School, in a cool way

Senna's POV

Crawling into bed a few moments later feels almost surreal. It's the first time I've been alone since just before breakfast and even that was only for a few minutes.

Again I make sure to check in with everyone, especially my Mum. Then I do want a really want to do and reply to Harri.

I read the message.

"Sounds like you've got a group around you? You said you're on the road, does that mean you don't go to school?

I'm in Chapeldown, do you know it?

By the way, I forgot to ask how old are you?"

Wow, that's a lot of questions, I think not really sure how to reply. I don't like lying but I really don't want to tell her who I am. Not yet anyway. I mean I like that she doesn't know and is still talking to me. It feels real. It's really tough in this industry to find a genuine connection and if you do get lucky, things can still change. I only need to look at Beckett and Joanna to understand that.

I take a deep breath and type.

"Hi Harri, not sure you'd believe me if I told you how crazy my life is. Maybe one day I'll fill you in. Nothing illegal- I promise:)

But yeah, I'm 17 and don't go to school, not in the traditional way. I have a tutor, it's kinda like homeschooling. But in a cool way.

Yeah, I know where Chapeldown is.

I grew up about an hour away in McCrae Crest. How old are you?"

What was I thinking? Homeschooling in a cool way. Ergh, I'm such an idiot. If ignoring her message for an entire day wasn't enough to stop her replying that sure will be. I turn out the light not expecting to get a reply after that effort.

As soon as I close my eyes I'm opening them again. The faint tone of a notification alerting me to a new message. "She replied?" I say out loud to no one.

"Glad you said it was nothing illegal, I was starting to think maybe you're a drug baron.

Haha.

But a cool homeschool? I don't buy it. I'm not sure that school in any way is cool. At least not for me....

I'm 16. 17 next month.

Oh, McCrae Crest, that's cool. Isn't that where that band is from? Can't remember their name. By best friend Jazz is obsessed with them."

Oh shit. I didn't even think of that when I told her where home is. I cautiously write a reply.

"Yeah, it is. That's all I hear about when I'm home.

Are you a fan of their stuff?"

Oh sorry, didn't mean to upset you. Not really a fan. I mean they're cool, but I prefer a little more old school grunge/rock.

My best friend, Jazz is in love with the smaller guy. She's totally in his lane. I think his name is Jacks."

I laugh. I'll have to tell Jax that- he'll love it!

"Oh yeah, Jax. I've met him a few times, he seems cool. No need to apologize I don't mind talking about it."

I stare at the three little pulsating incoming message dots.

"Oops, Jax not Jacks. You've met him??? Well, I guess you would if you come from the same area.... I've never met anyone famous. Not that I'd know anyway, I've always been a little bit out of the loop. Haha.

I have an excuse though, I moved here from the country about three years ago and Jazz is really my only friend. I just found it hard to adjust, and getting on the wrong side of the popular girls early on didn't help."

The more I text Harri, the more connected I feel with her. I find her honesty refreshing. I'm so sick of everyone being nice to me and telling me what I want to hear, and me telling them what they want to hear that it's nice to not feel that pressure.

"That's a shame! You seem like the kind of girl I'd have hung out with. We could have spent our lunchtimes listening to Nirvana together. And don't worry about the popular girls, they've reached their peak. By the time you finish school they'll be a distant memory."

"Thanks. Ignoring them is easier said than done. Just have to keep my head down until I graduate in a few years.

Sorry I didn't mean to drop that all on you. I'm awkward af.

I mean we don't even know each other I just feel..."

I finish her message.

"Connected?"

"Yeah. Please tell me if I'm being a creep."

Again I genuinely laugh out loud. This chick is funny.

"If anyone's a creep it's me. I'm the one who said it."

"Yeah, I guess so. Ok, I admit it. You're the creep. Haha"

"Let's just agree that we're both creeps."

"Ok, deal:) "

I smile but feel the weight of my lids getting heavier.

"Harri, I've really enjoyed our chat but I have to go, it's late here and I've had a big day."

"Oh ok, sorry if I've been keeping you up. I didn't realize. It's still early here."

"Good night,"

By the way, Harri stop apologizing, I like talking to you. It's been the highlight of my day. "

"Can we do it again?"

I see the three dots. Then they disappear. Then they reappear. I panic. I must have scared her and now she's working out how to tell me to piss off. I'm just about to give up when I the reply comes.

"Goodnight SJ."

"By the way, I like talking to you too. Talk soon."

My cheeks flush. How is it possible that some chick I've never even seen has me like this? I mean I've had girlfriends and crushes before but for some reason, this feels different.

To be fair my "girlfriends" have mostly just been people Zander thought I'd be good with and a few dinner dates with a famous actress or model is hardly a relationship. Not to say it wasn't real, but they weren't really real. I mean I didn't feel anything for them and they weren't really real. Not that anyone would believe that. If you listened to the media, you'd think I was a man whore. I even got voted "Player of the year," by a magazine last year. If only they knew.

That's stuff I don't want to tell Harri. Girls like this, wouldn't put up with crap like that. I know it.

*****

I drift off to sleep with the memories of girlfriends past flashing through my head. It's a fairly restless night and another 7am Zander wake up doesn't help much either. I drag myself out of bed and into the shower and a few minutes later I'm bumping into Jax in the hotel hallway.

"Morning Sen!" he says too cheerily for this time of the morning

I run my hands through my hair, flattening a loose curl. "Morning Jax. Hey, guess what?" He looks at me, raising his eyebrow curiously. "I was chatting with Harri last night an--"

He cuts me off before I can finish, "oh, were you now? Is that why you were so keen to go to bed last night?"

"Um, no! That was because I was tired and you and Beckett were being... well, I don't know what you were being." A twinge of jealous creeps back into the pit of my stomach.

He laughs, "come off it! Just admit it, you wanted to speak to the girl."

I give him a one-sided smile, flashing my dimple. "Never."

"Whatever you say, bro. Now tell me, what's got your panties in a twist this fine morning?"

I punch him in the arm. "Shut up! If you're going to be smartarse I'll keep it to myself. Your loss."

"Oh, okay don't be like that. Just tell me," he begs giving me his best 'I'll be good' face.

I clear my throat. "So I was talking to Harri," I pause, expecting him to interject with a smartarse response.

"And......" he says, waving his arms in a circle gesturing for me to continue.

I tell him about our conversation and how we got talking about the band, and how she still doesn't know that I am me. Well, the Gate Thirty Four me. He tries hard not to, but I can see he is smirking.

"Anyway, then she tells me that her best friend is in your lane..." I say so quickly it almost sounds like one word.

He laughs, "she what?"

"She said her best friend is in love with you. Well, I think it was you. She did type it as Jacks, as in J-A-C-K-S, so I can't really be  sure." I smirk.

"Well, well.  Got any pics of this bestie?"

I shake my head at the question as the lift arrives.

"Maybe when you and your girlfriend get your acts together we can double date." He loudly suggests with a laugh as we hop out of the lift at the restaurant for breakfast.

"Girlfriend? You have a girlfriend, Sen? A surprised voice asks as soon as we turn the corner.

"Uhhh no, Rafa I don't. Jax is just being stupid. Weren't you Jax?" I say, nudging him into agreement.

"Yeah, yeah. You know me, Raf," he says half convincingly.

"That's a shame, Sen. You could do with a bit of action," Luca says grabbing me playfully in a headlock.

I try and pull my head free, but it's a losing battle. Both Rafa and Luca were champion wrestlers before joining the band, and while I'm not exactly small, my arms are half the size of that of the twins.

"Hey, he's mine!" Jax calls out jovially, slapping Luca's arm.

As Luca lets go, Jax throws his arm possessively over my shoulder. "Sax forever, remember?" he jokes as we make our way to breakfast.