“Yup, I’m starting tomorrow,” Apple said, grabbing Lyon’s hand so he would be reassured – not that he needed reassuring. But Apple wanted to make him feel comfortable.

“You must be so excited! I hear you’re getting your own advice column,” Zen said.

“I’m a little nervous, to tell you the truth,” Apple said. “They’re starting a television show to go along with the magazine and I have to be on television too.”

“You never told me that,” said Lyon, looking at her strangely, dropping her hand from his. Apple was surprised at this but pretended not to notice.

“I was going to. I just never got the chance! I don’t want to admit it, but I am nervous. I want to do well there. I don’t want to screw up,” said Apple. “I can barely bring myself to think about it.”

“Well, don’t be nervous. I know you’re going to do great,” Lyon said supportively.

“We’ll see,” Apple said. “What’s the worst that can happen? Well, I guess I could get fired.”

Apple and her friends listened as another cork popped in the kitchen and Aunt Hazel screamed in total drunken delight. For a moment, Apple was jealous. She wished she could be as happy and carefree as her aunt, who didn’t seem to have a worry in the world at this moment. Apple hadn’t even started her new job and already she was imagining telling everyone she knew how she screwed up and why she got fired, ruining her future in magazines and television forever.