Twilight Java

Chapter 13

Inside my heart was racing from fear, but she smiled warmly so I tried to remember that. Was submitting content for two different positions not allowed? Did they hate it? Love it?

I zoned out for the rest of the meeting, not even paying attention to who got what role. She might have even called my name twice as a columnist, but I didn't know.

As we came to the gradual end of the meeting, I stuck around the office until everyone drained out of the room. The only people left were Akane and Julian. I was the first one to speak.

"Was there something wrong with what I had written? I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to submit two entries."

Akane smiled that sincere smile of hers and shook her head, "No no, nothing like that. Quite the opposite, actually. We loved your work, both the photos and the article. Julian and I liked them so much that we didn't just want your skills to go to waste, so we decided to have you sort of play our wildcard, so to say. I want your main job for now to be photographer, but occasionally you'll be working on columns in given situations. Is that alright?" She asked hesitantly.

My mouth couldn't help but spread into a smile as I absent-mindedly nodded my head. "Yes...Yes," I exclaimed, as I began to process what she said. I wanted to laugh and enjoy the moment, but I knew I couldn't get over my head with my own ego. "I'd love to do that."

Akane's pearly teeth beamed at me, "I'm glad. We're happy to have you here. That was really all I needed to tell you."

I smiled back at her as naturally as I could, and bid goodbye as I exited the building. Only a couple weeks have gone by, and already I was a part of something. Something that I loved to do, and surrounded by people who most likely had similar dreams to mine. To many, that probably meant that they had more competition to go up against. But to me, it just meant we were all humans with aspirations of our own.

It never really occurred to me just how many people attended Vilora University. As I walked across the tree-speckled campus (which was quite the rarity in an urban school), I had more than once been shoved past, yelled at to watch out, and almost had a frisbee thrown at my head. But nonetheless, that really was the college experience I dreamed of having.

Amidst the minor chaos, I noticed a small crowd of people gathered around one of the commemorative stone statuses. It was surrounded by trees as well, and created a bit of a canopy for whatever spectacle was going on. Interested and wanting to see what was going on, I began to walk across the grass towards the crowd. As I neared them, the faint sound of a guitar floated in the air, accompanied by a velvety voice. A hint of me thought of who it could have been.

It was a handful of people, enough to block my sight of the singer from across the field. But once I approached the crowd, I couldn't help but scoff at myself. Of course it was Ellis. He was enthralled in the song, as he seems to always be. A mere seconds after I came

Xxxxxxxx

His passion filled eyes saw mine mid-song, and he continued playing with all his spirit. He shared a glance with everyone watching and smiled warmly, signaling that he was done. He received a bubble of claps and began to clap as some people left, while some stayed. I felt the need to stay, not really knowing why. Were we even friends? It was hard to tell at that point. I interviewed him for getting an article into the newspaper, we saved my roommate from a potentially dangerous situation, and we even went around Boston together. What's terrifying, that very much could have looked like a date.

It was weird being so close to someone in such a short amount of time. But an unpleasant inkling of this being a short friendship lingered deep inside me. I didn't want to think that I could very well laugh with him one day, and never seen him again for the rest of my college career, but I knew that could happen. Whatever this strange friendship was that we had for only a matter of days was, I knew I wanted to see how long it would last.

Once the remaining people left, he approached me with content eyes, like there was something on his mind that hasn't left. But a good thing.

"Great performance," I said.

"Thanks," He responded, beginning to walk in the same direction I originally meant to go in. "I like singing outside. What were you doing out here?"

"I was getting back from the Vilora Herald office," I said with an unknown grin.

"You're in it?" Ellis asked, more excited than I ever could have expected.

"I did."

"That's amazing," he said with a smile. "What's your position for now?"

"They said they liked my work so much that I'll be both a photographer and columnist. But mainly a photographer."

"That's great. I better see the article you wrote about me soon."

I giggled. "You will."

"Speaking of good news, I've got some too."

"What is it?"

"I got a gig at a local dive bar," he said, not being able to stop the grin from his face. It was contagious.

"That's amazing! You're getting exposure."

"About that, you can help me get that exposure. I can bring someone to the show for free, and since you need to see the city and what it has to offer, I thought of you. Whaddya say? It's this Friday, and I can take the both of us."

I found myself speechless in happiness and awe. But also, in surprise.

"Don't you have other people you'd rather take?"

"Yes. But I thought it'd be smartest to take you to help the both of us out. Plus I don't think they want to hear any more of my singing."

That pulled a laugh out of me. Would I be able to even go? I'm sure I can call a day off of work, and I didn't think I had any other things to get to. It was college, and I deserved to finally do something for myself.

"I'd love to go."

Ellis smiled, and in that moment I knew that a knew life was waiting for me.