Caught in The Dance

Chapter 2: Meet the girls

The morning orientation session concluded with a meeting of school educators, prefects and the class representatives, then followed with engaging games and activities designed to foster connections among the students. As the lunch bell rang, everyone flocked to the courtyard, eager to find their place within the social landscape. Juliette felt a sense of relief with Violetta by her side and Reya, her new roommate, soon to be joining their circle. As they sat on the grass, Reya and Juliette delved into conversation, lost in their own world. Juliette couldn't quite grasp the feeling she experienced around Reya - a mix of safety, comfort, and weightlessness. Their intimate moment was interrupted by Violetta's arrival.

"Juli, I've been searching for you everywhere!" Violetta exclaimed. Reya and Juliette stood up to greet her. "Sorry, I'm late. I got held up in a different group," Violetta explained, eyeing Reya with curiosity. Juliette introduced them, "Rey, this is Violetta - V for short, my best friend."
Reya warmly embraced Violetta. "Hey, girl! Nice meeting more of Jules's friends." Violetta raised an eyebrow at the nickname. "Jules, that's new. What do you guys think of these uniforms?" Reya scoffed, "Hideous! I'm tempted to burn this ugly plaid dress and use it as one of my artworks." Violetta offered, "Don't worry, I've got you covered. As our group's designated fashion designer, I'll fix this mess." Juliette smiled to herself because she knew Violetta calling them a group meant that Reya was officially approved as their new friend, deep down she wanted them all to get along, besides dance and romance movies, having a tight nit group of friends was something she always wanted.

Just then, a girl approached, "Did I hear you offer to alter uniforms?" Violetta turned to her, "Yes, why?" The newcomer replied, "I've read our handbook thoroughly and school rules forbid alterations. So, we're stuck looking like sacks of potatoes." The group stared, astonished by her rapid-fire delivery. Reya broke the silence, "Damn, girl, you read the entire rule book? Why?" The new girl, Mercy, smiled, "Preparation. Maybe we can find a loophole." Violetta nodded, "I like your thinking. Welcome to our group, newcomer. Also, what is your name and major?" Mercy replied, " My name is Mercy and I'm majoring in creative writing. Thanks for the warm welcome." Juliette finally chimed in after being quiet for a while, "Glad to have you, Mercy. This is Violetta, fashion; Reya, art; and I'm Juli, dance." Mercy laughed, "Thanks, even though I kind of crashed the party." The group shared a hearty laugh, bonding over their shared desire to defy the uniform rules until the school bell signaled the end of their lunch break.

As the day's activities drew to a close, Juliette, Reya, Violetta, and Mercy converged on the former's dorm room, united in their quest to revolutionize the school's uniform policy. Once settled, Mercy broke the silence, her voice filled with determination. "To change the uniform rules, we need to gather signatures from the student body, then submit our petition through the Class Representative to the school board. We'll need to present a compelling case and hope the governing body considers our proposal."

Reya whistled, impressed. "Mercy, you're a human library! But isn't that a lot of hassle just for a uniform makeover?" Violetta jumped in, her passion igniting. "Fashion is never a hassle, Rey! It's self-expression, empowerment. Trust me, this is worth fighting for!" Her voice rose, infectious enthusiasm spreading through the room.
Reya surrendered with a chuckle, conceding to Violetta's unwavering enthusiasm for altering their uniforms. As the evening ended, the girls bid each other farewell and retreated to their respective dorms. Left alone in their room, Reya and Juliette focused on unpacking and preparing for the next day's classes. Reya broke the silence, "Ready for tomorrow?" Juliette's response was laced with nervousness, "Dance class, absolutely! But math and Afrikaans? Not so much."

Reya empathized with a smirk, "Math, I get it. But don't worry, I've got you covered for Afrikaans." Juliette's gratitude was palpable, "Thanks, I'll need all the help I can get. My dance scholarship hinges on it, and my dad would never agree to let me attend PHA otherwise." She paused, a glimmer of hope in her voice, "Once I hit 10th grade, I can drop Afrikaans for Spanish - and maybe math too, if my dad agrees. "Reya's curiosity was piqued, "Spanish? Why? Won't that be tougher?" Juliette's eyes sparkled, "I adore Spanish! Telenovelas, Spanish music - it makes me feel alive when I dance to it."