What It Cost

Life Changing

Lillian took a deep breath as she stared at her laptop. Her heart pounded in her chest, her leg bouncing in rhythm.

"Why the serious face?"

Lillian blinked quickly and looked up; her leg froze. Her best friend, Tasha, stared across the table, eyebrows raised.

"Well?" She tapped her pencil against her notebook.

"Oh, well..." Lilly turned my laptop around to face Tasha. "I said 'fuck it,' and I'm submitting my portfolio to Sumerian Records to be Bad Omens photographer..."

A smile grew across Tasha's face as she grabbed Lilliy's laptop and started going through her photos. "Dude, give me a few seconds, and I will have the perfect portfolio for you."

Lilly's hand made its way to her mouth, chewing on her thumbnail as Tasha scrolled through her seemingly endless array of photos. Just as she had said, she was done within a few seconds. A new folder sat on Lilly's desktop titled ' LILLIAN ANDERS SUMERIAN PORTFOLIO.' Tasha moved the laptop screen back across the table, a large smile across her face.

"Go ahead... take a look."

Lilly let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She scrolled through the photos her best friend had selected. Photos of bands at their college's local venue, darker photoshoots, some self-portraits, and a few photos of animals and some scenery photos. She nodded as she reached the end.

"Not bad..." Lilly looked and winked at Tasha, "for a fashion student."

Tasha laughed and rolled her eyes, tossing her pencil across the table. "Well, submit that, then... I'm done with my assignments, so I wanna get food..."

"Okay..." Lilly went back to the webpage to apply for the position and submitted her portfolio. Followed by the typical job application questions and cover letter, her submission was sent. "Let's leave before I start thinking about what I've done and fill with regret." She put her laptop back into her backpack and stood up.

"Coffee?" Tasha packed up her belongings and swung her backpack around her shoulders.

Lilly hummed and glanced at her watch.

"And you actually have to get some, this time." Tasha crossed her arms crossed her chest, her brown eyes gleaming.

Lilly nudged her then grabbed her own backpack. "Fine. But not campus coffee... That stuff tastes like ass."

The girls hauled themselves down to the bus stop, flashed their school IDs to get on, and chatted as they got closer to town. Once they made it to the bus stop, they got off and walked the rest of the way to the coffee shop. The smell of coffee greeted them as they walked to the counter. Tasha ordered an iced chai, Lilly an iced coffee with sugar. Once the girls had their drinks, they made their way to a table in the back of the cafe.

"So, when you get this job and become besties with Bad Omens, you have to introduce me."

Lilly laughed and stared out of the window. "You realize there's, like, a million photographers better than me?" She turned back to Tasha. "And in my industry, it's ALL about who you know..."

"Girl, don't even give me that bullshit... I'm pursuing fashion. You don't think we struggle with nepo babies just creating brands because they feel like it?"

Lilly laughed and nudged Tasha under the table. "No, you're right, I'm sorry. We can be poor and struggle together after graduation."

Tasha took a sip of her drink and shook her head. "I'm your best friend for the long haul! You WILL become Bad Omens photographer, and then you will get me in as their stylist." She winked and laughed. "Manifest that shit!"