Chloe to his rescue

Zack had felt this feeling before. Specifically when he had broken up with his ex girlfriend Lisa, the feeling of anxiety, of hopelessness, and of heartbreak. Zack had a pretty good idea of what happened between Gavin and Victoria based off of their guilty looks that anyone who looked at them could see, though only Zack had an idea of what they were feeling guilty about.

Chloe had been watching Zack from the dock, and saw how his behavior changed when Vicky and Gavin walked out of the cabin, she saw his fists clench when looking at Gavin, and his face fall when looking at Vicky passing by. Chloe knew that there was some kind of misunderstanding, between the three, and quickly jumped up and walked over towards the half submerged Zack by the edge of the dock. "Zacky what's wrong? I've been watching you, I know that look. There must be some misunderstanding"

"I love you Chloe, but I know what I saw, thank you for your concern but I need to go get this cleared up" As he was going to swim away, Chloe reached down and held onto his shoulder "Zack, don't move, otherwise you'll take me in with you, and you won't like me when I'm wet" she warned.

"You sure about that? I'm thinking I'll enjoy it a lot." He joked. She play punched him and seriously said.

"Zack, you've been hung up on this girl for a while, and she hasn't even returned any of your affection for the past few years. Don't you think that it's time to move on? If what you fear happened, actually happened, let it be. You know how hard it is for Gavin to be with girls, let him be happy." Zack looked up into Chloe's eyes and saw the truth hidden there behind her blue eyes.

"Damn it Chloe! Why do you have to be so damn reasonable?!" Zack asked in anguish. "How am I going to get over this rage, this disappointment?" Chloe looked at him, then looked out towards the lake and saw Heather looking at them.

"Well Zacky, you could always go ask Heather for a drink, I'm sure she'll be happy to provide one to you"

"Maybe I should" he mused. "Well Chloe, I'll be back"

"Be reasonable, it'll help" Zack grumbled something incomprehensible to Chloe, and swam off to Gavin.

Zack swam towards Gavin, and caught his attention. "Gavin buddy, tell me everything from the beginning. Don't worry I'm not mad, in fact, I'll support your relationship with Vicky if that's cool with you." Gavin was surprised by his best friend's words, he had expected to be punched out or something, but definitely not this.

"Thanks Zack, that means a lot. We only kissed once, it wasn't much" he tried to explain. Zack put his hand up to stop Gavin.

"Gavin, I know how hard it is for you to attract a girl, and this is your chance!"

"But she's your girl!" exclaimed Gavin

"She never was, and it looks like she never will be bud. My mindless infatuation with her caused the only relationship I've ever really been in to collapse. I won't let that happen again, I'll strike a new path, and hopefully find the light at the end of the tunnel. In the mean time, it seems like you've already gotten past my achievements with Vicky, and it only took you half an afternoon, while it took me a couple of years. One thing I have to say, is that you and Chloe are the best friends a man can ask for, and I hope we can always stay that way." Gavin stood there waist deep in the lake trying to keep in the tears coming up to his eyes. He laughed and splashed some water on his face.

"Thanks Zack, I mean it bro. I'm going to go tell Vicky the good news. She was worried about what you thought, because believe it or not, she knew you were crushing on her."

"Wow! I didn't know that, I guess she was waiting for me to make the first move. What an idiot I am! Go ahead Gavin, I wish you all the best"

"Thanks Zack!" and he was gone, swimming towards Vicky. Zack took long strokes back to the dock and towards Chloe, but she was no longer there, and Zack couldn't find her anywhere, she had probably gone back inside, he thought. Zack watched as Gavin reached Vicky and the girls and told them the good news, Gavin and Vicky hugged and laughed, while both Ashley and Heather looked around the lake for Zack. When they finally made eye contact with him, he gave them a little smile and made his way out of the lake towards the cabin, where he hoped Chloe was.

Heather saw Zack leaving, and started to follow, even Ashley, Vicky and Gavin looked worried, but Ashley stopped Heather and said "Wait Heather, give him some time" Everyone looked worried, but they all eventually saw the reason in Ashley's advice. Just then Brandon and Kurt swam over and Brandon said "What's up ladies and Gavin".

"Not now Brandon! Can't you read the mood?" Brandon looked at Kurt and said

"What did I say?"

"You can never understand the mind of the woman" Kurt replied sagely before swimming off again amidst a series of rolled eyes from the females in the group.