The rest of my evening is a blur compared to the hecticity of work. Mom and I eat some ravioli, we watch the latest episode of The Bachelorette, and then I scroll through Instagram and Twitter for a while, liking pictures of vacations and selfies until my eyes go out of focus. It's evenings like this I know I'll miss the most during the school-year; the ones where I don't have anything stressful to worry about, the ones where I am truly at bliss.

    But apparently, that simplicity would soon run out.

I'm lip-syncing along to Ed Sheeran when I walk into my room to find someone inside of it. Panic wells up in my heart, and I'm a second from shrieking when Val looks up from her phone and her brown eyes bug out.

"Relax, it's just me!" Val holds her hands out like she's trying to calm a spooked horse.

My shriek dies in my throat, and I cough, shooting a stern look at Val, perched on my bed. "How'd you get in here?"

Val quirks an eyebrow, pointing to my window and the tree just beyond it. "Just call me Catwoman."

    I roll my eyes, folding my arms across my chest. With an exasperated sort of smile on my face, I ask "What're you doing here, Val?"

Val lights up, leaping off of my bed and getting to her feet. She's short, Val is, but she's got an adventurous spirit and enough sass to add about a foot to her height. "We're going out."

I feel something shrivel up inside of me. As if in response, my body begins to feel like it's made of lead; all I want to do is sleep.

Val gives a short sigh, slouching a bit. "Willa. It's barely nine on a Friday night. Do you even know what today is?"

Over the summer, I can hardly remember what day it is, let alone what events there are. My eyes drift towards my bookish calendar hanging on my wall, but Val interrupts, "It's NaperFest!"

    "Oh," I feel like I've been hit between the eyes. "So?"

"So?" Val snorts, mocking me. "Let's go!"

"Val," I groan, leaning against my bookshelf for emphasis on my exhaustion. "I was at work today. I'm tired."

Val, however, has kicked into Val Mode. She's tuned out everything except what she wants to hear, dwelling on only the situation she's prepared to delve into. Val's halfway to my window, talking animatedly as she types away on her phone.

"I told Ben to park down the block so your mom wouldn't see and freak out. I'll tell him we're on our way." Val rambles.

"Woah, Ben agreed to this?" I blink, confused. Ben's the third point in our little triumvirate; the middle man between my introversion and Val's gung-ho personality. Last I heard from Ben during my break at work, he was planning on starting his indie movie marathon tonight.

"He wanted funnel cake," Val chimes without looking up from her phone.

"Oh, yeah, I get it then." I walk over to my mirror, checking over as much of my appearance as possible. My brown hair's a little flat from being in a bun all day, but I run my hands through it to add some volume. My make-up's still intact, thank God. What do people wear to NaperFest? I've only ever gone once when I was six, and now eleven years later, I'm sure the fashion has changed.

As Val rattles on about her plans for the night, I cast a look at her in the mirror. Val's nineties-grunge style is her signature look, but maybe...

I swap my black hoodie for a billowy white tank-top, readjusting the fit of my shorts. This shirt's one of my favorites, but it always tends to slip down, showing off more cleavage than society deems appropriate. Not that I care all too much, but still.

"Ready to go?" Val asks as I whirl around. "Ben wants that funnel cake."

I chew on my lip, forgetting one tiny detail. "Val, my mom. She'll freak if I sneak out."

Val huffs a piece of her dark hair out of her face, scrunching her nose up as she thinks. "Then you won't sneak out." And with that, she glides out of my room and down the hall.

My heart plunges to my stomach. This won't be pretty. I fly after Val, but she's halfway down the stairs. By the time I catch up with her, nearly slipping on the tile of the downstairs hall, my heart's in my throat.

"Mrs. Murdock," Val begins politely. "Would Willa be able to join Ben and I at NaperFest today? We'd only be gone for an hour or two."

Mom, who was seated on the couch, turns around with a look of confused surprise in her eyes. A calculating look fills her face, and I plead that she won't freak out with the spontaneity.

"Sure," she shrugs, and turns back to the news.

I blink. "Sure?"

Mom meets my gaze. "Would you rather me say no?"

"No!" I yelp. "Just..."

Before I can undermine the plan, Val loops her arm through mine and beams at my mother. "Thanks, Mrs. Murdock! Have a nice night!" And parades me towards the front door.

"Did that just happen?" I ask as we step outside. The night is balmy, suddenly full of possibility. Part of me thinks that I'm dreaming, that I fell asleep during the Bachelorette and this is all just some summer-induced fantasy.

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Val chimes with a laugh. "I don't think your mom's ever been that cool with something."

Mom, while loving and supportive, can be rather strict when it comes to plans. Any event that I want to go to sometimes feels like I need to let her know 3-5 business days in advance, and spontaneous plans almost never are approved. Then again, being best friends with Val for the past seven years might have worn down some of her tactics.

"Where's Ben?" I ask, searching the quiet street as Val and I start down the sidewalk.

Val jogs ahead to the street corner, hopping up on the rock that we used as kids to identify the bus stop. She peers through the indigo darkness, then lights up. "Down there!"

I catch up with Val as she leaps down onto the pavement, then we take off towards Ben's black Honda. As if on cue, the doors slide open, and Val and I leap in.

"Took you long enough," Ben drawls from the driver's seat. He turns around, giving us a sarcastic look. "Did your mom let you go or did you sneak out?"

"She let us out on parole, sargent," Val reaches forward and swats Ben's arm.

Ben's grey eyes widen in shock. "Wait, really?"

"Are you going to go before she changes her mind?" I ask, a sarcastic smile on my face.

Ben puts his hands up in surrender, but turns back around and kicks the car into gear. Before we know it, we're zooming out of my neighborhood and towards downtown.

"So what ride should we hit up first?" Val kicks her converse-clad feet up on the dashboard, twisting around to face me. "Tilt-A-Whirl?"

I make a face, shaking my head. "I went on the Tilt-A-Whirl when I was six and threw up on my dad."

Val wrinkles her nose in disgust. "Scratch that. Ferris Wheel?"

"You both can do whatever you'd like," Ben says as we approach a stoplight, turning his head to face Val and I. "I will be at the nearest funnel cake vendor."

"We know," Val and I chorus, and Ben gives us a funny look before the light turns green and we're off towards downtown. Ben and Val engage in some miniature argument like they always do--in this case, Val trying to wheedle Ben into going on a rollercoaster and Ben firmly refusing--and I find myself staring outside the window, watching the lights and the cars and the town whir by.

There's something magical about summer, right as it's about to end. When the sky turns violet and orange, ignited by stars and streetlights. Cars blur by, as do the laughs and the long nights, but the memories remain. It's like a dream. A beautiful dream on the verge of ending, but you know it's all worthwhile.

☼

NaperFest is the crown jewel of our tiny little Naperbrook, Illinois. Held at the end of each July, Naperbrook's tiny downtown transforms overnight into a huge carnival ground for a whopping three days. Seeing as Naperbrook isn't normally on the map for much of anything, this little summer treat reaps just about the whole town in visitors and revenue.

I remember being younger and finding Naperfest a nuisance, because it always blocked off the public library, which used to be my favorite place in town. However, walking through the crowds with Val and Ben, music playing through the air and the atmosphere of people enjoying themselves in the air, deteriorates my grudges against Naperfest.

The three of us take a seat at a small table nearby a funnel cake vendor, because Ben claims he needs another helping. And then we're just sitting, talking, peeling off chunks of sugary-dough and popping it in our mouths. Funnel cake isn't the best thing I've ever eaten, but I suppose when in Rome.

Val nods at me as she swallows another bite of Ben's funnel cake. "Isn't this much better than another evening on Tumblr?"

"Speak for yourself," Ben answers for me, swatting away Val's hand as it encroaches upon the funnel cake. "Tumblr can get pretty lit."

"Don't get me started, Ashwood. I have a bone to pick with you too." Val shoots him a look. "Who spends a friday night with indie movies?"

"A lot of people!" Ben counters. "And paws off my funnel cake."

Val rolls her hands, dusting off her powdered sugar-covered hands. "But really, Wil, are you having fun?"

I glance around the carnival around us, as if searching for a reason why I wouldn't be, but turn back to Val and grin. "Yes, I am," I confide, a laugh in my voice. "So relax."

"Me? Relax? Pfft, what a concept," Val reaches over and snatches away more funnel cake from Ben's plate. Ben, in response, makes a strangled noise, muffled by funnel cake, and yanks away the plate.

I giggle, leaning back to escape the sudden poof of powdered sugar in Val and Ben's grapple. But to no avail. Sugar spills over the small table, our hands, and onto parts of our clothing. My smile melts off my face, and I watch Val and Ben, who are both wearing matching expressions.

Ben takes a deep breath, and I stifle a laugh at the powdered sugar clinging to the ends of his tousled black hair. "This is why we can't have nice things, Valentina."

Val's eyes widen, and she presses a frosted hand to her chest in mock offense. "Did you just--"

"He did just." I confirm, my eyebrows raised.

"And I'll do it again!" Ben taunts, but I see the joking manner in his eyes.

Val's expression is steely, the expression of a queen who knows when to pick her battles. "If you're pulling the full name card, then I remind you to watch your step," She leans in conspiratorially. "Benvolio."

Ben gasps like he's been stabbed. "You didn't."

"Yeah, that's right," Val says with a nod. "I went there."

My gaze darts between my two best friends as if I'm watching a tennis match. Knowing them, they'll forget about this little feud like they always do, but the Full Name Feud tends to make things tense.

"I'm going to go grab some napkins," I say, but I don't think Val and Ben register my voice in their staring match.

Shaking my head to myself, I get up from my seat and head towards the side of the funnel cake vendor. It's not too busy, but there are a few people standing near the counter, waiting for their orders. Some look about my age, some are adults, some are just little kids. I weave around them all to the edge of the counter, then find myself staring up at the menu plastered on the board.

Maybe I should get us some drinks? Or another funnel cake? Food is the great uniter, after all. Especially between Val and Ben. I'm staring so intently at this menu, my hand outstretched to the napkin dispenser, that I don't even realize there are people around me.

"Willa?"

I whirl around and find myself staring up at Levi Graham's chiseled yet kind face. He's smiling at me in partial amusement, or is that confusion?

"Levi," I hear myself say, completely caught off guard. "Hi."

"Hey," Levi smiles. "Are you going to order something?"

I blink. I was ordering something? Then I turn my head and find the cashier behind the counter looking at me expectantly. Oh. Levi was just trying to get my attention so I didn't hold up the line.

"Oh, um, yeah," I clear my throat. "Three Dasanis, please. And a funnel cake."

The cashier shakes her head to herself, then types something into her monitor. "Five dollars."

I fumble for my wallet, when Levi speaks, "I've got it."

My head snaps up. "What?"

Levi gives me a sympathetic look. "It's only five bucks, and you look like you can't find your wallet right now." He winks at me knowingly, and I feel my cheeks burn in embarrassment. I mutter a quick thanks, and shuffle down the counter to let the others order. Levi places his, and then follows me as we wait.

"So how've you been?" Levi asks, his dark eyes bright. "Having a good summer?"

I shrug, a lazy smile on my face. "I guess. I've been working a lot." I shift my weight, running a hand through my hair.

"So have I," Levi laughs, smiling. "Where do you work?"

Before I can answer, my three water bottles are pushed over the counter. I grab them, pull them over to me, and then grab a plethora of napkins as I wait for my funnel cake.

"Carlino's," I chime, remembering that Levi had asked me a question. "How about you?"

"The animal clinic," Levi answers.

"Oh! That's really cool." I say. "Must be fun to hang out with pets all day."

Levi chuckles, and I think he's about to say something but someone walks to the counter with our orders. I grab my funnel cake and Levi grabs his, and as more and more people begin to shuffle down the counter in pursuit of their orders, I figure that our little conversation has come to an end.

"Well, I should probably get back to the guys. See you around, Willa!" Levi waves with his free hand, then turns on his heel, disappearing into the crowd.

"Bye," I say, but he doesn't hear me. I'm left standing there in a daze for a moment, before the reality of the situation floods into me and I suddenly feel very drained. Biting back a curse, I trudge back over to Val and Ben.

"There you are!" Val exclaims upon seeing me. "Where'd you--ooh, food." She takes the plate of funnel cake out of my hands and digs in.

I plop back down onto the bench of the table, setting down the water bottles. Napkins flutter down from my grasp, and I'm too lazy to keep track of them.

"What happened? You look like you had to sell your soul to get us funnel cake." Ben asks as he uncaps a Dasani.

I take a deep breath. "Nothing, aside from the fact I am the exact opposite of a social butterfly."

"A social slug?" Val quips from behind a mouthful of funnel cake.

Ben draws his eyebrows together in confusion and concern. "What happened?"

"Levi Graham happened," I answer, and Val chokes on her funnel cake.

"Levi Graham? No offense, but what did he want with you?" Val manages.

I roll my eyes. "Gee, thanks Val."

Val shrugs. "I said no offense. But tell me! You've liked him since, what, seventh grade?"

I nod, filling Ben and Val in on my encounter with one of West High's most popular boys, and how he ever so kindly paid for the funnel cake Val has long since forgotten about. By the end of my thrilling tale, my best friends are equally as baffled as I am.

"Levi's hot," Val prefaces, holding up a manicured finger. "But last I heard, Melina Sanchez laid claim to him last month. Or actually laid him. Or maybe that was someone else."

Something inside of my deflates. "Val, I don't think he was flirting with me or anything. We were talking about work."

"Why on Earth would that be what you discuss?" Ben says, taking a sip of his water.

I shrug. "I don't know. Like I said, this situation confuses me enough. But if one thing's for sure it is that I am so sick of just...freezing up whenever stuff like this happens."

"You just need a confidence booster," Val reaches over, attempting to pat my shoulder sincerely, but her hands are covered in powdered sugar and I lurch away.

"And you need a napkin," I quip, snatching one from the table and throwing it at her.

Val quirks a pointed brow, shaking her head at me. "I'm telling you, Willa. This is senior year. As much as I love you, you've gotta come out of your shell! This is the year we get to have fun."

I throw my hands up in exasperation. "I know! I don't know, I'm just not sure if it'll be any different from years past."

Ben nudges my side, giving me a reassuring smile. "Life's what you make it, kid."

Despite myself, a smile tugs at my lips. I shake my head, taking a swig from my water bottle. Not before long, my miniature boy crisis has been thrown to the wind, and Val and Ben have come to an agreement to go play some carnival games. We toss our trash, and the next thing I know, Val's dragging me towards the glimmering lights and rides, Ben in tow. And if that doesn't define our entire friendship, I'm not sure what does.