Sorry it's been a while since I updated- my boyfriend went back to university 6hrs away, and now he's ended things as he's too busy DJ-ing. So I'm single, have been writing assignments, and cheering up my friends!
HAPPY NEW YEAR READERS
My first night in the dorms I spent learning more about my roomie, Brooke. I helped her cover her wardrobe with photographs, and she explained the memories in each one.
Brooke had grown up near Dallas, Texas. She had lived on a ranch with her parents and grandparents, until her mom and dad seperated. Her mom got a new job at a magazine in New York, so she moved into an appartment in the big city with her mom. Since discovering the wardrobe at the magazine's headquarters, she had become obsessed with fashion, and designers such as Henry Holland, which explained all of the quirky patterns on her clothes.
It was hard explaining my life to Brooke. Here I was Nessie Cullen from Washington State, a lover of fashion, with a boyfriend I had grown up with. But for once, I didn't need to worry about being immortal. I was who I was, and to Brooke that meant I was a normal eighteen-year-old girl.
The next day, the college had organised a societies fair. Lessons didn't start for another week, so we were enjoying 'Freshers week' and getting to know our peers and the campus.
Societies fair gave all of us 'freshmeat' the chance to sign up for the sports teams, clubs and societies at the college.
"Are you going to join anything?" Brooke asked, running the curling tongs through her golden blonde hair.
"I'm not sure yet. I've always enjoyed dancing, so I might do that just for fun." I smiled, perching on the end of her bed.
"I think I'm going to join the college magazine. Advertising and stuff, and I'd love to do the fashion collumn!" She frowned at the ringlets in your hair. "This takes so long, I wish I had your hair!"
I laughed, knowing my hair would always do what I wanted it to. I never had bad hair days. Today it hung in its signature loose curls down to my breasts. I was wearing a blue and purple plaid skirt and a light blue vest. My necklace from Jake hung around my neck.
"Right, you ready? We don't want to miss signing up time!" Brooke grabbed her bag and I followed her out of the door, my small satchel hung over my shoulder.
The hallway was full of groups of girls heading in the same direction, and I hoped someone knew the way to the courtyard. It was a hot day, and the weather was expected to get even warmer later in the week.
The courtyard was full of hanging 'Welcome' banners and a number of different societies had laid out and decorated stalls with displays and posters.
"Meet back here in thirty?" Brooke asked, her eyes wide.
"Probably a good idea. I'll let you know if I find anything good." I agreed.
Brooke headed off to the left, so I decided I would start on the right, weaving in and out of the aisles, looking for something that would suit me perfectly. Getting distracted by the giant gator mascot walking around, I managed to bump into someone.
"Oh, sorry!" I apologised, looking up.
The guy in front of me had sandy blonde hair and deep brown eyes, and had the same shape as Jacob.
"Hey, no worries." He smiled. "Are you a freshman?"
"Yeah." I replied. "Just trying to work out what to join."
"Well I'm on the football team." He pointed at his football shirt and laughed. "That's probably not the best place for you."
Though I'm probably stronger and faster than you.
"Maybe not. Do you know if there's a dance society or gymnastics or something?"
"I've got just the place." He grabbed my shoulders and gently pushed me through the crowds of freshmen.
We landed right in front of a table surrounded by girls in green and purple dresses.
"Hey girls," the guy said, "I found you a new recruit."
A blonde girl with very tanned skin turned to face me, a huge smile on her face. "Hey there."
"Hey." I smiled.
"Thank you Zac." She kissed him on the cheek and he nodded at me before disappearing back through the crowds.
"I'm Bailey." She held out her hand and I shook it.
"Ness." I replied.
"Well, Ness, think you've got what it takes to be a cheerleader?"
"Uhm, maybe." I shrugged. I could do the gymnastics, and I had the grace and stamina to do the dancing.
"Great. Well we're holding tryouts this evening, so head over this afternoon to turn the routine and then we'll see what you've got." She handed me a flyer.
"Thanks. I'll see you later then."
"Laters." She grinned.
I walked away, tucking the flyer into my satchel as I headed off to meet Brooke.
When I met Brooke, she was holding a handful of flyers and talking to a red-headed girl.
"Hey." I said, walking towards them. "All signed up?"
"You betcha." She acknowledged the girl stood next to her. "This is Abigail. She's on the magazine too and she lives nextdoor to us!"
"And I'm studying textiles and fashion too!" Abigail grinned.
"Awesome!" I replied. "I'm Ness."
"Hey Ness. Why don't we all go and get a coffee?"
"Sure. Why don't you invite your roomie?"
"Oh..." Abigail looked down at the floor. "She never turned up yesterday. Admissions say she pulled out last minute."
"That sucks."
"Yeah. Ah well, at least I know some other people now!"
"Well why don't we have a movie and pizza night later?" I suggested. "Our TV is big enough and then we can get to know some more of the girls down the hall!"
"I'm in!" Brooke smiled.
"Me too." Abigail agreed. "But right now I need to settle my coffee craving!"
After coffee and a snack, I headed back to the dorm to change into my navy sports shorts and a white vest top, ready for cheerleader try outs.
I checked my phone, seeing I had one unread message.
Hey beautiful, hope the sun is shining for you too. I'll call you later. J x
I smiled, and quickly sent a response.
It certainly is. I look forward to it. N x
Tying my hair into a high ponytail, I grabbed my bag and the flyer, and headed off to the gym.
On the gym bleachers sat the cheerleading squad in their uniform. Bailey was stood up at the front, looking at the ten or so hopefuls that were sat in their sportswear. I hurried over to join them, thankful that another girl was also late.
"Okay, we don't have much time so we're going to make a start." Bailey clapped her hands and stood up, grinning. "Hi, I'm Bailey and I'm captain of our cheerleading team. We're looking for three bubbly, cute and talented girls to join our team, so we can help our boys win the football cup, and compete in our own nationals!"
She showed off by doing a backwards flip, landing on her feet.
"Right now we're going to teach you all a dance routine. It's not very long, but we want you to make it your own... the girls that stand out the most will be making the team. Okay, let's go."
It was funny, I assumed that the kind of cheerleaders you saw on TV were all fake. Looking around, everyone that had been picked for trials looked the part; pretty, slim, make-up or naturally good looking... everyone just looked pristine. Whether this had been done on purpose, who knew, but it made me slightly self-conscious.
The routine was about a minute long, and everyone picked it up quickly. We had a ten second slot at the end to fill ourselves, to show what we could do, but I decided I wouldn't demonstrate mine to the competition until my time to shine.
After we had all learnt the routine, the auditions started. We all sat on the bleachers waiting for our names to be called, and I was getting bored of hearing 'Toxic' by Britney Spears over and over.
"Okay, Ren Cullen." A brunette cheerleader called out.
"It's Ness." I corrected her with a smile, standing up.
"Okay Ness." Bailey grinned, clapping her hands. "Tell us a bit about yourself."
I'm half-vampire. My boyfriend is a werewolf. I've nearly been killed by the vampire police.
"Er, I'm from Washington State and I'm majoring in fashion. I love Hollister, and I love parties and hanging out with my friends at the beach."
"Do you have any experience?" The brunette asked, eyeballing me.
"No." I replied, truthfully. "But I'd like to gain some."
"Okay, whenever you're ready." Bailey smiled.
I had memorised every signal move in detail, but I made sure to be loose and energetic, instead of as robotic as some of the cheerleading squad had been when they were teaching it.
I noticed a few of my audience smiling, and a few that looked shocked, so I figured I had to be doing okay. My ending came quicker than I remembered, but a few fist-pumps, a jump and then a flip later, I landed in the splits on the floor of the gym, my hands in the air.
"Wow!" Bailey squealed, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "That was incredible!"
"Thank you."
"Yes." The brunette mumbled in agreement.
"Well, we'll be announcing our new members on Wednesday at the Alpha Phi toga party, so make sure you're all there and that you bring your friends." Bailey smiled. "Thank you."
Everyone applauded, and I grabbed my bag before heading out the door after the other girls.
"That was fun!" I smiled at the blonde girl walking next to me.
She glared, before walking off arm-in-arm with another one of the girls.
What had I done wrong?
When my phone rang that evening, I answered straight away. I had never been so far away from Jake and for this long; it was proving a challenge.
"Hey beautiful." His smooth voice breathed down the phone to me.
"Hey you." I smiled as if he was right in front of me.
"How's college?"
"It's going good! I've been to cheerleader try-outs."
"Wow! Please let me see your uniform." He sighed.
I giggled. "I haven't made the squad yet... I have to wait until Wednesday to find out."
"You'll make it... I miss you."
"I miss you too." I sighed, leaning back on my bed. "Promise me you'll come and visit soon?"
"I promise."
"Good! I'm really sorry, but we've got a girly night planned, so I've got to dash. I'll call you tomorrow?"
"Take care beautiful."
And then he was gone. I sighed, looking at my reflection in my mirror. This long-distance stuff was not going to be easy.
