Short Story
My short story that I wrote in English is based on an 18 year old girl who moves to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of working in a record label. She choose not to go to college and instead pursue her dreams. Throughout this process she experiences some bumbs in the road, like the outcome of her first interview with Fox Record. In the end the roommate she moved in with gave her advice explaining that this life she is choosing isn’t going to be easy.
Dead End
It’s my first official day in LA with my new roommate Elizabeth. She is twenty one years old and following the same dream as I, which is one of the main reasons why I moved in with her. My parents decided to help me move in which was nice of them since it’s a 5 hour drive from where they live. It’s so weird saying “from where they live now”, instead of “where we live.”
“Thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping me,” Jordan said.
“No problem, happy we could be useful. But we better get going now since it’s gonna take us awhile. Hopefully we will make it back by midnight,” Jordan’s father said. Jordan wrapped her arms around both her parents and squeezed them hard.
“I’m gonna miss ya guys, but don’t worry I have my interview all lined up for tomorrow,” Jordan said.
“Honey we know you will do great. This is what you have wanted to do for awhile now. Your father and I believe in you,” Jordan’s Mom said.
“Thanks Mom, but you guys better get going I don’t want to keep you.” My parents opened the door and walked out hesitantly. I felt my stomach drop knowing that I don’t have my parents to rely on. Two hours passed by, it’s 11:00 pm and my roommate, Elizabeth finally came home. I was sitting on the couch watching my favorite show on Netflix.
“Hey girl, how you liking this place?” Elizabeth said.
“Um, it’s all right. I just moved in and have been watching some TV.” Jordan said.
“WHAT! You haven’t gone out yet?” Elizabeth said.
“No…? Is that a bad thing.” Jordan said.
“Yes, very bad. Get dressed we are going out.” Elizabeth said.
“Ok” Jordan said.
I went into my bedroom and I started going through my closet. I decided to put on a black leather skirt, a white tank top which was cropped, and thigh high boots.
“Are you ready to go yet?” Elizabeth said. I walked out of my room and Elizabeth turned around to inspect my outfit.
“Looks good! Let’s go.” Elizabeth said. I took a deep breath in and followed her out of the door. We got into our Uber that Elizabeth ordered which took us to sunset strip. I gazed out of the window while we were driving through LA looking at all the houses and shops, as well as the people walking through the cross walks. I admired the different clothing styles of people walking the streets and how different they were to what I usually wear. I mean if I was just running errands I’d wear an oversized sweatshirt, leggings, and my slip on well worn uggs. Not jeans with heels and sequin shirt. I started to gaze down at my shirt, then shoes, as well as pants. I realized that if I wanted this to work out, a few changes are going to have to be made. I needed a fresh start to my new beginning here in LA. Starting with my wardrobe. The Uber pulled up to this hole in a wall bar. Elizabeth and I walked straight into the bar and stopped to take in the vibe. Then we looked at each other, smiled, then headed straight to the dance floor. We danced our asses off till 3 am, but we decided that it was time to leave and squeeze in some sleep.
“Bye Jordan, going to work now” Elizabeth said. I started to slowly rise confused as to what was happening and where I was. I realized that it was the morning after and I had passed out cold on my bed from the night before. I forced myself out of the bed and slugged over to the bathroom.
“Shit, what the hell happened to me?” Jordan mumbled to herself. I had makeup smeared across my face and my hair was sticking straight up in every direction.
“I look like a clown,” Jordan mumbled to herself. I glanced over at the clock and realized it was already noon.
“Shit, shit, shit. My interview is in an hour!!!” said Jordan. I ran back into my room panicking. I was throwing my clothes everywhere trying to find the most professional outfit I owned. I slapped a face of makeup on my face and put my hair in a tight bun. Then I headed straight for the door almost forgetting my purse sitting on the kitchen table. I ran down the stairs pushing the door open.
“Taxi, taxi! Here-here!” Jordan screamed. A yellow cab pulled up next to the curb and I jumped into the cab.
“Where to, Miss?” the taxi driver said.
“Fox Records, please. Also step on it, I’m late,” said Jordan. When I arrived I jumped out of the car fumbling around trying to put on my heels and tucking in my striped collared shirt. I opened the door and stopped. I took it all in. The fact that I’m here at my interview for an internship pursuing my dream. It felt real for the first time in my life. I continued to walk forward looking side to side at all the posters of famous artists this record label signed. It made me even more excited. When I reached the front desk, a lady with black hair and blue eyes wearing a tight black bodycon dress stood up.
“Are you Ms. Jordan Smith?” She asked.
“Yes, yes I am,” Jordan said. My palms started sweating and clammy.
“Please follow me this way,” she said. As I was following her we passed by a recording studio. Which I stopped to take a look inside. Then we arrived to this conference room with blank white walls surrounding us.
“Take a seat. We will be right with you,” she said.
“Oh ok… Thanks,” Jordan said. My hands started to sweat even more once she left the room.
“Jordan you’re going to do great. You got this. This is what you have wanted for a long time. You did not move here and give up the opportunity to go to college to just mess up. Pull yourself together, ” Jordan recited over and over to herself. My hands started getting less and less sweaty by the second. Suddenly the door opened and walked in again the same women from the front desk. I was confused as to what was happening but I just went with it.
“Sorry, the man that was supposed to be interviewing you today can’t make it so I will be filling in for him,” she said with a stern voice.
“Uh, ok. Yea,” Jordan said with an uncertain and confused tone. I thought to myself why I was being interviewed by someone who handled paperwork and answered phone calls. She knows nothing about producing and recording. She whipped out a packet with questions on them. She started going down the list one by one asking me these questions.
“Why do you want to work for Fox Records?” the women asked.
“Well I actually did some research on this company before I moved out here in LA and I saw how many successful artists you have worked with…..” Jordan was abruptly cut off.
“Yea ok. Sure, next question,” the women exclaimed. “Do you have any work experience in this industry?”
“Uh, no. This would be my first but I promise you I will commit to this 100%…” The women looked at me in disgust and pity.
“Ok. That’s all the information I need from you. It was so great meeting you. You’re dismissed, we will contact you soon.” She had a rushed tone to her. She started to rise from her seat and I followed. Then she lead me to the door thanking me once again. I stood there for a moment trying to comprehend what had just happened. Then I pushed the door open and walked out resisting the temptation from looking back. I walked as fast as possible to the edge of the curb struggling to wave down a taxi. It felt like forever for a taxi to finally reach me. But once one had arrived I squeezed myself in as fast as possible. The car ride back to my apartment felt like it lasted forever. I had the awful interview on loop in my head. I got to my apartment door and fumbled for the keys. Once I got in I headed straight to my bedroom and leaped onto my bed letting my body sink into the mattress. Thinking of what I did wrong or what I should’ve said that would’ve made some kind of difference. I laid there in complete silence and without movement for an hour. Then I decided it was time for me to get up and change into something more comfortable than a tight black skirt with a white blouse and pearl-white heels to complement. I walked over to the couch and sat down with an ounce of ice cream in my hand and just watched the first thing that was on the TV. A couple minutes later my roommate, Elizabeth walked in with her hair wrapped up in a bun with a few hairs peeking thru and her apron thrown over her shoulder.
“Hey!” Elizabeth said with an enthusiastic voice. Which I was not expecting especially because she has been working since 7am.
“Hi.” I said with a depressed voice.
“Ok what’s the matter?”
“Nothing worth hearing.”
“It’s about the interview isn’t it. Seriously what happened? You can tell me, that’s what roommates are for.”
“The interview was a complete bust. I got interviewed by a freaking secretary. I don’t know what exactly to call her. Someone not important, that’s for sure,” I said with frustration.
“Well maybe that’s just how they do interviews…? I’ve had so many interviewers, and let me tell you, a lot of them did not go well.”
“Yeah, but this should have gone perfectly. I was so prepared, and I planned all of this out. Move here, get the job… my dream come true.” Jordan started to tear up.
“Honey, this isn’t going to be easy. You should’ve known this.”