Two
My brain has officially switched into graduation mode, and for the first time in months, I actually have stretches of time to myself. This morning, I didn’t have to set an alarm. I slept in until eight. And it was glorious. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t be up before ten if I could swing it.
Now I’m propping my laptop on the kitchen counter, still dressed in the oversized MIT hoodie and shorts I’ve worn for three straight days. I may have a wardrobe full of designer gowns and sensible pantsuits, but I’m a jeans-and-hoodie girl at heart.
I tug open the fridge and pull out a container of leftover spaghetti, debating if it’s still edible and whether it counts as linner when my laptop screen lights up with an incoming call.
A moment later, Princess Alice’s face fills the frame. We’ve been friends since we were in diapers, a side effect of both our fathers attending Trinity College at Cambridge. Twenty years later, not much has changed. Our families try to connect at least once a year.
The last time I saw Alice was about a year ago when she visited Japan on her first solo engagement representing her father. But tonight, she’s not in “princess mode.” She’s dressed in loungewear, her blond hair thrown up in a messy bun. She’s curled on her plush velvet sofa. “Cheers, Kaori!” She toasts me with a mug that saysFuture Structural Engineer.
“So, how does it feel?” she asks.
I blink. “How does what feel?”
“To officially be done with uni and be arealengineer, silly.”
“Nothing is official yet,” I say, setting the spaghetti down and pulling a plate from the dishwasher. “But itisa relief that I can finally focus on roller coasters instead of worrying about Spanish 21. Honestly, I’m still mad I ended up with a B.”
“You’re not alone. Learning a language is bloody hard! And I don’t even have to take any. Thank goodness.” She chuckles. “But I am jealous that you’re done. I can’t wait to get out into thereal world.”
“Your last two years will go a lot faster than you think. Enjoy the ride.”
“That’s what Art tells me too,” Alice says. Arthur is Alice’s boyfriend of about a year. He was once her bodyguard and is now a member of the London Metropolitan Police’s mounted division.
“So, I’ve been dying to ask,” Alice says. “How did your interviews go this week?”
I focus on scooping spaghetti onto my plate like it’s suddenly the most fascinating task in the universe. “They went well. At least Ithinkthey did.”
I take her through the highlights of the last three days. I’d talked to a heavy-hitter firm in New York thatspecializes in bridge suspension and a smaller boutique firm in DC that focuses on urban infrastructure. They were both safe, entry-level bets. But neither was anything to write home about.
Alice raises an eyebrow over the rim of her mug. “I thought you were going after firms that specialize in theme-park attractions.”
I shake my head, focusing on the leftover spaghetti. “There aren’t that many. And most of the firms I looked at would only consider candidates with a few years of industry experience. So I thought I’d be safer if I cast a wider net.”
“Did you apply to any internships, then?” she asks, taking a sip from her mug.
“No. But I did have an interview with Excelsior Parks.”
Alice sits up taller. “Oh, I’ve heard of them. They specialize in coasters, don’t they?”
“They do.” I grin.
“And you didn’t lead with that because . . .?”
“Getting the job is a long shot,” I answer honestly. “I felt on top of the world right after the interview. But then I went down a Reddit rabbit hole.”
“Kaori,” she shouts.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and nudge my glasses up a few centimeters. “I know. I shouldn’t have. But you can’t blame me.”
“I can’t. Because if I were in your position, I’d do the same thing.” Alice sighs, sinking back against the couch. “What did you find?”
“Excelsior Parks is selective when it comes to offering interviews. Rumor has it they do about a hundred a year for... wait for it...” I pause dramatically. “One to two positions.”
“Well, it’s a rumor for a reason. Anybody can post on Reddit. They could be wrong,” she emphasizes.
“Maybe. But my gut tells me they’re not.”
