Backstage

Chapter 35

"Welcome to 2014,
Here we trade;
friends for money
And the Internet."

My eyes snapped open curling to adjust to the radiating lights of the city. A single strand of a gap in the curtains allowed a thin beam of light to shine into my room. I had only been in Birmingham 4 days but I had fallen in love. I had no clue what I would think of city life, I loved the idea of it and I know Norwich is a city but not on the vast scale of Birmingham. The only place before Norwich was Wales and rural suffolk.

Although having said that I hadn't made any friends yet, there where awkward smiles in the communal showers which I hated and in the corridors but I had not spoke to anyone since saying goodbye to Millie,Esme and Tom. I had several private lectures with my three professors but hadn't met my group yet. I was meeting them today and I was shit scared.

My professors where lovely. Professor Phillips was a scrawny man with fluffy hair and big glasses. His black eyes glowed when he spoke about the Romans and central heating. He had so much passion and drive for history it was incredible. Professor John Kirk was tall and clever, we didn't see much of each other as he was our geography field trip and practical assessment lecturer but he was nice but firm. Finally, Professor Katie Hollows. She was the most unconventional lecturer imaginable. He perfect brown hair cut into a sixties Bob, it sounds old but being a 90's trend girl I loved it. She had a fiery temper which I was worried would clash with my own.

My lecture was at two but after my last private lecture with Phillips yesterday I felt I should be prepared. Phillips had warned me it was a odd bunch where you either fitted or didn't. In his own words "I have two split groups, one who are the bunch of the subculture and one of the names" I had learned names meant those well known to all or most of the colleges. I was incredibly nervous as I wasn't a subculture nor did I have anything that could make me become a name. I knew I would prefer the latter though. I had dreamed of popularity but never had it.

At 12, I set to work. I straightened my newly dyed dark brown hair, the crackle of smoke warned me it was straight enough but none the less I continued. After half and hour of burning my already barbecued hair I began my face. Coating myself in pale ivories, blackest black and rich red lipstick. How 90's. I guess I was more comfortable as a 90's grunge girl here as I knew it would be there first impression. Grunge was also continently in fashion at the moment. Pulling on my black leggings, red tartan vest top and leather jacket I gathered my bag and pens.

Slipping my black cut out ankle boots on I stepped out into the streets. It smelt urban. Since being here I had been so busy catching up I barely stopped and looked at the city. The dusky pavements, busy roads and multicultural shops littered the suburbs as I walked from my halls up to the college. I walked passed the Bullring shopping centre, it would have been a dream come true to a 16 year old Belle to see that. I continued walking until I saw the old building.

It was deep brown with carvings of various historical objects. It certainly dragged a smile across my face. I could see several people entering and leaving it was quarter to 2. I would be a bit early but that was probably best. Heading up the wide stone stairs, I let my mind wander. Tom must move to London soon. It was odd I finally felt I knew him and it was gone. I knew seeing each other would be hard now we were in opposite directions.

Softly I pushed open the door to the lecture room. I could see Professor Phillips stood next to him was a girl with jet black hair in a bob. She had a long black corset dress on and by her side a boy in burgundy suit trousers with a band t shirt on. They turned to look at me. I felt the girls eyes move up and down me as though examining every crease. The boy just stared coldly. The silence was painful, it was broken only by Phillips introducing me. Having learnt the girl who seemed to have taken a dislike to me was Hayley and her boyfriend was Max, I tried to sink into the floor. I hoped the whole group wasn't like this.

The door cracked again. I turned to see who had entered a boy with ginger hair tousled on his head in a fluffy way entered. Wearing a similar outfit to Max he walked over barely noticing me joined the other. Phillips again had to introduce him to me. He was called Alex. I guessed then I wouldn't fit in with this uni course, I would lose my temper and be back to Norwich before I could say My names Belle. Seeming to understand my thoughts Phillips offered me a sympathetic smile.

There it was again, the door. I heard chattering and laughter and turned to see what had entered. Three girls and a boy wandered in instantly noticing me. One of the girls had dark brown hair dip dyed with blonde ends, she was small and slim and wore black leggings with a white embellished collar shirt. The girl next to her had blonde hair and was so smiley and bubbly she had grey skirt with a white shirt and black trench coat. To her left a boy with brown hair in a quiff smiled across to me he wore his jeans half way down his pants. Next to him another girl this time blonde but clearly dyed she wore rich red lipstick a oversized shirt and black jeans.

"Right let's head down to The Cottage Kitchen" Phillips smiled cheerily heading for the door. Confused I glanced in his direction, he smiled as though remembering my presence "I like to do at least one lecture a week in a coffee shop I feel it benefits your studies" I laughed slightly in response and followed at the back of the group. The girl with dark brown held the door open for me which also meant I landed in the middle of the group.

"Hi!" The girl with dyed blonde hair smiled

"Hi" I smiled openly back

"I am Caitlin and this I Marcus, Daisy and Elle" Caitlin gestured to the group the dark brown haired girl was Daisy and the blonde was Elle. They where all so pretty I could understand why they where well known around the college

"I'm Belle" I replied

"Is that short for something?" Marcus asked seeming intrigued

"Isobel" I laughed cooly

"So you have decided to come Birmingham then!" Caitlin asked

"Yeah it seemed a nice place to go to uni, I went to UEA which was great but I dropped out" I responded hoping they didn't ask why I had dropped out

"My sisters at UEA!" Marcus smiled

"Really? What's her name?" I asked

"Helena Banbury" Marcus replied

"Genetics year 2?" I remembered Helena she and I had done a group project together when genetics and plants joined for a day

"Yeah that's her! Do you know her well then?" Marcus asked

"I did a project with her when I did plant biology, she was lovely" I put in.

"Bit of a change from plants to geography and history" Elle laughed

"Yeah, I guess I wanted a fresh start" I smiled

We arrived at a cosy little cafe with wooden beams and a large table set out just for us. Having all ordered a smoothie of various descriptions ranging from mango to Elle's odd choice of kale. Marcus and Elle where clearly incredibly healthy people the rest of us don't care obviously I was sat next to Elle who was lovely and so pretty. She offered me some kale smoothie and I felt inclined to try it after Marcus virtually shoved my face into the straw. To my surprise it was really nice!

After the lecture was over we headed back to the halls together. I finally felt as though I had made some friends although I couldn't be initially sure.

"Hey fancy coming to bullring tomorrow, us lot and Alfie, Alice and Henry. You will like them" Caitlin asked

"Yeah come! We're trying to get outfits for Alice's party! You should come to the party to" Daisy added

"Sure" I smiled

"Okay eleven tomorrow outside the front of the halls!" Daisy smiled

"Okay!" I couldn't help but smile, I knew uni was about to get so much better!

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Sorry, there was a breakdown!

We are broken but functioning

Yours sincerely

~ B

P.S I would kill to be Belle right now.

P.S.S Thank you darlings for following