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[img]https://i.imgur.com/vUiCmes.png[/img]
[sub]A [@NeoAJ] and [@Altered Tundra] collab[/sub][/center]

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[color=darkgray]As she took her seat amidst the students with Ludvig next to her, like everyone else who were in attendance (or at least those who were in the Junior and Senior classes), Camila tried to feign interest in what the principal was saying. She might’ve zoned here and there, talked with Ludvig about some things, but for the most part, she was silenced by those next to her who actually had an interest in what the assembly was about. So, whether the auburn-haired girl wanted to or not, she tuned in.

Within the first couple of minutes, she echoed the displeasure some of the students around her had in -- well, everything. From the funding for the arts not being there and the lack of funding in general, it seemed that she had picked the perfect year to return. Little to no funding for the arts, more but not by much funding for football, and a casual mention for the tryouts? Not mention that weird inclusion of a different version of Home Ec. 

[color=CD5C5C]“Wonderful.”[/color]

As the students were effectively dismissed, Camila bid her best friend adieu as she wanted to do something before heading off to class. She couldn’t help but stick on the Home Ec bit. It was a strange addition among the many changes. Granted she wasn’t around during the past two years, but it still made something in her twist the wrong way. 

[color=CD5C5C]“What exactly--”[/color] Camila was interrupted mid-thought as she bumped into someone. [color=CD5C5C]“--I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going,”[/color] Camila offered the blonde she had bumped into her sincere apology.

The sudden jolt to her backside knocked Melissa out of her Henderson-induced stupor. The assembly was a snore, no new news given that it was known that the school had fuck all for money. The confirmation of cheerleading tryouts was good, at least it was something to look forward to. The Home Ec announcement was weird. So everyone in the school was going to have to learn how to cook? Melissa could cook. She could make all the frozen dinners and mac and cheese she needed. At least that’s what she was thinking of when she got tackled from behind.

OK, it wasn’t a tackle, but it still was unwelcome. The person tried to explain and apologize, as well they should, but it was still unacceptable. How dare they not see the Queen of Rosefell in front of them? She turned around to give her a piece of her mind, but suddenly stopped when she saw who was doing their best Canadian impression. 

They were familiar, but foreign at the same time. Then Melissa remembered what Steph was talking about on the drive to school. [color=CE0F3D]“Cami DeLuca, is that you? You really back on the Bus?”[/color]

She looked at the blonde girl for a few short moments. She was older but there was something familiar about her. It was as though Camila had seen her before. [color=CD5C5C]“Yeah, it’s me,”[/color] Cami nodded, trying to figure it out where she had met this girl. She couldn’t shake it but something about the way she presented herself gave her an air of familiarity. [color=CD5C5C]“Do I know you from somewhere?”[/color] She asked. 

Melissa was pleased with herself, and pleased with Steph, since her info had paid off and she confirmed that her former gymnastics teammate had indeed returned. However, she wasn’t too pleased that the same memory wasn’t embedded with Cami. She almost felt hurt! Granted she wasn’t the commanding presence then that she was now, but still. This was worse than getting bumped into.

[color=CE0F3D]“Cami, it’s Melissa. Melissa Elliott?”[/color] she identified. [color=CE0F3D]“We were friends before you moved away? We had gymnastics together?”[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]“oh..Oh!”[/color] The realization of who was standing in front of her hit her like a swift punch in the gut. The blonde hair, the queen energy, and beauty to make supermodels jealous. Of course, it was Mel.  [color=CD5C5C]“I feel terrible for not realizing that was you. You’re looking good, Mel!”[/color] She complimented the girl in the middle of her second apology.

[color=CE0F3D]“Well, I always look good,”[/color] she confirmed. [color=CE0F3D]“But, you know that. I guess I can forgive you for the whole ‘not recognizing me’ thing. I mean, it’s been what, four years since you left? If Steph hadn’t told me you were in town again, I guess I wouldn’t have recognized you either!”[/color] She laughed to punctuate the remark and let Cami know that it was fine and a third apology wouldn’t be necessary. [color=CE0F3D]“Anyway, how long have you been back? Must be weird seeing all the old landmarks again, right? Except the Wendy’s on East Mound, tragic news about that fire…”[/color]

Cami had forgotten just how much of a talker Melissa was. When she started, she didn’t stop until she was finished. Cami being Cami, though, she waited until she was done. That was the polite thing to do. [color=CD5C5C]“It’s been three, actually,”[/color] Cami clarified, correcting Mel’s previous statement about how long she was gone. [color=CD5C5C]“I’ve been back two weeks, so I haven’t been able to catch up with anyone but Ludvig,”[/color] she sighed with regret. [color=CD5C5C]“What have you been up to since I’ve been gone?”[/color] She asked her. 

[color=CE0F3D]“Well, I run this place now,”[/color] Melissa stated matter-of-factly. [color=CE0F3D]“I am the queen of this school. You know, as someone who is the head cheerleader should be. But yeah, things have been going well. I think this is going to be the best year of high school yet. Especially now that you’re back!”[/color] She went to hug Cami. [color=CE0F3D]“Girl, you need to join up with the squad! You would be a perfect fit with me and Steph and Tiff!”[/color]

On that suggestion - that out of nowhere, out of the blue suggestion - Camila jerked out of the hug, staring blankly into her blue eyes as if she was seeking for any further explanation. It was one thing catching up with her old gymnastics friends, but it was something else entirely to suggest that she not only join the cheer squad but also her group of friends. [color=CD5C5C]“I don’t think I would be such a good fit. Do they even know me?”[/color] Camila asked, waves of uncertainty coming over her, though she would be lying to herself if she wasn’t the least bit curious.

Melissa blinked for a couple seconds, as if uncertain as to how there wasn’t an instant acceptance of her offer. She quickly composed herself though, brushing off her top as if she had to straighten it out as her top priority. [color=CE0F3D]“Well you know Steph for sure, right? Steph Wang? She was in gymnastics with us? She follows you on gram? Me and her are still besties, although that’s not good enough to get me into her ugly-ass minivan. Tiff… I don’t know if you would remember Tiff if you don’t remember Steph. She’s great though. She’s like a lovable puppy. Sometimes we even play fetch with her. But this would be perfect! We’ve been running this school as a trio, just imagine what we can do if we link up again? It'll be just like old times! Only, you know, we can drive and stuff.”[/color]

As Melissa spoke, she went through her insta for a quick moment, looking for Steph Wang among her followers. She didn’t have as many as most did but she had accumulated roughly around two thousand, though most of them were from model agencies and trolls/fake accounts. When she finally found Steph, again it hit her like a hammer to the head. [color=CD5C5C]“Oh right! Steph!”[/color] The name had finally clicked with the face. 

Camila pocketed her phone and flashed Mel a gleaming smile now that she knew who she was referring to. She was on her way to make yet another apology, but when Mel mentioned about old times, she had a flash of memories. Gymnastics back when she had lived in Columbus before moving, things were as good as they could be. She had Ludvig and her gymnastic friends. Even though she cherished her time in S.I., there had always been something special about the place she grew up and the friends she made.

[color=CD5C5C]“Well, I was thinking about trying for the cheer squad. Figure I could put my gymnastics talents to use [i]somehow[/i],”[/color] she admitted with a laugh. [color=CD5C5C]“And Tiff sounds like a doll. Like someone you must protect from the scum of the earth.”[/color]

[color=CE0F3D]“Absolutely. I mean if anyone was to hurt Tiff, I would slash them eight new mouths,”[/color] Melissa confirmed. [color=CE0F3D]“She is a sweet, innocent bean. But I mean, you don’t have to try for the cheer squad, girl.”[/color] She winked. [color=CE0F3D]“You’re talking to the freaking Julianne Hough of the team. Like I got the magic X. You’re in as long as you want it and actually show up for the tryouts. You can literally just twirl a finger and I got you, cause you still got connections here, Cami. You can get off the Bus, but the Bus remembers you.”[/color] Melissa was going for that Game of Thrones vibe, but much like the final season, it likely fell flat on its face.

Camila laughed at her last comment. [color=CD5C5C]“You might have the H.B.I.C. energy, but you still have that corny sense of humor that always made me smile back in the day.”[/color] Cami could remember it fondly. Melissa making jokes that usually fell flat, but when practices and drills were tough, that was one of the few things that brightened up her days back then -- well, that and baconators every other Fridays at Wendy’s. 

[color=CE0F3D]“The privilege of being a friend,”[/color] Melissa smiled as she seemed to have tapped enough nostalgia to convince Cami that she was being real. Or maybe Cami was tapping into the younger self that Mel thought she had done a good job of burying during her rise to the top of the food chain at Rosefell. Revertigo was real and it was dangerous. [color=CE0F3D]“Just don’t spread the word, I’m the head cheerleader, not the class clown. I have a certain reputation to uphold. But,”[/color] she put her hand on Cami’s shoulder, [color=CE0F3D]“that reputation means that you’re gonna be a queen here, Cami. I know it’s not New York, but it’s definitely got its perks. For example, we are gonna be well stocked for that lake party on Friday night. As a Thorn, you get access to the goods. While all the fools are drinking cheap Keystone Lights, we will have a cooler flush with the nectar of the gods, Bacardi Breezers. Orange, Lime and Cranberry. None of that Pineapple sludge, and I will be happy to share the fine beverages with my dear amigo.”[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]“This party you’re talking about,”[/color] Camila began, [color=CD5C5C]“would that be the same party that Aria is hosting?”[/color] She asked Melissa.

[color=CE0F3D]“I believe she is handling the hosting duties,”[/color] Melissa nodded. [color=CE0F3D]“She’s good at it. It’s her thing.”[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]“Duly noted!”[/color] Cami made sure to mentally note that about Aria. If she was to be a future queen of whatever, she would definitely need to know the powers that be and what sort of powers they possessed. [color=CD5C5C]“How crazy do parties here get?”[/color] She asked with curiosity in her eyes.

[color=CE0F3D]“Honestly, it depends,”[/color] Mel admitted. [color=CE0F3D]“They can be pretty tame, but given this is the first party of the school year, it will be a shitshow. I know JK will be there, and she puts the ‘High’ in Ohio. So, I mean, I don’t know if that is more your thing, but that is an option. But I’d say there will be crazy enough that there will be a drunken football player jousting tournament at this one. I can tell you who to put your money on.”[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]“If they are anything like the ones back in Staten, then I’m sure the place to be is far away from their stupidity,”[/color] she bluntly said, laughing. [color=CD5C5C]“Unless the jocks here happen to be shockingly tame?”[/color]

[color=CE0F3D]“Not a chance. They are all pretty stupid.”[/color] Melissa had confirmed this fact up close. [color=CE0F3D]“But we will have vehicles parked far away from the clashes. And if necessary, we can sacrifice Steph’s minivan.”[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]“There are no losers in that scenario,”[/color] Camila shrugged, showing no love for the atrocity that was the minivan.

Melissa giggled. [color=CE0F3D]“I know, right?”[/color] Cami was already fitting back in like a glove. It was like she had never left. [color=CE0F3D]“Anyway, I have to head to American History, but if you want to give me your number, I would be much happier to fill you in on the history you missed out on while I am forced to endure that snorefest. I mean, seriously, I know the country is screwed. What’s the point of learning more about the past?[/color] Melissa had her phone out at this point. It was amazing she had went this long without it being immediately accessible.

[color=CD5C5C]“We were screwed since 2016,”[/color] Camila cackled, handing Melissa her phone as she took the blonde’s. One selfie and contact creation later, Camila was in Mel’s contacts and Mel was in hers. [color=CD5C5C]“And done!”[/color] She flashed Mel a smile. [color=CD5C5C]“If you get bored during class, feel free to slide into my DMs.”[/color]

[color=CE0F3D]"I can guarantee that will happen very quickly in American History,"[/color] Melissa confirmed. [color=CE0F3D]"Anyway, talk soon!"[/color] With a twinkle of her fingers, Melissa bid her reacquainted friend adieu. There would be plenty of time to get Cami up to speed on the goings on with the school and the plans that the Thorns had for the upcoming year. For now, there was lip service to be paid. Mr. Watney probably would go on and on about wars and junk for the first month. It was time to see if the syllabus would confirm that.

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