“Okay… I’m taking a wild guess here. Either you’re telling me you’re happy with this new guy, or the way your saying who makes me think you’re giving me a clue.”
“Yes. I am giving you a clue.” The minute I say that, realization dawns on her face and her mouth drops. She goes to say it, but I shake my head and place my finger over my lips.
“Oh, Paige,” she breathes.
“Please don’t say it. I won’t say it, and I only kind of told you because I tell you everything and I didn’t want you to worry about me.”
She releases a breath and smiles. “Oh my God… My lips are completely sealed. Paige… it was him? He did that for you and booked you for six weeks?”
I nod. “Yes. It was him.”
“Oh, my goodness. That is the best thing I’ve ever heard. He must truly like you to do that.” She gives me a wide smile.
“I think so. I really like him too, Megan.”
“Haven’t you forever?” She laughs.
“Yes. I have.”
“Did you tell him about your mom?”
“No. I... I couldn’t. He wanted to help, but I felt it was too much. I know six week’s salary won’t cut it and it’s going to get complicated if I can’t sort something out, but I don’t want him to help like that.”
“Sweetie, but he’s helping you anyway by booking you for six weeks. It’s the same thing as him giving you the money.”
I press my lips together. I thought about that all day while I was basking in my joy. “It’s different for me. This way feels different. I can’t allow him to help me with fifty grand. I don’t think you would do that either. I’ll… figure something out. The extra money will give me a good push ahead. I just want to have this moment to be happy.”
She nods her understanding. “I get it. We’ll figure something out. I have some news too. It looks like I’ll have to be doing some overtime at the club.” She pulls an envelope out from her jacket pocket and hands it to me.
“What’s this?”
“Look inside, my friend.”
I open it and pull out a letter. It’s from UCLA. I sit forward when I see that.
Dear Miss French,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted on the Counselling Psychology placement commencing next year…
I squeal and stop reading. It’s enough to get out the fireworks.
I hug her, and we both jump up and down screaming.
“Oh my God. This is fantastic!” I gasp.
“It is. God, Paige, I’m going to LA.” She smiles, then her smile falters when she realizes the meaning of it at about the same time I do. “I’m… going to LA.”
“You are. It will be okay.”
“Will you be okay? We’ve been friends for nearly four years. You’re like a sister to me. It’s a year, and I plan to come back, but I don’t know when.”
“It’s going to be fine, and I’m gonna be fine. This is good news.”
We sit back down, and she looks at me.
“It’s going to take a lot of money. It’s an unfunded placement. I get a bursary for a deposit on an apartment, but that’s it. I’m going to need money for the first month before I get paid, so I’m dipping into my savings.”
“Have you heard from the lawyers yet?” I have to ask because the talk of needing more money means doing more hours at the club, which means her doing all sorts of shit.