Friends, Lovers, or Nothing

Chapter Sixteen - Clarity

When I arrive in class on Friday morning I have an email from Children Today of Massachusetts in my inbox. I stare at it in my folder for a moment, mostly stunned that they've already gotten back to me.

Attention: Miss. Blake Ashby

Hello,

We are pleased to see that you have shown interest in our program here at our Downtown Boston office and we would love to schedule an in-person meeting prior to assigning you to a child for mentoring. Here at Children Today we're all about finding the perfect fit for both our children and their volunteers. We're excited to welcome you to the program upon completion of in-person paperwork and a brief interview. Your position as a mentor is contingent upon these things. Let me know when you have availability to come in.

Graciously,

Charlie Milton

President of Children Today

"What are you smiling about over there?" Layla questions, taking her seat next to me in class.

"I applied to do some volunteer work outside of classes and this organization just got back to me. They want me to come in and do a short interview or something," I tell her, not giving too much away.

"That's awesome, Bee, I'm happy for you," she gives me a genuine smile, "You're still coming to my showcase tonight right?" she asks me.

I nod my head while typing out a reply to Charlie Milton, President of Children Today. I couldn't believe this was actually gonna happen for me. I was thrilled, to say the least.

"Is Jax coming too?"

I turn my head up towards her, "Why would Jax be coming?" I ask, raising my brow at her.

"Because I told you you could bring someone, I thought you might ask him since... you know," she says.

"No actually, I don't know," I tell her, "Jaxon's probably busy anyway though."

"Hmm... His loss I guess," she surprisingly changes the subject, "Kenz and I wanted to ask if you'd come to dinner with us afterward, there's this new place in downtown near the showcase that she's been wanting to check out, figure its good timing to go."

I give a sigh, "You don't have to invite me on your date just because I don't have one, Lay," I tell her.

"Who said it was a date?" I give her a knowing look and she rolls her eyes at me, "Cmon, Blake! Just come, I want you there and I know Kenz wants you there too. Just a bunch of gal pals kicking it on a Friday. Plus, I'm sure when Kenz finds out Jax isn't coming she'll be dying to ask all about his birthday party," she scrunches her lips up and makes some kissing noises at me.

"God, will you stop! Fine, I'll come but only because that," I motion to her face, "needed to stop sooner than later."

"What can I say, persuasion is a talent, my dear," as soon as the words leave Layla's mouth, Professor White makes his way into the lecture hall, his shoulders slouching, his faded brown suit looking sadder than ever. Layla shakes her head at him in disbelief.

"Okay class, get ready because today we're starting our riveting discussion on archeology," and I'm already zoning out.

...

I take an Uber to the showcase, wearing a simple black dress that I knew Layla would approve of, considering she had picked it out for me just a couple weeks prior. The showcase was at a quaint little boutique in downtown that I had never heard of but Layla described as one of Boston's trendier shops.