fact that I'm pretty sure she hadn't slept in nearly forty-eight hours. As we'd "Scoody-Doo"-ed our campus. We caught the one whodunit or ones who'd helped Rebecca be more psycho. Right now Quinn and the girls were in the principal's office telling him all about our… findings (Also asking him what the heck? Letting Vince Blake come back to PCA. Even though our Dean had gone out of his way to dodge us.).

James, Michael, and Lisa were impatiently awaiting word, with me. Del Figgs and Brooke were hanging around us. Trying to overhear something, since Michael has such a BIG mouth. They were bound to have heard him saying what the girls were up to. As well as we'd been the ones to catch the stink-bombers.

None of that had me acting weird though. What had me acting so crazy was…

I love Quinn.

I love her.

I haven't been able to even think that this whole time, but now I can't stop thinking it.

And I'm freaking out.

I would be freaking out even if this had all just happened inside my head. BUT NO! I had to go and make it that much harder on myself. When I had helped her back to her dorm last night. I'd ended up carrying her more than half of the way. She was snoozing in and out of wakefulness the whole trip. So I carried her to her room, and placed her under the covers of her bed. I'd kissed her goodnight and it had just flown out of my mouth, "I love you."

We'd been completely alone, and I'm not one hundred percent certain she was awake. But I'd said it and she'd smiled so hugely. And said, "Aww! Nigh-Night!" Rolled away from me and curled into her blankets.

WHAT-AM-I-SUPPOSED-TO-DO-NOW?

What if she heard me? What if she didn't? What if she was so black-out tired that she doesn't even remember how she got back to her room? What if she said, "Nigh-Night," because she didn't know what else to say? What if she said that because she doesn't feel the same? What if she doesn't know what she feels? What if she loves me too?

HOW many QUESTIONS was THAT?

Before I could answer any of these questions, A pissed Zoey, Lola and Quinn walked into homeroom and I had to lock down my freak out before I did something completely stupid. Michael asked them before I could, "Why are y'all looking so teed off? Slamming things and crossing your arms? Had it really gone that bad?"

Zoey sat down in her assigned seat and crossed her arms, slumping down deep in the seat. Claiming, "They wouldn't let us in to see the Dean. Supposedly he's late getting into his office today because of some birthday crisis… thing. The secretary told us we weren't allowed to camp out in the office and miss class after they couldn't even hold class yesterday. She made us go to class and penciled us in for an appointment after classes let's out at the end of the day."

Little Lisa said, "That's bogus!"

"You're telling me," Lola said looking even angrier than Zoey. "Quinn basically drops everything to do the Dean's job, or a cop's job, for two days. Doesn't hardly eat or sleep in that time and now that it's over he's giving us all the runaround."

Quinn's head was down on top of her folded arms and she still looked so tired but beautiful. When she spoke up next and the sound of her soft exhausted voice sent a shiver down my spine. All she'd said was, "At least it's over, guys." Michael who was sitting the closest to her pat her on the back.

"Is it?" Del Figgs tried to intervene, but the teacher decided to come in and start class. Saving Quinn before any of us had to.

God, I love her! How did I not know it sooner?

How had this stupid fact stayed hidden so freaking long?

The first moment I could finally speak to her without a friend too close or an audience to keep in the dark. Was during lunch, because both of us had been the first to get our trays and find a table. While we were sitting there just the two of us. I took a chance and picked the chair right next to hers. I asked her at a volume only she could possibly hear. "How are you feeling today?"

She shrugged, "I'm fine. I mean I'm still really tired but I'm okay."

"Good. good?" Does this sound as painfully awkward on paper as it felt? It really felt like I wasn't able to even be my normal self around her.

I'd ruined it, that's what I'd done. I'd taken a perfectly perfect thing and completely ruined it. I was completely convinced, but then Quinn laughed, "Logan? What's with you? Why are you acting so nervous? Is someone watching us? Has anyone hinted to being on to us? Or is it something else? Why are you acting so weird?"

"I don't know," I lied. I knew exactly why, I just didn't know how to ask her if she knew why. Without further messing things up for myself if she was asleep. So I tried to ask her, "Last night… Do you remember how you even made it back to your dorm?"

"Not really." She said, too honest to not be true as she sipped on a Blix. I had to make myself tear my eyes away from the way it drew attention to her lips.

So I asked her, "What do you remember?"

"I remember saying goodnight," she validated making my heart stop. But it started up again when she continued. "And you insisted on walking me back anyway. Something about not wanting to find me in the flower beds outside of our dorms again. That's only happened like a dozen times."

I hope that breath of relief wasn't too obvious. Quinn went on, "But I don't exactly remember making it to the dorm, I just remember waking up this morning after sweet black dreamless oblivion. Why? Did I do or say something weird? Did I snore? I did, didn't I? It was loud too? Like chainsaw loud? My own mother once told me that I could shatter glass with my snoring."

"What?" I had to question before, "No! No, you weren't snoring. I think you were too tired to barely breathe."

"Oh?" She questioned me now. "Well, that's weird I usually always snore, especially if I'm really out."

"Is that all you remember?" I asked again.

"Yes." She assured again, before asking, "But why do you keep asking me that? Is there something I'm forgetting? Something important? Something funny or weird I said or did? What is it that has you acting so strange?"

I said the only thing I could think to say, "No! I don't know! I just can't seem to settle down till we have more answers on this Vince Blake thing, I guess. Aren't you that way?"

"Well," she said, pushing up her glasses on her nose. "I could see how that would answer for a lot of the oddness of today. But are you sure that's really all that's going on?"

"Yeah," I affirmed as I waved to James who was heading our way. "Totally all that's happening."

"Ooooooookay." She drew out sounding like she wasn't entirely convinced. But Hey! She didn't remember my slip of the tongue!

Cool! Maybe there was some way I could still salvage this whole mess. I would just have to lock it down till I knew better how to act. In the meantime, I'll just pin all of my strange reactions to the dreaded return of Vince Blake. What could possibly go wrong with that foolproof plan?

Or hopefully, it's a foolproof plan.

((Quinn's Perspective:))

After classes wrapped up for the day; Zoey, Lola, and I met up outside of the dean's office. The secretary tried to keep Lola and Zoey out of it. So I had to insist on having them with me. When we got inside of the Dean's office, the man never even looked at us. He was too preoccupied with his daughter's birthday present and making a tiny little cheesecake.

When we left all three of us were so hacking angry we all wished we'd put his precious cheesecake right in his uncaring FACE!

Even Zoey whose such a great person was wishing she could have seen it smeared into his expensive suit and necktie.

Lola even mentioned hoping it was still hot enough to burn him. Which it probably could, those "Cheesy-bake ovens" use a lightbulb to cook things. It's not like the controlled cooking that happens in an actual oven, they tend to get dangerously hot, that's why only bigger kids can use them. That warning was on the box long before I was using mine to cook chemicals and experiments. Which wouldn't have had to happen if my mom hadn't banned me from her kitchen. But I digress.

We had to go our separate ways for a little while. I had experiments and Quinnvenitions I had been neglecting. Lola had some play practice to rush off to and Zoey was supposed to be helping the costume director of the drama department. Some projects for her business class, that she's been keeping very under her hat. It was good that we all had things to keep us busy for a while. We wouldn't be able to meet up with the boys till much later.

James had to work with a random classmate on a project on the other side of campus. According to Zoey, anyway. Logan was working with Michael on something for the same class. I only knew that because Logan had been talking about it sometimes when we'd been working together the last two days. It could very well be late before any of us can even be in the same area. But I was grateful for the time, my projects and patens had to be feeling slighted.

So I got to work and tried to focus but it was no use. No matter how hard I tried to get to work, I could not get my mind off of the fact that Logan has been acting really weird all day. He hasn't looked at me, texted me, or snuck in a flirt or two on the sly. Even when he had the chance or nearly written invitation… That wasn't like him at all. What was going on with him… Was it something I'd said, something I'd done? Was it something I didn't say or didn't do? Was he lying when he'd said I didn't snore and he was so repulsed by the sound that now he's thinking about stopping this? Whatever this is happening between us even is?

I tore off my rubber gloves and goggles then threw them at my cubby. He'd been fine yesterday and the day before. Had we spent too much time together and now he needed to get away from me? I have been told a thousand times over how obnoxious and annoying I can be. Maybe he's realized I'm better in small doses.

My head was starting to pound, and I put my palm to my forehead. And looked out the window of the lab. Then out of nowhere, someone appeared behind me and spoke. I jumped a foot in the air and spun around to find Mark standing there with his hands up. Claiming he was, "Sorry to scare me."

I had a hand over my heart as I'd asked him, "What do you want, Mark?"

He said, "I know you were going to talk to the Dean about Vince. I heard Michael and Lisa talking about it in first period today. I was just wondering what he said and what you found out."

I had been about to tell him to buzz off, that my head was hurting, and I wasn't in the mood to be gracious. Especially to a person who showed me on multiple levels how little they think of me. I wasn't about to share this knowledge with him, before I'd even gotten to share it with my actual guy friends (and secret current boyfriend even if I'm unsure of where we stand).

But Brooke came into the lab right after him and shut the door behind herself. So maybe she was raised somewhere better than a barn, but she's still the cruddy temptress who helped Mark obliterate my heart. Brooke sassed me by saying, "You all forget it was Mark who got hung up on that basketball hoop. He was up there for hours and no one got him down."

"Is that what he told you?" I asked, with my own attitude showing itself.

Mark backpaddled, "No. I told Brooke I would have been up there all night if you hadn't gotten me down. You got me down with your own bare hands… you even sprained your wrist if I remember right."

"I did," I confirmed before meeting Brooks' eyes and informing her, "That's why I can't ever forget that Mark was the one hanging up there. Because I was willing to hurt myself to get him down, and spent two weeks with my wrist all wrapped up. Let's see Vince put him up there again and see if you have the same care for him."

"He's my boyfriend now, he chose me," The heifer just had to hoist that in my face. Even taking hold of Mark's arm as she said it. "Of course, he knows I could do more for him, better than you could ever do."

I think I may have laughed right in her face, as I said. "Well, it looks like you'll get more than a chance to prove yourself. Because Vince Blake is back and he's back to stay."

Mark answered me while Brooke's fake face went blank. "Are you sure about that, Quinn?"

"I'm afraid I am," I said with real regret. "We were all just as shocked and appalled to see him. Logan, Michael, and Chase were all beaten up by his lackeys that day too. Remember? Lola, Zoey, and I had to treat all four of you afterward."

I said while Brooke reacted like this was all new news to her. "Wait a minute, I thought you said you took the rap for those other guys."

"I tried to, but it didn't work," Mark tried to keep face for a bold-faced lie.

I reminded him, "This whole thing took place because of Chase Matthews. He was brave enough to say something when he caught Vince Blake cheating on a test-"

"I thought you were the one who caught him?" Brooke asked Mark.

"No, no, I never said that." Mark said but Brooke's reaction spoke volumes I didn't even need to hear to understand.

"Maybe you better tell her a different story today, Mark." I advised, and Mark did seem to be considering it. "The real story this time too since history does have a funny way of repeating itself. If you were to find yourself hanging from that hoop again, I wouldn't be the one tugging you back down these days."

I know I'm terrible for feeling this way, but watching those two leave the lab. I was almost grateful to Vince for putting that kind of fear in both of those horrible people. If Vince's reappearance could provoke such obvious reactions from Mark Del Figgalo. Maybe that is all that is going on with Logan too… Maybe I'm being paranoid or overcritical again. It wouldn't be the first or last time.

As I'd predicted, it was dark outside, when I met up with my friends later. Even then Logan was acting more like himself, but STILL undeniably weird. I mean he did quickly plan out a rendezvous in one of our hiding places for after this meet-up. He even held my hand for a little bit before everyone showed up. But there was still something there, something altered and something I couldn't put my finger on.

Then Zoey, Lola, and I got to finally share with Logan, Michael, and James what we'd found out. Lisa was supposed to have come too, but she couldn't make it because one of her projects had almost gotten ruined earlier today. So Michael was just gonna have to tell her all about it tomorrow. I got to share with everyone my little run-in with Mark and Brooke too.

Once everything was out in the open, Zoey, Lola, Michael, Logan, and I were all still venting, still mad. Still so done with this whole situation. While poor James was trying his best to get all of us to calm down. The best most cheerful thought James came up with at the end of all of our rants was. "Well, at least we won't have to put up with this but so long."

Zoey asked while all of us exchanged looks, "What's that supposed to mean?"

James reminded us, "Summer break isn't too far away, Prom is even closer. We'll only get to attend PCA for one more year before we're all going off to college. Since Vince had to cheat before it's likely his education will have to start in community college, if at all. He'll need to prove himself before any major university would ever take a chance on him. Even if PCA took him back and that does look good on his record."

He had a point there, but seriously did he have to bring up such a downer? That we only had one more year of being altogether. It made all of us stop and look at each other for a different reason now. We really didn't have much time left and I had already been applying to schools. And agreed to visit several during my summer vacation. Of course, M.I.T. was still the dream school but I was keeping my options open. Luckily Logan managed to get us back on the subject of why we were mad again.

When Logan brought up that he had been beaten up along with Chase, Michael, and Mark. I may have mentioned, "Though Mark probably deserved it."

Lola made a face at me and reminded me, "He was your boyfriend."

"Well, he's NOT anymore!" Logan said too loudly and too angrily. I shot him a look and he shrugged, lowering his voice. "Well… he's not."

I'm hoping everyone was so angry and upset, that no one noticed the jealousy there. But when we were all going our separate ways at the end of this discussion. Lola was going off to meet up with a tech Drama senior she'd been flirting with. She was starting to see who out of all of her admirers would be the best Prom date. Zoey and James were gonna take a moonlit walk, I pretended to go check on Quinnventions. I thought Logan was only pretending to be so interested in Michael's schemes and plots for retaliation. So we could both sneak off to our secret spot like planned. But he must have been more interested than I realized because he completely stood me up.

No call, no text, nothing... Just complete radio silence.

After that waste of time, I walked back to my dorm, crawled into a beanbag chair and turned the television on. I didn't care what was on, I just found the noise comforting, I wasn't watching it. My mind was on what could be going on with Logan. He'd stood me up before, sure. But never like this, never without a word and no good reason. It was too bizarre.

The only conclusion to be made is that something is very wrong here. Given my past history, I should prepare for anything, from the best-case scenario to the worst. But before I could fret too much on the subject, Lola and Zoey showed up with a full-sized cake in a plastic cake holder.

Zoey was all worked up and complaining about James. She hadn't appreciated his antics at all, no matter how Lola and I were trying to tell her that he was only trying to calm her down. She'd found his behavior condescending and she wasn't having it. He'd only managed to make her even more hacked off than she was to begin with… which had been the opposite effect he'd aimed for.

Zoey vented, "It wasn't like he was just defusing a bad situation either. What made me so livid is that it was like he was downplaying what happened to the guys. Just because he wasn't here to get his butt kicked too, or just because he didn't see how badly Chase was hurt."

I added, "Or Michael… Mark a-and Logan." I hoped no one heard me nearly choke on my secret boyfriend's name. When I had said it.

"I said them too." Zoey insisted.

"Not at the end there, you said how badly he hurt Chase." I pointed out.

But now was Zoey's turn to downplay, "I meant everybody… obviously."

Lola had been stood up by her supposed date too. Only she'd managed to score another date while she was getting stood up. (Only Lola could walk away from a situation like this with a new date) And this new guy had been in the baking club, aspires to attend culinary school and become a chef. Hence him giving my roommates a whole fresh baked cake.

I asked Lola, "What did you say to him? Are you gonna go out with him?"

Lola explained, "I told him if the cake is good then we have a date. But if even one of us doesn't like it, no dice. So grab a fork and be honest."

Zoey and I nodded to each other, "That sounds fair enough."

We found some forks and plates, and after a fork full we all agreed, "It's a date!"

After the first piece I told Lola (kidding) "If you don't date this boy, I will."

While Zoey took it even further, kidding. "Lola, you might have to marry this one."

"I know, right?" Lola giggled at her luck.

The cake had some French name that neither of my roommates could repeat. All the three of us could do was eat it. And we did! We were all so worked up from this shambles of a day that we took down more half of that cake between the three of us. Then Lola remembered that tomorrow is Saturday morning and she has a yoga class outdoors first thing in the morning.

As we were trying to sleep Lola kept saying, "Quinn?" or "Zoey?" Then asking us, "Why did you let me eat so much cake?"

We both tried to remind her that we neither of us had put a gun to her head. We hadn't forced the confections down her throat. But she kept asking till I reminded her of some tricks that may help her reclaim her balance even as all of that cake will still be trying to mess with her during her class. After that she was asleep.

Right before I fell asleep, I got a text from Logan exclaiming, "I'm a total idiot!"

I wrote back and teased, "I'm not gonna disagree with you on that."

He asked, "Can you ever forgive me?"

I told him to, "Let me sleep on it. Not because I'm mad or anything, just cause I really need the sleep."

He said simply, "Sweet dreams." and nothing more.

(Logan's Perspective:)

I'm an idiot… A complete idiot.

I pulled a "Quinn" on Quinn! That's what I did.

I got so laser-focused on the revenge Michael and me were gonna get for Chase. Hopefully reclaiming some of our own dignity, while we were at it.

Commupins all over Vince Blake!

I completely lost track of time, and I accidentally stood Quinn up in the process. That's usually something Quinn would be doing. Working on a Quinnvention or paten… Getting lost in her plans and schemes. Quinn did things like that, not me! If I stood her up it was because someone was on to us, or forgot about a practice I had to attend. Or detention I had to serve, that had happened before too.

Our plan was genius, it was gonna be amazing. We'd stayed up all night picking out the right equipment we would need on the internet. It should be arriving tomorrow morning, I'd paid a little extra to have it shipped in a rush. But I hadn't realized how long we were taking till I was texting poor Quinn WAY later than planned!

So I was gonna make it up to her first thing this morning…

But the problem with this plan was. That our equipment did arrive first thing this morning even though we'd made the order less than twelve hours ago. The whole time I was waking up and getting ready for the day. I kept looking at that huge box, and so did Michael… till the two of us couldn't stand it anymore and we started opening the crate. Pulling out all of the pieces, and started putting it together. There must have been hundreds of pieces before we had all of it finally out of it's box.

Obviously, this trap would take more time to get set up.

So our first booby-trap ended up being a small explosive in Vince's coffee. Made by Quinn, (it wasn't lost on me that if we were really on such good terms. She wouldn't have given the Quinnvention to Michael.) I know for a fact that Quinn usually never trust Michael with anything that dangerous. I once watched her wrestle a pair of scissors from him when she claimed they were too dangerous for him. I should have taken that as my first red flag. But I was too focused on vengeance, I was too wrapped up in getting even with Vince. It didn't even occur to me till days later when I was thinking back on that.

We'd messed up on our catapult a few times and had to pull it apart again. But just when we were finally reading the instructions and starting to get somewhere… Zoey and Quinn showed up to warn us about Lola's latest boyfriend.

Lola had been attending some foo-foo yoga class this morning when she'd met up with Vince "the Villian" Blake. Not only had she supposedly kissed him (four times not that I care) but now they were going out. Quinn and Zoey warned that they weren't talking to Lola.

When I tried to tell them, "Neither are we-"

Michael stopped me and reminded us, "Guys this is Lola! I have taken baths longer than some of her relationships. If she's gonna date Vince, the one thing we can count on is that it won't last. She'll be back to hating him by tomorrow. You watch."

Michael did have a point there. Lola was known for being a serious actress. But also for constantly changing interests… when it came to dates. No way she's serious…

But she was serious about Vince, determined enough to prove Michael wrong after several days of spending every spare moment together. Making out all over campus and anywhere there was a crowd. She and Vince were seen joined at the hip all over campus (even when they weren't making out). They were even PCA's hottest new pairing that had the gossip mills pulling overtime.

During all of those days, that Lola was insanely having fun with Vince. Michael and I tried many different plans and plots to take vengeance on Vince. At first, we made sure not to aim some of those attacks at Lola. But as none of them worked, when we tried to use them. We started to aim at both sides of the power couple. Nothing happened! None of them actually worked the moment Vince was in range and we had any of our creations aimed at him.

I felt like I was Wile E. Coyote and Michael was Sylvester the cat. Neither of us could seem to catch that Tweety Bird or Roadrunner. Zoey and Quinn came to us and said that they were gonna tell Vince off…

But somehow when they returned they had been won over too. Michael told both girls to "Get Out!" Of our dorm.

"Dude!" I cautioned him, I had been fine with shooing Zoey, but Quinn? We'd just been talking about possibly getting her to help us build a few of our designs. She was definitely the most skilled builder out of all of us. Not to mention… I hadn't seen a whole lot of her since this revenge thing had taken off. (Which had been days)

But then Zoey and Quinn had both held up the gummi bears Vince had given them. A bag of drug-store gummi bears was all it took for both girls to forget. How they'd had to bandage all four of us guys, head-to-toe, because of the beating we'd survived. Off-brand gummi bears from another man, and Quinn wondered why I was so peeved?

What a disaster! Ever since I realized that I love her… it's just been one disaster after another. I didn't have to worry about saying it, because we never got any time together. I never had to worry about anyone seeing us flirt. Because she had completely stopped doing it all together.

So I took all of that anger, hate-fire, and anxiety I felt, and put it towards revenge. Knowing that probably wasn't the best move. But the battlefield lines had been drawn. Lola was fully siding with Vince, that he was a decent person. While Quinn, Zoey, and James were all trying to stay neutral and failing. Michael and I both felt betrayed and weren't hanging out with any of them…

It didn't slam me, full force, till Michael and me were sitting across from Firewire. We'd needed a nerd, to help us out with some of our ploys. Our group brain had made it very clear at dinner the night before to both of us that she would not help us attack a person that she viewed as misunderstood. Michael wasn't affected at all, he'd been the one to arrange the meeting. But her words were still echoing in my head, she'd delivered these words so perfectly.

(Quinn had said)"I will not use my knowledge of science to ruin a human attempting to better themselves. Humans are flawed and imperfect creations as it is. Look at their impact on the planet if you don't believe me. Vince really is just trying to be better, to do better. No matter how close we all are as friends, I'm sorry boys. But you're gonna have to find another nerd. Clearly one with no morals and no love for Lola."

I pulled out my pocket mirror and used it to look at myself. Trying to cheer up, when I noticed in the corner of my mirror, that Quinn was behind me. She'd crossed through the room to meet up with a hulking football player. I could tell she was annoyed and tutoring this mouthbreather. But I still couldn't stop watching her or trying to read her lips or body language.

Was that the same outfit she wore earlier? Or had she dressed up special for this session? Those clothes had no business looking that good on her for another guy. Tutor or Not! Did her eyes always glitter like that when anyone got something right? Did she have to lean over him to point out something? Did he have to touch her? Why was he touching her? What class was this for?

"LOGAN!" Michael asked loudly, "EARTH-To-LOGAN!"

"WHAT?!" I asked him just as loudly.

"Come on, man!" Michael smacked me with a rolled-up sheet of paper. "We gotta coordinate. Get with it!"

While I didn't mind drawing things out like this with my friends… I couldn't keep doing this with Quinn. I loved her, I knew that now and even though I've probably already ruined everything. Even if I could never possibly tell her that. I had to try and see if she could even possibly feel the same.

So for the first time in days, I texted her and asked, "Hey? Are you busy?"

Simple, casual, not too heavy. Then I wished I'd had the brains to do that when I could have spied on her with my pocket mirror.

She didn't answer right away, and when she did she asked, "I'm sorry? Who is this?"

I replied, "Your Friend and hopefully still secret Boyfriend."

She back sassed, "Oh hi! Do I still have one of those? He's been M.I.A. for ages, after standing me up."

I reminded her, "I said I was sorry about that. Look, even if you are pissed at me can we please meet and talk about this."

She texted right back, with no hesitation. "If this is about our relationship and its existence, yes, I'll meet you."

She texted again, "If this is all some ploy to get me to build your booby traps for you, however. Save your breath. I've already made peace with Vince and Lola and will not help you or Michael hurt them."

Even though it hurt, I respected her principles. I assured, "Just me and you, and I only want to talk about me and you. Promise."

Then I held my breath till she texted, "When and Where?"

If this had been any other time, or any other girl. I wouldn't have been so crazy nervous walking to that hiding spot. If I didn't love her so much more with every breath. Even after all this time apart, I wouldn't have felt so affected or weighed down. But every step that brought me closer to that particular spot just made me feel a little sicker… My chest ached, my head hurt, and my roommates were bound to think I was coming down with something. They'd both been asking me if I was okay, all day. But I knew I wouldn't be okay till I knew where we stood. If there was any possibility that Quinn could possibly love me too.

We'd agreed to meet up in the closet, that had been one of our very first make-out spots. It had been the closest spot we could both easily sneak to before we were missed. It was also closest to both places we needed to go after this. I really hated for this to be the place for it all to end, if it came to that. I wouldn't know till she was here, I'd gotten there first and had a few minutes of quiet before she walked in.

It was there in the quiet and dimness of that closet. That I realized just how much I had messed up. How much Quinn must have felt like the odd man out with BOTH of her roommates now in serious relationships. How lonely she must have been all of this time, and I hadn't done a thing to help her. It finally occurred to me how much I had seen her alone... and even if she wasn't flirting or hinting anymore. There was so much in all that she wasn't saying...

This was so bad!

So not Good!

What if she really is coming here to end this? Whatever she thinks this is? What if the only reason she wants to end is it because she doesn't know... That for me... this was love and I just didn't know how to tell her or how to handle it? God! What a mess!

When she stepped through the door and closed it behind her, my heart stopped. She was way more beautiful than I remembered and her face wasn't mad like I'd been expecting. She just looked sad as she leaned against the door and greeted, "Hey."

"Hi." I greeted back, stupidly! I tried to say something else and so did she, but nothing came out.

No words, we just looked at each other and kept getting closer…

And closer…

And CLOSER…

Till we were right up in each other's faces.

I can't explain how I saw it there in her eyes, even though neither of us had said anything. All I know is it isn't over. It can't be, neither of us wanted that. I somehow knew all of that even though neither of us had said a thing. At the same time I went to hug her as tightly as I could. Her arms flew around my neck and we were hugging, then kissing for all of the days and hours we'd missed. Then we were both apologizing for every little thing.

I had to admit, "You were right... I ended up just like those punks in the junior sci-club."

She shrugged at me, "I almost did the same thing, I told you I'd drawn out sketches and everything."

"I feel so stupid!" I had to tell her, even if I couldn't tell all of why I felt that way.

She giggled, "Me too!" Then laughingly she nuzzled our noses between more kisses.

She admitted, "I thought you were bored, mad, or just done with this."

"Why would you think that?" I asked as if that would never happen.

"You haven't flirted in over a week." She accused, "You! That never happens! You never texted or tried to hold my hand or any of it. Then when I showed you those gummi bears I thought you were gonna spit fire-"

"You let another guy buy you gummi bears." I accused right back. "What about that equation is supposed to make me happy? They weren't even the good kind, they were off-brand drug store bears. I bet most of those things in the bag don't even look like bears. The black ones were licorice and the clear ones that are supposed to be pineapple tasted like ass."

Quinn wanted to tell me I'm wrong, I saw that bubble up to her lips. But before she unleashed it, she wrinkled her nose and laughed, confessing. "You know? They kinda did… yeah, they did. And the red was cinnamon instead of cherry or strawberry too, I mean… why?"

"WHY?" I asked even louder, that's just gross.

I had to ask, "You're still gonna say this guy's on the level?"

"Yeah, I have to Logan." Quinn said, "For Lola."

"Why?" I still couldn't fathom-

"She loves him, she really does," Quinn said and a chill ran up my spine. She stepped away and asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I lied, "I'm just standing directly under an air duct and it's cold." More lies, she hadn't even said she loved something. She said Lola loved something and I was still a mess! Get it together, man!

She got back to the subject, "Lola's in love and so is Vince. They even make a really cute couple… and in all honesty Logan. That could have just as easily been us."

"How do you mean?" I asked. I had admitted the Junior Sci-club thing. I had lost it and tried loony tune tactics but how could Quinn compare us to the likes of Lola and Vince?

"Because if everyone found out that we're dating? That we're in this relationship, or even that we hid it for a while. That could have been us causing all of this discord and arguing within our group of friends." Quinn explained before she went on saying. "Whenever we share this with them. No matter when that is. It's gonna be an even bigger mess than the one Lola's in right now."

She hadn't said "if" she'd said "when."

"You've considered telling them?" That's what I took away from what she'd said.

"Of course, I have... You know, with all the close calls and mishaps that happened... haven't you?" She tossed right back. I tried to keep my smile from showing too much joy.

"And they're already saying 'I love you?'" I asked, hoping when I dropped the L-bomb question that I hadn't made these three words sound so weird as they had to my own ears. "Isn't that a little fast?"

"It's incredibly fast, almost unbelievably so." Quinn agreed, "Especially when you realize it's coming from Lola. But I've never seen her so serious about anyone and he does really seem smitten too."

"Well good for them," I took her word for it. "He just better not hurt her, that's all I know."

"Preach!" She nodded.

"Can I ask you another question? About this? Us?" I asked, pointing between the two of us.

"Sure," she smirked.

I went for it, "What's it gonna take for you to stop thinking I'm gonna give you up? Every time something like this happens?"

"I could ask you the same question, baby." Quinn flipped right back on me as she leaned her back against the wall behind her.

"We make a great pair don't we?" I asked as I leaned my head against that same wall. Just above her shoulder.

She agreed sarcastically, "Oh the best… but I really was worried about coming here."

"So was I," I said burying my face in her hair. How I'd missed the ever-changing smell of her shampoo, banapple scented today. Had to have been her own creation, knowing her.

"Feel better now?" She asked and I had to tell her the truth.

"Never better," I smirked. "How about you?"

"I do feel significantly better now." She nodded, and I did steal another kiss or two. But then Quinn got a good look at the clock that had been hiding behind my head and she gasped, "We gotta go! I'm supposed to be meeting the others for lunch."

"I know," I felt like I had to say, Michael and I had been planning to finally get our commupins on Vince. Right there in front of everyone. I left out that we had been working with Firewire, and that the rest of the science club was on probation and wouldn't help us. I just told Quinn that I was heading to lunch too and we had a plan.

"Promise me something," she said as we were walking in the direction of the outdoor cafeteria. Out in the open, and sunlight burning down on us.

"Sure," I shrugged at her side casually…

"If whatever your planning works or it doesn't, let this commupins thing go." She said, taking a step closer, "I want to be dating you, Logan. You…not the Coyote always trying to steal sheep from the sheepdog."

"Whoa whoa WAIT a minute! I'm not Wile E. Coyote anymore? I'm not chasing Roadrunner?" I asked completely insulted.

Quinn assured me, "Nope, sorry."

"What changed that?" I had to know.

"Well," she sighed and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "I suppose it could be argued that you were working with Michael and Wayne-"

I was shocked, "You knew about that?"

"Of course, I did," She shook her head and said, "When will you realize that when it comes to higher intelligence, I know everything?"

I wished we hadn't left the closet, I wished I could tell her how sexy that had been. But since we were out and walking now. I had to lock down my reactions more than EVER. As I told her, "I'll try to remember that."

Not having to rage a war like I had to, Quinn spoke easily. It was a struggle to not grab her, throw her up against a wall, and ask her to say that line again. Quinn had gone on saying, "But after seeing the combined ideas you three had, and that none of them so far have worked… I think even that scraggly coyote would have been swearing he could do better and on a grander scale."

"After today's lunch, you won't be saying that anymore." I challenged.

"Ha!" She'd waved off, "From what I've seen of your other attempts, and what I know about Wayne's shortcomings. I still like my chances. See you later."

"Yeah! Later." I nodded. She may not love me yet, and we may never be able to tell our friends. But she has thought about facing them and she isn't ready for it to end either. I could definitely work with that.

((Quinn's Perspective:))

I know that I shouldn't be so happy right now, that I should have pushed harder for Lola's sake. That I should have made my little rendezvous with Logan more about them and less about us. I should have been a better friend, fought harder for Logan to give up this strike back on Vince. Vince is my friend now too and I'm happy to see him trying so hard to make Lola happy. Logan and Michael are both trying so hard to embarrass Vince, even if they are failing miserably. I should have led with that and stuck to my guns… Now I have to sit here and act like I don't know anything about their latest scheme.

But in my defense, I wasn't trying to be a bad friend. Things have gotten so strange these last several days. I couldn't seem to help it the moment we were finally behind closed doors again. It was like there was no way we could have talked about anything else. It was like both of us had been slipping into withdrawal and we'd needed to get things straight between us before we could do anything else.

I know I love him, I know it like I know the sun is gonna rise in the east and set in the west. I know it like I know the periodic table, forward and backward. The same way that I know all of that. I also know that it's all most likely one-sided, just like my relationship before. Even though I know he feels something for me. Nothing will ever come from that affection, besides this crazy secret, we kept for a while. We can laugh about it if we're all still friends later. He's not serious about it at all… This revenge run had proven that to me.

Even if I had found my personal cubby in the best lab on campus, stuffed full with a HUGE bag of gummi bears when I had come to check on my Quinnentions later. With a note the read, "I hear these can mean forgiveness for just about everything. Sorry, I was an idiot." sighed simply with an 'L.' It was sweet, I had gotten a lot of stares and questions. All around campus and from our friends... As promised, the red ones and clear ones tasted, right... but I knew better than to believe he felt the same. He was just apologizing and Logan doesn't do things half way.

As sad as I probably should have been about that realization. I was so happy it wasn't over, that I didn't care. So when I had been sitting my friends at lunch. I was still in the afterglow of our making up in the closet. Still happier than I'd been in days.

Then Wayne (Firewire) had to start shouting like there was a problem and Vince had to shoot outta his seat. He even took a superhero stance, like he was Superman or something. We'd all tried to warn him, that it was Michael and Logan. But Vince apparently wanted this over just as much as the rest of us. So he heroically and epically kissed Lola, before going to stand under whatever our friends had planned for him. He was literally gonna take one for the team.

But even as he stood on the platelet to trigger the trap… nothing happened, He even jumped up and down on it. In real Roadrunner style, nothing happened until the twin Coyotes were standing in the spot instead. They took their medicine admirably (mustard and crotons… yeah, okay. The only thing that could have made these plans more looney tunes would have been if the products had been made by Acme), even if hilariously. Thankfully Vince had been able to talk to them, apologize and have it be heard. Then shook hands with my baby and Michael, both; before the metaphorical anvil fell.

I would have had sympathy for them if Logan hadn't been so overcome when he saw me. That he hugged me. Mustard and Crotons all over me, then he attacked the others to save face. Michael too was chasing everyone down. Even James and Vince got hugs, it was funny but disgusting. That mustard smelt STRONG, and the crotons were all dissolved into a fine crud that just speckled everything.

As we were walking back to the dorms to clean up, Vince said, "Okay, I've made up with nearly everyone. Now, all that's left is Del Figgs, Lisa, and Chase."

Michael asked in surprise, "You're even meaning to make it up to my little Lisa?"

"Well, yeah," Vince said matter-a-factly. "Of all of the girls I've apologized to since I returned, Lisa has been the most vicious and helpful. But I think she was helpful against her will."

"How so?" I (Quinn) asked.

Vince explained, "She was probably warning me and trying to be threatening. But through those threats and confrontations. I was getting to know all of you better, it was her that made me realize, I really wanted to be friends. I had no idea that when I saw Lola in class again I would fall in love with one of you too."

"Sorry that wasn't mutual at first sight," Lola apologized.

"Hey," Vince said bringing one of Lola's hands up to kiss it. "You were only fiercely protecting your friends. It was that sass that caught my attention and never let it go… and It's mutual now, right?"

Lola smiled and nodded, "Yeah, now you're stuck with me."

"Somehow I'll just have to get by." Vince said stealing a real kiss.

"Eww! Gross!" Logan said maturely.

Michael ignored Logan and told Vince, "Well hey, I'm meeting up with Lisa after I get cleaned up. Why don't you come with me and we can hopefully get that checked off of your list too?"

"What makes you think she'll forgive me so easily?" Vince couldn't help but ask, which goes to show he really has been getting the blunt end of Lisa's anger. As sweet and kind as she is to us, I've heard from more than one source that she can be a force to be reckoned with. That she was not one to be crossed.

Michael said proudly, "While I can't promise anything, Lisa is her own woman. I do know that a lot of that animosity you've been dealing with was for me or because of me. If you can come with me and Lola comes too. Maybe we can bring her around."

Vince considered this for a second before admitting, "I would really appreciate any help I can get."

Zoey suggested, "Why don't we all go?"

That's what brought our whole group to the picnic table Lisa had been working on with a laptop. The sun was still out, but it was starting to set. As we all came into view she smiled till she spotted Vince with us, her smile was transformed into her game face, and she crossed her arms. She asked with no small amount of contempt, "Why the gang bang all of sudden."

Lisa flipped the screen down on her work, but she didn't close the laptop. Michael came over to sit beside her and say, "I don't know if you heard or not but our latest plan was a complete and utter disaster-"

"It was on the news feed, with Jerimiah Trottman." Lisa confirmed, "Along with the truce or ceasefire that was made between all of you."

Logan asked rhetorically, "Don't they have anything else to report anymore? God! What are they gonna do for news when we all graduate?"

He had a point.

Michael brought the attention back to Lisa, telling her. "We shook on it, and we've made peace, I wanted to tell you that myself."

"Because you want me to forgive him too?" Lisa asked, in a tone that was not to be trifled with.

"No," Michael assured. "I'm not telling you what to do, all I am telling you is that I have forgiven him. So has Logan, and we didn't just do it for Lola. We accepted his apology because it was the right thing to do. Even Chase has said so."

Lisa said simply, "Really? Even Chase has said that?"

Michael nodded, "Yeah, he told me that in my last video chat with him."

Lisa turned her focus back on Vince and said, "Look you don't owe me anything, Blake. I'm not the one that you need to be apologizing to."

She flipped her laptop back open and turned it to face all of us (even if pointedly Vince). We were all shocked to see our friend Chase had been video chatting with her. He waved to all of us and greeted, "Hiya! How is everybody?"

"Chase!" Michael said, completely flabbergasted. "You were video chatting with my little Lisa."

"Sure!" He said cheerfully as we all tried to get into places where we could see and be seen. Around the webcam sitting beside Lisa's laptop on the table's surface. "I was supposed to be meeting with you tonight, Michael. But you forgot again, So Lisa was kind enough to talk me down while we waited for you."

"Talk you down," Logan repeated, before he asked, "What's going on with you?"

But I had to ask, since no one else did. "Chase are you in a hospital?"

"I am, actually." Chase said, before he quickly assured, "Don't worry I'm not the patient. My roommate here in England's baby sister had to have surgery today, so we're camped out waiting to see her. She's only been recovering for a little bit." He yawned.

"You did hear from someone finally?" Lisa asked, stepping on camera too, so everyone else had to move again to be seen.

"Yeah, she came through just fine and she's stable. But it's gonna still be hours before we can see her because it was major surgery." Chase said like this was just normal.

Logan asked before I could, "Major surgery? What's wrong with her?"

"Cancer," Chase explained, "She's been fighting for two years and she's only twelve. My roommate has been beside himself trying to be here for her and in class at school. So I've gotten used to trying to help him swing shift sitting with her, keeping him company and getting his work to him when he has to miss class."

"Sounds like you finally made some real friends over there." Lola pointed out happily, we'd all been worried since he wasn't seeming to have an easy time making lasting friends in London.

"Yeah, it took a while. WAY longer than I'd hoped." Chase nodded. "But yeah, I finally found some people."

Then someone off camera started talking to Chase and he pulled his friend into the shot. Introducing, "This is Liam… My friend, Liam this is my gang back at PCA, in the states." Then he went down the line introducing everybody to tired but seemingly sweet British Liam.

When Liam did speak it was right after Zoey had been introduced and Liam cut a comical look at Chase and said, "Hmm Zoey. Never heard that friend mentioned before."

Chase teased, "Watch it!"

Liam smiled and said, "It's really lovely putting faces to the names. Chase can't go two full minutes without mentioning one or all of you. Even still no name comes up more often than Zoey's."

Michael had to tease right back, "Nothing about that statement shocks anyone on this side man."

Lisa cut in and asked, "Liam? Did you get to see your sister yet?"

"No Lisa," He answered. "She's still recovering, if all of you could just keep her in your prayers. I would really appreciate that."

"Consider it done," James said, while all of us voiced our agreement somehow.

Chase exchanged a little more dialogue with his friend who kindly waved to everyone and bid "Tudal Lou." as he left the camera's view again.

Chase remained and explained to us, "Yeah it's still gonna be a while yet, thanks again Lisa for sticking it out with me till we heard she was okay."

"Of course," Lisa waved off, "Glad to do it, but while we've got you with us. Michael said that in a recent video chat with you. You had been telling him that he should forgive Vince Blake is that true?"

Chase of course said, "Yeah, that is what I said. I had looked him up on the web to see if he'd really been sent to that wellness center and I wondered about his progress. I read his posts and I couldn't believe how different he-I mean, you sounded Vince. I had been planning on telling my friends about it when I talked to them next. How impressed I had been, but when I did talk to Michael he was flipping out because Vince had returned to PCA. He was too panicked to really hear me."

Vince nodded, "Yeah. I can understand why he'd feel that way too. I was nothing but a bully and my parents still are self-centered like that. I really am trying to not be like them and be better."

"I can see that," Chase smirked, "And from what I've heard from all of my friends over the last couple of weeks. I think you've finally won all of them over as well. That's no mean feat when you know how loyal every single one of them are."

"I admit to counting myself very lucky these days," Vince admitted as he let Lola hold one of his hands. "I have been wanting to talk to you and apologize for the things I did. I hope that you can find it in your heart to-"

"Vince, I've already forgiven you." Chase said, "You have my full support and I really do hope when I get back to PCA that we can be friends."

"Really? Just like that?" Vince asked.

"Yes, you had my full backing when I read that you'd actually learned something and aimed to better yourself." Chase encouraged. Vince was the only one surprised by this outcome. Even James was marveling at what a great person Chase was.

Chase went on to say, "If there's anything, my time in London has taught me better than any other place on Earth. Is that life is too short to hold on to things like that, they can eat you up, and make you sick. Tomorrow's never guaranteed, so know that when I come back. You can count me as a friend, in the meantime. I only ask for you to keep Lola and the gang safe for me, okay? Do that, and I'll consider us even."

I know I should have been looking at the conversation happening between Vince and Chase. I know it was important and I should have focused on it. But when I chanced a glance at my friend Zoey. She was smiling ear to ear, she couldn't take her eyes off of Chase, and when I did look at Chase again. I could see the struggle to keep focused on Vince wasn't just hard for me. Chase was trying his best to give Vince his assurance and forgiveness. Even let him know that when he returned to PCA next semester. He looked forward to getting to know this new Vince so much better. But the sight of Zoey just kept splitting and screwing with his concentration.

I kept checking to see if James had seen it, but if he did. He wasn't the least bit upset by it, or alarmed by it. I can't say I would have been able to play it quite so cool. After seeing anyone else look at my girlfriend (or in my case boyfriend) like that.

As soon as Chase signed off, Lisa turned to us and said. "Before we all go our separate ways, can we please have a little group prayer for that poor little girl? They always say prayer is stronger in groups and in numbers of people. After talking him down I feel like I need it as much as Chase probably would."

We all were agreeing and Lisa went on to say. "I mean I don't even know her, but if you all had seen Chase talking about her or Liam holding back tears talking about her…. This is the least we can do."

Zoey said, "Lisa? Why don't you lead it this time? You got more time with them than anyone else."

So we all held hands and bowed our heads, and Vince looked so grateful, just getting counted in. Lola took his left hand and my right. Logan took my left and gave it a squeeze before taking Michael's hand in his right. Then Lisa began to speak, "Heavenly father, lord in heaven. Our friend Chase had to look long and hard to find his people in England. But now that he's found them, they need your help. We're asking you to please bless that sweet little girl in London who is fighting for her life tonight. We know she has a type of cancer that has made her life very painful and she's got a shot at remission if this procedure was successful."

Michael whispered to Lisa, "Did you catch her name?"

"Lucy." Lisa revealed, "Lucy is her name. God, please bless Lucy, our friend Chase is there in the hospital now. With her big brother Liam and their family. We know they're praying for a miracle, and you can make miracles. Our friend has only been there for a little bit, he's only known these people for a little while. Already they're so important to him. Please be with them all, watch over her care and please let this battle be done. Let her finally achieve that remission and let her remain safe for the rest of her life. Never let this worry ever creep back into her life."

Lisa got so choked up she almost couldn't go on, but Michael had one of her hands and Vince had her other. I only know they were both gripping her so hard because I peeked for a second. It was hard to see through my own tears. Lola and Zoey were all sniffling next to me. Zoey even squeezed my shoulder. Logan was even gripping my hand like a vise, and James was wiping at his eyes suspiciously. Apparently, we girls weren't the only ones getting emotional.

Not a dry eye in the house, Michael was straight up crying into Lisa's shoulder. When Lisa could go on, she said, "And Lord… While we're all here together, and we've got your ear. Please bless our new friend Vince. He's had his own battle and struggle and he's still trying so hard to be better. God please help him in his endeavor, and let him know he's always got his new friends with him. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

When the prayer ended Vince hugged Lisa and thanked her. Shedding a few tears too, which turned into a huge group hug. I think it's more than safe to say Vince Blake is officially a part of our gang. The best thing besides seeing Lisa finally hug him, was seeing Lola's smile before she hugged Lisa too. She looked so relieved and genuinely happy.

I couldn't help but wonder as we all said, "Goodnight!" To each other, and broke off into pairs. As I got to hold Logan's hand, and sneak away. For a little more of the making-up, we'd begun earlier. I wondered, would I ever have that same joy or peace of mind about Logan?

I honestly hoped I would… as unlikely as it was that he could really have feelings for me. Even more unlikely that he could ever admit that. I still had hope as foolish as it sounded, and even when we parted ways for the night. I still carried that hope in my heart, that Logan and I could one day tell our friends and it not be quite the disaster story we were both expecting.

Pipe dreams, I realize… But still, I had that optimism, even as I tried to sleep. And wondered what I was gonna do with all of those gummi bears. Because I really do love him and I don't want to give him up.

That's all folks! At least for this chapter!

I hope everyone enjoyed and there will be more tomorrow. I really wanted to cover every bit of the Vince Blake episode. The last three chapters did that. The next one is all fun and the I haven't forgotten the episodes that I still have to cover. Like "Dinner For Two Many," the "Coffee ban" and of course "Chasing Zoey" the two-parter Prom episodes! Ahhhhhh! All of that will likely follow soon after these updates (It's all being drafted too). I hope this is reaching everyone well, if you can please review and write in I would love to hear from you! Hope you're having a great day! Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85