Hey There,

Welcome! It's Thursday, it's time to party! And yes! This chapter will be covering the actual episode, 'Dinner For Two Many' and from Logan's Perspective. He is just the person I feel the most drawn to cover for a lot of that episode and I can't wait to get started. Especially after all of the things we've got to be excited about now. If you haven't seen the passing the boutique teaser or the trailer. Don't worry no spioles here but the release date is July 27th officially and the last two days of story work on this chapter were fueled purely by all of my sis and my speculation and fangirling! But that's about all of the things we don't know yet and this story is about all the things we DO know inside and out. So let's dive right in while we anticipate what's to come! Now that we KNOW which couples are getting the spotlight! So Happy!

Punching a real clock now! Hoping I can do this before we get to all the new stuff. I'm just gonna do my absolute best!

Before we get going, I do want to think of the new people who favorited this story, or me as a writer. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Also the people now following this story or me as a writer. All of that is high praise and I appreciate every one of you!

I also had a dear friend go under the knife this week, who is still recovering. I hope that when they read this, it brightens their day too. No matter when that happens to be. You know who you are! I'm so glad you're my friend!

Standard Disclaimers Apply - I do not 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 and humor. Most will be returned unharmed.

Enjoy!

"The Collective Trials of a Quinnventor… and Logan"

Chapter 21 - Dinner for Two Many (Part One)

(Logan's Perspective)

Back at PCA, back to classes like normal today… damn it.

But even when both James and Michael both crashed I could NOT sleep… AT ALL!

My bed just wasn't comfortable enough, the dark and quiet wasn't cutting it either. I'd gotten used to falling asleep by firelight and the super almost too-warm spot beside it. More than anything I already missed Quinn and she was just in the girl's dorm. I was totally spoiled like I had been worried about. Why did everybody have to be so right about how easy I am to spoil? I wished I could just fall asleep next to her. Like I had the past three nights and on one of the private plane rides.

I hoped she was having better luck, she'd looked so tired at dinner last night. Still undeniably beautiful, just the glitter of her eyes was dimmer.

I know what I would have dreamed about if I could have slept. It would have been that one trip to the hot tub we shared. I wasn't used to anyone thinking up schemes like that. Besides my Dad and Chauncy, the fact that Quinn had planned that whole thing, just for me. I still can't believe it... I hadn't been expecting that at all. I'm used to being the schemer not the one being schemed about... If I could dream, I have no doubt that's where I would be.

She'd planned alll that and didn't think I would want her with me either. Because my dad and butler are jerks, they didn't realize she would misread what they were saying. Their still jerks, but I love them, I love QUINN! And now... Back at PCA, I have to take all of that feeling and hide it again!

#$%*U(I)

(It's just how I feel)

But as today (Monday), kicked off and I was already yawning or nodding off. It wasn't looking good at all, not that it would be a completely bad thing if I had fallen asleep today.

This wasn't just the first day back for Quinn and me. But Vince had switched around some of his classes and got placed in more of them with us. It was the end of the year so none of the teachers really minded. Today was his first day with this new schedule, not that he would have it for much longer.

So I wasn't missing much in homeroom when Vince and Lola were being extra gross in the back row. James and Zoey were arguing about how long it's been since James had taken Zoey out anywhere. The last time they had done anything together without our gang around. Please! Don't make me sick! I've been trying to figure out how I'm gonna finally take Quinn out on a real date for AGES. Almost since the BEGINNING! And you don't hear her throwing a big diva fit like that! The whole world doesn't revolve around you, Brooks!

Given my girlfriend can't freak out about it, because no one knows about us. But I doubt, even if she could, she would… you know? The point is Zoey needs to get over herself. Lola too!

Lisa and Michael were even grosser than Lola and Vince. There was some space between Vince and Lola, but I doubt you could even fit a sheet of paper between Michael and Lisa. Because they were making up after a fight I'm not sorry I missed. And don't even get me started on Mark trying to make up with Brooke on the other side of the room. GAG Me! All groveling and pathetic as he could be in that flat tone of his. You didn't see him chasing after Quinn like that ever in the two years she put up with him. He was on his knees nearly the whole time before the final bell.

When that last bell rang I was shaken awake by James, and Quinn was just walking in. She was almost late. I wished she'd been assigned a seat closer to me so I could ask her why she was late. Were "R' and 'P' really so far apart? But I had no way of reaching her. Luckily Michael was close enough to ask her, "How are you almost late? You always beat all of us."

But Quinn had locked eyes with me when she'd said, "Tell ya later."

So I took that… for now.

Then when class let out and we were all about to head in all different directions. I did hear Quinn say she hadn't been able to sleep either last night. She'd even stressed 'at all' like me. Why did that make me so happy, I should feel terrible! I know it. But I couldn't stop smiling and she shook her head whenever she noticed.

So she'd gotten a super early start working on her Quinnvetions today and lost track of the time. Then she said, she'd noticed someone had not only been in her lab while she was gone. Someone who had been messing with some of her inventions. She would be getting results of all kinds of tests in a few hours. I wouldn't be shocked if she was running off of DNA or something. I've seen her do all of that recently.

Then I don't really remember much of the day till gym class. Which was being run by our wrestling coach (Who could forget that tramp-stamped soccer mom?) and basketball coach (Coach Keller… mispronouncing Sushi on purpose). Because today was when dance practices begin for prom. I forgot all the upperclassmen got to skip gym this time every year for this. I've never been an upperclassman till now though.

There were all of these racks of 'practice skirts' of all colors, shapes, and sizes for the girls. Because they all had to get used to dancing in floor-length skirts. Prom was a formal event and all. The teachers gave us examples first that I wished I could forget. And we didn't get to pick our partners. No, we were assigned partners and we couldn't change them either. Not till we'd proven ourselves by the end of this week. We HAD to Waltz, Twist, and Quick-step.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I've been dancing for two nights straight with a bunch of people who know how. This was gonna feel like 'amateur night' at a nursing home, in comparison! Except I bet even the old people could manage to dance a box step! And most of these people COULDN'T! I didn't even get to pick my PARTNER! What kind of shoty dance are these people trying to run? What dances DON'T let you choose your partner?

James had reasoned, "It was probably so no one was left sitting it out. No Wallflowers, so everybody gets a chance to dance. Even if the Prom will be different."

I fired back at him "So ugly people are ruining this for everyone? Man!"

James corrected me, "I think the word you're meaning to say is unpopular… not ugly, just not popular."

How did these fairly decent coaches manage to kill even DANCING for us?! Not just me either! EVERYONE! I was looking around the room and no one was smiling. No one was paired off right, What is this?

I thought this was gonna be TORTURE!

I know how to dance! Okay! I learned from world-class choreographers in their spare time on my dad's sets for free. I'm so good I've been an extra in several dance scenes. I even tried to teach Chase (Michael did too) because both of them KNEW I had moves. Why should I have to prove a thing? To ANY one? When I don't even get to choose my partner?

Not to mention they combined like ALL the classes with seniors and juniors. Some freshmen and sophomores too. So there were a lot more ugly people than usual. But because ALL gym classes were this way today. That means even Quinn was ripped out of one of her labs full of her creations to learn this (Because she isn't required to take gym because she's too busy helping our teachers teach probably). But anyone hoping to attend Prom has to take this class.

Luckily for my Waltzing thing, I was given Lisa as my partner! Ha! AND I got to make Michael crazy jealous. Because I can pair dance better than him! That was fun, proving that, once and for all! But I made up for it by showing him how to take the lead a little stronger. Not just to look cooler, but let Lisa trust him more too, and we're cool again after that. Lisa kept patting me on the back for the rest of the day thanking me after that one. She even whispered, "He used to scare me before now, whenever he dipped me. But I think you helped us both."

See! I don't mind that!

I didn't even mind that for "the twist" probably the simplest and dumbest dance ever. I was teamed with Mo. The strongest girl wrestler on our team, she's WAY taller than me and can bust a full-sized watermelon in her hand with one little squeeze. But I even managed to get her laughing and twisting. We even made her boyfriend Sockberger totally jealous-

Is this my new job? Since everyone thinks I'm single? I'm a threat? To EVERYONE who has a steady girlfriend?

I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted by that… I chose to be flattered, but I still feel a little insulted when my friends do that. Especially when the ladies in question are Zoey, Lola and Lisa… Nope! Great friends, but nope, I just can't think about them that way… Even before Quinn was my girlfriend… Now that I know I love her, it seems even more wrong… and gross.

The "Quick-Step" turned out to be a dance I knew too. But in our house, it's called my grandparent's signature dance. It's fast (My grandma calls it lively), classy, and super silly all at once. For that, I was assigned Zoey, and once I saw how it was done. I recognized it in a moment. Oddly enough, it's Zoey's grandparent's favorite dance too. So we were able to fake it till made it as we both remembered moves from our grandparent's routines… we even had fun out there. And James wasn't jealous at all… At least one of my friends knows I'm not interested in their girlfriend.

But if Chase had been here… Ohh-HOOOO! I could just imagine the smoke coming out of his fro and ears. He's one of my best friends but he's so gone on Zoey he just imagines everyone else is too. But like I said earlier! The world is about a whole lot more than just Zoey… Especially my world.

And the current center of my world walked in dressed out for the first time in ages (or since wrestling season ended). Pushing up her glasses with a hot pink practice skirt that looked a little too big for her. (Since Gym isn't required by junior year but dance class is required for EVERYONE hoping to attend prom). Me and all of our friends started yelling to her and calling her over to be with us.

But where Quinn's concerned in all of this, she wasn't nearly as lucky in her pairings as I was. For that, I could have busted a few heads.

For her waltzing challenge, Quinn was assigned to Jeremiah Trottman. Who treated her like she was cover in fleas, and he wouldn't let his crew film it. He wouldn't even touch her, I didn't want him to, but a dog would deserve better treatment than that! She didn't pass till she was given a guy from the younger class and she could see clear over his head. She might as well have been dancing with Dustin! But she finally passed. After having to dance twice as long.

For her "twist" challenge, she was assigned one of her old dates. Rick Jenson who didn't get the nickname "Hands" because of his moves up and down the court. He got that nickname from his former dates… like Quinn. Because he couldn't take a hint! I felt like I was gonna freak out till she was again traded off to another partner. Rick had passed out for "some reason," but I knew the reason. Quinn had knocked him out when he got too handsy and wouldn't quit. She got James after that even though he had already passed, he'd jumped in to help her out.

I wish I could say I wasn't jealous, cause he wasn't jealous of me… Guess I'm not that good of a guy yet.

I didn't start dancing with my partner (Mo), till I knew that Quinn was alright. Shooting me a half-smirk before she got me to compete with her for who could be silliest. My partner and hers both seemed to ham it up too.

Then for the "Quick-Step," Vince got Quinn, and I didn't even know if I would be able to focus on Zoey when that was going on at the same time. THANKFULLY We were in the second group and they were in the third. I could see them practicing off to the side too. While I was dancing with Zoey it had taken so much concentration to merge her grandparents' moves, with my grandparents' steps that I would have missed their whole thing.

But when they danced together. I had to put on a full-blown PERFORMANCE to not show how TICKED OFF I was about how GOOD they were. Or when they hugged at the beginning and end of their set. WHAT was THAT about EXACTLY? Was it Necessary? NO! Was it part of the class? Not at ALL! So WHY did it HAPPEN? And WHY was LOLA so FREAKING happy about it? What was there to be happy about? Besides Vince treating her like a human?

Lola even cheered loudly, "That's my best friend and my baby!"

Yeah! Well, that's our barely forgiven former nemesis back from the dark side holding MY BABY! I think my fingers may have left a print in the iron railings I was clutching. I was really trying to not lose it on Vince. I was! But can I help it that his ass was pushing it?

After that Quinn spotted me and came over to tug me back to our group. She'd asked me, "Why were you standing all the way over there? Didn't you see everyone over here?"

"Yeah," I answered simply. And just in that word, Quinn heard something to make her ask.

"What's wrong? Are you so sick of dancing you never want to hear the word again?" She asked, and it was a fair guess. Normally I would be sick of it by now. But something about loving this crazy girl made me madder I hadn't gotten to spend ANY time dancing with her.

That was when a plan started to happen in my head. So I let her drag me back towards our friends (not missing the way her hand just slid down the length of my arm). Following her and Vince as I said loud enough for the coaches to hear. "This stuff is all way too easy, where's the challenge? I don't know why they're acting like it's so tough."

Vince didn't know he was helping, but he was, when he explained. "Not everyone knows all these steps. I didn't! Thanks again Quinn for helping me get it all locked down. Though sorry I stepped on you a few times."

"Oh, don't worry." Quinn waved, "It's all good. Logan and I have both had too much practice lately, and it's just like riding a bike. You don't really forget, it's kinda nice they're doing this. Even if it did rip me out of my lab."

I knew Coach Keller's ears were perked as I told my friends, "If they really wanted to make this challenge interesting. They should have taught the old-fashioned dances we had to learn for my Dad's movie. That was A LOT harder and looked a lot cooler than this half-assed crap."

Quinn didn't realize what I was doing, she just reminded me. "Logan that dance was from the Victorian era. It's roughly a hundred years old if not precisely that age. No way our classmates would want to learn that for Prom."

I shrugged, "I bet those other dances were just as old if not worse."

Quinn said, "They are but these dances are more widely known."

Coach Keller interrupted us, "Oh! Really, Reese? You and the Professor here, too good for gym classes, got more fancy pants moves on that movie set in Hollywood? I think I'd like to see that. Wouldn't you coach?" He asked our wrestling coach but before she could say anything. He answered for her saying, "Sure, you do! Who wouldn't? How about you all?" He asked our class and all the rest of the gathered grades mixed in with us. They all on cue applauded, and our friends were louder than anyone wanting to see this. After dragging so much about it out of Quinn and me.

I said, "I can't show you unless it's with someone who knows what they're doing. And the ONLY way that can happen is if I dance with Quinn. So the real question to ask is, Quinn? Can you forget we hate each other's guts long enough to get through one more run of that dance we learned? Only this time you're dancing it with me?"

I didn't have to egg her on either, all of our classmates did that for me. I offered her my hand and she shook her head at me, trying to bite back a smile. But her eye sparkles were back in spades. As she said, "Only for educational purposes." And the crowd went wild as we walked down together.

So in front of everyone, after we picked a song with the right beat. I took Quinn center court and bowed to her, like we'd been doing all weekend. I noticed a few people taking pictures when I did it too. So I teased, "You said you wanted pictures."

She had laughed and said, "Hope at least one of those flashes was our friends." Before she curtsied perfectly, in her practice skirt. It wasn't as pretty as the dresses she'd worn up north, but somehow she even made that tacky hot pink thing look perfect when she moved. Because she knew what she was doing.

I had been falling asleep in class this morning, I hadn't slept well at all. I knew she hadn't either but when I pulled her to me. FINALLY, she let out this little giggle that made me smile. And we just lit each other up. Then we started to go through the steps, I didn't even need to think about them, I'd danced with her so much lately. It was just natural, every step.

I can kinda remember the screams and cheers of everyone. But to my ears, it all sounded way off in the distance. When I'd spin her out and pull her back. She kept doing this shy thing where she'd look down. Until I stopped her by grabbing her chin and pulling it up. Reminding her. "Chin up, your setting an example."

She reminded me, "This isn't the North Pole… or your Dad's work though."

I said, "No… this is for fun… and Prom." Then I dipped her the first time and pulled back up slowly… all of our classmates lost it. And I heard Lisa say, "Whooo! That was hot!" Lola and Zoey both agreed.

When we got to the part where the steps repeated, I told Quinn. "Forget their here. Let's show 'em what we can really do?"

She asked me, "You sure?"

I told her, "Have fun."

The rest of the dance we weren't as careful with our reactions to each other… and AGAIN! They all thought we were acting. Because that was what we'd done in this movie and during the auction. So we had just performed again… sure! Are people really this dense? If Quinn drew them a diagram would they still not get it? That there's something GENUINE here? Something not even an Oscar winner could fake?

Not only did we have to show EVERYONE how to do this dance step by step… and how to make those steps hotter as the dance builds, as we had. But this crazy complicated dance was seriously being considered for Prom. Because EVERYONE had loved it that much, even the full-grown teachers on the sidelines wanted to learn it. Even I impressed myself on how I had sold that idea. But it was also a shameless plug for my Dad's film and release date in late fall (later this year). AND Quinn and I had to keep dancing together to show our classmates and coaches how to do it. So that they could teach the other classes and make-up students who were absent today.

Dean Rivers had even shown up to approve it! And for once had been quick to say YES! It would really be featured as a part of our prom this year.

So by the end of the day, a scheme that would let me dance once with my secret girlfriend. Led to us agreeing to teach this dance during gym class from now till Prom. Quinn and I had lost count of how much we'd danced together (even showing our friends at dinner later too). And not shockingly, it's a lot harder dancing with her when I have to pretend we're just friends. That was the only pretending going on! I was so nuts by the time these sessions ended, in the gym. I think I had told her through my teeth, "Meet me in the closest hiding place, as fast as you can."

She'd laughed in my ear before she whispered, which one was closest. Then she added, "We'll have to make a run for it before we have to show someone else how to do this dance again. And I don't think I can take much more of it either."

I told her quickly, "Meet you there!"

Then I tried to rush, but I was stopped nearly by everyone on the way to this spot. I'd had to change outta my gym clothes first, but even the guys in the locker room were all asking questions. I kept getting asked about the dance or my Dad's movie. Dad says all press is good press, but even he has his limits and I was so far beyond mine. I probably looked like a crazy person. Disappearing, the way I did, into thin air when I got to the right hiding place. It was close and empty, but even that short distance had been hell!

When Quinn finally got away and hid with me. I knew she was about to say she'd had the same thing happen to her. Getting stopped by literally everyone on the way, but I just couldn't look at her for another minute and not kiss her. Not holding her like she was the person I loved, I couldn't PRETEND anymore. I'd lost count of how many times I'd almost lost it on that basketball court. How often I'd almost kissed her, almost gave us completely away. Not that anyone would have noticed.

It had been literally killing me since I'd had to let her go last night and had to say "Goodnight." That was just after dinner last night and it's nearly dinner time again.

It had been too long and I wasn't used to denying these feelings so much anymore. It had been too easy while we were away. To openly be with her and let people see it. Coming back here where that wasn't the case… BEYOND sucked! It was almost unbearable.

But that moment with her, when we finally got to be together even for a minute. [THANK GOD we had more time than that.] So worth it! But it wasn't enough, not even nearly enough. Eventually, we had to go to dinner and back to putting on a show for people. And this had never felt more old.

As if I needed reminding that these people couldn't handle the truth. Lola, Michael, Zoey and James had been having a picnic dinner together. But it was clear that Lola and Michael had crashed Zoey and James' date. When Vince, Lisa, Quinn, and me all showed up. Zoey looked like she was gonna scream.

For once I could relate, so I got Quinn (plus Lisa and Vince) to follow me to another table. Hoping maybe that could drag Lola and Michael with us. And that worked, but Zoey and James were arguing the minute they were alone. And when James walked past us later he was already trying plan another date.

I wish I could have heard more of the fight, but I couldn't. I had my own fires to put out. As the minute I was sitting with food in front of me. Lola turned to me and said, "Please settle something for me real quickly, Logan. You and Quinn don't like each other? Right?"

"What?" I asked, hoping that I really had heard her wrong.

"Vince thinks you guys might…like each other, he keeps bringing it up and I keep telling him he's nuts. Could you please tell him he's wrong, once and for all?" Lola asked in a tone that sounded like she hated to ask me anything. So SOMEBODY finally noticed, why was it Vince?

I should be up for an Emmy after this. "Of COURSE he's wrong! God! What makes you think we could ever like each other like that?" I'd asked Vince while I was silently thanking God I didn't have to look at Quinn when I was saying all of this. After the make-out session, we just left, I don't think I could have gotten through one word of it. If she had been here.

Vince explained, "Well one time I dropped something under the table and it looked like you two had been holding hands under the table." That was just his reason number one.

He's been storing these things up. He went on saying, "You looked mad when anybody else bid on her at the auction. I didn't miss that death glare then or today when I danced with her. It looked like you glanced at her before Gretta kissed you, and she shot her in the butt with her wristwatch laser. You won her auction kiss, and it didn't look like you hated THAT. Then when you went with your Dad after that, you took Quinn and ONLY Quinn with you. When I was dancing with her earlier, she kept looking at you and you kept looking at her. And it's not just during that dance either. I see it all the time, it's like when you think no one's looking or something… Then you guys danced together and it didn't just wow everyone because it was a good dance. You guys looked like you had more fun than I've EVER seen you have. Both of you! That's why everyone wants to learn it. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong! I'll admit it! But that's a lot of coincidences if I am."

I admitted, "Yeah, if you were RIGHT! But you're NOT! Quinn is way too smart for me and I was ACTING. Just like everyone said."

By the time Quinn came back the whole thing was laughable to everyone else at the table. So…Yeah! If Quinn had been here to hear all of that… I don't want to know what the rest of my night could have been like. She probably wouldn't have even danced with me to show the others how it was done one more time. All it did was tell me that not only do we need to be MORE careful than EVER before. But we have to get outta here and I gotta take this girl OUT! I gotta do that! Or I will only give us away because I love her! And if I can't ever let that show I'm gonna short circuit way worst than any of her inventions!

The person who needed to be taken out wasn't Zoey! Not Lola! It was Quinn! And I HAD to make it happen. SOON! But I had a few hurdles I still needed to clear. I had to make this a place near enough to get there and back before anyone notices we're gone. It can't be a place ANY of our friends can go. So, I'm thinking someplace expensive, so expensive only I could afford it. It also has to be somewhere romantic, so there is no doubt in Quinn's mind that this is a date. And I have to get through all of this without another disaster.

Simple… on paper… Reality? So Different! It took me two days just to figure out everything.

Then in class this morning (Tuesday) I heard Vince, Michael, and James all talking about their plans for their dates this week. They were all saying "Vaccaro's was too expensive." So I thought! PERFECT! That's the place. Now all I gotta do is ask Quinn and somehow make her forget how jinxed this idea has been... up to now.

So I had it all planned out, I picked the hiding spot we were most likely to be alone in for the longest time. That was also dark enough to set the right mood. Then I texted Quinn asking her to meet me before we had to pretty much teach another dance practice during gym class.

She texted back, "We can't take too long, babe. We probably should warm up, we have to be teachers."

I texted her back, "Don't worry, I already got it all planned out."

Then Michael started texting about Lola and him skipping dance class to picnic with Zoey and James again. Even when James had gone out of his way to plan his date with Zoey when they should be in class. Yeah! That's gonna go great for everyone.

Before I could text him how awful that idea was. Quinn walked in and said, "Heeeeey?"

"Hi!" I greeted back, "I thought we could warm up here, alone. Before we gotta dance in front of everyone."

"You even brought music and picked the darkest possible place?" She realized and hugged me tight.

"Like it?" I asked.

"Baby, I love it." She said still hugging me and planting a kiss on my cheek when she pulled back. "This is really sweet."

That's when I remembered, "Oh. And I brought you this too." I said showing her the rose I'd gotten for her. And made sure it had plenty of water. I've seen her chase down Zoey and Lola worried about any flowers they got not having enough water. She cared way more than they did.

For that, I had earned a real kiss before we started slow dancing like we had at Dad's parties. I whispered to her. "I've missed this, you know?"

"You have?" She sounded so surprised. "I thought all that dancing yesterday would have made you so sick of it all."

"I'm sick of dancing with other people," I told her. "People who don't know what they're doing." I brushed her hair back and told her. "But I don't think I'll ever be tired of this."

She smiled, for a second before her logic kicked in and she warned. "You may be saying something else by the time we finally teach everyone this dance."

"Nope, not even then." I hope I assured her.

Then we just danced for two whole songs quietly, just holding on and enjoying that we didn't have to hide it so much. But then I could hear the wheels turning in her head. So I asked her, "How romantic is this?" Trying to pull her back to the moment.

But Quinn said, "Weeeeell?"

"What's wrong?" I'd heard it in her tone that time.

I paused the music and she turned on the light and reminding me. "We're dancing in a janitor's closet."

"I brought you a flower." I reminded.

She still couldn't help but smile, even though the thing was drooping pretty bad. She even knew why it was wilting so fast. She said, "Yeah and it's dying from all of the bleach fumes in here."

"Oh, Yeah," I couldn't deny it, why hadn't I thought of that.

She finally said, "I just hate how we have to keep sneaking around like this."

"You want everyone to find out we're dating? Do you know how much abuse we'd both get?" I reminded her even if I was relieved to hear that she was hating it too.

"Yes, I realize why we're slow dancing in a janitor's closet with noxious fumes and a dead flower." I did have to feel like I'd failed again. To do the one thing I wanted to do and that was make Quinn feel special. Why did I so suck at this? She said, "I'm just saying, it would be nice if we could go out on a real date-once."

So I told her, "Hey? I've got an idea."

She immediately said, "Oh dear."

I assured her, "It's a good one."

She still asked, "Tell me gently."

"You know that restaurant, where Coco worked the really expensive one?"

"Yeah, Vaccaro." She nodded.

"It's just a half mile up PCH." I explained.

Still sounding so shocked, she said, "You'd take me there for dinner?"

"Sure, it's quiet, romantic, and nobody else at PCA can afford to eat there." I told her, see! I'm a Genius too sometimes.

"That sounds fantastic." I FINALLY got her to agree.

So I played it cool literally by saying, "Cool." Then we just smiled for a second because we were FINALLY agreed to go out on a real DATE!

YES!

Then Quinn seemed to notice her rose really was turning black and advised. "Maybe we should get out of here."

So we hurried off to get dance practice behind us. Neither of us could quit smiling the WHOLE rest of the day. Because FINALLY! We were going on a date! A REAL date!

Even through gym, the Waltzing, twisting, quick-stepping NIGHTMARE that it was. When today my partners were Gretta Getts for both waltzing and twisting. GAG me! Then Stacey Dillsen for Quick-stepping! And only Stacey kinda knew what she was doing! STACEY DILLSEN!

Quinn was paired up with our football team's center for waltzing. BIG guy, I don't know his real name we've always called him Moose. He's a senior and he even treated Quinn way better than Jeremiah did! Michael was her twisting parnter and it looked like they had fun. But her Quick-Stepping partner today was a whole thing, because she was matched up with Mark... That whole time I was watching them like a hawk, and so was all the rest of our friends.

As well as all of them were watching too, I saw them. No one was more interested than Brooke, who probably would have tried to start something with Quinn. If she'd gotten near her. But all of our friends ran interference so well... it never happened. Mark talked to her and danced with her...and that was it. From what I could see, we were all checking on her. Every single one of us... but Quinn smiled and just said. "I'm okay... really."

When Quinn met me at center court today, and it was our turn to run things. I was still asking if she was alright. I didn't believe her till she took my hand. I still couldn't help but light up when it was our time. Even with all of Vince's little warnings still echoing in my ears. Even after seeing Mark put a hand on her again had given me an instant migraine. All of it went away in that one touch... We had to show everyone again the steps for our Victorian dance throughout the REST of practice. Quinn told me "Don't worry, it's only for the rest of this week. They'll pick different dances next week."

She forgets it's only Tuesday! There's still three more days to get through after today.

"Yeah, but we'll still be teaching our dance next week and the new ones still won't be from this century!" I complained.

Quinn reminded me again, "Our century is younger than us and I'm sure there will still be plenty of it at Prom regardless."

"Promises promises," I said dipping her and she laughed the whole way down and back up at my expression I guess. Or it could have been how flirty I'd gotten to be on that one move at the same time as what I'd said. Slipped that in there and didn't even care if Vince heard it at the moment. I still needed to tell Quinn about what he'd said. All of the stuff he'd noticed but I just didn't want her to worry. I just got her to agree to an ACTUAL date. That had taken a lot of time... I didn't want her to get nervous and break it off before it could even happen.

So after dancing with Quinn for the whole end of practice. Making sure to always keep her my example partner, no matter how pushy Gretta or any of my other fan club members got. I made the reservations for Thursday night. Date nights campus-wide were usually Friday through Sunday for the average pair...not hiding things. So if we planned for a school night we were even more likely to miss bumping into people from school. Thursday was all that was available this week too.

So when I came to meet everyone for dinner tonight, I was glad I found Quinn sitting alone with her tray in front of her but she was reading. Because I didn't think I could keep my success to myself for that long. I snuck over there and let her know we were all set before the others came along. She even told me I was "Genius," for planning all of this on a weeknight like I had.

I got called genius, by a genius!

Then EVERYONE else showed up, like clockwork. I even thought for a whole minute that maybe our luck was changing.

But that had all been Tuesday. How was I to know that Wednesday and Thursday were gonna do EVERYTHING they could to remind me how terrible our luck has been?

Starting with Wednesday morning when Jeremiah Trottman was talking on PCA news. About how it was a new thing for people asking other people to the Prom, to plan these big gestures. Like a wedding proposal or something. And he kicked off this idea by asking a girl right on his news broadcast, making a big show out of it. The girl jumped up and down and accepted.

But I still had it in the back of my mind how he'd been treating Quinn the other day. He'd danced with her since and hadn't treated her the same. But that was only because he had to count on her to look good for the dance we were teaching everybody. It shouldn't take something like that to make him treat Quinn like a human. It was just such a douche move!

Or that after Jeremiah's broadcast, it would make EVERYONE who didn't already have a date for prom PARANOID. I had three girls asking me to Prom before the day was out, I turned them all down. They hadn't happened around Quinn. But in gym class, Gretta Gets pulled out all stops in a HUGE display asking me to prom.

Weren't guys supposed to do the asking-Anyways, Quinn was standing right by me when that one happened. ALL of OUR friends were having WAY too much fun with that moment for the rest of the day. And Lola was confused by the whole thing... not why all of this effort had been for me or anything. She just couldn't understand why I'd turned her down.

Lola was still going over it at dinner. She said, "What is wrong with her? She's hot, she's a part-time model, she makes good grades... There has got to be something wrong. And WHY did you turn her down? How did you turn her down?"

Zoey reminded her for me, "He just doesn't like her Lola. That's all, that can happen too."

Lola pointed out, "Not to Logan, he usually has no shame. What changed, or what's wrong with Gretta Gets?"

I told her, "Gretta's fine, she got her date for Prom, and she's going out with Marcus. Our tight end from our football team, he's going with her. I just didn't want to spend my whole prom night listening to that plastic-on-plastic eeching sound she makes when walks, talks, and moves. I even heard it when she forced that kiss on me, it's not something you forget easily. You want to know what's wrong with her, Lola? Too much plastic surgery."

Our friends had all agreed in the end and let it go. I wished I could have held Quinn's hand, but she was reading on the other side of the table. She only glanced up a few times. I thought for sure she was mad, but when the others had all gone. She was still there and still claiming she was reading, even when the last of our group had gone. Leaving just me and her left. When ALL of our friends were outta sight, and mostly everyone else had cleared out too. I came around the table and asked her. "Is the book really that good?"

She did a little jump not expecting me to be that close, "Yes." She laughed. "I've read it before, it's just been a while and it was just brought up in English class today so I was just refreshing my memory."

"Oh! So you really were reading-"

She rolled her eyes and said, "Of course I was. What's up?"

"I don't know," a group of classmates were walking by and looking at us. So I tried to not seem so glued to her, I even scooted the chair back a little till they were gone. Then I said, "I guess I was worried you were saying you were reading and you were really mad at me."

"Why would I be mad?" She asked sounding like she wasn't. But I just got the feeling there was more to it.

I tried to untangle these thoughts as I said them, "Well, it could be that I got our date all set up, and then you had to see me bat away a big prom invite."

She interrupted to let me know. "You got asked by more than just Gretta too. I hear."

"Who told you that?" I asked so I knew who to be mad at.

She sidestepped, "Not important, because I'm not mad-"

"Really?" I interrupted her. "You seem mad about something."

"That's not about you, if I am mad at anyone it's myself." She said still looking down and not at me. I didn't like where that was going at all! I glanced around to make sure no one was around or looking at us. Then I marked her page, closed her book, and made her look at me.

"Come on? What's up?" I even tried to make it easier for her by coming up with other reasons. That could make anyone mad, or it could be that I'd been stressing how we need to be more careful. Then I flirted way more than she did through our dancing today. None of it seemed to be what had made her seem so weird. When I finally asked, "Then what is it, and don't say it's nothing. Because I can tell it's something, I just can't tell what."

She said, "Well, part of it is that I was talking to Lola today, and she brought up that Vince thought something was going on between us. And even though you helped her convince him this wasn't true. He still thinks there's something there... He may be even more suspicious now. Because he had a similar conversation with me earlier today. And even though I completely denied it. He seemed to draw his own conclusions... But why wouldn't you tell me about that? If you'd been cornered like that?"

I knew how bad this looked, but I was honest with her. "I wanted to tell you but I was afraid to. I was afraid of freaking you out and making you cancel our date. You called it jinxed for so long. Or worse, I was afraid you might even try to end it... but you don't want to do that... do you?"

"No." She said firmly but softly. I didn't realize how tight I'd crossed my arms in front of me till she was tugging them loose. Telling me, "Look, I'm not mad about anything having to do with you. I'm just realizing how much our work has gotten harder with Vince noticing too much. And like you, it makes me a little sad when it never crosses any of the rest of our friends minds that we even COULD be anything more than frienemies."

She understood how bummed I kept getting over that. I took both of her hands down in the shadows. Before she added, "Oh! And when someone you like asks you to Prom, you should accept. Because we can't go together, they'd never let us live it down. If Vince kept noticing all these things and then we show up as each other's dates."

"Yeah," I had to agree even if I felt like a rock had just hit me in the stomach. "It would be practically telling Vince he was right."

"Exactly!" Quinn nodded, "So we can't do that."

"Right," I agreed.

Then she tugged on my hand and said, "And I'm not canceling tomorrow night. I'm too excited."

"Me too!" I perked right back up after so much real talk. "It's gonna be so nice not to have to hide, even for a few hours."

"A few hours?" She marveled saying, "Why do I suddenly get the feeling that you're planning more than just dinner?"

I leaned down and snuck a kiss on the top of her hand as I teased, "Because I am..."

I stood up and pulled her up too saying, "It wasn't easy getting you to finally say yes. Do you really think I'm gonna play all my aces in the first game?"

She smiled as she realized, "No... I guess." She was smiling so gorgeous. "I'm just not used to-"

"Someone caring so much?" I guessed.

She had to admit, "I guess so... I know that sounds terrible."

"Not when it's true." I shrugged. "Are you planning to read the rest of the night? Or can we please make out until curfew again?"

She thought about it for a second and said, "Well, it was just refreshing my memory I have read it before."

"Yeah, so you probably got all the reminding you needed." I agreed pulling her along. She did just manage to grab her things before we were finally alone and didn't have to be so careful for a little bit.

Thursday, EVERYTHING was a blur, except for one moment in Homeroom. Quinn walked into class early like normal and set her bag on top of her desk and said, "Zoey? Watch my bag for me."

Zoey barely said "okay" and Quinn went across the room to stand beside Mark. With some kind of paper in her hand, she cleared her throat and waited for his attention. Mark said, "Hey... Quinn..."

While Brooke asked her rudely, "Are you lost?"

"Oh no, I'm not the one who's lost." Quinn stressed sounding mad. "But apparently Mark has been in my Lab while I was away tampering with all of my things."

"Impossible," Brooke with a swish of her hair, before telling Quinn. "Your little obsession with us has always been sad. But this is even beneath you. Mark wasn't in your lab. Just like he's not your boyfriend anymore. Get a life, already."

I looked at all of my friends' faces and we all jumped up to have her back. I may not have gotten to be as protective as I would have liked. But I was the first one at her back. And I nudged her to let her know we were all behind her.

Quinn was cool as a cucumber, telling Brooke. "No princess, I'm way over Mark, but here's something I'm sure you've already found out. Mark can lie, but DNA can't. And not only was it his fingerprints all over my inventions. But his DNA as well, so Mark. Could you kindly explain why you were in my lab and messing with my things?"

Brooke was still trying to say Quinn was making it all up until Mark finally said. "It's not what you think..."

And even Brooke looked like she could have wrung his neck. As Quinn asked him, "Then what is it... Exactly? Because it looks to me like your grades dipped. You were desperate and looking to steal from me."

Mark explained, "I was only looking for that rock project we'd started... you know, the one before we broke up. But it wasn't in with your other creations. Whatever happened to it?"

Quinn was clear, "I tossed it when you tossed me, and Believe me. I'm only standing here now because I know that's not all you were after. Because if that were the truth I wouldn't be missing three blueprints and two prototypes. Now WHAT did YOU do WITH them? And please don't waste any more time playing innocent."

He said, "I didn't take anything, but Firewire may have done that part. He'd peeked in there too while I was looking around."

"So what you want me to believe is that you didn't take anything. You just walked into my lab and put fingerprints everywhere and didn't take blueprints or prototypes at all. Even though I have enough physical evidence to take you to court?" Quinn asked and even all of our friends were agreeing. That sounded bogus.

Mark swore, "I didn't take anything, but maybe Wayne did. The Sci-Club has a vendetta on you lately, not me."

Quinn didn't seem through, "Then why are the only things missing, projects we were talking about JUST before the breakup?"

Mark panicked, "I don't know, I didn't take anything."

Quinn said, "Either those things find a way back to me before the end of the day or I'm going to Dean Rivers and the police with these findings. Plain and simple. Consider this your warning."

And needless to say, EVERYTHING found it's way back to Quinn before third period could start. But how BOSS was my baby? Throughout that whole thing?

I don't remember class. I don't remember who said what! I don't even remember if there was homework, which will probably bite me in the ass later. But today was FINALLY the day that I got to take Quinn out on an actual date. In public, and someplace our friends couldn't be. And the beginning of this date was GREAT! I dashed back to our dorm after class, and spiffed up just for her. Knowing she was racing back to her dorm to do the same. I avoided my roommates, and Quinn did too. Somehow we managed to make it to our meeting place at the edge of campus without any trouble. I had a car waiting to take us to and from Vaccaro's and I had a side thing planned too. If dinner wasn't long enough... it was all planned.

Then Quinn showed up looking so perfect. I'd seen her dressed up for tons of things recently, mostly for very formal things. But this look was all hers, it wasn't picked out for her. It wasn't squeezing her so much that she couldn't breathe, or over the top at all. It was just Quinn and it was BEAUTIFUL!

She came right up beside me and I guess she thought we were walking to the place. But I took her hand and opened the door for her. Letting her know, "I wasn't gonna make you walk in those heels. Come on."

That impressed smile was everything. We climbed in and took the super short ride off campus. We got to get super comfy in the back seat of the van. I really did think that this was all foolproof and there was no way this could get messed up. But almost as soon as we were sitting together at a table for two... as soon as I got Quinn to hold my hand on top of the table instead of under it and some of our food was here. SO WAS ZOEY AND JAMES! ON A DATE!

And I had to hide under the table while Quinn just looked crazy. I could hear it in her voice, the embarrassment, or the word she used later was mortified. Then we had to figure out how to explain my being there WITHOUT giving us away! Which wasn't easy and even when I was out from under the stinking table. It was four people all sitting together who wanted to be ANYWHERE ELSE!

If you think the misery stopped there, oh no! It gets worse! Not only did Zoey and James BOTH ruin our date, but they were looking at us like we ruined theirs. Quinn and me both wanted to go but before I could work something out with her. MICHAEL AND LOLA SHOWED UP TOO!

So my genius plan was a total bust, and I really felt like I had failed Quinn again. This whole night was supposed to be about NOT having to hide. Just for a little bit and all we were doing was hiding more than normal. Zoey looked mad enough to scream, for once I agreed with her. James was getting blamed for ALL of it by Zoey, I have no idea why. Michael and Lola were still OBLIVIOUS, just eating EVERYTHING! And WORST OF ALL, Quinn looked so down.

I could handle the rest of that table looking sad. I couldn't take her looking unhappy when she was supposed to be out with me. I had no clue if I would ever get her out on another date after this. But I was already planning to pull out all stops to fix this once we were outta here. Even if it meant I had to straighten out the other four uninvited guests at this table. But before I could think of anything to help me out right now. We were getting thrown out, because the girls had spotted Coco's long-time boyfriend on a date with someone else. But it turned out to be Coco wearing a disguise. I don't even know how all of it happened anymore. All I do know is we were all tossed out and didn't have to pay, because we were all tossed out the building. So James got to keep all of his hard-earned money to blow on Zoey another time. And I had way more funds left over too. Zoey was so mad, she wasn't talking to anyone on the way back to campus. Even when she didn't have to walk it, because I just let everyone ride with me.

She was too mad... what a diva.

The one who should have been mad was Quinn but she just looked sad. I wanted to take her hand, tell her I would make this up to her. But I couldn't. We weren't alone again for nearly the rest of the night. Because once Michael and Lola both FINALLY realized how HORRIBLE they'd been. It became their mission to make it up to both Zoey and James. I could have been bitter because my OWN much more IMPORTANT date with Quinn was ruined too. But I knew the best way of making this up to her was also showing her I'd straightened things out for the other couple whose night was stolen too.

So I helped Michael and Lola plan it all out. Even talked to James and told him we planned to fix this. We would each make something and set up a dinner for Zoey and James. To make up for the disaster of a date we ALL sat through. See, I kept all that bitterness on the inside. I even helped Michael go get all the ingredients everyone needed after planning out what we all were gonna make. Then we all cooked together in a kitchen lab Michael uses all the time when he wants to cook for his dates with Lisa. He even planned cooking for her while Zoey's meal with James was cooking beside it. I'd forgotten how much of a grill master Michael is.

I grilled vegetables on one side of the grill, showing Michael wasn't the ONLY grillmaster here. While Michael worked on steaks for his date and James' on his side. Lola was baking some spicy thing in the oven that Zoey loves, and Quinn was cooking in her own corner. But she wasn't using pots and pans much. She was using mostly scientific beakers and bunsen burners to cook something. But I had no idea what. Lola kept saying, "Quinn doesn't cook unless she can do it her way."

I kept watching her, she did seem to cheer up once she was in all of her cooking gear. Which wasn't so different from her heavy-duty scientist look. She still wore goggles over her glasses, and an apron too big for her and thick rubber gloves, that kept her hands safe from the heat.

I tried my best to keep it hidden that Michael wasn't the only one cooking for a date on the side. I don't think she noticed, but I kept an eye on her just in case. After shooting James a text that we were all ready telling him where to meet us. Michael and Lola went to get Zoey and cleaned the grills. But the MAIN reason I'd volunteered to do that. Was because Quinn was washing out all of her scientific equipment in the sink. As soon as Lola and Michael were gone.

I put my arms around her and stole a quick kiss. She got all flustered and said, "Logan! Are you even sure they're gone?"

"Yeah! They're gone, relax." I told her letting her turn around and steal a few more kisses. She hugged me tight for a second, and I finally got to say. "I'm so sorry about last night."

"You couldn't help it." She shrugged. "Maybe it all really was jinxed from the start-"

"No! I'm not gonna believe that and I'm not gonna let you believe it either." I told her before I saw Coco coming up the hallway. I quickly blurted out. "We'll talk after we get Zoey and James all set. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay! Just a sec." She said as she quickly put all of her clean equipment in a box and took back off all of her protective wear. Coco was eating ravioli out of a can and telling Quinn, "You left this in the lounge again." It was the same book Quinn was carrying around before.

"Oh! Thanks Coco." She said and she grabbed a plate and followed me. Already carrying a plate too. When we got to the volleyball court. Everything was all set up like I'd asked. The table and chairs were already set up and James was already there looking date ready and little nervous. He asked Quinn, "Do you think she'll come?"

Quinn straighten his jacket and said, "Oh yeah, Lola and Michael will get her here. Just wait a minute, you look great and this will work." Then Quinn went into showing James that Lola's Mexican casserole thing and whatever Quinn had made were both in dishes under the table cloth so was more drinks, salt, pepper and more ice if they needed it.

James smiled at me, "Wow! You guys really thought of everything."

"We tried." I nodded.

Then Coco said. "Here they come! Hide!"

I pat James on the back and wished him good luck before stepping out of sight with Quinn. I asked her, "So... is that you're plan for the rest of the night? Paperback plans?"

She teased back, "Other plans might prove dangerous."

"No, you really can't believe I would go to this much trouble making things up for them and not do anything to make it up to you." I finally said.

Quinn insisted, "There's nothing to make up for, it wasn't anyone's fault it just happened." She laughed off.

But before we had to step out and be a part of Zoey's surprise I told her. "Just come with me right after this. I promise we will be alone this time for sure... Please?"

She was reluctant but just as she went to step back out she whispered to me. "Okay."

YES! I have another chance and this one really was foolproof for certain! Zoey and James were on a date starting now, Michael was off to meet Lisa right after this and Lola was going to meet Vince too. They all had to be in other places and I had Quinn all to myself. Just for a little bit. But if my plan works, I hope I can get her out more often for many more dates in the future.

So our little speeches and sorries were cut short for more than one reason. I was off to surprise my own girlfriend for the night we'd missed. And you think what we did for Zoey was impressive? You just wait and see what I've got planned for Quinn tonight.

That's it for this chapter!

But don't worry readers, I will be back next Thursday with another chapter I've already begun on. If I ever can get more chapters completed in the week I will make multi posts but life has just been too busy lately. With a timestamp finally in place for me to shoot for. I'm hoping I can post more often in a week. But I will just try my best, that's all I can do. Can't wait to share where things go from here and from Quinn's perspective! Yay! Please review if you can, I would love to hear from you. Till next time! Hope you're having a great day! Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85!