Very Bad Things (Briarcrest Academy #1)(20)

“We checked with local music stores and found Vixen. But Teddy? Kinda stumbled across him at a piano bar downtown that his sister owns.” He looked back at Teddy with a grin. “The night I saw him play he blew me away, playing old songs, new songs, pretty much anything the crowd wanted. He never used one piece of sheet music. So, I ended up staying until the bar closed and talked to him and his sister. Invited him to be part of our group.”

“Doesn’t he slow you down with his disability?”

Leo’s entire face tightened. “He’s considered high functioning and smarter than you think. He’s a person, just like you or me. He’s not an idiot,” he retorted.

“Of course not, I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. It’s just not every day you see an autistic guy in a band. You obviously care about him, and I can see why. He’s like a child,” I said quickly, wanting him to know that I wasn’t judging Teddy. “I’m just surprised that you chose him for your band. I’m sure he’s worth all the extra work.”

“He is. Not everyone’s perfect, you know,” he said, giving me as assessing look, like maybe he knew something I didn’t. “And, I wanted Sebastian to be around people who don’t have everything handed to them.”

“I’m not perfect. People think I am, but I’m not,” I admitted, needing him to know that I wasn’t the rich, spoiled girl he’d called me last night. In my life, things are never as they appeared.

He studied me. “Maybe I wouldn’t like you so much if you were,” he said, staring at my mouth. I licked my lips and stared right back, thrilled by the heat I thought I could see there. Did he feel the same connection I did, like we’d known each other our entire lives?

I nodded. “So, about Teddy. Is that what you meant by paying you back?” I said.

“Yeah, I remembered from the open house brochure that you were a pianist. I want you to work with him, help him learn some new music for the band.”

Me? Helping someone when I could barely survive myself? I shook my head. “I don’t know. I have a lot going on with school and debate. Wouldn’t it be easier just to let me write you a check for the damage? You’d never have to see me again,” I added.

“That won’t work for me. Teddy needs extra help. And I know you’re busy, but music heals. It helped me deal with my parents’ murder,” he said. “Maybe you need this. Maybe it’s better than therapy.”

I took a step back. “You think I need therapy?” I asked, not liking where this was going.

He scrubbed his jaw. “There’s something going on with you. I see the pain you carry. In your eyes, on your face, and in your actions. And I get it. I do. I don’t know what happened to you, but I think you’re dealing with some shitty things in your life.”

He would never know how shitty.

“Is that a polite way of saying I’m f*cked up?”

He shot me an amused smirk. “Don’t be a bitch, Nora.”

I exhaled.

“I want to help you,” he said. “I see strength in you, too, Nora. I saw it when you talked about Paris last night. I heard the hope in your voice. Whatever is eating at you, you have to fight back and not let it win.”

I looked away from him because he had no clue. I wasn’t strong; I was a loser. A girl who’d stopped fighting back a long time ago. A girl who’d given in.

I had to change the topic. “So when’s the first gig?”

“It’s the gym’s grand opening party. We’re opening in six weeks, but I pushed the party out until Halloween,” he said. “Just watch today, but I’d like you to start practicing with us. I know school starts this week, so maybe after that settles down, we can put some real work in.”

“If you help him, I’ll consider us even on the Escalade,” he said, tucking his hands in his designer jeans and leaning back against the wall nonchalantly. “Will you do it?”

“And if I don’t?”

His lips tipped up in a sly grin. “Then I’ll call your parents. Somehow, I get the feeling that’s the last thing you want right now.” He shrugged. “But it won’t come to that. You ruined my car, and you know it,” he said, his steely eyes searching mine.

I glanced away from him and stared out the window over his shoulder, catching sight of the yellow-splattered Escalade. I owed him. Big time. And I deserved whatever payment he’d decided on. Truthfully, I didn’t have the money to pay him for the damages. I’d have to ask Aunt Portia, and I didn’t want to do that.

I tried to picture it. Me. Being part of a rock band and helping someone who wasn’t part of my social circle, and then toss in spending time with this hot guy I wanted, but who didn’t want me.

“I’m in.”

“Good,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, like he didn’t know what to say next. Then, as if he’d made a decision, he pulled me out into the quiet hallway. Once we were alone, he said, “Now, about last night—” he stopped, appearing stuck on what to say.

“Yeah?”

He took two steps away from me and sighed heavily, like he needed some space between us, like what he was going to say was difficult. He ran his hand through his hair furiously, pulling on the ends a little. “Nora, look, I think you’re a pretty girl, but there won’t be anything between us.”