Page 31 of Between the Blue
“I’m not entirely sure,” Tiffany answers honestly, letting out a sigh. “All I can tell you is, somewhere down the line, there was a mix up. The woman you were emailing with must not have gotten full clearance on the matter before promising you the internship. I was able to get ahold of upper management, and they were completely unaware of who you were, much less that you were supposed to start interning with them next week. Andit seems Lauren left the company shortly after you last heard from her.”
The backs of my eyes burn, my mouth suddenly feeling bone dry. “Which would make sense why she hasn’t responded to me…” I whisper weakly.
Tiffany’s lips purse to the side as she nods slowly. “Unfortunately,” she says.
My knees suddenly feeling very weak, I fall back into my chair. I feel out of control of my body. I don’t know if I’m going to cry or be sick or pass out on the spot.
How could this have happened?
“I tried everything I could, Addison.”
I glance up, seeing the sincerity in Tiffany’s expression. Somehow it doesn’t make me feel any better.
“I vouched for you,” she insists. “I forwarded COBO your portfolio we have on file. I sent them glowing recommendations from your instructors and explained how you have a clear shot to be in the top of your program based on your first month at AIT. I gave them an entire speech on how allowing students to intern at large companies cultivates the future workforce, but they just weren’t having it. They aren’t willing to take you on this year. They’d rather invest their time elsewhere.”
Several long seconds go by, only the sound of my slow, anxiety-soothing breathing breaking the silence. I force myself to keep it together. To just accept it. What’s done is done.
“So that’s it,” I finally say.
I’m not going to intern with COBO.
“I don’t have an internship to fulfill my program requirement.”
Tiffany answers me with her own beat of silence. I can’t bring myself to look at her, so I only imagine the sympathetic expression she must have on her face. I imagine her hand restingover her heart, her baby pink lips turned down into a deep frown.
I’m about to force myself to stand and mumble a quick thanks to Tiffany for her time before running out the door, but then she surprises me by speaking again.
“Well…not necessarily.”
I look up at her. “What?”
“There’s still a way that you can fulfill your internship,” she says.
I sit up in my seat, the tiniest ounce of hope restoring in my chest. “With COBO?”
“No,” she says, then cocks her head to the side, pursing her lips. “Well, sort of.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Okay,” Tiffany sighs, rising from her chair and walking around her desk to sit in the chair next to me. “Hear me out.”
I blink at her, nodding slowly. “Okay.”
I’ll hear anything if it gets me closer to COBO.
“How much do you know about…” Tiffany pauses, and I try to anticipate whatever it is she’s about to say.
Some different form of fashion? Maybe a different style of photography from what’s common in my portfolio?
“...Hockey?”
A snort bursts out of me. I assume she’s joking, but when Tiffany’s lips press into a tight line, I lean back, searching her face. “I’m sorry, what?” I ask.
Tiffany tilts her head, telling me that she knows I heard her.
“Did you sayhockey?Like, as in the sport?”
“Yes,” she nods.
