Hey There,

Welcome back, stingrays! This chapter will be picking up from Logan's Perspective. Keeping up this pattern I really want to keep it throughout and I hope you're enjoying this mini-arc. I may have one more post tomorrow. Before it ends, we'll see how it goes. Regardless of whether my next post is tomorrow or a week from now, I am determined to finish this and I will be doing everything I can to do just that. Fingers crossed, for me.

Standard Disclaimers apply - I don't own Zoey 101, Nickelodeon, MTV, 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 Trials of a Quinnventor… and Logan"

Chapter 17 - Tea for Two

(Logan's Perspective)

I really wish I could have just danced with Quinn all night. It was way more fun now that we knew what we were doing, and after all the dancing we had done earlier in the process. It was like we still kind of remembered somehow. She followed my lead like a pro and when I forgot a step or move, I followed her. It was a balancing act. If I couldn't keep us up, she could, and vice versa. I can't remember any of these things being more fun before.

Especially whenever I'd dipped her, like we'd done several times at the other sets in L.A. [or on a stage the other day] It really was a blast, the way she'd smiled, laughed and the glittering in her eyes was brighter than I'd ever remembered seeing it.

I couldn't help but think of prom coming soon and how much fun it would be. If I could go with Quinn - It's Dad's fault, he put that in my head!

I knew it was a long shot, but who knows what can happen between here and there. And I had come close so many times to blowing our cover. The auction was just another tally I'd managed to get away with. Who knows what other catastrophes would happen between then and now?

And some of tonight had to be spent smooshing on Dad's behalf. So as much as I didn't want to let her go. I did have to dance with other people. But so much worse than all of that was the fact that Quinn never remained a wallflower for long either. She was helping Dad too, I knew it. I just wished she wasn't so damn helpful! Especially when Chauncy kept tipping me off to any of the people he'd seen show interest in Quinn asking her to dance or talking with her.

It's like no one wants me jealous more than him! Not that Quinn wasn't eating it up with a spoon. Maybe it was because Del Figgs had never been jealous once in their two-year relationship (if he was, I didn't see it). But the only person more thrilled to see me steamed than Chauncy was Quinn.

Couldn't she turn a few down, turn them all down! Turn ONE down? Just because I have to be out there doesn't mean she has to be. But leave it to Quinn to even make these parts of the evening fun and competitive. Even when I didn't get to hold on to her… Her face is all I remember that whole night and when the last slow song was playing. Most of the place had cleared out. Only a few stragglers were still hanging by the bar and dancing off to the sides. Quinn wasn't wearing shoes and my blazer was long gone. I'd even rolled up my sleeves, when they just wouldn't get out of my way.

At least I had walked away from this, knowing. If I couldn't take Quinn to prom, I can still have fun with her the whole night. Even if I have to be with other girls to keep face.

I found her saying goodnight to some older people she'd been talking to. I asked her, "You wanna dance this last slow one, with me?"

"Sure." She smiled, taking my hand and letting me guide her out to the center of the floor again. The dress she was wearing looked like it was made for her. It was just as floaty even when she was just walking beside me. I meant to tell her so, but before I could.

She made a funny face and commented, "This is a terrible song for the last dance."

I wasn't disagreeing, I just had to know, "What makes you say that?"

She reasoned, "The whole night has had such a fun and upbeat vibe. This song kinda crushes all of that and leaves it off on a sour note if, you ask me. Who ends a night like this with a break up song? But I'm totally biased and when it comes to last dances. I believe in only one right answer, that no one ever seems to play."

"Well! Don't keep me in suspense." I asked as I pulled her a little closer. "Let me in on this only right answer."

She sighed and said, "No, it's an old song and you'll think it's lame. I can't help it that my parents raised me around too much of the music they listened to growing up."

"Wait? It's old?" I asked, "How old?"

"Not very, just late 70s early 80s times." She shrugged.

"Eww! So not even this century?" I asked.

She defended, "This century is very young! Way younger than us."

But then I realized the time frame she'd hinted at and I said, "Please don't tell me it's disco… please please! No Disco." I begged her and I could tell from her face, before she said anything that I'd pegged it.

"But it is sorta disco, but it's the best and most timeless part of that time! Even if that was when it came out." Quinn tried to say, like she wasn't just trying to put lipstick on a pig. No matter how she tried, this just wasn't gonna be pretty.

"It's a song called 'Last Dance,' and it's by Donna Summer. And it somehow puts everything into it a last song should be for any great night. Whether it's a date night, a night out with the girls… it's just all of it. It's slow in places, romantic even, then upbeat in others, it builds, it's technically difficult and beautiful. It's fun the whole time it's playing. It's just the way a great night should end and any other song is kidding itself after you've heard it."

"But it's disco!" I complained! They don't call disco dead because they want to remember it

She insisted, "That doesn't mean all of it is bad! Even a person who hates rap probably likes at least one or two songs that fall under the umbrella of that genre. This is the same thing."

"So this is the only disco you like?" I asked her hopefully.

She answered honestly, "Nope, I may have also gone through a huge Abba obsession when I was younger. But that's in the past, I haven't even listened to a single Abba song in weeks."

"Abba? Really, Quinn?" I freaked, I'd never heard a song of theirs, but even I knew you couldn't get more disco than them (or lame). Just from what I've heard my Dad say in conversations tonight. At this party and I trusted his opinion, why wouldn't I?

She defended, "Abba was two women and two men who became couples at different times. They fell in love, got married, and went through horrible divorces all during the time they were a group. Most of their songs are about powerful love and feelings. But they also cover cheating, heartbreak and other tougher times. I don't have to tell you how that helped me through recent events."

She had to go there, "Giving me more reasons to punch out Del Figgs?"

"No, I'm just illustrating that I had more help than just you, getting over him." Quinn clarified.

I told her, "I had a lot of fun tonight, how bad could a teeny bit of disco be?"

"Good," she smiled putting her arms around my neck. "I had fun too even when some of the song choices sucked. And that was mostly because of you."

"Not all because of me?" I asked more confidently.

"I did have to dance with other people so no. But hey! There's gonna be other times we're dancing like this. Other parties like this maybe and Prom at some point soon. It's good to know we can make it through a night like this and keep up appearances."

I admitted, "I can't remember the last time one of these things for Dad was ANY fun. How did you do it?"

"Years of being your friend and knowing your competitive nature." She shrugged. "I knew if you saw it as a game and noticed my challenge you'd be too busy trying to win to mope."

"You were right." I had to tell her. "I had a lot more fun that way. Even if you were dancing with so many other guys."

"Come ooooooon." She drew out, "Like the girls you were spinning around were all dogs." I laughed, I couldn't help it. Quinn kept talking, "I thought 'all of the hot chicks was one of the best perks of the biz?'"

She was throwing my own words in my face. I probably deserved it too, but that had been the old me. The me who was in denial about loving Quinn and this new me wasn't that dumb. But the price of being wiser was just as steep. It wasn't like I could tell her about these feelings… she'd probably just laugh at me. Think I was kidding.

So I went for the dumber Logan's logic, even if it was revamped [a little]. "Yeah, but when girls are that fake and trying that hard. It takes all of the fun out of it. That has always been the truth."

"I'll have to take your word on that." She shook her head at me and let me pull her close. Dance a little slower and lean my head against hers.

I knew the song was coming to an end, and I really didn't want it to. So I asked Quinn, "Why don't we do this more often?"

"Do what?" She asked leaning back to look me in the eye. "Competetive dancing, dressing up or movie making?"

"I meant the dancing part mostly." I fessed up. "But now that you're bringing it up. Why haven't we really been out on a fancy date like this yet? Why haven't we made that happen?"

"Umm, I don't know." She shrugged. "I mean every time we try to plan something it just proves to be impossible. Something always comes up, or some disaster takes precedence."

"That does keep happening doesn't it?" Glad that I wasn't the only one to notice it and she didn't sound completely against the idea.

Then she said, "Besides, dating shouldn't all be like this."

"Like what?" I asked as the song ended and everyone started heading for the exits.

"You know, all flashy, fancy, and nonstop excitement," Quinn explained taking my arm like she had when we had walked in. "No one could ever keep that up."

"I've dated some girls who would call you wrong on that." I said, but I was kind of relieved to hear her say that. I'd never been so comfortable with anyone else I'd dated.

She said, "I think it's just as important that you can trust each other, feel relaxed together too. If you always had to dress up and be perfect for someone to like you. I don't see that working out for long at all. Even with the costume closets Lola and Zoey have access to."

"Me either," I had to agree, after spending all of this time with her. I could never imagine anything better than the comfort and trust I had in Quinn. I just kept all of that to myself… for now, at least.

I know I had been talking about the hot tubs before. But looking at Quinn's heavy-lidded eyes and stumbling almost silly walk. I knew she was way too tired for anything like that, and honestly, I wasn't much better. So we just returned our evening wear to the racks and bundled back up (separately, like earlier) for the cold ride home. Then headed back to our cabin, where we both went to our separate rooms. Quinn had said good night and had let me kiss her at her door.

Then she went inside, closed the door and that should have been all for the night. But it wasn't. Oh no.

I had the hardest time falling asleep and when I finally did get to asleep it wasn't peaceful or long. So I ended up giving up on sleep altogether and heading out to the couch again. I had slept better there the night before. But Quinn had been there to make that happen. Is it possible to be that addicted to someone's presence after one night? I have no idea.

All I do know is that I must have nodded off at some point and started to have a terrible nightmare. In the dream… I was back on the set and Quinn was surrounded in attractive guys. Who were all as smart as her, knew how to help her and all wanted the world to know that they loved her. While I hadn't told a soul on purpose (Chase found out from a webcam mishap, remember). So of course she was eventually swept away and I was stuck marrying Stacey Dillsen - NIGHTMARE!

In all honesty, I've had several nightmares like this one about Stacey. But I didn't want anyone besides my roommates to know that's what made me wake up screaming. Especially not my girlfriend!

Just when we were at the altar and Stacey had tricked me into saying "I do" to something else. Just like that we were married and I woke up screaming. Reality never looked so good, but I wasn't sure I was fully awake yet. Because Quinn was here, rubbing comforting circles into my back and telling me. "You must have been having a terrible nightmare, are you okay?"

I sat up a little from where I'd slouched way down into the cushions and said, "Yeah, yeah, I'm alright. I'm fine… wha-what are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep," she shrugged, "So I was just writing some things down I didn't want to forget from today."

I had to ask, "Work things you didn't want to forget for your mad genius side, like experimental things? Or personal things? In your other book?"

"Both," she admitted, "But I still couldn't shut my mind off even when I had finished all of that. So I was planning to come out here and make some tea. Would you like some?"

"I'm not a big tea drinker...more of a coffee drinker." I waved off.

She explained, "The water's still warming over there in a tea pot. It'll probably take few more minutes. Are you sure you're alright, it sounded like a pretty bad nightmare."

"Why? Did I say or do anything weird?" And even as she said 'no.' I knew there was something she was holding back. So I said kind of firmly, "What did you hear?"

She hesitated before admitting, "You were sort of screaming about Stacey Dillsen. Specifically that Stacey, too not any other possible Stacey." She probably said because I had been dancing with two girls named Stacy tonight. "You said her first and last name."

"Nooooooooo!" I said burying my head deep in the mountain range designer decorative pillows all over the couch. Quinn kept trying to unbury me and I just kept telling her to. "Just leave! Save Yourself! How Lame is that?"

"Honestly, it doesn't surprise me all that much." Quinn said but I knew she was only being nice. She went on to admit, "The girl is harmless, but comes on way strong. She doesn't try to hide any of her feelings for you. In a way I envy her, for that."

That did it, I flew out from under my burial pile and said, "What? You? Envy Stacey? For what?"

Quinn thought about it for a second before she said. "For her bravery, she wears her feelings and thoughts right out there on her sleeve. Even when she knows that the outcome could be embarrassing for her. She doesn't shy away because she'll be rejected, she still says what she thinks and feels. I think that takes tremendous courage, and strength of character that I-I wish I had."

As horrified as I was that I had let that cat out of the bag. (That I do have nightmares about Stacey Dillsen) It's amazing how all of this time together has taught me when Quinn is holding something back. And if my instincts are half as good as I feel they are, whatever she's not saying… is HUGE!

So I asked, "What things do you think or feel and keep holding back?"

"I don't know if anything I'm holding back specifically. I just wish I had her open heart and mind." She covered, but I stored this away for later. I wasn't gonna let that one go… I couldn't. But for now, it was late, we were both so tired and her tea pot was screeching so she sprung up to take it off of the burner.

When she came back with a steaming mug, I went back to our original topic. "Thank you for telling me I had been yelling about Stacey. But I get the feeling that's not all that you heard. What else did I say that has you acting kinda weird?"

She tried to save face claiming, "I am not acting weird. I didn't mean to catch you in such a weird moment. I just-"

"I know you didn't," I tried to encourage. "But I'm glad you did help wake me up, or else I could still be trapped there."

"That's true," She said looking down, oh! She SO is hiding something I said… Something weird.

I told her to, "Just rip the bandaid and make us both feel better. Tell me what I said."

"Well, Stacey wasn't the only name you kept saying. You also… may have said my name." She tried to say carefully. And I wanted to rebury myself in shame already.

She reasoned, "But that could just be because I was trying to wake you up. You heard my voice and that was your reaction."

"I bet I was saying it before you were helping me, wasn't I?" I asked as she wanted to distract herself with drinking tea, but it was too hot for her to even sip. So she ended up admitting, "Maybe it was. But I know it doesn't mean anything, we've spent a lot of time together lately and it could be just that I'm better in smaller doses."

I had to say, "Okay, I'm not gonna sit here and share that whole nightmare. Because I've already blocked most of it out. But you were not the nightmare part of the dream, okay. You were…you just weren't… okay?"

"It's okay if I was Logan, it's your dream, all yours." She told me. "And you don't have to tell me anything. I get it, our dreams are our minds set free sometimes and other times they make no sense at all. And other times we don't dream at all so-"

I couldn't stand it anymore. I kissed her and got that hot mug out of her hands. Before I pulled us both across the couch and kissed her for a while. When I pulled away, I told her, "You weren't the nightmare Quinn, you never could be. The only nightmare I've had about you was the night before we came here. And even then that wasn't like you killing me with your Quinnenventions or anything." I had made her laugh with that visual. I went on to tell her, "That was all about you still being with Del Figgs. Him still cheating on you behind your back and me… never getting to know what this was like. Realizing how damn lucky I am to have you in my life. That was the only horror I've ever dreamed having to do with you."

"Before tonight?" She asked still not giving it up.

So I fessed up, "Tonight Stacey was the scary part, and you were with all of these other guys. Smart guys who didn't make you hide your feelings. Whatever they are, they couldn't wait to tell the world… and I don't know… I guess you're not the only one feeling a little jealous after all of the guys that were talking to you today."

"Well, none of them are getting this kind of attention from me." She pointed out rubbing at my back like she had been earlier. I had been about to kiss her again, when the front door of the cabin flew open. And one of Dad's helpers told me, "You two should get back to bed."

Quinn and I flew apart while I cursed his timing in my head. I said, "Neither of us could sleep, she was sipping tea and I fell asleep here."

Dad's Assistant [Earl] went on to panic, "The sun will be coming up soon and then you'll be needed at the shoot. You're breaks are not till after lunch today. There's still a lot to do between here and then."

I told him, "Alright, alright, Earl. We're going back now, goodnight."

But he warned, before leaving, "No funny business, we're all keeping an eye on you." Then he was gone and Quinn was about to race back to her room. I stopped her mid-panic to say, "Hey. Don't worry about him, Earl's a big pushover. But if you want to try and see if you can sleep a little more I get it."

Quinn asked me, "Aren't you going back to bed?"

"No, I couldn't sleep well at all in there, I came out here because I slept so much better last night. But I think that could be because you were here."

She smiled at me cupping her mug in both hands. Admitting, "That thought has crossed my mind too. But I thought that had all happened by accident."

"While we're confessing some things," I hinted. "You may have been the first to fall asleep out here last night. And I may have just decided that I couldn't let you go."

"You're kidding," She smiled.

"Nope." I said with too much certainty for her to doubt. "How often will we get another chance like that? Where I can enjoy it like that too? And none of the people are hanging around that we're trying to keep in the dark. It was too sweet of a deal to pass up."

"Not to mention, we both slept much more peacefully." She teased snuggling me deep into the cushions behind us, and the blanket she was wearing around her shoulders.

I'd put together, "Does this mean, you'd like to spend another night out here together by the fireplace with me?"

"The heath does have its appeal." She smirked teasingly before saying. "But being here with you again like this has even more pull. Would you mind?"

"I would love it." I said as if it was a reflex and the words were out before I could even think of stopping them. And then I panicked and said, "But you know what else I would like is some of this tea. It does smell a lot better then the stuff Dad keeps in the house. Or Michael drinks when he wants to feel more British… don't ask."

"Okay, I'll make you a cup and be right back." She said before disappearing into the kitchen and giving me a minute to freak out (yell into a pillow) before she was back. I was so nuts, I drank the whole hot cup of tea before falling asleep with Quinn on the couch for the second night in a row. It was the only way I fell asleep at all after those dreams.

Chauncy woke us up the same way that he had yesterday. By flying through the front door and blowing a huge fog horn, then announcing, "Rise and Shine Master Logan, Professor Pensky! You were supposed to be on set eight minutes ago. And they're already having complications that need both of your attentions. Let's move it! Your breaks don't begin till after lunch hour. Then there's another event you both must attend tonight. The day has long started without you."

I think we both thanked him, and started to head for our rooms to get ready. But this morning, Quinn had made certain to lay a kiss on me that woke me right up. When I asked her, "What was that for?"

She just said, "That was good morning." Then she flirted, "Be right back." And disappeared.

I could definitely get used to starting more days like that.

I wish I could remember more of the flirting and fun that had gone on this morning. If I did, I probably wouldn't have had to lose it just now on the IDOITS who thought Quinn shouldn't be with her usual crew today. No, some other director's assistant (another brainless college student, are ANY of them smart?) had decided that Quinn was a girl and a teenager. So instead of placing her with a job for her brains. She was put on bitch-duty today for one of our models who doesn't want to be an actress today. Oh yeah! It gets worse when you hear more of the back story.

Supposedly, sometime during the party last night this girl had caught her boyfriend cheating with a maid at the lounge. There had been a big dramatic scene and now she wasn't showing up for any of her shots and schedules were being moved all around. So these shots can be filmed later on when this model feels more like being a grown-up again. While things like this happen all of the time, this one rubbed me the wrong way.

She caught her guy cheating... how does that sound familiar?

BE-cause the SAME thing happened to QUINN!

MARK-CHEATED-ON-HER!

And I doubt even Quinn's roommates back at PCA even knew about as much of her heartbreak and self-worth shift, as I did.

I lost it because it was stupid and underestimating Quinn's genius. But more than anything else, and my Dad noticed this too (because he told me so). I didn't want Quinn to be put in a place that could hurt her all over again. And she was bound to relive some of her own trauma just talking to this chick. So YES! I flipped out, and regret nothing!

Yes! I was protecting her and I would do it again.

But the other thing my Dad confronted me on during this freak-out. When he took me outside of the booth was... There's no way I can deny it to him, or myself anymore. I love Quinn and I would do anything to help her. ANYTHING!

I tried to point out I would have done that for any of my friends and Chauncy backed me up.

But Dad was just laughing, "Yeah, sure. That was why I had to jump between you and the Director's Son just now. Because you would have done the same for any of your friends. Logan you almost punched him out. You almost punched me out, just for getting in the way. You're in love! Face it! You gotta let some of the steam out of that pot our else you're gonna hurt someone if not yourself. Now say it... out loud. Admit it."

So I finally said, "I KNOW!" and the sheer weight of those simple words where Dad and Chauncy could hear me. I somehow ended up sitting on the ground, I had no clue I'd been clutching it all that tight inside of me. I took a breath while I was still down there before I popped back up and admitted out loud. "I love her... And I can't just let her be hurt again. Not if I can help it, not if there's something I can do about it."

My Dad surprised me by hugging me and saying, "Finally."

"What?" What kind of reaction is that.

Dad said, "I really was starting to worry that your mother's love life and mine had robbed you of this."

"Of what? Agony? Torture? No, you and Devlin taught me that pretty good."

"No, Love." He tried to explain, "I used to think it warped your perspective, may have even made you incapable of loving anyone romantically and deeply. But I can see now that you're not as much like us (my parents) as you are your grandparents. They both couldn't call it love till they were completely doubtless, the same way you're sure right now. But Logan, as wonderful as it is to hear and know how you feel. Maybe Quinn needs to be the person to speak with Stella too. Maybe Quinn's experiences can help Stella through this difficult time and give Quinn even more strength. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

As great as that sounds, I still couldn't help but worry. She's been gone for a while too, what could be taking so long?

And I just knew this would never help her. In fact this could put her right back where she'd started and she'd come so far... I felt helpless and SO FURIOUS! But the damage was done.

Quinn had been camped out at the girl's door for a long while, and the diva wouldn't even let her in. Is it terrible I hoped this diva never would let her in? Just because I didn't want her to unload on Quinn, that much!

I tried to concentrate on the things I needed to get done too. But my mind kept drifting back to Quinn because the actors were saying things to each other I know we'd said. Why did Dad HAVE to pick this rom-com? Why couldn't this have been an action flick with machine guns, explosions and ammo belts being worn by everyone? I mean this set needed those things too, what movie set didn't? But all the love in between... It just made my chest hurt worse. Especially when the actor's performances were at their best.

Nothing was worse, than when I heard a runner confirm, Stella had let Quinn in her cabin.

I just prayed Dad was right and I was being overprotective... that this could help Quinn somehow... even if I can't see how.

That's all folks!

Well, for this chapter, anyway. But don't fret more will be here soon if not tomorrow and I really am trying to keep this up till we reach the end. Cross your fingers for me that we can get all of this up and ready before the new stuff premieres. That is the goal! When I am posting weekly, I will be aiming for posting on Thursdays, like the old days. So check back when you can, and hopefully, we can get this all up in time. So happy and excited to finally be doing this! Thank you so much for reading this far! Please write in and review if you can, I would love to hear from you. Hope you're having a great day! Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85