Hey There,

Welcome back Quogan-nites! It's THURSDAY again! My favortie day! I have to start with an apology because this chapter IS reaching you a week later than I meant it to. You get my deepest apology for that. But hear me out, a friend, kindly pointed out to me that someone had taken my completed story "The Collective Trials" and posted in onto another site without my permission, without asking, and without giving me credit for it, or even this site really. They'd basically copy and pasted it to their profile and I wasn't the only story up there that had been taken like this. It was one of the most popular fanfictions for Zoey on that site too…and I had no clue. It even had a comment section at the bottom with reactions from readers I'd never seen before too… Of people who liked it. In short. It was a complete nightmare for me, and I had to report this all to a site I'd never even been on before, and I had to give a ton of personal info to have it taken down. When I'm so gaurded I don't even have social media… It was only five chapters thank goodness not all 40 chapters of that story… thank heaven, but not a single word of it had changed. All my embarrassing typos, chapter titles were the same. Nearly EVERYTHING had been typed by me. Not a single word of it had been theirs… and they posted it and didn't think that was wrong. After dealing with all of that, even my determined spirit took a major hit. I just could NOT muster enough will to post like normal and I ended up not posting a thing all week… which isn't like me at all. I aim to have something ready each week. Since my comeback almost two years ago.

I feel like I let Quogan down, as well you guys who deserve the biggest apology of all! Because I should have been more resilient, stronger, and I've felt guilty all week till I can right that wrong today. Hopefully you're all still here, your having a great week regardless, you all had a beautiful Easter full of spring and new beginnings. AND you'll allow me to make up for this blunder. As I - POST - MORE than once this week to make up for this blunder, on my part. That's right MORE - THAN - ONCE! I'll talk about that more in the footnotes. But for now, here we GO!

Special thanks to any of you who has favorited this story or placed it on your story alert list. Also special thanks to anyone who has placed me as an authoress on you favorite author list or author's alert pages. That's high praise that I hope you're still enjoying!

Special thanks to my reviewers: Guest Nina (I'm so glad that I give you something to look forward to in these Thursday posts [I'm posting tomorrow too this week, yay!] I had way too much fun in that last chapter establishing some of that connection between Quogan. I think it's gonna be so important to get that up and pinging for them. Before they're being dragged in different directions for college. But it really tickled me that you even thought they had some magical connection going between them. That just made my life a little bit. I proudly don't shy away from huge casts, and I try my very best not to let them be bad friends to each other. Like you I could rant about the missed opportunities and BLIND hero-worship that the actual series showcases for the stars and no one else at times. I agree Chase and Mark BOTH annoyed me too in that epi too. And poor Quinn was just trying to avoid being found out, like the plague… Ahh! Sorry I went down that rabbit hole with you for a minute. But I love it and could talk this stuff all day! But I would much rather include everyone, wherever I can and let them all tell a better story. It's just way more interesting. And I'm not shy about letting EVERYONE play, the ENSAMBLE. I love the additions some of the smaller characters have brought in too. I'm so THRILLED that you've been enjoying that too. It means so much! Yes, Exams are winding down now! Can't wait to share what happens next either. Sorry again for the unexpected pause, thank you so much for your kindness and support. It carried me through this ROUGH patch. Hope you're still reading, enjoying, that you had a nice weekend [and easter], Take Care and Much Love!), [my friend] AwkwardGurl05(I know! It's tough even separating these two in my head. Even for like a weekend, or a minute. But I found it so interesting these last few updates, because I'd never done that before. But I'm gunning pretty hard now, for when they're FINALLY back together. Because that is when the real fun can begin. It is working every notch in Logan's willpower to remain where he needs to finish up these tests. When all he wants to do is RUN to where Quinn is, and he has to really watch his 'p's and 'q's. Because he doesn't want her too see all of his suffering, but he also has a TON of surprises he's planning too. ANd he doesn't want to show all of his card yet. In tomorrow's chapter [yes, I'm posting tomorrow too] I think we get to see way more of Logan's master planning than we;ve gotten to see in this story so far. Can't wait! OMG, thank you so much for such kindness about my long-winded writing style. God bless you! Calling it a treat! Yep, Paige Howard had gotten Quinn's Quinnvention working better than she could… and Quinn hadn't taken that very well at all. Between that and Logan's flirting capabilities, I really believe they were all the catalyst for Quinn's indestructible cell phone designs. I think that story wrote itself! LoL, Winkwink! Logan did say that to Dustin and I always thought it was interesting that when he was getting Dustin to act like him. One of the first things he made him do was go pick on Quinn. That always seemed funny to me, even before I'd seen them together. Why Quinn, specifically? I'm so tickled you like Irvine's additions to the story so far. iCarly did have fig nutters, didn't they? I'd forgotten about that. It's been a minute since I got to sit down and watch them. Yes, I'm always worried I'll miss something too. Hopefully I manage to cover it all too. LoL! Logan was peppering that last update with the idea, he needs to be in Seattle soon! I'll never struggle to spell that city again after all of this good practice. LoL! Yes, Logan really does just need a BIG hug from Quinn. Thank you for saying you appreciated him taking his own health seriously as well as Quinn's. And that Quinn's BIG heart is showing through all of her plans for Marion and Irvine. I have always gotten the vibe Quinn's got that big heart and she didn't get to always show it. So that just means so much! Yep, he bought her dinner on the sly and snuck some foreshadowing in there for me too courtesy of Zoey 102 confirmations we already knew, but got anyways! Lola got to have a little grace, I'm the same about how she was always treating Logan so mean. Particularly him over everyone else too. Yes, I did sneak that little Choey moment in there at the end. Because they're gonna be peppered throughout these chapters here and there as they're keeping in touch all summer. But while they're around each other. Those things slip into place so nicely! LoL! And I just always imagined that would be one of Zoey's MANY nicknames for her man. It may get called back into play here or there. Wink wink! I'm so glad their video chat made your week, hopefully this update makes up for last week. Hope you're having a GREAT week! I always look forward to our chats too! God Bless you for having my back throughout this last week! You were the one who clued me in, I wouldn't have even known this was happening if you hadn't done that! I know it wasn't easy and took guts too. And I know I thanked you in PMs but I had to say it here too. THANKS again! Take Care and Much Love!), and [my friend] Rose-Aki(YES! We've talked so much about how underdeveloped Vince's character is. And I have been having a field day going deeper on him in this story. Thank you so much saying you liked this run on him. AND that your favorite parts were the calls between Quogan. That meant the world! Yes, Logan kinda got to be Quinn's sounding board and she could be open with him. She needed that! Yep, he snuck in there treating her to dinner and a good dose of foreshadowing. That was so FUN! And I couldn't help myself, I had to toss in that Choey moment at the end too. You know me! We weren't done till we got a blush moment with them too… just a tic-tac sized one! Thank you so much for you kindness and support through this last terrible week. It was hell and I can't thank you enough, just for being my friend through it! Hope you're having a GREAT week! Take Care and Much Love!)!

Standard disclaimers apply - I don't own Zoey 101, Zoey 102, Nickelodeon, MTV, or any of the other trademarked things mentioned beyond this point. I am merely a writer borrowing all of these things for my own twisted plots. Most will be returned unharmed.

Enjoy!

"How We Spent Our Summer Vacay!"

Chapter 5 - Bachelorette Babes!

(Quinn's Perspective)

Since that little pep talk with Logan, his nightmares have gotten a lot better. They're not gone and he's still gonna talk about them when he goes to his anger management session. Right at the start of his summer vacation kick off, but at least he's been sleeping better these past few nights…

Thank goodness for that, my baby has been through too much lately. And I can't help but feel like most of that is my fault. Because of what he endured to save me, him and Vince. Even if Vince seems to have found his true calling through this experience. It still felt like he wouldn't be suffering any of this, it hadn't been for me.

So since we have been exchanging e-mails and texts between phone calls and skype sessions. I have poured a lot of effort into those writing, hoping to help it seem like I'm still there. Even when I can't be. Logan's returning letters have been great, don't get me wrong. But ever since those suggestions to think of me when the nightmares start… Giving him permission to dream about me, about us, or our times when we're together again… WHOO!

I did not know the monster I was creating…

The romance or passion… let's call it what it is! The sheer gushiness and the steam levels of those few e-mails I've gotten most recently… Was a whole different ballgame, and I found myself amping up my replies and my letters. I found out the hard way, that I can't read these letters when ANYONE'S around either. My face gives away too much, whenever I'm reading one. And too many people around my house, the farm, and Marion's Zoo are all having way too much fun with me. I realize that it's only been a couple of days… But BOY! If you knew how different his letters have become. In that very short time!

Thursday I FINALLY found a chance to raid my hometown's library… I spent hours there catching up with all of the local staff. Who really are extended family, even talking about being at Irvine and Marion's wedding and rehearsal dinner next week. So, I got to chat as well as checking out some books to help me plan these things I needed to be planning for Marion. The staff had even let me borrow some helpful magazines, even though those usually never leave the library. I had to return them the next time I go in. But really, I hadn't realized how much I'd miss so much about home. Till I got there, and around all of those dear familiar faces.

When I got home later and was cooking dinner for myself. Otis was keeping me company before I returned him to Maybelline's stall. Not only did it let the mates rest together, but it gave me a perfect proxy just in case. If my uncle gets on me for snooping around the stables so late at night. So it's a fail-safe too.

I was expecting my boyfriend to call me much later than normal. Because he was working late finishing up some big group project with a bunch of people. And he'd warned me that he may be calling me VERY late.

I'd had to make him promise to still call me anyway, even if it's past midnight or even deeper in the AM. Because he only had one more day of classes left. One more day of exams, and I'm so worried he won't get any sleep worrying about his scores. He'd gotten a few rejection letters from colleges this week too. Schools he didn't even know that Chauncy and his Dad had recycled some of his college application answers and turned in. So he wasn't so let down, it hadn't been any of the BIG schools he'd dreamed of, but it had been some of his backup planners and fail-safes that turned him down. I needed to talk to him and make sure he was still doing okay.

So when my phone rang while I was cooking. I knew it couldn't be Logan. But I still hoped it was him anyway, I figured it was probably my uncle or Marion. It could even be about Maybelline, so I still rushed for it. But I wasn't expecting it to be Lola. Not really, she usually calls sometimes before her and Zoey go to bed so we can chat before sleep. Like I'm there, But Lola's exactly who it was ringing my phone.

My best friend and roommate would seem to have been hanging out with Chase, Micheal, Stacey, and James as they completed some projects together. They passed the phone all around and had me on speaker, before they explained why they were calling me. As I finished up cooking and took my dinner off of the heat. Yes, I cook in my kitchen but I don't use my mother's pots and pans. I have my own cooking kit that's all beakers and bunsen burners. I just feel like I'm in better control of everything in that setting.

My friends are all so used to me by now, that they didn't even find it strange to hear how I was cooking. I think they would have been more surprised if I had used the conventional methods. Chase went on explaining, "We've made a group video and we're presenting it tomorrow. And even all of their other friends have contributed to our cause."

First they asked if they could include me in their footage. Using pld clips and recording that were from some other projects from earlier this year. So I was not left out of things. Not even when I wasn't making a grade. To which I said, "Sure."

But when they were sorting through their clips of material. They'd also come across some recordings accidentally taken by the webcams in the guys dorm room. At least they hadn't meant to take them {Probably another glitch, we need to really work on those before they go up for another school year.} But whatever had happened in these recordings. The assembled half of my gang (Lola, Chase, Michael, Stacey and James) )were all telling me. That I should look at it. For it had been a recording of the other half of our group. The same people Logan was working with right now (Zoey, Lydia, Mark, Lisa, and like I mentioned, Logan).

I tried to watch it when I sat back down with my computer. But I just couldn't get past the fact that this looked like an evasion of privacy. Something none of us were meant to know or hear. It sounded like Zoey had taken this time all together and warned Lisa about some of the things to look out for while she's spending part of her summer with Micheal's family and the other part with hers. Zoey had tried to warn Lisa about Michael's grandma's overprotectiveness. She's treated both Zoey and Lola terribly in the past because she thought that they were dating Michael and he wasn't warning Lisa on purpose. He was afraid if she knew how protective his grandma was, she'd never go along with him. She'd opt out and he'd have to spend that part of his summer Little Lisa-less.

Zoey had been honest, sharing how no amount of explaining, or denial was good enough for the older woman. To this day, she still didn't like either Lola or Zoey very much at all… She was just fine with me, somehow. When Michael asked his grandma, "Why I (Quinn) wasn't getting the same treatment?" From her.

She'd pat my (Quinn's) arm, and said, "Because I like this one! She's respectful, bright, and way too smart for your mess, Michael baby. I know she's not lying to me but I don't know about those other two, at all."

I mean, she's not wrong about me, but it's still funny. And I can see why Zoey would feel like she needed to warn Lisa about that.

After Zoey finished explaining this to Lisa. I stopped the video right there, this looked like a private conversation. That we wasn't supposed to be heard by anyone else. Zoey had spoken highly of everyone but kept it real with Lisa. And Lisa, of course, appreciated that. But Lola (and company) called me back to ask me, "Well? Didja finish it? Huh? HuH? Didja, didja, didja?"

I was honest and told her, "No. I don't think we're supposed to see this."

She demanded, "How far did ya get?"

Again I was honest, "Zo was talking to Lisa about Michael. Telling her about our past experiences with his family."

The entire group on the other end insisted, "Keep GOING! You've barely cracked the surface."

Apparently, Zoey took this opportunity to go about the room and set all of these newer members of the group straight. But my baby wasn't new and I felt like if I was supposed to know this chat happened, Zoey or Logan could tell me. But the rest of our friends were not having this excuse.

They all told me, "KEEP WATCHING!"

I was surprised, even Chase was telling me to finish it. I even singled him out and asked him. "You're really on board with this, Chase? Really? You too?"

He shrugged, "I know I wouldn't normally. But it's pretty important Quinn, I think you should hear what Zoey said, Logan too for that matter. It may answer some questions for you. I know it did for me… just take a look, while you're eating and taking it easy tonight. Give it a peek-"

But Lola and Stacey were both insisting at the same time. "DO - IT - NOW!"

Knowing I would have no peace, till I'd seen whatever the gang wanted me to see. Even with all of this distance separating us... I went against all of my 'good friend' instincts. And I observed the rest of Zoey's little talks with each person in that room...

((Back to the Video))

Once Zoey had finished speaking with Lisa, she'd spoken to Vince next. Who wasn't planning on seeing his family at all this summer. He wasn't on the best of terms with them, since his return to PCA… It had gotten even worse since he's decided to be a first responder. Which somehow wasn't an acceptable idea to Vince's parents. He was so different from them now since spending so much time at the youth-center, then PCA, with us... but mostly, Lola…

Vince was just sticking with Lola all summer. Which Zoey and I have both traveled with Lola for parts of our summers before. And Zoey had mostly been warning him about a neighbor in Lola's neighborhood who lives at the end of her cal-de-sac. Who idolized Lola like she's already a star. If Lola has something, she's doing everything to have a copy or steal that exact same thing from her the moment her back is turned. And when it had come to us, her two 'best friends,' Zoey had warned about how desperately this girl had tried to steal us from Lola. While we were staying at her house. Since he's her first steady boyfriend… he should be watching his back, while helping Lola not stoop to that trollop's level.

And Zoey rightfully had done her best to warn Vince. Who'd seemed to appreciate this warning so much. He'd had no idea such a person existed. Lisa too had been SUPER appreciative and hugged Zoey. For being so kind to them both.

The newest member of the group, Lydia. Who has just started dating James and spending a good chunk of her summer with him. Was asking Zoey if she had any advice for her at all. The first thing Zoey confessed and it had to have been hard to say. Was that some of the things that they would be doing had been actually planned by Zoey. Because originally, she'd been hoping to spend some of her summer with James. You know back when they were still boyfriend and girlfriend, before Chase had come home, before the breakup, Prom, and the whole Hawaii job offer thing had all happened in a few days.

Both girls could have gotten petty or mean with one another. Like the shows on tv encourage, but the whole conversation was so honest and kind. I think it even surprised them both. And the glowing things everyone had been saying about James. It had really been nice to hear. Considering he hasn't even been with the group all that long.

Of course, Logan reminded everyone (besides me, who couldn't help but watch him working so hard over in the other corner the WHOLE time as I listened to my friends, he barely even looked up from his work.) that he's still here by saying. "Are you guys gonna work? Or talk about your boyfriends and girlfriends all night?!"

Zoey told him, "Oh! Pipe down! This could be my last chance to straighten this stuff out. Tomorrow's the last day of school."

Logan told her to, "Do your Mother Teresa act on your own time, Brooks. Come on, we all need this grade to be good."

She bit back as only Zoey can, "I know you do."

He reminded her, "Hey! You need this to go well too or else you wouldn't even be here anymore. You would have already gone home, or to London or WHATEVER."

She said, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Logan. Is this really about passing or are you trying to impress your Dad?"

Vince, spoke up, to point out... "I don't think it's about either of those things as much as he wants to impress Quinn. That's the vibe I got, and Lola too."

Lisa and Lydia both chimed in, "Me too!"

Zoey's mouth fell open, and I felt my own mouth fall open with hers.

Was THAT why he's been stressing so much?

Trying to do better?

Because of ME?!

WHAT?!

Zoey rushed up to my baby saying. "Is that it? You're trying to do better to impress Quinn with these finals? REALLY? Oh My GOD, it IS!"

I was saying "Oh! My! GOD!" With her! Even though I was just looking at this on my laptop screen. I had NO idea, he was pushing so hard trying to do better with that hope in mind.

He told her, "Will you keep it down, I've got neighbors, you know?"

"I'm sorry," Zoey said noticeably quieter than before she told him. "Logan! Quinn would be the first one to tell you don't need to impress her. You already have, clearly… is this seriously why you've been killing yourself? This whole week?"

He answered, "It's not the ONLY reason. I would like to do well and show all of the colleges I want to get into that I can do this stuff too… but yeah, I would like to make her proud too."

Zoey said for me, bless her. "She already is, ya know. She's been nonstop raving about you since she finally could with us. And really before that too if I'm perfectly honest. You know, and you WEREN'T hiding things anymore. You were all public."

Thank goodness Zoey told him that right there! I wished I could have told him just that and hugged him. Told him he didn't need to impress me at all, I was ALWAYS amazed by what he could do. I was always trying to keep in pace with him, and I just loved him so much in that moment. I wished PCA wasn't so far away so I could run there and hug him. I didn't care if all of our friends were right there. He just needed it! And So did I!

But nothing could have prepared me for how stark those first conversations had gone. In comparison to when Zoey turned to the other guy in the room (Mark). And protectively told Mark to watch his step next, this summer. Because he was determined to spend most [if not ALL] of his summer pursuing Stacey Dillsen this year. ANd Zoey would not stand for him mutilating any other girl's self-esteem and self worth. Like he'd done to me earlier in the year.

Given Stacey always has nowhere to go spends some of her summer with anyone who'll take her. It's even been me a few weeks at a time each year. Someone usually always let's her tag along. But Zoey made it clear to my ex, that no shenanigans were to be had this year. And never again, he'd used them all up.

Mark claimed anew, on the spot, to have "feelings" for Stacey now. And Zoey reminded him, "Yeah, sure. But you once told me you loved Quinn and look how you treated her? Cheating, stringing her along, treating her like SHE'S stupid? BORING? Like SHE was the Problem. Like SHE was the FREAK! Are you KIDDING me!? Then you dumped her for someone else, tortured her, rubbing it in her face every chance you got! Helping that Skank-burger Brooke hurt Quinn EVEN more. I'm not gonna let you hurt ANYONE else the way you hurt my FRIEND, Mark. Not gonna happen!"

Especially an easy target like Stacey who everyone knew had spent her first two weeks of summer in the PCA parking lot… every year. Since she started attending Pacific Coast Academy, when her family refuses to come pick her up… EVERY year. Zoey told Mark, quite strongly. "Do NOT hurt her anymore, when her family's already gonna be that cruel. We ALL expect it, she doesn't need you making it worse, AND if you DARE to hurt Stacey the way you treated Quinn. I won't hold Lola back this time and she's gonna probably castrate you in your sleep with garden shears. Like she's been threatening since you dumped Quinn. Or maybe she won't need all of that cutting power and it really will just take a pair of nailclippers and tweezers, LIKE I predicted!"

Logan had asked Zoey, after her rant, kinda on the sly. "You held her back from that? Cause I'm a guy and even I would have let her do that."

And Zoey, claimed, "Against everything in me, YES. But if you hurt ANYONE else like that, acting like such a prick, Mark. So help me-"

Mark had said, "Okay! OKAY! I get it! I will try to never hurt another girl the way I did Quinn. And Quinn and I are trying to be friends now, and it's going pretty okay… so far… does that count for nothing?"

Zoey and Logan said together "NO!"

Zoey explained, "Quinn's too nice."

Logan tacked on, "You need to work a lot HARDER at that!"

Just for that Mark pointed out, "Why aren't you getting on Logan about any of this? He dated Quinn for ages and hid it."

Logan had said, "Because you're still in hot water Del Figgalo. And the rest of you are all newer editions to the group than I am. I've been in this same group of friends from day one." He'd said that so confidently.

But Zoey had tacked on at the end. "I'm not talking about Logan right now. Because I'm talking about you, Mark. He's gonna get his turn in a minute-"

Logan had said, "Yeah! WAIT-What! Zoey?!-"

"I'm getting to you in a minute. I'm going around the room while this paint's drying. And I DO wish to talk to the guy dating one of my best friends. Even if that guy, is one of my best friends too. But wait your turn."

So I got to watch Logan lean against the wall in the background. And slide down it a ways, visibly acting out the sentiment of 'Kill me now… Justkill me now!'

Thinking to myself, "God! He's hot!"

What is wrong with me? When did I start thinking these things about nearly everything he does? He just leaned against a wall and I'm melting over here! Like a meteorite that got pulled too close to the sun. Or did I always think things like that and ignore it because it was Logan? And I didn't want to boost that ego anymore? Which can at times produce it's own gravitational pull? I know I was supposed to be listening more closely to Zoey's takedown on Mark. It was being spoken from Zoey's heart and it was for both Stacey and my sake. But I kept losing focus whenever Logan spoke up, moved or even sighed in the background.

Even each time Logan either told Zoey to not go easy on Mark (for me, I know it.). Or he was telling her to not give him the same treatment because he didn't deserve 'the Mark-treatment.' Because quote, "He would never hurt Quinn for anything!"

Awwwwww!

Zoey just told him again, to "Wait your turn!" But I'd seen her face, and even she'd had to choke back her own, "Awwwwww."

Zoey ignored it all, gave her undivided attention to telling off Mark. And finished sharing her kindly meant piece with Mark. Who told Zoey in the end, "You're a good friend, Brooks." Signifying an end to their little talk, then and only then did she turn to face my baby. And he visibly gulped.

Against all of Logan's arguing and even asking nicely to not do this here and now…

Zoey turned to him and said, "Now, I get to you. You are planning to spend most of this summer with Quinn, aren't you?"

"Hopefully." He admitted, before insisting (And I could hear the panic in his voice). "But I really do not need 'the talk,' Brooks. I already know all of the things you're probably gonna try to warn me about. This isn't my first time ever going to see Quinn in Seattle. I've been to her place and her uncle's farm before. I knew even before we STARTED dating that our summers are usually scary similar-"

Zoey insisted, "No, You're always boasting about how GREAT your summers are and packed with all of these different things you did. Or that you're planning to do, Quinn's are ALWAYS the same old thing-"

But before Zoey could say it, Logan was finishing for her. "Either tiring herself out, chasing after her family. Who never really stops globetrotting year round, kinda like my Dad. So LIKE me, if she tries to see them she'll start out school way more tired than anyone else in the Fall. And she probably would only get a few minutes with her family when she found them. Same as me too, if she stays home, in Seattle, and spends her summer helping her Uncle. There's lots of boredom as she sits at home alone a lot. Zoey, my summers are the same, and she was the friend closest to home on the map. We've spent parts of our summers together before. To help with all of the boredom… BEFORE we were dating." Then he added quieter at the end, "I just stopped telling myself it's ONLY because we live the closest to each other… finally."

"You liked her even before now, didn't you?" Zoey grinned.

Logan complained and put his hands in his pockets, "Come on Zoey! Don't make me say it AGAIN!"

"I'm glad to hear all of that, but I know you're planning all sorts of stuff this summer. Like even a trip to Hawaii I'm not supposed to know about-"

He interrupted her swearing, "WHO - TOLD!? WHO? THAT - WAS - SUPPOSED - TO - BE - A - SURPRISE! For YOU - AND for CHASE! WHO!? TOLD?!" He demanded.

"I'm glad I know, I can't wait to see everyone for that week or two during the summer. Is it a week or two?" She asked visibly excited. Even kinda of bouncing in place with all of the others behind her joining in.

Logan said so resigned, "It's two weeks at the end of July leading into August… And I want names! Who blabbed!?"

Zoey covered for whoever it was by saying, "Chase and I figured it out-"

But Logan somehow knew, by her song and dance. "It was MICHAEL! GOD! When will I learn? He can never keep a secret!"

Zoey swore, "It wasn't Michael, really, we figured it out when you left a browser up and Chase borrowed your laptop the other day looking for that footage for his project. Remember?"

"No!" He venomously denied. "I have been so careful about xing all of them off. So neither of you would see a thing! Michael can NEVER keep a secret to save his life!"

"But you did, for months, Logan." Zoey got this talk back on track. "You and Quinn were dating and falling for each other for weeks and none of us even knew till Prom. You were always insisting on dancing with her in all of those dancing practice classes too and sneaking off together, most of our friends never even picked up on it. But both of you were keeping it secret from everyone… I don't want to see either of you hurt by the other. You or her… you're both some of my best friends and there's been enough of all of that this year. For all of us, me going to London, Chase going to London, James starting here, Mark dumping Quinn, Vince coming back…I don't think I can take anymore heartbreak-"

"That's the last thing I want either, Zo." Logan said honestly. "Del Figgalo's trying to convince you he likes Stacey now. That he likes her enough to not wanna hurt her and try to act human-"

Mark interrupted, "I am human you know-"

EVERYONE shushed him.

Logan went on and I had to clamp both of my hands over my mouth to not cancel out his words with my reactions to them. "I'm telling you without a shadow of a doubt, I'm in love with Quinn…okay? With all my heart. It's not even hard to say at all for me, because before I told her, it took everything to keep it all in. And it's only getting worse… every day. The last thing I ever wanna do is hurt her, believe me… I'm gonna do everything I can this summer to be with her as much as I possibly can. For both of us, after all we've been through I ju- I only wanna take care of her. I usually spend most of my summers all alone… Just like her… and I want this one to be different… for both of us. I didn't realize how bad it was… how lonely I'd gotten… till I started dating her."

Zoey hugged him first! Which made me so happy. If somebody hadn't hugged him I would have been crying for sure. Before she said, "Well, that's all I needed to hear. Hey, before you leave for home stop by our dorm real quick, okay? Lola and I kinda have a gift for you. It's something we worked on together, that Quinn doesn't even know about, so let it be when we're both around, okay?"

He asked Zoey, "Should I be afraid?"

"No! It's not that kind of gift. Just before you head home sometime. Swing by our dorm, okay? If you forget, we'll just keep it for you when you get to Hawaii and do it then. But Lola and I want to give it to you together… hopefully before we all split up to go home. Okay?" Zoey said suspiciously wiping at her eyes. Like she'd teared up.

Logan agreed, "Okay." Before they got back to work and the clip ended.

(Quinn continues)

I love my roommates… really.

But I did ask Lola when she called back, to make sure I'd watched all of it. "What's the gift, Lola?"

Lola played dumb, "Gift? What gift?"

But her facial expression was all but telling. She looked like the cat that drank all the cream AND ate the canary.

"Oh come on! I heard Zoey in that video mention you two working on something for Logan… Something I don't know about? What is it?"

"Ohhhhhh, you'll see soon enough," Lola said evilly even cackling like a villain at the end.

She refused to tell me a thing, sidestepping every question till Zoey came bounding in our dorm.

But Zoey had at least distracted me better, telling me. "Oh! Quinn! I got your yearbook for you, and I'm hanging on to it, till I see you. You can get it from me when you get to Hawaii, okay?"

I asked Zoey, "Is it in pristine, fresh from the factory blankness still? Or have you two been taking it everywhere with you telling people it's for me? And getting people to write things for me? All week and just keeping it all under wraps?" I've known these two a LONG time now. I know how they think… sometimes.

Lola spoke up clarifying, "Actually we've ALL sort been taking turns passing it to classmates. Sharing the wealth, with you. Zoey took it with her the first day and took up an entire page in the back-"

Zoey defended herself, "I had a lot to say and be grateful for, you took up the page on the other side of mine, Lo-LA loca!"

Lola owned up, "Hmm, yeah! I did and Vince added his musing to my page too. SO it wasn't ALL just me… but most of it was. Lydia and Lisa each took up pages too. Stacey stole it for two whole class periods, she was working on her messages between exams and they were another page. Mark even said something like 'You Rock, this year Rocked, Don't Ever Change." He should get a job with Hallmark for that one! Chase wrote a short story on his page, from the looks of it. I don't know, I didn't read it-"

Zoey said, "I did, hope you don't mind. But I did and he like me just had a LOT to say and be grateful for."

Lola 'aww'ed. And said, "Look at you two already matching each other, and giving 'him' and 'her' stories, like your married already!"

Zoey told her, "Oh! Lay Off!"

Lola went on, "Anyways, Michael's page has writing and he drew pictures. Logan's adding a whole book of pictures to the back like ALWAYS from his 'personal yearbook' like every year. But yours is way thicker than anyone else's, Q…. My bet's he got mushy on you in yours, Quinn babe! Who knew he could be such a decent boyfriend?"

"Well, I'd honestly be more shocked if he didn't do something like that at this point, Lola." I shared. Still not so used to her being so jovial about Logan and my being together. She'd been so reluctant when I was still at PCA. I was still adjusting to her more accepting behavior when I was expecting nothing but snark.

Zoey brought my attention back to the conversation offering. "Would you like us to bring our yearbooks to Hawaii and give you a chance to write in ours?"

"Yes! Please, Zo! I feel so out of the loop not doing any of that this year." I shared and both of them assured they would remember to bring theirs, along with all of the best gel pens, and remind everyone else to do the same.

Then they were asking all of these questions about Marion's shower. But even more about what I was doing for her bachelorette night. And leave it to them both to suggest, "A trip to Vegas if not just booze and strippers!"

I reminded them both, "I'm ONLY seventeen you guys! You're both only seventeen TOO! Kinda illegal and gross!"

While Zoey reminded me, "Maybe so, But sweet Marion, isn't seventeen, Quinn! And she SO deserves the pressure release of a night like that."

And Lola added, as only she can. "It's her last night as a semi-free woman. She's gotta let that freak flag FLY! One last TIME! Before she gives it all up for Irvine!"

I let them know, "This is why I'm so glad I didn't ask for you girls' help."

While they both were making all of these suggestions from parties they've heard about or attended. Like that helped at all, as I decided to let my aunt's grown-up girl clique plan that part of things for her. Even if I am her chosen maid of honor, and usually SHE plans these things. I was gonna defer to her grown friends for this one. They had offered to take her out for a girls night out that could pass as a bachelorette this Friday night. And Marion did deserve a grown-up's night out, instead of any G-rated evening I could muster. So in a way Lola and Zoey did help… it just wasn't the way they'd hoped…

Then the rest of their comforting chattering had been about if there was anything they could contribute for my grand-crias, or expecting alpaca family. No matter how I assure them, we were all set. They were determined to send me something for them too. Even though I have no idea how it would reach me now. Unless they sent it by mail, it wouldn't be the first time they'd done something like that. I kept telling them that they still had one more day of examinations and project presentations to get through before their [Junior years' were as done as mine is. When the conversation STILL carried on. for another hour of chatting. My laptop started making the sound of an incoming skype call. It was Logan and I had to tell the girl's. "Talk to you guys tomorrow, my guy's calling me! Love you both, see ya! Bye!"

They did just both say, "BYE!" Before I was hanging up my phone, accepting the call, and sitting down kinda fast and hard in my stationary chair. Greeting, him "Heeeey Baby! You're Skyping me this late? How are you pulling that off?"

He looked so tired as he said, "Yeah, sorry I didn't really ask first or nothing. I just did it, I had to see your face… you don't mind do you?"

I had to say, "No, looking at you I'm glad you did…" Then I realized I'd changed into my pajamas while I was talking to the girls and probably didn't look my best so I told him. "Just sorry I don't look better-"

"You look perfect." He told me practically on a sigh. "You look so cuddly and soft. I wish I was there and anywhere but here, right now. I'm so over this junior year and ready for summer to start."

"No, I look like I'm about to go to bed." I didn't dare glance in a mirror or the tiny screen showing me what Logan was seeing. Because I knew if I saw myself, I'd probably flip my laptop closed and tell him to call me instead. Out of pure embarrassment, I hadn't known he was gonna video chat with me! I would have tried to look cuter for him if I'd known!

He said again, "Yeah, and you look perfect. I wish I was going with you instead of a dorm full of guys… even some that don't live there."

I asked in surprise, "You're still not going to bed? Why not?"

"I can't sleep," He said as he stretched out his strong sun-kissed arms in front of himself. His sleeve-less shirt really showed them off nicely too. Even though I could see my blanket peeking out at the bottom of the screen. I'm so glad he didn't think that borrowed thing was weird.

I had to tell him, "Well, you could have fooled me, you look like if I breathed on you the right way. You'd fall right over, and you'd probably be asleep before you hit the ground."

"If only," He said rather wistfully for him. "And take your pick on whether sleep could be that easy or you were close enough to breathe on me."

"But seriously, how can you look that tired and not be able to sleep. Hmm?" I asked him.

"I know I sound like you right now, but it's because I literally can't shut my mind off. It keeps racing with all of the ways I could mess up tomorrow and I can't get it to shut up. Even when I think of you… it just keeps racing thoughts. Especially when things go too quiet."

So I recommended what I've had to do, sometimes and I told him to "Try listening to music turned down way low or the tv that way. So there isn't perfect quiet, but it's peaceful enough to still ease your mind."

He promised, "In a minute… I wanna talk to you first."

"Okay," I agreed. "What d'ya wanna talk about?" I was bursting at the seams to tell him what I'd seen but he beat me to the punch.

"I hear Chase and the rest of the peanut gallery shared a certain clip with you earlier. Did you watch the whole thing?" He'd asked outright, leave it to my guy to not mince his words.

I had to admit, "Only because Lola was so insistent on me finishing it. I felt like that was something that should have remained between you guys who were in that room. At the time." I answered him honestly.

He grumbled something about, "Of course… Lola would insist…"

While I couldn't keep it in anymore, and I asked him. "Were you really hoping to impress me though? With your scores in these last-minute projects, exams and final grades?"

"Yeah," He admitted even though his face looked like it went against everything inside of him to say. "I didn't want to tell you like this, I didn't want to tell you this at all. I just wanted to do well, and give you something to brag about. I did want to do it for the colleges considering me right now and my Dad too… But Quinn, you the smartest person I know. I did want to make you proudest of all."

I told him, what I wished I could have when I was watching the clip. "Logan, you already have. You don't need to ace every single thing to make me happy, or prove a thing to me. I'm already so proud of you for just doing your best and giving it you're all."

He said, "Really… You're not just saying that to make me feel better?"

"No, of course not, I mean it." I said and I just said what I was thinking. "I so wish I could hug you right now."

He let me know, "If you were that close it wouldn't be all hugging."

I agreed, "No, it wouldn't be… But Logan, seriously. No matter what the scores say. No matter what the grades are. I know you did your best and I can't believe I'm telling YOU this. Of all people, but be proud… you can even be a little smug. Flaunt that usual confidence and nail this LAST few. And your Junior year's all done and behind you."

He took a deep breath and said, "I can't believe you told me that either."

"Then don't make me repeat it." I requested.

As he said, "Oh come on, I think I need to hear it one more time."

"Lo-GAN!" I warned.

"Come on, just one more time?" He asked in his acting voice, that he knows melts things. GOD!

So I said, "You've got a lot to be proud of, and only one more day to get through. You've so got this, babe."

He said like he'd been holding this in the whole conversation. "Wish you were here."

"I wish I was there too, believe me." I confessed.

While he stressed, "These last few days have been hell… Just HELL without you."

"BUT!" I tried to look on the brightside. "We'll see each other soon. I don't know when, but soon."

"Oh! I know when, and it's still not soon enough." He smirked.

I guessed, "That first trip we've gotta take to 'Mystic Mountain' to work on lighting up the crazy long nature path?"

He smirked, "Yep, and that's two weeks from Monday, WAY too long from now." I did notice he was making a strange face… like he was hiding something. But I didn't press him on it… right now. I would do that when he wasn't falling asleep in front of me and yawning. He was far too sleepy for that kind of talk now. I didn't want to wake him up too much either. He needed a good night's rest, asap.

So I let it go… for now. But made a note to myself, to press him more on that face, when he wasn't falling over. and told him, "Go to bed, you'll need a good night's sleep to get through those last presentations and tests tomorrow."

"Right, one more day of school." He agreed.

I tried to make it sound more appealing by saying. "Then you're free from school for the whole summer."

He said, "Yeah, even if it's gonna take a little longer before I'm really free."

"Ohh right. You have to check all of your dad's houses by spending a night at each?" I said, as I remembered this was how he started each summer and he saw it as a chore.

"Before I spend some time with my grandparents and we're working on Mystic Mountain, together." He said, like it was killing him, and he said. "I hate how empty each one is, and it's all so much worse if they're NOT empty. Because then I have to make sure everything is gonna be the way Dad expects it when he thinks to come back there. No matter what, and some of his friends have a tendency of trashing his places."

Trying to lighten him up I said, "But once that's over with you'll be totally free and we can start planning better what we're gonna finailze for that nature trail we're helping Mark's family finally light up at night. So it can become a part of their night attractions and not kill all of those beautiful natural niches along the way the plantlife or wildlife. At least you won't have to sit through an extra wedding… like me… one I helped plan… that's happening outdoors at a zoo in summer heat."

"It still sounds better than most the weddings I've been to lately." He smirked.

"Not when you see my bridesmaid dress. I love Marion but it is NOT something I would have picked for myself." I'd tried to discourage him.

But he'd said, "Regardless, I want pictures."

"I'll spare your eyes, I don't want make you go blind." I told him.

He insisted, "It can't be that bad! I've seen you in all colors of those shapless practice skirts we had to dance in. When we had to practice for the prom, and you even looked better in those rags than ALL the other girls." He said so seriously, it was hard to correct him.

But I had to remind him, "No one looked good in those things!"

"You did." He still argued.

I told him, "Okay, clearly you need to go to bed. You're starting to talk silly now."

Still biting back, he told me, "Then it's time for you to go too. Because if you don't know you were the most beautiful girl there - EVERY day - You're the one talking silly, babe."

"I'll go, if you go." I ended up promising, just so he would start heading that way.

He finally promised, "Okay, okay! I'm going! I'm going already…. But I still wish I was crawling into bed with you, already. I'll be damned if I would be sleeping ANY place else with you looking that snuggly and your house is empty besides us."

I let him know, "Then maybe it is a good thing you're still at PCA, for now. Saves us from having to explain ourselves. When my uncle finds us sleeping like that."

He reminded me, "It wouldn't be the first time."

"Yeah, sure. But then we were just friends, and he knew that." I tried to burst his bubble. "Like he knows that NOW that isn't the case anymore. He's probably not gonna be so lenient if you come here this year. He'd probably make you bunk with him at his house, while I'm at mine."

He had an answer for everything, so quick too. "Like I couldn't sneak out?"

"Logan!" I complained even if I was smiling… BIG too.

"I'm just painting you a picture, you wouldn't be sleeping alone, beautiful. Not no way! I'd find a way to be with you… I always find a way. And Irvine would probably be to preoccupied with the wedding to even yell a whole lot." He's dreaming, of course. Irvine's never too daft to miss something like that… but it was a lovely portrait, I had to admit to myself. But I knew I couldn't tell Logan that, just in case he did somehow end up here again sometime during the summer. I have no idea how, but I never doubt Logan finding a reason to be here. And he HAD to know that simply would not fly, ever.

I told him, "Go to bed and try to sleep. For me if nothing else." I knew if I put it like that, he'd respond.

"Okay… for you… but as soon as we can be together, that's happening." He said as if putting these words out into the universe would make them so.

I reminded him about our earlier promise and said. "Don't forget to call me when you guys are counting down the last minutes of Junior Year… I don't want to miss that."

He re-promised warmly, "We'll all be together counting, and I will call you. Keep your phone with you. If any of our friends even TRY to beat me to that punch DO - NOT - ANSWER! Only answer when I call."

"There's my high-handed, guy." I winked at him while he could still see me.

He said somehow even warmer, "I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Sweet dreams."

"Only if you show up," He smirked.

"I'll be there." I had no way of knowing that, for sure, of course. But I hoped I would be there in his dreams. Keeping him safe from whatever horrors he'd saved me from. Or anything else daring to invade his night musings. Neither one of us had wanted to go, but it was vital that we both try to rest…

As I climbed into my bed and shut off my lights. I couldn't help but wish. That Logan had been here with me. And even if Uncle Irvine had made him stay in his house. That he would have found a way to sneak out and be with me. That I had been able to fall asleep holding on to him.

I've noticed Otis always rests his head on Maybelline's heart, if not where he could hear one of the babies' heartbeats against her belly. Seeing their family continue to get closer everyday. It made me want to listen to the person I love's heart rhythm as I tried to sleep… and even though I'd just been talking to him… I missed him so much I ached all over. And wished somehow that his words could be so… that he could be here as soon as he could be… even if I have no idea what could make him want to spend any part of his summer in gloomy Seattle. Except for the fact that I'm here... I prayed that all of my friends would do well, that they would end their year with a bang AND that I could make them feel like I was with them... even if especially Logan.

Then I guess I finally managed to drift off to sleep.

That's all folks!

Well, for this chapter anyways. But don't fret! I'm posting Logan's chapter TOMORROW! Yes, you read that right. You're getting at least a chapter from both of them this week. It's the least I can do after last week's stumble and fall. To repay each and every one of you for sticking around and still reading. So check back tomorrow and it'll be here! Please review if you can, I would love to hear from you! Hope you're having a GREAT day! Take Care and Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85