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Sidra spotted a row of five seats in the crowded auditorium. Talking and laughter from eager freshmen radiated off of the beautifully renovated walls and ceilings. Housed in Brandywine Hall, the former theater also housed several classrooms for the Arts. Relieved that she hadn’t stalled after leaving her meeting with Ms. Smith, she made a beeline for them. Standing through freshman orientation would have been a nuisance. She settled into one of the cushy seats and spotted two classmates heading her way, obviously intent on grabbing the empty seats in Sidra’s row.
“Wow, what a turnout,” Alex said, setting her book bag down on the floor. The girl in the seat next to her was fixing her ponytail with her hands, which already looked pretty good to Alex. “Hello, I’m Alex.”
Sidra dropped her hands and looked over. “Hi, Alex; it’s nice to meet you. I’m Sidra,” she replied cheerfully. She leaned forward and smiled at the girl with Alex. “Hello,” she acknowledged with a wave.
“Hi, my name is Emily.”
“So Sidra, what do you think so far? Do you like it here?” Alex fanned herself with a notepad. There were so many bodies; the auditorium was starting to heat up.
“Yeah, I do actually. The campus is pretty, the people are nice...well, my roommate’s a bitch, but I can’t do anything about that,” Sidra said. “What about you? How are you making out?”
“I love it so far. One of my roommates is a character, but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” Alex replied with a little laugh.
Malajia and Chasity arrived at the same time with the other last-minute stragglers. Without acknowledging each other; they walked over and claimed the empty seats next to Sidra.
“Hello, roommate,” Sidra greeted, drawing out the syllables with delight. She knew full well that Chasity didn’t want anything to do with her. Chasity shot her a lethal glare, sharp with attitude. Sidra, suppressing a smirk, just shook her head.
“So, ‘the fabulous,’ how has your day been so far?” Alex asked with feigned innocence.
“Very damn funny, heifer,” Malajia barked, sitting back in her seat. “You can stop making fun of my name, too.”
“I’m sorry, but you were the one who introduced yourself as ‘the fabulous Malajia.’ What am I supposed to do? You left yourself wide open; I couldn’t resist,” Alex explained, a hint of laughter in her voice.
“Shut up,” Malajia ordered, adjusting the strap on her shirt. “I’m in no mood for your crap. I’ve already had to deal with that annoying freshman counselor.”
“Yeah, I had to see her, too,” Alex replied.
“She tried to catch an attitude with me and I said to her ‘look Betty—’”
Alex looked at her. “Who?” she asked, puzzled.
“Betty,” Malajia replied.
“Who is Betty?” Alex questioned with confusion.
“The counselor.”
Alex thought for a second before exclaiming, “Girl, her name is Mary!”
Malajia stared at Alex for a few seconds before comprehension set in. “Soooo, her name isn’t Betty?”
“Girl, you’re crazy,” Alex said flatly, and dissolved into a fit of laughter.
Sidra, curious to discover what Alex found so funny, bent forward and noticed the girl sitting so stiffly next to Alex, the girl Alex called “Malajia.” I know that name, she thought. Surprise flashed across her face as she made the connection.
“Oh, my, god!” Sidra exclaimed. “Malajia I’m-as-easy-as-I-look Simmons?”
Malajia let her glance roam over Sidra; taking in the perfect posture, her perfectly styled ponytail, the elegant, royal blue sleeveless silk shirt, the immaculate manicure. Who the hell wears silk to a freshman orientation in a damn auditorium? she thought. “Well, well; if it isn’t Sidra I-have-a-stick-up-my-ass Howard,” she ground out.
Sidra sucked her teeth. Seriously? she thought, of all the colleges in this country, we had to pick the same one. She had known Malajia for years. Right up until their second year of high school, they had been friends. Then the arguments started, and they drifted apart. They didn’t have anything in common anymore; their new personalities and interests clashed. It was a relief when Malajia and her family moved to Baltimore.
“So I take it that you two know each other,” Alex concluded.
Sidra rolled her eyes, “Unfortunately, yes.”
“You act like knowing you is a joy,” Malajia snapped.
Sidra huffed, “Still loud and extra.”
“And you still overdress,” Malajia shot back.
“Ah, here we go with the comments about my damn clothes.” Sidra dismissed her negative comments by elegantly tossing her hands in the air. All through high school she had been the butt of snide remarks. She ignored them and never attempted to dress down.
“So? You started it, you snobby, prissy, freak,” Malajia shot back, pointing at her.
Emily hated it when people argued, and petty arguments simply annoyed Chasity. Both girls, so unalike in personalities, reacted in a similar fashion. They turned away, trying to pretend that Sidra and Malajia were not sitting a couple of feet away.
“Come on you two, that’s enough,” Alex interrupted, her patience exhausted. Malajia and Sidra startled, stopped arguing, and sat back like two children whose mother had told them to be quiet. “We’re in college now,” Alex reminded. “Whatever happened between you two in the past needs to stay there.”
“Whatever Alexandra,” Malajia responded acerbically. “Save that nonsense for this girl over here,” she advised, pointing to Chasity. “She looks like she needs a good talking to.”
“Bitch, I’ll beat that fake ass hair color off your head,” Chasity threatened, gesturing to Malajia’s burgundy locks
“I’d pay to see that.” Sidra cracked up laughing.
Malajia rolled her eyes at Sidra, then focused on Chasity. “Was that really necessary?”
“You shouldn’t have said anything to me. That was your mistake,” Chasity pointed out.
Alex decided to diffuse the situation. She leaned over and introduced herself to the sullen girl. “Hey, I’m Alex. What’s your name?”
“Why are you talking to me?” Chasity snarled with a cold bluntness that took Alex aback. Chasity had insulted Malajia, but Alex figured it was payback for saying something smart to her first. She didn’t think that she would snap over a simple introduction.
“Alex, this ball of sunshine is my roommate Chasity,” Sidra interjected in a not-so-enthused tone.
“You won’t be my roommate for long,” Chasity threatened.
“What are you going to do? Kill me? Because that’s the only way that you’re going to get me out of that room,” Sidra shot back.
“Don’t tempt me Princess,” Chasity warned.
“Will you two stop it?” Alex butted in sternly, her patience worn out. “Can we all just start over? I think that if we can do that, then we’re all gonna end up being the best of friends.”
The four girls stared at her, dumbfounded at the insane suggestion.
Alex shrugged, “We could,” she maintained.
