You Again

Book 2: Part 3

Astrid walked into the non-profit organization she worked for and walked straight back to her office. She hung her purse on the rack and sat at her desk. She turned on her computer and logged in for another tedious day of work. 

She had been in Orlando for a little over a month now and was getting the hang of everything. She even found a shortcut to work! Not that she was in any rush to get there though. Astrid loved her job and the work she did, but days like this reminded her of how boring this field could be. Wildlife this, legislation that. It was the same thing day in and day out. She just wanted for one controversial piece of legislation to pass so the office would have some energy.

"Ms. Cartwright?" an intern said as she poked her head in. Astrid looked up at her. "There's bagels and tea in the break room if you'd like some," the intern said before leaving. Bagels and tea in the break room? That's new. Astrid got up from her desk and walked to the break room where most of her co-workers had congregated to have their share of the snacks. "These have gluten in them!" her coworker Jeff warned Astrid as she reached for a bagel. "I can eat gluten," Astrid said as she picked up one. "But thanks for letting me know".

"You want to sit with us?" Kelly, another one of her coworkers, asked while sitting at the small table in the room. "No thanks. I'll be taking my bagel to go," Astrid joked. "Suit yourself," she shrugged.

Astrid took her bagel back to her desk and got to work on drafting a letter to the mayor of Orlando regarding what can be done about the wildlife that frequently found themselves out of their habitats. Hours passed as she looked over many articles and journals regarding the problem. She typed in between bites of the bagel that had quickly gone stale. Once the letter was drafted, she mass emailed it to her colleagues to see if they had anything to add or critiques. 

After she made sure no one was looking, she checked her phone.

Aaron Gordon
How have you been?

Aaron had sent this message four days after the game. He was a busy man so she didn't fault him for waiting to send it. Plus there might've been some hesitation given how odd this was for the both of them. But even though he had sent the message four days after the game, it had been nearly two weeks with no reply from Astrid. She would type messages and then delete them. Her fingers would hover over the letters. She would get the urge to type out any and everything that happened over the past five years, but there was no use.

Astrid Cartwright
What are you doing after work?

She locked her phone after sending the message to Gia and sat it screen down on the desk as the first email came in. 

You're such a pro at writing these! It's so well researched and the language is accessible. You have no complaints to worry about on my end. 

Astrid sighed as she closed the email. She was overqualified for this job and everyone in the office knew it, but she needed to get away from Arizona. The only place she knew as home began to suffocate her and she desperately searched for a way out. Gia and Darius offered her the perfect solution when they suggested she join them in Orlando. Astrid threw her application at every job with an opening and accepted the first one that offered her a position. She told her dad she was moving and packed her bags, along with Osborne, and moved to Orlando once the deposit for the townhouse went through. And even though she was enjoying herself, coming to work was a drag and she didn't have much of a life outside the office.

Gia Harvey
Let's go for drinks!

Astrid giggled at the message and agreed. Drinks with Gia was just what she needed. Even though there were two hours left in her work day, she turned off her computer and grabbed her purse. She walked over to the office of the executive of the company. "Astrid," he said with a smile. "Hey Sven, is it alright if I head out early? I drafted the email to the mayor and once all my feedback comes in I'll send you the final product," she said. "Yeah that's fine. You're free to go," he said with a smile. Astrid thanked him and left the office.

*****

She met Gia at an upscale bar and restaurant that Gia proclaimed was her favorite. They sat at a table as they sipped on their drinks. "So what's work like?" Gia asked. "It's so boring!" Astrid exclaimed. "I sit at my desk all day and it feels like I'm just waiting for something to happen and nothing ever does". Gia takes a drink and shakes her head. "I kept telling you that you'd be bored out of your mind but there was no convincing you to change your major," she reminded her. "That's rich coming from the girl who needed me to pick a major for her," Astrid barked. "But I'm having fun unlike a certain someone," she pointed out.

"I just wish there was more excitement happening for me," Astrid expressed. Gia took another sip before sitting her drink on the table. "Fun won't come to you, you have to welcome it into your life. Orlando is a fresh start for you and you can be anyone you want to be here. I mean you could go and dance on the bar if you wanted because maybe that's a part of your new identity. But let's be real Astrid, the way you live is not going to bring in fun times. You go to work and then go home. Go back to work and then back home. You're bored because your life is boring". Gia picked her cocktail up and took another drink.

Astrid rolled her eyes as she sipped on her drink knowing that what Gia said was absolutely true. All she did was work and spend time with Osborne. Her life was extremely boring. "Well what do you suggest I do to change this?" Astrid asked. "Go out! It's literally that simple. And stop taking work home with you. If shit isn't done at the end of the day, there's always tomorrow".

"Well then I'm one step closer. I left early because all my work was done," Astrid boasted. "And what did you do until we met up?" she asked. "Watched TV with Osborne," she sighed. Gia eyed her and then laughed. "I can't wait until Darius is back in town," she laughed. "He'll really give it to you".