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“I had to. She needed someone right away. Isn’t it the perfect solution for you?”
“Yes,” I admit. I have nowhere else to go and I have so much debt, I don’t even want to think about it. My uncertain future’s been keeping me up every night for days. The manager’s been extremely understanding so far when I’ve been late for rent and I always paid eventually, but now I’ve used up all of the grace that he can give me. “You’re not messing with me, are you?”
“Of course not.” Riley sounds offended and I cringe. I know she wouldn’t do something like that but this seems too good to be true.
“I just mean that it sounds like such a great deal. I’m only checking.” I backtrack quickly. I trust Riley more than anyone else I have in my life. “There aren’t any hidden expenses?”
“None,” Riley confirms. “If I were you, I’d jump on it. I mean, the only downside is that it’s just for two months. You’d have to leave eventually but it buys you a lot of time to figure something else out.” She pauses. “So. Do you want it? She’ll have to find someone else right away if you’re not into it. Should I tell her you can’t do it after all?”
I take a deep breath. “You’re sure there’s no catch?”
“I guess you could say the catch is that they’re not going to pay you. They consider it an exchange because they’re providing a place to live rent-free. It’s completely legit, I swear. It’s anunbelievable gig and I wish I could do it myself, but exams are starting way too soon and I’m going to be living in the library. Every moment counts for me these days.”
“Okay. Then I’m in.”
“Good,” Riley says. “I didn’t even think I’d have to convince you this much.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” I lie down on my bed and squeeze my eyes shut. I’ve gotten a lot less trusting after living so long with Owen’s constant gaslighting and I’ve got to get over it.
As Riley gives me the details, I try to focus but I only manage to half-listen. It’s sinking in that I suddenly have a new place to live. Not only that, this deal gives me two whole months to figure out the rest of my life.
Why not live in luxury while I’m doing it?
Chapter 2
Elena
I drag myself out of bed even though I’m still exhausted.Did I even get five hours of sleep? I can’t remember when I went to bed. I don’t mind working as a waitress but the nights are starting to get more grueling than they used to be. My shift ran so long last night that I was too tired to go out with everyone afterwards like usual.
Now that I have a brand new place to live, it’s time to focus on getting my career on track. All I’ve ever wanted to do is to be a writer. I can’t wait to start out but it’s insanely competitive. What I really want is to be able to report on serious issues and write news features. It’s a field that’s only getting narrower but I can’t help wanting it. It’s my passion and I have to go for it. When I first dove in to job hunting I found out that there are a lot more publications I could work at than I ever expected. So far I still haven’t been able to find one that wants to hire me, but it’s got to happen sometime.
Searching for writing work is a total nightmare and I can’t even say it’s because I’ve gotten a lot of rejections. Instead I get completely ignored. I know there must be thousands of others vying for the same spot but it’s hard not to take it personally. Even the auto-responses don’t always come through.It’s so frustrating because I’m always left wondering what I need to do to get a foot in the door. I’d do anything. If I only knew what that would be.
I start to check my phone absently while I make myself some instant coffee. I nearly drop my kettle when I come to a very unexpected message. It’s from an online magazine and instead of DoNotReply, the email’s from an editor. Not just any editor either. It’s from Zan Stokes.
It’s so brief, I have to read it twice before it sinks in.
Will talk with you at 1pm today.
She doesn’t even call it an interview but it’s some actual human contact and that’s massive. Getting any response at all is a big deal and to speak to an editor is unimaginable. Zan Stokes is a big name in the publishing industry. Every magazine she’s worked for has gotten way more popular once she’s the one in charge. On top of that, she’s with City Scan. It’s absolutely one of the main news magazines that I’m dying to work for. The company that started it up is pretty groundbreaking in the industry. They moved from being print-only and jumped online way ahead of everyone else at the time.
If this call leads to something more, I’ll be ecstatic. Getting a foot in the door is huge, but I also asked for extra shifts at the restaurant yesterday and I got turned down. Not having to pay rent for a couple of months is a big help but I still need some money flowing in. I can’t even look at my credit card balance. It’s way too scary.
I need to check my internet connection because it’s been dropping a lot lately. Energized, I open up the thin desk drawer that I keep my laptop in.
It’s empty.
What the hell? I haven’t used it in a few days but I never leave it out when I’m not using it. I search the small apartment frantically. I can’t find it anywhere. Try to tamp down my rising panic, I check in increasingly unlikely places. It’s nowhere to be found.
There’s only one other person who might know anything about it.
Anxiously I tap out a text to Owen.
Do you know where my laptop is? I need it right now.
I’m about to start hyperventilating as I wait when I start to see him replying.
Yeah I’ve got it.
