A Double Date It Is

As Zack walked back towards his room, he wasn't sure what to think, it was hard for him to believe that Brandon would just forgive him so easily. Sure, he'd like to believe it, but for his best friend to basically say, Hey, I know you fucked my girlfriend, but it's all good, she was kinda crazy. Didn't seem real. Zack let out a sigh and lightly shook his head, regardless if Brandon was genuine or not, Zack finally got to tell him and explain himself. He was just confused if he should expect a fist bump from Brandon now, or a fist to the face.

Just as he reached the door he could hear Chloe's voice, "Zack?" She softly called out, sounding slightly confused and even a touch of scared, "Zack..." She said again while slipping out of bed,

"It's okay; I'm here." Zack quickly said as he walked back through the door causing Chloe to let out a relieved smile,

"Oh, good," She happily said while walking over to him and throwing her arms around his neck, giving him a quick tight hug, "Where'd you go? Bathroom?"

"Uh, no, I went to talk with Brandon," Zack replied as the two broke their hug, "I needed to get some things off my chest, and he deserved to know everything," Chloe's face turned to concern, and she began to look Zack over intently, "What are you doing?" Zack asked with an amused chuckle,

"Seeing if he hit you," Chloe mumbled back, "Did he?"

Zack lightly shook his head, "No, actually, he seemed to be...I don't know, understanding." Zack explained to Chloe's surprise, "He just told me that he understood temptation, that he was getting over it already, he forgives me, and is just trying to look at the good instead of the bad." Zack explained before letting out a warm smile, "Oh yeah, and he told me something else too,"

"What?" Chloe asked with a small cock of her head,

"Ashley's gone," Chloe's eyes went wide,

"W-what?" She asked with a growing smile,

"You heard me," Zack grinned back, "Packed up, not here anymore, G-O-N-E, gone." Chloe's eye seemed to twinkle back at Zack, a sense of pure relief flowing over her whole body, "Yeah, I thought you'd like that." Zack merely said while Chloe quickly pushed herself back into his chest,

"Oh my god," She breathed out, "I-I can't...I can't believe it; I didn't think she'd ever do that,"

"Do what?" Gavin asked as he peaked his head into the room,

"Gavin..." Zack dismissively said at the sudden intrusion,

"Fuck, sorry, the door was open..." Gavin awkwardly replied,

"It's fine," Chloe quickly interjected, "Ashley left, she's really gone!"

Gavin instantly looked back at the pair in surprise as well as some relief, happy to know that Ashley wouldn't trouble them anymore, "That's great guys, seriously, about time you two had a win," He said while entering their small room, "Shit, I forgot about how tiny the singles rooms were...wait did you push the two twin beds together?" He asked with an amused smirk,

"Yeah Gavin, some of us didn't have the luxury of getting a master like you and Vicky. We had to make do," Zack chuckled back as he looked back at their small bed in the center of the room. He remembered how ridiculous it felt to push those beds together the first night after he and Chloe had sex. Still, it suited their purpose, and that's all that mattered. "Anyway, I'm gonna grab a shower and use the bathroom, okay Chloe?" Zack asked peering over to the giddy redhead,

"Oh, yeah, okay," Chloe agreed, too happy in the moment to even worry about being alone, "See you in a bit,"

"But I needed to talk to...you guys..." Gavin mumbled out as he watched his friend leave the room without so much as a glance back, "Well, shit... "

Chloe giggled softly at Gavin, "What?" She asked with a confused smirk,

"Well, I was supposed to ask you two something, but I guess it can just wait until later," Gavin muttered back as he turned back towards the door,

Chloe tossed her hands up, "You can ask me you know," She pointed out causing Gavin to stop,

"It's kinda about you both," Gavin replied while nervously pursing his lips, "Or well, involves you both,"

"Don't worry, Zack'll do whatever if I want to, he's good like that," Chloe said with another laugh, "So, what's up?"

"Oh, uh, okay," Gavin stammered back, "So, um...right, okay, so Vicky and I were going into town, and we wanted you two to come with us...you know as a...thing,"

"A thing?" Chloe asked while raising her brow,

"Yeah, a thing, a date thing," Gavin mumbled back, looking at the floor, feeling like a complete awkward idiot,

"You and Vicky want me and Zack to go on a double date? Today?" Chloe repeated, making sure she understood exactly,

"Yeah," Gavin replied, "I mean, apparently we're going either way, but we'd like you guys to come,"

Chloe curiously looked at Gavin, for someone going on a date with his girlfriend he didn't exactly look thrilled, "I don't know, Gavin..." Chloe hummed back while thinking it over, a double date sounded a bit weird, if it was just hanging out that'd be one thing but what did a double date really mean? We're they all going to dinner or going to some god awful carnival?

Gavin nearly winced as he heard Chloe say that, "You don't have to if you don't want to," He reluctantly replied while Chloe looked at his pleading face,

Chloe instantly broke and sighed, "Actually, you know what," She said, pretending to change her mind for no particular reason, "Sure, why not, we can go with you guys,"

"Oh thank god," Gavin sighed out quickly, before going a bit wide-eyed, "I mean, awesome, sounds sweet,"

Gavin quickly turned around and walked towards the door, "No, hold your horses there buddy," Chloe immediately said causing Gavin to halt in place, "Spin around," Chloe continued making Gavin reluctantly turn back to her, "Now talk,"

"A-about?" Gavin replied, weakly feigning confusion,

"About why you're so afraid to go out on a date with Vicky alone," Chloe said as she crossed her arms, "Seeing as you two don't mind..." Chloe's cheeks turned slightly red as she caught her tongue, "Going at it," She phrased, "A date should be easy, if not fun,"

"I know," Gavin agreed with a nod, "And if you told me yesterday morning then I would have been thrilled but today...thing's changed,"

"How so?" Chloe asked back, now interested completely,

"The second Vicky told me she loved me." Gavin blankly replied while Chloe instantly was taken aback, "Told you things changed,"

"Wow," Chloe uttered back before a wide smile grew on her face, "That's so great Gavin!"

Gavin cocked his head, "Is it?" He asked back causing Chloe to walk up to him,

"Of course it is," Chloe confidently replied while putting a hand on his shoulder, "You have one of the nicest, sweetest girls saying that she loves you, that's amazing!"

"But it...it doesn't make sense Chloe," Gavin dismissed while looking back at the floor, "We barely know each other. I don't know how to be in a serious relationship. I mean, I don't even know what love feels like!" He quickly listed causing Chloe to let out a tiny giggle,

"Gavin, relax, this is a good thing, not a bad one to worry over," She said attempting to calm him,

"But what happens after the trip?" Gavin asked causing Chloe's eyes to narrow slightly, "Vicky...she couldn't have actually meant that. After the trip and we're back at school, she won't want me, we live in two different worlds and-" Gavin weakly said before feeling Chloe abruptly thumb the back of his head, "Ow!" He exclaimed while quickly looking at a rather annoyed Chloe, "What the hell? I'm trying to talk Chloe! What was that for?!"

"For you talking like a fucking idiot," Chloe retorted,

"I'm not! Chloe, Victoria's a popular girl, and I'm a...a geek. The prom queen doesn't date the tech nerd, it doesn't work like that," Chloe quickly punching him hard in the shoulder, "Ow, stop!" Gavin exclaimed while rubbing his arm now,

"Are you done, yet?" Chloe merely replied, her eyes still narrowed at her friend,

"Chloe, I'm being serious here! On paper, Victoria and I don't make sense!" Chloe once again roughly hit Gavin, this time in the other arm, "Would you quit it!" He shouted out,

"Then stop saying stupid things!" Chloe shot back, "Gavin, love, relationships, they never make sense on paper! It's feelings; it's about personality and what you want in someone regardless of shit like high school clicks!" Chloe explained with a toss of her hands, "If you told me at the start of this week I'd be dating Zack I'd have called you a fucking idiot, I didn't think I'd ever feel something for my best friend. He was like my brother or some shit, and I bet if someone told Vicky you two would be together she wouldn't have believed it either."

"Because it doesn't make sense." Gavin weakly replied,

"No shit, because it never does!" Chloe exclaimed again, "And don't sit there, hiding behind the thought that just because you and Victoria ran in different circles that means she's lying to you. First off, she's not like that; she's a very honest and sincere person." Chloe wholeheartedly said, "Second, when someone says they love you, they mean it!"

"I know that!" Gavin shot back, "I just-I don't know what I feel. How do you tell?"

"I..." Chloe said before pausing, unsure of how to answer that, "I can't answer that..." She said after a moment, "It's just a feeling that comes up whenever you see them, I guess. Like whenever I'm with Zack now, every time I see him, I just feel...full, complete, right, I don't know."

Gavin gave a small gulp, "Fuck, I-I like being with her, I love when we hang out and just spend all day talking but...I haven't noticed if I felt like that before,"

"Well, take your time," Chloe softly replied, "Think about your feelings, it's a pretty big deal, you obviously know that. I'm sure Vicky doesn't expect you just to reciprocate unless you actually feel it." Gavin let out a small nod, and after a long minute, he turned around, shuffling back towards the door. "Oh and Gavin," Chloe called out making him peer back, "Don't you dare let shit like clicks and social groups factor in on this, high school is almost over, and after that we're in the real world, and having someone to face that with you is far more important than just trying to make sense." Gavin let out another weak nod before finally leaving the room.