Hey There,
Welcome fellow Quogan shippers! DarcyBeDippy85 here, as promised on another beautiful Thursday. Even if its much later than I normally post on Thursday. Not only is tomorrow (july 7th) another glorious Friday... but it is also my moms birthday. My sis and my plans for her took over so much of our week and today, that this is the earliest I could post. But this chapter is gonna be a little different than others. It kind of took on a life of it's own the moment I started writing it and it will be a swing-shifting chapter. Beginning with Logan's Perspective as you're expecting ending with him too… but changing ALL throughout the rest of the chapter. It was a blast to write and hopefully it'll be just as fun to read.
Before we begin, I HAVE to thank my dear friend Rose-Aki for her reviews! All six of them! I have been such a bundle of nerves. Worried about so many twists and turns I have in these new chapters. Things I've had to keep secret for years (some of them kept from you and my own sis). I really didn't know if any readers liked them. My Friend! You put me right at ease, and touched on so many topics I had been sweating the most! God bless you! I hope when you reach these chapters, and are all caught up. It only makes you smile that much more, because you were a HUGE part of how I am even able to do this! You make "Thank you" seem so small!
Special Thanks to the few of you who just favored me as a writer or this story this week. Also the few of you put this story or me an authoress on your alert lists this week. Thank you all SO much! It's such a huge compliment!
Standard disclaimers apply! - I don't own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, 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 23 - Coffee Cart Ban Plan
(Logan's Perspective)
Why couldn't more weeks be like that last week? Or at least END like last week!
Where no matter how crazy the rest of it got. We still went out on a date and I still got SOME time alone with my girlfriend… This one wasn't turning out nearly as good. And it was sounding like next weekend could be even harder!
You would think after a week like that last one… That things couldn't possibly get messed up that badly, that quickly. That I would be able to bank on some of that awesomeness this week. When we didn't have to keep doing all of those same tired old dances. Okay, the dances besides ours were still tired, but at least they were different this week. Even when I still got to dance with Quinn every day, even when it had to be mad G-rated in that class. I was teaching her swing dancing in between. So that had been really fun.
But that just isn't the hand I was dealt, this week, nope! Part of that is because of the campus-wide ban on coffee carts since Dean River's wife was almost killed by one. Like someone didn't push it at her to see if she knew how to do ANYTHING besides looking at her phone!
It explains so much about our Dean, doesn't it?
So much.
Being the opportunist I am (or at least that's what my dad calls it), I started serving coffee out of our dorm room. With some of the leftover supplies that hadn't been used up at my Dad's last shoot. When that all sold out the first day, Dad hooked us up with his sources to keep it going after that. And I got to keep any profit I took in. Which was good... it helped out with all of my plans for this summer's vacation months.
Everything was going great… Until Zoey opened up her dorm-coffee spot and sold for less than me. Stealing all of our business! So I turned her into the Dean, thinking that would be the end of it.
WRONG! It was only the beginning!
Because one of Zoey's roommates just so happens to be my brilliant girlfriend. And I know she literally took a few shots at me with her latest invention that sent the shots from her zap watch further than normal. You don't forget the sting of those shots, once you've been hit by them. Besides I have a shirt full of pin holes now to prove it. She'd actually shot at me. So we HAD to talk.
I really thought that she was going for revenge for Zoey. Because I had tried to bust them, and I really couldn't remember doing anything else wrong. But I HAD to have done something else… Something wrong… Because now that the ban is over and everyone's a little less nuts. (Quinn even swears it's because nobody's going through caffeine withdrawal anymore) But also because everyone is back to normal and we're not both running side hustles, with our roommates anymore. I STILL haven't heard a thing from her. And I know she shot at me, multiple times. So this CAN'T just be about Zoey anymore. Even if that's how it started.
No, this was personal… somehow. I just needed to know what had teed her off. We needed to talk about it.
So I texted her about meeting up before our gym-dance-class…thing today. Like we had been doing in the beginning. This would be the first time all week, I had to try and clear the air. After the last texts, we were sending back and forth before this (the end of the last chapter). These texts felt weird and too much like I wasn't talking to the same person. Had we really not texted each other all week long? That seemed even weirder.
She didn't answer right away, I was even starting to think she wouldn't answer me back. But then right before she had to meet me she texted. "Okay, I'll see you at the warm-up spot. The new one, right?"
Which was an equipment closet we'd gotten permission to use together from our coaches yesterday. To warm up before we go to teach the dance we're STILL teaching everyone. And too many people STILL don't KNOW it! Jeez! I wasn't cut out to be a choreographer, given! Even if I had a new respect for the people who do this all the time.
I also wasn't expecting Quinn to have an escort when she did show up. Some idiot flirting with her while I'm RIGHT there! He opened the door for her and kept finding some reason to linger and keep talking even though everything he said was STUPID. And Quinn kept saying "Bye." He wasn't taking the hint, and my jealous boyfriend's radar was on red-ALERT!
When Quinn finally got the door closed with him on the other side of it, and got rid of that douchebag. I appeared right beside her, leaning cool against the wall. She hadn't been expecting me to be so close. So she jumped out of her skin, and said, "Logan! There you are! I didn't anticipate you being... right there."
"Neither did I," I tried to play it cool and not jump right to the biting question I needed to ask. (who the HELL was that?) So I asked her, "Ready to dance? All stretched out and everything?"
"Yeah, ready to go." She said happily, wearing a neon green practice skirt today, over her gym clothes. I let her take my hand and tug me to the center of the floor. We both forgot to start right and just started dancing together (without the bowing and all). After seeing that guy almost touch her, I jumped the gun a little.
I even tried to bring up something else first. Asking, "So you've been working on firing the shots from your zap-watch further? Like through dorm room windows?"
"Yeah, but I didn't shoot at you once, that wasn't me-"
"Sure, it wasn't." I said, sounding like I didn't buy that for a second. Because I didn't!
Quinn sounded honest as she swore "I was only shooting at cups when I was controlling it." But she'd confessed, that HAD been her.
"So you were why so many cups all were leaking at once?" I realized and Quinn threw my own words in my face.
"Business is business, after all." I'd forgotten I'd said that to her. She'd giggled and almost made me forget how steamed I was… almost.
"Our dorm still stinks from all that coffee, you know?" I complained it was harder for all three of us to sleep because of it. It was SO strong and overpowering.
She said, "I know, I went overboard." But she wasn't playing fair. She'd snuck a hug into that move. Even though I wanted to stay mad, I couldn't I just hugged back.
"Just a little." I said tucking her face under mine.
"I'm already working on a solution to neutralize the aftermath. I should be able to fix it before the day's over." Then she explained. "And Lola pushed me out of the way and shot at you and Dean Rivers. Sorry, I couldn't stop her sooner."
"Really?" I asked, half teasing and half serious. "Are you really that sorry?"
"Yes!" She insisted, glancing around us just before I did too. She planted a peck on my cheek and said, "Sorry, really."
I grabbed her up into a way better kiss than that, we were alone. And it's become sort of a game we're always playing with each other. Whenever we can get away with it.
That did make way more sense than Quinn shooting me up like that. I still let her know, "I thought I'd made it pretty unforgettable, during our trip. Saying that if you wanted another peek at me, you just had to ask. No need to ruin another shirt over it."
She smacked at me but she laughed too. Claiming, "You know that wasn't it! And it wasn't even me, at all!"
"But Lola wouldn't want a peek, Eww! No!"
She agreed, "No, I hope not."
Here comes the first dip, and I tried to make it sound casual, when I asked, "So? Who was that?"
"Who was who?" She asked back, pushing up her glasses. Looking uncomfortable in my hold as I brought her back on her feet.
"That guy who wouldn't leave just now?" I asked.
"Oh him?" She said more focused on how we looked in the mirror on the wall. "He's just a new guy I've been tutoring. For final exams, they are looming close now."
I didn't let her change the subject. "Were you guys just coming back from tutoring?" I asked, because I thought Quinn was doing lab work nearly every day, before this class period.
She said, "Nope, I was walking from my lab and he met me on my walk to the locker rooms then again, on my way here, just now."
I couldn't help it, I had to ask. "Has that been happening a lot, lately?"
She glanced up at my face even though she wasn't supposed to yet (in the dance) and said, "No, why?"
I shrugged, "No reason." I bet it has been and I bet he's got his sights set on my girlfriend. I also bet Quinn has no idea that's what's going on.
She made me look at her by turning my head and said, "Then let's focus on putting on our best performance today. Okay? It's the last day of the dances this week. Foxtrot, Jitterbug and the Hustle. We gotta start covering latin dances next week for sure, and jive or swing can still pop up anytime too."
"Where did you hear that?" I asked, because it was news to me. Latin? Really?
"An Assitant Coach let it slip in the hall just now." She said before reasoning. "It would be just like them to throw a jive in there at the same time as a Tango or something slow."
"A tango isn't always slow." I felt the need to point out. "It depends on the pairing, music, the beat-"
She shrugged, "I guess you're right, every Tango I've ever been a part of was slow. But I was learning too, that could be why."
"Is that Mark's fault too?" I had to know.
She freaked me out even more by smiling a, "No."
"Then where did you learn to tango?" I had to know. Tango is a romantic dance, who the heck taught her before I could?
She shrugged, "My family took a cruise ship to Spain once, and I went to Mexico with Lola one summer when she was visiting some of her family. I learned it between those two trips. I know the basics, but that's about it."
I pulled her into a more latin hold, where her feet weren't touching the ground. I let the front of her body slide slowly back down mine and let her know. "I'm gonna need a demonstration of that later."
I heard the effect this had on her breathing, she tried to cover it up with a laugh. But I hadn't missed it, and when her feet hit the ground again, she stumbled back a step admitting. "You keep throwing moves like that, without warning, and I'll forget the whole concept."
I wish I could say the rest of the warm-up time was more normal, flirty and fun! Like it SHOULD be and usually is. Since we were alone and all, but I couldn't stop thinking about her learning Latin dances from Spanish soap opera types. Wearing wife-beaters and too much product in their hair. The pictures in my mind, just made me grit my teeth... It was just playing on loop in my head. And my jealousy was already raging from seeing that prick flirt with her when she got here.
Like she knew I was overthinking something. She'd swiped the remote from my pocket and switched the music to the more upbeat music. We had been using to practice our jive. And she told me, "Hey! Let's just have fun for a minute together. Before we have to be so careful again."
She was right, I shouldn't waste a minute we had together. I'd slipped up so many times this week when we didn't get it out of our systems before class. So we'd even snuck some swing practice in there, for fun. Quinn has been really working hard to get better at that. But she was still too nervous on lifts. Because she didn't want to hurt me, or fall and I know that. But I really wanted her trust, and I wanted that to be something we worked on this weekend… if I can steal her away for a little bit again.
I still couldn't wait for the coaches to cover it in the gym. So we could show that we can do more than just this ONE dance everyone wants to see over and over.
But before Quinn and me could join the rest of our class, today. Coach Keller came limping in with a huge injury boot on, followed by Mo's mom with her arm in a cast. It turns out that our coaches had both been practicing their own Latin routine (GROSS!) and had some kind of accident. Coach Keller overshared even more than usual, by sweating about how he was gonna explain this to his wife… So I guess all the guys on my basketball team were wrong. There is an actual lady somewhere who likes him (and not just a bag of flour with a hole in it).
So they were worried about the dances that were supposed to be covered the next couple of weeks before Prom. They were both so impressed with the way Quinn and I had been teaching our dance. That they wanted us to do the examples next week for all of the other dances too. If we could, for the other three dances we would be practicing.
So that meant dancing with Quinn three different styles BEFORE we even get to OUR dance! If I played my cards right, I may not even HAVE to dance with assigned partners. Because I would be too busy teaching with my chosen partner. I could pull that off, the excuses were already writing themselves in my head.
I said, "Sure."
The same time Quinn said, "No."
We looked at each other and I told both coaches to "Give us a minute."
Then I took her hand and pulled her into a small alley nearby, that led to another equipment closet. So that we weren't in plain sight the whole time. Me and Quinn went into this whisper battle off to the side. I said in her ear, "Three more dances besides ours and you're saying no?"
Quinn explained, "I don't know every dance EVER made like you seem to. What if it's something I don't know? Or can't do? What if we mess up when we get into things like lifts and stuff. I don't know if I can do all that."
"First, I don't know every dance either." I had to start there. "But we can totally do this together. If I know it, I can teach you. If you know it, you can teach me, if neither of us know, I have connections that can teach us or friends that can replace us. Come on! They're telling us ahead of time so we can work it out before class on Monday. We can practice all weekend till you know you can do it."
"But I already have a lot of tutoring scheduled for this weekend. And next weekend, people are already freaking out over finals. What if I can't learn it in time? Plus! It's already Friday." She pointed out. "Do you really think I can learn something like that in less than three days' time? In between tutoring? Enough to be an example to EVERYBODY?" She asked still freaking out.
I told her, "Hey! I learned these things in a few minutes on the sidelines of sets. Just before we had to do it. You can do this! You can really dance, there's nothing to it. Besides, you'll be with me… what could go wrong?"
"Besides hurting you or falling on my face?" She was still panicked.
"I won't let you look dumb, and I definitely will not let you fall." I tried to assure her, but there was a pause where I knew she was still worried. So I said, "Come on."
She took a deep breath, and reluctantly said, "... Oh, Okay… But I'm already regretting this."
"I promise you if we can't do it. We can always ask around and find someone who can. But I really want to try and do this-"
"Why?" Quinn asked. Looking me right in the eye.
So I looked back at our coaches and they weren't even facing us. I nudged her nose with mine and said "Do you really need to ask?"
"...Yes." she made clear. "Why are you volunteering like this?"
So I whispered in her ear, "I'll take any chance I get if I can be with you or dance with you a minute more." Then I looked her in the eye again and let the walls down for a blink. Like I can only do with her. Whatever she saw made her blush beautifully and take a deep breath. Before she repeated, "Okay, oKAY! God! You and those eyes."
"What?" I hadn't heard that one before. "What about my eyes?"
"You know!"
"No, I don't… What about my eyes?"
"They do this thing that just isn't fair, at all. It's this melty, serious thing that messes with my blood pressure." She complained. "It shouldn't be legal."
I was gonna have to keep that in mind. We went back to the coaches and told them we'd do it. While they were talking to Michael about replacing the DJ today. Because our usual DJ wannabe Leon was absent with a case of Chicken Pox. Michael was running back to our dorm to get some music… because otherwise, we would only be relying on the coaches' combined CD collections. And I don't even want to know what that would have been like. RUN-MICHAEL! SAVE-US!
But when we went into the gymnasium, to join everyone else. I got a completely different story about the new guy. From the pack of clucking hens in front of me. I was sitting behind Lola, Zoey, Lisa, and Stacey in the bleachers before class began. As well as bunch of the other girls they hang around. They were all gushing over this new guy who was following Quinn around. They all said he'd been doing it since he'd met her during the coffee cart ban. He'd even been hanging around their dorm room, long after they closed up shop. He'd been seen spending every spare moment with her since. Had even been trying to butter up most of them and their boyfriends… like he was hoping he was next to join the club or something.
Zoey even said, "If nothing else, maybe he could ask Quinn to Prom. How awesome would that be? He's cute, seems nice and he's best of all NOT Mark."
Not at ALL Zoey! If you ask me!
But Lola agreed, "I hope he asks her soon."
Stacey was even saying, "Mark has moved on, Quinn needs to show everyone she has too."
I wanted to scream!
How did things get this bad, this quick?
In one week? How? Last week was so GOOD, even if just at the end. This week, TOTAL CRAP!
And how was someone as brilliant as Quinn so oblivious to these people's plans for her? To that tool's plans! He obviously liked her, how did she not see it? Was she really that blind or was she ignoring them, after all of the girls other schemes to help her move on have been a bust? Either way, I had so many more questions and I couldn't ask her a thing till AFTER class. I had to still dance with her and keep this all inside. I felt like there was gonna be a mushroom cloud over the basketball court today. Before the dance practice even started! When I can't handle all of this and finally freak out!
The first dance everyone had to learn this week (And we'd HAD to keep the same partners ALL WEEK LONG… AHHHG!) was something called a Foxtrot. Which was super easy and I was paired up with a cheerleader named Chole for it. She didn't need my help, she already knew the steps. So my part was even easier than normal and I could keep a better eye on Quinn.
Quinn was matched up with Michael for that dance. So after he'd gotten us music from THIS century. He came running back to her and kept calling her 'boss lady.' She had been teaching him from scratch most of the week. But he was in good hands, she had him laughing and not panicking nearly as much as he had been at the start of the week. He was even starting to let more and more of his character show. At least HE could take a hint but Quinn was so focused on helping Michael nail it. She was so serious and focused on helping him (and Lisa) I don't think she looked my way twice.
New guy showed up today too. even though I can't remember him being there before. And has a lot to learn... Like TOO MUCH! He kept trying to flirt with Quinn and distract her, EVEN I know to NEVER cross her when she's like that. So all of his flirts looked like they fell pretty flat to me. It had to be pretty bad! I know when flirting works on her, I've gotten pretty good at it, lately.
The next dance we were all learning was a dance no one knew, called the "Jitterbug." All I knew about it was it was cut from the 1939 classic Wizard of Oz for a reason. It was pretty dumb, but people were laughing I guess, and clapping when it was over… but I was clapping BECAUSE it was over. For that I had been paired up with Gwen Tomlin. A senior who's almost gotten as much work done on her face as Gretta. I don't think her face can show any emotion anymore at all. That's gonna be real fun for her when she's older. I know because of my step-moms and almost-moms… you know, the ones I claim.
While Quinn was matched up with- Oh Come ON! Has she really been matched up with him all week and I didn't notice?
The same waste of skin who had been flirting with her wasn't just her partner for the one dance either. He was SOMEHOW her partner for the other two dances. How did I not notice all week long? Was I that BLIND? That focused on coffee all week?
I still had different partners for each dance, I thought Quinn did too! But when he got to keep clutching at her waist like that…through BOTH Dances. I could just feel my anger getting out of control. If I wasn't very careful, I could lose it.
James even asked me, "Are you okay? You look as red as a tomato."
I said to him through my teeth, "I'm fine."
He went back to dancing with Lisa, saying. "Oooooooooooookay."
So the third dance was a complete blur to me, I don't even remember doing it. I just remember, tuning everything out until it was time for me to finally dance with Quinn again. And even then she came and got me. Because I didn't trust myself to not snap, scream or punch something.
She took my hand and led me out to center court and as we walked she asked me, "Are you okay? Your face is all flushed."
So first everyone was saying I was red. By the time I got to her I'm pale... perfect.
"I'm fine." I gritted out.
"You don't look fine." She did just say before all of our friends were backing her up. Asking me "if I was okay?" As we passed them, all paired off. No matter how many times I said "I was fine." All of them didn't believe me. So why even ask anymore?
When we got to Michael, Quinn let go of my hand to help Lola and Zoey untangle their high heels out of their practice skirts. While Michael told me, "Man! You look mad enough to kill something. What's got you so steamed?"
I finally had to snap on all of them, "NOTHING! Let it GO!" Then I took Quinn's hand again and walked the rest of the way out to the center of the floor. Making sure that even if I was angry enough to breathe fire. I wasn't rough with Quinn at all.
I did hear Michael saying behind me, "Oh sure! He's NOT mad. How silly of me."
And I did hear James say, "No, why would we think that?"
Jerks!
But it was easier not to snap when Quinn's hand was in mine. When we were standing where we were supposed to and it was our time. I remembered to bow this time, and she curtsied. When she stepped closer, I pulled her closer than I normally did and she popped her eyes at me asking, "You sure?" in a whisper.
I told her, "Definitely." and she let out this cute giggle sound before warning.
"Not too close?" she checked again.
I told her, "Not today."
Before we started dancing on cue, and just like that. I was over it, I had plenty of time to stew over things later. I wasn't letting this get ruined by anything else. Quinn was telling me that the couples surrounding us looked much better. She even felt better about how many of them seemed to finally get it… but I didn't see anything that whole time but her.
On the last dip of our routine. I was so lost in the moment, I put my head against hers and slowly pulled us both back up together. Quinn had put her arms around me and laughed the whole way. Knowing I'd slipped up, but she'd enjoyed it so much she was all smiles. I didn't realize how risky or hot that looked, till everyone around us lost it. That snapped me out of it pretty quickly. While Quinn was still laughing.
All of the pairs were asking us to do it again, so they could try it.
Yeah! I'm not cut out to be a choreographer, but while I am one. You've gotta give the people what they want. So I slowed it down and even more and Quinn tried her best to stay serious. But she was just still too tickled at my whoops for the day. She was still all smiles as we did it again.
When we had done it a couple of more times. And the people who wanted to try it had… There was a moment after that last dip that Quinn and me were still standing in the center of the room. And we just looked at each other for a second before I let her go. Before both coaches started clapping and talking loudly snapping us both out of it. Telling us it was time for the daily freestyle. Which is when everyone dances however they want at the end of each class. But they were buying time for Michael as he was picking out the next songs. So there wasn't any music yet.
So Quinn and me had a few more minutes where we were allowed to be partnered up.
The first thing she told me was… "Yoooooou… Wow! You got off lucky."
"Yeah, yeah." I let her have her fun, but I reminded her. "Like I'm the ONLY one who's let things slip out here-"
"He-ba-ba-ba! No! You swore! You would forget about it." She reminded me.
"I'm just saying." I shrugged and she laughed as we did a few silly moves we'd just nailed in our jive practice before this.
After that, she put her arms around my shoulders and we were kinda swaying in place. Even though Michael was still looking through his playlists, and there wasn't music yet. We just sort of talked and swayed and it was the best part of today… besides the kiss I stole in warm-up and my slip-up out here.
She looked so beautiful and we were just talking… but it felt so natural. And it felt right, and I completely forgot how careful we needed to be. Until a bunch of sophomores with throw-away cameras all showed up to gush at us. "Your chemistry is AMAZING!"
"OFF the CHARTS!" Another claimed before shaking an inhaler and taking a puff off of it.
The smallest of the group asked, "Are you guys dating? Like For Reals?"
All of the others asked "Yeah?" All around.
Both of us let go of each other and said, "No… no." At the same time.
"We're-" I began.
Quinn finished, "Just friends."
"Yeah! We're just friends… we've been friends a long time." I said.
"Loooong time," Quinn stressed.
The tallest girl in the herd swore, "Well, I wish I had that kind of chemistry with one of my friends."
Then they all left in a giggly heap. That made Quinn tease, "I think your fan club may have just gotten a few new members."
"Please, they're old members." I waved off. "I think they may be new admirers of you though." I threw right back at her.
She scoffed, "Yeah right, what fangirl would want to see their crush with another girl?"
I told her softly. "A true fan, especially one who can see when their crush is at his happiest."
She looked at me and her face pinkened just before she started shaking her head and the music began. We didn't have the excuse of dancing together anymore. We both had a different kind of show to put on. And as much as my heart wasn't in it. I had to do my best. Because Neither of us was ready for this to be out yet.
And even more than us, our friends weren't ready either.
Not Yet…
((Michael's Perspective))
Being a DJ and still trying to remember all of wacky dances and steps… Whoo! That's a lot! Like way more than my brain was ready for. Why hadn't I eaten more at lunch time, why hadn't that nap in study hall helped?
It's like trying the throw darts while your standing and spinning on a sit n' spin! It was difficult! Okay? And I was so focused on getting ALL of the music cues right. And my feet right when I got back to my dance partner… so that when I need to dance for real with my little Lisa. She won't even think about worrying!
I'd like to see anyone else pull it off as well as I did. But there was a significant pause after Logan's dance thing from his Dad's movie, where there wasn't music and that's on me. I'll own up to it! Okay? I should have had it cued up better. I should have had it all picked out already…But hey! The usual DJ had already picked all of that music out with the coaches. It was my job to bring this dance class to the 21st century. And I needed some drippin dance beats!
I got it! It took me a minute, but I got it.
And that minute of hesitation was all it took for the females in our group to get all crazy. Bent outta shape, about something they thought they saw and probably didn't even happen. Something so off the rails CRAZY! That now none of them can seem to find peace… So none of us men, will have peace either. Till they all pipe down.
Here's what happened…
During that time where there was no music. Two people were still kinda dancing in the center of the court. Not showy big move dancing, mind you. Just swaying together not caring there wasn't music. It was like there was a tune playing only they heard. And Zoey didn't miss it!
So Zoey mentioned it to Lola, who saw it too. They told Lisa so she saw it, then they all told James making him look up and notice. And ALL of them told Vince, who had been asking for weeks if these two people had something going on. As they were all whispering about this thing. They also noticed that Mark Del Figgalo was looking too. And Mark hadn't even noticed his shirt was on backwards or his shoes didn't match today. But he had noticed this and didn't look too happy about it. I still don't know if he cared, but he definitely wasn't happy to see the female in question looking so happy.
So when I came back to our group, they were STILL talking about it.
What had Zoey trippin?
Logan and Quinn.
Yeah, you read that right, Logan … and Quinn.
I don't think two more different people are in our little group. I couldn't even keep count on my fingers and toes of how many fights they've had through the years. Where I was jumping between them so they didn't kill each other. Or Logan didn't stupidly find himself on the wrong end of one of her Quinnventions when he antagonized her.
But this one glance of something Zoey thinks she saw, and pointed out to the others. Now they're ALL saying that not only do they think something could be happening between Quinn and Logan. They're all starting to consider the idea that it could already be SOMETHING. Like Romantic something!
Crazy, right?
I have to admit, when I was looking through playlists for the best mix. I saw it too, I glanced at it, but I just thought Logan was having a rare human moment. Of actually being nice to Quinn, for a change.
What Zoey saw was that long after their dance ended, and the music was off. Logan and Quinn were still talking to each other. They were still holding on to each other and they were sort of swaying on the spot. There was no music, and there was no reason for them to still be dancing… but they were dancing together. And it didn't end there. They were smiling, laughing, and flirting… Very clearly flirting. They looked happier in those few minutes than any of us have seen either of them look in ages… if not ever.
Have you ever heard anything so nuts in all your life? I know I haven't and I have nearly lived two whole decades. Logan flirting with Quinn? On purpose. I thought, that's one for the books! I've heard it all now. But then Logan had to make matters so much worse by walking with Quinn after class. He said that he was trying to arrange a time to meet up for practicing whatever dances we needed to help our injured coaches teach everyone next week.
It was bad enough to watch Logan insistently walking between Quinn and a guy who's been hanging around her lately. Who had all of the girls hoping he would ask her out, to Prom at least. But when Quinn kept explaining how full up her weekend was with tutoring. His anger wasn't sounding too average. It sounded like a jealous boyfriend or something. No matter how often Logan shut down anyone who pointed this out to him. His anger only seemed to crank the girls up more!
I tried to get everyone calmed down but when that didn't work. I mentioned that I had a video chat set up with Chase tonight. So all of this needed to be handled before then! I couldn't miss another one of those, he'd never let me live it down.
Needless to say, that's how a meeting was scheduled to happen in my dorm room. About this loopy possibility that probably isn't even true! And that's also how Zoey and the rest of girls hijacked my conversation with Chase. To talk to him about this abnormality!
I told my friends to quiet down and let me explain things to Chase. BEFORE they start bombarding him with EVERYTHING they saw, heard and think.
So when my best friend's bushy head came on the screen he greeted me, "Michael! You're here!"
I told him, "Yeah, man! Of course I'm here! Don't sound so shocked. How are things in London?"
"Ah, you know! The world stops at 4pm and everyone drinks tea. That doesn't happen much anywhere else in the world." He shrugged before asking. "How are you, how are things there?" And I felt a little better just looking at him. He was that friend to us all. I could see the others already relaxing too just hearing his voice.
But I got down to business and let him know, "Good, man. We're good. But I gotta let you know that we're not alone. That you are tuning into this program already in progress. Because our dorm room has been raided for a meeting and the gang really wanted to include you in this meeting. How are you with that?"
"Ah, Great! Sure, who all are we talking about?" he asked as I switch camera views and let everyone else greet him and see him on the flat screen. Remind me to thank Logan again for this sweet set up!
Chase was freaking out over everyone. Greeting everyone individually. And he didn't quit till he'd said a personalized 'hi' to each and every one of them. Even noticing, "All that's missing is Quinn and Logan. Wow! I didn't expect this."
It was then that Zoey let him know, "That's because this meeting is sort of about Quinn and Logan."
"Quinn and Logan? What about them?" He asked her sounding just as surprised as I felt about the whole situation.
Lola but in. "We are all starting to think there may be something happening there. You know, between them."
Lisa added, "Romantically."
Chase repeated, "Romantically? You mean like that kind of something specifically? Could be happening between them?"
Someone came in Chase's door and started talking to him. He said to them, "Ah, sure hang on." Then he turned back to us and said, "Ah, guys? Give me one second. I gotta share my notes, I'm gonna put you guys on hold for just a second. I'll be right back."
Everyone was teasing him as he put the chat on hold for a moment and the screen went blank. Lisa said, "That sounded like Liam. He's probably gonna come back with Chase if it was him."
"Yeah!" Everyone agreed, Liam's good people.
(Chase's Perspective)
As I paused the feed I told Liam. "You don't know what a life safer you ARE right now!"
Liam looked at me all question marks and asked, "Life safer? But weren't you having a video chat with-"
I freaked out! "NO TIME TO TALK! Take out your phone and keep dialing this number till you or me get an answer." I told him handing him Quinn's number while I was already frantically pressing Logan's contact info in my phone. It went to voicemail like his phone was off. It didn't even ring! So I left him a panicked Voicemail on the third try. Yelling, "WHY WOULD YOU TURN YOUR PHONE OFF AT A TIME LIKE THIS! LOGAN! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY! Your SECRET'S PRACTICALLY OUT! AND YOU'RE MISSING IT!... Call me."
Liam too wasn't getting an answer till the third time he was calling rapid fire. Then Quinn finally answered. "Hello?"
I grabbed the phone from him shouting! "QUINN!"
"Chase?" she realized. "What are you doing calling me? Who's number is this?"
I was talking so fast! "It'sLiam'sLISTEN! No Time For Pleasantatries! There'sAMeetingHappeningInOurOLDDormRoom! AMeetingAboutYouAndLOGAN! RightNOW!"
"A meeting about what?" Quinn asked, and I could hear someone else talking to her in the background. Since the rest of our friends were all on that video chat. It wasn't a HUGE leap guessing Quinn was with Logan. That I was interrupting one of their sneak-away moments.
"YOU and LOGAN! QUINN! They're on to you! And if you're not ready to have ALL of our friends know? You two have got some damage control to do. ASAP!" I let her know before I said anything else.
In appropriate freak out mode now, Quinn panicked. "How do you KNOW this? How is it you know this in London and we had no idea? And we're still right here with them?"
Logan must have grabbed the phone from her and asked, "What set them off? And why didn't you call me?"
"A whole list of things, apparently." I let him know, before I told him. "I called you first but your phone was off. Not cool, man."
Then I could hear Quinn telling him, "You have to go, NOW, and set them straight."
"Go? Now?" He asked, though even I don't know how he was still hesitating. If I had been there I would have already been hauling ass across campus to run interference. Buy them time, but Logan was STILL standing there with Quinn? When it's half his secret?
Quinn was reacting with the more appropriate level of flipped out. "It's YOUR dorm, it makes way more sense for you to crash this gathering. If I show up, it's only going to be more incriminating."
"In-what?" He asked her.
"Go!" I could hear her pushing him away. Then If I'm not mistaken when things went quiet for a second. I think they may have been kissing. Who were these people?
I heard him tell her, "That he would be right back and she'd better not even think of going anywhere."
I heard her promise to stay put while her voice sounded a distance away. Like she'd been holding her phone away. Trying to save my ears from hearing any of their mushiness.
It was louder and closer again when she said, "Thank you, Chase. You just saved us."
"Why on EARTH was there a hold-up?" I had to ask.
Quinn explained, "Final Exams are on the horizon, it hasn't been as easy for me to sneak away when I've had to promise so much of my time to tutoring classmates. Even if I am exempt from nearly all of the Finals personally. Logan still needs to study too, so you can imagine how hard it's been finding a moment alone."
"But he's gone now?" I made certain.
"Yes, he's on his way. Thank you so much for letting us know! You're a total angel!" Quinn said with so much relief.
I warned her, "We're not outta the woods yet, I'll do all I can and find out what they've seen. When the video chat ends, I'll call you back with everything I found out, okay? Sit tight! I'll do everything I can to help, okay?"
"Okay." She said before promising, "I'll be here. Thanks again."
Then I sat back in the seat to flip back on the feed. When Liam told me, "I'll sit here out of sight and take shorthand of everything I hear so we can review it with Quinn and Logan afterward."
I knew, "You have got to have a million better things you could be doing right now."
Liam admitted, "Sure! But they're good people, they're your friends, and not to mention. Lucy is gonna want an overview of everything as well."
I couldn't argue with that. So I switched back on the feed and apologized for taking so long. I blamed it on losing my notes and having to find them. But I wasn't through my full explanation before Lola was demanding. "Quit stalling! What do you think, Chase?"
I stalled my stalling, "What do I think of what, Lola?"
Lisa spoke this time, "Logan and Quinn? Do you think there could be even a possibility of something happening between them?"
Vince even gave a quick review of all the things they'd been naming off in the conversation before I paused (because most of it was things he'd noticed). And I could see Liam out the corner of my eye taking down page after page of shorthand.
As promised, I lied and said. "Oh come on guys! This is Quinn and Logan we're talking about. How many times have ALL of us had to jump between them BEFORE they kill one another?"
Michael had even backed me up and insisted, "That's what I have been telling them ALL DAY LONG! It's complete madness thinking they could be a thing!"
But it left a bad taste in my mouth when I KNEW they were right. That Quinn and Logan were together and even worse. I knew just how vital these two had become to one another. When I knew Logan is completely gone in love with Quinn and I had no doubt that she loved him too. I was the only one who'd gotten to see any of its positive impacts. On BOTH of our friends! Logan was just as good for Quinn as the other way around. And I knew the truth was coming out soon if, not now! That Logan was stomping across campus as we speak to break up this meeting and crush any suspicions.
So even though I promised to help squash these ideals… I did my TRUE part as a friend to ALL of these people and also tucked in a bit of reasoning in with my blatant lies. Trying to put down just a little security blanket before this secret gets blown sky-high.
I said, "Even if this did prove true… Would that really be all so terrible?"
All the girls scoffed at the idea, except Zoey. She locked eyes with me for a few heartbeats. And I think she may have been the only one to pick up fully on my settle hint. But she stayed quiet for the rest of the conversation so… I could be completely off.
Lola had scoffed loudest of all. Claiming, "Logan could NEVER deserve someone like Quinn! Back me up here guys?"
James reasoned, "Logan is a very materialistic person. He's not a bad guy, but do you really think he could ever see Quinn as anything more than a dork?"
I felt like I needed to defend Logan, so I reminded them all. "Hey! Before any of you were at PCA, it was just Michael, me and Logan. He's a lot of things, but he's a tremendous friend to ALL of us. And if he could see Quinn as more than a brain, would it really be so terrible?"
Lola was still doubtless, "Even so! Quinn is way too good for the likes of him!"
Vince tried to pat her on the back, but she wasn't even letting him do that. Clearly some of Lola's venom was personal… probably because her latest boyfriend hadn't gotten the warmest welcome in the beginning. Quinn needed to be warned about that. But before the conversation could go any further. Logan came in and started raising cain!
"What is this? What's going on here?" He asked convincingly surprised to see ALL of our friends inside of his dorm room. This is why his acting ability is getting so much praise these days.
Michael said, "I was video chatting with Chase and it got crashed by…well, everybody!"
I waved, "Hey Logan! Are you glad to be back at PCA? Where you don't have to bundle up everywhere you go?"
"Not right now!" Logan griped, "Don't you people have some OTHER place to be? Besides our dorm? Michael wants to talk to Chase and you're all being super rude!" He said looking through his things in the corner by the single bed.
Lola reminded him, "Your here too-"
"Yeah! But it's my dorm!" He complained, "And I'm just stopping in for a book and leaving. I'm not setting up camp and stealing time with Chase away from Michael." He was standing by the single bed which looked like it was still his, that looked like his stuff around it too. Funny how even with a different roommate in there, some things never change.
But I saw Lola squaring off Logan with purpose. I knew she was mad enough to confront him, right now. So I just sat tight and watched her pinpoint her attack. While Micheal switch camera angles for me to have the best view.
Lola asked him outright, "What are you playing at?"
"Homework." He said standing up with a textbook. "Do you mind?"
"Is there something going on between you and Quinn? Anything at all?" She asked and Zoey tried to stop her but Lola shrugged off her hand with Lisa's as well.
"With Quinn? Are you serious?" He asked.
Lola maintained, "You've both been acting strange, even before this trip you both took together."
Logan bit back, "Well, why even ask if you're gonna jump to your own conclusions? Not even letting me answer you, first."
Lola spiked her aim with, "I just want you to know that there's no way you could ever deserve someone as cool as Quinn. EVER. So even if you're thinking about it, don't mess with her. She's had enough disappointment this year. And she doesn't need you making it worse." To their credit, Zoey, Lisa and James had all been trying to stop Lola. But she'd still managed to get her point across and it was excruciating from my seat.
Logan smiled in her face, but I could even see the hurt in his eyes from here. As he told Lola, "Sure. She's got you for that."
"What?" Lola demanded.
"Oh! You heard me." Logan said right back at her. "You're so wrapped up in yourself, everythings a shock to you. All the time." He advised, "Take a look around you every now and again, Lola. Maybe then everything won't be such a damn surprise!"
She lunged for him and he jumped at her too egging her on. In true Logan fashion, immature and self-serving. Vince was between them, reminding Lola. "We're all friends here." Whispering to her, "Down, girl."
Logan admitted, "You're right, Quinn doesn't need anymore disappointment this year. From me or anyone else. But she also doesn't need you guys picking her battles for her. She's tough and can take care of herself."
Zoey agreed, "You're right."
"ZO-EY!" Lola complained.
"Well, he is." Zoey admitted, before she asked Logan much nicer. "It just seems like the two of you have been spending a lot more time together. You even look real happy with her, when ever you are around her… we're just wondering, what's going on there? As her friends and yours."
He sat on the single bed and leveled with Zoey, "Look! She's my friend too and just like all of you, I have been doing everything I can think of to cheer her up after Mark threw her away. That's how she felt, thrown away. Nobody should ever feel like that. So I've ended up spending more time with her than usual. Since all of you have gotten steady boyfriends, girlfriends, exams to study for, and Prom. We've both had to be the odd man out a lot together. And since she learned the same dances as me on Dad's set. We've had to dance together a lot. I'll admit we're closer lately too, she's become one of my best friends. So, the last thing I want to do is hurt her either."
Zoey smiled at him, "That's good to hear, and thank you for helping her. She's been so much happier lately because of it."
"Sure." He nodded. "It's been fun. But it's like Lola said too, she's too smart and good for the likes of me. So you've all got nothing to worry about there either."
I had to interrupt and tell Logan, "I can't believe I'm saying this. But don't be so hard on yourself, buddy. Quinn would be lucky to date a person as loyal and caring as you can be."
"No, Lola's right." He insisted. "She was right to tell me so. Quinn's lucky to count all of us as her friends. But I gotta get back to my tutor and you all have gotta get the hell out of here and let Michael talk to Chase. Come on! Let's go! Everybody! Let's go!"
And they listened, all of them! Crisis averted. As they followed each other out they were saying bye to me and Michael. When everyone was gone, Michael thanked Logan and the last thing Logan said to me was "Chase! We'll chat soon too? Okay?"
"Yep! Talk to you then!" I called back before he closed the door and probably ran back to Quinn. I had to beat him, before he reached Quinn, to warn her about what he had just been through. I wasn't making it up when i claimed to have known Logan a long time. I really had known him longer than most and I just knew he wouldn't admit Lola had just hurt him. Quinn needed to do some damage control of her own. Luckily Michael had finals to study for, so the rest of our conversation was brief… even if Michael had thought Lola was WAY harsh on Logan too. Not even knowing the full extent of the situation. Michael knew that too... just probing again that there was no breaking up these Three Stooges.
Once he was gone, and Liam rolled his desk chair back beside mine. He even said, "Lola was WAY outta line."
I was calling back Quinn as I was telling him. I gotta warn Quinn about all of that before Logan gets back. I know he'll downplay it, or act like it didn't happen, or hurt. I knew him too well to doubt it.
She answered on the second ring, "Chase? Is everything okay?"
I answered her honestly and said, "Well, yes and no. Yes! Logan put on a brillant performance and fooled everyone but there's a few things you need to know before he gets back. About what else went down in that dorm."
She said, "Oh no, tell me all about it." So before we even tackled the list of things Liam was keeping. I did just as she asked and told her EVERYTHING. Praying all the while that I had enough time to explain it all before Logan could possibly shrug it off and say I was overreacting.
I had to hope even more than time was on my side.
((Logan's Perspective))
Of all of the times our friends could have chose to bust us. They had to pick a time slot I fought so hard for... to be with Quinn! So not only were they butting into things that were none of their business really. But they were stealing precious time I could have been with her! When she's got all of these dummies wasting all of her time trying to pass their finals.
I had to pick a hiding place near her last session, I had to make sure she ate something. Because she'd been forgetting that all week. THEN the minute we're alone together and safe. Her phone rang with Chase warning us about the meeting happening in my dorm room. A meeting where all of our friends had gotten together and traded notes on things they think they've seen between me and Quinn.
Who even does that?
And why now? Of all times?
When Quinn realized what was happening, she was telling me I needed to go. Because it was my dorm. And that makes sense, it does. But I REALLY didn't want to go. I just wanted to stay there with her till I had to be back for curfew. And not a SECOND sooner!
But because of them, I not only had to walk all the way across campus. Wasting precious moments I can't get back, but I had to be told off by Lola, like I'd needed any of her grief. I should expect it, all of the girls are overprotective about each other. Usually it's a perk, and I'm glad they're all that way. That they care about each other that way, if not one of the guys or even me. But today I got the blunt end of that support. When Lola told me point blank I wasn't good enough for Quinn.
Like I didn't already know that!
And like she even knows ANYTHING beyond herself and Vince these days!
What a brat!
The others did try to stop her, but again. They weren't telling me anything I didn't already know. Quinn is way too good for me, she's too good for anyone! But I love her! And I know that now! So even if I know it's a long shot, I'm not gonna give her up. Not until I have to, and the only way that could happen is if she asks me to stop… and probably not even then. Because I can't imagine NOT loving her. Now that I've started, I can't just turn it off like a lightswitch.
So I played my part and practically ran back to our hiding spot. It was another place deep in between the trees and so thick that no one could see us or even hear us. Not that I was planning on a whole lot of talking. But when I got back, not only was Quinn on the phone, probably with Chase but you didn't see her face. Something was wrong, very wrong and I wondered what in the hell had Chase been telling her.
I tried to help her relax by coming up behind her, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her neck. It did make her smile, but she was still all tensed up like a bundle of nerves. She told me, "Hi," before telling Chase, "He just got back."
Then she whispered, asking me, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked her and she shot me a look that told me. Chase had been more dramatic even than I'd thought.
She told him and Liam, "Thank you both for everything you really saved our skins." Then they were both saying bye to both of us and she hung up. That was when I noticed she had a spiral notebook on her lap where she had been writing down something.
I teased, "Please tell me we're not gonna do homework."
She did smile at least before she said, "No, this was all of the things our gang mentioned seeing us do. Chase got them all to talk while Liam took it all down in a notepad. I just did the same thing as they read it back to me. The list was rather extensive too, did you want to look at it?"
"Yeah, but maybe tomorrow, can you hold on to it till then?" I asked. Not sure if I could handle any more interuptions tonight.
She asked me, "Are you sure you're alright?"
I was honest when I said, "I was fine." But looking at her, everything I had just faced did start to take a toll on me. But it didn't matter because it was all worth it.
She came up close and asked, "Really?" Before she pulled me into the light of the launters she'd set up above our heads weeks ago. She only used them when we met here. When she could see me, she touched my cheek telling me. "You don't look so okay." For the second time today.
I asked her, "How much did Chase tell you?"
"A lot, probably everything." She said pulling me into a full hug. Breathing the words, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I should have gone with you and just let them-"
I stopped her there with a kiss we'd both needed. So maybe I wasn't as 'okay' as I thought. But all I wanted… All I needed was to be with her. And I knew somehow, everything would be okay. No matter what happened when our friends did find out the truth.
As long as I got to still be with her lke this. It couldn't be so bad.
Quinn tried to talk about it, she really did. But that wasn't what I'd needed most. I'd just needed her with me. When she finally realized that was what we'd both needed. That was how we sspent the rest of our time together tonight.
When her phone alarm started going off. Warning us that we had to get moving if we wanted to make it back in time. I still couldn't let her go, she had to ease out of my hold and make me let go of her. And even she said, "I really don't want to go either."
"I know," I told her before I asked. "Is tomorrow as booked as today was."
"Yeah, sadly," she huffed. "I'm booked solid from morning to nearly night time. I didn't court on needing time to learn dances too. This weekend."
"Can you meet me tomorrow morning at the school pool. 6am?"
She repeated, "6am?"
I'd guessed, "No one booked your time that early did they?"
"No, not since that whole wrestling team thing. Why so early? What's your hurry?"
I told her, "We've got to work on lifts and water is the best place for that. It was the only timeslot I could get where we could get enough time to do that and not be fighting off the swim team. Can you meet me there then? Or around that time?"
She said, "I'll be there, but what do I wear? I don't think a practice skirt would be too practical in a pool."
I told her to, "Wear whatever you like, just maybe let it be something you don't mind getting wet." I explained as we stepped back out on the main path and out from under the cover of our hiding place.
We had to go in opposite directions from this point on. If we would ever make it in time. So she gave my hand one last squeeze and promised. "Okay, I'll see you then. My first tutorial session is at ten. Is that enough time?"
I promised her, "We'll make it work." Before I kissed her hand and told her. "See you then, and you better bring all of your best latin moves too."
She laughed back at me "you too. Bye!" And that was it for the night, we both made it back JUST in time and went to bed. The only way I got to sleep was because I knew the sooner I slept, the sooner I could wake up and see her again. I'd set the alarm for 5.30am and I knew this would be the easiest time would probably ever have racing off to a practice.
Willing this day from HELL over and praying for tomorrow to be better. It already felt better, I just hoped that feeling stuck around for the whole day.
That's all folks!
But don't fret! I'll be back next thursday (and earlier like normal) with another chapter. It'll be here before we know it and so will Zoey 102! Ahhhhg! Anyways, hope this is reaching you all very well. Please review if you can, I would love to hear from you! Take Care and Much Love!
Also would love to give a little thank you to anyone responsible for the song, "Somewhere Only We Know" - by Keane for it's creative help with this chapter! THANK YOU!
~DarcyBeDippy85