ATLAS
"So...what is it we interns do around here" I ask Lucas, the person who has been assigned to show me around, he just shrugs and continues walking while I follow him
"The usual, but it all depends on the person you're shadowing" I nod looking around the office...it's a far cry from Georgia where I knew everyone and everyone's mum. Its so different here and the only people I know are my sister and her friend. I'm snapped back to reality by Lucas snapping his fingers in front of my face
"Earth to Earl" I frown and bite my inner cheek to refrain from being rude or anything
"It's Atlas" he rolls his eyes and murmurs something along the lines of 'even worse' under his breath and turns to continue showing me around.
He shows me the administrative buildings, the tech buildings, and the advertising unit, apparently, much to my dismay...this is one single company with workers in buildings of different skill sets. While I would have loved to get an internship in a place that deals with only tech, beggars can't be choosers.
"So when do I meet the person I'm shadowing" he turns to me
"By the end of the week when I'm sure you're ready" We stop at his desk and I see the tiny cubicle, no wonder he's frustrated "Get me a cup of coffee from the break room" I blink, that doesn't sound like tech work
"I thought I was shadowing you?" I ask
"You are, shadowing is a glorified way of saying personal assistant so you don't feel bad, now chop chop" My legs move towards the place I remember him showing me as the break room and I inhale...smells like hopes, and dreams being crushed, I spy some other interns making coffee in their respective stations and I scan the place, looking for someone without a scowl and luckily for me there's a guy in plaid shirt humming a tune while he's waiting for his coffee so I go to stand beside him.
"Intern?" He asks with amusement in his voice looking at the mug in my hand, and I smile, raking a hand through my dirty blonde hair
"Yeah, you?" He nods and I sigh "does it get better" he pauses then pours some coffee into the cup he's holding
"Well, I'm working under a senior editor now and I'm learning alot so yeah, I can say it gets better" I nod pouring some coffee in the mug I was holding as well, lucas didn't tell me how he liked his coffee so I really don't know what to do from here "I'm Felix by the way, tech analyst" he smiles at me and I smile back
"Atlas, programmer" he nods and adds some creamer in my mug and a pinch of sugar
"You're shadowing lucas for the week, you're going to need all the help you can get" he smiles once more, takes his coffee and leaves...so I wasn't just imagining it, Lucas is a bitch.
By the end of the day, I swear I've lost more calories today than I've lost in years, I get out of the office and that's when it hits me...I didn't get the bus route and I don't have enough money on me for a cab so I start walking forward all the while dialing my sister, but calling ashlyn this time of day is a lost cause, ever so work oriented.
I'm still walking when a car stops in front of me....that's suspicious, so naturally I walk faster as my fight or flight instincts kick in and the car just keeps following me and now rolls down the window.
"Hey kid, I'm not a kidnapper ya know" I recognise that voice, but it's vague because I've only heard it just yesterday, I stop in my tracks...its ash's roommate who I do not know the name of.
"Oh...hi" she smiles and the car makes a clicking noise, like she unlocked it
"Do you need a ride or do I continue on my merry way"
"Thank you, sorry for thinking you're a kidnapper, I'm not used to this environment" I say getting into the car and sitting in the passenger seat, this is nice, the car has this distinct smell that is just her...peaches
"I was on my way home from work and I saw you"
"Yeah, I forgot to ask for bus routes from Ash" she nods making a left
"Happened to me on my first day here, it's not just you but eventually you'll get the hang of it" I nod "Ash didn't tell me your name" she turns to look at me and I see the shade of brown her eyes are, with gold flecks
"It's Atlas and you?"
"Nova, nice to meet you" I nod again because I've run out of things to do with my head, and I turn to stare outside the window, the city is big and there are lots or people shuffling here and there to make ends meet...I just pray I fit into this place.