Game Changers Series

Lisa

Tanya, my roommate, screamed at me once again to get ready, “You coming or not?”

I sighed as I brushed my dyed blonde bob once again, wishing I had never cut it short. I wished I could pull it up into a ponytail, like I used to do back in high school, before coming to UCLA. I’d put my hair up, keep my head down, and pretend the last year hadn’t happened.

As for my clothes, I’d gone up a couple of sizes. No... more like three, which meant I had a limited amount. I had two skirts, two pants, and a couple of shirts, which hugged my body nicely—not like the rest, which I couldn’t even zip up. Mom couldn’t afford to buy me a full closet for college, and I promised to work on my body so I could fit back into my old clothes. The same ones I had stuffed into my rucksack before the FBI put a lock on our house and told us we had to move out.

“Yeah. I’m coming.” I sighed, thinking I could do with just staying in the dorm, the place I’d decorated enough to call it home.

She laughed and flicked her dark hair to the side, and her blue eyes shone. “We’re just going to sign you up as a cheerleader, it’s not a job interview.”

I nodded as I stared at my new roommate. I’d been at college for all of one week and so far, she’d done nothing but try to get me out of the room. She didn’t know my secret, no one did. I changed my name to my mom’s maiden name and even lied about where I’d come from. I told her Kansas, not New York. But that was where we’d been living for the last year, and I used to go there on vacation to my grandparents’ farm, so in a way it wasn’t a lie, but more by omission.

Mom was born and raised in Kansas, and as much as she tried to be a city girl, Dad would always complain she was really a country girl at heart.

Tanya looked cute, like a real LA girl in her pink dress hanging on her small frame. Everything she wore made her look good. I used to look and feel that way. I needed to get my confidence back if I was going to survive UCLA, but some things were easier said than done.

I nodded as I pulled my shirt down, thinking that the two pants I had claimed still fit were turning into one.

“When do you start your shift at the library?”

“Monday.” I sighed, thinking that it was the only job I could get on campus that fit with my classes, allowing me to study and bring in enough money to support myself.

“Gee, girl. Don’t always be so down.”

“Yeah, but I’m not like you. I’m not all bubbly and fun. And being on a scholarship isn’t fun, either. Well, not with LA prices,” I replied in my defense.

She hugged me. “It’s not that bad. I’m on a scholarship, too. And I’m not rich enough to have a Gucci bag like you.”

I shook my head, thinking about the lie I told her when she was looking at my things in the closet, when she was showing me around campus and telling me I needed to wear something other than the same dress every day.

“I told you it’s a fake.”

She waved her finger. “Yeah, but my aunt does fake. I mean, she goes to Dubai whenever she can, and she always has a fake Gucci something. I know the difference between a fake Gucci with the girls on campus and a real one. And your bag is some fake. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world that could make a fake like that.”

I had to stick to my lie. I felt my face turn red, hating whenever she brought it up. Quickly changing the subject, I said, “Well, let’s get going.”

Tanya was a military child. She’d traveled to places I’d never heard of, and her aunt was a fashion enthusiast like her. They loved the industry, and Tanya had the brains to get a scholarship. Her degree would be her back-up, and she would get into her genuine passion, fashion—even if it meant just doing the books of a fashion house.

I smiled at her, not ready to share my secret yet. She was friendly enough, but we’d only known each other for a week. Mom warned me I had to keep it to myself, but sometimes it was hard. I needed to talk to someone, and part of me wondered if Tanya would be the one person I could trust.

I went to the door and picked up my Gucci purse—which was my ticket to having excess money if I needed it, and also why it was still in the box. I had to appear to use it and show Tanya that it was fake—even if it wasn’t—and keep it in good condition in case I needed to sell it—treading that fine line wasn’t easy. It was worth over five thousand, but if I kept going out with it, I wouldn’t even get half its real value second-hand.

“For a fake, you treat it as if it’s precious.”

I smiled, knowing that I had to open it and put my phone inside, and at the same time not wanting to put anything in it. Damn, this was too hard. I walked in front of her, thinking I would give it time. 

If things kept going well with her, I would tell her the truth. I couldn’t lie to my one potential friend on campus, especially seeing as we shared the same room. It would be too hard.

She closed the door behind us and then enveloped my arm. She was cute and just the type of energy I needed in my life—someone who was full of hope and always thought the best. I used to be like that about two years ago. I just had to get it back, even if it was so damn hard.

* * *

When we arrived to sign up for tryouts, it was busy with the typical girls who would be at the cheerleader stand. Tall girls with long legs, long hair, and long eyelashes. The girls who belonged on the cheerleader team, a team I used to be a part of back in high school—until I was not only kicked off, but had my captain status taken away from me, too.

“How can we help you?” the girl with the clipboard asked as we approached the front of the line.

Tanya giggled. “We’re here to sign up for the team.”

She winked at me as if to say, silly question, but she played along with the girl with the clipboard.

The girl giggled and called for the other two girls’ attention. “Look, we have the freaks ready to sign-up, as usual. What is it with you freshmen? Always wanting to be part of something that you couldn’t be back in high school.” The girl and her friends laughed at us.

For a split-second, I felt as if I was back at high school, when I was captain of the cheerleader team. But seeing a reflection of how I would treat others made me mad. I had changed; I wasn’t that person anymore, so I stood up for myself and my friend.

“We’re not freaks, and I don’t appreciate you calling me or my friend that. We want to try out, and we have as much right as everyone,” I said as a wave of anger grew inside of me.

“Well, this one’s too short. I mean, she’s tiny. Are you sure you’re old enough to be in college?” She pointed to Tanya, who went red.

Tanya backed away as I snarled, “Give me the clipboard or else.” I never realized how short Tanya was or even cared about her height, but she told me she always wore two-inch heels to compensate for it. Her dark eyes filled with tears as humiliation set in.

“And as for you. Don’t you belong at the donut shop,” she snorted.

“Right? Ms. Piggy!”

With that, she stopped laughing, as I’d embarrassed her about her laughter.

Without hesitation, I moved away from her, created some space, and did a mid-back flip. I did it with all the confidence and grace in the world, and when I finished, my hand was up in the air, waiting for her to say something. All I could hear was a round of applause.

“Well, it looks like she showed you, Fiona. And besides, it’s rude to discriminate and stop freshmen from trying out,” the hottest guy I’ve ever seen said. His hazel eyes reflected against the sun, and my eyes dropped to his chiseled jaw and how his shirt hugged his body, leaving nothing to the imagination. I mean, I could see that he was ripped, whoever he was. Instead of her saying that Tanya or I couldn’t try out, Fiona dumped the clipboard on the table, crossed her arms, and pouted as she looked the other way.

Whoever my hero was winked at me, and as casually as he came to the stall, he walked away.

He had a presence—the type that when he walked into a store, all heads turned toward him. Everyone felt the need to bow down to him, not only because of his beauty but also his authority.

“You’re lucky!” Fiona bit back. I did not know what she meant. My heart was beating out of control, and I could still smell the woodsy scent he left behind.

“Dane, the team captain, says that I should give you a chance, so I’m giving it to you, little one. Fill in the deets. Tryouts are tomorrow at nine, don’t be late.”

I turned to Tanya, who was still looking into the space Dane once filled. I wanted to say something to Fiona or even Tanya, but no words would leave my mouth as my mouth went round in a circle.

She laughed. “You can look at him all you want. But guys like Dane aren’t interested in girls like you. He needs a real woman… someone like me.”

With that, she moved us to the side as the next set of recruits—who were mirror versions of her—asked if they could sign up. She was nicer to them, polite even—the same hospitality I would have given everyone who had tried out in high school—and they talked as if they were old friends.

I took Tanya’s hand and we walked away from them.

“Sorry, I just… I don’t know,” she said as she finally broke the silence. No more was she holding back the tears, but they were flowing as if her fight to hold them back had caved in.

“Hey,” I said as I hugged her. “Don’t let anyone take your spirit away, especially the likes of Fiona.”

She pulled back. “I know. It’s just, back in high school, they used to tease me about being short, but since I’ve been here, everyone’s been so nice, you know.”

The idea that people would tease anyone like Tanya flashed through my mind. Kids could be cruel at the worst of times.

“I can’t believe anyone would tease you.”

She laughed without humor. “Yeah. They were kind of cruel about it. Tease isn’t the right word, more like bully.” She pulled a tissue from her purse and wiped her face. “You’re right. I should be used to it… but it still gets to me.”

I knew the feeling too well. “Yeah, like me and my weight.”

“Please! You could flaunt that sexy ass if you wanted to, but you choose not to.”

This time I was the one smiling, as I remembered I was supposed to be cheering her up, not bringing my own insecurities into this.

“Especially with that purse. I could tell she was jealous of it. Shit, we all are.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sing another song, Tanya. We need to work on our routine and make sure we get on the squad. We’ll show Fiona what we’re made of.”

“Oh, and get it on with the quarterback, too. Sound like something that was on your agenda?”

“The man is fine. I know you’ve got a boyfriend, but that can’t make you blind.”

“Hell no! There’s no denying that he’s fine. Right, let’s work on our routine. We only have a day.”

I agreed. “Not long for us to get to work.”

We had to pull together and put Fiona in her place. I hated bullies, and I had a big crush on the quarterback. I didn’t even know his surname, but then again, I didn’t care. He stood up for us and made me want to get to know him better from head to toe. I had dirty thoughts about a guy I didn’t even know. This was so not like me, especially after what happened with the last guy I dated, who humiliated me repeatedly.

No, LA was a new start, and I had to put the past behind me and only think about the future being bright.

“Let’s get onto the squad!” I said as we marched up the stairs.