Page 19 of It's Only Make Believe

“You just said you thought your boss was treating you worse than other interns because of what your dad said to him,” Justin points out.

Did I say that? No, I wouldn’t have done. But why the hell would he make that up? I realize what I’ve done, and I giggle. I think the champagne has gone to my head a little bit more than I first thought.

“I meant Louisa’s dad,” I say.

“Why would Louisa’s dad say those things about you?” Justin says. “I assume you asked him for a reference. And he did that to you?”

“No, nothing like that,” I say.

“Then what is it like?” Justin asks.

I know I’ve said too much, but I also feel like I have to explain it all now or have Justin think I’ve gone a bit mental. It won’t hurt anything. It’s not like he knows Luke or Enrique or works in the same field or anything. And besides, he is my friend. Even if he did know them, he wouldn’t get me into trouble with with them.

“You can’t tell anyone I’ve told you this,” I say. “Promise.”

“Scout’s honor,” Justin says, doing a salute.

“Where you even in the scouts?” I say.

“Well, no, but you get the sentiment. I promise I won’t say anything to anyone about what you’re going to tell me,” he says.

That will have to do.

“So, Louisa’s dad is on the board of directors at the company I am interning at. He got the internship for Louisa because she needs so much experience as a condition of a job offer she has. She didn’t want to do the internship, and I was desperate for a job in my field. This is a paid internship, and they are so rare you wouldn’t believe it. So, we decided I would do the internship. We will make a copy of the reference, and both use it. I get paid and Louisa gets her dad off her case, and we all win,” I say. “So, yeah, I just have to pretend I’m Louisa. When her dad told Luke I’m lazy and spoiled he thought he was talking about Louisa.”

Justin is quiet for a moment and then he shakes his head.

“That bloody girl will get you shot one of these days and you’ll just blindly follow her to the end of the gun barrel,” he says.

It’s not the reaction I’m expecting at all. I thought he might be a bit shocked, but honestly, I thought he would laugh.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I say.

“Oh, come on Tia. Don’t tell me you don’t see that she’s using you,” he says. “You do the work, and she gets a reference.”

“True. But I also get a reference, and I would never have gotten an opportunity like this without Louisa. It was getting to the point where I was considering taking on a full time unpaid internship and then waiting on tables or tending bar on an evening and weekend just to make my rent. Louisa saved me from that fate, and I am grateful to her for that, whether you like her or not,” I say.

“Ok, I’m sorry,” Justin says, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I didn’t know it had gotten that bad for you. And I don’t not like Louisa. I just think she has too much influence over you.”

“Why? Because she presented an idea that I agreed to because it benefited me too?” I say.

“Not just that. You moved to Chicago because she wanted you to,” he points out.

“I moved to Chicago because the thought of staying alone in New York was killing me, and when I finally confessed how I felt to Louisa, she told me to come here so I would never have to be alone,” I say.

“Ok. Again, I didn’t know that” Justin says. “But there’s still the major thing.” He looks down into his lap for a moment. “She is still the one who split us up.” He looks up again and I shake my head gently.

“Don’t do this,” I say.

“I’m not doing anything. I’m not saying the breakup wasn’t for the best, because we both know it was. I’m just saying that Louisa kind of pushed you into ending things before you and I really saw the truth,” he says.

“She didn’t push me. She just voiced an opinion that she didn’t think we were good together and that I no longer seemed happy. She was right on both counts, but it took someone from the outside looking in to see it clearly like that,” I say.

“Ok, you win. Louisa is a great friend and I’m just bitter,” Justin says. I start to speak but he laughs. “No really. She is obviously a good friend to you. But just promise me you won’t do anything you don’t want to do just because she asks it of you.”

“She wouldn’t do that,” I say.

“So, there’s no reason you can’t promise me then,” he says and logically, I can’t argue with that one and so I find myself nodding my head.

---