by J P Books
Everyone is listening now. One student intern!
“The good news is that this field study would count as one-upper division lab course, which, as I’m sure you are all well aware, is a requirement for graduation from the Integrated Biology program. The bad news is that there isn’t enough money to actually pay the student intern. All expenses, such as flights, meals, and accommodation will be covered, but if anyone was planning to make money this summer, then this is not the internship for you.” Wolovsky sighs and looks down at the podium briefly. “Needless to say, I wish this were not the case and that your work could be remunerated as it deserves to be. But let this be a lesson for all of you: if you want to be rich, don’t become biologists! You can find the Business Administration department two buildings down on your left.”
More laughter and Wolovsky graces them with a wide smile.
“I would like to encourage all of you to apply for this position. You are an excellent class, and some of you are well on your way to doing, I truly believe, world-changing work. And this project will be an excellent place to start that. The selected intern will be responsible for helping us set up and conduct our studies, data collection and input, equipment maintenance, and, finally, the writing of the final report. Needless to say, your name will be on the final research paper alongside those of myself and Professor Tallard. Therefore, not only would this be fulfilling a graduation requirement, but it will look very good on your academic CV. However, because of the late approval of the grant, I’m afraid all applications must be in by the end of the week. I.e. this Friday.”
Another murmur from the students.
Wolovsky nods. “Yes, I know that’s two days away and it’s the end of term and you have many, many exams coming up. Like I said, this was not our ideal situation. However, please seriously consider this opportunity. We will announce our selection the following Friday and be leaving for Costa Rica the Monday after that. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or Professor Tallard, but, given the timeline, you’re advised to do so as soon as possible.”
Their professor takes a deep breath. “And now, having said all that, I want to thank you all for having been such a great class. Professor Tallard and I have enjoyed teaching you immensely and we want to wish you all a wonderful summer and all the best with your future studies. Thank you.”
A few students, including Jessica, clap, but most are too busy turning to their neighbors.
Everybody wants to go on this trip.
“Can you believe it?” Like the students around them, Josh immediately leans in to hash over this turn of events with Jessica. “How amazing is this?”
“I honestly don’t know if I’d be able to get through a whole summer with Wolovsky and Tallard without jumping one and/or both of them,” Breeze whispered, leaning in from Jessica’s other side. “Could you imagine? Stuck out in the jungle somewhere with just them for a company? And it’d be hot and steamy and you’d be half-naked all the time to keep cool and they’d have—”
“Yeah, who cares about some endangered monkeys when there’s Wolovsky’s bod to be ogling,” Josh interrupts teasingly.
Breeze grins, unrepentant. “Don’t pretend like it wouldn’t distract you too. Nobody’s that straight.”
Josh laughs. “Well, at least I have the decency to pretend I’d be going for the monkeys!”
But Breeze just waves that away. “And at least I’m honest enough not to. Has no one ever told you that you need integrity in this line of work, Joshua? Otherwise, it’s all just falsifying data and fake news!”
Josh snorts with laughter, shaking his head. He elbows Jessica gently. “What about you, Garcia? Are you going to apply?”
“Of course!” Jessica answers as she packs away her laptop. “Are you kidding? This is an amazing opportunity.”
“To get it on with Wolovsky and/or Tallard,” Breeze adds, grinning wickedly. She knows that, as studious as Jessica is, even she has a weak spot for the two professors.
“To get field research experience and do some good,” Jessica shoots back immediately, sticking her tongue out at her friend.
“Uh-huh,” Breeze answers, flipping her long, blond ponytail over her shoulder. “It’s okay, Jess. You don’t have to pretend for me. I know that under that goody-two-shoes exterior, you’re hiding a ravenous sex-goddess.”
Jessica rolls her eyes and readjusts her tortoise-shell glasses. “You just keep telling yourself that, Breeze,” she grins.
Breeze laughs as they stand to leave. “Come on, admit it. You’re too hot not to be amazing in the sack. I mean, look at that ass, girl,” she says, smacking Jessica’s rump with her binder and making her jump.
“Get away,” Jessica laughs, shooing Breeze with one hand. But the truth is that Jessica wishes she had her friend’s confidence – especially when it came to her body and sexuality. With her naturally blond hair and curvy figure, Breeze is the epitome of the sexy Californian beach babe, and she knows it. And she has no qualms using it to get her what she wants, whether that’s a free drink or a threesome with the hottest people in the club.
But, even if I’m not on Breeze’s level yet, at least being friends with her has helped me open up.
And it’s true. In the past two years, Jessica has gone from studiaholic nerd with no life and no idea how to do even put on mascara, to someone who can let loose on the weekends, do perfect smoky-eye, and still get the straight As she wants.
Breeze slings an arm around Jess’ shoulder. “You know I’m just teasing, right? I’ll still love you even if you grow up to be a cat lady.”
“Which, let’s be honest, was definitely where I was headed before I met you,” Jessica replies with a grin.
“You said it, not me,” says Breeze with a grin as, laughing, the three friends make their way to the library. But as much as Breeze plays up her party girl attitude, the reason she and Jessica are such good friends is that, at the end of the day, both of them take their studies seriously because they both want to help make their world a better place.
***
A few hours later, the three friends are still talking about the internship.
“We have to promise though,” Breeze says solemnly, “that no matter who wins, we’ll still love each other.”
“Says the woman who is 100% sure she’ll be picked,” Josh counters.
Breeze sticks her tongue out at him. “I am not! If anything, my money’s on Jessica.”
“What?” Jessica gapes at her friend. “Are you serious? Everyone is applying for this position. Why on earth would they choose me?”
“Because you’re smart, organized, and thorough. Tallard loves your lab reports and, personally, I think Wolovsky’s got the hots for you.”
“Breeze! What? That’s insane,” Jessica replies, unable to keep herself from blushing.
“Don’t be so modest, Jessica. Just because you still see yourself as a nerdy high-school student, the truth is, you’ve blossomed into a drop-dead gorgeous grown-ass lady who is hella smart. And, as we all know, smart is the new sexy.”
“So true,” Josh adds, though which part he’s agreeing with, Jessica isn’t sure. “You really have to stop playing yourself down. If I didn’t know you so well, I’d think it was all just false modesty.”
“When, in reality, it’s actually crippling self-doubt,” Breeze adds.
“You guys are the sweetest,” Jessica smiles, blushing for a very different reason. “But none of that means Wolovsky’s got the hots for me.” She doesn’t argue the fact that Tallard loves her lab reports. That part she knows is true.
“Girl, he is always looking at you in class. You just don’t notice because you’re constantly taking notes,” Breeze tells her. “People are starting to talk, you know.”
“Again, she’s not wrong,” Josh adds and, again, Jessica isn’t sure what part he’s agreeing to.
“Are they really? Starting to talk?” she asks.<
br />
“Yeah. That whiny bitch Chelsey What’s-her-name’s got her thong in a twist because she thinks he should be looking at her all the time. But, let’s be honest, her boob job is not that good.”
“Breeze!” Jessica squeals. “We don’t actually know that she got a boob job.”
Both Breeze and Josh give her a look. Jessica pouts.
“Oh sweetie,” says Breeze, patting Jessica’s hand.
“So innocent,” says Josh, shaking his head. “What on earth is it like growing up in Monterey? Google makes it look so close but it must be on another planet if you’re any example of what it produces. It’s 2019, Jess! What woman in California doesn’t have a boob job?”
“Ummm, me, for starters,” Jessica replies, pointing to herself.
“Yeah, but you don’t count because, like I’ve already said, you’re from another planet,” Josh answers.
Jessica rolls her eyes and decides it’s time for a change of subject. “Anyway, I would love to go. I’ve never left the US before and it’s not like I have the money to do that on my own any time soon, so this would be incredible.”
Breeze nods. “Plus, I’m sure it would be way more fun than working at your uncle’s hardware store all summer. I mean, don’t get me wrong, your uncle is great and all…”
Breeze doesn’t have to finish her sentence for Jessica to understand what she means. Still, though, at the mention of her uncle’s store, Jessica feels a twinge of guilt. Her aunt and uncle relied on her help during the summer months—what would they do if she ended up spending the summer in Costa Rica?
Well, anyway, the likelihood of me getting to go is slim to none, so worrying about Uncle Jim and Aunt Sarah is kind of besides the point, Jessica reminds herself.
“Though, obviously, this wouldn’t be a holiday,” she says aloud. “I wonder if we’d even get the chance to do some sight-seeing. From what I’ve heard, these internships tend to be pretty intense. They’ve got you inputting data into a computer all day and watching the animals all night.”
Josh nods thoughtfully. “Good point. Maybe I don’t want to apply for the position.”
Breeze pushes Josh’s arm playfully. “Get out of here, you liar. You’d fucking die to go do fieldwork in Costa Rica.”
Josh grins. Like Breeze, he puts on the façade of an easy-going playboy, but he takes his studies just as seriously as the girls. “And you’d die to fuck Wolovsky and Tallard in a hut in the jungle,” he shoots back, flipping her wording around.
But Breeze just laughs it off. “I’d die to fuck them anywhere. I’m not picky. I wonder if they do threesomes? I bet they’re into each other. All that witty banter they have going on.”
“Oh, Breeze, come on,” Jessica rolls her eyes. “Get your mind out of the gutter for two seconds.”
Breeze smirks. “Admit it, though. You’d be into that.”
“Who wouldn’t be into that?” Josh replies before Jessica gets a chance.
Breeze shakes her head. “Are you sure you’re not gay, Josh?”
Josh shrugs. “Like I’ve said. When it comes to Wolovsky and Tallard, I’m really not. Sure, I mean. Definitely on the fence.”
Jessica is silent while her friends joke around. As much as she doesn’t want to admit it, her imagination can’t let go of the image Breeze planted. Wolovsky and Tallard together…
“Right, Jessica?” Breeze’s question interrupts her daydream.
“Huh?” Jessica blinks. “Yeah. Right.”
Breeze gives her a funny look. “You okay, there, kiddo?”
Jessica pulls a face. “Of course. Just tired. Unlike some of us, I didn’t get a post-lunch nap,” she grins, sticking her tongue out at Josh.
“I can’t help it,” Josh wails. “It’s just so warm and dark and their voices are so soothing…I don’t want to fall asleep! It just happens!”
Jessica and Breeze laugh at his dramatic expression.
And even if I don’t get chosen, Jessica thinks, three months working for Uncle Jim and staying with him and Aunt Sarah…that’s not a bad way to spend a summer.
But she knows that, deep down, she desperately, desperately wants a chance to prove herself. More than anything, she wants that internship.
CHAPTER 2
A week later, Jessica’s at her desk, trying to organize the last of her papers before she moves out of the residence and back to her aunt and uncle’s place down in Monterey. She works slowly, reluctant to pack away her university life. While Monterey, California, the town she grew up in, is a picturesque beachside town, and her aunt and uncle are wonderful people, Jessica can’t help but wish she could stay in Oakland for the summer. Because Josh is right. Even though Monterey is only 4 hours away, when you’re there and your friends are in San Francisco, Monterey can definitely start to feel like it’s in another universe.
Not that Jessica is really complaining. She will never be anything but grateful for her home in Monterey with her aunt and uncle.
The song playing on her laptop skips a beat as the computer pings loudly, interrupting her thoughts. A new email has arrived.
Desperate for a distraction from all her cleaning and organizing, Jessica pounces on the new message.
It’s from Professor Tallard. The subject heading is “Costa Rica Internship.”
Jessica’s heart skips a beat—until she realizes it’s been sent to everyone on the class list, not just her.
Still, her fingers tremble slightly as she opens the message.
Dear students,
Professor Wolovsky and I were thrilled to see how many of you applied for our summer internship in Costa Rica. All of your applications were strong, and your enthusiasm for your work is obvious and inspiring. In the face of all that intelligence and passion, we have a difficult time choosing just one of you to come with us.
However, we are very pleased and proud to announce that Jessica Garcia will be accompanying us this summer. We look forward to working with Ms. Garcia’s, whose work throughout this year has never been anything less than perfection.
Thank you to everyone who applied.
We wish you all the best in your coming studies,
Weston Tallard and Daniel Wolovksy
“Oh my god.” Jessica’s knees give out and she sits down heavily on a pile of textbooks. “Oh my God.”
Hot on the heels of the first email, another “ping!” announces the arrival of an email from Wolovsky—just to her this time.
Then her phone lights up.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE EMAIL??? Josh messages their group chat.
I love saying ‘I told you so’!!!!!! Breeze replies, making Jessica smile.
JESS?? Hello?? HAVE YOU SEEN THE EMAIL, GIRL?? Josh always gets carried away with all caps when he’s excited.
Yes!!!! Just read it. In shock! Jessica replies quickly before he spirals into paragraphs of all caps yelling.
If you get laid, I want to hear ALL THE DETAILS, Breeze responds almost immediately.
Jessica snorts with laughter. Priorities, much? she thinks but doesn’t type.
Pinky swear, she writes back after a moment. And if reality happens and I spend my whole summer inputting data, do you want me to make something up?
Umm, OBVIOUSLY, Breeze answers, followed by several grinning emojis.
Jessica rolls her eyes.
Seriously, though. So happy for you, Josh gets in before the conversation degenerates.
Obvi! Breeze adds. You deserve this, honey. You’re the best of us and they know it!
You guys are too good to me, Jess replies, feeling tears prick her eyes. “Oh jeez,” she mutters, wiping them away. “I must be in shock.” Jessica isn’t one to get emotional, but her friends’ support—when she knows they wanted the position just as badly—means a lot to her. I love you so much!! Xoxox, she adds.
Love you tooooooo, Breeze replies. Bring home the dirt, sweetie!
<3 <3 <3 is Josh’s reply. Then he writes,
And remember to always use protection!!
Jessica groans aloud and responds with an eye-rolling emoji.
Pushing her phone away from her, she opens up the second email from Wolovsky. It says mostly the same thing as the first, congratulating her on her hard work and telling her how much they’re looking forward to working with her.
But it closes with:
While we understand that this is a big decision, due to time constraints, we ask that you give us your answer (an affirmative, we hope!) before 6 pm tonight so that we can inform our second choice in the event that you have changed your mind.
We are looking forward to hearing from you shortly!
Jessica reads the email through a second time and sighs heavily.
“Shit,” she says quietly, hopelessly. Why did you guys have to choose me? Now, either way, I’ll have to let someone down.
Jessica gets up and crosses her shoebox of a room to its one window. She presses her forehead against the cool glass of her window and looks out over the green Berkeley campus and the bustling Oakland streets.
Despite all my scholarships, I know my studies are costing Uncle Jim and Aunt Sarah an arm and a leg. And even though they’d never, ever say anything—because they’re the most amazing, generous people in the whole freaking world—when I work at the hardware store, at least I’m able to give a little back, instead of just taking and taking and taking. After all, they’ve given me eight years of their lives. The least I can do is give them a few summers of free labor in return. Especially since Uncle Jim is getting old. He shouldn’t be lifting all those boxes and 2x4s by himself anymore.
Guilt gnaws in her stomach at the thought of telling her aunt and uncle that she won’t be coming home in the summer. But, when she thinks about giving up this opportunity and telling her professors she made a mistake, the guilt only gets worse.
Either way, I’m letting down people I care about.
But Jessica knows that her aunt and uncle are more important to her than her studies. After all, they’re family. They stuck by her when she needed it and she needs to stick by them.