Flame [h.s.]

08| Break my heart

I've always been the one to say the first goodbye
Had to love and lose a hundred million times

Had to get it wrong to know just what I like
Now I'm fallin'

Olivia

"Hello?" I say as soon as I pick up the phone from an unknown number. 

I just got out of a small coffee house next to my university where I usually have lunch when I'm in a rush. It is cheap and they make pretty good sandwiches. I came here today with Jane, Marcus and Theo as we all had the same lunch break today.

"Olivia?" I recognize her voice immediately, it's Carol, probably calling me just to tell me how I didn't get the job. That is fine, I made peace with it already, I guess I will just starve for the rest of the month because no other place called me either.

Why is it so hard to find a job nowadays?

"Oh hello!" I said a little too enthusiastically, even if inside I'm feeling miserably sad for not getting the job.

Maybe I won't get it now, but nothing is stopping me from trying again in a couple of months. Hopefully, I will become more experienced and more suited for the job.

"Hello darling, how are you?"

"I'm good and you?" I stop in the middle of the street, so I can focus entirely on this phone call. My friends stop a little further ahead, waiting for me but I gesture them to continue walking, I would catch them later.

"I'm good thank you, I'm just calling to give you some feedback on how the interview was. It was very nice meeting you, you're a charismatic girl." When they start with compliments it usually means something bad will follow short after.

We love you but you are not good enough. I know the drill already.

"I would love to offer you a position as tour guide of the temporary exhibitions. Those exhibitions are a little more exclusive as they are not free to the public, and we also host special events there, so we expect the best from you." It takes me a couple of seconds to fully understand what she just told me.

I got the job?

I don't even have time to process it as she continues talking to me right after. "We have another worker who can fill in for you while you are at university or when you have too many assignments, we are quite flexible. The schedule is not always the same, one week you might have two tours and in the other ten, depends on the demand for that exhibition. We will pay you the national minimum wage, and you earn any extra gratifications you make. Does that sound good for you?"

"Uh... Of course!" I say seeing Theo walk in my directions, as Marcus and Jane walk back to the university, not wanting to arrive late.

It is a flexible job, which means it's the perfect one for me, plus I will make good money considering I won't be working set hours and I also can keep any tips I make.

 I guess I will have to put on my best smile.

"Great! The only downside is that you can only start next month, we are currently working on putting up another exhibition so at the moment we don't have anything ready." Well, I guess I will end up eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, but that is okay, its only temporary.

"No problem, I will wait." I tell her receiving a curious stare from Theo.

"Great! I will contact you once I have more information." I can picture her smiling through the phone.