Lily's POV:

"Lily, wake up! Didn't you say they're announcing the internship results today?" My mom's voice carried up from downstairs, pulling me out of sleep.

I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow, savoring these last few moments cocooned in warmth. But eventually, nerves nudged me to get moving. I kicked off the covers, slipped my feet into my pink slippers, and stood up, stretching. "Today's the day," I whispered, my stomach twisting. "My destiny will be revealed. I'm so nervous I could die," I muttered, covering my face with my hands.

A knock on my door interrupted me, and it creaked open. "Aren't you getting up, dork?" my brother Leo called, smirking from the doorway. My mom probably sent him to wake me up

I narrowed my eyes, pulling my hands away from my face. "Have you gone blind? I'm already up. And who are you calling dork, horse-face?" I snatched a pillow and hurled it at him, but he was quicker. he ducked out, closing the door before it could hit him.

"Must be all those video games sharpening his reflexes," I muttered with a smirk, heading into my bathroom.

I splashed cold water on my face, the chill waking me up further as I looked at myself in the mirror. My long brown hair shimmered in the morning light, thanks to the haircare routine my best friend Jane insisted on. "I'm going to be the prettiest girl at corporate," I giggled, smoothing my hair before pulling on my gray sweatpants and an oversized white shirt.

As I made my way downstairs, the smell of waffles and omelets greeted me. "Smells amazing, Mom!" I called out, heading toward the kitchen.

Our cozy, two-story house felt especially warm and inviting today. The first floor held an open-concept living room and kitchen, separated only by a breakfast bar with three sturdy stools. Upstairs, we each had our own room, one for me, one for Leo, and one for my parents, each complete with a small bathroom. I loved every corner of this house; it felt uniquely ours, filled with memories of laughter, holidays, and cozy weekends. My parents, both doctors, had designed it from the ground up when Leo and I were still in elementary school, crafting each room to make it a true family home.

"Help set the table, dear," my mom hollered from the kitchen, stirring something on the stove. I grabbed plates and cups, arranging them on the living room table just as the front door cracked open and my dad stepped in, arms full of grocery bags.

"I got fresh apples and strawberries," he announced, placing the bags on the counter.

"Yum, my favorites!" I said, smiling.

"That's why I got them" my dad chuckled, ruffling my hair. I grinned, noticing how his green eyes twinkled with warmth. 

"Nothing for me?" Leo muttered, hopping up onto one of the stools.

"Guess the stores ran out of common sense," I teased, "maybe next week they'll be back in stock."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Why don't you stick to setting the table?"

"Why don't you put these groceries away?" Dad chimed in, giving Leo a pointed look. Leo grumbled and hopped off the stool to do as he was told, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Breakfast was a feast. My mom made waffles, omelets, red velvet cupcakes, and salted rice balls with vegetables. Mom loved cooking, and it showed; her meals were so good that I couldn't even remember the last time I ate out. As we ate, we chatted and laughed, with Leo and me trading sarcastic jabs while Mom and Dad occasionally chimed in, playing the referees.

I loved my family; they were everything to me. Even though my parents were busy with work, they always made time for me and Leo. With Leo in his senior year of high school and me just graduating college, we didn't need much care, but they still made time for us, making sure we had breakfast and dinner together every day. Those moments helped us feel close and showed us that no matter how busy life got, we were still a family.

After breakfast, Leo and I cleared the table while Mom and Dad washed and dried the dishes. Once we finished tidying up, I glanced at the clock and saw it was 9:55. The internship results would be out in just five minutes. My heart started to race, so I hurried upstairs to grab my laptop. Too nervous to face it alone, I wanted my family with me for support. Settling onto the living room couch, I opened my laptop and squeezed in between my parents, while Leo stretched out at the far end, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Don't worry, Lily," Mom said, her hand resting on my shoulder. "Whatever the results, we're proud of you."

Dad nodded in agreement. "You worked so hard for this. Any company would be lucky to have you."

I managed a smile, though my stomach was in knots. "Thanks, but… I don't know. I just really want to get into JPL."

"All your professors sent recommendation letters," Mom reminded me. "Stay hopeful, sweetie. You never know."

Leo checked the time on his phone. "It's 9:59. Keep refreshing the page."

Taking a deep breath, I began refreshing the results page every few seconds, each click making my heart race faster. 

My mind drifted back to the countless late nights spent studying, poring over textbooks, drafting emails, and researching internships. I'd done everything I could to prepare, pushing myself because I knew this wasn't just about landing any internship. Ever since I could remember, I'd dreamed of becoming a successful businesswoman, and working at a top-tier company like JPL Corporation felt like the first step toward making that dream a reality. Now, all I could do was wait, my future hinging on the next few moments.

Suddenly, a notification popped up.

"Oh my god—they're out!" I jumped up from the couch, practically tossing the laptop toward Mom. "Mom, can you check? I can't do it—I'm too scared!"

She laughed, taking the laptop with a calming smile. "Alright, honey, don't panic." But I noticed her fingers tremble slightly as she gripped Dad's hand. Even Leo, who'd been slouched on the couch like he was half-asleep, leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen.

Mom opened the email, her eyes scanning the text, and then her face lit up. "We are happy to inform you…" Her voice caught, and then she beamed at me. "… that you have been accepted as an intern at JPL Corporation!"

"Oh my god!" I squealed, launching myself into her arms, and we both screamed in joy. Dad wrapped us both in a hug, his eyes misty, and I felt my own tears welling up. This was real. I'd done it—I was going to work at JPL.

"You did it, jackass!" Leo smirked, getting up to join the celebration with a rare look of pride in his eyes.

In a daze, I went up to my room and grabbed my phone to call Jane. My hands were shaking as I dialed. She picked up on the first ring.

"Jane!" I blurted out, barely containing my excitement.

"Oh my god, girl, tell me!" she shrieked. "I've been on my toes all morning!"

"I got in!" I practically shouted, and I could almost hear her jumping up and down on the other end of the line.

"Ahhh! I knew you could do it!" she squealed, her voice reaching a high pitch. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Honestly, I still don't know if I'm dreaming or awake," I laughed, wiping away a tear.

"You're wide awake, Lily, and you totally deserve this," she said, her voice brimming with pride. "You worked your butt off, and JPL is lucky to have you."

I smiled, feeling the warmth of her words. "Thanks, bestie. You've always had my back."

Jane has always been my rock, the one person who's been by my side through everything. We've been best friends since middle school, practically joined at the hip all the way through high school. We shared every secret, every late-night call, and every adventure; there was hardly a memory without her in it. But when college came, things shifted a bit. I went into business, with all its endless study groups and internship prep, while she chose journalism. Our schedules rarely lined up, and even though we couldn't see each other as often, the bond never wavered. She's been working at a magazine for a few months now, and I couldn't be prouder of her.

"So, what are you going to wear on your first day?" Jane asked, her tone playful.

I glanced at my closet and laughed. "All I have are crop tops and jeans. Not exactly corporate attire."

"We need to go shopping," she declared. "I know the perfect place for cute office outfits."

"Sounds like a plan! I'll meet up with you after work," I said, already excited for the next adventure.

After we exchanged our goodbyes and hung up, disbelief washed over me. I sank onto my bed, my heart racing with anticipation. The reality of my acceptance at JPL felt surreal, like a dream I might wake up from at any moment. As I lay there, thoughts of the months ahead danced in my mind. I knew I would pour every ounce of effort into this internship, determined to prove myself and secure a permanent position. 

Later that afternoon, I met up with Jane outside the tall glass building where she worked, the one that looked like it could house an army of editors and journalists. She was already waiting by the door, her shoulder bag slung casually over one arm. When she spotted me, she waved and smiled.

"Ready to do some damage to your bank account?" she teased, linking her arm with mine as we started down the bustling street.

"I don't know if it's ready, but I am!" I laughed, trying to shake off the nerves gnawing at me. We strolled through a few boutiques, Jane pulling out different outfits and insisting I try them on. I eventually settled on a few pieces: skirts, blouses, and blazers that felt professional but still a bit... me. As I held up a cream-colored blouse with delicate buttons, I couldn't help but laugh.

"You know," I said, "I should probably be more focused on whether I'll actually survive working at JPL. But at least I'll look good while I'm crumbling under pressure."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Why the doom and gloom already? It's just a job! You'll be fine. And honestly, you're probably going to be better at it than half the people there."

I sighed, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. "Maybe, but the CEO at JPL has this reputation... You know, for pushing people hard. He's got his hands in everything; he knows exactly how he wants things done. It's a bit intimidating."

"All the more reason to strut in there looking like a million bucks," she replied. "And remember, you're not the only one who's nervous at a new job. Everyone feels that way, especially at places with a big name like JPL."

Her words helped, even if just a little. After our mini shopping spree, I got back home, carefully hung my new office-ready clothes in the closet, and took a long, hot shower. The warmth eased some of my anxiety, but as I dried off and wrapped myself in a cozy towel, I still felt that familiar pit in my stomach. What if I'm not cut out for this?

I blow-dried my hair, massaged a bit of moisturizer onto my face, and slipped into my warmest pajamas. Crawling into bed, I burrowed under the covers, trying to focus on something positive.

Maybe, I thought, closing my eyes, maybe this is the start of something big. A real career. I imagined myself months from now, confident, landing a permanent spot at JPL, mastering everything they threw at me. It seemed so far away, but still, just for a moment, it felt like maybe—just maybe—dreams do come true.