It's been over a month since classes started at Tri-State State University and Phineas and Bella have adjusted relatively quickly. When you're school is just an hour's drive away from your home, the homesickness doesn't hit you as hard if you're from outside the Tri-State Area. Living on your own despite the short distance allows the two to become more independent with how they do about their work. And speaking of work, they have a lot of things going on.
News have circulated of an upcoming freshies night to be held at the gymnasium, to which Bella had confirmed. Being a treasurer in the CICT student government meant she knew of confidential information firsthand before it gets announced to the rest of the department and eventually the entire campus. After another meeting with the SG crew where they discussed what theme their department should follow, Bella told some of these details to her friends at lunchtime.
"When's the big night Bella?" Jessie started.
"About 2 weeks from now, well that's the tentative schedule." the raven haired teen replied, as the date was still not decided upon completely.
"We should start worrying about what to actually wear!" Princess chimed in.
"Damn right girl!" Jessie agreed, then turned back to Bella. "By the way, do we have a theme for us ICT people? I heard the education peeps are going for the 80s retro theme."
The raven haired teen scratched her head, recalling how their earlier SG meeting about the theme went down. "We haven't decided on a final one yet, but its basically down to Coachella or all denim."
"I wanna go with Coachella girl! Our seniors party last year was all denim so yeah." Jessie shrugged.
"You know what, let's just buy outfits for both themes just in case." Princess added. Just then, Bella's phone buzzed with a text message. She took it out and read the chat.
Janice: Yo Bella, we're going Coachella on our theme as that was the majority of votes. Also, the party's pushed ahead to next Friday, spread the word!
Jessie and Princess squealed upon reading the message from their department's SG president, Janice Fez; the latter's earlier statement about buying both outfits had been answered.
"Girls, I know what we're gonna do tonight!" she announced. This meant a round of clothes shopping at the nearest mall; in this case, it's the Googoplex Mall in Danville.
"What time and where should we meet?" Princess asked.
"Let's make it around 7, as I have cheer practice later." Jessie pointed out. Bella looked at the blonde cheerleader and agreed with the time.
"Alright, seven it is." she said, "I'll meet y'all at the bus stop, since I'm gonna drive this out." With that, the three girls headed out to their respective classes, eager to spend the night in each other's company. Once dismissal came and went, Bella and Princess explored some of the places in campus that they've never been on to pass the time while waiting for their cheerleader friend. One of the places they visited was the football field where the cheer squad is practicing.
The two girls arrived to the sight of the cheerleaders in a pyramid formation, with Jessie at the topmost. They watched the remainder of their routine until Jessie dismissed the cheer squad. The blonde cheerleading captain saw Bella and Princess sitting on the bleachers, who were fangirling her routines. The latter even recorded part of the routine on her phone.
"How long have you two been watching?" she asked. Bella and Princess giggled in unison, before the latter spoke up.
"Long enough to see some sexy moves girl!" The blonde cheerleader rolled her eyes, while Bella giggled in return. Before they headed for Danville, Bella texted her redhead boyfriend about their little girls night out.
Bella: Hey love, we're going to Googoplex for a girls night out. Hope you're not too bored tonight, love you!
To which he responded with:
Phineas: Okay babe, have fun and drive safe. Love you more!
"Alright ladies, lets go impress our boys!"
. . .
The trio arrived at Googoplex mall in Danville around 7:15, as the rush hour traffic cleared up. After eating dinner, they went to the department store to shop for outfits that scream Coachella. Bella was aiming for subtle but appealing clothes that matches her style; the same can't be said for Jessie and Princess, who took countless turns in the changing room trying out different outfits – some more revealing than others. As Bella waited for Princess to be finished in the changing room, she chatted with Jessie as to their choice of outfits – this ranged from skimpy spaghetti straps to some weird articles of clothing that don't even resemble a top or a skirt.
"Tell me something Jess, do you two have overly demanding boyfriends who expect these types of outfits from y'all?" she eyed the blonde cheer captain intently.
"I don't know about Princess's guy, but in my case, I just wanna impress someone. You know why." Jessie sadly replied. She was three months in after a breakup with her ex, and she thought it would be a good idea for her to move on by acting all flirty to the guys at the freshies party. That didn't mean she's gonna go jump in the pants of someone she really liked and have a one night stand – a lot of cheerleaders have that mentality but Jessie wasn't one of them.
"FYI Jess, my man has a real naughty eye when it comes to outfits. Let's just say I wanted his attention on me alone." Princess' voice echoed from the fitting room.
"Oh right, I remember. Sorry if I triggered some painful memories." Bella glanced at Jessie, whom nodded in understanding. She then turned to the stall where her nerdy friend was changing, "You're with me at getting his attention for yourself Princess. As for the outfits, I'll leave you to it."
"Anyways," Jessie interjected, "What are you going for to impress Phinny?"
"Something simple but I can guarantee you he'll love it. I mean I could wear a potato sack and he would still say I'm the hottest girl he's ever seen." the raven haired teen gave her a 'bitch please' stare. Jessie chuckled at her friend's crack; it did made her feel a bit better.
"I hope my next guy will love me the way Phineas loves you Bella!" the blonde cheerleader said in a hopeful tone.
"I bet you'll hit someone up at the party Jessie. Come on, you're a cheer captain, you're popular all over the campus!" Bella shrugged.
"Sometimes I don't wanna be the most popular girl in campus. A lot of guys crush on me because of this whole cheer captain stereotype!" Jessie ranted in a soft tone, not wanting to start a shouting match. "Can't a cheerleader date someone whom she really loves inside out, instead of a varsity player? I mean, look at Stacy: she's got Kelly, who's not considered hot commodity, but he loves her for who she is."
"Not here Jess, it's not worth the shouting." the raven haired teen rolled her eyes in disgust. Perhaps a dose of sundae is what she needs. I do calm down faster when Phineas treats me one, especially during my red days.
While the girls were busy choosing outfits for the party, Phineas, Kelly and a couple of their EE friends had just finished a pick-up basketball game against the juniors, in which the former group won. As their building had its own indoor sports facility – with 2 basketball courts, a volleyball court, and a combination tennis/badminton court, it's not uncommon for engineering students who wanted to spend their vacant or post-dismissal time playing any sport they please. This happened to be Phineas' first time playing a pick-up game in the campus and everyone was shocked as to how he can shoot fadeaways, owing to his varsity days in high school.
"Dude you look like Kobe out there with that fade!" one of the juniors complimented.
"Would you believe me if I said I'm the starting PG in my high school team?" the redhead asked. The juniors shook their heads, even Kelly didn't know about this.
"I don't even remember you telling me you were even part of your HS basketball team!" the dark haired teen stared at the redhead curiously.
"We'd love to hear your story dude, but we gotta dash. We still have a final period til 9." another junior ushered his group together to leave, with the exception of a brunette man wearing a man bun. "Aren't you coming with Reggie?"
The young man, presumably the one named Reggie, shook his head, "Nah, y'all go on without me. I've passed my homework ahead so no reason to attend if the due is tonight."
"Alright, take care man!" the juniors group bade him goodbye, heading to their last class. The other freshies, except Phineas and Kelly, tagged along with the juniors.
. . .
The two roommates managed to convince the junior IE man, named Reginald Bronson, to join them in a pub just outside the campus to hang out and drink. It was a Saturday, meaning they have a reason to stay out late without worrying about classes the following day.
"Say, Phineas, is it? How are you and Bella doing?" Reggie turned to the redhead. Phineas was quite shocked that the brunette man knew something about his girlfriend.
"Great for the most part Reggie. How'd you know about her?" he replied, still confused as to how much info Reggie knows about him.
"Let's just say she's best friends with my little sister." Reggie smirked, taking a swig from his beer mug. The redhead tried to recall Bella's girl friends in her department, to no avail. Other than Gretch and the former Fireside Girls, Phineas was dumbstruck in remembering who were friends with his girl, since she was quite popular and very friendly too.
"My girlfriend mentioned of their cheer captain named Jessie, is she your sister?" Kelly suggested, to which the brunette man nodded.
"Yeah, Jessie's already popular with her cheerleading gig while I'm only known as a pick-up player." he pouted.
"Why the grumpy face, dude?"
"She always gets the fame and glory. I, on the other hand, had trouble standing out because I just love to play ball."
"So you're jealous of her because she gets the spotlight?"
"Of course not!" Reggie snapped, "I'm happy for her obviously, but I can't help that I still have two years here yet I haven't made a mark for myself in the campus."
"Sounds like you wanna prove yourself, since Jessie already did by becoming the cheer captain." Kelly remarked.
"Ah, don't beat yourself Reg." Phineas retorted, drinking his beer. "Why don't you join the basketball team?" he asked.
"I tried joining for the past 2 years, to no avail. I feel like I'm better suited for pick-ups and street ball." Reggie admitted, feeling a bit down in his failure on making the team. Kelly raised his beer mug for a toast.
"Gentlemen, tonight is the night we drown all our past regrets and mistakes. No pasts, just the present. Cheers?"
Phineas and Reggie raised their beer bottles and clanked them all together, "Cheers!"
The trio enjoyed the night, sharing each other's stories and manly discussions. It was a nice diversion from the hassles of college academics and the older dude had given the two freshie roommates some advice on how to adjust to campus life, on and off of it. They should do these pub dates more often, Phineas thought to himself. Fortunately, he wasn't the only one thinking the same.
"We should do this shit more often." Reggie faked being drunk.
"On school nights? You're daft, man!" Phineas gasped before taking a swig of his own. Though his alcohol tolerance is high, he wasn't going to test it out tonight.
"My friends and I do that usually the day before exams. Apparently, we don't get hung over in the following morning."
"Yeah because you guys are used to it." Kelly riposted, "I know Stacy's gonna roast me for my beer intake but whatever, I'm enjoying tonight."
A/N: A glimpse on Bella and Phineas' individual lives when they're not together. It's a way to get them to interact with my main OCs more in-depth.