I Volunteer | Jack Schlossberg | Friends to lovers

Let's celebrate

"Spill. Now," Alex said before she had even fully entered Annie's apartment. She came bearing hot chocolates, and wasted no time getting cozy on Annie's velvet blue couch.

"Okay, so, you know how I told you I wasn't into Jack?" Annie began.

"I knew it!" Alex said, pointing her finger at Annie. "I freaking knew it!"

"Well hold on, I'm still not really sure. But I'm not not sure... if that makes sense."

"It does not. Elaborate please," Alex said, giving Annie side-eye.

"Okay, here it goes." She took a deep breath and tried to collect the jumble of thoughts in her head. "I love spending time with him. He genuinely gets my humor, and he can make me laugh too, which is rare for guys. And he listens. Alex, he listens better than anyone I've ever known, and he's curious about me, and he makes me feel like I'm the only person in the room with him."

"So then what's the problem? That sounds to me like a very straightforward case of liking someone," Alex said with a hopeful smile.

"Well, I can't decide if I actually like him, or if he's just the first guy to show me any attention since Matthew."

"Hmmm," Alex muttered. "I see what you mean. Do you want my opinion?"

"Always," Annie said.

"Good because you were getting it anyway," Alex said with a playful grin. "I think it's a mix of both. The qualities you mentioned are all pretty specific to Jack. Like, if you had just said he's funny and he likes talking to you I'd probably say those are generic characteristics and not really reasons to like someone. But what you said, about his curiosity and the way he makes you feel, those all feel like qualities you couldn't find in just anyone." She looked at Annie who was nodding her head. "But at the same time, this is the first person you've had even slight feelings for since Matthew. So I think a part of you may be going in a little stronger than you might have otherwise."

"So what do I do? Honestly. Don't hold back."

"I think you need to spend more time with him. Get to know him more, and make sure it's him you're interested in, not just the male validation." Deep down, Annie knew this was the right way to go. But less deep down, she was bummed that Jack wasn't in her immediate future—romantically, at least.

The first week of June was a rollercoaster for Annie. All within seven days she had a huge report due at work, a 10k race, and her interview for the JFK Library position.

On Thursday, she entered the library dressed in her best trousers and a short-sleeved white mock-neck top. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled up in a twist, secured by a black claw clip.

Susan had instructed her to meet in the first floor conference room. When Annie walked into the room, Susan was already seated at the table.

"Annie, hi, thanks for joining me," Susan said as she stood up, extending a hand and flashing the same smile she gave Annie during her volunteer interview. "So before we get started, I wanted to give you a heads up that two other board members will be joining us—Elaine Rhinehardt, the woman who currently holds the position, and Caroline Kennedy, the library's President."

Immediately Annie felt all of the heat in her body rush to her face, and she prayed she wasn't the color of a tomato on the outside. Caroline's in the country? And she's here? Since when does a President sit in on a lowly marketing position interview? she frantically asked inside of her head. 

"Oh, wonderful! The more the merrier," she lied, forcing herself to stop shaking.

Moments later, a 40-something woman with a sharp brown bob dressed in a navy blue maxi dress walked in. "Elaine," she said, gesturing to herself. "You must be Annie, so nice to meet you."