Page 2 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
“Holy shit.” A pause. “Does that mean you’re not fired?” Rachel asked. “That’s good, right?” Rachel had been her best friend since they’d laughingly bonded over chocolate fudge Pop-Tarts in the dining hall their sophomore year of college. Recognizing each other at a gay and lesbian mixer a week later had only sealed their friendship. College had been an enlightening time for both of them as they came into theirown, embraced their sexualities, and supported each other along the way. However, they were undoubtedly different personality types. Ella was quieter and more thoughtful regarding the things that came out of her mouth. Rachel Lenoir was more impulsive. She lived unapologetically, rarely leaving a room full of people in the same condition she’d found them. Rachel, with her gorgeous auburn hair, was more fashionable, social, and had always been more popular. In their duo, she generally held the spotlight, and Ella was more than okay with that.
“No, I promise. I’m definitely fired, but they forgot to ax me in the chaos last week. Can you believe that? It’s the worst way to be fired ever, as an afterthought. That means no one was tossing and turning with guilt the night before. No one even cared enough to notice the oversight. I was a ghost at that company and didn’t even know it. Can you hear that I’m in shock? I fucking am.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were let go?”
“I am, right now. It happened two seconds ago.”
“Wow. Then my timing is amazing. I wonder if we have one of those psychic bonds, and I just knew to call you.”
“We do. It’s clear now.” Ella buried her face in her hands before releasing it. “So now I’m an unemployed loser who’s also, would you look at that? Not having the best hair day.” She’d caught herself in the mirror, which was much harsher than Zoom. With a quick finger comb, she attempted to tame her currently mutinous blond hair on its journey halfway to her elbows. She needed a trim and maybe a few more defined layers. Honestly, the neglect was on her. She’d put way more effort into her digital illustrations than her appearance these days. Something that, now that she had time on her hands, maybe she’d remedy.
“Your hair will rebound, you gorgeous thing,” Rachel said. “I promise.”
“Not sure my ego will.” She shook out her chaotic hair, which miraculously helped. “I honestly believed I was great at that job, but now I’m realizing they likely didn’t even know which designs were mine or Katrina’s, the girl who plays moreCandy Crushthan my mom.” Then an awful thought struck. “Am I delusional abouteverythingin life, or just my role with that company? Tell me the truth so I can cry an appropriate amount.”
“No, babe, you’re absolutely not. Everyone I know has been worried about layoffs. The economy is a disaster. Companies are downsizing and taking shortcuts. AI is terrorizing us all like a guy with a chain saw.” She took a breath. “This is what I know. You’re a genius when it comes to that Apple pen thing you whip around your screen. I’m never wrong.”
She imagined Rachel hooking a strand of auburn hair behind her ear with that confident little shake of her shoulders. Her green eyes were likely sparkling, and her energy was even. Nothing rattled her. Rachel dove headfirst into any situation and made a meal out of it. Ella, not feeling so sure, scrubbed her face. She needed to be more like Rachel and fast. “Thank you. I needed that.”
“And, I have the best idea ever. Move here already and keep me company. Yes, I said it again. You’ve ignored me the eight other times I’ve made the suggestion, but maybe now the time is right. Move to charming little Everly Springs, Virginia. I miss your face, and Oklahoma will get the hell over it.”
Ella laughed. “Just like that, huh?”
“Yes. Exactly. You’re a free agent. Let’s get the band back together again. You’ll love it here. This town is cute enough to feel small, but DC-adjacent enough for cool cred. Best of both worlds.”
“A small town look-alike but not. So, it has chain restaurants? Is that what you’re saying?”
“We have a McDonald’s on the corner, if that’s your jam.”
“Well, now you’ve gone and done it.”
“I know your weaknesses.”
There was something about the way Rachel voiced that sentence and added a definitive period at the end that told Ella she wasn’t kidding. “I wish I could. I could use my chaos twin about now. Unfortunately, I can’t just pick up and?—”
“Can’t you, though. Now? After two seconds ago. Don’t answer. Reflect.”
Ella blinked and did just that. Rachel had a possible point this time. “Well, maybe a move wouldn’t be so crazy. Reinvention might be nice.”
“You know what I think?”
“What?” Ella asked, still numb, still staring at the now blank Zoom meeting that had ended with her job and her ego murdered in front of her face. All that had been missing was the theme music fromPsycho.
“We join forces, like the good old days back in school, and smash up this world together while eating a lot of amazing microwave popcorn. Emphasis on the popcorn.”
Rachel was fantastic at packaging her thoughts and knew it. Ella loved that about her.
“I have the best ideas, and you’re going to agree about this one once you’re here. Say yes already.”
It was honestly nice to hear her excited about something. Rachel had recently emerged from a breakup-induced depression that had clung to her for months. She’d done a lot of lying around the house in yoga pants, FaceTiming Ella while sighing between tears. It was almost as if someone had pressed pause on the cool and vibrant Rachel and replaced her with a shell of herself, who cycled through anger and sadness. For Ella, so many miles away and helpless, it had been hard to watch. Rachel’s ex-girlfriend had done quite a number on her, and it was refreshing finally to hear some enthusiasm in her voice.Ella, also familiar with the grief associated with breakups, had done everything in her power to nurse her friend through it, including check-ins multiple times a day. Now, it seemed Rachel was extending a hand to Ella. It was the definition of friendship. It was what they did for each other, and in this moment, she was infinitely grateful for Rachel’s presence in her life.
Ella blinked and quirked her lips to the side as she ruminated. “It’s tempting, Rach. It is. The microwave popcorn is a big selling point. I’m giving you bonus points for including it.” With the ghost of Zoom still leering at her, she closed the tab on her browser with a decided click. It felt damn good, too.
“I swear.” She could hear the clack-clack-clack of Rachel’s heels on tile. She was walking somewhere at work, which, for Rachel, was Montclair’s, a well-known department store. “Hot fucking popcorn would end wars if given the opportunity. Why do people celebrate things with steak and lobster when there’s popcorn just sitting there? I’ll never get it. We, alone, know the secret, Ella Bella.”
Ella grinned. “Let them spend their money while we’re awesome on the couch with a big, cheap bowl and comfy pants.”
In actuality, the proposed plan was sounding better and better with each passing moment. Plus, Ella noticed she wasn’t spiraling after losing her job the way she would have been without Rachel on the other end of the phone. The timing had been a gift. And without the job, there wasn’t a lot tethering her to Tulsa when she thought about it. Her parents had recently retired from their twin careers as CPAs and spent much of their time traveling with their loud friends who ordered heaps of red wine, leaving Ella and her brother to keep up with them via their social media posts from various adventures. A photo of the six of them clinking glasses in Copenhagen! A similar photo of them cheersing in Munich! How about another shot of raised mugs in Florence? Sure, they’d invited her here and there, but she didn’texactly have the time off at thirty-four years old to spend weeks in Milan or Corfu. Not to mention, she’d stand out in those photos like a pop song on a playlist of golden oldies. She also had a feeling they’d only invited her out of obligation. The idea made her shift in her seat. She’d been an afterthought in that case, too.
