Juliette by Melissa Amondo (year 7 reading list TXT) 📖

routines I found. It was like a workout. The only problem was that I was not that flexible, I could not do a cartwheel or a back flip. I couldn’t even do a split. I attempted and got scared. How was I going to make this team? I am hoping that they just think I could do the dance moves well, and pick me for the team. As I start to practice my simple audition routine, I hear the door slam again. “Really?!” says my evil roommate. “Who listens to Nsync anymore? That is so 1990!” she says as she puts her purse down on the bed. Surprisingly, I ignore her and keep working on my routine. “Um hellooooo! Earth to freshman.” She realizes that I’m ignoring her. I turn and face her, “My name is Juliette. Can I help you?” I say with sarcasm. Wow, didn’t know I had it in me. I stood my ground. She looked shocked. “Okay Juliette, can we cut the 90’s music? I need some sleep.” she yawns. “Get some earplugs.” I said and her jaw dropped. I smirked and continued to work on my routine. “That’s rude.” She said. “Yeah, and so are you!”I snapped. I do not care for her feelings at all since she clearly doesn’t care about mine. “Wow. Ok fine! Let’s see what the RA has to say about this!” she says as she picks up her purse and walks out the door slamming the door behind her. For a brief moment, I felt satisfaction. But then I got scared. Oh no. The RA is going to think I’m the trouble maker, when really I’m not. I just had to stand up for myself. I began to get a little nervous waiting for my roommate and the RA to walk into to the room. I turned the music off and sat on my bed waiting. I was prepared to tell the RA everything. But minutes rolled by and I realized that it was probably her intention to make me feel scared so that I’d turn off the music. I don’t think she went to the RA out all. She didn’t seem like the type to run to the RA when she had a problem with her roommate. I laughed to myself. She is something else. I was proud of myself though. I will not let this roommate from hell defeat me. I will not call my parents to pick me up and I will not attend another college. I will make some friends and I will go to this audition tonight and try my hardest to make the squad. Who would have thought that Cruella Deville would be my motivation? I smile and turn the music back on and turn the volume up louder to practice my routine. I have to make this team.  Audition

So here is another thing I learned about myself tonight...I am not a dancer! I would love to be.  These girls look like they have been professionally dancing all their lives. I just dance in my living room watching music videos. Plus a little Zumba last summer, which I could hardly keep up with. It would be a miracle if I made the team. It would be amazing if I made the squad. The girls were all so nice and happy. It would keep me active, give me the opportunity to make some friends and not be a loner.  I did meet someone tonight. His name is Sebastian. He is a male cheerleader. He felt the need to really emphasize to me that he was not gay. I did not care if he was or not, I do not discriminate. He went on and on about his cousin who is on the basketball team who is very popular and how he thinks his cousin will make it to the pros. I honestly wasn’t all that impressed but was excited to be having a conversation with somebody. He then started telling me about this girl he had a super crush on, and how he was afraid to approach her because she may turn him down. I tried to tell him to take a chance...But who am I kidding. I was giving him advice, but would be in the same boat if it were my situation. Anyway, Sebastian seemed almost like the male version of me. He was a nice guy, a little awkward, but cool at the same time. Then they called him up for his audition and I realized he is not the male version of me at all! That boy got moves!

I just knew he killed that audition and most likely made the team. Maybe we could be friends and he can teach me a thing or two. But he left before I could even exchange contact info with him. Hopefully I will see him around campus. After the auditions, I approached the coach and tried to start a conversation with her. She was really sweet and cheerful. I was trying to figure out if I made the team. We both knew the answer to that, but she did not want to say. She kept insisting that the list would be posted tomorrow. But I was impatient. I knew my name would not be on that list and I was sort of desperate. She saw my desperation and said this, “Tell you what? We are in need of an equipment manager. You will do inventory and some other things. That way you can be around the team all the time, and after hours you can use the gym and practice your moves. You never know, maybe some of the girls will show you a few things or two?” I smiled so hard and said, “Yes! I’ll do it!!” and hugged her and said, “Oh thank you!!” She laughed and said that she would see me tomorrow for practice tomorrow afternoon at 5 pm! I was so excited. Yes I know I did not make the squad, but I am still technically part of the team and the Coach made me an offer I could not refuse! I wanted to tell someone and have them feel my excitement, but then I realized I was still a loner. My roommate still isn’t here, and I did not want to call and tell my mom. She would hear it in my voice that I was lonely and didn’t feel like her killing my vibe. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day of classes and practice. I picked out my outfits and set my alarm. I am excited!

 

Life Saver

 

So maybe I should have paid attention to where my classes were. For some reason, no one looked as lost as me.  The classes were huge and no seats.  My palms instantly were sweaty when I walked into class and couldn’t find a seat. Then it happened! An angel waved me done and said, “There is a seat right here.” I quickly rushed over, bumping a few people as I squeezed by. “Thank you!” I stated as I plopped down on the seat. I must have plopped down really hard because the girl in the row in front of me turned around and gave me a look of disgust. Geez the students in the school are mean. The angel saw the whole thing happen, and giggled “No problem Hun”.  She looked as if she was holding back laughter. I wanted to burst out laughing too. What a day I was already having. “You’re a life saver!” I whispered trying to start a friendly conversation. I know. Not the time to start a convo but she looked like a fun person and she was also gorgeous. Plus she really did save my life; I could have had an anxiety attack walking around this big classroom to find a seat. Next time I will get here super early. She laughed. “No worries Hun. It always like this for the first week of classes.”She whispered back. Then it hit me that she was not a freshman, she has experienced the first week of classes already. I did take lots of honor classes in high school, so I was able to bypass a couple of college classes.  I really wanted to be her friend now. She can give me the 411 on campus activities. Let me know what is hot, what’s not hot. Throughout the class period we exchanged smiles and laughed at some of the funny things our teacher said. I knew I was going to like this class. It was Music Appreciation. It was between that and Art Appreciation. I am not really an artist and I love music, so I decided to take this class. Glad I did. The professor was awesome.

After the class was over, I wanted to spark more conversation with the beautiful life saver. “Hey, so what is your major?” I asked her. “Music. Yours?” She responded. “Nursing. My mom is a nurse.” I replied. She had a confused look on her face. “Are you doing Nursing because your mom did it, or is that what you want to do?” I didn’t really know how to reply. I never put too much thought into it. I just knew that I wanted to go to college and I guess Nursing was an easy pick for me because I saw my mom doing it. “No I’m doing it for me.” I wonder if she could tell if I was unsure about my major. “Oh ok. Well both of my foster parents are Pharmacist. I refused to go that route. Can you say Boorrriiinnng?” She laughed. I chuckled and started re-evaluating my major at the same time. Then it hit me, she said foster parents. Wow! “My name is Anastasia but everyone calls me Ana. What’s your name?” She said interrupting my thoughts. “Juliette. But you can call me Jules.” I said with a smile. I was happy that she was interested in asking me for my name.  “Nice to meet you Jules. So you’re a freshman right?” Ana asked.  I blushed in embarrassment, “Is it that obvious.”  She laughed. “Kind of.”  I laughed embarrassingly with her. “Don’t worry. We all had to be a freshman sometime.” She reassured. That made me feel better. “True, thanks.” I said looking down at my feet noticing that one of my toenail polishes was chipped. Ugh! “Well Jules, I have to run. I have a performance tonight to practice for.” She said walking swiftly