【ＣＲＵＳＨ】-Clay Jensen (s4)

12

"Zoey it's here!" Zoey heard Merida yell and Zoey walked down stairs to see a large envelope and her grandpa smiling at it

"What?" Zoey asked with a smile "see if you got in" she said and Zoeys heart started to pound she grabbed the envelope and opened it

She took the paper out

"Dear, Zoey Carson..." she started and she read through it

"I...I got in...I got accepted!" She said in disbelief "congrats babe!" Merida cheered "whooo!" Her grandpa cheered "I didn't think I would" she said and Merida cheered in Spanish making both Zoey and her grandpa laugh

Zoey ate her breakfast and checked the time

"Shit-shoot-I mean shoot, I have to go" she said "watch it" Merida said while pointing at the girl "I know, Sorry" she said while grabbing her backpack from by the door and throwing it on

She rushed out of the door grabbing her bike and pedaling fast, on her way to school

-

Tyler was back, Tony and Clay was questioning the boy as Zoey stood behind them not being able to see Tyler because they were both taller than her

"Did he know anything about spring fling? Anything at all?" Tony asked "no. Nothing. Alex's dad convinced Diaz that I wasn't violent, just a misguided kid who liked guns too much, and who could help the department" Tyler said while walking over to the over table, Tony and Clay following him

Zoey sighed while walking over to them

"So where have you been for the past week?" Clay asked "I had to be deposed and go in front of a judge in secret. I needed a break from school..and from my friends" Tyler said "Tyler" Tony said "no man, I told you..I told you that the guns would only trace back to me, and that everything would be ok. They wouldn't let me tell you the truth" Tyler said and Zoey covered her face

"We're so sorry" clay said "they dropped my charges. Seriously they...they trusted me. You said from the beginning if we trusted each other, everything would be ok" Tyler said "I told you guys" Zoey finally spoke "shit got complicated, ty" Tony said "but it's not, actually. It's...I mean like all you have to do is have faith in your friends right?" Tyler asked while walking towards them "you three taught me that...or did you forget?" he said

And they all looked at him and he grabbed his backpack and left

"Seriously?" Zoey said to the boys and they looked at her "I told you guys to trust him...and you didn't...he's mad at us now" Zoey said and the boys sighed

Zoey scoffed "guys...we can't let this split us up right now..we need to stick together" Zoey said while grabbing her things

"I know, we're sorry" clay said "we have to stop saying sorry, it shouldn't even have to be a thing we say to each other everyday, if we believe and trust in each other we wouldn't have to say that" she said and the boys nodded "now stop looking like lost puppies and let's get to class" she said, grabbing their hands and pushing them forward making them walk towards the door and she followed after them

-

Zoey sat at the table next to Clay with Justin sitting across from her on his phone

She was scrolling through Pinterest to see something that inspired her to make customized clothing for herself, with her sketch book and pencil right new to her; already having a couple of sketches and ideas

"Is it for them, though? Or is it really just for us?" She heard Matt's voice and they stopped at the end of the stairs and Lainie walked inside

"You wanted to see us?" Clay asked "yes, we are on our way out for date night" she said and Clay froze for a second

"Why so many date nights lately? And what commitment did you make?" Clay asked "oh we're committed to keeping the romance alive" Matt said making Zoey cringe and laugh "here is some money for pizza" he said while putting money on the table "and we are actually running late, so be good. Zoe, watch them" Lainie said "got you" Zoey said "yeah you too" Justin said

"That was weird right?" Clay asked Zoey and Justin "they're probably going to a weird meeting of their sex cult" Justin said and Clay closed his eyes "dude, why would you put that in my brain?" Clay asked "gross, how could you think like that?" Zoey asked and Justin smiled, snickering

"Sorry, it's date night" Justin said "they've been in a half dozen dates this year and never look like they're enjoying them" Clay said "maybe that's why they keep going. Maybe it's to keep the magic alive, you know?" Justin said "oh my god dude, I'm just saying, maybe it's not a date at all" clay said

"Oh, no, I know that face...what are you-" Zoey stopped talking once Clay got up and walked towards the windows behind them and started looking threw it

Clay grabbed his keys and started walking out

"Clay..." Zoey whined while getting up and running after the boy

She ran out and tried stopping him "Clay, just stop" she said as he got in his car "you either stay here or come, I'm leaving right now" clay said making Zoey sigh and she hopped inside the passenger seat

"Am I going to regret this?" She asked "maybe" he said and drove off

-

Zoey trailed behind the boy as they followed Matt and Lainie

They waited until everyone was in the room

They soon hid by the door, being sure not to be seen through the glass

"And thanks to all of your incredible support" foundry spoke

"And fundraising over this past semester, we've had tremendous success with a number of new, innovative security practices. Thank you" foundry said

Clay listened to him as Zoey looked around being paranoid like always

"They've been spying on us" Clay said making Zoeys head snap towards the boy "what?" She asked "they've been tracking us down, reading our emails, this explains a lot" Clay said "that's fucked" Zoey said and Clay nodded while continuing to listen

Zoey couldn't fully hear the things he said until matt spoke up

"That gave my son a nervous breakdown. How can you say it was successful?" Matt said and Zoey leaned forward to hear them better

"No there were a small number of students who were upset by the drill, and we did have follow-up counseling" he said "he wasn't just upset! He ended up in a psych ward, pissing his bed!" Matt said and Clay sighed looking up

"Support, please" Clay whispered and Zoey nodded

She grabbed his hand quickly and Clay intertwined their fingers

Zoey rested her head on his chest, feeling his rapid heart beat "you're fine, Clay...don't think about it" she said and he squeezed her hand a little and nodded. The warmness of her head on his chest calmed him down.

After listening to the conversation Clay looked down to look at Zoey

"We need to tell the group" he said and she nodded while taking her head off his chest, looking up at him and nodded

With their fingers still intertwined they walked back to his car

edited