It took all of Sarah's self-control to not burst out laughing before the pathetic display unfolding before here. Lucy had asked to sit with her in the kitchen, saying she had some bad news. Oh, really?

 

"Can you give me... 4 months?", Lucy finally choked out.

-What do you mean 4 months?! I have a mortgage to pay, and I'm already renting to you super cheap! And didn't you tell me you had housing grants?"

 

Lucy launched into a frantic explanation, sobbing, explaining how the grants would come back in 4 months, how her accounts were emptied, on how the bank was having a hard time tracking the multiple shady websites that charged her card (half believing her claims about being "hacked"), on how she would pay as soon as possible... Seeing her so vulnerable, crushed, almost made Sarah back off. Almost.

 

"Listen... calm down. Calm down. It sucks! Yes it sucks! But it's not the end of the world." She waited for Lucy to meet her eyes (a glazed, tearful mess) before continuing.  "You don't have an housing grant anymore, but I'm sure you can find 650 a month, isn't it?"

 

Lucy knew Sarah was right. It was a big set back, but she could rebound. She had just started in her dream school, Sarah was VERY arranging, yes, she could find a student job and make enough to cover the rent. She could make it work.

 

"Ok! Let's do it that way: you don't have the pay this month rent..." (Lucie's eyes widened with hope) "...until the end of the month! How is it?"

 

Sarah offered a placating smile, carefully calibrated between sympathy and practicality. "No bad uh? That gives you some breathing room."

 

Her tenant nodded.

 

So began Lucy's relentless job application journey. She applied online, sent cold email, left her resume at grocery stores and cafes. Surely, surely, something would pan out, right?

 

Of course, Sarah sabotaged her every step of the way, dismantling every chance before it materialized. She watched Lucy's mailbox like an obsessive predator, deleting positive answers, interview requests, expressions of interest, as soon as they arrived. She crafted fake rejection letters. A twisted satisfaction bloomed each time she hit "send", knowing she was crushing Lucy's tentative hopes. She was also ready to ramp up the drug dosage to make her fail in person interviews (but Lucy never got one).

Lucy almost landed a barista gig at a trendy coffee shop, until the coffee shop called her back to cancel. Of course, on the other end of the line was simply Sarah's friend posing as the coffee owner. And Sarah herself called back the coffee shop pretending to be a Lucy not interested in the job offer anymore.

 

So, at the end of the third week, with only 2 weeks left to the end of the month, Lucy still didn't had any job. What a catastrophic start for her. Every day, she stumbled through her classes in a dumb stupor, struggling to stay awake during lectures, barely able of forming coherent notes or engaging in discussions. She would come home extremely tired, with barely any memory of the school day and would try to find a job only to fail, fail and fail again, the despair creeping up like a cold knife in her chest. Surely her luck would eventually turn around, wouldn’t it? If not... if not she’d have to swallow her pride, say good-bye to the school, return home, admit defeat to her parents. Her only source of warm was Sarah. Sarah was comforting her, making her food, encouraging her. And, one evening, while Lucy stared blankly into a bowl of noodles, she threw yet another lifeline:

"Cheer up! Guess what? I may have a job for you!"

 

A glimpse of hope.

 

"What is it?

-So! One of my photographer friend is looking for two girls to model lingerie. Usually his studio only work with experienced models but he's trusting me on you.", Sarah explained casually, carefully observing Lucy's reaction. "Since you're a total novice it won't pay much but it's better than nothing...

-How much?", asked Lucy, anxious.

"150$. For two or three hours, top!"

 

Lucy considered it. To her own surprise, she found herself thinking about it more seriously than she should have. Lingerie modeling? It was far removed from her aspirations... still...

 

"I'm... I'm not sure", she answered hesitantly. She knew it would be hard to refuse: it was a quick job, offered on a silver platter, by someone she owned money to.

 

"Why not?", asked Sarah inquisitively.

 

Lucy couldn't say how demeaning she thought this kind of job was, because she already lied to Sarah about her view on porn and didn't want to alienate her further.

 

"I'm uh... I'm not pretty enough.

-Nonsense! They're not looking for bimbos! The concept is 'every day girls'. If not, I'd have applied.", she said, emphasizing what she meant by mimicking a kiss wuth her enhanced lips.

"I don't know..." A pause. "I don't know if I can do it. I feel.. I feel it's..." She felt it was degrading, but she couldn't say it. "I feel it's weird."

 

"What? It's only lingerie! It's like being in a bikini. Don't worry babe, I know the guy, he's a pro. Nothing weird there."

 

Lucy reluctantly agreed.