After band the next day, Mrs. Locke called Zoe into her office after band.

"Zoe, I noticed that you were giving your section many pushups at practice on Tuesday… Was there a reason for that?" she asked her.

"Well, Mrs. Locke, I felt that they can do better than what they've been doing. And, they seemed a little too talkative lately."

"How's life?" she randomly asked.

She looked surprised. For some strange reason, though, she felt that she could confide in Mrs. Locke about her problems. She had known her band director since she was little when her sister was in band at the high school, and she knew Mrs. Locke wasn't the kind of person to be telling others about problems. "Not that great."

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked Zoe.

"I'd love to, but I really need to get to class."

"Of course. I'll write you a pass, and come down after school, okay?"

"Yea, I'd love to."

At the end of the day, Zoe walked down to the band room more slowly than usual. She was starting to rethink telling Mrs. Locke everything. Is it really any of her business knowing what's going on in my life? Then again, I HAVE known her forever… maybe she'll understand what I'm going through, and perhaps even be able to help me. I'm sure she probably had guys fawning over her in high school. She's not skinny, has beautiful hair, how could a guy not want to date her? Hell, some of my guy friends want to date her now, she HAD to have the same guy troubles in high school. Haha. Too bad she's married.

She walked into her band directors' office to find Mrs. Locke on the phone. Mrs. Locke mouthed "I'll be right with you" to her, and she went out into the band room and got her folder out of her locker. Just as she was locking up her locker, Mrs. Locke called her into her office.

"Close the door behind you, sweetheart."

Zoe closed the door and sat down in a chair in front of Mrs. Locke's desk.

"So, what's up, hun? You seem really out of it lately. You're not playing as well as you usually do."

"I don't quite know. I guess I'm just having major guy problems and it's just distracting me, you know?"

"Ah, yes. Boys. Let me ask you something. If you had to chose between your music and men, what would you chose?"

"Uh…" Zoe said. "I think I would chose music."

"And why's that?"

"I don't know…" she said.

"I'll tell you why. It's because you know in your heart that although men may please you at times, you know that they can turn around and be total asses. Music, though, pleases you, but never takes it away. Music will always be there for you, whereas men won't."

Zoe laughed.

"No, really. Yes, men will give you joyrides in bed, they'll make you stand on your toes with their kisses, but they will turn around and hurt you in a way that music can't. You get what I'm saying?"

"Yea, but I think my problem's more complicated than that. I mean, yes, there IS a guy that turned around and hurt me, but I don't know…"

"Okay, tell me what exactly is going on."

"Well, it was my birthday quite recently, and one of my close guy friends bought me Sabres tickets and I was so happy. But at my party, another one of my friends told me he liked me and kissed me in such a sexy way, and he did the same when we hung out the next day. Then, I went to the game with the guy that got me the tickets and I kissed HIM there, and we decided to make it official. Then, the next day, I find out that he set me up for that kiss so that I'd think I liked him, so I refused to talk to him for ONE marching band rehearsal, and he goes and asks this other girl out while we're technically still together! So then, being all 'woe-is-me,' I hang out at one of my best friends' house, and I tell her that I've always had a crush on her next-door neighbor. Luckily for me, he was standing outside her house when I said that, and he told me the next day that he knew, and we ended up making out, and now, I'm here, confused as ever, trying to figure out what to do with my life." Zoe looked at Mrs. Locke to see if she had any reaction to this.

"Well, Steven is a wonderful musician, but I've overheard some of his conversations with his friends, and I really wouldn't trust him if I were you. He is very egotistical; he'll do anything to get what he wants."

"How'd you know one of them was Steven?"

"Well, I'm a Sabres fan, don't forget," Mrs. Locke smiled. "And as for Chris, I'd say don't trust him either. He's been known to lead some girls on."

"Wha… how'd you know it was him too?"

"Again, I overheard HIS conversations too. He kisses and tells."

"Oh…"

"Now, this third guy, I don't know who he is. Tell me what he's like."

"Well, he has gorgeous blonde hair, and he is such a sweetheart. He told me the other day that he loves talking to me in person because he just can't take his eyes off of me. And, after I kissed him, I found out that I was his first kiss. I had always thought that he had kissed his first girlfriend, but he said he never did."

"Well, he sounds like a nice kid, but again, I wouldn't trust him necessarily."

"Yea, I know what you mean."

"So, let's see. If you ignore Steven and Chris, then all you have left is this mystery man to worry about, so I'd say, have a crush on him. He can be your one crush as of the moment. Have him be the only guy you think about, but don't make him the only THING you think about. Championships are coming up in a month. You need to concentrate on your music and job as a Section Leader."

"Yea, I know."

"And, make this enjoyable for your section. Don't take out your confusion on them, okay? You want them to be happy! How about this practice, no pushups. Take a break, and apologize for last practice and just tell them you were having some 'family issues.' They'll understand."

"Okay, I think I can do that," Zoe smiled. "Thanks so much, Mrs. Locke!"

"No problem, sweetheart. I'll see you at rehearsal tonight."

"Yupp! Bye!" Zoe said, walking out of the office. Wow. I never thought that talking to a band director could actually help you sort through things bothering so well.

On Zoe's drive home, she kept thinking about Mrs. Locke's comparison between guys and music. She's right. Music is so much better than guys. How did I never realize that before?