Excerpt from Revenge of The Exes, Chapter 1

“Bye Taggie, I’ll see you next Tuesday.” I say waving to the little 11 year old who now knows how to play more than just “Twinkle Twinkle” or “Ode to Joy.” 

“Bye Jude!” She waves back to me with her mom holding the door open for her. 

“She’s the cutest, OMG Jude.” Alex says to me while covering the front desk.  

“Dude, I know and it’s so fun because she wants to learn more and more.” I replied. 

“Her Mom just told me she was thinking about doing the school talent show next year.” Alex gossiped. 

“Stop it!” I whisper-yell in excitement and smile with pride. 

“I know!” She whisper-yells in return. 

I look at the clock on the wall behind Alex and realize I have five minutes before my next client comes in for their piano lesson. Ted should have the same as me then.

“I’m gonna go check-in with Ted before my next client comes in.” I tell Alex and turn away. 

“You two make me sick.” Alex says to me in a cutesy way to make fun of me. I give her  a vulgar gesture in the air as I keep walking down the hallway. 

“Love you.” I say annoyed. 

“Love you, more.” She replies in a higher pitch being extra irritating. She’s the best.  

I make my way down the hallway of Noteworthy Music. It’s so calming. After being here for about two years now it starts to feel like a second home. The vibe of this place just captivated me when I first stepped in. After meeting Peggy for the first time, the owner of Noteworthy Music, I just felt like I needed this place in my life. The cymbal lights hang from the ceiling, creating a cozy and unique atmosphere. Peggy made sure we have a bunch of seating arranged in the lobby/shop. There will always be an essence of nostalgia since all furniture Peggy buys is thrifted. She always says, “They deserve a home too.”  I get to the end of the hallway and open the door for “The Guitar Studio.” 

I make two steps into the doorway and see my boyfriend of a year and a half about to kiss our new guitar teacher, Sara. I liked Sara. Apparently so did he. 

If I came in a moment later, I’m afraid that I might  have seen them suck faces. It’s that anticipating the feeling of something exciting, I could see it on his face, he wanted her. Just like how he wanted me a year and a half ago. He immediately looked up while she was holding onto his bicep. 

“Jude-” he looked up in surprise. 

My mind is a blank canvas. It was something so beautiful, a landscape of love,  and now it’s, it’s splattered in betrayal and turned back to white. 

I want to say something, but I fear I can’t. My mouth can’t form any words, so I just turn around and walk out. Silent, I was silent down the hallway, making my way back to “The Piano Studio” because I have a job to do.

Luckily, Alex was helping our coworker Thomas pick up the pile of drumsticks he dropped so she couldn’t see me walk down the hall back to the studio.

 I get into the room and no one is in sight. My client hasn’t arrived yet. I look up to use the mirror on top of the piano before they arrive. I see my eyes are wet, but no tears. As one manages to escape, I instantly wipe it away, take a deep breath, and shake my hands as if I had some weird goop on them. 

Knockknock…

“Come on in!” I invite my client in and brave through one of the hardest storms I’ve been challenged with. To put on a smile, hide the pain from them, I can’t even do it completely, but enough to pass. To pass for fine and okay. 

I have a job to do.