𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠| 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬

The move

November 7 2023

I thought band camp was unbearable, but moving back to Connecticut was worse. I had been going to AAMU which was on the other end of the country. I had finally gotten used to the warm weather and southern accents and I had made some friends there. I loved playing with the band there and I loved the random events happening from nearby, but it was finally time to come home. After 2 years of convincing, my parents finally got me to come home and transfer to UCONN and boy oh boy was I scared. At least I got to see my old friends, facetime was fun but not the same.

⏱︎ ∞

When I finish unpacking I go to the kitchen to get some water, I see a girl sitting on the couch watching the tv. She turns around as she hears me open the refrigerator,"Oh my god, you must be my new roommate! My name is Lilian but you can call me Lily", she smiles vibrantly. I can tell I'm gonna be good friends with her already. I smile back, "I'm Victoria, but you could just call me Tori". "So, what are you into? Theater? Band? Sports? Academics?", I ask her making a silly face. "Ooh I'm in choir, but I also play soccer, what about you?" "I do band because of my scholarship but I really like choir too, it's my favorite class", I say chuckling. "And my sister does soccer so you might know her", I say excited. She smiles brightly, "what's her name?" "Phoebe Diomandé" "oh my god, your sister is so talented, she's definitely gonna go pro" "yeah, our dad played professionally so he taught all of us but I only play at home and so does my other sister", I ended up getting wrapped into our conversation and sitting on the couch with her.

"Hey there's a basketball game tomorrow do you wanna go, it's the first game", she says after a few minutes of silence. "Um sure but I have to check if I'm on schedule for pep band, I was told I'm on b group", I say simply. "Ooh I have friends in band, tomorrow it's no band because they want everyone to adjust first", she turns the tv off. "Hey I'm gonna go to bed because I have some early morning classes." "Alright I think I should go to bed too, goodnight", I say getting up and walking to the bedroom.

I think I'll decorate my side tomorrow morning since I have some later morning classes.

*the next day*
Nov 8 2023

I wake to an empty room. welp she wasn't lying about those morning classes huh. I check my phone and then I go take my shower, my first class is in an hour, English. I got up, and on a black top, some baggy jeans, and some uggs and some makeup then went to walk to class. "When I go home this weekend I need to get my old bike", I whisper to myself. "SHIT!", I run back remembering my bag and my flute for band since I have that class today. I run back out and to class as fast as I can.

When I get to class I see my best friend, we met in middle school and stayed friends, her name is Alice. We used to FaceTime everyday but now I can finally hug her, I'm so excited. I run up and hug her, she hugs me back tightly. "I missed you so much Tori", she said smiling. "You? Dude I've been losing it wondering when we'll see each other again", I say chuckling. I go to sit my stuff down next to her and the ask her if she wants to go to the bathroom, she says yes.

While we're in the bathroom catching up this gorgeous blonde girl walks in, wow she's tall. "Hey Paige", I hear Alice say. "Hey, Alice, where are you supposed to be", she says like she's a high school teacher raising an eyebrow. I start giggling.

"Who's this", she says talking closer to us. "This is my best friend, Victoria." I feel my cheeks getting warm but bite my lip to avoid smiling, I put my hand out to shake and she does. "I'm Paige", she smiles, I do the same. I can't think of anything to say, but I wanna keep talking to her.

"Are you on the basketball team, you're so tall", I say to her. She's basically a giant. I'm not that short, I'm 5'3 but she's like 6'0.  "Yeah, I am actually! I love it, you should come watch sometime tiny Tim", she says chuckling. "I'll think about it", I say teasingly.

"We should get back to class", I turn to Alice who's smiling at the interaction between us two. "Yeah, alright. See you in there Paige", she says as we walk out. The conversation plays in my head over and over until we get in the class again, Paige soon after us. She sat right next to Alice, I'm assuming they've known each other for a while. I decided to text Alice because I didn't want to interrupt their conversation, and I'd rather not talk about band out loud anyway.

                                      Ms Gurl <3
What do you have
next period I have
band
I have band as well 😋

Maybe Paige will come see we're in band and come to one of our games

Why would I want
her to come to one
of our games and why
would she come to
the band room

She turns over and gives me a knowing look before typing again.

She's the player coach Auriemma sends to give messages to the band directors

Also I've known you for years

Just talk to her!

She returns to the conversation she was having with Paige. "I'm so excited to see you and Inês play", she says. I assume she's talking abt one of her crushes too. "Oh my god just invite her out or something", Paige says chucking. "I can't, I'm not good at making moves", Alice says. "You can't be that bad", Paige says looking serious. "When we were in high school, she tried to ask this girl to go hangout at the park and read but instead she got nervous asked if she wanted to go to the book and read parks", I said giggling. "Oh... well that's not that bad, just give it a shot", she says softer.

She seems so sweet but how would I even talk to her...

"Paige, do you know a girl named Lilian", I asked looking over. "Um, yeah she's in my history class, but there are probably a few lilys here", she chuckles at the end of her sentence. "My roommate is named Lily, she invited me to a game, when do you take history, I might pop in and say hi", i say smiling. "It's like right after this one actually", she smiles back. "Cool I'll walk you there."

"Band?", she says nodding her head towards my flute. "Yep, that's how I got into college", I say smiling at all the memories. "Nice."

Class ended in a few minutes and we got our stuff and hustled. She got behind me, put her hands on my shoulders and guided me to her history class.

"Go left", she says and I oblige. "No That's right" "no it's not, I literally had to learn this years ago", i say back. "you're in band, you should know you're left from your right", she says teasingly. "I DO, THATS YOUR RIGHT", I shout. "OK THEN GO RIGHT", she shouts back and I finally turn.

When we get in I sit next to her for a while, my band class is in an hour so I guess I'll sit in here.

"So... since I'm coming to your game, why don't you come to a football game and watch us play",  I say raising my eyebrows funnily. She laughs "I'll think about it" she said chuckling. A few minutes later Lily comes in. "Oh my god Tori", she says coming up to me. "I didn't know you were in this class", she says excitedly. "I'm not, I actually have band in like an hour but I wanted to say hi", I say smiling. "Stay, it'll be fun, I see you're already making friends", she says.

"Nah, we're not yet friends, we're only just meeting from Alice", Paige says. "Hey, I thought we were becoming friends", I say. That kinda sucks, I actually wanted to know her better. "I'm just playing", she says laughing. I give her the most brutal side eye I've ever given in my life. "I'm sorry", she says deadpan. "It's alright." 

The rest of class went by smoothly, I knew a lot of what they talked about because I was an A.P kid in high school, I also just enjoy history. I whispered the answers to Paige and Lily anytime she asked a question out of fear that I would be kicked out if I said it.

"Do you have a car", I turn to Paige. "Yes"