Free Apple's Angst by Rebecca Eckler Page A

business. What if she had to deal with people like Emme, and their attitudes, every day? It wasn’t worth it, thought Apple, even if she would get to meet celebrities in person. So not worth it.

    On the way home, her mother babbled. Apple barely paid attention. She couldn’t get Emme’s smirk and bored look out of her mind. She could tell Emme hated her already, and she had no idea why. How was she going to work beside someone with a personality like that two afternoons a week, plus weekends?
    As soon as Apple got in the car, she had pulled Happy’s boots off, not easy considering her feet were super swollen.
    â€œI am in so much pain,” she moaned.
    â€œWell, it went well, didn’t it?” her mother asked.
    â€œI guess so,” Apple answered.
    â€œWhat do you mean, you guess so? God, Apple. Can’t you ever just be happy? You have an internship that people your age would murder you for. I’m not joking. They would poison you if they could get the chance to work at
Angst
. And you get your own advice column! And you get to go on television? You just ask me if you need to know anything about being on television. You know, it’s not as easy as it looks,” her mother said. “You can’t show any weakness on television. And people notice the tiniest details. If you change your earrings and they don’t like them, they’ll let you know!”
    â€œThanks for the added pressure, Mother!” Apple resonded, turning to look out the car window. “I can’t believe I have to start tomorrow. I thought I’d have a little more time to prepare myself emotionally.” Apple sighed, hoping she could stop her mother before she really started into lecture mode about the ins and outs of televisionland. Now not only would she have to deal with her mother’s relationship advice, but she would have to deal with her advice on being on television.
    â€œWell, you know what I always say …”
    â€œYes, Mom, I know. ‘Why put off to tomorrow something you can do today?’ ‘Better to jump in feet first,’” Apple said, deadpan. She could have gone on and on with her mother’s peppy phrases, but she stopped herself.
    â€œDidn’t you think Nancy was a little harsh?” Apple asked her mother, in an attempt to change the subject.
    â€œHarsh? She seemed quite friendly. I think you’re very lucky to have her as a boss. Not all first bosses are that accomplished, you know. She’s worked in New York, Paris, Milan—all over the world. That woman knows her fashion. And she definitely knows how to run a magazine. At such a young age! So what if she seems harsh? Why is it that hardworking women always get a bad reputation? She’s just the type of person you could learn a lot from. You don’t want to let her down.”
    â€œShe just acted a lot nicer to you than to me. And that girl Emme? Sitting there not looking at me? That’s the person I’m supposed to work with. How am I going to deal with that?”
    â€œWell, you’re the one who always complains about being
my
daughter. Don’t think I don’t know that. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t want people
not
to give you special treatment because you’re my daughter and then want people to treat you special when you think they aren’t being nice to you. You’re just being paranoid about the other girl. She’s probably as nervous as you are. You can’t judge someone in the blink of an eye. Yes, she seemed a little snooty. But maybe she’s a really nice person. Be excited! It’s good to get out of your comfort zone once in a while. It will be good for you to meet new people.”
    Apple immediately thought of Sloan Starr.
    Screw Emme, thought Apple. After all, Sloan Starr had noticed
Apple
. Sloan Starr had complimented her! Though she knew she was being immature, she couldn’t help but admit that