PHEME: The Ultimate Celebrity System

Chapter 2

Asher’s POV 

“Tomorrow's the weekend, hopefully you'll have enough time to rest. But for now, we have to get you to school before we get late for that test.” Theo said as he helped me up into his not so fancy ride. “I guess some of us have to learn hard lessons before we can do the right thing.”

“Oh come on…” I groaned in pain as I tried in vain to make myself comfortable. 

My shoulder was still hurting from the really hard falls I had from being knocked down repetitively by Neil's guards while Cheryl watched. 

The moment played back in my head each time I closed my eyes. It was annoying that I had to be reminded of my pain frequently with every single blink.

“Uhm… Cherry…who the heck is that loser?” Neil asked, as his men stopped me from getting any closer to him. The way he called her by the name I called her made me feel even more nauseous.

The smile from her made me even crazier. “I don’t think I know him…but I guess he looks like one of my ex’s…”

“What…?” I couldn't believe that and I was ready to charge through the security men and make straight for Neil. “What did you just say?” I felt like she had been brainwashed or something. 

“So who the heck are you?” Neil asked teasingly. “”I don’t have time for all this crap…”

“Shut up, you sick fuck…!” I yelled. “You took my girl for that dirty dance crap, and I think it’s about time you hand her right over…!” I noticed the people getting interested in that and they began pulling out their phones. 

“Asher… stop all this crap…” Cheryl finally spoke up. “You’re ruining my moment, alright? I’m done putting up with your broke ass looking for someone to be with you. It’s over and I think you should stop trying so hard.”

The whole crowd let out “oohs” and “ahhs” as she said that. It was me against the world at that point as everyone was on Neville’s side.

“You heard her, loser… get out of here while you still can.” Neil held her by the waist and extended his hand all the way to her breast and gave it a squeeze. “I have some business to take care of.”

“Bastard…!” I charged at him, but I got smacked in the head by some unforeseen object and my world went black instantly. 

“Asher…” Theo called me back into the moment as he started the car. “We have even bigger things to worry about. We didn't study for this test, and we've got to ace it somehow or we won't be allowed in the music sessions anymore.”

For a split second, I had forgotten about my musical aspirations in the heat of all that had happened. I was quiet throughout the ride till we got to school. 

As we drove past the auditorium to where the test was meant to be held, I felt a sting that I couldn't quite explain. 

“Here we go…” Theo said as he pulled over quickly. “Let's get in quickly.” He ran out and helped with my door. 

From the moment I stepped out. I was greeted by a lot of stares from everyone who saw me. Some burst out in laughter instantly while the others seemed to take some time to figure out where exactly they had seen me. 

At that point, I knew my reputation was gone. For good. 

“Ignore all that crap. We're running late.” Theo took me by the hand as I tried to hide my bruised face. “Take it as a rehearsal for when you're finally a famous musical genius.” 

It was hard to focus on the positivity Theo was trying to force on me as the pain was right there to remind me that I was going to be the topic of everyone in school. 

“Oh shit…” Theo forced me to raise my head up only to see Neil, dressed in all black and his gang around him, and with Cheryl. “Just pretend you don't see them and we'll go another way.”

“Look who's trending for the wrong reason!” Neil yelled out loud from the other end of the hall, causing everyone in-between to erupt in laughter. 

I wished for the ground to open and swallow me whole so I wouldn't live in that moment. But then, I couldn't stand the fact that Cheryl was on the other side, clinging to his arm like his handbag.

“Let's just get to class…” Theo urged as I stood there, not knowing what I was supposed to do at that point. “This isn't worth it.”

“Bro is trending even more than my shutdown of the school auditorium.” Neil was coming towards me and that wasn't good at all. He wanted to rub it in even more. “Just that he's trending for being the biggest loser the school has seen in a while.”

I got even more uncomfortable as people gathered all around us. My heart was racing with a lot of emotions as I made eye contact with Cheryl who looked away instantly. 

“You really have the nerve, Cheryl…” I tried to hold back my rage as I bore the intense pain. “I never knew you were such a cheap ass slut…”

“How dare you?” Neil and Cheryl chorused at the same time and that nearly had me shaken up. 

“Asher Coleman…” the sound of the professor's voice made everyone stop instantly as he stepped out from the classroom behind Neil and the others. He was walking towards me with a paper in his hand. 

I was sure it was for me with the way he was holding it out to me. 

“Sir… good morning, sir…” I stuttered as I didn't expect him one bit. “What's going—”

He pushed the paper into my hand before I could say a word. “You are hereby indefinitely banned from the school's music facility for your misconduct last night at the auditorium.”

“What?” I snapped instantly. “If anyone was doing any misconduct, it was…” I looked at Neil who had a wry smile on his face. It was obvious he had done something to make that happen. 

“And you will not be allowed anywhere near ten feet of Neil…starting from today.” The professor turned and walked away.

I could feel tears building up behind my eyelids.

“First, I took your girl and now,” Neil said, grabbing Cheryl by the waist, “I'm going to take your life