Page 9 of The Ending is the Best Part
‘Oh, and I suppose you’ve never fallen over in your life?You’ve probably been pushed around in a golden carriage since the day you were born.’
Xander huffs out a sigh.‘Look, it was fine.It all worked out in the end, no need to get your panties in a twist.But Meagan’s right.We have to stop pussyfooting around each other.It would actually be good to get our heads together in person rather than online.We have to be working on this all day every day because I need this to go well – more than you can ever know.’
He needs this?Mr I’ve-Had-My-Life-Handed-To-Me on a plate needs this?I doubthisparents are sending him brochures for law school, waiting for him to fail so they can tell himI told you soand that they always knew the creative industries were too risky, too elitist, not for people like us.He doesn’t worry about making his rent.Everything will always be fine for him.With his film school education and industry contacts and hisbeanie, there’s no way he won’t make it.No, I need this more thanhecould ever know.
Lost in my thoughts, I realise I haven’t said anything in a while.He lets out a loud sigh and scrubs his hand down his face with defeat.If I’m not mistaken his eyes dip briefly to my lips… but that might have just been my imagination.
Shaking myself out of my fury, I say, ‘Okay, let’s meet this afternoon like you told Meagan we would.’
‘I can’t actually do this afternoon because I have… somewhere to be, but I can meet after hours.Don’t even pretend like you’ve got something else going on.I know you’ll be here like you usually are.’
‘Excuse me?The only reason why you know I’m always here is because you’re always here with me.’
‘Okay, so are you actually busy tonight?Or are you not a workaholic loser just like me?I’m disappointed, I thought we might finally have something in common.’
I splutter, ‘Yes—I did, do have something on tonight.And I happen to have a vibrant, exciting life outside of work.But it’s fine because it doesn’t matter.The finale is too important.Today, I will cancel my plans’ – that I didn’t have – ‘and make sure that I am here after hours, not because I usually am’ – I totally am – ‘and not because I don’t have a social life’ – I have Maddie and Amira but beyond that my friends extend to the characters ofThe Vampire Diaries– ‘but because I’m determined to make this work.And together, we’re going to write the best season finale ever.’
‘Fine,’ he says.
‘Fine,’ I snap back.
‘Good,’ he retaliates.
‘Good,’ I emphasise.Because I don’t want him to get the last word, I turn round and head towards the opposite corridor.Even though I’m now walking away from our desks and, as we both know, I have a lot to do.
I linger in that corridor for about five to ten minutes and then, to draw it out a bit longer, I go and make myself a cup of tea in the kitchen.As I’m waiting for it to brew, I stew over what just happened.I truly do not know what it is about Xander that drives me absolutely insane.Why does a guy like that have to be so devilishly handsome but so incredibly annoying at the same time?Okay, I have my resentments towards his upbringing.How he gets given every opportunity, but also how easily things come to him.Although Xander’s reserved, when he does speak he is so good at talking, at smoothing things over, like he did with Meagan back there.And people, even Patrick downstairs, just like him.He’sgraceful, assured, whereas he’s right about me – I am always tripping over, metaphorically and literally.
But I also hate how competitive he is with me, which makes me feel even more than I already do that I have to fight for my spot, any spot, in the team.Why can’t we just work together on this?Just write something really brilliant, and leave it to Meagan to decide who did a ‘better’ job and gets top credit?
As I’m replaying the conversation that we just had, my brain snags on an interesting tidbit of information.Apparently, he has somewhere to be this afternoon.And he hasn’t booked the afternoon off, which is quite suspicious.Maybe he’s going on a lunch date?Not that I would care.Not at all.I grab my drink and head back over to my desk.I glance over at Xander’s desk, and he looks as unbothered as ever.
Chapter Five
Five Weeks Left
The hours tick by and before I know it the office has cleared out until it’s just me and Xander.Again.He had left the office around 2 p.m.and come back a couple of hours later looking slightly dishevelled, his hair ruffled as if a hand had been running through it constantly.My brain went back to the idea that he was on a date.Some afternoon delight potentially?God, what a pig!Could he not have waited until after hours or the weekend like a normal person would?
We’ve been working silently across from each other for hours.I’m so aware of him.His too-loud typing.His breathing, interrupted by the occasional sigh when a group email comes through.Slack notifications.Ping.Ping.Ping.Can’t he mute his computer?He doesn’t look in a hurry to ignite a conversation.Great.Guess it’ll have to be me then.
‘Did you have a nice afternoon?’
‘Worried about me, Yazza Dazzler?’ He turns on his chair and faces me.
‘Ha!In your dreams!’
‘So should we get the show on the road?’ he says.
‘100 per cent.I was born ready.’
He inclines his head towards me.His emerald eyes sparkle even under the office’s unflattering overhead lighting.There’s something gentle and coaxing in his voice as he says, ‘Shall we do it on your desk or mine?’
My mind halts… He’s not saying what I think he’s—
‘To work on, Yara… Which desk should we work on?’
I glance at his face, and he has that stupid smirk, which is probably the closest thing that I’ll get to a smile tonight.
‘Yes, the desk… I guess we can do it on yours!’ I manage to cough out.I bow my head and try to hide my reddening face with some stray curls of hair.My brain catches up to what my sentence may sound like and I quickly say, ‘To work on, obviously, like you said.’
