The HOE Code

Chapter Four

It's been half an hour since my Rockbandit Tee was last made a flag of and hanged on the wall opposite to the dresser. The flowery wallpapers teared down, close to the edge and I can't help but wonder how did I agree to this? Turns out Sherry is a Rockbandit fan, but...hardly remembers any of their songs to the word. Which was weird. Especially when she claimed to visit all the Europe Tours.

"Where did you get that Tee from, again? I don't remember getting one at the tour!" She shrieked across the room as her chauffer unloaded her suitcase and folded her clothes into the dresser. I'd rather question myself on what exactly the poor man's duties were except driving off, carrying the luggage, and folding the lean girl's clothes. He was pale, too skinny, and looked barely over eighteen. Would I see this young guy every morning, holding a brush to Sherry's teeth? God, I hope not.

"Well, the Tee is special edition. I got it from the merch website www.rbfans.com." I said, with a wink.

Special edition, obviously referred to a garage sale. I don't know where they got the Tee from either, and I got it for all the pocket money I had saved that month. And, www.rbfans.com was our neighbour's rugby team fundraiser website. I'd rather not have anyone go there in search of Rockbandits Tee, and with that hope, I wished Sherry's interrogation will end. At this point, I might even bargain being her friend, but the questions need to stop. And, Mr. Chauffer needs to leave the room. At this point, I even considered reaching out for the warden and ask for a private dorm. Only if!

"You think I can order one?" She asked, as her blue eyes sparkled and I felt the urge to hit my cheeks hard.

"Sorry. Limited edition." I said, shrugging my shoulders as I slapped the stack of textbooks in the shelf. Whose bright idea was it to carry the whole lot of junk in here? Mine. And now I had to put up with the mess, and Malibu Princess together.

"Ah, nevermind." She said, turning to her chauffer as he nods and leaves shooting me a quick glance. Maybe he thinks I am stupid. The thought made me scrunch my nose and I felt my gaze steadied on him.

"Barley, you wanna go out?" Sherry asked, barely sitting on the bed, as my thoughts are pulled out of the too-young-for-the-job chauffer. And for fuck's sake it's Marley!

"It's Marley!" I squeaked, and she eyed me innocently.

"And we barely got the things arranged!" I added, looking at half of the mess on my bed. It looked like the tornado swept past it, and it was Day 1 at the dorm. I could bet that the end of the week, the place would be teared down to pieces. I hope not.

"Oh, come on! My friends are coming over." She said, and I scoffed. She has friends? At a new school? Even before it started? Okay-How? Too many questions, and I couldn't help but stare at her.

"Friends?" I repeated the word, like it was my first time hearing the word. Four years, and I haven't known how to be one, or how to have one.

"I came across other Weston Girls on Photogram, all freshers, and guess what? They are having a pre-school bash today at the Frat house!" She said, and I looked at her wide eyed. Frat house? Party? Photogram? What the fuck is Photogram?

"Umm. Yeah. Sounds good." I couldn't form a complete sentence. Perhaps I have been living under a rock, or something, but I haven't heard of it. Like at all.

"Are you on Photogram?" She asked, crossing her legs on the bed and I moved my head sideways with a 'No'.

"Bummer. Let's get you an account then!" She said with a wink and reached for her phone.

"Umm- Sherry? I think you'll need my info for the account?" I asked, and she snorted a laugh.

"I already have two fake ID's. Nothing serious. I will lend you one!" She said. Wait. So, people can have fake IDs on Photogram? Isn't that illegal? Who the hell runs this Photogram?

"Are you sure? Is it safe?" I asked, questioning Sherry's senses.

"Yup. Just change the password and email, and it will be fine. If you want, swing the username." She said, and I raised a brow.

"I swear all I have done with that account is stalk my ex- and some hotties!" She said, laughing like it was the hottest joke she heard. Is she serious?

"What if they find out it's you? What if I get roped into a personal feud? What if you are a criminal?" I asked, my whole existence was two feet deep in hysterics.

"Chill girl! If you want, we can get you a brand new account. Jeez!" She said, gritting her teeth as she reached for the phone on the dresser. Good thing I have them password protected, or the first thing she'd see would be my I ❤️ Timothee Chalamet Wallpaper.

"Woops. Nearly forgot it is not good to touch other people's phone!" She said, dramatically touching the corner of her lips. And, it isn't good to stalk other people like creep. But I would keep that argument for some other day.

I hit the passcode, changed the wallpaper, dived for the Appstore and hit the first thing that popped up when I wrote 'Photogram'.

"Just type in your email, add a password and you will be good to go!" Sherry said, taking a peek as the App store installed Photogram.

From what I understood, Photogram was an app where people shared their photos, videos and other things that they wanted to show off to the world so they could make their miserable life seem...less miserable? Maybe. The App store read into it, and from what Sherry showed me on her account, I could find more half naked dudes, makeup slapped girls, and crazy art that felt really underrated compared to half a dozen videos of people kissing that Sherry called 'tweerls'.

"Once you get a hang of it, it can really get addictive!" Sherry said, laughing off a cat tweerl. A good one after what felt like years!

"Hey, how do I set the username?" I asked, and she frowned.

"Just write anything you want to name yourself. Something better than barley!" She said. Maybe I will just name myself clueless_fucker_2313. Okay, maybe not the fucker thing.

"Here, let me help!" Sherry said, taking my phone as she typed furiously. When I had my phone back, I couldn't help but wonder the little truth in everything I could see.

"You user-named me as 'sweetbeerbeverage_25' and my bio reads 'hot but not in for your tricks'?" I gasped.

"Yeah. Barley makes good beer, hence the name. And well, the bio is sassy!" She chuckled as her hair bounced off her shoulders when she walked to the door.

"Sassy? That's a lie!" I yelled, and the doorknob was turned.

"Thank me later!" She yelled back, walking into the hallway.

Ping.

My phone popped up with a notification.

sassy_sherry_smirks followed you.

You have 1 new message from sassy_sherry_smirks.

I clicked on it, and it led me to Sherry's account, before I hit the follow back, I couldn't help but notice the user bio-
'sexy but not for horny dicks'. Maybe I should thank her for not making my bio more 'Sherry'.

I tapped the inbox to read Sherry's text. Nothing Earth shaking, I hoped.

'Party starts at six. I will be here at 5pm with the rest of the HOEs <3.'

Hoes? What have I signed up for!

sassy_sherry_smirks posted a new photo.

I scrolled to the new post to see my hands awkwardly fixing the Rockbandit tee on the wall, when Sherry had sneaked the click.

Having a blast with new roomie. She has Rockbandit limited edition tees. #roomiesarefriends #hoesassemble #rockbandits

Am I Photogram-ly fucked for the rest of the year (or two)?