Strings (1 of 2)

"Keep your voice down! This is where I work!" I whisper-scream a warning at Jade.

She stands before me in a flashy black and white polka dot dress that hugs her curves and her short pink hair styled in waves. She holds her Michael Kors purse off her left wrist, with her other hand on her hip. It's quite a look... even for her. It screams 'notice me'.

"I don't get why you're getting so mad!" She says in a lower voice and I glare at her.

"You're bailing 3 days before! Should I be happy?"

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, infuriating me more. Once again, she doesn't care about anyone but herself. It's always the Jade show and I'm a minor character with no lines.

"Em, I can't pass up this opportunity. That's my work. I have to go." She pouts and I roll my eyes.

She was supposed to drop by before my shift started to say hi and meet Jake, as I reluctantly agreed to let her do. She wasn't supposed to spring the news of her cancelling on me for the concert Friday and act like it's nothing.

She was so elated when she showed up and told me some rich older guy she knows offered to go on a shoot in the Cayman Islands for a week. Of course they leave Thursday night. 

I understand she's a model - or rather, an Instagram model - and this is her work, that isn't my issue. Normally I wouldn't care if she bailed. She does it all the time. But I wanted to see this concert. I've been waiting years to see X Ambassadors live. I forgot it was this week and not August and I had just gotten all excited to go and told Jake I needed the day off for nothing. There's no one to go with now.

"Who's this?" I hear Jake's deep voice ring out beside me and I immediately stand up straighter and shoot a warning look at Jade.

I smile at him and introduce my selfish, annoying friend. "This is my friend, Jade. Sorry she was just leaving." I give her a pointed look.

She squints at me before turning to Jake with a large smile and an outstretched hand.

"Hey, I'm Jade. Emily's best friend." She bats her eyelashes at him and he smiles. I can't tell if it is his polite smile or if he is actually interested.

"Jake." He shakes her hand and then puts both in his black jeans' pockets.

"I have heard a lot about you." Jade flirts and my cheeks flush.

Jake's eyes flick to mine and I blush more, making him chuckle. "All good, I hope." He says with a grin, turning his eyes back to her.

She giggles and nods. I turn my attention to my phone and tune out their conversation.

'Come over tonight? x ' a text from Nathan appears on my lock screen.

I click on his message and type a response. 'After family dinner, maybe.'

'What's wrong? ' he replies quickly.

'I'll call you later.' I reply and slip my phone into my back packet after making sure it is on silent.

"Emily?" Jade's voice calls and I look back over to her. She smiles at me as if nothing happened between us and winks, flitting her eyes towards Jake so I get her hint.

"What?" I ask harshly and her smile falters a little.

"Jake offered to get me a table." She says in a bubbly voice. I raise my eyebrows and look to Jake for a second, but he's too preoccupied staring at my annoying friend to notice.