Page 57 of Ink & Ambition

“Hey, guys,” Nathan greets us with a warm smile as we head into the sound studio. We smile back at him, as I take my sweatshirt off revealing the tight top I choose to wear for today’s session. Well…the one Danika helped me choose, in an effort to be more likable. As I pull the hoodie over my head, the shirt rides up, revealing a sliver of my stomach. When I look at him again, his gaze is directly on my body, specifically that part and I pull the shirt down quickly and twist around, dropping the sweatshirt and hiding the blush that’s crawling up my cheeks.

Alex drops his bag and hangs his jacket on the studio chair. “You ready, sunshine?”

I let out a deep sigh, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Let’s do it,” Nathan says and I grab my notes as Alex and I head into the recording studio, taking the same seats as last time.

After we settle in, Nathan gives us a thumbs up and the red recording light turns on.

“Helllllllllllo, everybody!” Alex says, his signature greeting now. “Thank you for tuning in to our showAsk Alex, where you send in your questions and I answer them as best I can. I’m yourhost, Alex Prescott and as always I’m partnered with the ever lovely Margot Davis.”

He’s really laying it on thick and I can only assume it’s because he’s trying to get ahead of the mean comments that I’m sure are going to come in about me. If it seems like he likes me, then maybe the commentators won’t have a leg to stand on.

“Hey, folks,” I say in greeting. “We’ve got a really great episode for you today so let’s jump right in.” Gathering my notecards, I find the first question.

“Alright, Alex. First question. Are you ready?” I say with feigned seriousness.

“I am ready, Margot,” he replies in a tone that matches mine.

“Sarah P. asks: ‘How do you balance school work and a social life in college?’ She says she’s drowning in work and hardly ever gets time to go out with friends.”

“Well, first of all, thanks, Sarah.” Alex winks at the camera and I roll my eyes. Standard procedure. “And secondly, the answer is easy. You don’t.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Honestly, sunshine, I think you’re better equipped to answer this question. You’re the workaholic here.”

It was the first time he called me ‘sunshine’ on camera. I don’t even think he did it on purpose, I think it just slipped out like he always does. Still, the nickname isn’t going to do me any favors with the internet trolls.

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call myself a workaholic—”

Alex scoffs. “What would you call it then? You’re in the library more than your own apartment.”

“Just because I spend a lot of time on my schoolwork doesn’t mean that I don’t make time for my own things. You should know that, I go to your parties, don’t I?”

This conversation is getting a little too personal for my taste, but I keep it going. We can always edit out anything we don’t want to use afterward.

“You do but you’ve been known to bring a book with you,” Alex laughs.

“Those books are for pleasure, you ass,” I push him and he just laughs harder. “We’re getting off topic. If I have any advice for balancing school and social life it’s just to prioritize. Don’t drive yourself crazy, just budget your time well and you’ll find that you’ll get done what needs to be done and still be able to go to a party or two over the weekend.”

I shrug, because that’s the best I can do.

“Yeah, and you know that the Kappa parties are the best so you should make sure to prioritize going to those parties,” Alex jokes and I scoff. “You don’t agree? Whose parties are better, then? The Deltas? Please.”

He’s skating on thin ice right now. There’s no reason to bring up personal things like this. This podcast isn’t about me. When the banter gets too close to home, it’s time to switch up the topic.

“I wouldn’t know.” I shrug. “I’ve never been to one. Time for another question?”

Alex looks like he wants to keep this conversation going but the tone of my voice informs him that I’m ready to move on. He shuts his mouth and nods for me to continue.

We get through two more questions from listeners about life in the frat house and how to keep from gaining that “freshman fifteen” before it’s time to get to the Alex-specific question.

“This question comes from Hannah L—and if you wink again, I’ll strangle you.”

Alex looks hesitant for a moment as he thanks Hannah for writing in but I know he winks once I look down at my notecard.

“Hannah wants to know your biggest deal breaker in a relationship.” Putting my notes down, I give Alex my fullattention. Not because I’m very interested in his answer, mostly because I…am very interested in his answer.

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