TWO: Meeting the girls

DANIELLE'S POV

The drive from Los Angeles, great city of California where our parents reside to Sacramento, the capital city of California state, was awesome. I mean, it was splendid.

I had gone to meet up with the girls as agreed at our favorite spot, a playground park in Los Angeles. From there, we had raced in our cars, although stopping at intervals to either rest or eat down to Sacramento where the Royal Empire University was located.

Right now, I'm seated on my bed in the dormitory room three of us shared, with legs crossed, eyes puckered in concentration as I browse through my course outline for the semester with my laptop. My aim is to become the best and most renowned phytologist in America. I know right, such big dreams I have.

I'd just adjusted my reading glass when from nowhere, Tania jumped on my bed. She does that whenever she's up to something mischievous, like right now. She have a silly smile plastered over her beautiful face.

"Tania, what now!" I exclaimed while removing my glasses. She giggled.

"You know me too well girlfriend." She winked. But of course, she's right.

"Okay, spill it out." I closed the laptop and dropped it on my reading table which is very close to my bed.

"So I was thinking," she began

"Okay..." I urged

"Are you gonna give Jade a yes?" She asked, cupping her face with both hands as she looked at me.

"Oh that," I lay down on my back and stared at the ceiling. "I don't really know, Jade's a good guy and I like him as a friend but to date him? No, I don't feel anything for him. He isn't bad but the feelings gotta be reciprocated you know." I gushed out.

"Uh-huh, calm down girlfriend I understand you clearly okay?" She smiled.

"Yeah I know," I hummed tiredly.

Tania stood up from my bed.

"Where are you going?" I asked her.

"Chill girl, just wanna get a drink" she replied.

"Get me a glass too." I said.

"Alright." She walked off.

I met Jade when I was in year one during a departmental function and since then, we've been friends. Although I knew he had this crush on me but he never made any advances, until the closure of last semester when he confessed his feelings. I made it clear to him that I couldn't date him, but he was persistent so I had to tell him I would think about it. I'm expected to give him a reply at the commencement of this semester. But trust me, my answer is still No.

Cilia came in panting heavily like she has been running.

"Oh Elle," she began. Just then, Tania came in from the kitchen holding a tray containing two glass of apple juice. Cilia quickly grabbed a glass.

"Thanks Tania," she said before completely draining the glass.

Tania looked at me with raised eyebrows. I shrugged and smiled.

"I will just get another glass. Here! have this" she handed me the second glass.

"Thanks sweetie," I winked at her.

"Don't mention Elle. Lia you have to tell us why the hell you came in panting like you were chased all the way. But first," she collected the empty glass cup from Lia. "wait till I return!" Cilia hummed a response tiredly and she walked into the kitchen with the tray and empty glass cup.

Minutes later, we were all seated on the bedroom sofa, listening to Cilia talk about some guy.

"So I was passing by the dorm's common room after meeting Jasmine in her room. Remember I told you girls I was gonna ask her to send me the link to our departmental courses for this semester since she's my department course representative." She looked at us to know if we are following. I simply nod my head in agreement.

"Yeah, yeah. So what happened?" Tania asked impatiently.

"Okay on my way back here, I saw some group of girls gathered in different parts of the common room, discussing about something with utmost interest. Curious? I decided to see for myself what the shush was all about. I discovered they were actually looking at their phones and I asked a girl nearby what's going on. She showed me her phone and I saw to my greatest surprise and happiness that 'Daniel Roberts' of The Kings Industry in New York City, would be joining this Campus as a year3 student in Business Administration department. My department..." Lia narrated grinning from the fact of being in the same department but different levels with literally the hottest and one of the most popular guys in America.

"Oh my God! Lia are you for real?" Tania squeeled in amazement

"Yes babe. It was his official I*******m account" Lia affirmed grinning even more.

"So that's why you came in panting heavily like that." I said not really flattered by the news.

"Oh yes, Elle. I ran all the way through the stairs to tell you guys."

"Oh really," I said sarcastically.

"Common Elle, you need to loosen up a bit. You are no fun girl." Tania said laughingly.

"I know right," I chuckled.

"I think Tania is right. At this rate you might end of being a spinster." Lia joked.

"You are 22 for crying out loud. You should loosen up and let a guy in. You seal up too tight." she said.

"Enough drama girls. I will, when the time is right. I don't wanna be heartbroken yet. I'm too fragile for that. That's why I'm holding back. Besides, I haven't met my soulmate yet." I snapped.

They place their hands on my shoulders comfortingly. They are both exposed to the dating world. Cilia's got a boyfriend in same campus with us "Eddie". And Tania just got her heart broken three months ago by that stupid, unappreciative idiot "Jeff". It took a while before she got back to normal. I don't wanna face that but who knows what the future holds?

I smiled appreciatively at them.

"Let's lighten the mood girls. Who wanna hear the remaining part of my story?" Lia asked happily. That's one thing I like about her. She's always full of life. It's very rare to see Lia angry. Great personality she's got.

Tania and I both replied simultaneously "Meeee!!!" we squeeled and she laughed.

"Alright girls. So while I was still at the common room, Queen Bee entered with her bodyguard friends." She emphasized more on the 'Queen Bee' with her fingers.

We know who she was referring to. It's Lucia, the campus Queen and only daughter of the owner of Royal Empire University. She's a rude, spoilt girl who thinks she have the whole world bowing at her feet. Due to her bad character, many students dislike her. We have no issues with her of recent but we highly detest her character so we avoid her at all costs or more like she avoids us.

Not that we're scared but because we hate troubles and unnecessary publicity.

"She walked into the common room with Penny and Katie following side by side. You know the annoying thing she said 'I know you girls must have seen the I*******m post. But I want you to listen carefully to what I'm gonna say. I don't wanna see any of you cheap sluts hanging around Daniel Roberts. He's mine and mine alone. Anyone who wanna dare me should try' after her announcement, little miss universe carried her tiny body and flat face and walked out with her little bodyguard friends."

By the time Lia was done with her story, we were already laughing our ass out not because of what she said, but because of her dramatic manner and the face she made while at it.

"Geez girl, why ain't you in the theatre arts department?" I asked laughingly.

"I agree, girl you're so good at this." Tania said still laughing.

"I know right," Cilia applaud herself.

We couldn't help but laugh outrightly again.

____

Some Thirty minutes later, Cilia was fast asleep on her bed after her little drama. Tania busied herself with a novel on her bed_something she's addicted to. And myself, I had just finished talking with my parents via video call. It felt so good to see and hear them again. Missing them already and it's barely 22hrs since I left home.

I picked up my phone and busied myself with it. I hope it turns out to be an amazing semester.