Phoebe's toe tapped the ground uncontrollably as she sat by the phone. She had been waiting for the manager of the Bay Mirror, the biggest newspaper in all of California to call her for the past three hours.
Whats taking so long? She thought. I must not have gotten the job. He's twenty minutes late. There's no way he'd be twenty minutes late to call if I got it.
Phoebe's stomach began to growl out of anxiety, as she thought of the many devastating ways she would have to tell the love of her life, Cole Turner, that she had been denied yet another job.
Everyone warned Phoebe that graduating with a journalism degree would get her no where, but all her life she dreamed of becoming a writer for the most elite newspaper of all, The Bay Mirror.
She thought the interview went okay, she was nervous and out of an OCD habit had taken four showers beforehand to make sure she was squeaky clean for her interviewer, Jason Dean. He was the manager of The Bay Mirror, and a good one for sure. He was a millionaire who had founded the newspaper and was well known. He was intimidating to Phoebe. He was in his mid forties, Phoebe guessed, and the only time he smiled or chuckled was when Phoebe had an awkward response or asked to hear the question again.
Phoebe sat there, on the edge of her seat staring at the phone. She noticed a fold in her skirt, which was one of her biggest pet peeves, and smoothed it out over and over to make sure her skirt was perfectly draped over her skinny legs. She spent a full half hour this morning ironing it out and and sort of wrinkle would have made her crazy.
Finally, a high pitched ring broke the silence and made Phoebe jump.
She let it ring three times before holding her breath, grabbing the phone with one hand and answering in the most soft spoken voice she's ever used.
"H-Hello?"
"Yes, Ms. Haliwell?" It was Mr. Dean for sure.
"Yes, speaking."
"I just wanted to let you know we have an opening for you. When can you start?"
Phoebe was speechless. She held one hand over her mouth trying to hold back her tears. "Are you serious?" she paused. "I got it?"
"You did," Jason Dean did the same condescending chuckle Phoebe knew too well. "Is tomorrow morning good for you?"
"Yeah. Yeah it's perfect. Thank you so much." Phoebe hung up and took a deep breath. Her dreams were finally coming true.
Phoebe awaited for Cole to come home later that night. She knew he'd be in the office late tonight, so she had extra time to make a special dinner and get dressed up to tell her exciting news.
She wore a tight black dress, that made her look curvier than she was. Her dirty blonde hair was curled at the bottom and she complete her look with red lipstick.
Everything was perfect. The minute she heard the door knob turn, Phoebe lit the candles on the center of the dining table and and stood there anxiously.
The minute Cole opened the door, he took one look at the whole scene and whispered, "Babe.."
Phoebe nodded.
"You got it!?" Cole dropped his coat and briefcase and ran to his girl friend. Picking her up into the air and swinging her around, he said in her ear, "I knew you could do it. I'm so proud of you." He kissed her cheek multiple times, avoiding her lips. Cole knew if he messed up her lipstick she'd spend thirty minutes in the bathroom redoing it.
He put her down and put his arms around her waist. Resting his forehead against hers, he said above a whisper, "Can I?"
Phoebe jokingly frowned and held one finger up, meaning he could kiss her on the lips just once.
She puckered and he quickly kissed her, before she pulled away.
"Come on," Phoebe said, "The food will get cold."