Time is ticking fast. We're on day eight so there's about five days left until we go home. Honestly, most of us are homesick. Even Cass wants to go home. We feel like we've done everything and just want to go back to our regular lives. Angie reminds us of where we are and tells us that we still have more to see.

After that day with Tripp, I spent the last two days with the girls. We hit up the beach, met up with some other visitors, and got close. We all went shopping together, went to the movies and even spent time in the hot tub together.

I had no more tears for men who weren't consistent with their feelings. No more tears for men who didn't know what they wanted or wouldn't care to communicate how they felt. Here I am believing that Tripp was different and he's no different than his toxic ass friends.

No matter how much I cared about him, I wasn't losing myself over a guy I just met about a week ago. It's not worth it.

Anyway, the girls are planning a little girls' night at the beach house with some of the women we met on the beach. Cassidy's calling the shots while the rest of us follow her instructions. Angela's getting snacks and drinks, Darian's in charge of entertainment, Cassidy's in charge of the dress code for the evening, and I'm sitting back until they tell me they need me.

"Hey, Davenport. Come ride with me for a minute. It's the least you can do after you stole my car the other day." Angela calls me out.

We ride out to the store, listening to some washed up song from years ago, and watch as the large bodies of water pass us by. Large, shimmering buildings pass us on the way to the store and people walk around the area with bags in their hands.

Maybe my fun isn't over yet. Maybe there's still things I have to experience here. As long as they weren't putting me in danger, I'm good.

When we get to the store, the first place we go to is the alcohol section. I study the plethora of options they have as Angie speaks to me again.

"Don't look too hard. I ain't call you to come with me for all that. You might pick the weakest shit."

Now, what was that supposed to mean, Angie?

Angie picks up a few bottles of wine and coolers, looks them over and places them in the cart before continuing.

"Look here, Anne's getting pissed off because of Mandy so Marsha's up Mandy's ass right now. Anne asked HR who we felt deserved the position more and two of us chose you. Anne's heavily considering this. You in or no?"

Damn, drop a bomb on me like that and expect me to come with an answer? I should say yes but that's a lot to think about. That'd mean I'd pick up all of Mandy's slack and it would take a while before getting the magazine how I want it.

Imagine all of the responsibilities I'd have under my belt. Juggling all of that at once would be a bit much but I'd get paid way more than just being a journalist. I'd have more control over all the content of the magazine.

My eyes widen at the offer because there isn't much time to think about it and I'm in shock they thought about me. Angela grabs my attention with the slight clink from two wine bottles.

"Hello? Journee? You taking the job or not?"

I just want to know how I came up in conversation between all of them.

"Why am I next in line when there's others that are more qualified than-"

"Girl, if you want us to offer the position-"

"No, no, no. That's not what I said. I'm just asking why y'all are considering me for the position. It's a valid question since, last time, someone hired some random off the street for it. I want to know I'm not in the same situation."

I know I have most of the qualifications and will get the job done. However, when your team doesn't support you or doesn't believe in you, you fall flat on your face when something goes wrong.

Angela wraps her hands around her hips and looks at me stumped.

"Girl, I put in a good word for you to take the position. What are you talking about? If I didn't see potential in you, I wouldn't have recommended you for the job. Now, you making me mad."

We stand there for a second, hoping for the heat to die down. Her bottom lip pokes out in disbelief as she shakes her head slightly and closes her eyes.

"J, I know there's other people that are more qualified and hiring Mandy was a screw up I wasn't apart of. Let's get real though, J. Who else is gonna bring out the quality of the magazine? Who's gonna represent us and display our values like you?"

How could I say no to that? That made me feel better about taking her up on this offer. More empowered and worthy because somebody was looking out for me and I'm grateful. Now that I know that I have some foundation and support, my work can prosper and I can show out.

"I'm taking the job and I want you to know that I appreciate you. Thank you for having faith in me."

Angela wraps her arms around me in a warm embrace and a tight smile stiffens on my face. This is what friendship, support, and foundation feels like. She's still my co-worker but she feels like more than that now.

She looks down at me and says "You don't think I've read your drafts already. I'm not going to choose somebody without looking over their work first. You already know why Mandy didn't select your articles."

Because she's biased and prejudice?

Angela clears her throat as we slowly walk out of the beverage aisle. "She was tap dancing for those business executives at the top and that's why we haven't sold many copies of the magazine. Once we lost our voice, we lost our readers."

So that's why my articles never made the cut. For the longest time, I thought it was because she had this secret vendetta against me but I'm glad to know that wasn't the case. She didn't give a damn about me; she just fell for the trap and became the doormat.

Now, how are we supposed to get this magazine on the map if these business guys have to approve of it first?

Angie stops us before we got to the cashier and looks me in my eyes. With the grunginess in her voice, she says "Piss them the fuck off."

Damn, Ang. I didn't know you had that in you. That sacred anger look is not cute on you, girl. That's scary as fuck.

I was just frightened; eyes widened, chills swarming down my body, and flattened lips. I could just feel my frightened look.

"I ain't playing, J. Look, make them so mad that they want to punch walls. Now that you know what will kick them into overdrive, use that to your advantage. The more you speak your truth, and I do mean raw truth, the more of an impact you make and that's what Anne wants. You bet not disappoint me, Davenport."

There's that smile I was looking for, deep down within me. She was talking, inspiring me with ideas for content, topics that needed more attention in each department, and designs for the cover.

This was our article. Every topic, every subject, category, word, letter, down to the particles that made up every page. It was all ours and it will be used to create a voice for us.

For us and by us like F.U.B.U.

****
Heeeeeeeyyyyyyy everybody!

Im getting back on schedule. You just gotta give me a minute because im working on my NANOWRIMO project!

How y'all doing?

Do you think that Journee will be a great editor?

What do you think of Angie's character? She can be childish but I love writing her.

Do you think Tripp and Journee will get together again?

Stay tuned.