5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Margot
Sydney never fails to serve an incredible meal and tonight is no different. I’ve never eaten so well in my life and I’m alway sure to tell her that.
“Dinner’s on!” Sydney calls from the kitchen and Danika and I race toward the kitchen island to grab our usual stools. Dani makes it first since she chose to leap over the couch while I walk around it like a normal person.
Taking in the delicious smell of peppers, onions, and sausage, I salivate over the spread set out before us. “This looks amazing, Syd. Thanks for cooking.”
“Of course,” she replies, waving me off as she always does.
“Super amazing,” Danika agrees, her mouth already full of half-chewed sausage. Sometimes I seriously wonder how Dani and I have been best friends our entire lives when we are so different in so many ways. But, I guess they say opposites attract and Dani and I couldn’t be more opposite.
I take a bite and savor the incredible taste, finish chewing and then ask my daily question to the group. “So, how was school, darlings?”
“Well, Mom,” Dani teases, “I started my biochem course today and I actually really enjoy it. There’s something deeply interesting about DNA replication repair recombination.”
I can’t tell if she’s being serious or sarcastic. While a party girl at night, Danika does really take her studies seriously and has dreamed about being a doctor ever since she was old enough to use a pretend stethoscope. It could also have to do with her grandma dying of breast cancer when she was a teenager, but she’ll never admit that.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it!” I cheer, regardless if she meant it or not. Nodding toward Sydney, I take another delicious bite of her meal.
Sydney and I met during our freshman orientation and bonded over the fact that we both wanted to go out for the school paper. Even though Sydney is an exercise science major, she’s always loved writing too and had planned to use the paper as a campus job for a little extra income, same as me. We clicked right away. When I introduced her to Danika, it was a friendship made in heaven. Since then, the three of us have been basically inseparable.
“That Music in Media elective I signed up for was actually super interesting, too.” Sydney says before taking a bite of her own meal.
“Oh right, do you think that’ll help you with your entertainment column for the paper?”
Sydney shrugs. “Here’s hoping.” She cleans off her mouth with her napkin. “What about you, Margot? How was that public speaking class?”
I want to tell them about seeing Alex in the class but for some reason I can’t bring myself to tell them about his speech. There was something deeply personal about it. It clearly upset him when he realized someone he actually recognized was in the class instead of a group of nameless freshmen.
So, instead of going into detail about the ordeal, I find myself shrugging. “It was fine. I didn’t actually do my speech, but I’m one of the first to start next week.”
Dani groans. “Now you’re going to be insufferable and anxious all week!” She teases me with a gentle shove and I roll my eyes.
“Yeah,” I agree as wholeheartedly as I can but it doesn’t connect. Before they can ask me any more questions about the class, I skillfully pivot the conversation. “Wait, but also I stopped by the newsroom this afternoon and Jessy told me about an incredible The New York Times internship she was told about. Sydney, did you see the board?”
She shakes her head. “No, I didn’t get a chance to stop in there today. What’s the internship?”
I dive into deep detail about the contest and how I have to do some sort of “multimedia” project. “It’s judged in stages so every few weeks I need to send in an update on what I’m working on and the contestants get narrowed down as it goes on.”
“Yikes,” Danika mutters.
I nod, taking another bite. “I need to do something really eye-catching to make myself stand out against the other applicants.”
“Hmm,” both girls hum, and we fall into a comfortable silence as we think of potential ideas.
“A comic strip?” Danika offers.
I shake my head. “Hardly newsworthy.”
Sydney takes a bite of her dinner before offering her idea of a “Dear Margot” column where people write in questions and I give advice.
“Not a terrible idea but it’s not multimedia. Plus, who would want advice from me? I’m a nobody.”
“True,” Danika agrees.
“Thanks,” I scoff.
“What about something audio? You can host a podcast on campus and interview people? Gather enough of an audience, the New York Times won’t be able to resist.”
“Back to my original question, who would care enough to be interviewed by me?”
Danika sets down her fork. “What if we combine the ideas? An advice column podcast.”
“That’s a great idea,” Sydney grins.
I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Are you listening to me at all? No one is going to give a shit about what advice I have to give. Half the professors on this campus call me Margie.” I roll my eyes.
Danika’s face drops. “You’re right.” But she gets that grin on her face. That devilish grin that tells me she’s about to say the best idea in the world and I’m going to absolutely hate it.
“They won’t tune in just for you. But if it’s you and say…frat boy royalty Alex Prescott, they’d have no choice but to listen.”
“No. Way.” I reply easily. Grabbing our empty plates, I start hand washing all the dishes, as per our agreement. Danika grabs the towel to dry but doesn't give up the idea.
“Oh, come on!” she whines, drying the clean dish I hand her and placing it onto the shelf. “You know it’s a perfect idea. You just don’t want to hang out with Alex,” she says as if she’s caught me on something.
I give her a pointed look. “Uh, yeah. Exactly,” I reply, handing her another wet dish. Sydney chuckles from her seat at the island.
“No comments from the peanut gallery unless you’re on my side.” Danika points to Sydney who raises her hands in mock defeat.
“Although,” Sydney starts and I whip around on her.
“Not you too.”
Sydney giggles. “A video podcast is a really great idea. You know it’s the way of the future for journalism right now. It probably would stand out in that contest for the internship.”
“And the more successful the podcast, the better chances you have of winning!” Danika cheers and I flick some water in her face. And then I flick water in Sydney’s face too for good measure. “You’re just mad because we’re right.”
I roll my eyes but don’t respond. Because they’re absolutely right. It’s a perfect idea. Just…not a perfect match.
“Let’s get our heads back down to Earth here, people. Even if I did decide to go through with this idea, Alex would never agree to it. From what I’ve gathered about him, he seems like an egotistical arrogant jerk who only cares about himself.” Even as I said it, I know it’s not entirely true. Especially after the way he opened up in public speaking class. But the way he treated me after…the harsh brush off. It is more than a little confusing.
“He’s actually a pretty nice guy. I’ve had a couple of classes with him,” Sydney says.
“You have? Why didn’t you mention that before?”
She shrugs. “You didn’t ask.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen him at parties, too. He really doesn’t seem all that bad. You’ll see at the party on Friday,” Dani says, finally stacking the last of the clean dishes away.
I groan. “Do we have to go to another party this weekend? Can’t we just…I don’t know…chill at home?”
“We have a lifetime to chill at home, Mar. We’re only in college for a few short years.”
“Well, we are.” Sydney comments. “You’ve got at least another four after this, Dr. Freeman.”
“Exactly!” Danika exclaims. “And after you guys graduate, I’ll be glued to the books every second. We need to live it up while we can. And Margot,” she turns to me with a terrifying gleam in her eyes. “This is your time to shine.”
Passing a quick glance over to Sydney, I let out a deep sigh which is usually the sign that I’ve agreed to whatever crazy scheme Danika has come up with. I hold up my pointer finger. “Yes to the party.” Then I hold up my second finger. “No to asking Alex.”
“I’ll take it!” Dani cheers and pulls me in for a hug, she’s always been the affectionate type. Me, not so much, but I give in to her when I feel like she needs it. “Besides, you’ll change your mind.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I mutter as I pull away from her to plop down on the couch, my Investigating Journalism textbook in hand. Sydney sits down next to me with her Music in Media book, ready to tackle next week’s work.
Danika, still in the kitchen, just hums loudly in response.
The rest of the week flies by as uneventfully as I had hoped it would. Other than our awkward class departure on Monday, I haven’t seen Alex on campus at all. I have, however, not been able to get that podcast idea out of my head. It would be perfect. He’s so popular on campus. Girls would line up just to get the chance to talk to him, even virtually. It could be an advice podcast. People would write in with their problems and Alex and I could help them solve it.
But having to spend multiple hours a week alone with him? I’m not sure my fragile sensibilities could handle it. Especially since it’s already been discovered that he doesn’t exactly bring out the best in me.
I don’t have a lot of time to dwell on it as Danika pulls me toward her closet Friday night to pick out the perfect party outfit.
“Can’t be too obvious that you’re trying to get his attention,” she says, pulling out a black bodysuit and then immediately putting it back with a headshake.
“I’m not trying to get his attention,” I mutter from behind her.
“Exactly,” Dani hums, as if she’s actually listening to me but I know she’s not. In the doorway, Sydney leans against the frame, already dressed and ready as always. While she may not like the parties as much as Danika does, she loves an excuse to dress up.
“What about the red zip-up?” Sydney shouts her two cents at Danika, who promptly replies, “Red? With her undertones? Absolutely not.”
Throwing my hands up in the air, my palms slap my sides aggressively. “Um, hello? Standing right here.”
Sydney steps around me and into the room, taking up residence next to Dani at the door of the closet. Holding up a few pieces here and there, shoving them back in the closet or letting them fall to the floor, the girls finally lock eyes and both grab for the same hanger.
“This is it,” Danika grins and Sydney nods her head approvingly as they toss the hanger and clothing item at me. “Go change. Living room in ten,” she announces, promptly kicking me out of her space so she can get ready, too. Sydney takes the instruction in stride and heads to the kitchen to make a round of margaritas for the walk to the frat house, which is thankfully only five minutes away.
“Aye, aye, captain,” I salute her before leaving the room and heading toward mine. When I emerge eleven minutes later–just to spite Dani–both pairs of eyes dart to my body immediately, taking in the mid-length maroon bodycon dress they demanded I wear.
“Acceptable?” I ask, giving the girls a little spin.
“Gorgeous, babe,” Dani smiles and Sydney gives me a wink and a margarita in a red solo cup.
Taking a whiff of the beverage, I sense it’s stronger than she usually makes and I’m grateful for it. If I’m going to get through this party, and possibly have to interact with “frat boy royalty”, I’m going to need all the liquid courage I can get.
“Cheers, ladies,” I say, raising my cup and meeting theirs in the air. The girls chorus with me and we all take a big sip. Oh yeah, definitely stronger than usual.