The Flyer & The Frat Star

Girls Night

Josephine

"Hey roomie!" Khadijha greets me as I walk in after my last class of the day. I plop down on my bed with a heavy sigh. This week has kicked my ass, and I've never felt so grateful for a weekend in my life. "So, you know how we don't have practice tomorrow morning?"

"Yes," I answer hesitantly, knowing she's up to something. I was looking forward to actually sleeping in on a Saturday for the first time all semester.

"How would you feel about hosting a girls night in our room tonight?" Her tone is cautious as she waits for my reply. A girls night doesn't sound half bad, I haven't had much of a chance to hang out with the girls on the squad apart from practices.

"Sure, that sounds fun," Khadijha looks genuinely surprised that I gave in so easily.

"Amazing!" she squeals. "They'll be here around 8."

"Perfect, that gives me time for a nap," I laugh before turning on my side and falling asleep with ease.

"Wake up, biotch!" Khadijha throws a pom-pom straight at my head to wake me up.

"I'm up, I'm up," I grumble, stretching my limbs and hearing my bones crack.

"It's 7:30. I'm gonna run to the liquor store for some wine. What kind do you want?" Khadijha sits on the end of my bed pulling her sneakers on.

"Oh, no, I don't want to drink," I say dejectedly. I didn't know this was going to be a drinking affair.

"Come on, Jo! Pleeeeease," she clasps her hand under her chin and bats her eyelashes at me. "It's just wine! And it's just us girls, things won't get out of hand." I guess she does make a good point. If I am going to drink I'd rather it be in the comfort of my own dorm room with other girls from the squad.

"Okay, I'll drink. But only a little," I give into the peer pressure. Khadijha jumps onto my body and squeezes me tight. I can't help but laugh at her enthusiasm.

"Do you want something sweet, dry, red, white?" she begins listing off different options.

"I have no idea what any of that means. I guess I'll try something sweet?" I trust in her choices since I'm completely clueless when it comes to alcohol.

"Be back in 10! Change into cute PJ's," she calls out behind her as she leaves the room. I look down at my sweatshirt and sweatpants, this is what I normally sleep in. I don't want to feel left out from the other girls though. I decide to throw on a tank top and a pair of plaid sleep shorts my mom bought me, throwing my sweatshirt back on overtop to feel a bit more comfortable.

True to her word, Khadijha comes back through the door 10 minutes later, two bottles of wine held high in her hands. She pulls out two wine glasses from her drawer and fills them with what appears to be a white wine. "It's Moscato. Super sweet, you'll love it," she hands me a glass and holds hers up for me to cheers. "To the best motherfucking captains WSU has ever seen," I chuckle as we clink glasses. I take a small sip, realizing it tastes nothing like alcohol and more like juice. I take a bigger gulp. "Woah there, tiger," Khadijha laughs. "I know it may not taste like alcohol, but it sneaks up on ya," she winks at me.

After both finishing a glass of wine each, there's a knock on our door. Khadijha opens the door and a chorus of high-pitched squeals come floating through the room. Pia, Inanna, Elle, Lexi, and Morgan all come piling in, each with their own bottle of wine. They're all dressed in barely-there lingerie-like pajamas, and I feel a bit out of place in my sweatshirt and shorts.

"Okay, okay, everyone gather round!" Khadijha yells over everyone's talking. "A toast to an amazing squad, an amazing season, and fucking amazing girls!" Everyone screams as we touch glasses in the middle before chugging the entire glass of wine. We all burst out laughing together as Pia places her hand under my glass and tipping it, forcing me to finish my glass as well. I'm beginning to feel a warm buzz from the wine, and we spend the next hour sitting around the room talking about our high school cheerleading experiences and the older girls tell crazy stories from the parties they attend. Everyone is actually really down to earth and welcoming to me, and I feel all fuzzy inside knowing that I'm branching out of my comfort zone and making new friends.