Zoey 101: All Or Nothing ☑

Chapter 31

Zoey POV Continued

But it wasn't a simple question. Of course, I wanted to go to the dance with Chase. I loved to do anything with Chase. We always had fun together, even when he'd complain about his injury.

Chase took my hand. "Zoey, I just need a yes or a no."

I could feel tears sting the back of my eyes as I denied myself the one thing I truly wanted. I pulled my hand away. "Listen, don't worry about me. I better go. You don't want to keep your group waiting."

I turned my back and rushed down the stairs, knowing he couldn't catch up to me. But as I walked out the front door, I replayed in my head what I wanted to say. What I wished I had the courage to say.

Yes, Chase. I want to go to the dance with you. I want you to put your arms around me. I don't want to pretend that you and I are nothing more. My life is better off with you in it. I want to be with you. Because I love you, Chase. And not just as friends.

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Chase: Hallelujah! She has seen the light!

Zoey: I can't even ...

Chase: No, please, allow me.

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Chase POV

Knowing Zoey as long as I have allows me some insights into the way she is. For instance, I knew she was freaked out when she ran out of my room that night.

There wasn't much that scared her. She was the strongest person I'd ever known. And I'm not talking about the kind of strength that's measured by the number of reps someone can perform.

I'm talking about being fearless. About standing up for yourself. About not caring what people think.

Yet something was scaring her. There was a reason she bolted and didn't make one of her jokes.

But I couldn't put my finger on it.

Or, more accurately, I didn't want to get my hopes up.

"California!" Logan patted my shoulder during the dance. "Give me warning if you hit the dance floor. You know my moves can't be contained."

"Thanks," I mumbled.

"What's his problem?" he asked Alexa.

She shrugged. I knew I should've acted happy to be there, for her sake. I knew I should've done a lot of things.

As I surveyed the group of friends around me, I thought about how much I'd wanted this when I'd first moved here. A group of friends. To be part of the popular crowd. To be one of the top athletes.

That's what I'd thought I wanted.

But now I knew that what I wanted and what I needed were entirely different.

I didn't have to decide between this life or Zoey. I knew that. But I did have a choice to make: to sit there and pass by something important to me or go to Zoey and tell her how I felt. And make her listen. I knew the risk I was taking. There was a strong possibility that she would leave and spend senior year at the International Space Station.

But she'd paused when I asked her if she wanted to go to the dance. She'd known that wasn't exactly what I was asking. But she hadn't said no. She'd paused, and in the pause I knew that maybe, just maybe, she felt the same way I did.

I had to stop pretending and go after what I wanted. What I needed.

"Alexa," I said lightly. This was going to suck. "I'm really sorry, but I need to go."