My Name Is Rae Earl
12th October 1998
Dear diary,
Today is the day I begin university. I am nervous, scared and DEFINITELY missing the gang. Bristol's pretty amazing, I've been here for around a month now, settling in and exploring the pubs, record stores and looking for the fit lads. You'll NEVER guess what! I actually spoke to someone, I made new friends that weren't the gang. I, Rae Earl made new friends. Who would have thought? And no, I didn't need Chloe to elbow me for encouragement.
It was when I was moving into the halls, you know where you stay when you move to university? Yeah, scary stuff! Mum was on her way to Tunisia with Karim and I was left alone in a toilet sized room. Literally toilet sized room, I feel like an elephant trapped in a cage. I didn't have many belongings with me, just clothes and records so there wasn't much to unpack. Somebody knocked on my door, I panicked a bit because I don't know anybody round here, it's all new to me. Looked in the mirror, sorted out my mangled appearance, yep still fat, still mental looking. I hesitated as to whether or not to open my door, to pretend I wasn't in but that's not the way the brand spanking new Rae does things. This new Rae takes every opportunity she's offered, even if it's scary, which this one definitely was. My hands were sweating a little and I could feel myself clamming up. My brain was fighting the urge to jump into bed and eat a Kit-Kat.
Standing outside my door was a girl, she looked frightened, I could imagine that she was here with her mum and she had egged her on to do it, to make friends just like my mum would if she were here. She dressed similar to Izzy, baggy high waisted jeans and a white long sleeved crop top. She had these pretty cool braids in her hair, she was rocking it. That wasn't the first thing I noticed though, obviously I would notice the food first! In her hands were a plate of the most delicious looking cookies I HAVE EVER SEEN! I wanted to gobble them all up first, before introducing myself. Ughhhhh. The chocolate was tapping me on the shoulder, whispering "Rae" continuously. Ignore it Brain, ignore it.
Do I shake her hand? Do I hug? No definitely not hug, that's weird and hits creepy levels.
"Hi, I'm cookie" Oh god… Oh my god. What have I just said? Those cookies are already in my head, my name is NOT cookie. Am I mad? Yes. For sure. Oh my god. She's never going to want to be my friend now.
Oh my god. She's laughing at me, I knew I shouldn't have opened the door, should have pretended to be asleep.
"I'm sorry, my name is R-R-Rae" I stuttered. Now my hands were full on sweating, this is so gross and awkward and just everything I imagined to happen. She was now proper laughing, well didn't I feel like a top prize idiot? Yes, yes I did.
She said "It's nice to meet you Cookie, I mean Rae" She let out a girly giggle and I couldn't help but laugh myself. If this had happened a couple of years ago, I would have slammed the door shut and dived into the food cupboard, but today's Rae laughed it off.
"I'm Megan." She finally announced.
"Well, as introductions go, that wasn't my finest. It's nice to meet you too and those cookies look bloody incredible." I was fully aware that I was babbling but I just couldn't stop myself, Megan must have thought I was completely bonkers.
I invited her into my dorm room (BIG RAE MOMENT!) and we spoke about everything possible, the records she likes, what courses we're studying and where we came from.
PS. I think I might have found my best friend?
Not someone to replace Chloe, no one could replace Chlo. Remember we're Rae and Chloe. The unbreakable pair, no matter what happens to the gang, myself and Chloe will ALWAYS be best friends.