Page 18 of One More Weekend

Shaking my head, I could hardly believe it. I’d never seen anything like this. Filomena had been a mystery to the family,her history buried in the secrets she held close to her chest. But now I could send her picture to my mother and grandmother.

And it was thanks to Sy, forcing me out of that apartment and out of my nine-to-five. But that was just her, she was a force of nature, every movement an intention.

After the photohad been sent to my email, I bought Sy lunch in the cafeteria before catching our ferry back to Manhattan. By the time we had loaded up and the boat was moving, the sun was just beginning to lower in the horizon.

I leaned against the railing, warm from the May sun, as I watched the Island and the Statue of Liberty shrinking behind us.

“You okay?” Sy asked as she appeared next to me.

Scoffing, I shrugged. “God only knows. I just…” With a reassuring nod from my best friend, I continued, “She went through so much and I’m here floundering because I lost a job and girlfriend. It feels embarrassing.”

A cool breeze passed over us, raising goosebumps over my exposed arms.

Sy moved closer, her own skin chilled by the wind. “I don’t think she’d see it that way. Besides, you’re her dream. This is the “simpler” life she would have wanted for you,” she used her long fingers to make air quotes.

Looking over at me, Sy sighed. “But I also don’t think it’s that simple. I think life is big and complicated and every decision has outcomes. And you’re at a huge inflection point. It makes sense that you’re unsure.”

“Really?” I narrowed my eyes at her. The last thing I wanted was fake sympathy.

Sy nodded. “Of course. I’m not going to lie to you. It is a big deal. And I also happen to think that you’re going to be completely fine… no… you’re going to be great.”

Hearing it from her lips, I was starting to believe it.

“Can I at least pay you for my half?” It was time for a subject change.

“Nope.” Sy shook her head and crossed her arms.

I raised my eyebrow, knowing Sy’s rule about paying for outings. “So is this a date? Because you invited me out? Are we playing by those rules?”

Swallowing hard and laughing, Sy looked away. “Very funny. I just want to do something nice for you, okay?”

All I wanted was to fight her on it, her budget far tighter than mine. But I also knew how hard she would fight me and I wasn’t sure I’d win it without drawing blood.

So instead, I watched her face as my chest tightened.

She didn’t say it wasn’t a date.

13

SY

The clatterof plates and mugs set on the pickup counter shook me out of my exhausted haze. I loved taking Jenna out to Ellis Island, but I was so wiped even a few days later. I made three coffees wrong in the first hour of my shift at C&B.

But I grabbed the tray of dirty dishes from the counter and brought them back to the kitchen for the staff.

Once I was back at the register, I took a deep breath. The morning rush had calmed down and left a quiet morning where a warm breeze blew in from outside.

My boss had set up the outdoor seating a few weeks ago which meant the whole coffee shop felt more open and friendly. Plus, it meant I actually got some air despite working all day.

I did a quick scan outside to make sure no one needed anything before I pulled up a stool behind the counter and started typing on my phone. I’d been toying with a script idea for weeks, the urgency of Jenna’s move inspiring me to get back to screenwriting.

It was how we met, after all, a welcome week event for all the creative majors. Sure, Jenna eventually ditched her singing career but I always forced her to keep pursuing it outside of theclassroom and she made sure I kept up on my work so I didn’t flunk out.

After my first internship, I knew I’d never be able to do the whole office job thing. So instead, I focused on writing and using my scholarship money to pay my bills. But then school ended and so did the deposits from the federal government. Working gig jobs took a lot more energy than I’d expected and suddenly I stopped writing much at all.

Shaking the thought, I turned my attention back to the document on my phone. It was a few pages, scribbled together on my Notes app.

I should really move these to Final Draft.

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