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“Hey!” There was an eagerness about the woman’s expression—her eyes were a little bit too big, her smile a little bit too wide. “I’m Gillian, remember?”
“Oh. Uh, hi. Rhiannon.” Rhiannon glanced at Lenna. “And this is my friend Lenna. She’s interviewing for a job atCG.”
Gillian looked Lenna up and down. “Fun! I’m in the building, too.” She waved generally toward the lobby. “You guys eating lunch?”
Rhiannon shifted uncomfortably. “Yes,” she said after a beat, like it was obvious. “We just finished.”
Another ocean of silence passed. Gillian stood there like she expected something. An invitation, maybe.
“Anyway,” Rhiannon added, turning away. “We need to get to Lenna’s interview.”
“Cool.” When Gillian looked at Lenna, her smile was still as eager as ever. “Good luck! I know you’re going to do great.”
They walked back into the building and into a waiting elevator car. Rhiannon’s shoulders were stiff. “That’s the same woman from the bar, isn’t it?” Lenna murmured.
“Yes.”
“Do you see her around a lot?”
Rhiannon shrugged. “I catch her watching me, sometimes. You know those people who just don’t get the hint that they aren’t your type?”
This had rarely happened to Lenna, as she hadn’t ever been forthcoming enough to make that many new friends. Though she nodded all the same.
And it felt good, admittedly. Because though Rhiannon was saying that Gillian wasn’t her type, she was also—maybe—implying that Lennawas.
Instagram post from @GillianAnxietyBabe
May 15
[Image description: A young woman with wavy brown hair lies on a bed with a white comforter, the covers pulled to her nose. Her eyes are wide.]
OMG, friends. You would not believe it. You simply would not believe it! Remember how I stated my intentions? How I was sure I’d spotted my SOULMATES but felt too emotionally paralyzed to talk to them? Thank you for all who commented that most friendships are made by being just a little bit pushy, exactly like I did with S. I took that to heart, I really did. But for a while, I was too afraid to really do anything.
But then something amazing happened!!! I already knew where R works. And there I was, outside the building, and I saw both of them on a bench. Together! And this time, I went up to them! And said hello!
TBH, I kind of grayed out. I came back to myself afterward, and they were walking back into the building and I was like, “Wha? Wha? What happened?” But I did it. And the tallerone, L—who seems really friendly—turned back and smiled at me. Which feels like a total win.
Sadly, it’s back home to S for me now. It’s still frosty between us, brrr! The other day she threw a shoe at me. Can you imagine? It was probably my fault. It was my shoe, and she tripped over it coming into her house…clearly I don’t belong there. But don’t worry! One of these days I’m going to get off the damn struggle bus and just be a normal human. And it’s going to be amazing.
TOP COMMENTS:
@RTGz69:We’re all on the struggle bus together! You’re doing great!
@CortFF22:WTF re: S? You gotta get out of that situation, girl.
@lonely_girlRZ4540:Rooting for you
5
Lenna
October
Present day
While Jacob takes a nap in his crib, Lenna listens to the sound of waves crashing in her headphones. Finally, her heart starts to slow. Exhaustion setting in from barely sleeping the night before.
A half hour later, she opens her eyes. Her phone lies face up on the mattress next to her. Daniel has finally sent a follow-up text to the elusive question mark.
