Rowan [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Twenty-Eight

"A few drinks and the world was hers. She wore her whiskey like a loaded gun."- Atticus

Rowan sat in a conference room around a solid, wooden table, staring at a list in front of her. It was the first day of the internship, and during their nine-week course, the students would be shadowing different Officials in three different fields. Rowan chuckled to herself. Of course, I'm with Matthew.

A new testing facility had opened in Seattle and Matthew was assigned as the director two years ago. Rowan shuddered at the thought of stepping foot back into a testing facility. The psychological testing had wrecked her. She knew that if she had not been given the "anti-venom" which counteracted the drug given for simulations, there was a chance that she wouldn't have made it out alive.

She was one of the lucky ones.

Rowan turned back to the list, for her second three-week time span she'd be shadowing a patrol Official, which was basically a cop. The last three weeks everyone would be learning about the factories. When the professor who was over the internship students entered the room, Rowan turned her attention to him.

"Good morning, everyone," he announced with a big smile plastered on his face.

"Good morning," the students murmured in unison.

Rowan listened intently and took notes as he explained what their internship would cover. They would meet once every three weeks when it was time to switch to the next part of the course. Their assigned Officials would be checking in with him via email. Based on those email reports their grades would be determined.

"Tonight at 7 pm there will be a meet and greet in the Scholar's Ballroom. The dress is semi-formal. There you will be meeting and networking with the Officials who are a part of this internship. This is your chance to make a good first impression. If I were you I'd stay away from the Hunch Punch," the professor ended with a chuckle. "Class dismissed."

Rowan quickly gathered her belongings and rushed into the hallway. She knew she needed to go shopping for something to wear to the mixer. It was times like this that she wished Laurel was close enough to go shopping with her. As she made her way out to her car, she pulled her phone out and dialed.

"Hey," Rowan said. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good," Kyra responded on the other end of the line.

"Well, I need to go find something to wear to a semi-formal mixer for school tonight. Want to go with me?"

"Sure, I'd love to get out of the house," Kyra answered.

"Okay, I'll come and pick you up, be there in a few."

"See ya."

Rowan ended the call and pulled her car keys out of her purse. She put the key in the ignition and started the car. She quickly typed out a message to Stephen to let him know that she'd be unavailable for the evening. Once she sent the text, she started the car and backed out of the parking spot.

When she pulled into Kyra's driveway, she typed in the code and waited for the wrought iron gate to open. Kyra's home was a large three-story mansion complete with an indoor pool and jacuzzi. Her husband was a well to do obstetrician whom Kyra had met at a party the year after Rowan's testing. He was a specialist doctor for Icamera Health Systems and also was a Professor of Obstetrics at the Seattle branch of Icamera Medical School. He was not an Eagle, but only due to the nature of his work and unpredictable schedule.

Once she made it down the long driveway, Rowan pulled in front of the house and parked. She texted Kyra that she was here. Kyra opened the large front door and motioned for Rowan to come in.