The days continued to pass quickly in the Valley. The dreaded Flower Dance came and went, her friends mumbling embarrassed apologies that they already had dancing partners. She didn't have a dress, and she didn't really mind sitting out as a respectful observer. Zoe would have been blind not to see the chemistry that existed between Sebastian and Abigail - who continued to insist that there was no such thing - and Penny and Sam. Later, Abigail was all too willing to share the juicy deets in giggled whispers behind palms that barely concealed their gossip. It didn't seem like anything too serious, nothing more than passing crushes, but it certainly justified what she saw out on that field.

One Saturday evening, she stumbled upon the guys playing Solarian Chronicles in Sebastian's room. He gladly accepted the sushi she'd brought him and then insisted she sit down to play with them. They didn't care that she had never played before. After she completed the scenario with an A rating, they didn't believe her, either. When she chose to heal Sebastian, Sam's disappointed face nearly gutted her, but it seemed rude not to heal him when they were literally playing in his room. Sam seemed to bounce back quickly, though, giving her a friendly smile when Sebastian announced the rating.

"I'd pick him too," he joked.

She redeemed herself the next day, coming to his defense when Mayor Lewis scolded him for grinding on his neighbor's flower box. Zoe nearly retorted that it couldn't have happened to a better neighbor until she remembered that Emily lived with Haley. Instead, she pointed out that there wasn't really any dedicated areas for skateboarding in town. Lewis, unsurprisingly, did not take kindly to any disagreement with his opinion and made a snarky remark about Zoe's maturity level. She didn't even pretend to be contrite. In the end, Lewis apologized to Sam and moved along. The way that Sam beamed at her afterwards made the whole ordeal worth it. His smile made her stomach flip flop rebelliously.

But it wasn't all sunshine in the Valley… literally. One dismal early summer day, she was feeling particularly sorry for herself. It was pouring rain, and there wasn't much she could accomplish on the farm. Unfortunately, this gave her entirely too much time to think. Thinking typically left her feeling hollow and empty, so she went for a walk, despite the abysmal weather. She ended up at the beach, stomping her way across the wet sand. A dark figure stood alone at the end of the pier. She remembered seeing Sebastian out here previously on rainy days. It was a habit of his. She wasn't sure whether she was consciously aware of this as she trekked across town, but part of her was relieved to see him. She knew he would get it.

He heard her approach and turned to peer into the gray that enveloped them.

"Zoe?" he called. She paused, uncertain if she should actually join him. Maybe he didn't want company at all. "Hey," he said gently. "I'm surprised to find you out here in the rain."

Knowing Sebastian, this seemed like invitation enough. She made her way down the pier and claimed the spot next to him.

His gaze returned to the ocean thrashing wildly before them. "Look at those dark clouds looming over the horizon. I hope they come this way."

She peered up at him, wondering what he meant with those words. She didn't have to wonder for long.

"I like this weather because it makes everyone disappear… you know?" he explained.

Her heart jumped into her throat. Does he want me to disappear, too? she wondered.

"Being around people makes me feel anxious." He looked down at her, freezing her with his steely gaze. "I don't feel that way around you, though."

The breath returned to her body. The weight of his words was not lost upon Zoe. She knew exactly what he meant by that. It had taken quite a while to befriend the man standing next to her, and she nearly had to die to do it. To be fair, she was almost equally as reluctant to make friends upon her arrival to the Valley. She wondered if he was remembering their conversation after her concussion in the mines, the way they bonded over their shared social anxiety.

"We're getting soaked…" He interrupted her thoughts, pulling an umbrella out of his cargo pants and opening it up. "Here. There's room for two," he offered, gesturing with his free hand. Her heart hammered in her chest. Apart from the time he'd carried her into his basement to save her life, they hadn't been so close. Hesitantly, she stepped towards him. He didn't appear to judge her, didn't become impatient. He just stood there calmly, understanding. He didn't even ask her why she was so quiet that day. He just let her exist.

The relief she felt was indescribable. Maybe this was why her heart had sought him out. Her heart? No, no… her brain. Yes, her anxious brain was desperate for commiseration, something she knew Sebastian would be all too willing to give. That's all.

That was totally it.

They stood in companionable silence for a long time, listening to the sounds of the rain dropping onto their waterproof covering like gentle pebbles. She found that she suddenly didn't feel so hollow or empty.

Zoe stretched her arms above her head with a yawn that she felt all the way down to her toes. She'd been in bed for a solid day after meeting Sebastian on the pier. Initially, she thought she was getting sick, but this morning she was already feeling so much better. Zoe was prone to what she called "stress sickness." It felt like being hit by a bus and required at least a full day of immobility. It hadn't really happened since she moved to the Valley because she stayed so busy and occupied with her new friends that rarely felt truly stressed. She decided to shake it off and make up for the past couple of lax days around the farm. She took her time bumbling around the kitchen, brewing coffee and making herself a light breakfast.

She opened the front door to find Sam standing on her porch, arm raised and poised to knock.

"Oh," he said sheepishly. She couldn't help thinking that the blush that rose from his neck to his ears was pretty adorable. Apparently remembering the reason for his visit, he recovered quickly. "Hey! Guess what? My band is playing a show tonight, in Zuzu City!"

"What!" she squeaked. "Sam, that's amazing!"

The grin he gave her was even better than the blush. "I hope you'll think so. Meet me at the bus stop at four this afternoon to leave for the show. You better be there!" The twinkle in his eyes said he had no doubt she would be. And of course she would be.

"Nothing could keep me away," she promised. "I'll make sure I'm done and washed up early."

"Awesome. Okay. Great." He started to turn to leave but suddenly spun back to face her, impulsively grabbing her and pulling her into a tight but not unwelcome hug. She startled at first but quickly relaxed into the embrace, giggling to herself. The hug ended as quickly as it had begun. "See you there," he said with a cheesy smile as he gave her an awkward wave and trotted down her steps. She watched him practically bounce out of her farm, her heart warmed by his infectious energy.

And then her heart was torn. Zuzu City… this was a pretty big deal. He hadn't said exactly where the gig was, but landing any kinda gig at all in such a big city was impressive. She wanted to be excited for him but at the same time…

No. No. She shook her head firmly, clearing the traitorous thoughts from her mind. Tonight wasn't about her. It was about Sam and his band. This could be his big break. Of course she would be happy for him and this wonderful opportunity… even if it meant he would be taken away from her.

Ugh. No, she wasn't going to think about that or why it bothered her so much in the first place.

Anyway… that was a later problem. The farm — and it's lack of maintenance for two days in a row — was a definite now problem.

With a deep breath, she got to work.

She hustled so hard she was done by three, which was perfect because she needed all the time in the world to get ready for the evening. She was going back to the city… a place she hoped, deep down, she would never have to see again. And it was the band's first gig! That was exciting in itself. The perfect anxiety storm swirled deep inside her chest. She definitely had to look her best tonight.

After a shower, she spent a long time scrunching her curls into bouncy little ringlets. Then she stood in front of her closet agonizing over an outfit for longer than she should have. Ultimately, she decided on skin tight jeans, boots that felt anything but country, and a glittery, black off the shoulder top. The outfit went well with the big and bold silver hoops she slid into her earlobes. It had been a long time since she'd worn make up, but it seemed like an appropriate time to dig out her old make up case from under her bed. She was never really an expert like some of her classmates, but she could hold her own. She applied a little shimmer across her exposed collarbones for good measure.

When she looked in the mirror at the final result, she hardly recognized herself. The red lips really set off the whole outfit.

Perfect.

It was nearly four by the time she rushed out the door and down the trail to the bus stop. She knew Sam wouldn't be mad if she was late, but she couldn't stand the thought of making him wait even a single second for her arrival.

Most of the town seemed to be gathered at the bus stop when she arrived. Good news traveled fast, apparently. It was Alex, leaning lazily against the side of the bus, who let out a long, slow whistle upon noticing her.

"You clean up nice, Farm Girl," he called out. She ignored him. Attention was the only thing he wanted.

Sam, Sebastian, and Abby were all standing near the door to the bus, and all at once, they turned to watch her approach. Abby's eyebrows raised with an appreciative smirk. The guys had a very different reaction. They both sorta just… froze. In that moment, she knew she had overestimated and overdone it. She wanted to die of embarrassment.

Sam broke out of it first as she came closer. "H-hi, Zo. Thanks for coming," he said. His voice sounded slightly off. Her heart went out to him. He must be so nervous about this gig — and understandably so.

He cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from her. "Well," he said loud enough for everyone in the bus plaza to hear, "our gear's loaded already… Looks like everything's set." He clapped his hands and hopped on his toes. "All right, everyone… let's get on the bus!"

A cheer arose among the townspeople present, eliciting a giddy laugh from Abby, whose cheeks flushed as she clasped her hands in front of her mouth. Sebastian was as unaffected as ever. Everyone followed Sam's direction and began to make their way onto the bus.

Sebastian gave Zoe an odd look before climbing onto the bus. What was it? Was it her hair? Had it poofed between the farm and the bus stop? She knew she should have put it up and out of the way.

She was so disgruntled she didn't realize nearly everyone had boarded the bus already.

"C'mon," Sam said excitedly, nudging her with his elbow, "let's hit the road."

He gestured for her to go first, and she obliged. Sebastian and Abigail occupied the first seat on the right, so she slid into the empty seat directly opposite. Sam quickly followed.

"I'm so stoked," he glowed. "I can't believe it. And also, I might lose my lunch."

Zoe offered what she hoped was a reassuring smile, laying a hand over his. "You guys are gonna do great," she promised. "I know it."

She caught another weird glance from Sebastian and started to really worry that she had somehow messed up with this outfit, but she was too afraid to just come out and ask. No point embarrassing all of them.

Instead, she settled back into the seat and took a deep breath. Sam wasn't the only one nervous about setting out for Zuzu City.

Sam swallowed hard as they inched through the traffic in the center of Zuzu City. "I'm starting to get really nervous," he said, peering over Zoe to scan the view outside their window.

"I'd be confused if you weren't," she teased him gently. He gave her a weak smile in return. "I mean it, Sam. You guys are gonna kill it out there. I just know it. And I am so excited to watch you perform."

His face flushed. The smile he gave her as he pulled at his collar was slightly wider. "If you say so, Zo," he said half-heartedly.

Not long after, the bus finally pulled into an alley and rolled to a stop. "Okay, here we are," Sam noted needlessly. Zoe thought maybe narrating the situation was helping to calm his nerves. "Wish me luck," he said, flashing her a sideways grin.

She couldn't help the smile she gave him in return. "You don't even need it," she said, elbowing him in the side. "But good luck."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Please get as close to the stage as you can. If I can see you, I just… well, it'll help." At her nod, he stood and exited the bus, followed closely by Sebastian and Abigail.

Alex was suddenly at her shoulder, leaning over the seat behind her. "Sooo… which one of those weirdos did you get all prettied up for?"

"Excuse me?"

"Unless it was me." His smirk was obnoxiously self-satisfied. Maybe if she actually liked him or knew him the least bit, the act would be endearing.

Zoe rolled her eyes and got to her feet. Fueled by the sort of confidence one can only glean from a killer 'fit, she flipped her curls over one shoulder. "Don't flatter yourself, buddy. And your pettiness is showing. You have no one to blame but yourself if it takes an outfit change for you to appreciate the total sexiness in front of you."

Even Haley snorted as Zoe left Alex in stunned silence.

The venue was a small grassy park called "The Pit." It was nestled between brick buildings, open to the street on one side but sequestered by a tall wooden fence. The place sure wasn't fancy, but next to the merch booth in the shade of the fence sat a makeshift bar. After buying a demo cassette, Zoe treated herself to a pint of Zuzu Ale. Sam's nerves were wearing off on her, it seemed. She tried not to hover or stare as the band set up their instruments on the open stage. She didn't want to make them any more anxious than they already were. Even Abby looked like she was breaking a sweat.

Finally, she heard Sam clear his throat. A nice crowd had gathered, and more were slowly trickling in past the bouncer collecting the entry fee. It still wasn't difficult for her to weave her way through the concert goers and plant herself firmly in the front.

Abby was grimacing, clenching her drum sticks in her fist. Sebastian was gloomily staring at the keyboard as if it had just crashed his computer. Sam just looked positively terrified.

"Uh, h-hi… everyone. We're from Pelican Town… er… and we're called 'Goblin Destroyer.'" He gulped and glanced around at his band mates. "Here we go."

Abby smacked her drumsticks against each other, and off they went. Zoe grinned. He had taken her suggestion seriously. Their sound could only be described as… well, experimental noise rock. She watched Sam tap his feet along with the music, biting his lower lip. Her heart was doing strange things in her chest, watching the three of them jamming onstage. When Sam started to croon, her heart skipped an entire beat. She hadn't really ever heard him singing before. Their sound overall was gritty, edgy. It definitely didn't fit Sam's wholesome, home-town-boy aesthetic, but he was killing it, anyway.

She decided she liked seeing this side of him.

He started to relax as he got into the groove. Then he caught her eye and winked. Zoe thought maybe the beer had been a bad idea; her stomach was suddenly churning and twisting.

The song came to a close to the sound of raucous cheering. Sam's grin was so wide that it looked like it might split his face. "And another!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air. The crowd roared in response, and they jumped right into their next song.

Zoe was surprised at how many songs they had in their arsenal. She counted seven. The first one was an edgy rock song about rebelling against authority, the next three felt more like party anthems, and then they played two songs that were fairly melancholic in tone. She was wondering who had influenced their sound the most when Sam introduced their seventh song.

"Okay, you guys have been amazing, but this is our last song." He was breathless, but all evidence of stage fright seemed to have vanished long ago. "And this one… well, this one is about that special someone who just seems to make every day a little bit brighter."

Did she imagine it, or did he look right at her?

No way. She imagined it.

The song was upbeat and fast, like hastily tripping over an emotional confession. It was intense but fun and wholly relatable for anyone who had ever had a crush. Their trademark hard rock sound shone through the cuteness of the lyrics.

Zoe loved it.

All too soon, the concert was coming to a close. Quiet little Penny was hopping in place, pumping her fists in the air. Even Shane was cheering. She thought she spied Haley and Alex in the corner making out, but she didn't really expect much more from them.

"Thank you guys — you've been awesome," Sam beamed, running his hand through his hair. "But you really should be clapping for Zoe! Without her help, we would've never decided what music to make in the first place!"

All three band members were smiling down at her. Zoe didn't even know how to respond in that moment. She was shocked. Recognition was the last thing she had been expecting. She had hardly done anything.

The cheering got impossibly louder, and Zoe couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement of the whole night. She felt the smile spreading across her face as she dramatically bowed to the band, sweeping an arm out to the side.

"So you're like an honorary member of the band!" Penny laughed.

Zoe shook her head but found herself laughing, too. What a ridiculous but sweet thought.

Sam thanked everyone again and reminded them to stop by the merch table, and then the show was over. They were opening up for a bigger, local band, so as soon as they were done, they started loading up their instruments to remove them from the stage. Zoe met them at the bus where they were packing everything up.

"I told you that you guys would be awesome!" she enthused.

Sam carefully set down his guitar case and charged straight towards her. He knocked the wind out of her chest when he snatched her up, spinning her in the air. She could barely find the oxygen to laugh. He finally set her back down on the ground.

"Your support means everything to us," he gushed. "You believed in us when most people thought we were crazy."

"And you did it! You played a gig — and everyone loved it," she said, this time speaking to Abby. The purple-haired girl had finished loading the last of her drum set in the back of the bus and walked over to give Zoe a much milder hug than Sam had.

"We really appreciate you for coming," Abby said.

"I would have been heartbroken if I had missed it," Zoe said honestly. "Thank you for inviting me." She recognized in the honesty in her own words as she realized that all of her anxiety over visiting the city had vanished. That was the power and protection of having good friends, she mused to herself.

Sebastian was still rather stoic, perhaps a little distant, but he offered a nod in her general direction. In Sebastian-speak, she figured it was a lot.

"You guys are the best friends ever, and I'm so proud of you, and I'm just so grateful you accepted me into your friend group," Zoe gushed, still cruising the clouds on that emotional high. Ordinarily, she'd have been embarrassed to wear her heart on her sleeve this way, but it just feel really good to be there tonight. She wasn't ashamed of her feelings because she knew the people standing before her would receive them well.

"Aw shucks." A goofy grin spread across Abby's face. "Bring it in! Group hug!" she declared.

"No," Sebastian said emphatically.

"I'm calling it!" Abby retorted.

Sam charged back in without a second thought, enveloping both girls in his arms. "C'mon, Bas… you know you wanna," he teased over his shoulder.

"We won't bite," Zoe joked, tilting her head to the side.

Sebastian leveled his gaze on Zoe. His dark eyes seemed to pierce straight through her. Her racing heart tripped over a beat for the zillionth time that night. How traitorous. She hoped Abby and Sam wouldn't notice.

Sebastian made his way towards them, his eyes locking her into place with every step. He only looked away when he finally reached their awkward little huddle. Placing a hand on Sam's shoulder, he gave a couple limp pats. "Gooo team," he intoned dully.

They all had a good laugh at that.