Chapter 28

I didn't even attempt to hide the smile crawling across my face.  

"Girlfriend huh?" I asked playfully biting my lip. It drove him crazy when I did that, it was written all over his face.

"Well, I mean if that's okay with you." Wes said smirking at me. I snaked my arms around him and he pulled me close.

"Of course that's okay with me." I said grinning. I actually couldn't believe it. I just became Wesley's girlfriend. I was glowing on the inside; it just felt so good to finally know where we stand together. My mother and Selene walked out of the backyard and got in the car. I could hear the engine running from a few yards away. I kissed Wes goodbye and crammed myself into the backseat between Owen and Adrianna.

"I can't believe it. This is going to be a great opportunity for us!" I heard Keaton saying as I walked through the front door the next day.

"What's going to be a great opportunity?" Adrianna asked beside me. I saw grins sneak across the boys' faces. Keaton looked so excited that he might explode.

"Our friend's dad totally hooked us up." He smiled. "He arranged for us to perform on this local artist specials. We're going to be on TV!" Keaton was beaming now. I looked over his shoulder to where Wes was grinning too.

"It's gonna be pretty dope. The special's gonna air on FOX tomorrow night, we're going to get tons of exposure." He said showing off his perfect teeth as he smiled at me.

"Yeah, that means we gotta call Kenny and Kyle. Tell them to drop everything and help us come up with a song to play." Drew said falling back on the couch.

An idea flashed into my mind and I just had to share it. "Why don't you guys play Santeria?" I flashed a grin at them. "It's the perfect song for you to do. Your music is influenced by them a lot, and it's got that beachy/chill vibe that will totally give you guys an edge over the other groups there."

"That's actually a pretty good idea. This song showcases who we are as a band. People know the song so they can sing along to us, as opposed to doing an original." Drew said. I was pretty surprised. Drew wrote most of the songs for Emblem3. I expected him to turn my idea down and fight for doing an original song. But since he agreed with me, my idea must have been better than I thought.

I was completely exhausted the next day. Adrianna and I had stayed at the Stromberg's house until about 3 last night helping them practice. When we left, they were still going at it. The boys really deserve this, they always work so hard. I woke up around 2:30. There were only a few hours until the news special, and I had to help the boys get ready. I quickly threw in a Pennywise t-shirt and nudged Adrianna awake.

"Hey get dressed. We have to go meet the guys and help them get ready." I told her Even though she looked asleep still I know she heard me. I ran down stairs and grabbed a piece of fruit from the bowl. I didn't bother making myself any cereal. In my mind it was too late for breakfast food. Instead I just ate an apple and waited for Adrianna to come gliding into the room.

My body was crashing from all the red bull I drank last night in efforts to stay awake. I trudged over to the coffee maker and poured myself a cup of the scalding hot beverage. I sipped it in small amounts until I saw Adrianna. She grabbed the keys off the hook and jingled them in my face. "Let's go." She said.

We ended up meeting the boys at the pier. I saw a bunch of guys carrying sound equipment over to the stage. I smiled at the sight. I first saw the boys perform on that very stage. Wes caught my eye and ran over to me. I laughed as he picked me off the ground and spun me around.

"Hey Wesley." I said still grinning as he put me back on the ground. He took my hand and led me over to Drew and Keaton who were talking to an older looking woman. As she spoke to them, worried looks swept across their faces. Drew stuck his hand out and shook the woman's hand and she walked away.

"Hey man, what's up?" Wes asked confused. Drew looked pretty ticked off and irritated. 

"Uhh, Kenny and Kyle can't make it." Drew said plainly, looking down at the ground.

"What." Wes said. It was more of a statement than a question. He looked like someone had slapped him across the face. His expression shifted from shocked, to angry, to worried. "Uhm. Okay. No big deal. Not like today could be the biggest day of our entire lives or anything." He said.

"They said they're really sorry, but there's no way they can make it." Keaton said. "No offense bro, but it was kind of short notice." That's Keaton for you. Making sure Drew and his brother weren't completely throwing them under the bus.

"It's okay guys, we'll figure something out." I said putting both my hands on each of the Stromberg's shoulders.

"Okay, well Keaton can play bass still, Drew you got lead guitar, I can play back up... we just need a drummer." Wes said putting on his thinking face.

"Well, I could play but then we would need a bass guitarist." Keaton said, not really changing anything. I can't believe this. The guys were so excited about playing this show, I wish there was something I could do. Wesley's eyes grew wide and he turned to me.

"Avery." He grinned in my direction. He batted his eyelashes and nudged me with his elbow. I knew where this was going.

"Okay Wes. What do you want?" I asked.

"Feel like doing us a favor?" He asked. Whatever he was talking about Drew must have picked up on because he seemed to come to a realization too.

"Avery Brayden. Will you please do us the honor of playing with us?" Wes asked sweetly. Oh my god. They want me to play the drums for them. No. No. No. Oh my god. No, I couldn't. 

I just stood there with my mouth gaping open. "You want me to play with you guys? On stage? On live television? That everyone in the state of California will be watching?" I huffed. I looked over at the boys who all looked back at me, nodding. 

You have got to be shitting me. The things I do for these boys.