Read Between the Lines

Chapter Five

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CHAPTER FIVE

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Esmeray

Walking through the front door, I called out a practiced, "I'm home!" I got no response. I looked at the shoe rack by the entrance, seeing sage green slippers missing. Xena's home. Just not sure where. I crossed the threshold, turning right towards her room.

I knocked thrice, careful not to intrude. Silence greeted me once again. Gosh, this girl. I sighed. I knocked three times again. This time, she opened the door, book and earbud in hand. She was wearing a loose, oversized crop top and sweatpants and staring me down.

"Hi, Xena," I smiled sheepishly, watching her glare at me.

"You could've just gone on with your day without interrupting me, you know?" She crossed her arms.

"Oh, trust me I know," I said, waving her off. I closed her door again and went to the balcony. We lived in an apartment in the city. Not just any apartment but the penthouse at the top of the building. Expensive but we managed, courtesy of Xena's wealthy parents. The view was beautiful but since we were quite close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it was also quite noisy.

I walked back inside and entered my room, which was like entering a warzone. My bed was unmade with clothes still strewn everywhere, hanging over the side of my loft from this morning, papers were scattered across my table, dominating what used to be space for my monitor and books were piled on the ground in the corner beside two large bookshelves underneath my loft. I nearly cried at the sight but instead got to work on fixing it all up.

When I was done and my room finally looked somewhat decent, I sat down and opened a blank notebook. I decided to dedicate an hour to trying to begin the planning for the book Forrest and I were trying to write. We hadn't talked about it much but I was pumped. Writing a fantasy with him could be amazing. The planning for that would be hell though. What about romance? Maybe that wasn't even his thing. I'd have to ask.

I slumped back but quickly sat up again and wrote the idea down. I heard my door creak open and looked around to find Xena leaning against the doorframe, staring intensely at a piece of paper in her hand.

"What's up?" I ask, twisting around in my seat, slinging my arm over the back of the chair.

"I want to apply to work with Chéri Dubois." The name instantly clicked in my head. Chéri Dubois was a trending fashion brand owned by... well, Chéri Dubois. Originated in France and sold clothing made of tweed and pearls.

"That's a good idea! You'd be great." I smiled at Xena but she didn't return the look. Just frowned.

"I don't know... the application is due in a week to schedule an interview and to be accepted into the casting call that's in two weeks for the new collections but what if this is too much? And I also need to contact my agency..."

"You'll secure your future! Especially with the special Winter and Christmas collections coming out, you'll be famous if you make it," I responded, trying to ease her uncertainty.

She looked at me and nodded. "They also opened up a spot for a new designer. Cyrilyn would be so willing to take that."

I gasped. "You're so right." Cyr is the queen of fashion designing. Working as a designer of Chéri Dubois would be amazing for her.

"Well, thanks, Ess." She stared down at the paper again and then added, "are you staying home to eat? Or going out?"

"I'm staying home," I replied.