NEW SURROUNDINGS:

The girls woke up shortly after 7am. They had to meet their academic advisor at 9:30, so as much as they didn't want to, they had to set the alarm clock. They were surprised at how awake they were…but they knew they'd probably be dragging later on.

The realized they needed some food, but had no clue where to go. Fortunately for them, Amy knocked on their door just as Jules reached for the doorknob.

"Morning girls." Amy cheerfully greeted the girls. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving." Jess and Jules responded in unison.

"Good, we're having a team breakfast at a restaurant nearby." Amy laughed. "Grab your gear. You have to meet your advisors today, don't you?

"Yes. At 9:30."

"Shoot!" exclaimed Jess.

"What?" asked a confused Jules.

"We didn't exchange any money when we landed." Jess said. "We don't have any American money, and I highly doubt the restaurant will accepts English pounds."

"Don't worry girls." responded Amy. "This is an official team function, so therefore it is paid for by the university. They do this for all the sports teams at the beginning of the school year. After you meet with your advisors, I'll help you find a bank so you can exchange money and set up a checking account. Sound good?"

"Yes…..thanks so much." responded Jess.

That problem averted, the girls met with their team, and ate a huge breakfast. They didn't realize how hungry they were, but then they didn't eat since they'd been on the plane. The rest of the team was curious about soccer in the UK. Their teammates laughed at them when they kept calling it 'football' and reminded them that they better tell people they play soccer, otherwise they will get some odd looks. The rest of the team promised to take them to an American football came as part of their orientation to their new surroundings.

After breakfast, Amy helped them find their advisor's office. She told them to knock on her door when they were finished, so that she could help them with a bank. Their meeting with their advisor was short. Since they were freshmen, it was decided that they should just get a bunch of general education courses out of the way. Because of this, the girls ended up in the same classes.

The girls quickly walked back to their dorm, and found Amy. The trip to the bank was quick yet much was accomplished. They now had some spare American cash in their pockets to get some things that they needed and set up their checking account. They decided that they would hit the university bookstore in the morning, because even though it was early, their bodies were still on a different clock. And besides, they needed to call their families…….and there was that matter of an eight hour time difference to deal with. By the time they got back to their room after a quick lunch it was already 12:30 in the afternoon.

Each of the girls plopped onto their beds with their cell phones. Each called their families. Jules had a cheery chat with her mom and dad. Her dad was impressed that they met Beckham on their flight…..and of course he wanted all the details. Jules spent time talking about their captain and the rest of their team, how they had already registered for their first semester classes, and set up their checking accounts. Mom was interested in what the rest of the girls were like, and of course asked if she had seen any cute boys yet. To which Jules responded, "Oh mom."

Jess on the other hand was nervous to call her parents. Her palms were sweating, and she wasn't sure what exactly to day. She decided this conversation was best made in Punjabi, just so her dear friend wouldn't have to worry about her. Her mom answered the phone, and cried when she heard her youngest daughter's voice. Her mom asked her about everything she had done so far, and to make sure the picture of Guru Nanak was by her bedside. When Jess assured her everything was alright, her mom handed the phone over to her dad. Dad. However, all he wanted to know was that his little girl was okay and getting settled. When he was satisfied with her answers, only then did he change the topic of conversation. Jess noticed the sound of a closing door, which meant her father had gone outside to get away from other ears. She knew what was coming.

"So butai, have you talked to Joe yet?" her father asked.

"Uh, J-joe." stammered his embarrassed daughter.

"Jessminder, I know." answered her father. "However, I want your mother and I to get to know him better while you are in America before I make any decision."

"Thanks dad." responded a shocked Jess. "I t-talked to Joe last night. He told me about dinner last night. I'm afraid I woke him up though. But I needed to talk to someone, and I knew you had to work early this morning, so I called him instead."

"That's okay, daughter." laughed her father. "Now, you call that goreh of yours, and your mother and I will talk to you later, okay. We love you Jess. Make us proud."

"Thanks dad……and I will work my hardest, both in class and on the pitch. I love you dad. Say 'hi' to Tony and Pinky for me, and tell them I will e-mail them as soon as we get a computer set up in our room, okay?"

"I will daughter. Bye."

"Bye."

Both Jess and Jules hung up with their families about the same time. They just sort of sat their looking at each other, still in a sense of disbelief of where they were. They knew that they most likely had conversations much the same, so they really didn't have much to say. Jess knew however, that she would have to talk to her dear friend soon about what her father said about Joe. That part of the conversation left her feeling positive about the future.

Jules broke the silence. "Are you going to call Joe now?"

"Yes, I promised him I would." responded Jess.

"Would you mind if I just said a quick 'hello' to him and thank him once again for getting us here?" asked Jules.

"No, that would be fine. I was going to ask you if you wanted to talk to him anyway." responded Jess.

Jess picked up her cell phone again, and dialed Joe's number. Joe was obviously waiting for her call, because Jess didn't even here it ring before she heard Joe's voice.

"Jess…..I've been waiting all day to hear your voice." said a relieved Joe.

"Me too." agreed Jess. "Hey, Jules wants to talk to you for a moment….here she is."

Jess handed the phone to Jules, and she said her hello, and answered the questions that Joe had for her. Although Jules could tell, there was only one person he wanted to talk to at that moment, and it wasn't her. So Jules quickly and politely ended her portion of the call, using the excuse, that she was going down to the room of the captain to talk football. As Jules handed the phone back to Jess she mouthed, that she was going down to Amy's room. Jess mouthed back 'thanks' grateful to have some privacy.

"Jess?" asked Joe. "Are you still there?"

"Oh yes. I'm sorry, Jules was saying something to me on the way out."

"So, how was your day?" asked Joe.

"It's been okay, although it's only about 1:30 in the afternoon here, so the day is far from over. I think I could fall asleep and sleep 'til morning like I did yesterday. I think we were in bed by 7. Jet lag is awful. However we had to get up, since we had to meet our advisors, register for classes, and get money exchanged and checking accounts set up. Lucky for us, breakfast was a team function, because otherwise we wouldn't have had any money…..neither of us thought to exchange money at either Newark or Los Angeles. Then we came back and called our families."

"Wow…..sounds like you've been busy. In all of that, did you think of me?" teased Joe.

"What do you think?" Jess teasingly asked. "I'm talking to you now, aren't I? That would seem to imply that I've been thinking about you a lot. And considering I never heard the phone ringing on your end, I would have to say the feeling is mutual."

At that, the two of them laughed. Conversation flowed naturally. Jess told Joe, that her father mentioned him. He was surprised at that, and curious at the same time. Jess reassured him, that he had only good things to say. Jess guessed that they were going to have no problems with her father, however it was going to be her mother that was their roadblock. She kept that to herself though, as to not worry Joe. They agreed that no matter, they were going to spend as much time together as possible when she was home for break, because phone calls and e-mails are not the same. As Joe listened to Jess talk, all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms. That was going to be priority number one, when they were together. Jess wanted the sensation of kissing him again. Christmas couldn't come soon enough.

"Shoot." exclaimed Jess.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked.

"We've been talking for over 2 hours. My parents are going to kill me when they get this phone bill." replied a disheartened Jess.

"Love, let me call you back. What's your number there in California." offered Joe.

Jess gave him the number, but made him promise that they wouldn't talk long, because it was expensive. They agreed that they were going to have to use the internet to communicate as much as they wanted to, and only use the phone once a week. When the phone rang in the room, she jumped to get it. Joe teased her for being quick on her toes. They really only talked long enough to tell each other that they loved the other, and made "dates" to chat online. When Jess hung up, she felt sad and happy all at the same time.

She got up from her bed and wandered down to Amy's room, and found a group of girls sitting around talking. Of course, as soon as Jess walked in, they ALL wanted to know about her guy back home. Jules winked at her, and Jess just laughed and shook her head. What could she do? She grabbed a spot on the floor, and she and Jules told the other the story of Joe.