Page 2 of Alien Jeopardy

It’s the only field I could find work in since graduating college in post-Roth-invasion Earth. It sucks, but it’s money, even though the money doesn’t get close to making up for the fact that I’m absolutely bombarded with the fact our planet’s gone to shit since the Roth invaded and it’s only getting worse.

Familiar dread makes a knot in my stomach, and I exhale slowly, trying to harness some of my hard-won peace.

Ellison: That sounds so freaking good. I’ll have the usual stuff, but tacos and margs and binge watching WME sounds like an ideal night

World’s Most Eligible, or WME, is the biggest reality TV show right now, and me and my tight group of friends are hardcore addicts of it and all reality TV shows.

From the ones where they have to survive on the side of a volcano for a month to the ones where they’re ice-fishing and falling in love, to WME, the most absurd dating show I’ve ever witnessed, we’re in.

Poppy: I’ve been dreaming about candy all week

Lily: I’ve been dreaming about getting shit-faced all day

Ell: You might have a problem, Lily

Lily: Yeah, my problem is that life sucks and it feels like the world’s going to end any minute

I grimace, glancing back at Trent, who’s still droning on about whatever currently is making him feel important. What would he do if he couldn’t put a pin in it?

Where, exactly, is he putting that pin?

I’m not sure I want to know.

The alarm on the bottom of the video software blinks, signaling our allotted conference time is up, and I lean back, exulting in the passage of time.

“Alright, everyone, I’m sorry to interrupt, but please send any final thoughts to the group e-mail. Trent, thank you for volunteering to put together call notes for us today,” I chirp.

Trent nods officiously, and I resist the urge to flip off my camera and tell my coworkers that I hate this job and go out in a blaze of fire.

But I smile vaguely instead.

“Have a great weekend, everyone. We’ll circle back on Monday.”

“Bye,” I manage, trying my very hardest not to roll my eyes at Trent. I’m pretty sure this meeting would have resulted in a Trent Business Lingo Bingo Blackout, had I been tracking it.

I don’t wait for anyone to ask questions, or even respond, so past giving a fuck that I simply exit out of the video conference and slump in my chair.

Ellison: You know, Lily, tequila might just be the answer tonight

Poppy: Oh, babe, we gotta find you something else for work

Lu: The job market’s shit, the Earth is hotter every day

Lily: Meanwhile, the dating pool is ice cold and shit at the same time

I huff a laugh at that. The only dating any of us like is the kind where we live vicariously through starry-eyed singles forced together on a remote island.

Lu: If the fucking Suevans had openings for more wives, I’d probably take them up on it

Poppy: God, they’re so hot, right

Lily: at this point, I’d take a Roth over a human man

Lily: at least they’re hot

Lily: heh get it get it

My nose wrinkles.