âArenât you afraid Iâll take the money and run?â
Arianaâs composure remained unshaken as she calmly shook her head, her unwavering conviction evident.
âNo, I trust my judgment, and I donât believe Iâll be wrong.
â
Following this exchange, Ariana turned her attention to Tom.
Her query was gentle but loaded with purpose.
âDo you possess any photographs or videos from your performances at the bar? Such evidence could be instrumental in clearing your name.
â
Tomâs expression shifted to one of dejection, and he hung his head, his voice carrying a hint of regret.
âI usually depart promptly after my performances.
Sometimes, I need to rush to the next one, leaving me with no time to record anything.
Iâm not even certain if there were any audience members capturing videos.
â
Ariana, ever the source of encouragement, reassured him in earnest, âItâs alright.
Even without videos, we can explore alternative avenues.
Solutions abound for every problem.
Donât lose hope.
â
At that moment, a timid young girl seated nearby finally gathered the courage to speak.
Her voice, barely above a whisper, broke the silence.
âI.
I have photos and a complete video.
â
The girl appeared shy, her demeanor marked by a prolonged silence before she summoned the resolve to continue.
Ariana was taken aback by this revelation, her gaze now fixed on the girl.
The young girlâs appearance was innocent and youthful, adorned in a school uniform dress.
She gave the impression of a well-behaved student on the cusp of graduation.
Blushing and stammering, the girl admitted, âI.
Iâm actually a devoted fan of underground rock music.
â
She glanced briefly at Tom before quickly averting her gaze, clearing her throat before she continued, âIâm a fan of Tom.
I happened to be at the bar for a friendâs birthday party.
Unexpectedly, I ended up sitting at the table next to the group involved with drugs, and the police arrested us all.
They even confiscated my phone.
Iâll be able to check it once Iâm released.
â
âs
In the wake of her narrative, Ariana and Tom found a spark of hope, a glint in their eyes.
âThatâs splendid.
Your assistance is greatly valued,â Ariana expressed with elation, nudging Tom gently.
Tom hadnât anticipated such an encounter with a fan, especially under these circumstances.
A hint of embarrassment tinged his cheeks, his hand grazing his head in gratitude.
âThank you.
â
The girlâs hands fluttered in a series of gestures, her blush deepening, as she professed, âYouâre welcome, youâre welcome.
Iâm glad I could be of help, and I trust you wouldnât involve yourself in something like this.
â
It was evident that she struggled not to meet Tomâs eyes, though her gaze seemed to betray her resolve, stealing glances in his direction.
After a while, the results of the drug test arrived.
The officer handed them the report, stating, âThe tests have returned negative.
Youâre in the clear.
Please proceed with the necessary formalities.
â
The outcome held no surprise for Ariana.
Together, they attended to the requisite procedures, and as they departed, the young girl was there, paperwork completed, phone in hand, waiting for them.
She meticulously added Arianaâs contact information to her phone and promptly dispatched the performance video and the snapshots she had captured during the show.