Page 106 of Ink & Ambition

“WhenI win this contest, it’ll be because I worked hard and I had patience. AndwhenI am successful, I will know that it’s because of what I do best. My best.”

A loud whoop comes from the center of the room and I see Alex standing up from his seat. I can’t control the redness that burns my cheeks as I leave the stage and take my seat again.

“Sit your ass down,” I whisper, loudly, pulling his arm down by the sleeve. Alex kisses my cheek as he takes his seat again.

“You crushed it, sunshine!” He whisper-shouts into my ear as I slide even farther down into my seat. I’m glad to be done with it but I’m starting to feel the residual embarrassment. Alex is still beaming as he turns his attention to the next few presenters. I’m just glad to be finished so I can focus on this last podcast taping.

Since we already planned our last podcast recording over the weekend, I use that time to pop into the newsroom and see if there’s an article Jessy wants me to work on.

When I enter the chaotic environment, I take a deep sigh in, readying myself for the noise and confusion. I see Sydney at her desk, hard at work on something on her computer screen so I chose not to disturb her, heading toward my editor’s desk instead.

“Hey, Jess. Have a good weekend?”

She continues to type on her computer, not giving me a glance.Damn, she must be working on something important.I guess I’ll go look at the announcement board and see if anything catches my eye. As I turn to walk away, Jessy’s voice stops me.

“How’s that article about students staying on campus coming along?”

Immediately, I pinch my eyes shut. I totally and completely forgot about that.Damnit.But there’s no way that Jessy wouldn’t know that I didn’t stay on campus this weekend. Unless she…

Jessy holds up her phone, showing Alex’s instagram picture of me on the beach. “Great pic. Doesn’t really look like it was taken on campus, though.”

“I’m so so sorry, Jessy. I completely dropped the ball on that one. I’ll make it up to you. Give me any story. I’ll work on it right now.”

Jessy shook her head, standing from her desk to grab some papers from the printer. “You know, Margot, I’m really happy for you that you’re doing well on this podcast but I didn’t know that that success would come at the expense of your attention to the paper. This is your job, too. I know you get work-study to be on the paper, that’s why I try to give you as many bylines as I can.”

“I know,” I reply softly.

Jessy takes the paper and lets it drop to her side. “More than that, you’re a good writer. I’ve missed your insightful voice this semester. You’ve just been… I don’t know…distracted.”

I know she wants to blame Alex for this. Hell, I want to blame Alex for this. But there’s no one to blame but myself. I dropped the ball. I need to be the one to pick it up.

“I won’t let you down again, I swear, Jess. Please…give me any story. I’ll start right away.”

Jessy softens a bit. She knows this is out of character for me. I’m usually incredibly meticulous about all of my work, especially the paper because I love it so much. These past few weeks, my attention has been elsewhere, but that’s not going to happen anymore.

“There’s nothing really going on right now but I could use some help looking over the articles that were written over the weekend. I got a little behind while I was home.”

“Say no more,” I reply immediately, already making my way over toward my desk. “Send them over, boss.”

Jessy lets out a chuckle and some tension releases from my chest. “Will do,” she says as she makes her way back to her own desk. As I sit, my phone vibrates with an incoming text.

Lunch?

Can't. Working at the paper

I feel the vibration of another text but I put my phone face down before reading it. It’s time to concentrate. Focus. Get back to the reason I’m really here. And I’m going to show Jessy that shecanrely on me. Even if I have to prove it to myself first.

“Delivery.”

A brown bag drops down on my desk, startling me. When I look at the delivery man, I’m shocked to see Alex standing over me, a dazzling smile on his face. I chance a quick look in Jessy’s direction before grabbing Alex’s arm and pulling him out into the hallway.

“What are you doing here?”

Alex looks confused and slightly hurt. “Figured since you can’t come to lunch, I’d bring lunch to you.”

“You can’t just show up here whenever you want. I’m working. I need to focus.”

Alex squints his eyes. “I didn’t mean to distract you, I just thought I’d help…”

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