(Two years later)
“Hey Lana!”
“What’s up Alanna?”
“Coming to my party tonight?” Alanna smiled and waved at all the people who had called out a greeting or question to her as she crossed the campus. The twenty year old sighed and sat down on a bench when she reached the sunny quad. As Alanna pulled out her creative writing notebook, she thought about Ashley.
It had been two years since she had heard anything from Ashley, but that summer was as fresh in her mind as if it had been yesterday. Alanna could still feel his arms wrapped around her, his soft lips on hers, the sound of his laugh, the feel of his hands on her skin. It was all still so fresh. Alanna knew that not hearing from him probably had something to do with the fact that she didn’t say that she loved him that night on the cliff. It was just a summer romance, and it was meant to be nothing more.
“It was just a summer romance.” Alanna reminded herself. “Nothing more.”
“Thinking about Ashley again?” Jake Quinn commented, sitting down next to her.
“Yeah.” Alanna commented. “When don’t I?” Jake shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t know. I’m not inside your head.” He looked into her stormy gray eyes, pausing. “I do know that you miss him very much.” Alanna nodded.
“Very much so.” Alanna looked on in curiosity as Jake pulled out a piece of paper. “What’s that?”
“Have you heard about that magazine internship?” Alanna shook her head.
“No, I haven’t.” Jake rolled his eyes.
“You are so uninformed.” Jake commented. He gestured toward the paper. “It’s an internship for Tampa Daily magazine that’s offered to creative writing students.” Alanna perked up with interest.
“Sounds cool.” Jake grinned.
“I knew that you would like it.” Jake paused, grinning even more. “So I sent in a short story that you wrote.” Alanna’s jaw practically dropped to the ground.
“Are you serious?” Jake nodded enthusiastically. “What story?”
“The one about Ashley.” Alanna looked down at the ground.
“And?”
“And......you won.” Alanna looked up quickly.
“I did?” Jake nodded. “I won?” He laughed.
“Yeah, you won.” Alanna jumped up, squealing.
“I won!” She threw her arms around Jake’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Thank you.” Jake smiled softly.
“You’re welcome Lana.”
*************************
(Two weeks later)
“You’ll be writing for the entertainment part of our magazine.” Vivienne Martin said. Alanna tried to hang on to what Viv was saying but it went right over her head.
“Usually, we start our interns out with something small, but judging by your talent as a writer, I think that you would be bored just filing papers.” Alanna nodded.
“I would be.”
“I figured as much. So I have an assignment for you.” Alanna looked at her in surprise.
“You do?” Viv nodded.
“I want you to interview the band O-Town for the New Music section of our magazine.”
“Who?” Vivienne laughed.
“O-Town. You know, the band off that television show?”
“What show?” Viv looked annoyed.
“You don’t know who they are do you?” Alanna shook her head.
“Nope.” Vivienne sighed and looked at her watch.
“Oh well. I can’t get into that right now.” She handed Alanna a small piece of paper. “Just go to this address. My assistant Mary will be there and she’ll introduce you to the band. Tell the guard at the gate that Viv sent you.” Alanna nodded and took he paper.
“Thank you.” Viv smiled.
“You’re welcome Alanna.” She glanced at her watch again.” I really have to go. Mary will have the info on what I want you to interview them about.” Viv sauntered out of the office, leaving behind the scent of her overpowering perfume.
“Great.” Alanna said. “I have to interview a band I have never heard of.” As Alanna walked out to her car, she couldn’t help feeling a little nervous. Lucky for her, the place where she was supposed to meet the band was only twelve blocks from the magazine headquarters. It was a generous size compound that had a basketball court attached to it along with an olympic size pool.
“You must be Alanna.” A red headed woman said after Alanna got past the guard. “I’m Mary.” Alanna shook her hand and followed mary down the hallway.
“Today, you’re just going to meet the band. After words, I’ll give you the outline of what Viv wants for the article. You’ll do the interview sometime later this week.”
“Sounds good.” Mary nodded.
“Ready to meet the band?” Alanna took a deep breath and nodded. Mary opened the door and Alanna saw the backs of five guys standing in the room.
“Hello!” Mary called out. A guy with dreadlocks turned around
“Hey guys. Mary’s here.” The four remaining guys turned around and Alanna’s jaw almost dropped to the floor as she came face to face with Ashley Parker Angel.
Chapter Three
Rest Of My Life Index
Home