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“Yeah, I know. It’s just that someone mentioned at the open evening that the first year is like an introduction to your classes and is the best time to get a job because of the workload at uni being lighter. The second year is when you study non-stop and have never ending coursework with deadlines. I’ll need to use any spare time doing coursework and not working. I’d rather make enough money this year so that I won’t have to worry about working next year,” I explain, hoping that it makes sense to her.
Allie doesn’t need to work since her dad is paying for everything. He wants her to concentrate on her schoolwork and not on money. I don’t resent her for that. She deserves to have her life made easier with all the hard work she’s put in to get where she is now. Plus, I know if my mum could, she would pay my way too.
“Speaking of library jobs.” She swallows and starts playing with her food.
“What?” I ask, wondering if they’ve opened up new spaces. The library is a few streets away from the Rowland building on the university, which is where I’ll be studying. It’s one of the biggest libraries in the country. If I had gotten the job there, it would not only look good on my résumé, but I’d also get first dibs on the books I’ll need for my course and time to study. A library would have killed two birds with one stone.
“I applied,” she blurts out, looking worried about my reaction. “It was before I knew you did.”
“That’s great,” I gush, happy for her. “How come you didn’t say anything about applying? And why did you apply? You don’t need a job,” I note. Once I realise how rude that sounded, I wince, looking at her apologetically. “Sorry. That didn’t come out right. I just meant I didn’t realise you were looking for a job.”
“It’s fine,” she assures me. “I knew what you meant. At first, it was just a whim, but then the more I thought about it, the more I realised I applied so that I would have something to do in my spare time,” she admits sheepishly, biting her lip.
“Am I not good enough to hang out with?” I tease playfully, wondering what has her so worked up.
“It’s not that,” she quickly assures me, her expression panicked. “I knew you were looking for a job, and with Alec, Logan, and schoolwork, I knew I’d be alone a lot. I’m not exactly the type to make new friends. I wanted to make some changes this year. I guess getting a job was the beginning.”
“Hey.” I frown, hating that she didn’t even add herself onto my list of people. I hate hearing her talk about herself like she doesn’t matter. It pains me. “You’ll make loads of new friends and they’ll be lucky to have you. You’ve already made two and classes haven’t even started,” I remind her happily, loving the cute, confused look she gives me as she pushes her black-rimmed glasses up her nose.
“Who?” she asks.
“Duh! CJ and Cole,Cupcake.” I waggle my eyebrows.
She rolls her eyes, her lips twitching. “They don’t count.”
“They do. So… Did you get the job?” I ask excitedly, putting my plate down on the coffee table.
“Yes.” She smiles, and I can tell she’s fighting back how excited and happy she really is over this job. The girl was born to work in a library. She’s organised, book smart, and loves to read all genres. No one knows their way around a library better than Allie. She also wants to publish her own book. I don’t think she cares what she writes as long as she writes. I watch her frown, looking deep in thought, then she shakes herself out of it and looks up, startled to find me watching her. I’m about to ask her what’s up, when she speaks up.
“You aren’t mad?” she whispers so quietly, I barely hear her.
“What?” I ask, surprised she would even think I’d be mad at her for getting a job. “Why would you ask me that? I’m happy for you. You’re my BFF.” I smile gently, jumping up from the sofa and falling into her lap.
She harrumphs, groaning in protest. “You’ve gotten heavier.”
“Hey,” I scold, wiggling my butt to punish her. “Now, answer me before I do it again.”
“Okay! Okay! I will if I don’t pass out from lack of oxygen,” she grouches. I arch my brow, warning her to stop dodging the question, and she finally sighs, giving in. “I applied before I even knew you had applied. I didn’t even think I’d get an interview, let alone a job. Then you mentioned applying and I felt so bad. You seemed to really want the job. It felt like I was going behind your back. I hated it, so much. When you told me they called to tell you that you didn’t get the job, I couldn’t bring it up. You looked so upset. I didn’t want to make it worse.
“When I didn’t hear anything from them, I just presumed they didn’t even remember interviewing me and that’s why they didn’t give me a call back. They called me yesterday morning, and the woman said I got the job and that I start Wednesday.”
I turn in her lap, a lump forming in my throat at the thought of her not having me to talk to about this. She’s always been more considerate of others’ feelings than her own, and it’s frustrating at times.
“Allie, for such a brainiac, you can be so dumb. I’m so happy for you. You’ll be a brilliant librarian. I was only upset because I was worrying over money, not because I didn’t get the job. They could probably tell from the interview that the job didn’t mean everything to me, which is why I didn’t get it. Whereas you, Allie Davis, are perfect for it. You’re a hard worker, and you’re dedicated. You deserve to be there. You’ll take the job seriously.” I pull her into a tight hug.
“I’ve been so worried,” she splutters, her eyes watering as her body seems to relax. I want to scold her for thinking the worst, as always.
“Well, you had no reason to be. I’ll always be your number one supporter, no matter what,” I confide. I love Allie like a sister. She’s my best friend, my soul sister.
“Love you, Willow.”
“Love you too, Cupcake,” I tease, using CJ’s nickname again. I love the reaction I get from her when I do.
“Stop calling me that,” she demands, pushing me off her lap. She’s too much of a sweet person. She doesn’t have a bitchy bone in her body.
I laugh when I see her trying to hide her blush and her amused expression. Once I’ve gained my balance, I hold my hands up. “Touché.”
“Don’t you have a job to go and find?” she asks sassily, trying to be bitchy but failing. Her voice is too soft, her eyes full of laughter and amusement.
