Page 100 of Hard Rock Tease

Ipausedfor a moment after hitting send. Was I fawning too much? No, I decided. It was a fact Jayce’s acoustic solos were magical.

Slipping my headphones over my ears, not wanting the librarians to come over and shush me, I clicked to start the video of Jayce’s live acoustic performance. With the video playing on the left side of my screen, I opened up a fresh Word document on the other and got to work.

I could never write my music reviews at home. My comfy, inviting bed was visible from the computer desk in my tiny apartment. I lacked the willpower to resist afternoon naps. The library was the one place I could concentrate to get work done.

My phone pinged. Glancing at it quickly, I saw a notification from CHATTR, the hottest new social network.

@PointShootNeil:Is there something I should know?

@AudioAiley:About what?

You’ve been posting about that Jayce guy an awful lot lately. Are there wedding bells in your future?

You know it’s not like that. He’s untouchable. An icon. A god. My love for him is a fangirl love. It’s not real.

Just because he’s a rock star doesn’t mean he’s untouchable.

You think I’m gonna hang backstage at his concerts and try to get his attention like a groupie? You know me better than that.

As much ashe liked to tease me about my obsession with the guitarist of Feral Silence, Neildidknow me better. We’d never met in person and had only exchanged messages online for six months, but it felt like I’d known him for years. I hoped he felt the same.

@PointShootNeil:Doesn’t your boyfriend get jealous when you wax poetic about your fantasy husband?

@AudioAiley:You know I’m single. Thanks for rubbing it in.

Iwasactive on a few social media sites and had a bit of a following in the music scene. When a user named PointShootNeil messaged, complimenting one of my album reviews, I’d been flattered. It was hard to be thorough as well as concise, but he seemed to enjoy my pithy commentary.

I’d checked out Neil’s profile and learned he was into films and cinematography. We continued messaging back and forth, getting to know one another. I didn’t know much about him aside from what he shared online.

We didn’t even know what each other looked like. His avatar was a headshot, blurred and distorted. Mine was a full body shot, my face in shadow. Each of us guarded our private lives religiously, not wanting to open ourselves up to internet trolls. Despite that, I considered him a friend. Maybe it was because he didn’t know me in real life I felt like I could open up to him.

Doyou want to change that?

Iblinked, re-reading the message. I scrolled back up. Realization dawned on me.

Are you asking me out?

Yes.

Asmile creptonto my face. Neil and I shared the same blunt attitude. It was refreshing to find someone like that.

My phone buzzed with an email message. I was going to ignore it—this conversion was more important—until I saw who it was from.

[email protected]

RE: job application, social media intern

Stomach leaping into my throat, a small squeak escaped my mouth. I darted my eyes around, embarrassed, but no one on the third floor of the library noticed.

Hovering my thumb over the screen, I debated whether or not to open the email. This moment, this one moment, could change my life forever.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest, my pulse racing. I was getting dizzy. My lungs burned, having stopped breathing. Wishing I had a paper bag to blow into, I forced myself to wheeze in and out.

Squeezing my eyelids shut, I held my breath and tapped. There. It was done. Decision made.

I opened my eyes.

Dear Aimee Lee,