Hey There,

Welcome! It's Thursday again! It's Fall! It's BEAUTIFUL! And it's time for another chapter of this missing moment perspective-based smorgasbord. Yes, this will begin my coverage of the Prom and it will be kicking off from solely Quinn's Perspective (that's just how this chapter happened as it is). But you're not here for my yakking, let's get right to it! MAGIC time!

Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not 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 amusement, most will be returned unharmed!

Last week's chapter was meant to thank the Group 'Paramore' for their older song "Misguided Ghost." Because it was my musical inspiration for that chapter (ch 31) when Logan and Quinn finally got to be alone. The guitars and Halely William's voice just transported me to where they were. And painted all of the right pictures in my mind. Sorry, I didn't mention it! But I am now!

Just to be sure I don't do it again: These were the songs I listened to on loop for this chapter:

"I Won't Give Up"-Jason Mraz (for a waltz in this chapter), "Distance" - Christina Perri featuring Jason Mraz (this was the feel of this whole new chapter), "Rewrite the Stars (from the Greatest Showman)" - performed by Anne Marie & James Authur "I'll Be"- Edwin McCain (along with the other songs I've mentioned in previous chapters. Needless to say the Quogan Playlist is a go-to in our house even when I'm not writing! But these were the standouts for this chapter!)

Special thanks to the few of you who have just found this story. Who has placed it on their favorite stories list or story alert list. Also, special thanks to the few of you who just favorited me as an authoress or placed me on you're author's alert! That is all high praise and I hope you're all still reading and enjoying!

Special thanks to my reviewer: (and friend) Rose-Aki (Girrrrl! This week has been tough! So tough, but your review [& PMs] were so kind. And it kept me motivated even through these difficult days. God bless you. I have been rewatching the series a lot and it just felt natural for the others to be concerned about Quinn after she'd faced so much all in that one day. I wanted them all to be kinda keeping an eye on her, not knowing it was kinda hindering her actual plans. And THANK YOU SO MUCH for saying you like my add-ins with James. Of all of the things I've posted lately, I've been the MOST nervous about his parts! I'm so glad you like them and hope you still do! As always your friendship and support is AMAZING! And hope this chapter finds you very well this Thursday! I hope that you're able to post too! I know that was your aim and I can't wait to see what you've come up with! Take Care and Much Love!)

Enjoy!

"The Collective Trials of a Quinnventor… and Logan"

Chapter 32 - The Great Prom Gown Paradox

((Quinn's Perspective))

Monday morning, came brighter and earlier than expected. But I was able to rise and start my day in a very normal measure. Hilariously, my roommates were a part of heaps of juniors and seniors; missing morning classes today. When they'd spent all of yesterday at a theme park. The number of absent students for both age groups was so staggeringly high. So many teachers and staff were no-shows as well. It's possible there weren't enough to even fulfill our teaching needs for classes today.

Dean Rivers had to excuse class for the rest of the day. Telling us it was the only way to keep our studies level and fair. So the rest of the school was thrilled, even if they hadn't gotten to go on this trip. They'd still gotten an unplanned free day out of it.

The Dean had also told the handful of us Juniors and Seniors who had shown up for class. To make good use of this time and study up for exams. So I had spent some of that time tutoring a few of those stragglers while I could. Most people were hitting the beach in walking distance of school.

I guess I'm still so used to spending my weekends like that. Running around "Mystic Mountain," and still making it to class on Monday. Even after months of not dating Mark, I bounced back far better than anyone else. So did Mark, he was one of the only other students there, this morning. Well, from our class, anyway. He was ready to buckle down and get serious about his schoolwork again. I hoped it was still early enough to make a difference… sincerely I did. The Sci-club were no shows as well, but I emailed them about moving our agreement to tomorrow morning when they were more up for it.

But when my sweetie (and both of his roommates) were also no-shows as well. I had thought, at least he's getting some sleep… finally. And that was good, he's been struggling so much lately. To the point, I'd begun to worry, and experiment with some things to try to help him (non-drug methods, of course). So even though I missed him terribly (pathetically), I was glad he was finally getting some rest…

Until I met up with everyone at lunchtime. I arranged with the girls before I took my seat, that tonight. We would be heading off campus with Paulina to a place to try on some dresses for Prom. I got that straight with Stacey and Lisa too, who had been sitting (and sleeping) at other tables before I reached the round table surrounded in the rest of my friends… and it was like "day of the living dead." In all of that bright sunny and usually upbeat atmosphere. All of my friends were still recuperating… they were raving about all of the fun they'd had… You know, the ones that weren't asleep at the table. But they were all still yawning or nodding off… if not sound asleep at the lunch table. Except for my baby, he was hacking away on a laptop with earbuds in. Looking just as tired as everyone else and yawning too often… But he kept working on whatever he was doing tirelessly.

With my lunch tray, I'd stolen the seat between done (for possibly the rest of the year) sleeping James and still typing continuously Logan. And I was surprised to see even though his hands never stopped moving across his keyboard or mousepad on his laptop. He did still hide his left hand and offered it to me to hold under the table the second I sat down. When I accepted his hidden hand, and his fingers closed around my hand. His earbuds came out and he'd finally looked up from the screen for the first time to greet me. "Hi."

I'd greeted, "Hey."

"How are you not leveled like the rest of us?" He'd asked.

I'd shrugged, "Guess I'm still too accustomed to spending weekends that way. Even a Sunday with an early Monday morning."

"Lucky." He'd said darkly.

I asked, even though I'd taken his absence this morning as a clue enough. "Did you finally get some sleep? At least?" He still had an alarmingly dark shadow under his eyes, so I felt like I'd needed to ask.

He confirmed, "A little."

"A little? What were you doing this morning, if not sleeping?" I asked.

He explained, "I was asleep this morning, I just couldn't sleep much last night for some reason." He'd shot me a look that was almost accusing. Before he smirked flirtatiously, thankfully everyone's heads were down so they couldn't have seen it.

I ignored his flirt to ask, "Even though you were asleep on the bus?"

But before he could answer. Michael's head popped out of his folded arms, eyes still closed, and he asked me. "Could you two please take this polite conversation somewhere where I'm NOT sleeping, please?"

Lola added, "Yes, first Logan! With all of the clicking and typing! And now they're talking."

Logan told them, "Why don't you zombies go back to bed, Dean Rivers excused us all for the day five minutes ago. Before he went back to bed himself, didn't you hear that on the school news?" All of our friends started getting up and heading back to their dorms after Logan had said that. All my guy said was, "Rude!"

"That wasn't five minutes ago either, that was this morning. It's been playing on loop all morning." I let him know. Before I went to reach for my bag and he'd thought I was leaving, so he'd yanked me back. By our hidden interlocked hands and I told him, "I wasn't leaving."

He said, "Okay." As I dug through my bag with my free hand. Then he'd asked, "What have you been up to since classes were canceled?"

I didn't want to tell him about the unexpected dilemma me and my roommates currently faced. Not that they were particularly troubled, they were simply too tired to be, right now. But since I really had nothing else to do today. Besides, checking on all of my Quinnventions for the millionth time. My day had started to revolve around a major snag in all of Prom plans.

All of our pre-ordered prom dresses that were supposed to have been heading our way for weeks now (we'd all placed orders around the same time). Weren't coming in time, so we'd had to cancel them. And I had been working with Paulina all morning, to find dresses for my two roommates, Lisa, Stacey, and me. He didn't need to know about that, I had pretty much worked it all out. And poor thing was still not sleeping well. So I told him, "Answer my question first."

"Okay, what was it again?" He'd asked and I'd tried not to laugh. He's so cute like this, and I've been missing him all day! And sleepy Logan is just too freaking cute.

I reminded him, "You still had trouble sleeping even though you were asleep on the bus last night?"

"Well, yeah. You were there." He said, like that solved everything. I tried to look around us and remind him. We weren't alone and even if everyone was excused. That didn't mean the rest of the school wasn't just fine, right now. But even my cautions didn't seem to trouble him in the least. As he said, "Of course sleep had been easy then. It's easier to relax when you're around, ever since our trips. You know?"

"Yeeeeah." I had to agree.

And he'd added, "It was also before that goodnight kiss."

I asked worriedly, "Oh no! Is it my fault you were up?"

"Totally, but don't worry about it. It would have been way worse if I hadn't gotten to kiss you goodnight at all. I had been thinking about that since it was time to get on the buses and I was majorly pissed off about it. When I'd thought we wouldn't get a chance."

"Oh…" I realized. "That's why you were so cranky when you sat next to me and everyone was calling you a crab?"

"Yeah," He owned up. "If I had had to store all of that up for today. I know it would have been worse. Especially since I didn't see you till now. So much of yesterday was hiding and dodging them ALL. I had a right to be pissed."

I wanted to hug him and tell him I had been so bummed about missing out on a goodnight kiss again too. Simply because we'd been surrounded in our friends, too often. But we were out in the open and in broad daylight now. It was simply too risky and we still had too much to hide!

Before I could say anything, Logan told me, "Just hold that thought, and eat for now. After lunch we'll sneak away somewhere, okay."

I asked him, "Are you sure you're not too tired?"

He insisted, "Not for that." As his hand tightened around mine.

I asked him with interest, "What are you working on so diligently?"

But he'd asked me to "Answer his question first," now.

So I admitted to tutoring a few of the stragglers I'd known this morning. When he knew better than to believe that was my whole day. He'd pressed, "And?" knowingly. So I talked about check-in gon my Quinnventions, but still he pressed with too much wisdom, "Annnnnnnnd?"

How does he always know when I'm hiding something these days? Like with startling accuracy? I ended up confessing. "I may have had to put out a few figurative Prom fires. Luckily I was able to grab Paulina for help. She has been working with me the rest of this morning trying to find some gowns for me and the girls. Our prom dress orders all fell through last minute due to some shipping debacle. They're all too tired to care right now. But if I didn't come up with a solution before that fog lifts… I knew we could have more than one full-blown Prom meltdown on our hands. Lisa's already purchased all of her accessories for a dress she's not getting. Lola's already selected flowers for her and Vince that could clash if she doesn't find the perfect replacement. AND Zoey… well, she's been pretty listless this whole time. I'm anticipating the moment when that coolness and worry-less-ness ends. I don't want THIS to be that moment."

"Jeeze, that is awful." He agreed, even admitting. "And James has been complaining about Zoey not seeming to care at all. I think it's hurt him too."

"Poor guy." I had to say before something on Logan's laptop's screen caught my eye. And he tried to spin his screen to face away from me. But I'd caught it and spun it back and if I had read right (because I can speed read… most of the time) According to the headings on his e-mails. Besides having a new email from Chase declaring his plane tickets were bought and he was coming HOME. He'd also ordered picture prints [I'm guessing those were the pictures he'd taken yesterday], there were all of these other e-mails from a gardner who works for his Dad in Beverly Hills. His tux for Prom would be arriving later today. He'd consulted at least three people about a "Lighting Problem at Mystic Mountain" and purchased a season pass to "Mystic Mountain" all this morning…

…

I popped my eyes at him and asked, "Care to explain? ANY of that?"

"Well…" He tried. Before he asked. "Which thing do you wanna know first?"

I asked, "Have you really done all that while you couldn't sleep?"

He told me to, "Eat your lunch or we'll look suspicious with it just sitting there."

I did as he'd asked and he picked at his own tray too. While he explained, "Look, if we're gonna really work together. To make this lighting thing we talked about yesterday work. I started chatting up the best guys in the business for this kind of work. It's gonna take time to get any answers and even they could be stumped. But I thought I'd get the ball rolling. So we can work on it sooner rather than later. You did say the Del Figgalos wanted to try to aim for doing this this summer? Right?"

"Yes, they did." I said but I was still too surprised to say much else. I'd just brought this up yesterday. Just something we could work on together when we aren't dancing all the time together anymore.

He made that shock worse by saying, "Great. I may need to grab you for a few phone conversations, video chats, and walkthroughs, they'll want the works if they help. So I may need to glance at your study schedule, again. Planning it all out, but I promise. I won't agree to anything or do anything at all without your okay… okay?"

I agreed slowly, "Ooooookaaaay…" but my reaction finally came out. "You couldn't sleep? So you got all of this done in that time?"

"No," He claimed to have only ordered the picture prints before he finally fell asleep. Several pictures had needed touch-ups from his Photoshop software. So it took a good chunk of time working on those pictures. He'd crashed after that but got to work on the other stuff since he woke up too early and wasn't able to get back to sleep. I had to make him specify, how long he'd been asleep. He finally fessed up Two maybe even three hours max.

But after days [weeks] of getting a teeny bit of sleep here and there, I knew he needed more. And he wasn't giving himself the chance, not even now. So I made him close his laptop, I made him stop looking at that blue screen, and made him look at me. I got his focus and thoughts less laser-focused all of those conundrums that could wait. And after he'd eaten, I'd walked him back to his dorm.

I explained along the way, that I had been reading a very convincing paper. That applied my knowledge of pressure points to aiding a partner who can't sleep. I didn't dare tell Logan the paper had labeled him such a thing [my partner]. I just assured him the science was sound and it would only take a few minutes. Then he could hopefully get caught up on his rest.

He was so exhausted poor thing, he didn't even think to argue Michael and James would both be there. Not till we were soundlessly in his room and both his roommates were dead to the world in their bunk beds across the room. By the grace of God, both were not only knocked out. But they were both facing the wall, and away from us. Michael was snoring away, reminding me of my own snores. While James slept on only breathing very deeply.

Logan whispered to me, "Sorry I wasn't thinking… if they're here we can't-"

I shushed him and told him to get into bed. He didn't want to, but I won because you can't argue too much when you risk waking your roommates. I got him under the covers, but he'd laid flat on his back for a second before he was popping right back up and saying, "Nope."

He was convinced sleep wasn't gonna happen.

I soundlessly asked him to lay on his right side and face me, as I fluffed his pillows and positioned them better for my plans. He listed and I placed a teeny silent heart monitor on his pointer finger. You should have seen his face when I started to climb in behind him. Wrap my arms around him tightly and told him to relax as I pushed myself completely into his back. The science here is humans naturally adjust their breathing and heartbeats to their surroundings. If a person is listening to music, your heart naturally beats in time to the beat. If a person is as close as I was, his heart could mimc my beat and relaxed pace that same way. If I have his attention and I'm squeezing just right. He will adjust to my relaxed heartrate, breathing and by squeezing him just right. His overactive sensory system will have no choice but to relax too.

So I squeezed and pressed myself as tightly as I could into his back I also slowed my breathing to an even in and out. Slow as I could comfortably go, and encouraged him to breathe with me. Squeezing him just right so that all of his worked-up nerves and muscles finally went slack in my hold. Like I'd read about. The heart monitor, let me see that his heart was matching mine and its more relaxed rate too.

I'd read about the effects of this method, that it was possible for my attention to his upper back and shoulders. To make his lower back and hips miserably uncomfortable. Because it want's the same squeeze and attention. So when he began to swarm like he was experiencing that. I did as the paper's writer had instructed and used my legs to mimic the same squeeze around his lower body. When he went perfectly limp, I'd asked him, "Did he feel like he could sleep?" In a whisper.

And he'd whispered, "If I say no will keep doing it?"

I'd laughed into his back as quietly as I could and told him. "No, because if this didn't work I'll have try a few other things to see what does."

"Oh… Do any of these 'methods' let me face you?" He'd asked just as softly. His eyes were SO heavy-lidded.

I was saying before I realized what I was saying, "One did-"

Before I knew it he'd turned, trapped me and was kissing me so heatedly that I almost forgot to apply pressure like I was supposed to where I was supposed to. He was the one who had been freaking out about his roommates being around. Yet he'd trapped me and pinned me in place, using his whole weight and body to do it. And that kiss was just…in all caps INTOXICATING! I'd interlocked my arms and legs around him and even crossed my feet to really squeeze him. And even as I felt him completely relax against me he whispered. "No… I don't want to sleep now… I just want to be with you."

I didn't want to let him go either, or let him sleep. But I told him honestly, "You need your rest more than you need me right now."

He pressed against me and trailed kisses down my throat saying almost soundlessly, "Not possible."

"Yes, you do." I reinforce, pushing off against the wall and pushing him with ease onto his back. He held on to me tightly as I readjusted my weight and position.

He said, "Stay…" As he'd rested his head on my shoulder. "Just till I'm asleep."

I agreed, applying the very last theory I'd read about. Where your mate lies on their back and you press them in place by practically laying on top of them. The pressure can help the last bits of stress and fight fall away. To hopefully leave him able to sleep till he's much better rested. I got to watch his breathing even out completely and he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Then I left as soundlessly as I could hoping to all heavens that neither of his roommates had heard us or noticed me there. It didn't seem like either had moved an inch since I'd arrived or left. But it was still possible, I couldn't keep my eyes on them the whole time. even though I had been trying to keep a trained eye on them both throughout my time there.

Then I was back to trying to plan out everything that needed to be done. Paulina showed up right on time and helped me get all of the girls up. My friend Peony was texting back and forth because she'd asked to also crash this outing. She'd just landed her second acting role, and she needed to play a prom queen who somehow gets time-traveled back to her high school prom and has to do it all over again…. Anyway, I was excited to see my model-turned-actress friend again. I knew Zoey, Lola, Lisa, and Stacey were all gonna flip out over that surprise. And LOVE her like I do.

But when we got to the place Paulina had driven us to… And Peony appeared. Oh my goodness. Did all of our crew wake up in a hurry! It was so cute! I didn't expect to love it SO much but watching Peony interact with my friends was just. One of my favorite things to happen.

Since Peony (or excuse me, Stella Spectra) tries on clothes for a living, and so do most of her friends. They've invented several games for whenever they raid any rack. And she shared some of them with us. One was a game where we all selected dresses for each other and we had to try on what our friends picked… Which I ended up buying one of the dresses my friends picked out. Paulina had selected a beautiful gown that sparkled and was a little sexier than I would have picked for myself. But I really liked it and ended up getting it (YES! HER-PRETTY-Little-bit-SEXY-[Too sexy for Dustin] BLUE PROM DRESS! LOVE IT! THANK YOU QUEEN!)

The other game she totally got us all to try was a game where we snap photos of ourselves. In the tackiest ugliest dresses we can find and send them to our dates. Just to make them worry. Since I still don't have a date, I sent my photos to my boyfriend. Just knowing he was still asleep. But if I know my guy as well as I think I do, He'll be applauded whenever those photos find him.

I couldn't even tell you how MANY gowns we all tried on, but the material point is we ALL did find gowns FINALLY! Gowns that were in our hand, that fit us and matched all of the specifics we'd needed. Even Zoey, who was still very underwhelmed. She was more cheery at dinner tonight than she had been the rest of the day.

When we met up with the guys at dinner, they were complaining that Logan was still out. My poor, baby. I missed him so much even though I knew he needed it so badly. I was happy he was getting the rest, but I really wished I was holding his hand. Or planning where we could sneak off to tonight. So when everybody had split up for the night. And I was still completely Logan-less…

I took to my phone and texted him. "Missed you more than you know the rest of the night. But still so glad to hear you're sleeping."

My second text, "Mission accomplished, I found a dress (it wasn't in any of the photos I sent) and everything else I needed too. Paulina's suggestion was AWESOME."

My third text said, "But more than all of that I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I hope you sleep till then. Sweet dreams, Baby."

Then I was back to drafting a treaty for Sci-Club… One that would be fair and benefit both sides, not just one. I knew better than to trust that they would do things fairly. And since classes were canceled for today. I had given them a day to recover and rest up before holding them to their deal. And somehow I knew they were probably off doing the same right now.

As I'd hoped, I didn't see my sweetie again until homeroom the following morning. After signing a treaty drawn up by Mark, where every facade was agreed upon by both sides. The war was FINALLY at an END and the moment any of them went back on their word, the punishments would be severe and entirely up to me… So, hopefully, they are smart enough to not try to test my intelligence or dark side.

In homeroom, Michael and James had both been swearing that Logan had been so out. Dead to the world asleep they were checking to see if he was still breathing this morning. But he'd been fine. He'd arrived right as the final bell was sounding, just like normal. Coffee in hand but looking so much better rested.

Right there in homeroom, Michael started in on Logan about, who was he gonna take to Prom. How he needed to quit playing around and ask someone before all of good ones were taken. And even though I pretended to working on classwork the whole conversation. If not the scribbles in this diary… I could feel Logan's eyes on me. It made the fluorescent tube lights overhead burn down on me with an uncharacteristic heat and intensity. More akin to a spotlight or tanning booth!

In the hallway walking to next period, I told my friends what I had worked out with Mark's help. With the Sci-Club and the treaty, we'd all signed. I'd even explained how Mark had played the unbiased third-party bystander and witness.

I had to even get through ALL of that, while I could still feel Logan's stare, trying to trip me up. I really went on thinking, 'he can keep staring all he likes, we probably won't be able to talk about this till lunch or dance rehearsals.' But when I got to my logged time slot today, it turned out to be in Logan's class. So I had to watch him create chemical reactions correctly without even glancing at his textbook while batting away his ditzy partner. Erica, a cheerleader who's more accident-prone than Chase. She caught her hair on fire, three times, and only one of those times had been the bunsen burner. I think she was chewing on the burnt parts of her hair too…

But Logan was still killing it, got an A+ for the day… Not to mention he was wearing lab gear, a white lab coat, protective goggles and protective gloves… GOD he was HOT! I had a very hard time not staring at him now… AND HE KNEW IT TOO! The JERK! He knew perfectly well what he was doing and TOTALLY SHOW-BOATING!

Since he finished so early and has this educator eating outta the palm of his hand. Probably even better than the sci-club and me COMBINED! He came over to me and asked, "Can I park by you for a second?"

I told him, "Sure." With a shrug, not missing that even now, he was keeping on the protective gear. When he came over to me. That is not playing FAIR at ALL! I tried to keep my eyes trained to my work. It helped that I was torching metal and melting it till it was more bendable. For a patent, I was working on.

He got close to my face and said softly, "I know you heard Michael this morning."

"I did." I admitted, before taking it further and saying. "He's right too, you do need to select a date and soon. Or there won't be anyone left, and you're too cool for that."

"What about you? Who are you gonna ask?" He asked leaning more casually against the table now from his stool. Not looming quite so close anymore. I think the heat from my torch may have backed him off, or it could be that I was liquifying heavy-duty bolts thicker than thumbs.

When I shrugged at him wordlessly, he said. "And you can't go stag! If I gotta get a date, so do you. So don't skimp on me, and just tell me who you'd like to take you."

I told him the truth, "You don't want to know."

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't." He maintained. But before he could press me anymore about this, he had to get back to his partner and put away the equipment from his lab work. Before his lab partner burned the whole building down. She was still chewing on the burnt parts of her blonde hair. He came back no longer sporting all of that protective wear.

I did have to tease him as I passed, "Maybe don't ask her to prom."

He said, "Haha! Funny."

I shrugged as I left the classroom, "Just a friendly suggestion."

But he was hot on my heels asking again, "Who is it? I can take it."

"No, you can't." I told him pointedly as he clearly was walking me to my next class [even though we tried not to do that. It could raise more suspensions among our friends and peers. And there was far too much of that already.] I told him begrudgingly, "We've already established we are both the jealous type, so no. You can not handle it and I'm just gonna keep my ideal to myself, thank you."

But before I could fully escape the science building he cut off my retreat and said, "NO."

"No, what?" I asked him to clarify.

"No, you can't keep that to yourself. I want to know who's going with you… and I want to know just what your ideal is." He'd said firmly.

And I said, "Oh? Reeeeeeally?"

"Yes, really." He said, before he took my hand and led me to one of our hiding places and told me to point him out. I told him, "I don't see him over there."

So he faced me the other way and I waited a minute before saying. "Nope, he's not there either. And we've BOTH gotta get to class. Can this please wait?"

"Yeah, but like I said, if I've gotta get a date… you've gotta get one too." He said, like it was law. "And I want to know who you decide to go with."

"Okay, okay! Bye! See you later!" I'd said before I had to jet across campus. It wasn't till I was there that I saw his text message warning he wouldn't be at lunch today. But he would see me for warm-ups before dance rehearsals after that before dance class, today.

I texted back "Okay." But I was sad because I was bringing our new game "Shock Roulette" to lunch today. Given, that only four people can play at a time, but I was excited to show everyone. Well, everyone besides Lola who has already played it.

It's somehow horrible and addictive all at once.

Everyone else was off doing other things. Michael was showing Lisa his new car, handed down to him from his Dad. Vince was off logging time in the weight room, this had been the only time he could go. And he wanted to look good for prom at the end of the week. Logan was off doing something else, my bet is tutoring for exams. But he didn't want to tell me that. Just a vibe I'd gotten. Zoey was expecting a phone call from her parents, so it was just Lola, James and me chilling after lunch playing "Shock Roulette."

But it had been such a blast. Especially when Zoey joined us after her phone call. She found out that she was going to be working all summer as a cabana girl in Maui Hawaii. She gets to take one friend with her, so she's trying to figure out who she'll take with her on this luxury trip.

Zoey may be struggling with this decision, but I'm totally stressing now over a PROM date! Because Logan's MAKING me take somebody, now!

I mean, all of my friends have been insisting on this for a while. That I shouldn't go stag, I should have a date of some kind… But when your secret boyfriend, brings down the hammer on you in lab gear. Then he does it again in a hallway right after that… it carries a different impact… WHO in ALL of CREATION am I gonna GO with?! I have no clue! And WHY does he have to keep asking who I want to take me? Isn't it freakishly OBVIOUS?! IS he FISHING for COMPLIMENTS? Or does he seriously not know that my ideal date is HIM?!

I love him… so so MUCH… but HE makes ME so so CRAZY!

So after lunch I went to one more class, then it was on to warm-ups. Gleb had pulled me aside before Logan arrived and said. "Hey Quinn? Do you want to drive Logan especially crazy today?" I take it that Paulina had filled him in on some of gab sessions yesterday. When I had been a little more real with my sole friend who knew the truth about Logan and me.

After the grilling he'd given me earlier I may have answered dear Gleb a little too gleefully. "Yeah! That would be spectacular if you guys could help me in any way with that."

Gleb even asked, "Has that boy seriously not asked you himself?"

I clarified, "Well, no, but I fully understand why."

Paulina said, "I don't! I think he's being so dumb!"

Before my baby appeared Gleb managed to whisper. "Just play along and follow our lead when he gets here-Logan! There you are, my friend. How are you doing today?"

He answered, "Okay, I guess." With a shrug. Before putting his book bag next to mine. He headed for the bars, where I was already stretching.

Gleb had his phone in his hand, he flipped through some photos of his kids to get to a picture of me in one of the dresses I'd tried on. He asked me, "Is this the one you bought? The one my sweetheart picked out for you?"

I let him know, "No, that was the one Zoey picked out, it was a close runner-up."

"Was it this one?" He asked showing me a picture of the white dress Peony had gotten me to try.

"No, that felt too much like somebody else's wedding dress, you know?" I said and Paulina was already saying.

"Babe, I told you, not those!" She held up her phone and showed him the right dress. "It was this little saucy number."

I confirmed, "Yep, I must have tried a hundred different dresses on. Between the ones I'd liked, or my friends wanted me to try, but I loved the one Paulina picked out. The best of them all."

Gleb had to say, "It suits you! You're really going to look Magnificent that night, Quinn."

I know what he's trying to do, but he got a hug for that anyway. As he added in true Gleb (charmer that he is) form. "Not that you're not gorgeous, every day. But you're going to be something special that night. Whoever you decide to go with will be a very lucky guy."

And Logan was totally trying to walk around us and see the phone screen. But thankfully, Gleb shut it off, just in time before he and Paulina left us to warm up on our own again. With their usual winks and smiles. They really are invaluable as friends, both of them.

When they were gone, Logan took a deep breath and asked as I was finished stretching. "So do I get any hints at all? Or are you gonna make me wait to see you at Prom?"

"Nope, you'll find out Saturday." I tried to follow Gleb and Paulina. But he caught my wrist and pulled me back to him.

He said, "Aww come on, can't you give me any kind of hint?"

I decided two could play this game, so I said, "Okay. I'll give you three hints, but nothing else."

Then I counted it off, "Hint number one, I'm wearing a dress."

He'd said, "Yeah, no shit."

I went on, "Hint number two, my shoes will be high heels."

He'd complained, "You call these hints?"

I grabbed his arm and turned him hard to the right, before saying, "And hint number three. My ideal date… is right there." Turning him to face the mirror on the closest wall. Then I finished, "Those are the hints I'll give you." And I was going to follow our pro friends out into the gym, to help them set up for today's refresher courses. But the door was slammed shut by a hand before I could get it open and I was pinned to the wall beside the door before I was turned to face him. Before he hugged me in that way, where he puts his head heavy on my shoulder. Like he can't even handle it… that way, where he leans on me so strongly, because he's overwhelmed.

As I let my arms just come around him, returning his hug. Before one hand came up to cradle his head, I asked him, "Did you honestly not know that? After all we've been through? After all that happened just the other day? Did you really doubt it? Even a little?"

He said, his voice muffled by my shoulder, "I didn't know what to think… I wasn't sure. But I think the reason I haven't asked anyone is because I wish I could take you myself, too."

I had to clarify, "So I was your ideal too."

"Yeah! Of course!" His head came back up so he could look me in the eyes.

I had to say, "Okay, because you've made me wonder now-" I did just say before he grabbed me, up into a kiss that was just EVERYTHING. It left me with no further doubt. When we did have to stop for breath, I told him. "I really wish we could have just gone together… somehow, that wouldn't be so telling."

"Yeah, it would have been much easier if we could." He said too, leaning his forehead against mine and planting a kiss on my forehead and another in my hair. While he had me there tucked neatly to that wall he promised me. "Even if I have to get a date with some other girl to save face. I will find a way to sneak off and be with you that night too."

"But that's not fair to our dates." I tried to reason.

But he reasoned right back, "None of this is fair to us, just know I'll figure out some way that we can do both. And one more thing."

"Whaaaaaat?" I drew out. but he held up his phone and showed me one of the worst dress pics I'd sent him.

He asked me to, "Please just tell me this wasn't your choice."

And I'd laughed and said, "Isn't it horrible! It's like wearable pea soup."

"That wasn't the one you picked, was sit?" He asked again and I did at least give him that.

"No, I didn't buy that or any of the ones I sent you, but you'll find out what Paulina selected and I liked enough to buy... on Saturday, Hotshot." I didn't miss the breath of relief he'd still breathed.

He said, "If I can plan a way for us to sneak off together. Will you go with me?"

Now it was my turn to tell him, "Of course!"

I knew we could manage that, even if only for a little bit. That I had to start treating this (again) like one of my trials and not a Prom-based nightmare for two teenagers. We'd accomplished successful results before now, when I was on a much less forgiving time crunch. This should be a cakewalk, but if we weren't keeping this whole thing secret, we would already have our Prom dates right here. I had to acknowledge it was a shame that couldn't be our reality. But because that wasn't possible, we were gonna have to get creative…

I knew that, and he knew that. But as he noticed the gears starting to crank away in my head. He pulled me to him for one more kiss and told me. "We'll worry about that later, for now… let's just dance, okay. We'll worry about our dates after that."

I said, "Okay, but do you feel better, now? After my hints, I did tell you?"

He smiled, "I'm still dying to know more specifics. But yeah, feeling much better, I'll finish stretching real quick and be right behind you."

So I said, "Okay." one more time and was about to leave. But he hugged and kissed me one more time before I left. You think I would be completely used to these little bursts of affection he's always giving me. But it still took me by surprise.

Today, in dance classes we were reviewing the first week of classes. The only difference this time, was that we could pick our partners and stick with them if we chose it. I told Logan, that he probably should be dancing with SOME of the other girls. To see who he had good dance chemistry with… It could be an important factor to his decision in the end. Again, I'm trying to view this whole dilemma more clinically now. So I'd even considered this as something I needed to discover for myself as well.

But he told me 'matter of factly,' "I'll worry about that when I need to. Right now, I'm not trading a second of time I could be dancing with the BEST dance partner I've ever had. If I can get away with it, I'm sneaking it wherever and however I can." He said before he'd snuck a really slick lift into our Quick-step. Which had been too much fun, if I had to say goodbye to the idea of dancing with my guy. I didn't expect to laugh so much doing it. But we laughed through our whole review of "the Twist" and "Quick-step" both.

The Waltz that followed, wasn't even our dance, like the one we knew would be coming after it. But it got TOO heated, the moment he pulled me to him and the music floated in on a breeze. We started walking the simple dance steps, so easily together. The whole first verse was like this, but when the singer's voice picked up in the middle the became something else entirely. I can't speak for Logan, but I completely blacked out and gave my entire self over tot he dance. I know other people were there and dancing too. But not only did we dance like none of them were there. But I didn't even see them. I just remember a cleared floor and just dancing with him at it's center. When I knew we'd been surrounded in other people at the beginning.

I didn't snap out of it till the song ended and the thunderous applause that followed were so ear shatteringly loud. It had brought me back to the here and now. Leaving me to question for the millionth time. How am I supposed to even consider dancing with ANYONE else when this is going on every single day? Not even just during the dances we've rehearsed till we're blue in the face, anymore either. ANY dance, I'm paired off with him is like this.

Then we had to turn around and perform our dance right after that. Which got even hotter and steamier because of the waltz. I know I counted at least four slip-ups on his part and three were mine on top of that. But if I'd known those would be our last together. In preparations for Prom... I think we would have both slipped up a lot more. Good thing we had no way of knowing that.

I was so dreamy-eyed and starry-eyed after class, I didn't even care when three study sessions in a row had flaked on me. I just texted Logan, that my night was freed up much sooner than we'd thought and laughed when he'd immediately texted back. "Where can I meet you?"

Maybe I wasn't the only one effected by classes today. I texted back that I was in the lounge of the girl's dormitories. He texted right back again, "Sit tight, I'll be right there."

I tried to seem natural and not too excited as I waited for him. But I couldn't stop smiling even if I'd tried. As I sat there, Lola came by gushing how she'd been placed in charge of the whole prom. She was very excited about it. Even though I thought, this seemed very late in the game, Prom was less than a week away.

But then Lola asked for my help, and outright. For me to do everything for her. I told her, "No."

But Stacey volunteered to help out, and Lola got her to work on doing her laundry. Even telling Stacey, that doing this for her had "freed her up, to work on Prom." As soon as Stacey disappeared with her mission. Lola announced she was going to go, "take a nap."

Oh yes! The Prom is in great hands!

My secret sweetie showed up right after that. Of all of the things I had been expecting him to say. I hadn't been expecting him to say, "I got a date to the Prom."

"Already?" I said in surprise, "Who?"

"Mandy Franklin." He said like that was a perfectly acceptable choice for Prom. Like that name didn't have a rep or ideal of it's very own that I would object to!

I tossed my laptop aside, jumped up took his hand and pulled him off to the side. Because I didn't want this argument to happen so publicly. I told him, "I can't believe you asked Mandy Franklin to the Prom!"

He complained back at me, "You said we should both ask somebody else to the prom, so no one will suspect that we're dating!"

I shushed him and he realized how loudly he'd been speaking. And looked all around us too. Before I lowered my voice and said, "Yes, but you're not taking 'Make-out Mandy!' Go cancel her!"

"Oh come on!" He complained again before saying, "I have to get you're approval on who I go with?"

"Absolutely!" I spelled out for him.

He argued back without a hitch. "Fine! Then you have to get my approval on whoever you ask."

"Fine!" I bit back before I felt his eyes sweep over me like he strangely liked the outcome of this argument. Even if he couldn't be so thrilled about canceling a date. His expression was too transparent, I knew where his mind was. So I told him, "You're so irritating sometimes."

"Wanna go make out?" He asked me, not sounding too sure about what I was gonna say.

I said, "Yes." As begrudgingly as I could, before his answering smile made me laugh.

I followed him to the closest hiding spot in such a happy streak. I didn't even pay much attention to which one we were heading for till we were already in it. It was the one with the hidden hammock we'd pitched weeks ago. We ended up cuddling close in it together for ages. It was just so nice. Way better than trying to reteach a whole year's worth of material to someone who doesn't even want to know it now. But wants to pass their exams somehow, divinely I guess… this was such a trade-up. Even when Logan fell asleep for a little bit. Because he was that relaxed there with me.

Cuddled up with him, so peaceful out there tonight. I prayed for a sign, "Do I tell him I love him, or should I just keep it to myself? I don't want to regret the way I normally do every other time I've said it."

I whispered it to him while he was asleep, just for practice. "I love you." But I know he didn't hear it. He was out like a light, my poor baby, still so tired and still catching up on sleep. I also prayed that even if the rest of prom is meant to stink. Please let the time I actually get with this person, let that be perfect. No matter how long or short it is, if it's hidden or just secret. I realize that's a tall order… but really God works faster on some answers than others.

Because when we had to go our separate ways again. That very night, I headed back to my dorm and found Zoey in a terrible case of 'I-love-you-SHOCK.' Because James had just said it to her for the first time. But even though I know everyone has their own way of handling things… Zoey was acting so peculiar. She seemed almost mad about it and she wouldn't talk to anyone. Not even Lola or me, she just started avoiding everyone and not acting like herself. And the next morning at school it got worse.

I couldn't worry about this like I normally would. Because I had deal with my secret boyfriend's constant inquiries. On which girl he could ask, but every girl he mentioned or pointed out out. Gave me a perfectly good reason to tell him, "Nope." Just like every revenge guy, I pointed out always got a reaction out of him too. It was exhausting till I finally realized. "We'll never agree if we pick our own dates. So why don't we just pick each other's?"

Logan clarified. "What? You mean, You pick my date and I pick yours?"

"Yeah, that way I'm okay with whoever you take and you're okay with whoever I take."

This is the only way Logan ended up asking Stacey Dillsen to prom and I ended up asking Zoey's little brother, Dustin.

It's the ONLY way! You heard it here first!

While this was happening to me, Zoey unfathomably broke up with James, RIGHT-BEFORE-OUR-JUNIOR-PROM!

So now two of our friends were dateless for Prom! And going stag (like I could have if all of my friends hadn't been swearing I was too cool for that. And arguably two of the coolest in our group were the ones going stag! AHHHHHHGG!) If we can even get either one of them to attend Prom. Zoey or James now, it will be a miracle. Because both are hurt, confused, and 'not in the mood for a dance.'

The overwhelmingly hard lesson at the end of this crazy entry is, saying "I Love You," ruins EVERYTHING. Even when the person is ASLEEP when you say it! I still ruined everything for everybody. And if you don't buy that, James also said "I love you." And made Zoey realize she didn't love him like that, even if she does love him another way. It isn't romantic love and she didn't string him along for too long. She'd let it end when she had it pointed out to her, that that was why she was acting so strange...

I really wish Zoey and James could have stuck it out till Prom was over. Or figuring out this problem had made them both feel better instead of worse. But They're both going through break up depression and grieving processes now. So the rest of us can only do so much to help them.

Saying "I love you," it's DANGEROUS as nuclear warfare. I may have forgotten that for a little bit. I was so wrapped up in my own revelations and feelings. But it does! I know Logan and I were discussing this recently, and we both realized it could be something different if it's felt on both sides. But I still have zero experience with that happening, anywhere around me. Or to me personally, after all of this misfortune and heartbreak happening around us. I just couldn't take the risk in telling Logan I love him. Even if it is a secret that would most likely be between us…

But here's the problem with all of this hard evidence I've collected. It doesn't change how I feel and it doesn't make it any easier to contain it. ESPECIALLY when Stacey and Dustin have started taking over our dance periods as practice for Prom. Well, Stacey has, Dustin doesn't really dance at all. I basically sit with him, and when we dance… it's like middle-school dancing, just arms around each other and rocking in place. After a month of dancing with Logan and having to keep up with him… this was SO Boring. Like watching paint dry boring!

And we danced like that all of the rest of the days leading up to PROM. With no improvement whatsoever. Dustin wasn't even trying to get better, he was just not trying. And that was making the newly reinstated Brooke Margolin feel better about her Prom Queen prospects. Even after her brief trip to the slammer, because she'd also come back with street cred. Which would have been awful if I cared. But I really did not care who won. I just voted for my friends and hoped for the best.

So while Logan was dancing with Stacey the day before Prom, and I was struggling TOO MUCH with NOT screaming a love confession across that gymnasium. I took to my junk journal because it was the only book I had with me (in my bag) that I wouldn't mind tearing out of. I penned all of my feelings down and I wrote it like a study, so it all fit on the one page, otherwise, I knew I could have filled that book and ten more like it and still not had enough room. For all of the things I felt for this boy!

I wrote it all out and then I tore it out. Folded it neatly and planned to stick it in my journal as soon as I got back to it. But somewhere between the gym and my things, even though I had been very careful about where I placed it... It disappeared. Poof! I had even placed it in a zipped-up pocket in the lining of my purse. And it somehow still went poof.

But I know it's just another sign. That it's not meant to be, I was only meant to have that quiet outlet. So I'll behave from now on, silently, and he's not meant to hear it. To know how I feel, because- Weren't you listening? Saying "I love you" can RUIN everything! And it probably would, if I said it and he doesn't feel the same way I do. So I'm completely at peace… even if my date is Dustin. Stacey is my sweetie's date and Prom is tomorrow. I'm a little glad to get it over with at this point. It's taken over so much of our lives at this point and I think it'll be a little bit of a relief to get it behind us.

-I wrote that before I was cornered by my secret boyfriend and asked to sneak off with him till curfew. He usually did this over text, but tonight he was pitching this idea in person. I was so crestfallen and exhausted, I almost turned him down. But he'd told me, "No. What we both need is a reminder of why we're even doing all of this? Why am I dancing with STACEY? While you're NOT dancing at ALL! What the HELL is the matter with that kid? He's been in these dance lessons with everyone else. We let him in week one!"

I shrugged, "Guess he's been coasting all this time. Or he really doesn't like dancing with me. That's a possibility, remember Jeremiah week one?"

He sulked, "How could I forget?"

I tried to explain, "Not everyone likes me that much, it's more of a shock when people do-"

He stopped me right there and said, "We need to go now, or I'm gonna go pick a fight with one of these guys. Come on."

He insisted on taking me to our nearest hiding place and as soon as we were safely under it's cover, he hugged me. Leaning me against a tree right at the entrance. I hugged him back and he whispered, "I miss you too much."

Which sounds crazy, when you know I was across the room. But I knew exactly what he meant. I ended up wrapping my arms and legs around him tight, and he lifted me easily. When I admitted, "I missed you too… Even when I know you never left, really."

"Stacey's not this light or trusting." He complained from my shoulder. This really was a thing for him now, wasn't it?

I even admitted, "It doesn't help that I'm used to dancing with you and having to always keep up. You pull switch-ups and change things EVERY time we dance. It's always interesting never boring and Dustin dances like a middle-schooler, even though I know he's older than that now."

"If you didn't feel so good right now, I'd already be halfway across campus to beat him up." Logan half threatened, but I knew better than to buy it when he didn't even open his eyes to tell me this.

I just reminded him, "You love Dustin, there's no way you would have picked him if you didn't. He's Zoey's little brother, but I think we've all kind of adopted him over the years. Even those of us who are only children like me, who don't have siblings."

"I have step-siblings, some half-siblings, and almost siblings… but I will admit I like Dustin better than them." He said himself. Before adding, "Doesn't mean his ass isn't pushing it, right now. Not treating you right."

"I'm fine, I'm just a little bored." I tried to give him some comfort while he stepped away from the tree carrying me as he went. He put me on the hammock and climbed in with me. We snuggled under the stars together for as long as we could. And it had been just what we'd both needed. A reminder of just why we're going through all of this other crap. It was all to keep this beautiful secret, that still needed guarding and protecting. I still had no idea how long it would last or when he would grow tired of it. When he would see that none of this was worth it, and end this. My past experiences and insecurities tried to gang up on me and tell me it couldn't be very much longer. If I was able to keep him out of the clutches of so many pretty girls now... I knew I wouldn't be able to keep that up forever either.

But I found myself thanking God that night, for this time with him. Even if it was meant to be cut short and just a fling. I was grateful for every minute and I hoped that tomorrow would be more like this, and not so disastrous as my nightmares kept going. I wished I could have stayed with him, all night in that hammock. But eventually, I needed to go back to my dorm, and so did he. At the end of the night, when he'd kissed me goodnight. I tried to say it in that kiss, all of the things I'd written down earlier today. Even if I knew there was no way he'd ever see it... that he wasn't meant to. It was just something that I could keep safe with me.

But the way he held me, the way he was giving back even better than he got. I couldn't help but wish for this to never end. Even if Prom would all only be happening tomorrow night. And would be over in a blink, I hoped with all my heart, that we wouldn't be as fleeting. Wish us luck tomorrow, that after all of this other stuff. We all somehow get an unforgettable night, of fun and adventure.

That's all folks!

Well, for this post anyway, Hopefully, most of Prom will be in the next chapter, I'll see how things go. I'm SO excited for you to read all I have instore and it's A LOT! I have planned, so we'll see and yes, when it comes back it will be from Logan's perspective. So hopefully, all good things. Sorry,I only managed to get this chapter done by Thursday. I've had a rough week with worries over serving jury duty and other such lovely things that ate up my time. But I PROMISE! I will be posting more, on Thursday at the latest, and YES! Chase will be coming back into the picture too! YAAAAAAAAAAY! It's gonna be epic! And hopefully, everything these characters deserve. Thank you to every single person reading this right now! You're all amazing! If you have a minute please review. I would love to hear from you. Hope you're having a WONDERFUL week! Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85