Page 4 of Man Seeking Woman

It came down to experience and regular facetime at the schools. Both of which I didn't have compared to the other teachers around me. Factor in that I was a music teacher, and opportunities dwindled by the dozen.

My dream was, and always had been, to teach at Juilliard. That was the whole point of moving to New York in the first place. But my dream far out weighed the reality, it was a smack in the face. Juliard hadn't called, and I didn't know if they ever would.

So, here I was, picking up random shifts when I was lucky enough to snag one, just trying to make ends meet. But, as all the bills liked to remind me, my debt had outgrown my income. New York was expensive.

Grabbing the newspaper I had picked up the day before, I dropped into the worn chair in my living room, and stared off out the window. The city was still lit brightly, and I could see the Hudson River, glittering under the moon between the two buildings across the street.

The first night in my apartment, I remembered having a smile on my face that I couldn't get rid of as I looked out my window. Tonight there was no hint of a grin at all.

My mind was spinning with ways to make enough money to pay my bills and not have to give up on my dream. I could hear my mother's voice in my ear, warning me that this move was too risky and I should really reconsider my decision.

She wanted me to stay closer to home, taking some time to get teaching experience in my hometown, then make this move once I had my shit straight.

I wouldn't hear it, I was convinced that I'd get my chance to perform at Juilliard and they'd be begging me to start teaching the next day. . . I couldn't have been more wrong.

What the hell was I thinking?

I was too proud to listen and too determined to show her I knew what I was doing. Music was all I ever wanted to do with my life, and this was where I thought I belonged.

My phone pinged, pulling me out of the daze I was in. Picking it up, I looked at the message.

You busy?

It was my best friend, Kayla, and I was relieved. For a second, I thought it was my mother, because for some unknown reason, whenever I thought of her, it was like she could sense it, and I'd see her name on my phone.

'Nope, just got home. What's up?'I texted back.

'It's Justin, he's being a prick. I don't know what to do anymore.'Kayla's message lit up my screen and instantly I felt annoyed. Not with her, but with the douchebag boyfriend she claimed was her world.

'Sorry to hear that.'Rolling my eyes as I typed, I started to type more about how I already knew he was an asshole, but I decided to leave that part out.

'I've been telling you he's no good, what happened this time?'I asked, knowing that was much less combative and wouldn't upset her any more than she already was.

If he was being a dick, she didn't need me to jump on her either.

'He thinks I only go to work to hit on other guys. He just stormed off, pissed, and acting like a tool. In the mood for some company? I really don't want to be alone right now.'

It was almost ten at night, and I had caught a lucky break, landing a half-day shift at the elementary school up on West Seventy-seventh the next morning. But, Kayla was my best friend, I couldn't turn her away when she needed me.

'Of course, come on over. I have a fresh bottle of red with your name on it.'

'Done.'Her text came through and I didn't have to wait long for her to show up. My bell buzzed ten minutes later.

Pushing the button to let her in, I waited with my door open, watching the elevator. The doors opened, and I could tell instantly she was about to burst into tears. She had probably been holding them in since she left her apartment.

Her eyes were swollen and red, her jet black hair was sticking to her face where it was still damp from the tears she had already cried. Wearing gray sweat pants and a pink tank-top, she carried herself like her entire world had just imploded while she was on her way home from the gym.

Oh, Kay, he's not worth a single tear.

"Come here," I said, keeping my thought to myself and holding out my arms to her. It didn't matter how much I hated her boyfriend, if she needed my shoulder, she could have it.

Kayla sludged forward, her shoulders rolling sadly as she wiped her nose. "I don't know what to do, he's jealous over nothing. He said we're done, that he can't deal with it anymore." Her body started shaking as the tears came down hard, so I hugged her tighter.

"Shh, it's alright." Rubbing her back, I guided her inside my apartment. "You know what I think, I think he's just an insecure jackass who doesn't know a good thing when it's staring him right in the face."

Her breathing was heavy as she lifted her face to look at me. "Yeah, but you're supposed to think that, you're my best friend." Her tears thinned as she sniffled and tried to give me a smile.

Ripping a paper towel off the roll, I passed it to her. "Here, wipe easy, this is all I have. I only allow the elite and Chris Pratt to use my aloe vera infused tissues."

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