SELECTED??

ERIKA P.O.V

"Eri...where were you dear?? I have called you so many times but your phone was off. I was really worried dear" dad said hugging me and checking me for any injuries.

"dad... dad...Relax..I am fine. Jenny and I went to the movies and shopping so I didn't notice ur calls and then my phone was out of charge " I lied hiding my hand with the iv plaster behind, thankfully he didn't notice it.

" I promise I will call you next time if I ever get stuck somewhere ok!! now please make me something to eat dad I am so hungry pleaseee..." I pleaded holding my stomach because I know dad doesn't care about anything when I tell him that I am hungry, " ok dear you go and fresh up I will prepare something for you" he said and hurried into the kitchen.

" huh..that was close" I muttered slowly and hurried upstairs into my room, I took a hot relaxing shover which eased my fatigue from today's events, I dressed in light pink floral print pajamas and blow-dried my hair, applied some moisturizer. I took my phone out of my bag and put it on charging and switched it on and noticed that there were several missed calls from dad and a mail from Mr.Richard, and I was surprised to see a message from him.

Did they want to inform me not to disgrace them by applying for their team again?? I thought to myself and nervously opened the mail"Ms. Williams we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to assist Mr.stone for project042, we have sent you the details of your salary and internship contract for 6 months, please sign the contract and fax us. we expect you to be ready with your luggage and research notes by tomorrow 4 am, our company vehicle will come and pick you, if you fail to come tomorrow on time your appointment will be canceled".

I just stood there holding my phone stunned, am I dreaming ?? or am I seeing things because of the accident I thought and rubbed my eyes and read the mail, again and again, to make sure that it was all true. I read it again and again and finally believed that I was really selected in Mr.stone's team for project042

"oh god..oh god... I am really selected ..yayyy..." I went to the Lil Jesus statue on my nightstand folding my hands"thank you, god..thank you so much for granting my wish..next time I will definitely attend Sunday service "I prayed sincerely I mean I don't know for how long I can keep my promise because when it comes to Sunday all I do is eat sleep and repeat.

But they asked me to be ready by tomorrow 4 am, what's with the weird timing and that too they are informing me a night before, how do they expect me to be ready in less than 24 hours, anyways now is not the time to think about all these trivial things because I am gonna live my dream from tomorrow, I should not lose this chance at any cost I thought and started packing my stuff.

packing my luggage is not a big deal for me because all I have are jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers, we will be doing a lot of fieldwork on the island so there's no need of thinking about fashion n all. when I was folding my clothes and putting them in a suitcase I found Edward's red Chinese baseball cap, I remembered Edward forcing me to wear his cap during our hiking trip when it started snowing. I felt sad remembering our little fight earlier, he has always been a great friend and took care of me. I should call him and talk to him once i finish packing I thought and resumed my packing.

"Eri ..why are you packing all of a sudden dear?? are you going on any tour with your friends??" dad asked entering my room with a few sandwiches and milk. I have stopped packing and went to him " Dad you won't believe how happy I am today, I am so happy dad..soo happy... I have never been this happy in my life " I said hugging him.

Dad smiled at my excitement and said"I am also happy to see you like this dear..now will you please tell me what is making my little monster so happy?? " he asked handing me the glass of milk.

"I am selected to assist Mr.stone for project042 dad..can you believe it ?? I am a research assistant to the great Christopher stone now, I am gonna live my dream from tomorrow onwards dad. oh god, I still can't believe it myself, I... I can't express my happiness in words, I have been dreaming of this day for 4 years. now it's finally here and I am really happy to share this news with you dad" I said unwrapping myself from dad with tears in my eyes and saw him looking worried.

" What happened dad?? are you not happy??" I asked worriedly

"No dear... it's just that I will miss you a lot while you are gone and I don't know how you will survive under such harsh conditions" he said with concern and worry evident on his face.

"I will also miss you a lot dad..and i don't know how i will survive without you," I said feeling sad all of a sudden, in my excitement I completely forgot the fact that I have to stay away from dad for 6 months, I have never stayed away from him for so long.

"Cupcake, you don't have to do this if it's so hard... I mean Edward already found you a job right!!" he said but I shook my head in a no and said, "No dad it's not just about a job it's about the golden opportunity to work with my Idol, you know how many people would die for this opportunity?? I am not gonna lose this chance dad." I said determinedly and resumed packing.

"but dear why are you packing now?? you can do it tomorrow, now come on .. eat something" he said handing me the sandwiches "dad I can't eat now I have to be at the airport by 4 am tomorrow otherwise my appointment will be canceled and I have a lot of packing to do" I said packing my notes into my favorite pink backpack with a mouse print.

"That's too early dear ..anyways what's with the rush they should give you some time to prepare everything and how will you reach the airport so early in the morning, I will call Edward ..he will drop you" he said taking his phone out but I stopped "dad they will send me a vehicle so don't worry, now you please go and have dinner don't wait for me" i told him and he shook his head and left me to my packing.

I have completed my packing by 11 pm and had some milk and the sandwiches dad has brought me earlier, I set the alarm for 3 am and slept with a happy smile dreaming about a beautiful island with so many wildflowers. I woke up to an irritating sound and tried to shut it off then I remembered about my big day and woke up with a jolt

I took a shower and brushed my teeth, I have blow-dried my hair and applied some moisturizer to my face . Later i brushed my hair tieing it into a ponytail leaving a few loose tendrils on my temples and applied a pink tinted lip balm to my lips.I wore a maroon heart printed sweatshirt and black skin-tight jeans along with a pair of white sneakers. I wore ed's baseball cap and started dragging my suitcase downstairs.

I saw dad making coffee in the kitchen..he saw me and hurried upstairs and to help me with my suitcase "please call me everyday dear and eat well, don't starve yourself by reading those books all day and...here..it's your mom's" he said giving me a beautiful watch.

It's a vintage watch with a gold belt and a small dial, I wore it happily"thank you, dad .. It's... it's beautiful" I said looking at the beautiful wristwatch "your mom wanted me to give you this on your first day to work, think of it as mom's blessings since she is not here today," he said handing me the coffee, tears formed in my eyes remembering mom.

I immediately hugged dad feeling sad to leave him and said "you too take care of your health and don't drink too much beer with Edward, oh.. and dad tell Edward I am sorry for leaving without telling him, I didn't get a chance to call him and..."

I couldn't finish my sentence after hearing a vehicle approaching, I went outside to see a black Mercedes parked in front of our house and a man in his 40's came out of the driver's seat "Ms. Williams??" he asked me and I nodded " yeah..that's me " I said standing on the steps of our Porsche.

He nodded and started putting my luggage in the car and I turned to my dad "bye dad..please take care of yourself." I said hugging him and he patted my back "I will miss you a lot cupcake, call me after reaching there ok??" he said and I nodded smiling.

I sat inside the car and put my head outside the car window and waved at my dad like I used to wave at him from the school bus, he waved back with a sad smile on his face.i will miss you a lot dad i thought and sat back.

I saw my friends Edward and jenny' houses passing by, I have been dreaming of this day for so long but finally, when I am leaving all these people who love me dearly I felt sad "I am gonna miss those two idiots a lot too "I thought and opened my backpack with my notes and project work, I will finally get a chance to show my work to Mr.stone I thought excitedly and started underlining some important points.