Charlie will be my best bet. I love all of my friends with a passion, but Charlie has always been there for me. We grew up together in the Midwest. After everything happened, she tied up loose ends and moved to Wilmington six months after I did. I’ll forever be in her debt for that.
Charlie:Hey, girl! I’ll meet you there! Just got off work, so I’m going to go change! Did you hear it’s open mic night?!
My lips curve into a smile. Like I said, she’s always there for me.
Norah:Yay! God knows I’ll need a backup with these two! They wanted to go clubbing. I’m just thankful I talked them out of that!
Charlie:I got you, girl!
Layla:Do they even know you?
Norah:Right? When have I ever gone clubbing? No thanks.
Layla:Good luck! ;)
Layla is one of those dark beauties with curves in all the right places, her Hispanic heritage shining through her dark hair, eyes, and tawny skin flawlessly. She somehow manages to rock every shade of lipstick known to man and is a wizard at eye makeup. I’ve been begging her to work in the Theatre Department with me as one of the makeup artists, but she keeps turning me down.
“Charlie is going to meet us there,” I tell my traitorous friends up front.
“Scared to be alone with us?” Myra turns around in her seat and waggles her eyebrows.
“Absolutely,” I deadpan.
Amelia laughs loudly. “Oh, Norie, you’re cute. But I’m glad Charlie’s coming too! I haven’t seen her in ages.”
We all have such crazy schedules. Myra, Amelia, and Charlie work full-time, while Layla and I workandgo to school full-time. Finding a night where we’re all free is nothing short of miraculous.
“Layla works a double tomorrow, so she can’t come,” I tell them.
“She needs to get out of there and find something else,” Myra adds, still admiring her reflection. “I don’t know how she manages that schedule with school.”
I nod, even though I know she can’t see me. “I know. She works so hard all the time. And her degree isn’t even something she really enjoys.”
“Then why is she doing it?” Amelia asks.
“She says it’s because there are better job opportunities.”
Of course there are better job opportunities in the IT field, but I have to question if it’s worth it if she’s miserable.
Myra lifts her phone to snap a selfie. “If she didn’t have anything holding her back, what would shewantto do?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” I admit. “She’s insanely talented with makeup application. She’d probably make a killing being a professional makeup artist or esthetician. I’ve begged her to apply for a position in my department, but she shrugs it off. I don’t think she feels confident enough in herself.”
“That’s really sad,” Amelia says, peeking over her shoulder before switching lanes.
“I agree,” Myra replies, catching my eyes in the mirror. “Maybe she just needs more exposure to people who need her services. If she sees there’s a market for that, it might encourage her to seek it out.”
I grin in response. “That’s a great idea! I’ll talk to our department head about having her help with stage makeup for the play. If I can convince her we need the extra help, it won’t be just a job to her.”
“Agreed,” Amelia says while swinging the car into a surprisingly vacant parking spot just outside of the pub.
We clamber out of the car and make our way toward the gilded pane-glass doors of O’Nelly’s.
* * *
“Hello? Earth to Norah. Are you even paying attention to me?” Myra whines, waving a hand in front of my face.
“No, your majesty, I was not,” I quip. “Were you saying something important?”
