college girls rule the world

chilling at the quarry, victoria's secret, the caribbean fashion show, flirting with waiters, and suitemate shenanigans

lower right image is by picklegrl

There’s a huge rock cove at the edge of my uni known as the quarry. The first time I went there was with some friends after church my freshman year. We went past the track into the woods. There were a lot of trees and uneven places. We kept going up until we reached the top of the peak, then started walking down into it. I was still wearing my dress shoes and ended up falling right on my hands.

‘‘Oh my gosh! Are you ok?’’

‘‘Yeah, I’m good,’’ I said.

‘‘I should’ve told you how much walking we were doing!’’ Eliza looked worried.

There were little bruises on the palms of my hands, but they were minor. I sat on a rock and looked out at the water, which was kinda blue and kinda green. Someone spotted a dead fish that was not far from where the group was standing. We decided to give it a funeral, complete with the recorder version of ‘‘My Heart Will Go On.’’

At the end of that year we were crashing at one of our dorms as usual. Our school was hosting midnight pancakes because of finals, so naturally we were all chowing down on pancakes and none of us were studying. Instead, we broke out into an impassioned ‘‘I Have Nothing.’’ Yeah, we had a thing for ‘90s music.

—

It was a typical weekend and Clair, Reve, Leo and I were walking in the breezy outdoor mall that we’d come to love. We were coming to the middle of the mall when we were passing Victoria’s Secret.

Suddenly Clair had a twinkle in her eye.

‘‘Let’s see what’s in there,’’ she said. So we went in.

Lingerie was everywhere. The store was littered with pink teddies and purple panties, a million forms of seduction.

‘‘Would you like to buy some underwear?’’ Reve asked no one in particular.

‘‘Why’d you guys bring me in here? It’s a trap,’’ said Leo.

After checking out the collection for a few minutes, we stepped back outside into sunlight and wholesomeness.

‘‘That was my first time in Victoria’s Secret,’’ Clair quipped.

—

There was an upcoming West Indian fashion show called Island Show hosted by the Caribbean club. I decided to try out and got the part of walking for both St. Thomas U.S.V.I., and Guyana. For about two months I headed out in the cold to the math and science complex to practice my walk with the other models.

The big night had come and my parents were in town to see the show. My mom brought some stuff to do my hair, but we had to figure out who could do the particular style we were thinking of. That year I had my own room. Two good friends of mine lived on the other side of the suite: Sasha and Sienna. I saw that one of them was great at doing her own hair so I asked her to do mine. She pleasantly agreed.

‘‘Oh, just let me know if it hurts at all,’’ said Sasha, which was funny because I could barely feel her hands on my head.

She expertly began braiding my hair. As time started to go down, Sienna appeared and started helping out. My mom was also with us chatting and handing over materials. She took a pic of the three of us as I sat there, smiling brightly with teeth that had just been liberated from braces a few days earlier.

I looked in the mirror and I was glowing! I did my makeup afterwards and slipped on my dress. When I got to the venue I had some rhinestones added to my look. Everyone’s makeup looked like we were ready for an island carnival, and I loved it.

It was time for me to walk. I came out waving my flags and dancing. For each round I came out with a guy: Marcus, a friend I’d made during the practices, and Reve. The spotlights shone, the crowd cheered, and we were hot.

—

About a year ago Leo showed a few of us one of his favorite spots here in Huntsville, Mellow Mushroom. It was one of those chill nights when you’re walking around with no thoughts in your head except ‘’I hope this pizza tastes good!’’

There was a little wait, but not by much. We sat down and began pawing through the menu. Then the waiter showed up. A tall guy with earrings, a ponytail, and a bandana on came to take our order. Here was the start to an indie romance.

‘‘That waiter is honestly kinda attractive,’’ I fawned aloud.

‘‘You should try to get that number,’’ said Leo.

I mean, I’d done it before—I could do it again, right? Getting a number, that is. Before then I’d never involved a waiter into my love mapping.

Dinner was great. My friends were loving their meals as well. I tried to think of the perfect time to ask for the guy’s number.

‘‘I’m going to go to the kitchen to wash dishes for a few minutes. Do you guys need anything before I do that?’’

Here was my chance.

‘‘Do you have a girl?’’

‘‘What?’’

‘‘Do you have a girl?’’

‘‘No.’’

‘‘Can I get your number?’’ I flashed him my best smile.

‘‘Oh, you don’t wanna do that.’’ He said. ‘’I just got out of a three year, long term relationship. She cheated on me, I’m heartbroken, yadda yadda.’’

‘‘Gotcha,’’ I said. ‘‘Well, you’ll get over it.’’

He smiled. ‘’Thanks. Otherwise I would give you my number. You’re very attractive.’’

‘‘Ah thank you,’’ I said. ‘’You’re cute, too.’’

Leave it up to strangers to give each other a boost like that.

—

Some people gossip more than others, and some languages are straight up made for that. Spanish is one of them. As it stands, I’m currently proficient in the language. Puedo mover a un país en latinoamerico y hacer mi vida. Quizás será en el futuro. En el verano de 2023, fui a España para obtener más fluidez en esta lengua. Serámos ver.

My college is rather small, but still big enough to have ethnic enclaves within our historically black college/university (HBCU). One of these enclaves is Hispanic/Latin American. At one point my suitemates were from DR. Both were short. One of them looked like a light skinned Black woman. The other was a Mestiza who had dyed her hair blond.

One night I had ordered some Chipotle and was about to enjoy it. The only thing was that I had ordered a coke with a metal bottle cap had to be pried off. I couldn’t pry it off. I struggled with it a bit then decided to ask for help. My suitemate, Alicia, told me to come over. Then she did in 3 seconds what I’d been wrestling with for a few minutes. I stood in the bathroom as she stepped by her window to open the beverage. Grateful, I thanked her and drank it down in my room.

A few nights later, I had just finished getting ready for bed and had put a scented lotion on my skin. After I had left the bathroom, my suitemates and their friends went inside, presumably to wash dishes.

I heard one of them loudly complain: ‘’Ella lavó con perfume y es feo!’’ which means ‘‘She bathed with perfume and it smells awful!’’

Chica, por favor. La próxima vez necesitas usar las palabras no son muy obvios. I called them out on it.

I heard them laughing loudly from their room as I texted them. I’m sure they’ll be graduating with a minor in chismosa behavior.