2 weeks
It's been 2 long, excruciating weeks, and Averie hadn't heard a single word from Mature Divinity.
She was starting to think it was a scam after all.
They clearly said they would call either way—if she was accepted or rejected. Which is why she was suspicious. Surely she would have gotten a call by now.
After the first week she started to lose hope.
But by the second, she was over it.
Averie and Camila were having a day to themselves at the beach. It was a perk of living on the coast. They used to come here as kids and play in the blues for hours. They had to be dragged off of the shore by their parents. Literally—dragged. But as the girls were being pulled from their happy place, the air was still being filled with laughter. They had each other after all, it didn't matter to them where they were. But now that they were adults, of course they could stay as long as they wanted.
"I don't know why I fell for it. I mean I was so set on this being my future I just..." she sighed.
"You didn't know. It's fine Aves that just means you're stuck with me for longer," Camila winked while handing her a bottle of sunscreen, mumbling words about not getting the thick spray in her hair.
Averie knew by now not to get it on her hair though, she was always complaining about it. "Do you even know how greasy it makes my hair like, oh my god I have to use half the bottle of shampoo to get it out," and "I'm always careful when it comes to you and you don't even CARE about your hair" "Who says I don't care about my hair?" "Just look at it, Aves babe."
Averie smiled at the memory, making sure to get only a little in her friends dark hair—for her to find out later.
There weren't many crowds at the beach today, much to their surprise. It was the early afternoon of Saturday, usually this beach was filled with teenage boys and girls parading around pretending to be adults.
It was quiet, peaceful—with just the 2 of them. It was just how they liked it.
The two were splayed out each on a seperate towel right before where the water met the sand.
Camila was indulged in a book, like she always is on a quiet beach day. Always reading the pleasant or bitter words on the thin pages, listening to the nature of waves crashing while also feeling the hot sun beams on her silky tan skin. The elements combined simultaneously made for a calm state of mind. Which is what she is in right now.
Averie on the other hand—she wasn't quite up there.
Of course she loved being here, but there was just so much on her mind right now. She hadn't ever really thought of her immediate future before she applied to the fake company.
It would take years to get where she wants to be. On the top of a company, ordering around which fabrics go where, what sketches will be turned into real life, even with an assistant by her side. She would just have to work even harder now.
The girl was curled up on her sandy towel, finding things to be negative about.
She hated the way the waves collected the sand as it retreated back into the ocean. She hated the way the grainy sand slipped under her bathing suit to rub against her skin. She hated how strong the sun could be on her pale skin.
She hated the constant thoughts that swirled in her head all day. The beach was supposed to be her calm place, where she didn't have to think.
But as she had nothing to do but think—she couldn't stand it. It's all she's been doing for days.
Overthinking. Overthinking. Overthinking.
If she could reprimand her own mind she would.
It wasn't just about the stupid fake job ad.
It was how she didn't want to be the family disappointment anymore.
Averie is a hardworking woman, it was known. But no one but her best friend knows the real reason behind it.
It was different before she went to fashion school.
Barely.
But it was— Averie did all of the work before fashion school to prove how her parents are wrong about her.
Growing up she was always told she wouldn't amount to anything. That she would end up broken and shut out in the cold. She was only 10 when her father spoke those cold words to her.
It wasn't even considered 'tough love'. Her father simply just wasn't the loving kind. Always criticizing her school work and telling her the most foul things.
Her mother on the other hand has always been her favorite. She was warm, gentle. She always supported Averie and her current goals.
But Averie saw the hesitancy in her eyes and words.
She didn't believe in her to be successful.
So naturally, Averie wanted to prove them both wrong.
And it didn't help that she had an older brother working full time as a lawyer. He was the pride in the family. The first born, favorite child. And he was perfect to them. But she wasn't.
That's why she's so torn up about this.
She could have been successful straight out of college, and sure she would have to work hard, but Averie loved designing. It was work and play at the same time. Or it would have been.
Of course she can find another job for designing, she was still the best in her class, but nothing as big as Mature Divinity. She was struggling too, only having a job as a waitress. Designing was supposed to be her main job, but she couldn't find a company that would take her in with such little experience, so she settled with working at a restaurant as she continued to look for opportunities.
She supposed she would just have to move on now.
Averie would need her designs though, and she didn't make copies of the designs that were submitted with her application. Which was a bad idea on her part since it turned out to be a scam.
"Hey Mil?"
Her friend held up her finger as to say wait before scanning her eyes to the end of the page of the book.
A second later she looked up, "What's up?"
"Can we stop at Target before we go back home I—"
She was cut off by the intense sound of her phone ringing.
When she turned it around quickly her eyes widened.
It was an unidentifiable number.
"It can't be—" Camila whispered.
But before she finished her sentence Averie was already on the phone, looking at Camila with hopeful eyes.
"Hello...yes, yes I'm her," she smiled at Camila.
"Are you sur— oh okay... thank you have a nice day," but from the way her face fell, Camila knew which direction that call went.
"Was that who I think it was?"
Averie nodded, looking down.
"Are you fucking with me and actually got the job but you're trying to fool me?" Camila had to ask.
It's happened before when they were teenagers.
But after the question lingered in the air, Averie let out a sob and covered her face. "I didn't get it."
Camila couldn't have been faster to hold her.
"It's okay listen they don't know what they're missing," she tried to soothe her while rubbing her arm.
She pulled back and tried to collect herself for a minute.
"I'm fine," she sniffled.
"Do you want to stop to get ice cream or something?"
"No not right now."
Camila nodded, noting her attitude and what she would need right now.
"We can go home if you want—I finished the chapter I was on."
Averie looked up and smiled at her friend. Always there for her.
"Let's go home then."