What We Could Have Been (EN version)

Chapter 2

Once in the car, we agree it'll be better if Sabrina drives. Not that I don't have my licence, but I feel way too stressed out to drive right now. She puts on music while I put my belt on. She knows music relax me. I pretty much don't do anything without music. When we were in high school she used to make fun of me because I had my headphones as soon as class was done. We weren't out of the classroom that I'll put them. She also made fun of me when she first saw my spotify. She found out I had playlists, a lot of them. I had one for every situation, shower, sad shower, doing the dishes. I pretty much had a playlist for everything. I have to admit that I have too many of them.

When we arrived in front of a big builduing, Sabrina parks. My eyes are still on the building when she stops the car. This is not a randoma building, it's my publishing house's building. I have a meeting here today. My agent called me last night and explained quickly that I'll have to give a conference for the book today. She told me I should wear something else than my usual outfits for this. She stayed pretty vagued about the whole programm and the person who would be there.

In front of my agent's door, I hesistate a moment before knocking. I gues it's starting to hit me that this is all happening. Today, my book is getting released. I take a deep breath and knocn on the door. Next to me, Sabrina smiles. The door opens on my agent, Gina, telling me to get inside. As per usual, her desk is perfectly organised, unlike mine. We sit in the chairs in front of her. She tells me I'm about to give my first conference to promote the book, which I already knew. She tells me to give them a little taste of the book without saying too much otherwise no one will buy the book. Enough to interust them, but not enough to make them feel like they know what's gonna happen.

After a long hour of discution, I end up in a library full of journalist. I sit on the couch in front of all of them, kinda stressed. It feels so weird. Anxiety starts kicking in, and I'm happy to see Sabrina sitting front row to support me. She miles and I take a deep breath. After all, what could go wrong ?

I answer a few questions. Some of them way more personal than I expected. Most of them are asking if the story is real or not, and honestly I'm having a hard time not saying the truth. Gina is the one sweet talking everytime she sees a question makes me uncomfortable. I appreciate her doing this. She keeps things mysterious. When it finally ends, Gina tells me I'm free for the rest of the day. Sabrina and I decides to go to the mall where we used to go younger. We wanted to see if the book was at the book store we spent so many hours in high school. I'm surprised to discover the book, she's not really for some reasons. She makes me take a picture with it. Her argument is, right now I hate taking this picture, but later I'll be thankful to have this memory. Maybe she's not wrong. I'm about to walk away but she grabs a book, taking me out of my mind. I froze while she walks away.

"What are you doing ?" I ask.

"I'm buying a book, duh !" she says pointing at the book.

My book on her hands, she walks to the closest cashier.

"You already have it. For FREE." I say pretty confused.

"Yeah but I wanna buy it to support you"

I look at her, surprised. She really is the best friend you could ask for.

"Plus if I get one you'll be sure someone got it" she says laughing.

We're both laughing, but she's not wrong. I can't be worst than one book sold! It'll avoid me total shame if no one buys it.

We spend the rest of the day shopping before heading home. I take a hot shower before putting on my jogging and my sweatshirt ! Ugh I feel so much better wearing my comfy clothes ! Around 6pm my mom calls me. I sent her a copy of the book without telling her anything about the whole process. I guess she was surprised but not that much. She always felt like I was writing a book for some reason. She was letting me going on my own journey without influencing me. We talk for a good hour before she has to go.