Page 43 of Exactly What I Needed
“What is it?” I asked, shutting my computer and swiveling on the chair to face her. She sat next to me and slapped her package down. She pushed at the end, and the vinyl banner unfurled. My heart stopped, guilt rising in my throat.
“Ta-da!” She clapped her hands in glee as I stared at the massive picture of Void. “I’m going to get them to sign it at the double concert weekend!” She swooned, drawing a heart around Asher with her finger.
“You bought tickets already? I didn’t even know they were on sale,” I muttered.
Guilt. Guilty me.
“Of course I did! They went live at midnight, and I bought tickets for both family and adult nights. Am I going to have to beg to get you to come again?” she replied, staring dreamily at the banner.
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” I tried to shove the sick feeling in my stomach out. I should just tell her about Asher.
“Ooooo, sounds mysterious.” She faced me and grinned, her eyes twinkling with delight.
“So, apparently I am the last person to know about Void because the entire school district is having a meeting on Friday about how the class schedule will be altered for the first concert,” I began, and she nodded fervently.
“Go on.”
“And my students may have baited me into saying I’d go.”
“Yes, bitch!” she squealed, shot up from her chair, and began dancing around the room.
“I’m not done yet, Syd,” I continued, and she paused.
“There’s more?” she gasped.
I nodded. “I have to have someone record me at both the family and adult nights singing one of their songs that my students choose. Would you—”
“ABSOLUTELY!” She jumped up. “At your birthday, we should make sure we take some selfies and such with them and ask them to find us in the crowd during their concerts because I got front row pit tickets again!”
Shame. I was the worst friend ever. She was nothing but excited, full of hopes and dreams that at some point, Asher would fall for her. It wasn’t like the other members weren’t good-looking; they were, but they just weren’t the ones that she wanted, and somehow, I was entangled in this game with Asher that I would inevitably lose. Whether it be him or her, I would lose.
“Oh, and could you snag one more ticket on family night for Elysia? She asked to come since she’s trying to maintain her ‘cool teacher’ status with her students,” I asked as my phone buzzed.
“Of course! I’m going to go do that right now!” She quickly rolled up her banner and disappeared into her room. I heard her clacking away on her computer’s keyboard within another minute.
My shoulders sagged. How long would I be able to keep up this charade before someone got hurt? Reaching to my right, I grabbed my cell phone and glanced at the notification. A text from Asher was waiting.
A smile slid across my face as I quickly unlocked it and read his waiting message.
Did you look in your purse yet?
I furrowed my brows and rose from the table. Quietly walking into my bedroom, I grabbed the beige purse I’d taken into the studio earlier today and unzipped it. Digging around inside, I eventually found something that didn’t belong.
Tugging the plastic keycard from my bag, I stared at the original hotel key that Asher had given me. His number was smudged now, but still written on it.
Unlocking my phone, I quickly typed out a reply and hit send.
What’s that for?
Those bubbles appeared, and then his answer popped up.
For tomorrow and Friday. I’ll be done at the studio before you finish teaching. Come by my room so we can continue making sure that your students think you’re the most badass teacher they have;)
I rolled my eyes. Of course that’s how he would take it. Typing in an answer, I lay down flat on my stomach on my bed and sent the message.
Friday I can’t. The district is having a meeting about what to do class schedule wise the day of your concert. Apparently they don’t believe students will stay for everything after lunch because of you. And I am the most badass teacher despite any of this.
Those infamous bubbles appeared, and then his quick reply.
