Freshman Year

Packing Day

Everyone was super excited to finally get to go home. The one thing that was most hated was packing day. It was the one day of the year that you just had to sit around and put everything up then go to the worst pep rally ever. The principal would talk for most of it then pass out awards. The cheerleaders would run around in tight skirts just to try and get us to come back. Well, that probably is why the school had more boys than girls...

"Ugh... I am beyond done with this!" Hadley flops onto her desk chair. Ellie agrees and flops down on her bed. Audrie sighs and puts down her box of clothes. "We should all do something tonight."

"That is what the class picnic was for genius." Ellie sighs and picks up her phone.

"Sure I'm in as long as Ellie hops off the grouchy train." Audrie says with the sassiest voice she can come up with.

"I'm on a bus thank you very much." Ellie smirks back at her. Audrie giggles at her answer and rolls her eyes.

Hadley slowly and sarcastically claps her hands, "You guys are weird."

"If we are going anywhere I need to take a shower. I haven't had one in two days- hashtag skank for life!" Ellie says and does a double peace sign.

Hadley throws Ellie's pillow at her, "Go clean up we will invite Aiden for you while you're gone!" Hadley calls after her. Ellie stops at the door so she can glare at Hadley who just puts on a sheepish look.

On her way to the bathroom Ellie hears someone clearing their throat behind her. It was Margie. She was avoiding looking directly at Ellie. Ellie crossed her arms and asked her what she needed. Margie gingerly played with the hem of her pants while trying to find what she wanted to say.

"I need boy help." She said, finally meeting Ellie's eyes. Ellie bit her lip and looked into the bathroom.

"Well are we talking about Trent?" Ellie finally decides to ask her. She planned on taking a shower as soon as she helped Margie out. Not that she even knew that much about guys.

"Um... Yes how did you know?" Margie asks while trying to think of any time she had hinted towards her crush.

"Wild guess?" Ellie says with a sheepish smile on her face. "So what is the problem?"

"Well we were texting last night about this book that we both read. This weekend is also the premier of the movie version. So I took a wild swing at things and asked him if he would like to go see it. He thought as friends and invited Frankie to come with him... I need help!" Margie complains to Ellie. Ellie thinks it over considering possible solutions to her problem. "You could come with and steer Frankie clear of me and Trent."

"First off no way!" Ellie says. She decided to speak what was on her mind. "If I come with, it will be for morale support when you tell him you would like to watch the movie without us. Secondly go ask Hadley and Audrie for their opinions. Thirdly if I plan on going anywhere today I need a shower so goodbye see you later."

•

Audrie pretended to be fixing the clothes in her bag. She had no real answer to Margie's problem. She had never been in that type of situation. Hadley brushed her hair out while contemplating everything that had just been said. Margie made sure to include Ellie's advice into her tale.

"I think Ellie is right to be honest." Audrie shrugs and looks at Hadley to speak.

"Agreed." Hadley says. Then she thinks over possibly having to fourth wheel it. It wasn't like she particularly wanted to hang out with Frankie. "Also take Ellie. I don't fancy a date with Frankie, and Audrie has a boyfriend." Hadley tells her with a matter-of-fact look.

"Thanks guys. I guess that will have to do. Maybe I should ask Emerson and Brooke and Lauren." Margie mumbles more to herself than the other girls. Slowly she makes her way out of the dorm.

Audrie turns to Hadley and shrugs. Their gestures speak louder than words. Neither wanted to be that fourth wheel. They didn't hate Frankie or even Margie just they really didn't want to on the day they were leaving. Both girls planned on sleeping in until the last second possible.

"We should have a pool party or something. Would that not be awesome!" Audrie shouts excitedly. What had made her think of this was the waded up bathing suit that had just been stuffed into a bag.

"Good idea. The schools pool locks are easy to break. I tried earlier this year and don't ask me why!" Hadley holds up her right hand to shush Audrie.

"I was thinking before it closed. Like in an hour let's head down there!" She shouts. She was so used to Hadley that it took no time to bounce back from whatever that last comment was all about.

"I guess your plan works too. We should go tell everyone." Hadley mumbles but both girls slump into their seats. Neither having the energy to do so. "Let's have Ellie do that."

•

Margie's mind was absolutely buzzing when she got to the theater. She had Emerson do her make up and Ellie do her hair. Now all she needed was the nerve to actually tell Trent about how she would like this to be a date. She slowly wiped her sweaty palms against her skirt. Ellie sat completely annoyed beside her because it was midnight and she was thinking of a thousand other things she would rather be doing. Aka: watching YouTube. Margie looked at her and gave her a nervous smile. Trent should be here.

"Got any words of advice?" Margie asked Ellie for the fifth time since they had entered the building. Ellie glared at her.

"Same as last time. Although maybe you should stop sweating and calm down. If he says no rudely he doesn't deserve your time. If he just says to remain friends then don't take it personally." Ellie tries her best as she yawns and slumps further into her seat. "Wake me up when they arrive."

"Haha..." Margie tools a quick glance around as she makes eye contact with Trent. "They are here- you actually fell asleep?" Margie shoved her friend into the floor before walking their way.

Margie waited patiently for the boys to get their tickets. She barely even noticed the lack of Ellie's presence until they made their way towards her. Once their advances were less than ten feet she inwardly screamed at her horrible wing woman. They stood in awkward silence. All of them were at a loss for words. That was until Ellie saved it by merely punching Margie hard in the arm and smiling before making a comment about what had just happened.

"One that hurt back there and two thanks because that super cute guy over there helped me up and gave me his number. I feel special!" Ellie instantly held up her wrist to show Margie. "I must say that I never plan on using it though... What a waist of arm space."

Trent laughs, "Totally."

Ellie stares at everyone before patting Margie's back and saying, "Frankie why don't we go get the popcorn. You two go get seats right in the middle all right? Remember no making out while we are gone." Ellie winks in Trent's direction before steering Frankie in the direction of the food court.

"Well shall we then?" Margie manages to mutter through her utterly embarrassed cheeks.

Half way down the hall Trent pipes up, "This is awkward. It almost feels like a date."

"Yeah." Margie smiles at the idea then quickly tries to save herself. "I mean- ew that is weird... and awkward because we are friends."

"Yes we are." They enter their theater. He stays quiet until they find nice ,center seats. "Not that that would be such a bad thing though." Margie's cheeks flush at what he was merely implying. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing. The relationship they had.

"No I guess not." Margie beams at him.

"My lady," He jokingly- yet flirtily- says before grabbing her hand and kissing it. "you look lovely."

"Not bad at all." Margie mumbles after blush manages to subside. She had never felt her insides stir like this before. In fact she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad thing. She had settled for not bad. It took a while to realize that Ellie and Frankie weren't going to show. Also they were not getting popcorn.