Fervor.

two.

Vanessa's POV

A couple hours had passed since I presented my idea for the big project, and I was getting more anxious by the second as I tried to keep myself busy with work.

It’s barely 12 pm, and I feel as though the stress is gnawing at my insides. So in an attempt to distract myself, I decide to leave for my lunch break, and I ask Amy to join me.

I explain to her what had happened on the way to the -surprisingly empty- break room, and she seems just as shocked. We each take a seat at one of the only two tables in the lunch room, and I exhale loudly as I open up my lunch.

With the state I’m in, there’s no way I’m going to be able to eat. In fact, I feel like I may throw up. A heavy knot has settled in my stomach, and my mind can’t bear the thought of even putting a single bite in my mouth.

I pick at my food and feel Amy’s eyes on me, which only makes me more uncomfortable; especially that she hasn’t said a word since we got here.

She sighs “Vanessa, you have to eat”

“I am” my lie is stupid because it’s pretty obvious

I hear her snort “Right. Listen, I’m not your mother so I won’t push you to eat. But I’m also your friend, so I’ll be honest with you; I understand that you’re nervous, but I think you’re being over dramatic”

Maybe she was being honest, but what she says bothers me. I’m not being dramatic; this is genuinely how I feel. This project is the most important thing in my life at the moment, and it’s always been my dream to be able to do more than just brainstorm ideas for advertisements.

I give up on eating and drop my hands under the table to fiddle with them “I’m not” I roll my eyes

“Van, we all know you’ll get the job, okay? No one is doubting you. Surely, that’s enough to lower your stress”

I avoid eye contact with her as I stare down at my food; my shoulders slouched “If I don’t get this,” I pause thinking of what I would do, but fail “I don’t know what I would do. But I’m going to be very angry”

She chuckles “I know. You don’t need to tell me. I’ve seen it before”

For some reason, that makes me smile. I remember the amount of times I’ve gotten angry over stupid things and she was there to make me feel better.

“There you are. I’ve been looking all over the place for you!” I hear Jake’s excited voice boom from behind me.

I look up at Amy and watch as her mood quickly changes to annoyed. Meanwhile I feel Jake take a seat beside me “How does it feel to be my new boss?” he’s always in a good mood

I don’t reply but look up at him. His smile fades and his eyes widen, “Jeez boss…a lot of work already?”

I shoot him a confused look before turning my attention to Amy “Can I borrow your small mirror?”

She nods and pulls it out of her purse and hands it to me. Then she takes it upon herself to explain the situation to Jake.

“She didn’t get the job,” Amy tells Jake “she has to wait another hour before they tell her. Because it turns out another person was in on the project”

I examine my face in the mirror and groan; great. I look like I haven’t slept in days.

Jake is bewildered “How did you not know this?”

I shrug, not finding it in me to even talk due to the knot in my stomach that only seems to be growing heavier with each passing second. My energy is completely drained because all I can manage to do is stress over this fucking project. Why must they take such a long time to decide? My mind is whirling with multiple thoughts that I feel my head might combust. I continue twisting my hands anxiously under the table and let out another loud exhale, as if that would rid all the stress.