The Moon Is Beautiful

Chapter 3

“How are you, my dear?”

“I’m fine, mother. What do you want?” I grumble, rolling my eyes. I don’t and never have had a good relationship with my mother. She was an absent mother, working all day every day when I was young, leaving me with my dad. He took care of me, but when he died when I was eleven, instead of being a mother, she hired some random nanny to take care of me. I resented her for it when I became old enough to think for myself and understand my own feelings and promised myself that when I was old enough, I would go and live on my own.

So, when I started university, I got my own place and moved out. My mother and I don’t talk much, and the only time we text is when she asks me if I received the money she transferred into my bank account. I should be grateful that she at least sends me money every month, I guess.

“Can’t a mother call to check if her daughter is doing alright?” she asks, sounding offended and I roll my eyes in reply. She’s hardly a mother. When I don’t respond, she clears her throat. It’s something I do too, in awkward times and situations. It’s something I unfortunately got from her. “How is school going?”

“Can you just get to the point already, or I’m going to hang up.” I say and she sighs through the call.

“Alright. I just called to let you know that I’m going overseas tomorrow for a conference.”

“And you’re telling me this why?” I question, truly not understanding the point. She goes to conferences overseas all the time and never once tells me, so why now all of a sudden?

“I just…I thought that maybe you would want to know.” she says, as if to make me the bad person in this equation.

“Well I don’t care. If that’s all, then I’m hanging up.” I say and quickly hang up before she can get another word out. Talking with my mother for merely a few minutes exhausts me. It feels like a task I don’t want to do, but have to.

“What did your mom want?” Eliza asks, dragging the flat iron through her hair and I sigh, tossing my phone to the side.

“She’s going overseas for a conference. I have no idea why she felt the need to let me know. It’s not like I care.” I say, falling down onto my bed, back first and splaying my entire body across the sheets.

“Maybe she’s finally trying to be a mom to you.” she says and I scoff. I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous than that in my life.

“Anyway, we’re going clubbing tomorrow night since it’s Friday and you’re coming.” she says.

“Do I have to go?” I grumble.

“Yes you do. Besides, I invited Raine.” she says.

“Whose Raine?” I question, the name sounding vaguely familiar.

She turns to me with wide eyes, looking shocked, and slightly appalled. “How can you not remember who Raine is?”

I look at her dumbly.

“The hot freshmen I told you about, like three days ago.” she says and then I remember. Oh right, the freshmen she wanted to set me up with.

“I’m not interested though.” I say.

“Just come with to meet him. Who knows? You two might hit it off.” she says, turning back to the mirror. I doubt it, but I don’t say it, because I know that if I do, this will turn into a never-ending argument that I don’t particularly have the energy for right now. Closing my eyes, I let myself fall into a dreamless sleep for a few minutes.

When I wake up, Eliza is done and is waiting for me to leave. I get up and grab my bag before leaving the apartment. We wordlessly walk to the university, only paying attention to our own thoughts.

Suddenly, a voice calls out my name, pulling me back to reality. I stop and turn around, smiling when I see who it is. She runs to us and immediately hooks her arm around mine. Alyssa Davidson is another one of our friends in our major and she is the closest person I am to in our major, besides Eliza.

“Hi guys,” she greets and we continue walking. “What are you two up to?”

“Nothing much,” I shrug. “You?”

“Me neither. Oh, by the way, I got a boyfriend, Peter. He’s coming with me to the club tomorrow so you’ll meet him there.” she says, a wide smile spreading across her face.

“You must really like him.” I note.

“I do.” she beams, her green eyes sparkling.

“Are you sure?” Eliza questions. “You have a different boyfriend every week.”
It’s true. While Eliza sleeps around a lot, Alyssa dates a lot. Whenever we see her, she’s got a new boyfriend.

Although, it might be serious this time since she’s going to introduce him to us, something she’s never done with any of her previous boyfriends before.
Alyssa rolls her eyes at Eliza’s words.

“Yes, I’m sure Eliza. Unlike you, I like to settle down.”

Eliza merely laughs in reply, not offended by Alyssa’s words one bit. The two of them are like that. They can insult one another and still be friends at the end of the day. I envy their friendship. I wish I could just get insulted by a friend and do the same to them without either party getting offended or angry.

“Oh, by the way Rose. I heard Eliza has a guy to set you up with.” Alyssa suddenly says and I groan.

“Seriously? I’m not interested for goodness sake.” I grumble, pulling my arm out of hers.

“You sure? I heard he’s quite the hunk.” Alyssa says, grinning. I roll my eyes in reply, walking faster than both of them to get ahead of them.

“Oh come on! Younger guys are the in thing nowadays!” I hear Alyssa yell out, but I just cover my ears with my hands and speed away from them.

I’ve had enough of hearing about this guy.

*****

I drop my coin into the hole and press the button for iced coffee.

“Rose.” I hear someone say from behind me and I turn around, surprised to find my Professor Lively standing there, staring at me with a smile.

“Mr. Lively.” I say, not hiding the surprise in my voice.

“Are you busy, or can we talk for a minute?” he asks and I shake my head, signaling that we can talk.

“So, there is this annual competition, and there is one section for essay writing this year. I was thinking that maybe you would be interested in taking part.” he says.

“Actually…I was actually thinking about taking part in the art section of the competition this year.” I admit, biting my lower lip. He looks disappointed, but smiles, as if not to make me feel bad about my decision.

“It’s alright then. I just thought of you when I heard of the competition.” he says.

I feel bad about this. He looked so optimistic when we started the conversation, but now he looks crestfallen. English as part of my major is his subject and although I quite enjoy it, art is my passion, and I will always choose it over anything else.

And then I get an idea.

“What about Eliza?” I suggest, my eyes lighting up. English isn’t really Eliza’s cup of tea, but if it’s for Professor Lively, I know she will try her best in the competition. In fact, because of her feelings for him, I don’t think there is anyone more suited for this than her.

“Eliza Adams?” he asks and I nod. “Would she really be interested?”

You have no idea.

“Of course she would be. You should just ask her. I’m sure things will work out.” I assure him, nodding confidently. He seems a little hesitant, uncertain about this, but nods nonetheless and offers me another smile before walking away.

“Yes!” I silently cheer, fist bumping the air. Eliza is going to love me for this.

Finally, I have done something for her.