All I've Ever Needed

Chapter 8

October 15, 2013

"Thank you for joining me Mr. Chmerkovskiy, please sit."

Val nodded his head in the direction of Mrs. Hooper as he sat down. He was in her office. Even though Val had not even been in the school for a month, he had seen inside his fair share of faculty offices and boy was this one a travesty. There were playbills everywhere; hanging on the walls, in a bundle on the tacky IKEA desk that Mrs. Hooper was sitting at, and one a small coffee table that was situated by an old couch that she had probably "borrowed" from props. He didn't know if she was trying to relive some kind of a past life or if she was just showing off how cultured she was. Or wanted to be.

"A week ago you stopped coming to rehearsals. Now, before you barrage me with excuses just know that I have spoken to the principal and we have come to an understanding."

Val perked up with those words. An understanding? But I already talked to her. He noticed a smile grace Mrs. Hoopers lips and he silently cursed.

"Don't worry, you will not be participating in the actual play. That role went to Spencer as soon as you decided to let your fellow students down. No. You will be prop master." A grin etched itself onto her face. She was enjoying seeing him squirm in his seat.

"Mrs. Hooper, the principal and I ...."

"The principal talked to be after she discussed your ... issues. And we both thought that the best thing that we could do was to allow you into the production again. We really don't want you to isolate yourself. You need structure around you." That evil grin was still plastered on her face and Val could feel his annoyance turning to anger that threatened to break through. "After school, 4 pm. You know where the auditorium is. You're dismissed."

Val stood up with such fury that he chair lifted and slammed back to the floor. Mrs. Hooper looked at him, expecting an apology but he didn't say a word and left the office, just knowing that things couldn't get any worse.

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"Oh wow, look at that."

Zendaya, who had been talking to Spencer, turned her head in the direction of the entrance and saw him. She hadn't seen him in 5 days and she cursed herself for knowing that. Why are you counting the days? He looked like he normally did although it seemed as though there was a darker cloud around him, at least darker than normally.

"So Chmerkovskiy! Are you here to take back you role? I'm not leaving without a fight!" Spencer's voice was questioning, cocky and friendly all at once but the only answer he got was a dull NO.

The atmosphere turned awkward and the tension didn't cease when Mrs. Hooper walked in the auditorium. If anything it intensified. Her booming voice captured them all as she started talking.

"Well well well, I see our new prop master has arrived on time. Maybe that's the job I should've given you in the first place." Her tone of voice was condescending and Zendaya wanted to say something but as soon as she opened her mouth her eyes locked with Val's and he shook his head, his eyes pleading with hers.

The rehearsal flew by. They only had a little over a week until the premiere and everything was going great for once. Zendaya felt perfect in the role and even though a small part of her still wanted Val to be her leading man, Spencer was doing great. Like he always did. The hurt that Zendaya had felt when it came to Spencer's lack of feelings towards her was still there but it was dull ache, not a throbbing one like it had been. And Spencer. Well Spencer had been oblivious then and he was as oblivious now. But now it felt like a good thing.