The Internship

Paige “Paige, Maria Hilton!” April’s voice pierced through my dreams, jolting me awake. Through blurred vision, my eyes fluttered open just in time to see her sprinting toward me like a child promised candy. She wore an oversized shirt and pajama bottoms, her hair was piled into a messy bun. Beads of sweat glistened on her skin, proof she had been working out, and she clutched a steaming cup of coffee. I met her gaze with a frown, sitting up and crossing my legs. “You sure know how to make an entrance, don’t you?” I rolled my eyes. “Hey, come on now,” she pouted. “You’ve been sleeping ever since…” She paused, studying my reaction. “It’s okay, April. You can say it. Since we broke up.” She lowered her head, took a quick sip of her coffee, then looked back at me. “Exactly! It’s been two whole weeks since you and Chad broke up, and you’ve basically been hibernating.” She set the cup on the nightstand and laced her fingers with mine. “It’s time to move on, babe. That i***t was never good for you. You deserve so much more.” Her eyes softened before she pulled me into a tight embrace. Tears pooled in my eyes, but I held them back. I had promised myself I would never cry over any man, and I didn’t intend to break that promise. April had always disliked Chad. She’d warned me when we first met him in college three years earlier, when he asked me out. But I had been too swept up in the fantasy of love at first sight to notice the cage closing around me. “Hey! What’s going on in that head?” April asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t realized she was holding my face. “You know what?” she clapped suddenly. “We both deserve a girl’s day. We’re starting our internship this semester, and soon we’ll be separated. Let’s make the most of it.” I rolled my eyes, earning a chuckle from her. “You’re acting like we’re being separated for life, April. It’s just six months.” She jumped off the bed and danced around the room dramatically. “Six months is long enough to miss my best best best friend. I don’t know how I’ll survive without you.” She wiped an imaginary tear. “You have thirty minutes to get ready. We’re going out.” The door slammed shut behind her, courtesy of April’s dramatics. I sank back into bed and reached for my phone beneath my pillow, a habit my parents constantly scolded me about. I scrolled through my notifications. Dozens from my sorority group. None from Chad. I had sent him countless messages, demanding an explanation. Our third anniversary had been so close. Why end things now, and over the phone? With a frustrated groan, I tossed the phone aside and dragged myself up to get ready. If he couldn’t break up with me in person, then he was a coward. An hour later, I stepped into the living room just as April emerged from my spare room. She wore a red tank top paired with blue jeans, her blonde hair styled into soft curls. Her makeup was simple and flawless, and her blue eyes sparkled. Compared to her, I felt plain in my floral onesie and loafers, my curls thrown into a messy bun. No makeup. No effort. She looked like she belonged on a runway. Her gaze swept over me slowly. “What the hell are you wearing?” I crossed my arms defensively. “You said girl’s day. You didn’t say anything about dressing like we’re auditioning for New York’s Fashion Week. It’s either this, or I go back to bed.” She grimaced, grabbed the car keys, and spun them around her finger. “Let’s go.” The first stop was the mall. April made me change into a blue off-shoulder dress that stopped above my knees, still paired with my loafers. Afterward, we headed to the salon. She didn’t need much done, she was annoyingly perfect at styling her own hair. Sometimes I wondered why she was even friends with me. I felt like a dull shadow next to her brilliance. Maybe the only thing that balanced us was my intelligence. At least there, we were equals. “All done,” the hairstylist said, tilting my chin toward the mirror. April clapped excitedly behind me. “Now you look like my princess.” “God, April. What am I going to do with you?” She ignored me and dragged me toward the exit, muttering something about being late for a movie she had already paid for. “April, I am not standing in a crowd of a thousand people just to watch a movie.” “You heathen,” she huffed, pulling me through a sea of cosplayers dressed for a Dracula premiere. I hated crowds like that. Too many horror movies had overstimulated my imagination. What if one of them snapped and— “Paige!” April’s voice snapped me back. “What do you want? Popcorn or chips? I already know what you’d want to drink.” I blinked, realizing we were at the snack stand. “Whatever’s fine,” I muttered. That was when I saw Jade and her three minions approaching. It was too late to escape. They walked in sync, hips swaying like they were starring in a music video. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Perfect and her knight in shining armor,” Jade sneered, looking me up and down before shifting her attention to April. April stepped in front of me, snacks in hand. “Say the word and I’ll handle them.” I bit back a smile. April had once been their friend, same high school, same clique. But life had brought her and me together in a university history class, and we had been inseparable ever since. They hated me for that and never missed a chance to taunt me. “I hope one day you realize what a treacherous person she is and see her for who she truly is,” Blair, the apparent second-in-command, spat before they turned and strutted away, one of them flipping her hair into my face. April moved to follow them, but I stopped her. “Let it go.” The movie lasted from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ironically, April, the so called Dracula enthusiast slept through most of it. On the way back to her car, she sulked. “We can watch it again when it’s streaming,” I nudged. “It’s not the same as the cinema,” she grumbled. I chuckled, then hugged her. “I’m really grateful for today, April. I’m lucky to have you.” I squeezed tighter. “And we’ll see it again. This time, I’ll make sure you stay awake.” She laughed. “Fine!” Her mood instantly restored. When she dropped me off at my apartment, dread settled in my chest. She had been staying with me all week, but she had to return home to prepare for the semester. “Hey,” I said suddenly, remembering Jade’s words. “I would never betray you. You’re like a sister to me. I trust you with my life, April.” Her expression shifted, her eyes grew distant for a second before she burst into tears and hugged me tightly. “No matter what happens,” she whispered, “know that I love you.” “What was that for?” I laughed nervously. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. I brushed it off and headed inside. April always had a flair for the dramatics. The first thing I did was jump into the shower, letting the water soak into my skin as memories of Chad flooded my mind. God, I missed him. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t even called, knowing tomorrow was our third anniversary. I reached for a towel and began drying my hair, then rummaged through my purse for my phone. That was when I realized I had left it with April. “s**t!” I needed it. I quickly dressed, locked my door, hailed a cab, and rushed to her apartment. When I got there, I knocked, then remembered I still had her spare key. A mischievous smile formed. I’d surprise her. The apartment was dark when I stepped inside, darker than it should have been. April always left at least one lamp on, even if she was going straight to bed. I closed the door quietly behind me and stood still for a moment, letting my eyes adjust. As I climbed the stairs, a faint sound drifted down the hallway. At first, I couldn’t place it, it sounded like someone was trying to catch their breath. I paused, listening more carefully. It came again, clearer this time, followed by a low moan. Understanding dawned slowly, and a grin tugged at my lips. Of course. All that strange behavior earlier suddenly made sense. I pressed a hand over my mouth to suppress a laugh, already imagining how embarrassed she would be when I tease her. Her bedroom door was slightly ajar, a thin line of darkness cut across the hallway floor. I pushed it open with my foot, “I leave you alone for one minute, April, and you’re already—” The rest of my sentence died in my throat. A man was on top of her, his body moved with force, making the bed knock rhythmically against the wall. The air felt intense, nothing like the playful scenario I had imagined. Heat rushed to my face as realization hit, and I stumbled back, mortified. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I muttered, turning toward the door. But before I could leave, I heard something that didn’t fit. It wasn’t the sound of pleasure anymore. It was a sob. I froze, gripping the edge of the door. The sound came again, April was crying. Confusion replaced my embarrassment. I turned back, straining to see in the dark room. The man’s face was still hidden, his body partially shielding her. “April?” I asked, my voice losing its teasing edge. “What’s wrong?” She didn’t answer. Her cries only grew heavier, sending a cold wave of unease through me. Any trace of humor vanished. Anger simmered in its place. I reached for the nightstand and switched on the lamp. Light flooded the room. I crossed to the bed, tightening my jaw as I looked at the man who hadn’t once acknowledged me. “What did you do to her?” I demanded. He remained silent. Frustration flared, and without thinking, I grabbed his chin and forced his face toward me. The moment our eyes met, the ground seemed to tilt beneath me. The anger drained, replaced by something far more devastating as recognition set in. “Chad…”