We Took A Chance

Our stay in California was very short but Niall already ask if I'd come back with him in 2 weeks to sign his contract and hopefully get the keys to the house. I agreed but I couldn't help but hope that I'd get a job by then even if it meant not going with him. I didn't want him to continue paying for stuff I should be paying myself but living off of scholarship money meant that he paid for my trip to L.A.

After a long Monday, the day to meet with my professor had finally arrived and I felt a tinge of nervousness. He didn't disclose the reason for our meeting and my mind came up blank. I walked across campus after my last class of the day. His lecture must have just finished as students were still walking out of the class. Most of them walked out with papers in their hands. I hoped that it wasn't a last minute assignment. Either way, I'd know tomorrow morning when I had his class.

"Zoe! Please come in. Take a seat right here in the front row." Professor Mathews instructed me.

I did as told and took a seat facing his desk. Professor Matthews was one of the most known professors on campus. He had a long history of being in the journalism field writing for many big name news channels. His teaching was always a side job for him. Everyone in my field of journalism wanted to take his class but only a few of us were lucky.

"How was your weekend, Zoe?" he started and it seemed odd he'd want to meet with me to ask how my weekend was.
"It was really good. Thank you." I answered back.
"Great. Great. Well the reason I wanted to meet with you was to make you an offer. You see, Zoe, you're one, if not the best, journalism student I have. Your work is brilliant. What are your plans after finishing this program?" he inquires resting his fingers on his chin.
"Well, my plan was to go back to the U.S and work at the local news as anchorwoman. My dad works there and I pretty much have it guaranteed." I say wondering where this was leading. I see the professor nod his head then intertwining his fingers together.
"Would you be interested in working for BBC News?" he blurts out taking me aback. BBC News? As in the biggest news channel in Britain?!
"I.. I don't know what to say. What does this mean?" I ask as I feel my heart race.
"It means that BBC needs a new field reporter and you have the job if you want it." he informs me crossing his arms like he's proud of what he just said. I take my bottom lip between my teeth while my mind tries to work out different scenarios.
"But I'm not even close to being done with the two year program professor. Why would they hire me?" I ask leaning against the small desk attached to my chair.
"They'll hire you because I'm recommending you, Zoe. I showed them some of your work in this class as well as clips of the articles you wrote for your last university's newspaper. It's an entry position. You won't be head anchor or anything but let me tell you, this is an opportunity others would kill for. Think about it and get back to me by the end of the semester next week. The job starts this summer, Zoe." he states while tapping a pen on his desk.

I thank him and make my way back across campus towards the halls. My head was a mess at this sudden opportunity. I needed a job, any job, but I never thought I'd be able to work at BBC News. This is the big break so many journalism students are waiting for and I'm just being handed it. I definitely had a lot to think about and consider before making my decision.
I took out my phone and looked at the screen. No messages from Niall. I was kind of disappointed but I understood. He said he'd be out working most of the day on new material so I proposed I'd stay at the halls tonight. Perhaps that was for the best as too much was going on in my head. I wouldn't want him to question me as I wasn't sure how to address this with him yet.

Back in the halls, I went up the building to my room hoping my roommate wasn't there. I would need a bit a of silence to think. I turned the corner towards my hallway and noticed some stuff in front of our door. I approached it and noticed that it was a large bouquet of flowers, a teddy bear with balloons, and a card. I looked around and no one was to be seen. Without second thought, I picked up the items and brought them inside. I placed them on top of the shared desk and looked at the card. It had my name so these things aren't for Michelle. I smirked a bit wondering why Niall would be sending me all this stuff. He's really not the kind of guy to send teddy bears and balloons.

I took the card in my hands and opened up the tab behind it. It was a cute card, teddy bears and balloons on the cover to match the rest of the presents. I opened up the card and instantly noticed it wasn't handwritten, it was typed.

Zoe,
There's something I want to tell you. Meet me at Moro's on Exmouth Market at 6 tonight. I can't wait to see you.

I bit my bottom lip and closed the card. This is all seemed a bit strange coming from Niall but I couldn't help but wonder what the occasion was. Inevitably, the first thing my mind jumped to was a proposal. Even though the thought made my insides warm, I knew the possibility wasn't real. We had been together a few months but we hadn't said the L word yet. It's not like I never thought about it. I had thought about it recently more than any other time. I suppose I was hoping he'd say it first.

I still let my mind wander into the possibility of a proposal hoping I didn't get disappointed later. I looked towards the clock on the wall and realized I only had a couple of hours left to get ready. I put Niall's gifts on top of my small dresser and headed for the showers. I was going to look amazing tonight.

Notes

Oh my, do you think Niall will propose?! Could Zoe be right?
What about the BBC News job?
Should she take it? Would she still take it if Niall proposes?

So many questions!

How was everyone's weekend? Any Thanksgiving plans for those in the US? Did ya'll enjoy the AMAs?!

We went hiking for the second consecutive weekend and it was fun but the baby was super fussy. Both kids have been battling a cold and the temps have dropped here significantly (20+ degrees in the matter of hours!) so I'm sure it wasn't the best idea. :( It was still nice the times she wasn't fussing though. If you have me on Snapchat you saw. :)