Drew and I exited his car and walked into the music store to be greeted by Wesley almost as soon as he arrived. That was enough to tell me that he was bored. Our visits to the music store were probably one of the best components of Wesley's work shift, in all honesty. 

"Finally, the shift is going to get good!" Wesley said with some optimism, as he looked towards the two of us. "It's about time, actually. I got promoted to manager today, so you're going to see me here a lot more." 

"Wesley, that's amazing!" I told him. 

Wesley thanked me for my kind words. I really did mean it, though. I hadn't even had a proper job besides helping my parents with the businesses. I supposed that I still should be proud of even the smaller accomplishments, though. Helping out with my parent's businesses was just part of my progress towards one day having my own business. It was as though it was just out of reach but I knew that one day I would get there. I simply had to trust myself and the process. 

"Anyway, I expect that I'll get off work soon and then we can all go and get ready for the dance and the performance and everything else," Wesley said. 

"Are you alright, Wes?" Drew asked him. 

"I may have chugged about three cans of Red Bull before the two of you arrived. I'm just peachy," he told us. For one reason or another, I doubted that. I had a feeling that all that caffeine probably wasn't the best for his body, either. However, if it got him through the work day, then who was I to judge him? 

"Okay, don't get sick," Drew told him. 

"After about five all-nighters, trust me, I don't worry about getting sick anymore," Wesley told us. 

I had to admire his resolve. 

"Anyway, could you two help me out here? I thought I saw a mouse earlier and we need to sort out this general store situation," Wesley said, as he gestured to all of it. 

"Wait. You think you saw a mouse earlier?" Drew asked him, as his eyes widened in wonder. 

"Well, that's what I just said, isn't it? I'm trying to be optimistic, though. It might have been the Red Bull playing tricks on me," Wesley said. 

I released a soft cough of laughter. Both pairs of eyes settled on me, then. 

"Uh, right. Let's get this place sorted," I said. 

"Thank you, Zoe. This honestly means so much to me," Wesley said. 

"I try," I replied, as I began to help the two of them clean the place up. 

Luckily for us, there were no mice in sight. We managed to avoid that situation all together, which was a good thing because as soon as the store was all cleaned up, it was time for us to head off to get ready. 

It took a couple of hours to clean up the store. 

At least, that's how long I thought it took. When the three of us left the store, though, I quickly realised that wasn't the case. The sky was already turning pink, as the sun began to set. 

We hadn't been outside of the store long, before I realised that Heather was nearby. 

"Hey, Zoe," she greeted me first, which was strange but oddly comforting. It showed me that she wasn't just interested in being around her band members and she considered me a friend as much as I considered her one. 

"Hey Heather," I greeted her. 

"Hey Drew, hey Wesley," she said. 

The two of them waved to her, too. 

"Zoe, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to get ready together? I don't know if you would rather get ready at my house or yours but it would give us the chance to get to know each other a little better and also we could do each other's makeup?" she asked me, as she moved a hand through her hair. 

"That sounds like a plan," I said. 

Heather's blue eyes brightened at that. 

"Wait, really?" she asked me. 

"Of course," I said, 

"Awesome!" she said. 

Drew beamed as his eyes looked between the two of us. He was probably glad that the two of us were getting along, too, and I was glad that I was able to bring him some happiness from my friendship with Heather. I guessed that if Heather was going to become a good friend of Drew, then it only made sense for me to try to become better friends with her too. 

"My mom actually said that I was allowed to have some friends over, so we could get ready all together," I explained. 

"That sounds like a plan!" Heather told me, with a charismatic smile. 

"Alright then. I can drive the two of you to Zoe's house and then I'll come and pick the two of you up to take you to the dance soon, alright?" Drew offered. 

"Of course, Drew. That sounds like a plan. I'll see you soon," I told him.

Drew stepped forward to wrap his arms around me and I tried to ignore the pounding of my heart in my chest. 

I wasn't supposed to be having these feelings for him, still. Nevertheless, here I was still crushing on my best friend. 

My only form of distraction, ironically enough, was the one girl that I had previously disliked. I found out that she really wasn't all that bad, though, and on the car drive back to my house the two of us actually ended up talking for quite a while. It was peaceful. 

Eventually, Drew stopped off outside of my house and Heather and I told him that we would see him soon. 

I wasn't sure how long it would take Heather to get ready, she was already gorgeous. However, I had a feeling that all eyes were going to be on her at the dance no matter what she chose to wear. 

"This is so fun. It's been a while since I had a girlfriend like this," she told me. 

"Really?" I asked her. 

"Yeah. I guess before I met Drew I found it a little difficult to make friends but I'm glad you're here now, Zoe. So, let's see your dress," she told me. 

It may have just been the anticipation of the fall dance, but Heather's kind words led to a warm feeling becoming present in my chest.