Wickerbeck University

Chapter Two

I can't do this

As Hope and me began to scan the auditorium, we realized that we were the only people dressed in combat clothes. Everyone else was either wearing casual suits(I know, I didn't even know that was possible) or short cocktail dresses.

I instantly felt exposed.

Reluctantly, we made our way down the auditorium towards the sign-in stall, eyes attaching themselves to our every step.

"Hi how can I help you?", asked an eager voice.

I looked down at the petite girl that was sat down behind the over-decorated sign-in stall. She looked extremely pretty with golden ringlets of hair, falling alongside her small, tanned, oval face.

"Yeah, ermm...Is this where the Wickerbeck University fair is being held for the new year intake?", I asked, touching my earrings, a thing I had adopted doing whenever I was stressed.

"Yes and what are your names?"

"Ava Andrews and Hope Birch", I replied.

Furrowing my eyebrows together I thought to myself, "this didn't make any sense. Wickerbeck University wasn't just your normal, everyday University. It was known to be the spotting grounds for becoming spies. Now I know how crazy that sounds but like I said, I've wanted to become a spy since forever and after consulting with Hope's Granddad (who swears his notorious M16 friend had gone to this school) and what seemed to be some pretty legit forums on ExclusiveSpySquad.co.uk, I was pointed in the direction of this University.

"Ok, here are your lanyards, you may take your seat on row D. You're seated on chairs 13 and 14", She smiled.

I continued staring into her blue eyes confusedly.

"Ermm, was there anything else?", She frowned.

Hope looked at me then back at the girl.

"No, thank you", She smiled, before grabbing our lanyards and timetables then pushed me towards the seating stairs.

The speaker on stage had already began speaking, introducing himself and the lady next to him in the background.

"Come on, Ava, snap out of it", I muttered to myself.

We climbed the stairs and took our seats, beside some exquisitely dressed girls. The smell of their sweet expensive perfume filled the air. Focusing on the stage, I began listening in to the female speaker.

"Welcome to Wickerbeck University".

As those words left her mouth, the auditorium filled with a thunderous applause and whistling.

"As most of you guys know, this is our 50th year holding our University try-outs-".

I turned to face Hope to see her eagerly listening. Her brunette hair was tucked behind her pale ears, which were decorated with several piercings.

She noticed me staring and grinned widely.

"Aren't you excited?", She whispered.

I grinned back widely, "Eeeeee of course, we've practically been waiting our entire lives for this moment."

And it was true. Hope and me had met when we were younger at the Quarter Field Orphanage. After a week of being there, we just clicked and became very close. When I was eventually adopted by my parents, we lost all contact but were miraculously reunited when I was 15, due to her coincidentally joining my school.

She too had been adopted by a family, living on the outskirts of London so we spent a lot of time together and my parents loved her.

Anyone with a brain could tell we were just fated to be friends. Since then she and her granddad have helped me fulfill my spy obsession, hence why we are here today.