Chapter 2 (SCREAM TV)

(Joyce's POV)

"And that's it for today's weather forecast." I concluded the morning weather report.

"And cut!" Peter said while signaling the crew with an axe sign.

"Joyce, we need to talk." I somehow felt this urgency and seriousness in Peter's tone. His facial expression wore a somewhat defeated look as we took a walk outside the weather forecast room.

"Hey, uhmm.. I sort of have good news and bad news for you." Peter said hesitatingly to me as we took a walk down the mall.

My eyebrows rose in worry and I tightened my fist to brace for impact against what was coming my way. My attention was totally focused on the bad news as I even forgot there was good news right away.

I worrisomely stare at Peter for a moment before asking the inevitable, "What is the bad news?"

"We are closing the morning weather forecast till further notice."

Peter finally dropped the bombshell on my ears. I suddenly stopped walking as I stood in the middle of the hall, confused with many questions in my head to throw at Peter.

"What? Why? Who's shutting it down! " I didn't know when I let out a yell.

It seems as if Peter foresaw my reaction and came closer to me.

"Ok look, let me finish. Will you? "

I had no choice but to calm down. Seeing that Peter now had my full attention by placing his right hand on my right shoulder, I gulped in a way that let off a listening ear to what Peter had to say.

"The principal had warned me about two weeks ago that the university would not be able to finance the morning weather forecast show till further notice, alright? He did, however, say that we may continue the show if we are able to keep up by ourselves. "

"When did Darlington University start running out of funds?" I cut Peter shut in confusion.

"Apparently the school has a new project going on that they see fit to cut down our weather show to build it," Peter said, sighing.

My eyes looked down. I sunk deep into thought about how miserable I would be in school if I didn't have the support of my salary from the weather forecast show. I closed my eyes to stop the worries going through my mind before Peter reminded me of the good news I had easily forgotten.

"I know how badly you need a job, like this black bodycon of yours may be oversized before next month if you don't get a job." Peter said jokingly while touching my bodycon dress at my shoulder.

I gave Peter that "Not right now" stare as I really wasn't feeling his joke in that mood of mine.

Not that I was ever actually skinny to begin with. I could easily pass for a face model, that I was sure of, but I'll give my physics right now a 7 out of 10, and my bodycon dress really affected my ratings, at least I thought.

"And that's why I had to find you one." Peter got serious too after seeing how devastated I was.

"You found me another job?" I asked, raising my eyebrows and my now brightened face at Peter.

"Yes, you see, they kind of needed a TV presenter since they just opened their new branch in Darlington a week ago." He said, with a smile and nodding his head.

I covered my mouth with my two hands in surprise. My eyes suddenly became touched by my change of mood from devastation to happiness and I wanted to let out a tear.

"Oh my goodness, what company could that be?" My excitement could be heard in my girly voice.

"What else but the famous SCREAM TV?" He said as my eyes widened more.

I had always wanted to broadcast for SCREAM TV. They are the real deal. They also have this entertaining talk show where they invite celebrities for chips & chat (that's literally the name of the show, Chips & Chat).

The last time I checked, they had branches almost everywhere, and now they are moving down to my home town too.

If I'm lucky, this could be my big hit on the big screen, I thought.

"Oh Peterr!" I screamed excitedly as I hugged him tightly, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Kareen must hear of this.I have to tell her the big news."

Hurriedly, I ran roughly across the hallway in my red heels, even though I knew they were the only ones I had that looked less old-fashioned.

I couldn't care if they broke at that moment due to my excitement for the interview at SCREAM TV the next day.

I spotted my best friend Kareen stuffing her face with a hamburger at the cafeteria. She wore her nerdy glasses while eating.

"Kareen!" I screamed without hesitation in the cafeteria. All eyes snapped at me for about 2 seconds in the cafeteria as I stood at the entrance feeling awkward.

It was at that moment that I became embarrassed. Kareen's neck sagged as I walked up to her at a fast pace after the attention died down.

"You know I'm the nerdy one, right?" She teased, staring at me with her bright black eyes behind the glasses she wore.

I smiled as I took a seat opposite her. "Forget that, I have big news." The excitement on my face immediately sprung up.

"What? Is it that you are crazier than me now? " The teasing continues. She stopped after seeing the excitement on my face had changed to a glare.

"I lost my job. Can you believe it?" Kareen shifted back on her seat and gave me an obscured look as I faked a cry to make the statement more believable and dramatic.

"Dohh, no I don't!" Kareen didn't seem to have bought my acting, and so I let out a giggle uncontrollably. She became impatient with my fooling around, and so I let the cat out of the bag.

"I lost my morning weather forecast job. Honestly, we all did. "

"Then why are you excited about it?" She urged, with a more obscure expression. "Well, thankfully Peter had secured another for me. SCREAM TV has opened a branch right here in Darlington. And guess what, they have a vacancy for a reporter!

He told me that I could go for an interview there. Hopefully, I'd get the job. I really need to get the job." Truth be told, if I don't get the job, then I'll be seriously short on cash on campus, and that's the last thing I need right now.

An agape expression covered Kareen's face as she screamed, "That's awesome," loud enough for my ears to hear it if I was 5 feet away.

It snapped a few people in the cafeteria to look our way (which I didn't actually want Kareen to do), including the most famous guy on campus, Xavier, of course, with his hands on his girlfriend's shoulder in a table packed with his fellow gang members.

A ticklish feeling went down my stomach after they looked our way, and we both froze like an ice cube.

"Hey, weather girl, tell your nerdy friend here to keep her mouth shut or I'll spit in em." With a strange laugh, one of the gang members said in our direction, and soon after, the entire cafeteria let out a scornful laughed as well.

I shut my eyes in embarrassment and tightened my fist. Xavier is a famous guy on campus who womanizes and is also the leader of their group. Actually, they all womanize and bully.

They always made me uncomfortable and angry at the same time, and my thoughts at those moments would be to punch their handsome faces until a tooth fell out.

Did I mention they were handsome? Well yeah, a few, actually. At that moment, my eyes and Kareen's made contact, and we let out a sigh.