Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Twenty-Six

The woman sitting in front of Caia had a cold steely expression etched onto her face. So intimidating was her demeanor that Caia almost wanted to run from the room screaming. She didn't even look up when Caia sat down. Instead, she picked up a pen and set it at the beginning of a line on a form. "Name?" She demanded.

Caia gulped. "Caia Sinclair," she informed.

The woman wrote down the information and finally looked up. "Before we begin, you do understand, Miss Sinclair, that our program is highly respected in the journalism field." Caia nodded. "That means," the woman continued. "That there are many, many over qualified candidates out there who get turned down every year."

Caia nodded again. "Yes, I understand."

The woman set her hands clasped onto the desk and stared into Caia's eyes. "So, that brings me to our first question," the woman began. Caia gulped. She hadn't expected it to start this straightforwardly. "Do you believe that your are one of the most qualified? Someone who should stand out over the rest, be a first choice?" The woman paused. "Do you believe you deserve to go to this school?"

Caia faltered. Her eyes flirted above the woman's shoulder, to where she could see Archie sitting on the bench outside the room through the glass wall. He gave a reassuring nod, and Caia turned back to the woman.

"Yes," She stated. "Yes I do."

*

Caia sat in a booth at Pop's with Archie. The interview had long passed, and the two were ardently awaiting the email Ms. Blackberry, the woman who conducted the interview, had said would arrive around that time. Caia refreshed her inbox once again, Archie's whining forcing her to do so.

"Did it come through?" Archie questioned excitedly when he saw a new message appear. Caia tapped ok it and began reading.

"Um-"

"C'mon, what's it say?" Archie demanded, meaning forward.

Caia began hastily reading the message outloud. "Uh, unfortunately we are," she pasued, trying to keep herself together. "Unable to move you along any further in the interview and admission process." Caia's heart sank. She has figured this would happen from the way the interview had gone, but to see it in writing was devaststing.

Archie looked up, searching for any clues to Caia's mood in her face. "I'm sorry, Caia," He sympathized.

Caia shook her head as she continues to stare at the email. "That lady was ruthless," she spoke as she glanced out the window. "She kept grilling me about my contacts in the field and letters of recommendation. I don't think she asked me one question about my work," Caia informed. "I guess I didn't realize journalism was so political. But I guess I expected it. I have no real experience. Besides," Caia shrugged. "It was a long shot anyway."

"C'mon, Caia, we both know it wasn't. You're crazy smart, and that lady must've been insane not to see it," Archie comforted. "They don't deserve you."

"Honestly, Archie," Caia began, turning to face the boy. "NYU was my dream school, but I only applied for journalism because of the class I took last year. It seemed like it could be interesting, maybe even fun. But I don't really even know if that's what I wanna do." Her face dropped. "I don't know what I'm gonna do now." She paused. "And I'm alone."

"Hey," Archie exclaimed, reaching across the table and covering Caia's hands with his own. "You keep saying that, but it's not true. You're not alone."

"I am," Caia refuted. Archie shook his head at her statement. "I can't even seem to get over fricken' Reggie, and he cheated on me. Twice!" She dropped her head. "I'm such a loser."