+ 1.19.2: A New Beginning

“I’ve got great news for you!” Jared burst into the lounge with an explosion of enthusiasm. Azaria shot up from the sofa, her heart beating furiously from the startling entrance. Jared explained that he had pulled a few strings at the news offices and had secured her an interview with the editor for a level two position. Azaria grimaced not as elated as Jared had expected. His face fell with obvious disappointment as he caught her expression.

“I know it’s not much...” He started; his voice small with dismay. He was hoping she would have been a little more appreciative of his efforts.
“It’s not that.” She cut him off. “It’s great. Perfect.” She lied knowing he wouldn’t believe her. They had known each other for too long; they knew each other’s baseline behaviour and the sure giveaways of deception. “It’s just that you’ve done so much to help me and all I’ve done is sit on my ass.”

She had been sponging off him for the past week, guilt-ridden for it. But it wasn’t intentional. She had tried calling up the Human Resources department herself only to be told there was nothing available. She hated being dependent on someone and having lived that life with Davrin she was tired and frustrated with having everything done for her. She couldn’t take advantage of Jared’s good nature anymore.

“Well you could always just bork it up.” He half-joked, half hoped she wouldn’t. He hated seeing her in such a bad space.

“Not after the effort you’ve put into it.”

Next day

Sweaty palms: check

Heart racing at speeds faster than light: check

A nervous knot tightening and growing in the pit of her stomach: check

“I hate these things.” She told herself in the mirror. For some reason interviews was the bane of Azaria’s life. It made no sense seeing as she had mingled with high society on numerous occasions during her younger years. However, it all boiled down to fear; unrelenting, tongue-binding fear that she would stuff it all up and say something stupid – or worse say nothing at all.

Several hours later

Jared was waiting outside the restaurant for her.

“So how’d it go?”

“I don’t know.” She replied biting her lip. On several occasions she had to ask the interviewer to provide examples for some of the questions: ‘have you ever had to make a decision where you felt your ethics were being challenged?’; ‘have you ever had to take action to correct someone’s inappropriate behaviour?’ were among the barrage of questions.

She didn’t see how they were relevant to the job but she gave it a shot anyway. She had walked in wearing her most confident demeanour and left cussing herself for once again allowing her mind to draw endless blanks.

“Well I’m sure you got it.” His loyalty and optimism coming into play.

They enjoyed a light lunch before heading off to the clothing stores. She was tired of the same old outfits, wanting something more befitting for her new life.

“So our movie is premiering tomorrow night. And I kinda need a date.” Jared shifted his weight to the other leg wringing his fingers.

“Are there no pretty actresses that have caught your eye?” It came out as a joke but really she was fishing for information. She recalled his last girlfriend – well the last one she knew of – Nicole Goodier: clingy, soul-sucking Nicole whose nose was too big and may have been, according to Azaria, suffering from mandibular prognathism. Okay so she wasn’t too fond of that girl but one couldn’t blame her. After all, the wretch had very nearly isolated Jared from his friends with her constant need to spend every waking moment with him like he was a vital organ.

"I was hoping I'd take you." He finally admitted.