My mouth feels dry. I’d wanted to do a semester abroad in Italy more than I wanted to breathe air, but it was too expensive. I’d never bothered to ask if my parents would support me—it was a frivolous expense for a business degree and I never want to be a burden to them.
“I don’t think Indonesia made the list, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it. The pictures you’ve sent have been amazing.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“We should probably get going, it’s getting late here.”
“What’s it like living in the future?” Dad chuckles at his own joke.
“We love you!” They chorus.
“Love you too,” I sign off. I feel heavier and lighter all at once.
I’d barely gotten a word in edgewise, but my spontaneous decision to stay another month hasn’t ended the world. My family is crazy, loud and opinionated, but they seemed to take it well—for them.
Maybe it’s not that crazy, I think, flipping open my bag and digging to find a notebook.It’s the craziest thingI’veever done, but it’s not that crazy.After all, I’m sleeping in a dorm room with at least four other people who are doing something similar.
But Adventure Junie has her limits. Now that I’ve accepted my decision to stay, the hours of unstructured free time yawn before me, vast and intimidating. I’m supposed to have the day off to get settled, but there isn’t much to do. I need a project.
Since I have no idea what is happening with my life, I can’t exactly sketch out a new five year plan. But I can do the next best thing: throw myself into work.
I start sketching out a basic content schedule for the sanctuary’s social media accounts, finding comfort in the familiarity of a task I know well.
I want to be a cool, flexible, down-for-whatever kind of girl, but I love a good template. I flourish with routine.
In the back of my mind as I work is a silent prayer that I won’t have to pee until I meet up with the gang at The Local. Let me tackle the squat toilet another day.
Chapter 13
Junie
I spend a few hours with my toes in the sand, drinking fresh fruit juice at The Local and throwing some graphics together on my phone. Ni Putu, the pretty young bartender, sneaks me small plates of lumpia, a type of Indonesian spring roll, and puffy, addictive prawn crackers whenever she stops by to refill my glass.
I’ve worked in far less savory conditions. I’m having a nice time, giggling to myself as my content ideas become more silly and over the top. When I scroll through the giant folder of photos Mike has given me access to, one face jumps out again and again—so I don’t fight it. It’s all just inspiration, for now.
When the gang finally trickles in, I show Mason, Juliette, Victoria, and Thomas some of the things I’ve been working on. The video edit where Steven shakes his hair out in slowmo really makes them laugh.
“Oh my god, these are perfect!”
“Has he seen these yet?” asks Mason, catching his breath.
“Hell no. And these will never see the light of day. They’re just inspo to get the creative juices flowing.” I scroll quickly past a carousel of images that look like an audition for Baywatch.Maybe I did go a little overboard. “But maybe we could record a few things like this and make funny posts of the whole crew. Memes and silly, relatable stuff that can drum up interest and boost us in the algorithms before we start advertising to our target audience.”
“Yes! I would follow an account like this. Let me find it.” Victoria whips out her cellphone.
“You don’t already follow the sanctuary?” The boys don’t use social media much, but Victoria is always on her phone.
“Betrayal from within,” mutters Thomas, who contributed the most to the intermittent posting before I arrived.
She shrugs with her characteristic nonchalance, flipping her hair over one shoulder. “Before, they were boring.”
“What’s everyone looking at?” We turn to see Mike, running a hand through his dark hair as he scans the bar for service.
“Just some mockups.” I hastily tuck my phone away. I’m starting to feel like I overstepped with the silly pictures, and I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of the boss—or Steven’s best friend. “We’re going to record the actual content over the next few days.”
“You should be in it too, Mike!” Thomas grins.
“Of course I’ll help!”
