Iris
Iris walked across the school hallway. She signed as she headed towards her next class, "I can't wait till graduation," she murmured to herself. While walking towards her class, she saw Myla and their friend Bryon having a chat.
"Hey guys, what's up?"
"Bryan just told me that the school council is considering canceling the end of the year gala," Myla sighed in sadness.
"Oh, why though?" Iris responded.
"Well, someone thought it would be a good idea to vandalize the vice chancellor's office", Bryan said.
"That's crazy, we're not in high school anymore, it's funny how some people aren't ready to grow up."
"And that's not even the worst part about it, guess how they vandalized it," Myla commented.
"How?",
"They egged it! Can you believe that! We have freaking 24 year olds who are egging buildings like little kids", Myla said in an outburst.
"Yeah….so now the whole office building smells like rotten eggs and the gala is on hold and at risk of being canceled," Bryan added.
"But I already have my dress," Myla cried. "And it's so sexy too, now I'm stuck with a boring graduation ceremony", she pouted.
Iris laughed, "It's okay babe, you'll find somewhere else to wear it too." "That's not funny."
"I have to go now before Professor Riley has my head, but I promise everything is going to be fine." She hugged Myla, "bye guys."
"Bye", they both responded.
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Myla stepped into walked into her literature class and had a seat, this was one of her favorite classes as she found herself able to express her creativity and imagination more in here. It helped her connect her real life experiences with books. And Professor Riley was her favorite English professor, and she's pretty sure she's her favorite student, even though she refuses to admit it.
Professor Riley walked in, "Good morning everyone." And the class began.
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As class ends, Professor Riley says, "Iris, please stay a moment."
Although her heart stopped as she called her, I mean whose heart wouldn't. But her and Professor Riley usually have casual conversations about books, poems and sometimes personal experiences. So she was somewhat comforted and brushed it off as that.
She walks up to her desk, "Hello Professor Riley," she said.
"Hello Iris," Professor Riley says as she fixes her glasses to look at a piece of paper in her hand.
"So I've been speaking to Professor Jones," Professor Jones was the head of the Media and Communications department. "He showed me your last assignment submitted and we had a chat."
"A chat?" Riley asked.
"Yes a chat, and although you submitted a very good report, we feel like you may be stuck"
Iris raises a brow. "Stuck?"
"Yes actually, you spend most of your time in the library, your dorm or in the bookstore down the street. You spend a lot of time observing life but you never actually live it."
She continued, "Writing is a lot about experience too and you know this."
"Professor Riley, I really don't have a problem with my current routine. And I like books, they're safe."
"Yes but because of that it seems like you only thrive here in the Literature department. It's my job to make sure you thrive in every aspect."
Iris stayed silent.
"You're doing great Iris but I just need you to step out of your comfort zone a bit."
She hands Iris a flyer. Bold letters written at the top:
ACE INDUSTRIES- Internship Program: Communications and Media
Iris stares blankly at the flyer. "Communications? Nope, that's not my thing."
"It's not supposed to be and it isn't up for discussion," Professor Riley responds.
"But Professor…" Iris whines.
"Good luck Iris. I'm expecting a spectacular report from this."
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Iris walks back to her dorm thinking deeply about the interaction she just had. "Ace Industries? Isn't that like a Billion dollar corporation – What would someone like me do in a place like that?" she thought.
When Iris got to her dorm she walked straight to her room and flopped face flat on the bed.
Myla peeks in, "Well what's up with you?"
Iris turns over and sits on the edge of her bed, "Professor Riley thinks I need too - step out of my comfort zone" she says while making air quotes.
"Tell me more"
"Apparently I'm too good in literature and need to start getting better in other parts of my major," Iris says sarcastically.
"Really? Now? In your final year of uni?" Myla laughed
"I know right! But she believes in me" Iris whines.
Myla laughs again, "Well I believe in you too. What exactly does she want you to do though?"
"She wants me to apply for the internship program at Ace Industries."
"OMG! Ace industries??" Myla ran over and jumped on her bed, "The CEO is sooo hot, hmmm…maybe you can, you know – get him to fall in love with you" she laughed.
"Omg Myla, you can't change can you? I'm telling you about my current tragedy and you're talking about some CEO"
Myla gasps "A hot CEO you mean, and his hot Chief Officer, now that's someone I want to take a bite of."
Iris stands up and begins to push Myla out of her room, "Okay that's enough – Out!"
"Come on Iris" Myla laughs.
"Remind me why I agreed on being roommates again"
"Because I'm your best friend and you love me"
Iris pushes her out and shuts the door.
"Think about it! This is your chance for your own real life trope," Myla shouts through the door.
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Later that night, Iris stared at her application form while nibbling her fingers…. Wondering if she should actually send it out.
"I mean what's the worst that can happen?" she mumbles "They may not even accept it and it's not like I want it anyways" the submits her application at 2:17 a.m.
After she clicks "submit" and stare at the screen blankly, a tiny nervous laugh escapes her lips "I'm not getting it. No way."