Somewhere Else

Chapter 14: Where It All Started (i)

Priscilla's face falls, and she goes back to pouting.

I laugh at the look on her face. "Don't worry," I tell her, "I'll still be around to bug you for a while. The apartment I'm seeing on Saturday isn't a sure thing."

"Where is it?" Zuzi wants to know.

I name a district that is the direct neighbour to Töölö, where I used to live with Aksel.

Ludo whistles, impressed. "That's a good neighbourhood, near the city centre. Would the rent be expensive?"

I grimace. It is more than a little out of my budget. "Yes," I say, "and that's why it's not a sure thing."

"It's so appealing, though," Priscilla says, the same thing she had said when we were looking at the listings together. "I told Emi she has to at least see it."

"And I am," I point out, then laugh. "Although I don't know what's the point if I can't afford it."

"Scrimp on other stuff," Zuzi suggests. "Like... food."

"Get a part-time job," says Frederik, who has been quiet all this time.

"I probably should," I sigh. It has been such a long time since I've even tried sending out an application. I still remember that disastrous interview I went for – it had been the beginning of my spiral.

"You could hire her," Zuzi tells Frederik. "For your start-up."

Frederik appraises me. "Maybe," he says, "Do you know anything about social media? I might need someone to help with the web aspect of things."

I give him a horrified look, my expression conveying everything I need to.

Frederik laughs. "Not a social media person, huh?"

"Not a tech person at all," I say. "I barely even check my social media accounts."

"You and me both," Zuzi mutters, and I stare at her in surprise. With her outspoken personality, I would have expected her to be posting about everything in her life.

"Okay, class," Elina claps her hands together to draw everyone's attention. Ludo and Frederik, now that break-time is over, break away from our little circle and head for their seats. "Is everyone back?" She pauses to check before going on. "Listen up, now. I have an announcement to make."

"You're speaking in English," one of the guys at the back of the room calls out. I don't remember his name – I think it starts with a C.

There is a ripple of laughter. One of Elina's classroom rules is the sign tacked up on the board in front, the one I noticed first thing on my first day in class. No English.

"Very funny," she deadpans, but a corner of her mouth twitches. "Like I said, this is an announcement. The University is inviting all international students – and that includes all of you here in our language classes – to take part in an essay-writing competition about your experiences in Finland. I have a piece of paper with the details here–" she lifts it up in the air so we can all see it– "that I will be putting up on the board. Take a look if you're interested."

"Is there a prize?" Zuzi calls out.

"The best five essays will get featured on our website." Some people groan, and Elina laughs. "That should be prize enough for you."

"That's lame," someone else mutters.

"Do we have to write in Finnish?" Priscilla asks.

"You're encouraged to," Elina says. "But, no, it can also be in English. Or Swedish, if you want."