"You look gorgeous!"
I rolled my eyes. "Do I need to look gorgeous?" I asked.
She glanced at her watch. "We should go,” she said. "Like I said, some friends of mine from school are meeting up with us. There is this adorable little Shabu Shabu restaurant just across from the sign."
"I've never been to the sign,” I said.
"There's a lot you haven't seen," she said. "You’re going to love living here, I swear,” she gushed.
I watched her casual enthusiasm. Maybe I did need a night out. My job hadn't even started yet and I was already tightly wound.
Okay fine, I said to myself.
I'm going to have fun tonight.
I'm going to have fun tonight.
I'm going to have fun tonight.
I smoothed my dress and stood, grabbing my purse and following Kelsey out the door.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I soon figured out Kelsey's true motive for dolling me up. Her friends had already arrived and had gathered around one of the large round tables. Three girls about our age and two guys, one with brown dreadlocks and another with shoulder length surfer locks, blond and cocky. All three of the women looked like models, long flowing sun kissed hair and tan skin.
I felt very out of place amongst her actor friends.
"Everyone I'd like you to meet my roommate, Blair." Kelsey ushered me to the side of the booth with the cute surfer looking guy.
"Hi everyone," I said.
"Are you the lawyer?" the girl with the nose ring asked, extending her hand to greet me. "I'm Angie."
"Yes," I answered. "I guess I’m."
"Righteous," said the guy next to me.
"Blair, this is Blake,” Kelsey said giving me a side glance.
I rolled my eyes in response.
He wasn’t my type.
No one was.
I ended up spending most of the night having polite conversation while simultaneously trying to angle my body so Blake would not succeed at putting his arm around me. Kelsey's friends were pleasant and friendly but I still felt out of place being the only one there not involved in the arts scene.
"So what brought you to California?" Angie asked over appetizers.
"Well I'm originally from Iowa,” I explained. "But I went to school in Florida both college and then finished with law school. I fell in love with the sunshine and the balmy beaches. Then when this job opportunity came along, I thought why not? I already knew I'd love the weather, and I didn't want to go back to Iowa."
"Who could blame you,” she said, giggling.
"Exactly," I said. "I didn't really fit in back home, if you know what I mean."
"I think we all escaped our oppressive small town background,” the girl with the tattoo on her shoulder said with a smile.
We had a pleasant night despite Blake's over attentive nature. I couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place. The food was good though, better than good.
After we had glutted ourselves on seafood and rice wine, Kelsey and I excused ourselves to the restroom to freshen up.
"So what do you think of Blake?" she asked.
"Oh Kelsey," I said. "You’re wasting your time trying to set me up. I should have known the way you trussed me up like a painted lady. Besides, he's a bit pushy."
"But that surfer body," she said fluffing her hair. "I mean, come on."
"Yeah. He is cute, but..,” I said as I turned to face her. "I appreciate what you’re doing. I really do, but I have to focus. This job is a huge opportunity for me. I don't really want to put energy into dating right now."
"Have you thought about what to do if you don't get the full time position?" Kelsey asked.
"Honestly no,” I said. "I’m going into this with a winning mindset."
"I just don't want you to lose sight of what's really important,” she said blotting her lips on a small piece of tissue paper.
"Finding my dream job isn't what's really important?" I said. "Then what is?"
She laughed. "You know what I mean. You have to remember to have a good time. That's what life is about."
"I'll vicariously enjoy your good time,” I said. "Hey, I have an idea. Since Blake and I aren't really hitting it off, why don't you take my seat next to him when we go back."
"Do you really mean it?" she said.
"Hell yes."
"Fair enough," she shrugged. "Does that mean I can go out with him?"
"Be my guest," I said with a smile.
He was cute after all, I just couldn’t get my head around the thought of dating.
Not right now.
When we returned to the table Kelsey and I swapped seats and she plunked down next to Blake with a bold grin on her face.
"What do you guys say we get out of here and take a walk down by the beach,” she said as if nothing was amiss.
"Um... sure,” he stammered, taken aback by the sudden shift.
He looked at Kelsey with a hint of a question in his eyes but then shrugged and put his arm around her. I smiled and lifted my glass slightly in Kelsey's direction.
"That sounds like fun," Angie echoed while the others nodded in agreement.
"Actually, Kelsey," I said. "I'll have to call it an early night, but you guys go ahead and have fun."
"You sure?" she asked leaning into the crook of Blake's arm.
"Yeah," I said with a grin. "I still have a lot of prep work to do. It was nice to meet you all."
"Nice to meet you too," came a smattering of voices.
When I got back to the apartment I quickly changed into my night gown and robe and pulled out some of my books over California Law history. I found that reading over land mark cases made me feel inspired and excited.
Two days from now I would be walking into the first day of my life's journey.
Though the nervousness still danced around the edges, I felt confident in my focus and drive.
By the time Monday rolled around, I awoke feeling as if I couldn’t make heads or tails of my emotional state. I knew that I had worked a long time for this day and it was time to get my game face on.
I had decided to wear a black pant suit and a maroon blouse. I had the collar pulled out over the jacket, accented by a few subtle pieces of gold jewelry. My hair I had twisted into a tasteful bun.
Overall, I thought I looked very professional, but my reflection had done little to bolster my confidence.
Kelsey had done a lot to calm my nerves in the week that we had spent together. Between her auditions she had helped me put together a wardrobe that looked like that of a high profile lawyer. Dress the part, she had said. Dress like the job you want, not the job you have.
I replayed these words in my head as I arrived at the building. The elevator carried me to the law office where I would spend at least the next three months, hopefully longer.
As the doors slid open revealing the opulent lobby, my stomach twisted in circles. I knew that no matter what happened I would always remember today, either as a wonderful memory or as one that I would always regret.
The posh atmosphere welcomed me, calming my nerves just a bit, with the cream colored carpet and matching plush leather couches surrounding a large glass coffee table. A large window over looked the city, which I could clearly see the bustling activity on the tiny ribbons of the roads below.
The woman behind the desk also wore a cream colored suit which suited her dark complexion. She could have been a model out of a magazine. Her suit matched the surrounding decor.