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t w e l v e : morning coffee
Ouch.
Here’s a tip: do not sleep with a laptop on your head.
All that research took a lot out of me. I still don’t know exactly what I’m going to write about for that definitive and crucial personal essay.
Do I write about my accomplishments, my experiences, or my trauma?
Does nursing my best friend to health after drinking a dozen too many count?
Another tip for my health: don’t skip too many morning coffees at Saxby’s.
Sure, my archnemesis works there. Sure, she very well could poison my order. But I am brave, and I am strong.
I sneakily enter the doorway of the establishment. Clad in a sports bra and yoga pants, I’m prepared to book it if Sarah’s working today.
“Vanilla latte with some honey, please.”
The barista nods and starts making my order.
I take a seat at a secluded table and pull out a book that I borrowed the other day. I can finally relax and finis
Kaugnay na kabanata
Not in a Million Years t h i r t e e n : all you can eat
I turn to use the bathroom and get a drink of water. Once I exit the bathroom, Drake’s waiting for me. “Um, hello.” Why am I so freaking awkward? “My office,” he says softly. I nod subserviently. When we’ve arrived, he closes the door. I struggle to let out a deep breath. “You okay?” “Um, yeah.” I cough discreetly. It quickly turns into a coughing fit, and he comes behind me to pat my back. “Ah, I’m fine,” I muster out—still coughing. “Please don’t die in my office.” Shut the fuck up. Finally, I clear my throat. “Okay, okay. I’m fine.” His palm is still on the small of my back, keeping me steady. “Um, why exactly am I here?” He stills then moves behind his desk. “We need to sort out some logistics of the offer I made you the other day.” The internship. “You’ll be a consultant in the law department of Staple Oil.” Oka
Not in a Million Years f o u r t e e n : transparency
“Gen?” I whip around to the direction of the mystery voice. Claire’s feeding some pigeons with crackers from her bag. “Jake?” “Hey, what are you doing here?” I brush some fly-aways from my face. “Enjoying the park, I guess. I’m here with a friend.” He nods with a bright grin. I can hear Claire in the distance, rolling her tongue, trying to communicate with the pigeons, I guess.
Not in a Million Years f i f t e e n : coming clean
“No, he doesn’t hit me,” I sigh. She nods slowly. “Just, lately I’ve been going through some things,” I shrug, hoping she won’t delve deeper. She still looks suspicious. “I swear, you can trust me. What things?” I play with my fingernails—a nervous tick for me. I used to bite my nails until I got down to the skin, sometimes even chewing on that, too. &n
Not in a Million Years s i x t e e n : "Do Not Disturb"
“Jake,” Claire says, staring up at him.“Hey Jake,” I wave.She can’t keep her eyes off him. They’re practically twinkling because of his presence. Jax who?He nods dismissively at her, then he turns to me. “Do you want a drink?”I glance at Claire, and she’s biting her lip. Shrugging, I say, “Sure. Claire, are you coming?”She nods silently. We follow him to the kitchen island, where bottles of brown and white liquor litter the marble countertop.Jake reaches up for a plastic party cup. Well, he doesn’t have to reach that high. He has to be at least 6’3.“Um, are there any beer bottles… or wine coolers?” I ask.He sets the cup back down. “Oh, yeah sure.” He opens the cooler and pulls us out two cold bottles. I offer one to Claire, but she declines.“Shouldn’t you be 100% sober?” she cro
Not in a Million Years s e v e n t e e n : let's get the bitch
“Ooooooow!”“Relax,” Cas sighs.“Are you okay?” LeAnn asks.As Claire sinks down to the floor, Cas pulls me aside. “Who the hell is she?”“Oh, that’s Claire. I met her at Marie’s Soups.”“Who’s Marie?” she asks cluelessly.
Not in a Million Years e i g h t e e n : mission impossible
After about half an hour, we have become true sleuths. Well, after a 20 minute period of distraction. In our defense, a lot of the earlier posts on the account were pretty funny… and distracting.“Okay, okay. Time to focus,” I say.“But this one—”“No,” I put my palm up.LeAnn places the phone back on the countertop, focusing on me.
Not in a Million Years n i n e t e e n : first day
Despite our failure yesterday, I still have to show up bright and early for my internship. I feel like I’ve fallen far behind this summer. I was supposed to be looking for internships. I was supposed to apply, to show my work ethic, and to score myself this opportunity. As a scholar, I take pride in my work—this summer has plummeted that side of me. The drama, the gossip, the guys… all the guys.Finally, I can get back into a routine that reflects the real me: Genevieve, the scholar; Genevieve, the try-hard; Genevieve, the ass-kisser. Any other person referred to as these monikers would be offended. I embrace it. I always have. I usually enjoy working hard, but for some reason it doesn’t have the same effect today.I straighten out my blazer and pencil skirt in my full length mirror. Typical office outfit. “Hello, my name is Genevieve, and I would be an extraordinary applicant for any institution becaus
Not in a Million Years t w e n t y : first day, pt. 2
The cafeteria in this place has all the selections that one could want: salads, sandwiches, soups, and pastas. This should have been the selling point of the place. From the corner of my eye, I spot Staple’s assistant in a tight mini skirt and busty blouse, grabbing a vegetarian sandwich and a meatball sub. Who let her cut the line?I whisper to the guy in front of me. “Can we just jump to any section, or…?”“No, but you know Steph,” he replies.My face crumples into confusion.
Pinakabagong kabanata
- Not in a Million Years t h i r t y - o n e : rational excuses
- Not in a Million Years t h i r t y : it's time
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - n i n e : impulse
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - e i g h t : acceptance
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - s e v e n : november
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - s i x : it was you
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - f i v e : i'm turning into my dad
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - f o u r : problems
- Not in a Million Years t w e n t y - t h r e e : Tom Cruise who?
