MALLORY'S POV

The next day came and Mads had invited me to spend the day with her, Maddie, and Elaine before the movie night. The girls wanted to go shopping at an outlet mall, and I agreed to go with them because I realized I needed new, more professional clothes for my internship. We had already been in a few stores where I found some clothes. We were now in Urban Outfitters browsing throughout the store.

"Oh my gosh," Mads giggled and Maddie, Elaine, and I looked over at her. "Should I get this shirt for Drew? He would love it." She laughed as she held up a navy blue Coors Light graphic t-shirt that had a vintage look to it.

"Drew has a million beer shirts, Mads." Elaine rolled her eyes with a smile.

"But look at the back," Mads said as she turned around the shirt. "It's a rodeo tee." She told us as we could see a white silhouette of a bull skull with the word 'RODEO' under it in red letters. "I don't think he has this one."

"I'm almost positive I saw him in that exact shirt like three days ago." Maddie Bailey lightly laughed.

"Okay and if he already has it then I'll just keep it for myself." Mads told us and I couldn't help but laugh at her reasoning.

"Whatever floats your goat, dude." Maddie giggled.

I continued to look at the graphic tees myself. I loved t-shirts and graphic ones with some of my favorite things on them were especially my favorite.

"See anything you like?" Mads asked me as she made her way down the line of graphic tees to me.

I nodded as I continued to look around. "Yeah, I really like some of these."

"You should get some. They are the comfiest tees ever." She told me. "I'm getting this one," She showed me a t-shirt that had The Office on it. "And I'm getting this one for Drew." She said as she held up the Coors shirt from a minute ago.

"Ah," I nodded. "I left a majority of my clothes at home so I do need some new shirts." I told her. "Um, speaking of Drew," I hesitantly began. Since we were alone and talking about Drew, I had been dying to know if she found anything out from the other night. "Did you ever find anything out? I mean, not that it matters, I-I was just wondering." I asked her, since she never got back to me on what exactly was going on with Drew and I. I was curious if they had talked about me and I was curious as to what Drew thought of me. I had no idea what to make of this whole situation.

"Holy shit, yeah," Mads nodded. "I totally forgot to tell you. I talked to him myself that night because Chase wouldn't tell me shit." She giggled. "But yeah, I just wanna say, in the past two days, you've brought out the best in him."

"W-What? Really?" I gasped, not believing that response. I couldn't believe anything that has happened the past couple days, but hearing that I was bringing out the best in Drew, just after knowing him for two days, left me speechless. "What do you mean by that?"

"He just seems to be in a better mood. Don't get me wrong, Drew is usually a happy, funny guy, but like he would sleep till three in the afternoon everyday. Yesterday and today he woke up at nine in the morning and got his day started. Personally, I think it's because he can't wait to see you." Mads explained to me and I couldn't help but gape my mouth open in pure shock.

Though it had only been two days, it seemed insane to me that I was already improving his everyday life. And the scary part was, he was doing the same exact thing to me.

I woke up yesterday and today looking so forward to seeing him and being with him. I was looking forward to being with everyone else too, but something about Drew motivated me to be better in what ever way I could.

Thinking back to the day we met and when he dropped me off, I couldn't sleep that night. He had dropped me off at my place around 10:45 that night, and I couldn't go to sleep until five in the morning. I couldn't get him out of my mind. His smile, his laugh, the way he would look down at me because of our height difference. Everything about him was so special. I felt so guilty for thinking that way.

"Mal?" I heard Mads say as she knocked me from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I now looked at her, blinking for a second and licking my lips that had gone dry.

"Are you good?" She giggled and I nodded my head.

"Y-Yeah," I spoke after a second of trying to gather my thoughts.

"Drew's a really good guy," She told me as she patted my shoulder. "Plus, you two would look really good together." She smirked and my eyes widened as I felt my cheeks flush red.

Had they talked about us dating? There was no way.

"Guys, look! OBX merch!" Maddie exclaimed from nearly across the store to Mads and I.

"OBX seriously needs to come out with some merch." Mads said as she started heading towards Maddie and Elaine. "They would literally make so much money."

I followed Mads over to the other girls and though I knew she had just said something to me, I couldn't answer. There were so many thoughts running through my head, I didn't know what to say.

We continued our shopping and I was still so distracted by the conversation Mads and I had. I kept to myself for the rest of the time, trying to process and think about everything. There was so much going through my head, I didn't know what to do.

**********

"The party has arrived!" Maddie cheered as us girls stepped into Rudy's apartment he shared with Elaine.

The guys cheered in response once they saw us. Rudy, Chase, JD, Austin, and Drew were crowded around the island in the kitchen, each one of them with a beer in their hand. It was now around seven that evening, so I'm sure the boys had been drinking for some time now.

When my eyes landed on Drew, it felt like the first time I ran into him. My breath was taken away and my heart was beating out of my chest. I noticed he was staring at me as well with a small smile on his lips, and he suddenly made me so nervous that I immediately broke eye contact and started following the girls to wherever they were walking.

Mads walked up next to Chase, Elaine with Rudy, and Maddie next to JD, who was next to Austin. The only open spot was next to Drew.

I walked over to him and smiled, but I felt so incredibly nervous.

Mads and Elaine were showing their boyfriends what they bought, and Maddie was showing JD and Austin, each one of them so excited about their new purchases.

"What did you get?" Drew asked me as he leaned on his elbows on the counter of the island.

"Nothing exciting," I shrugged as I looked down at the three bags in my hand. "Just some new clothes for my internship."

"Very nice." Drew nodded as he took a sip of his beer. "Speaking of your internship," He started as he looked at his friends to see they were too occupied to listen. "How would you feel about coming over to my place after your internship on Monday?"

My mouth gaped open in shock once again that day, and like for the past couple days, I had no idea what to say. "Really?" I questioned him and he immediately nodded.

"I wanna make you a celebratory dinner. I just think you deserve to understand the hype of my mom's famous casserole." He chuckled and I couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, I would love to be in on the hype of mama Jody's casserole." I joked with him. "I would really like that."

"Awesome." He smiled. "You'll be done at four, right?" Drew asked and I nodded. "Then I will pick you up Monday at four, and we'll have a bomb ass dinner and celebrate this new chapter in your life."

"Drew," I pouted, trying to hide the smile that seemed to be glued on my face whenever I was around him. "You're too sweet."

Drew chuckled as he shook his head. "You deserve this so much. I'm really excited for you." He said softly.

I felt my face go red at his kind words. I didn't know what I did to deserve him.

"Alright!" Rudy announced and everyone's attention went to him. "Are we gonna play show and tell or are we gonna watch a movie?" He questioned and everyone started laughing.

Everyone began making their way over to the living room and I set my bags down on a chair so I wouldn't forget them when I left. It seemed as though everyone had a designated spot and I was left there wondering where I was going to sit. I didn't want to take someone's spot.

"Mal," I heard and I turned my head to see Drew sitting in a bean bag chair, patting the one next to him. I smiled as I walked over, taking a seat next to Drew.

"Our 'Wheel of Genres'," Rudy announced as he brought out a literal spinning wheel, just like the ones from game shows, with different movie genres on them.

"You guys have a wheel of genres?" I lightly laughed to Drew.

"We take movie night very seriously." He nodded sternly.

I laughed as I shook my head, now watching Rudy spin the wheel and it landing on comedy. I let out a sigh of relief on the inside since it was so close to landing on horror, which I didn't know if I was ready for since I now lived by myself.

We discussed movies for a few minutes before finally landing on one, The Hangover. One of my favorite movies.

Elaine turned on the movie and our night began.

*****

a/n:

hiii guys so sorry for the late update. it's almost 2am and i just got home from a long weekend. i wanted to get this out to u guys before i went to bed tho, so i hope u enjoyed

see y'all wednesday<3