How to choose the one

One time, at the bus stop

Candice and I pull our bags off our trolleys and line them up side by side on the curb. Once our tickets are scanned, we step onto the bus and head down the aisle, taking a seat together. I quickly turn my phone on and send a text to my parents to let them know I'm here, which reminds me that I will need to sort out a new phone because this international plan is going to kill them in text costs!

"Ellis I just can't believe you came all the way here for college alone. I mean, you are just so brave. And oh my god, you must be one hell of a dancer to get accepted without a local audition."

Candice is so animated when she speaks, it's like a cheer routine each time. There are hand movements and quick jerks of her head, not to mention the ever changing expressions. She is adorable and excitable.  It's refreshing after my long solo trip and for some reason I feel completely at ease with her.

"I don't know about that" I reply. "I hope I'm not way out of my league." She shakes her head and makes a pfff sound while slapping me playfully on the shoulder.

I'm serious though. My worry is real. A video audition is very different to a live one. I really hope I can keep up.
As if she can hear my thoughts and inner rambling, Candice continues;

"No way. There is no way this program would accept you without being positive you were the right fit. They don't just accept anyone you know."

She shakes her head and pats me on the knee for reassurance. She is just what I need to keep my nerves at bay. I can't wait to see what kind of dancer she is.

"So will you be looking into sorority's this year?" She stares past me and directly at the guy taking the seat across from us.

I turn to face him and he gives us a small wink.
I cringe outwardly and Candice giggles.

"I don't think so" I say, and I mean it. I need to focus on my study and dance, I need to find a job and take up some volunteer positions to keep up with the terms of my scholarship and while it may be nice to belong to a sorority, from what I have discovered in my study of them, just purely from teen movies, it seems like more drama than I can handle. I could be wrong though. College here is so different to uni back home.

"Don't over think it, just promise me you will come with me to all the open day activities and we can see what is on offer?"

She pleads with me, looking up at me through her lashes. I bet she has used this very technique on her parents or more likely, guys many times because I  can't help but smile at her and I nod my head yes though I know I will most likely regret it!

"Ok I'll come with you but I'm not making any promises!" I say and try to take her seriously while she is putting on a fake pout.

She laughs and claps her hands in front of her like a small child who just won a prize at a party. I feel like she has manipulated me and I have only known her a few minutes! She is good. I can learn things from her I'm sure.

Though I have always been heavily involved in dance, I'm not a typical girly girl. I like being outdoors, I love the beach and I love being active. Im not overly keen on makeup or fashion. As proof, I'm sitting here in track pants and a tank top, my shoulder length mousy brown hair, pulled back into a messy bun and I have zero make up on, while Candice looks as though she just stepped off a runway. Her hair and makeup is perfection and her outfit is something I could never pull off, it's tiny for one and shows way too much skin for a bus trip from the airport in my opinion and every guy we walked past has literally fallen over themselves as they stare at her. But she doesn't seem to notice at all. Or if she does, she doesn't make anything of it.

The driver finally finishes packing the storage and climbs aboard. The bus kicks off with a small jolt and Candice does the small clapping motion again.