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Too bad my inspiration has been lacking since my parents’ divorce, and I am so stressed with my personal life I have no time to think about the art world and what I want to do with it. Never mind, actually having an art career.
I push open the door and instantly my senses are assaulted by the dim lighting and the acrid smell. The room is small, cramped with backpacks littering the floor. All the front row chairs are taken, which is fine. I don’t need to sit in the front to succeed. I smile as I find Charlie and Lauren sitting in the back corner, a bag resting on an empty seat diagonal from Charlie. Lauren sits next to her, her hands moving frantically.
As I step toward them, I hear Lauren saying, “It should be amazing. I’m really excited.”
“What will be amazing?” I ask while Charlie takes her bag from the seat. I plop my bottom into it and turn around to face Lauren. We’ve been doing a bit better since she helped me choose clothes for my big trip to see Hunter in Chicago for Thanksgiving. I’m slowly beginning to trust her again.
“My internship,” Lauren squeals. “I just heard back today that I’ve been accepted.”
“Another internship?” Shit. Where have I been?
Lauren nods. “Yep! I applied before winter vacation. I will be working at the museum of Art and Design in Denver.”
“Didn’t you already work in an art museum?” I ask, recalling our volatile relationship in Paris.
Lauren shrugs. “You can never have too many internships on your resume. Besides, I want to own an art gallery someday. I need to learn as much of the trade as possible.”
I have never felt so behind in my life ever. Lauren has an internship all worked out whereas I am trying to figure out where to put Hunter in our tiny apartment.
“Well, that’s great,” I say, knowing I sound awkward and jealous.
”Isn’t it?” Lauren grabs Charlie’s hand. “We’re going to be rooming together in Denver this summer. Charlie will be working with a designer.”
Fuck. Even Charlie knows what she wants to do.
I clear my throat and force the brightest smile I can muster. “So, how was everyone’s vacation?” I need to change the subject or I’m going to self-combust from the stress.
Lauren shrugs. “Fine. I guess.”
Charlie rolls her eyes. “Mike pestered me the whole time.”
“What?” Lauren and I shout in unison.
“Why?” I ask.
“I thought you guys were done,” Lauren says.
Charlie scoffs and looks at her nails. “I thought so, too, but for some reason he wants me back. He’s been apologizing and wondering why I haven’t been answering his calls.”
“Did you tell him why?” I ask. Mike can be so dumb. I think all the beer has destroyed his brain cells. Sometimes it’s better to be blunt rather than hinting around.
“Yeah!” Charlie shouts. “I told him that I don’t want to be a secret girlfriend and he told me that he agrees. He agrees now!””But, what about that girl you saw him with?”
“You saw him with another woman?” Lauren asks, her mouth hanging open in bewilderment.
“Yeah, I did. I have no clue what he did with her.”
Lauren and I share a look before we say in unison, “They broke up.”
Charlie scowls. “That’s likely. Which means, the only reason why he wants to get back with me, is because he wants to get his dick wet more often than once a semester.” She sniffs and both Lauren and I watch her snatch her bag and take out a tissue to wipe the corners of her eyes with. “He never liked me. He was only using me. Why do men suck?”
“Not all men suck,” I say softly while patting her hand.
“Ugh. Not now, Rachel. I just want to wallow in my self-pity.”
I don’t understand why Mike is doing this to her, but I suppose I don’t understand men in general. Josh was a complete asshole, despite coming off as a nice guy, whereas I used to think Seth was the scum of the planet. Turns out, you never really know a person. Mike may be a party boy, but I never used to think of him as an asshole.
“Well, at least you’re going to Denver with Lauren,” I say as cheerfully as possible. “Lauren, do you know if they are accepting anymore interns?”
