Hey there,

Quogan Enthusiast! Welcome to a brand new chapter of this crazy tale. Some of you are reading this while it's still Thursday. While probably most of you aren't getting this till Friday. And I am sorry this ran late, but in my defense this chapter jumps perspectives and flip-flops more than any other I've ever written for this story. While I'm very proud of the overall effect... It was all very time consuming when posting time came. But here it is at long last and let's not wait another moment!

Special thanks to the few people who have just started reading this and have added this story to their favorites or Story alert. Also thank you so much to few new people who added me as an Authoress to their favorite author's list or author alert list. It's ver high praise and I appreciate every one of you!

Special thanks to my reviewer (and friend): Rose-Aki (I can't thank you enough for your kind words. You didn't just review one chapter either. You reviewed all three in one swoop! I can't even tell you how happy I was to hear you liked my take on how things were handled with James. How he's still part of the group, and that your favorite part of ch 33 was the talk between James and Logan, when all cards were finally on the table for both of them. I loved writing it and the fact you liked it made me love it even more! I have been planning to have Logan somehow get a hold of that bench. To some how get it within his possession for a small ton of plot plans. But Mostly, so he could build and almost Hey Arnoald's Helga-esque shrine with it... not nearly as creepy as Helga's shrines but you know... tastefully Quogan style version. I was so tickled you liked that. All of my lead up to the confession, the peek into Chase's perspectives as well as the Choey Reunion. I'm so glad you liked that James was the first to greet him and help him settle in. It was so important to me to set that standard for what is to come. I want them ALL to be friends, because I know if the show had continued that would have been how it went... or should have. God bless you, you were even happy about Peony sneaking in with a bunch of models and actresses incognito. That was so fun to dream up, I won't lie. The thing I was probably the MOST tickled about (besides covering Quogan's L-bomb in these chapters) was now my title makes sense because of Quinn's letter. That was big and I'm so glad you liked it. So glad you liked my coverage of Dustin and how he kinda knows their secret too now. Especially since he was your favorite part of the episode, I'm so glad you liked my take on him. Thank you for liking all of my aftermath. Lisa's little surprise in there too. And my take on Stacey's reaction too. Since she's so close with everyone in Zoey 102, I wanted to kinda play that up a bit more also her slow drift towards Mark. I have had a ball writing about all of these different relationships. The new, old, just starting out, starting over and friendships. It has been a real journey! Thank you for calling my hidden moment choices beautiful and telling me I have a lot to be proud of. This story isn't over, but it's end is in sight now. And I think that has been something else making these last few chapters so emotional for me. But your kindness, friendship and support helps me carry on. Thanks for being a SENSATIONAL friend and I hope you're having a great week. Your reviews made my week, as always. Hope this is reaching you with plenty of sunshine! God bless you, Take Care and Much Love! )

Standard Disclaimers Apply - I don't own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, Nickeloden, MTV, or any of the other trademarked things mentioned. I am merely borrowing all of these things and characters for my own plots and twisted humor. Most will be returned unharmed.

Enjoy!

"The Collective Trials of a Quinnventor… and Logan"

Chapter 36 - After Prom Got It Goin' ON!

(Quinn's Perspective)

It didn't surprise me in the least when I entered the girls' dormitories. To see that Lisa and Stacey had brought their things back to our dorm room. So we could all get ready together. It also didn't surprise me to find Lydia hesitating in the hallway to join us either. Still wearing her gorgeous evening gown and looking like she was on the fence about joining us.

So I asked her, "What cha doing? Come on in?"

She'd asked me, "Was it really okay for me to come in or was that just Zoey being nice? I know I've never been one of Lola's favorite people."

I assured her she really was welcome. And if Lola was a bit frosty, to just ignore her. Because I knew even if Lydia's presence was pissing Lola off, at all. It was nothing compared to how mad she probably still is with me for dating Logan. Lydia said, "I'm not surprised you're facing an angry roommate head-on. I once saw you pick up a very large lizard in our lab class and set it free without a blink of worry. But Quinn, what if my being there just makes Lola even more steamed? I don't want to make any of this night worse on anyone. Least of all, you, you've helped me so much. With my studies as well as not letting my prom night totally suck."

"Then let's go, I want you in here with everyone..." I said pulling her inside with me. Being careful not to make her drop the bundle of folded clothes she was hugging to herself. I did warn her as well, "Besides, I bet they're just all dressed and ready when we step through here. But they're all hanging back waiting because they want to hear more about how Logan and I got together. Why we're dating, since I haven't told any of them much about it yet."

"Really? It was THAT big of a secret? You didn;t even tell your girls?" Lydia wondered outloud.

"Nope, so maybe they'll ease up a little if you're with me. I doubt it but, come on." And with that I opened the door and tugged Lydia inside of our dorm door with me…

((Logan's Perspective))

After all of the teasing and back-slapping had died down. I should have known that I would never get off that easily. But Michael asked outright. "So you ARE going to tell us about how this whole crazy love thing started between you and Quinn now, aren't you?"

I tried to weasel out of it, as best I could. "Come on Michael, you heard how long we've been at this, it's been months, weeks, and days we've hid it. It would be all night trying to explain and we'd still run out of time. Besides, James and Chase already know, I know they don't want to hear about it anymore, probably ever. We've all got dates to rush back to, so why don't we all just focus on getting ready? Back to the girls as fast as we can?"

But, of course, Vince backed Michael's plan to grill me for details. Saying, "Because we know our girlfriends and female friends. And there's no way on God's green earth they're NOT asking Quinn the same thing right this very minute, Reese. Come on? Can't you give us just a little bit about how this started? Just a little?"

Even Mark pointed out, "This is all new news to me too, ya know? As Quinn's ex boyfriend I know I don't deserve to know a thing about how she's moved on with you… but I am a little curious… even though I know I probably shouldn't be."

James made it worse saying, "I didn't get to hear about how it began. I got the summed-up overview. You fit into a very quick description before you had to run off and be Stacey's date tonight."

And Chase just had to put the cherry on top. "I've heard Quinn's version of the events, over video chat, when Lucy asked for it. I'd love to hear your take on things, pal."

I asked them in the most put out tone I could manage… "Have I told any of you how much I hate you, today?" They all pleaded, regardless. Until I caved saying, "Alright, alright, ALRIGHT! But just how it started, that's ALL I'll tell you for now. The rest of it will have to wait because we've ALL got dates to get back to where I DON'T have to tell stories against my will."

"ALRIGHT!" Vince celebrated, as all of my friends asked me to begin and I took a deep breath. "It all started with me riding my Jet-X through campus one Saturday…It was the Saturday right after Valentine's day…"

(Quinn's Perspective)

When Lydia and I walked in, I greeted Lisa, Lola, Zoey and Stacey as I passed them. Lisa, Zoey, and Lola were fully dressed and ready to go. In their after-prom t-shirts and bottoms of their choice. Since our after-prom t-shirts were plain cotton t-shirts (and the after-prom print outs on the front and back were simple black ink writeouts for 'PCA after-prom' on the front, and the back listing the whole junior and senior classes lists of names so tiny you needed a magnifying glass to read them all). Zoey had tie-dyed all of our groups' tees while she'd been stewing all week long over her break up with James. I have to say I loved the colors she'd used for mine (Orange, green and blue) and how none of us looked the same. Each one was a unique as the wearer, just like how none of us is really like the other. We all bring a little something different to the group.

As I'd predicted, all three were fully changed, but they were helping Stacey who was having some real difficulties moving and changing. All four of them were congregating around Zoey's single bed trying to help Stacey accomplish full coverage of all bruised and injured places. While Stacey was seated on Zoey's bed, and her hips were apparently too swollen to fit in her favorite pair of blue jeans. So Lisa was running to grab some of Stacey's pants with a more forgiving and elastic waistline and Zoey asked me. "Quinn? Do you think you could help her bandage up or something? She's very uncomfortable, and she's waiting for pain-killers to kick in."

I said, "Sure, just let me get outta this gown first."

Stacey waved to me, "Take your time, I'll just be here… as long as I'm sitting someplace soft I'll be super. I'm just icing everything I can, while I can, right now."

I complimented, "That's very smart, are you sure you shouldn't get someone to chec-"

"A nurse did look at me and tell me I was lucky. I'm fine really." Stacey insisted before I told Lydia she was welcome to leave her things on my bottom bunk if she wanted. Or to sit anywhere she would like, to just make herself at home. And she'd thanked me almost meekly… I think she was eyeing her own plain white tee and possibly feeling like she was intruding.

Zoey sensed it too I think, because she said… "You know Lydia, being part of the Prom committee, against my will. We had a ton of leftover shirts for the after-prom that I tie-dyed during this last week when I wasn't sure what I was feeling after breaking up and being anti-social, and I did a bunch of extras I still have here in our dorm. Would you like a more colorful one to match your naturally vibrant personality a little better?"

Lydia smiled so gratefully and said, "That would be awesome… if you really don't mind."

"No prob, just step over here to our closet and pick out whichever spare speaks to you. I tried to do all kinds of different blends. If I'd known your favorite colors and you'd be here with us, I would have totally personalized it for you."

I hope we ALL made her feel welcome. I helped her with the tricky zipper of her dress (I had the perfect set of pliers for that). Zoey and I had helped her step out of it without tearing it too. Her dress was purple with green accents and made her red hair pop so beautifully. No wonder James was staring all night.

Lisa came back in with pants for Stacey before I could even get my dress unzipped. Lola offered to help me with my zipper. Like she'd helped me get into it earlier. And I thanked her, for her help. But before I could even step out of it, she was already asking, "You know the REAL reason we're all here right?"

"I have my suspicions," I admitted. "But since you were ready to fight me earlier. When I told you that I love who I love, I doubt you wanna hear about it like all of them do."

"Oh come on, I'm not that mad anymore." Lola tried to wave off, even in her eyes weren't matching her words. "Even if I still feel like you're making a big mistake-"

All the other girls in the room yelled, "LOLA!"

"Right, right! Open mind! My mind is open, and I'll try to forget this is Logan we're talking about here." She'd said cringing and dancing a little when she'd said his name. "Eww! How can you tell that person you love them without you're skin crawling?"

I reminded her, "Watch it now, I know he's not your favorite person. But I really do love him… so much… so please. Keep that in mind the next time you want to tell him off, please and maybe don't hurt his feelings-"

"You think I hurt his feelings? That he even has those?" She asked as I was finally able to get my dress off and back on it's fancy hanger and inside of its garment bag.

I corrected her, "I know you've hurt him, and that's my fault because you didn't know what you were saying. But please don't do that anymore, even if you're trying to do it on my behalf." I'd managed to say that strongly even though I was just standing here in my thin little slip.

Zoey spoke for Lola, "She's gonna try, she promises - but, come on now, Quinn! We need details! DETAILS! Tell us more?"

Lisa asked, "How did this all start? You and Logan?"

"Yeah!" Zoey asked excitedly. "How did you two end up like this? Was it one of the trips you took with him? Was it the dancing? Was it the kiss at the kiss auction? What was it?"

Stacey asked, "Yeah! What in the world got Logan Reese screaming a love confession across our Prom Dancefloor? I didn't know he was the mushy type, like that."

Which I had to admit, I hadn't known that either, about my guy. But Logan was a surprisingly romantic and loving boyfriend, he was a very passionate one too. Even when he was compared to all of their boyfriends and not just Mark too. But I knew they weren't ready for all of that. Nope, I was gonna need to ease them into this, the way I had been pleasantly surprised by it too. I tried to think of the best way to explain it, and I scratched my head for a second. Then it hit me, visual aids. "Okay, okay… Do you guys remember the dances we performed in the gym with Paulina and Gleb? The full-blown routines we did together all starting out with a meet-cute on a bench before we danced with each other? It was the week we taught you the Mambo, Swing Dancing and Tango?"

All present company confirmed remembering this detail. And I said, "Well, the reason we had asked for one of the outdoor benches to be brought in for that performance was because that was kinda where it all started with us."

"What?" Zoey asked.

The same time Lisa asked, "Where?"

And Lola asked, "How?"

Stacey and Lydia both shushed them and Lydia even sassed, "Let the girl explain! Talk!"

So I went on, "I told you already this all started that terrible day I wouldn't listen to you guys. When I insisted on dressing talking and acting like Brooke. ALl trying to win Mark back and FAILING. After talking to Mark that day and realizing you girls had been right. Telling me not to to do any of that…that wasn't gonna work. I couldn't win Mark back that way even though I still loved him… because he didn't love me. I think what had hurt the most when I left Mark that day. I walked away finally taking in the fact that Mark probably never loved me at all… not really. And I just felt so STUPID - Like I couldn't trust myself anymore, or my own judgment of people-"

Lola asked the others, "Why are we letting Mark party with us again tonight? Remind me! I need reminding BADLY, right this second." She said taking out her earrings.

"Lo-LA!" Zoey cautioned.

"What? Come on, I can't be the only one who would really like to punch him right now… in his big blank FACE!"

I took advantage of this pause to finish slipping into my after-prom t-shirt that still carried a little bit of the dye smell. I sprayed a little perfume to cover the smell and asked Lydia if she needed any while the rest of the girls calmed Lola down.

I slipped into a comfy pair of pants, socks and shoes. Because our after-prom was gonna be a lot of walking, I needed to be comfortable. My walking shoes had never felt SO comfortable as they did after stepping out of heels to step into them.

When I could continue I said, "Mark and I truced on all of this stuff last weekend. There's no need for belated revenge or violence-"

"Come ooooon?" Lola begged trying to be funny… I hope. "Let me deck one of them? Logan for asking Stacey when he should have asked you to Prom or Mark for dumping you like he did. Just once?!"

"No." I said firmly, "Besides, Mark had every opportunity to really mess up on this day, that played dress up like floozy! I'd made it very easy for him. But he'd been honest and upfront with me. Telling me he didn't just love Brooke because she was hot. He had a lot in common with her back then, he loved her for her … it was all really over and done…between us. While I know he'd said everything he needed to say to me. I didn't take it well at all. I ended up running away from that confrontation and going off somewhere to be alone. I didn't want anyone to see me upset, I didn't want you guys to see me and know you'd been right I was in such a dark place… I ended up sitting on a strange bench in a place I don't normally sit. I was just sitting there crying and feeling sorry for myself… Till Logan found me."

Lisa confirmed, "He found you, crying like that?"

I'd confirmed, "Mmm-hmm, and still dressed like a temptress with no self-esteem. Wearing enough make-up to scare away ANY one. Yes, he did. And I still can't believe he'd stopped like he did… not even standing here with you now." I said as I pulled out some ace bandages and got to work on wrapping up Stacey's bruised hips ribs and thighs.

"How did he find you? When you didn't want to be found? When you didn't even want us to see you?" Lola had asked, way invested in this now. Even though she'd been acting so grossed out moments earlier.

I had to shrug, because I still don't know. I explained, "He'd spotted me when he was riding by on his Jet-X and stopped. I had thought I'd seen him go by, but I still wasn't wearing my glasses. So I wasn't entirely sure till he parked right in front of where I was sitting, and I heard his voice."

Three of the girls asked all at once, "What did he say?"

He asked me "What was the matter with me and when I told him to just go away. He asked me more seriously 'Had I been crying?'"

((Logan's Perspective))

I'd come here to change quickly and get back to my date as soon as possible. I did make SURE Quinn's note was safely tucked into the fire-proof vault that was storing ALL of my junior year pictures and memories. I didn't want to put it away, but I also didn't want to take the chance of losing it during all of the walking around and craziness that I knew could happen tonight. So I put it away when no one was looking.

But no matter how I tried to rush. Michael, Chase, James, Vince and Mark were all gabbing like a bunch of hens! Michael said, "So let me see if I've got this straight? You were riding your Jet-X, and you rode past Quinn sitting on a bench crying. And you not only noticed this, but you stopped? To check on her?"

Chase didn't help at all, admitting this had been hard for him to believe too.

James added too, "I never would have guessed Logan could be so considerate. Or that that would be at the start of this story. After this short while of knowing him, either. But we've all started to notice how Quinn can change EVERYTHING with him. This must have been the start of that new rule."

Vince shushed them, way more invested than ANYONE else.

"Dude!" How many times were they gonna make me explain this? "It wasn't just that she was crying, it wasn't just that she was heartbroken. And I'd remembered the girls talking about being so worried about her ALL week. It was the fact that when I'd stopped and realized I really had seen Quinn, she didn't LOOK like Quinn at all!"

"How is that?" Michael asked because he simply couldn't picture what I was saying. To him I guess Quinn is always Quinn, he can't see the difference.

"She was wearing too much make-up, no glasses, she was showing way more skin than normal, and the clothes she had on fit her way too tightly. There was a cheapness to the whole thing that just didn't look very QUINN at all. She's too smart to think or act like the girls who usually dress that way. You know? I couldn't even believe it was her, at first."

James tried to understand, "So you'd stopped thinking she was a pretty girl and it turned out to be Quinn? Or you thought it couldn't be her and when you stopped, it was Quinn?"

God! I wonder if Quinn's getting the 5th degree like this! "I'd cruised by and thought I'd seen Quinn, but I'd circled back because I didn't believe it was her till I stopped. I'm probably just not saying it right, but she just didn't look like herself at all."

Vince summed up, "Okay. So she's sitting on a bench crying and you stopped driving… what happened next?"

"I sat next to her and kept her talking till she told me what was wrong." I explained, thinking about walking out if they weren't done soon. I was ready to go and they were all moving so FREAKIN slow, trying to stall long enough to get the deets. I knew their game and I was only gonna put up with about ten more minutes of this bull.

Mark asked in surprise, "And Quinn told you what was going on? No offense but, Really? You? She doesn't easily spill her guts like that."

I didn't want to but I admitted, "She didn't fess up right away, okay? I had to keep bugging her about it. To get the whole story, finally-"

All of my so-called male friends were all saying, basically 'That made more sense."

I told them all that they were "JERKS!" Because they are, but I kept talking anyway. I tried to explain, "But as we talked, I could see her relax a little, she stopped facing the other direction, she turned to face me, and we kept inching closer to each other. As she finally said what was really going on."

Mark asked again, "Did she tell you I'd dumped her?"

I let him know, "Yeah, she said you'd thrown her away, made her feel small and stupid. I tried to just listen to what she had to say. When she was done, I was honest with her, I told her that I thought Mark was an idiot for breaking up with her. She thought I was just saying that because I didn't like Mark. But I explained, I don't hate, Mark but I did think he was an idiot for breaking up with her. Hurting her the way he DID!"

It felt good telling Mark that, to his face. It didn't help that he nodded and agreed. "I know… I didn't mean to break her heart or shock her. It just all happened like that."

"Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda Mark!" Michael told him.

While Vince said, "Talk! What happened next."

"I told Quinn I thought she was smart, pretty, and kinda fun."

Michael teased, "Oh! No wonder she fell for you! Maaaaan! That was LAME!"

"I know! She wasn't impressed, I think she was just shocked I'd tried to compliment her." Have you ever tried to explain something to a brick wall? I think I could have gotten the chunks of baked mud to understand me much better than these guys by now. I have a DATE to get back to, guys. Let's see some hustle!

(Quinn's Perspective)

Lola repeated, "He said you were smart? Pretty? And kinda fun? And not even in a snide or sarcastic way, either?"

"Uh Huh!" I confirmed nearly finished with wrapping up all of the places where Stacey's pain management needs support and pressure… Or just a way of keeping her ice packs in place.

Stacey told everyone, "Take it from someone who's been receiving most of Logan's BEST criticism… That's high praise coming from him."

"It was," I'd fully backed Stacey, even if all surrounding company already seemed to know this too. "He's gotten a lot more complimentary since then, but for the time. That was high praise, but what he said next was the clincher for me." I'd tried to warn.

Zoey had asked, "What did he say next?"

"He'd asked me, 'why I was dressed like I was?' If you recall, I was wearing a skin-tight purple tank top, made of thin material. Too short and too tight jean skirt, my hair was down, I was wearing enough makeup to have competed with ANY drag queen and no glasses." I tried to paint a picture in case they weren't there or forgot.

Zoey remembered, "Yeah, I kept trying to talk you out of it and kept following you and you kept banging into things. And all of these other guys kept trying to ask you out too!"

"Yeeeeeeah, not my finest hour." I admitted. "But when I told Logan what I had been doing- trying to compete with Brooke… He'd told me very firmly. 'Well, Don't.' And he'd put my glasses back on me. Like he was saying he liked me better when I was myself. And he'd made me feel almost pretty when everything finally came back into focus."

((Logan's Perspective))

Vince asked, "She admitted she'd dressed like that to 'compete' with Brooke? Like their's any real competition there?"

"Yep," I confirmed, arms crossed in front of me. When was this gonna be over?

Michael asked, "So what did you tell her? When she told you that?"

"Well, Don't." I said just as firmly as I had that day. And you could have heard a pin drop in our carpeted dorm room. They all went so quiet. So I explained, "Even before I knew I loved her, I knew Quinn was far too good to waste her time with something that dumb. She doesn't compare to anyone else I know, especially that Brooke bitch, no offense Mark-"

"No, you're right." He agreed flat as ever. But he did say himself. "Quinn is in a league all her own… and Brook really is a major bitch… even when I loved her."

Michael slapped him on the back and said, "Glad you're out of that, man. But don't sidetrack us Logan! What happened next?"

So I told them "I spotted her glasses sticking out of the top of her purse. It was sitting between us on the bench and I put them back on her face myself. She'd pushed them up on her nose and gave my this little teeny smirk that grew into this smile. I'd smiled back saying, 'Hey! There's Quinn.' But something happened when she looked me in the eyes and she could actually see me. Her eyes are this really pretty brown but for the first time they did this glitter thing behind her glasses and I just felt the smile slide right off of my face the same time she'd stopped smiling too. The next thing I know I was leaning forward, so was she and I was kissing her the very first time, in board daylight, right on campus… and even though I know you guys weren't far away and people were all around us at the time. By so strange miracle, no one saw us-"

Chase remembered, "And then a horse went by? And you guys jumped apart?"

Which had everyone asking, "WHAT?"

But then Michael remembered, "Wait! Was it Sparkplug-I mean, Winchester and me? That was that same week he was following me around wasn't it?"

I (Logan) confirmed, "Yeah, what other horse has ever run through this campus? While we've been here? Of course, it was your weird pet horse. I saw you and Zoey riding somewhere together, before I turned back to Quinn and said, 'Weridest-day-EVER!' and She'd agreed. That's it that's how it started, LET'S GO!" I said before practically running out of our dorm, but I didn't get peace for long. All of the other guys were finally ready to go too. So they were hot on my heels.

"HOLD UP!" Vince had been the one to jump in front of me and stop me. Just before I'd gotten out of our building.

"What, come on! We've all got dates to get back to GUYS! The rest can wait." I tried again. But Vince was always the most interested guy of the entire group.

He reasoned, "That CAN'T be it? How does the 'weirdest day ever' lead up to a screamed Prom Love confessions?"

I made them all keep walking with me, as I finally got out of those doors. "I didn't know I loved her yet! That took time."

I clued him in. "Look, when that kiss happened, it freaked us both out. Not just because it had happened so out of nowhere either. She'd just gotten hurt by Mark and she didn't even know if she felt like dating right away again after that. But because we'd both felt something, when we'd kissed… something totally new, we had no clue what it was. Or at least I didn't! Neither of us have had great luck with relationships and we were both horrified! Embarrassed! And we'd promised each other that we would never tell anyone about it. Especially not any of you guys, because we knew how much teasing we'd get. It would be our little secret was how we'd handled it at first."

James guessed, "But that didn't last?"

"No, it couldn't!" I reasoned. "It was like I was drawn to her, it was like magnets or something. I think it's something I'd been carrying around inside of me for while and I didn't know it till that kiss on the bench that day. It's like it woke something up inside of me… ya know?"

Chase shook his head at me and said, "That's really cool, man."

"It didn't always feel that way… I've felt completely unhinged for a LONG time. But tonight when I was dancing with Stacey, watching Quinn sit out dance after dance, knowing she was the best girl dancer in the whole damn room. And when one of you guys hugged her or danced with her THAT was even WORST! Cause I still couldn't, and it was all I wanted… to be with her. By the time the 'L-bomb' dropped…I didn't care what anyone else thought, I had to tell her that I loved her and I just snapped. I can't believe Stacey's being as cool about it as she is. It had to be awful for her."

Mark slapped me on the back, and said. "Don't worry about her, she's too happy for the both of you. That's all she's been saying and I think she means it."

"I hope she does, I never meant to hurt anyone… I just couldn't take it anymore. Thank you all for including her in the rest of tonight too. I hope it kinda makes up for almost ruing her Prom-"

Mark stopped me again and said, "Hey! You just almost ruined her night. I almost killed her in Michael's car. He was almost an accessory to a crime. I think you rest assured, you could ahve done worse, Reese. Even if I am glad you to hear you don't hate me. Because I really was under the impression that you didn't hate me before. Loving Quinn would definitely make you hate my guts."

"Nuh," I tried to lighten all the heaviness of this talk. "Quinn's determined to be friends again with you. And so am I, because I'm just as determined to make her happy, anyway that I can. I think you're a bigger part of that then you realize… Just don't hurt her like that ever again, and we'll be fine."

"I really will try not to." He promised.

I figuired I might as well let Mark know, "Plus, I'm gonna be working with her this summer to try to get that nature path lit at 'Mystic Mountain.' The one your family asked Quinn to work on. We have already started working on it a little. So you'll probably be seeing the both of us a bunch this summer."

Mark was shocked, "Really? You two are gonna be working in the park? This summer? On lighting that super long path?"

"Yeah, I bought a season pass last week when we got home." I admitted.

"Wow." He said sounding surprised even if his face just didn't show it.

(Quinn's Perspective)

As all of the girls were leaving our dormroom and grabbing the last things we needed for after prom. As well as the after-after-prom, the questions kept on coming. Zoey asked, "And he really did say he didn't want to forget it? That kiss or any of the others that followed? Even when he ended up in the infirmary helping you with that lit-umbrella-Quinnvention?"

"Uh Huh!" I confirmed, and I had to keep walking or else we'd never make it back to our meet-up spot on time. And if I wasn't careful, this is what we would be talking about ALL night long. I could see that already. And most of this after-prom part of the night was supposed to be about hanging out all together. Probably the after-after prom part too, because Logan hadn't shared any of his schemes about that. Because he claimed to have wanted to surprise me most of all… but I had my suspicions about his plans.

Because I could remember a night, (when we'd been talking between making out) when Logan had mentioned remembering a few promises we'd all made back before we were upperclassmen. Back when we were all dreaming when it would be our turn… I don't think anyone expected him to remember it the way he has. But knowing him like I do now, it's just adorable. How serious he is about making things like that happen. For anyone he cares about, even if he's a bit more driven if that person is me, lately. He'd let slip in that sweet passtime the plan was to spend our personal after-after-proms all together on our friendship beach. The one we discovered with all of our friends on that field trip gone wrong my first year at PCA. Knowing Logan he had a whole elaborate plan set in place and people already there working on it as we speak. But I pretended to have no clue and let him have his fun regardless of whatever after-after-prom ideas unhatched later on.

So I found myself practically running back to our meet-up spot. Somehow even Stacey was so motivated to hear more of my stories, she kept right up too. Even if she'd slowed us down a few times. But when the boys were FINALLY in sight, my baby stepped out from their tight huddle of boys and stood with his hands in his pockets. He'd spotted me before any of the other guys saw their match and he'd smiled. I found myself running to him a second time tonight. And hugging him tightly in celebration, thankfully he seemed to have miss me just as much as I'd missed him. He picked me up and swung me. Making me laugh before he kissed me so well, all sound around us died for a second or five.

Till Michael complained, "Come on GUYS! You've only been apart for thirty minutes!"

I don't know for sure, but I'm almost certain that when my boyfriend stuck his arm out from behind me at our friends. I think he may have flipped them a bird. Because they were all laughing and scoffing at him. But he didn't let me see his hand. He kept distracting me too much to let me see.

I'd let him know, "I love your tie-dye color choices. Did Zoey personalize your's too?"

"Yeah, Zoey did do a good job." He'd admitted easily. Thanking her again.

He'd went on talking, to me after that though. "You know red's a favorite of mine but blue's become a close second lately. Can't imagine why." He'd flirted as he'd been holding me tightly still and we'd been standing in line to be checked off as here by the assigned PCA staff. Coco was one of DAs standing at the entrance with a clipboard, and she complemented Zoey's handy work getting us to stand out. A few other groups of peers had done the same with their after-prom ticket tee, but Zoey's looked the best.

Once we were inside,we finally got to eat. I know some people had gone out to eat and stuff like that before the dance. But I wasn't one of them. So I was quite ravenous, but so was nearly everybody else. We took group photos while we were all sitting in the smaller designated outdoor eating areas selected for this purpose. Lola kept warning us to not over-eat, because there would be food trucks and all kinds of fair food leading up to where the real party was. At the end of a long path but the most notable thing to happen at the table had been when everyone dug in. And Zoey pointed out. "Quinn, Logan, are you guys STILL holding hands under the table?"

And it had become such a reflex thing to hide it. That we were… even though we didn't have to anymore. Our whole table encouraged us to "Put 'em up." So we did, but Logan smoothly kissed the back of my hand first. Before doing as they asked and letting our joined hands rest on the table.

James asked him. "Who are you, man? Where has this guy been?"

I didn't break eye contact with Logan as I answered James for him. "Hiding."

But I heard Lisa say to Zoey and Michael on either side of her, "Who knew anyone could hide so much?"

Zoey had agreed, "It's like she brought out the best in him and he's just been keeping it underwraps till tonight."

And as soon as I'd finished eating, I was pulled out of my chair and back onto my boyfriend's lap. I asked him, "Is this seating arrangement a new thing for you? Or something? How are you not tired of me yet? Isn't my weight putting your legs to sleep?"

He hid his face in my hair and said so only I heard him. "No way I'd ever get tired of this, or you. Ever. And I had to put up with days of looking at you and not being able to touch you till a rare sneak-off moment. And I kept falling asleep during those… so, no I'm not tired, and yes. Even sitting in your own chair next to me is too far away." He'd gotten a hug for that, and when I looked back at the others. We'd started the trend, all of the girls were in their boyfriends' laps. For the rest of our time at that table.

Like Lola and Stacey had been planning all week, there were several places throughout this short walk of sectioned off-campus that we walked past every day. That had been turned into an attraction for the night. The first place we all got lost in was the indoor and outdoor pools, which had been turned into a mini-golf course. It was way more fun than I expected too. But that could have been just me because my boyfriend plays golf for real. And he had to keep reminding me of how to line up my shots and hold the putter. He never let that opportunity pass him by. Not for all 18 holes, even when I was right to start with.

Even though his girlfriend was basically teaching a physics class to all of our friends throughout MOST of those 18 holes. And my friends still wanted to hear more about Logan and me than any science… So we ended up sharing a ton of things that have been hidden up to now. Like how we'd agreed on pet names (chapter 2), or how Malcolm's wedding was an almost date, followed by several date attempts before the ill-fated trip to Vaccaro's that was also supposed to be our very first date. Before it got ruined by, you know, EVERYBODY! That had all been guarded secrets till tonight. Zoey's reaction to the Vaccaro's thing was funny.

She had said, "I was such a bitch all night! And we interrupted you guys FIRST date!? NO!?"

Logan had agreed with her, "You were!"

I'd complained, "Logan!"

He'd maintained, "I'm just agreeing with her, babe. She was a bitch, but we made it up to her-"

Zoey realized, "But none of us made it up to either of you!"

Chase was trying to calm her down saying. "I'm sure if Logan went to such lengths making that up to you and James… I'm sure he went all out even more making that up to Quinn."

I assured her, "Logan and I already made that up to each other. Don't worry, it was just like dating was cursed for me. For a little while there. And Logan was only seeming cursed as long as he aspired to date me."

The basketball courts and tennis courts were a roller skating rink. Stacey was so proud of that, and the colored disco balls all throughout. She'd wanted to skate, but she was just too sore to manage it. So Mark had gotten a wheelchair for her and rolled her around that track for a little while, while anyone who knew how to skate did. I was too sore to join into that either, only because one of my ankles had gotten banged up pretty good when I fell. So Logan and I sat it out and just talked for a little bit.

He asked me, "Are you sick of all of their prying yet?"

"I am," I admitted. "But I'm still too thrilled to talk about us. I'm proud of us."

"Even with Lola always making faces and saying gross?" He asked me with this look on his face. Lola's reactions HAVE been working on him. And he hadn't gotten to see her when I was sharing the story of how this started. So he has really no clue that any of this has gotten any positive feedback from her.

So hoping to give him the distraction he needed right now. I crawled into his lap a third time and it was so satisfying. To watch him relax as I held onto him. Telling him, "She may be the slowest to come around, but that doesn't matter. What I need you to know is no matter what our friends say or think. I'm too glad I finally told you, and nothing is gonna make me change my mind about that… okay?"

"Even you're best friends?" He asked, and it was a good question.

"They are my best friends, but Logan, so are you." And you should have seen the way these words seemed to relax him. I watched all that tension leave him in a big breath. As I kept talking. "I know we never got to be very close before. But like I told you last weekend, you're not just my boyfriend. You're also one of my best friends, and I would trust you quicker than anyone else. And for the record, no one seems to be really mean about it besides Lola. Everyone else has been really cool about it… even after we've lied to them all so much for months… and even Lola wasn't so bad during the split up after Prom."

"You're one of my best friends too." He smiled kissing my shoulder and the side of my neck. Before he said, "And it wasn't like the bad kind of lying, it was the 'for-their-own-good' kind of lying. Because we knew they'd never understand it and it was necessary…" Logan tried to give us a good excuse.

"You're right, it had been, but it isn't necessary anymore." I'd said as he'd squeezed me tight for a second. And I had to tell him again, "I'm so glad it's out in the open now so we can be together like this."

"Me too." He agreed just holding onto me and closing his eyes. I felt myself doing the same before he said, "I love our friends, and it's been so nice having Chase home. Talking to him with no buffering or having to carry around a laptop. But I still can't wait to have some time with you later tonight without all these people around. GAWKING at us."

I just told him, "Me too." Even though I had no idea how we could accomplish this here or at our friendship beach. Where we would still most likely be surrounded in friends no matter where we go. I really wondered what my guy had up his sleeve, the master planner that he is.

When most of our friends were done skating. We headed on to the next built-in attraction which just so happened to be the science labs. Which had been made into a haunted walkthrough, that scared the absolute crap out of me several times! Even though I helped decorate for it, I'd built some of the best hiding places and knew most of the ghouls personally. They were all underclassmen science enthusiasts exacting a little revenge on some of the more mean seniors and juniors.

There may still be a mark from my hand on Logan's hand and arm from that experience. Not that he seems to mind but I don't think I've ever heard him laugh so much. He made something I would have never braved before so fun somehow! He'd told me when we were waiting in line outside. "Come on! I've seen you take on a REAL ghost before. Given that was something you had to do because of me too… But these are classmates and teachers in wal-mart specials. We've got this!"

And Logan LOVES Halloween and isn't scared of anything in a costume. He's been in actual horror films before and was talking about how his Dad was so good at making all of that fake stuff look authentic. Be it a movie set or just a masquerade party in October.

Every time he saw a ghoul he'd found impressive. We posed for a selfie with them throughout the walk. He was even high-fiving some of them, the ones who didn't mind breaking character. Zoey, Chase, Micheal and Lisa all admitted to almost wetting their pants when we met up outside. While Lydia and James may be joining the crew of that attraction. Lydia was SO inspired by their performers and James was inspired by Lydia. Lola was joining in too apparently, not to be upstaged by Lydia and Vince was a hostage being squeezed into whatever costume fit him… I think he ended up a Gorilla, in the end. Poor guy.

The next attraction had also been something I'd helped out with. The go-kart tracks that had taken over the foot race tracks scattered throughout this back half of campus. I'd personally build upwards of 30 go-karts in my spare time, of all makes and breaks, tons more volunteers had built even more than me. When we finally reached the starting line up for the single-seater go-kart race (featuring an indivdual cart for each person), and were asked to select our vehicles, however. My boyfriend was way more excited than I was, and asking me help him find one of the karts I'd built or designed. Which wasn't even something I had been too worried about honestly.

When I'd asked him, "Why does it matter?"

I did not expect him to admit. "Because I have been SO jealous since you built that go-kart for Chase. I didn't even know why it pissed me off so much at the time. But I really wanted to see how your design compares. I'd driven a LOT of different ones. Come on."

It took me a minute to say, "Okay, Really? You were so snippy that day… with all of us, because I helped Chase… You think you were jealous? Even back then?"

"And he WON too!" He reminded me, "Of course he did, you're kart probably had nitro-boosters or atomic spark plugs, or jet-fuel… It had ludicrous speed, I remember that." (anyone else love the movie "Spaceballs?")

"But his breaks went out when he really wanted to stop." I reminded him as he kept asking me 'this one?' and I kept shaking my head 'no.' While we were talking.

He said, "Come on! You've probably perfected all that by now and besides it didn't hurt him. He's fine."

Lisa reminded Logan, "Chase almost KILLED me that day, Logan."

He reminded her protectively, "But you're still HERE! Lisa! Everyone's FINE!" Before he turned back to me and said, "Come on babe! Point out one of your creations so I can cream these jerks! Let me fix this thing that has bugged me for SO long."

"Are you forgetting that you're also going up against me out there too, Ace?" I asked him kinda flirting.

He'd grinned, "Are you kidding? That's the thing I'm almost looking forward to the most."

"What? Possibly beating all of our friends or just possibly beating me?" I asked.

"No, competing with you in this round and teaming up with you on the Double Dash courses after this. Please tell me you built some of those karts too?" He'd asked even doing prayer hands..

I admitted, "I did, but since this is the single seated course. I put together that red one right there, see the big red button under the steering wheel?"

He quickly claimed the kart I pointed out, and said. "Yeah, this one right here?"

"Yeah, hit it when it lights up, and it will give you one heck of a boost when you need it. But try to time it just right too, because the boost only works once every race. It has to build up each time, the longer it builds the stronger it will be. This little meter here on your left is gonna be showing you as it builds. The race is set to be three laps."

He'd grabbed me up into a kiss for clueing him in and I'd had to pull away quickly and remind him we had other racers waiting on us by telling him. "Good luck." And making my escape before we were getting yelled at.

What no one but Michael saw, however, was that in my purse. I had an additional attachment, that I hitched to my personal kart's computer. Michael did ask me, "What's that gonna do?"

I just shrugged at him. "You'll see soon enough."

He said to the sky, "Why do I suddenly wish I'd sat this one out?"

I told him, "Don't be such a baby! You're not sitting in one of my creations, Wayne built your model."

"Wayne as in Firewire? That Wayne?" Michael asked me to clarify and I nodded the affirmative. Michael got up and said, "I need another cart, Firewire's might not make it around this track without falling apart."

I had to compliment, "A wise decision."

And you had to keep racing that same track till you placed in first, second, or third at the end of a 3-lap race. I (Quinn) placed First on my first try, Chase was second and Logan was third all in that FIRST try!

Logan had teased Chase, "You're ruinning date night getting between us like that!"

Chase had said not missing a beat. "Then I suggest you get better at winning and fast."

So the three of us got to move on and everyone else had to keep racing. The Second race, Zoey placed first, Mo placed second and Sockberger was third. So now the six of us were watching the others struggle and it all turned out to be SO much fun. It took several more tries for the rest of our group to make it through. And by the time James, Lydia, Lola and Vince plus Mark and Stacey were all catching up to us. After getting hung up in the other attractions we'd seen longer than the rest of us. Even they managed to win before Lisa, Micheal, and Dustin. It was hilarious! Micheal and Dustin were fit to be tied, and Lisa wasn't much better.

But our group was on it's feet when Lisa placed first and Michael placed third. When our group was FINALLY completely intact again all except for poor Dustin. The younger guy was calling to us all. To go on without him, he'd catch up with us at the double-dash courses. We finally moved on to the races where everyone paired off. Zoey with Chase, Lola with Vince, Lisa with Michael, James with Lydia, Mark still with Stacey and Logan with me. I let Logan drive the first race and plugged my Quinn-ddison to the kart's computer, just like I had earlier. It gave a better array of our kart's stats, and made it so I could tweak practically ANYTHING using this attachment in my hand. So I could coax the best performance from any kart we got. But Logan had insisted on selecting one I had built again. Claiming, "What? I'm proud of my girlfriend!"

Logan did very well, he placed second, but that could be because he insisted on holding my hand the whole time. Even though the style of that kart had him sitting in front of me and me seated in a different seat positioned behind him. He only got beat out by Little Lisa's hot foot, she was on FIRE now.

In the double dash races, each race is two rounds of three laps typically. After one round with three laps, all drivers switched with their passengers to give everyone a turn at the wheel. All except Michael who told Lisa to "stay right where she was. We need to place in the first three spots and my baby is HOT!"

So now it was my turn to drive and I handed Logan my hardware giving him a quick overview of what to look for. I still don't know how we did it but on the next race, we placed FIRST. Logan was even better at using my Quinn-ddison than I was. And I'd managed to drive very well even though we'd been holding hands the whole ride again.

So we were given passage to the last track, that was partially visible, but half of it was obscured by a thick set of surrounding trees. Now of course these trees were all Palm trees and it wasn't as ominous as you're probably thinking. But when tech-drama people added fog machines and these crazy checkpoint markers all marked by different colored lights… Some were off-road some were tricky to even get to… it was a bit more challenging than your average race track situation. And these karts too were double-seaters, so I got to go with boyfriend again. As we sat side by side, I took his hand and admitted to being worried. Driving in all of that fog and worrying about being able to see. Even if I wasn't visually impaired this track was a nightmare.

But Logan had turned to me and said, "Hey! This isn't a test or anything that we have to get perfect. This is fun and I'm gonna be right here with you. You don't have to drive if you don't want to, okay? But I'm giving you a chance to if you want to."

"Okay." I said, but then we set off when we got the green light and this track was SO FUN! Like way more fun than I'd been expecting and we smoked our competition… No one came near us, so when it was time to switch and he turned to me and asked, "Do you wanna try?"

I told him, "YES! That was a blast, I wanna try."

And he'd pulled my hand still clutched in his to his face, to kiss it saying, "There's my girl."

((Logan's Perspective))

My girlfriend may be a better driver than me, she's a better racer for sure. I have never had this much fun being the passenger. Not ever, but here I was having more fun when she drove than when I did. We were untouchable, even though I know there were other racers on that track, none of them were even near us.

It made me all the more excited to get to the after-after-prom plans I had been cooking up with my dad. Not even Quinn knew about most of my plots, I was hoping to surprise everyone, her most of all. Years ago, when the girls had first started going to PCA. We'd talked about what our prom night should be like as we'd gotten sick of hearing all the seniors and juniors brag for months. And I was determined for the things we'd said to almost be exactly what we'd talked about that night. But with only a very few minor changes, that I hoped would go over well with everyone… Again Quinn was the only one worrying me.

While Quinn was nice and distracted talking with the girls about the races we'd all been part of. I looked at my text messages and made a few calls to confirm that all of my plans had been carried out to my specifications. Everything to a tee, even accommodating for the addition of Lydia, Mark, Stacey and Dustin (if he wanted to tag along, and it sounded like he did).

But it wasn't long before my group was ready to move on again and finish walking the rest of the stretch of this after-prom set up. I had to admit, Lola and Stacey had both done a really good job planning everything along this path to be transformed for some different game or theme. All leading up to a mini-traveling fair that had set up at the end of the path. Where there were even more rides, food, and games for just about everyone. It all worked together quite nicely, even if this fair was happening right on the beach next to our school. Not everyone there past midnight tonight were students from our school either. There were some old people there too, it was still an absolute blast.

It felt way more relaxed than even Mystic Mountain had gotten to be last week. Because Quinn and me had nothing to hide anymore. I could hold her hand, steal a bite from her food, I could hug her, kiss her, flirt as much as I wanted … and we could be a mushy as we wanted on the rides that we got to ride together too. That I had taken full advantage of tonight! Sure we may get a glare here or there from old people or a stranger… Or Lola… but other than that, it amazed us both how easy and free it all was. Just being together and the newness was still there. Making it all exciting, even though we've been at this for a while now..

While Quinn was nabbed by the girls to all go on the scrambler together. Everyone totally agreeing that Quinn and Stacey had to ride that together again (because of ch. 29). It was kinda neat when this gave all of us guys a minute to kinda check in too. I mean Michael and Lisa had been fighting a little earlier, Vince and Lola hadn't been too happy when they'd arrived very late to the prom, Chase just got together with Zoey hours ago, James has been hanging out with Lydia all night, I wondered if he was planning to ask her out. AND Mark had definitely felt something when Stacey had kissed him earlier… There was a lot going on besides just Quinn and me (I had to keep reminding myself, but it's true.).

So I tackled the easiest of all these things and asked Michael, "How are things with you and Lisa now? Are you guys good, again?"

And Michael said, "Yes we are, but she still hates it when I bring up the car and since our ride in it was cut so short I hardly had any time to show her why I wanted to drive her myself. She thinks it's all about the car itself and bragging to other guys. I can't make her see I was hoping to impress her, to look cool and have some time with her all to myself… I don't know how to fix that."

I told him, "Why don't you do, what I'm gonna do when we're heading to our after-after-prom? Instead of hopping into the shuttle with everybody else. The limo I'll have waiting to take us all to my after-after-prom plans. Why don't you drive your car and follow everybody else? So then you get the chance to be alone with Lisa, and tell her what you just told me?"

Michael thought about this and realized, "You know? That could work, are you sure you don't mind me following instead of riding?"

"Hey, I'm gonna do the same thing." I shrugged, "I'm gonna drive Quinn myself too, because I didn't get to drive her to prom. I had to be Stacey's date at the time…" Then I remembered to tell him. "But you'd better follow the shuttle and not me, okay? Follow the big van or limo carrying everyone and not me. I'm gonna take a little side trip with my girl, before we end up where all you guys are going."

"Uh oh! Look out now!" Michael teased and told me. "You better watch yourself there, Logan. That sounds like a plan with ulterior motives and Quinn's a good girl. Good girls don't like ulterior motives, I should know, I'm dating one too."

"Shut up! And this is all between you and me, okay?" I stressed, "No one else, if you blab before we leave campus, I'm gonna have to kill you. I've been planning this out for ages."

"Sure, sure!" Before I could stress this more to the blabbermouth. Vince was coming over to me on my otherside to ask. "How does it feel, not hiding so much anymore?"

I couldn't lie, not tonight. I was admitting very quickly before James could even join Vince. "It's great. It really is, but I'm still getting used to it."

"Well, I'm happy for you guys, and I know Lola is too. She's just not the easiest person to admit she's wrong." Vince said, trying to help, and I actually did appreciate it.

I did ask Vince, "Are things going okay with Lola? You're not fighting anymore, right?"

"Nuh, we're good." Vince assured, "I think she's more mad about you guys. But I don't think it's because she really hates you. Even if that's what she keeps saying, I think she's more angry that she was wrong. And you're why Quinn's been so much happier lately… Lola was really hoping it had more to do with exam time getting close and summer vacation plans."

"She's not totally wrong about that then… just some of those plans include her boyfriend." I explained and Vince smiled.

"Don't take any of her backlash to heart. I've been on the bad side of it before too, and it won't hold up. Not when she sees how good this has been for both of you." Vince said, making me glance at James and ask him.

"You haven't by chance been telling Vince about some of the photos you helped me doctor? Have you?"

James confirmed, "I may have said the pictures I saw left no doubt in my mind. That you two were a couple now but that is all."

"Yeah, sure it is." I had pretended to believe them. Before I asked James, "You've been getting chummy with PCA's best barista… any cahnce you're gonna ask her out?"

"I already have but we're taking it in baby steps, we're not jumping into anything too quickly." James tried to explain before he even reasoned. "I think that was part of my problem with Zoey, I was moving too quickly and she wasn't ready for all of that. I think I'm gonna be the one to hesitate this time."

Vince said wisely, "Yeah, but now you know Zoey wasn't 'the one.' Maybe this girl is, so you can try to take it easy but I think you'll find as I have. When it's true love, it has a way of taking over all on it's own."

Michael said loudly, "I know that's true! At least with me and Little Lisa anyway. Damn that girl's got me! Mmm!"

Chase laughed and said, "And my girlfriend had me in her back pocket LONG before tonight. So I gotta agree too."

I (Logan) asked, "How are things going with Zoey? Are you guys okay?"

"It's so crazy, last night at this time I was still in England stressing about my flight getting delayed. Now I'm here, Zoey's my girlfriend and I'm back with all of our BEST friends. It's like a stepping into a whole different world or something. I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up any minute and realize it was all a dream."

"But it's NOT!" Michael laughed.

That was when Mark asked something behind us, so quickly. None of us caught the actual question. We all asked him what, and we still couldn't hear what he said. So I got Michael to scoot over and made Mark sit with us before he tried again. "How do you know it's true love? Vince was talking about that kind of love like it exists and like he knows what it is… I've never felt it or seen it… How do i know if it's happening or not?"

Chase spoke up first saying, "I don't think there's any wrong or rigth way to feel it. I think it happens to everyone differently. For me it was when I saw Zoey the first time, I was riding my bike, and I waved at ehr and she'd waved back. She'd just set foot on PCA campus for the first time… And I ran into a flagpole. I knew I was in love before I hit the ground… And tonight when I saw again, it was stronger than ever."

Vince said, "For me it happened in a Yoga class, when the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen live and breath… Totally hated my guts and wanted me dead for hurting her friends. Who knew such hatred could turn out to be love?"

Michael chimed in, "For me it happened the first time Lisa walked into one of my classes. She gave me this shy little smile and I haven't gotten it out of my head since that day. But it isn't always at first sight you know! Look at Logan! We all know for Logan it happened on a bench, with someone who'd been his friend for ages. But the second he saw her differently, it changed everything for both of them."

I hadn't thought of it quite like that before, but it's SO true. And Mark confessed, "You know… I've kinda known Stacey a long time. And Quinn called her a friend to her, so I was kinda a friend to Stacey through Quinn. But I haven't really thought of her like that in a while… and tonight… when she accidentally kissed me… I don't know… it's got me feeling so strange. Like outlandishly weird!"

I had to speak up, "But if my experience counts for anything. And it's okay if it doesn't, I'm not a normal case at all. I have felt so crazy and so weird since the moment this whole thing started. It's the best thing to happen to me at the same time as it is the weirdest too. So it's not out of the question, you know? Maybe Stacey's more than you think to you too? Who knows?"

James reasoned, "Well, it could be that she surprised you, Mark. After such a terrible shock earlier, when she ran out in front of the car you were driving. It could be as simple as that…Or it could be the same thing that happened to all of these guys. I guess it's up to you to see which it was… Just like it's up to me to see if, I may have found my own match as well."

That was all the time we got… before the girls came back from their ride. And they all started claiming us guys one by one. I was still too psyched, too thrilled to be with my girlfriend in all of this. She curled her pointer finger, coaxing me over to her. And I was hers, plain and simple. When I took her hand, I pulled her to me and whispered in her ear "I need a little time, alone with you… how can we make that happen?"

She suggested, whispering back in this sexy little purr, "the stars are pretty bright now, how about a ride on the perris wheel?"

I didn't say anything else, I just took off for ferris wheel with her hand in mine. We were running together! To the line and I think we rode it like five times, but I lost count, it may have been more than that. It was just like last weekend, only we weren't looking over our shoulders all the time worrying about who might see us and Quinn wasn't having a near breakdown because of past wrongs tonight. I had gotten her over that on our frist ride together, and tonight! She was as ready for me in that little bucket car as I was for her. And she kept talking about how spectacular the night skies looked. But I honestly never looked up once, I was too distracted with what was right in front of me and she hadn't disappointed.

It really had felt like nothing could ever top this… the moment I did get to be alone with her but I knew my plans for the rest of night would be just as amazing as those awesome moments we'd gotten to ourselves. Between the moments with our friends.

(Michael's Perspective)

I took Logan's advice and when the after-prom thing was over. When everyone was walking out to the parking lot. I walked Lisa over to my car and I opened the door for her, asking her to please allow me to escort her to our after-after-prom party in my new ride.

Lisa didn't look like she even wanted to accept, even when I said. "I really just wanted a moment alone with her."

She was still hesitating, until she asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to leave you two alone together?"

Have I really messed up this bad? I said, "Come on girl, don't make me beg you on my knees in this parking lot ten feet away from all of our friends. You know I'll do it too, I have no shame when it comes to you, girl."

Finally she stepped up into my car and I shut the door after she was seated. I saw Logan walking Quinn over to his swanky-looking sports car, and I saw her totally flirting with him as he'd held the door for her… Dang, man! That's how it's done! What did he do that I didn't? And WHEN did I START LOOKING AT LOGAN for what to do with ANY girl? Where did I go wrong to even think of doing that?

Anyways I get in and start her up, before getting right behind the limo everyone else was crawling into together. Lisa was sitting beside my with her arms crossed in front of her. Her legs crossed too, away from me. That can't be good, so I asked her. "I thought we were past all this? Not fighting anymore?"

She blinked slowly and said, "I'm not fighting with you."

I pointed out, "Yeah, but you're not talking to me either, and that the whole reason I did this. I wanted to talk with you alone. Before we get where we're going."

"Do you even know where we're going?" She'd asked me, not sounding mad or anything. She just sounded curious.

I admitted, "Nope."

"Then isn't it a risk driving behind the limo? What if we lose them, or get lost?" She asked and I let her know.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take, that's how important it was for me to get this time with you. This time where it's just us."

"Aww, Michael." She said, sounding very touched. I put my hand out to her above the shift-stick and she took it. Before I kept talking.

"Look, I really am sorry I went on and on about this car tonight. The whole reason I was so determined to learn and drive you in it was because I wanted to impress you. I also wanted you to see that I wouldn't do this for just any other girl. That you're the one for me Lisa, you have been since the moment I first saw you… and since this car was such a total bust on all sides of that plan. I was hoping you could at least have some fun riding in it with me. And further than the girl's dorm to the parking lot outside of Prom too."

She kissed my hand and told me, "That sounds like a lot of fun, let's go."

The moment the limo took off we were right on their tail but since it was 3 a.m., we had the roads to ourselves, mostly. I couldn't tell you all that Lisa and I talked about. It was everything and anything. And it was by far the most fun I'd had all night. Then the limo had pulled over and stopped in the middle of nowhere. Lisa, Vince, James, Lydia, Stacey and Mark were all complaining and had no idea where we were. But Zoey, Chase, Lola and me all knew exactly where we were and we ran down the sandy paths to the beach. And there waiting on the our friendship beach was an AWESOME campsite with a prelit campfire. With all sorts of things we could cook and eat over the fire. It was exactly the way we'd always talked about celebrating our after Prom and none of us could BELEIVE! Logan remembered it.

After we'd clued in everybody else on where we were and how we'd found this undeniably gorgeous spot. Even in pitch dark night time like now. The next question everyone had was, "Where in the heck are Quinn and Logan."

I told them what he'd told me, "He had to make a little pit stop before they got here. And he drove separately like me. He's probably right behind us, knowing him."

But even as I was saying this to my friends, I remembered what else he'd said. About wanting some alone time with his girlfriend. And how I'd teased him about ulterior motives… I also had it fresh in my mind how hard it had been to give up my time with Lisa just now and rejoin our group. After things had gone so well for the rest of the ride here. You know, after I had cleared the air between us.

I found myself telling the skies overhead. "I hope he's right behind us." Even if something made me doubt it.

That's all folks!

Well, that's all for this chapter, come on back next time to hear what happens next. Are Quinn and Logan going to be right behind our friends already on their shared friendship beach? Or did Logan take Quinn someplace else? All good questions and yes, these things will be on time next week. I am willing them to be on time. Please review if you can, I would love to hear from you! I hope everyone's having a great week and October so far! Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85