Page 41 of Choosing You

“I don’t have plans. But I might see if some other girls can join us, if that’s okay.”

“Sure, I don’t care.” Truthfully I kind of do care. I’m more comfortable talking one on one than in groups. But I suppose I need to meet some more people.

“You should invite Garret, too. I still haven’t met the guy. I saw him in the hall that day I was sick but we didn’t actually get introduced.”

“I don’t hang out with Garret anymore.”

“Why? What happened?”

“He forgot to mention his last name when we met. It’s Kensington. As in the people who are paying for me to go here. It’s too weird to hang out with him now.”

She chomps on her lettuce. “I don’t think it’s weird. Why would it be weird?”

“It’s not just that. He lied about it. He didn’t tell me who he was and I don’t like people who lie.”

“Everyone lies, Jade. In fact, I just heard that the average person lies seven times a day. Seems like a lot doesn’t it? Anyway I wouldn’t be mad at him about that. Besides, the Kensington name doesn’t have the best reputation after that fire a few years back.”

“What fire?”

“There was a fire down in Texas at one of their chemical plants. I only remember because they made a big deal about it on the news. More than 30 people died and the Kensingtons wouldn’t pay any damages to the families because they said it wasn’t their fault. Garret is probably embarrassed to be associated with them. I’m not surprised he lied about it.”

I swig the rest of my chocolate milk. “I really need to go so I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

“Okay, but bring Garret to dinner. He’s super hot. We could use some man candy at the table.”

I laugh. “Man candy? Seriously? Is that how people talk in California?” I leave before she has time to answer.

Art history is my only afternoon class and then I’m free for the rest of the day. Now I get why people want to go to college for five or six years instead of the traditional four. There’s so much open time to do whatever you want. But I need to fill that free time with a job.

After art history, I stop by the Student Services building where the job board is located. There’s almost nothing on it. Where are all the job postings? My question’s answered when a girl walks in front of me holding a designer purse that I know costs $5000. I remember seeing it on a morning talk show last summer. Students with money don’t need jobs. Hence, the almost empty job board. I spot a job at the library but then notice the listing was posted last year.

“Looking for work?”

I glance over to find Garret’s friend, Decker, standing there in red pants, a white button-up shirt, and a plaid bowtie, staring up at the job board. His clothes, along with his black rimmed glasses, almost make him look like a professor.

“Hey, Decker. Iwaslooking for work but there’s nothing here.”

“Jade, right?” he asks, turning to me.

“Yeah. I’m surprised you remembered my name. Your friend keeps calling me Ohio.”

“Ohio? Aren’t you from Iowa?”

I knew I liked this guy. He’s a thousand times better than Blake. “Yes. But Blake insists on calling me Ohio.”

“That’s because he knows it bugs you. Just ignore him.”

“So you’re trying to get a job, too?”

“Internship. I don’t need money. I need experience. Something in journalism. Or basically any place that lets me write. I was hoping to find an internship at one of the local newspapers. If I don’t find something soon, my dad will make me intern at his law firm. And believe me, anything’s better than that.”

“Can’t you do writing at a law firm?”

“Contracts and letters. Totally boring. There’s no way I could do that. Plus my dad’s one of those ambulance chaser lawyers. The kind everyone hates.”

“There’s a billboard down the street for one of those law firms. Is that your dad?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yes. It’s so embarrassing. Like he couldn’t put his billboard somewhere else? He had to put it a mile from my school?”

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