As soon as Lexi leaves, I get straight into the shower and scrub a whole day of flying grit from my body. Attempting to find clothes buried in my bags, that were not dirty or wrinkled was not an easy task, so I got stuck into unpacking as much as I could before a loud knock on my door interrupts my hang and fold routine. As soon as I unlock and open the door, Candice springs into the room and executes a series of turns and a perfect grande jette.

"Are you ready to mingle?" She says as she not- so-subtlety takes in my appearance, and gives me a small shake of her head in response. I'm still in a towel and I have soaking wet hair, what was she expecting? As I look at her, I realise she is dressed, of course, to perfection.

She is now wearing too-tight, deep blue jeans that accentuate her tiny curves, which she has matched with a simple white tank top and colourful kimono over the top. She is effortlessly gorgeous in her small tan heels and  hair is let loose around her shoulders in soft curls. She has refreshed her make up. Though it's only a simple outfit, she still manages to look like she has been dressed by a professional stylist.

She makes me feel so daggy! Great. What the hell am I going to wear?

"Need some help?" She says, as though she has heard my inner dialogue. She stalks over to my closet and starts to rummage through my freshly hung and folded clothing, before I even get a chance to answer.

This is the kind of friend I need. Slightly forceful, confident, with a hint of bossy and a tonne of sass.

I see items of clothing being tossed into the air over her head, they scatter through the air like pieces of coloured confetti. I guess it doesn't matter now that I just spent precious time folding and sorting these items and placing them in the closet.

"Ah ha." She says finally with a satisfied grin on her pink painted lips.

"Here, put this on with these and then I'll help you with your hair?" She hands me some black tight jeans that roll up slightly at the bottom and a black lace tank to match. She stares at me and raises a brow.

"So that wasn't a question?" I ask, and snatch the clothes from her and trudge into the bathroom to change.

Guess not. I have only known her a day but I suspect that this girl gets everything she sets her mind to.

I hope a little of that runs off on me. I have confidence but in a quiet, independent kind of way. Not like this. Candice oozes self confidence and it's addictive.

After sliding into her chosen outfit and rummaging in my messy closet for some caramel slip ons, I shake my wet hair out and attempt to throw it up into a messy bun. I slap some concealer and foundation on and add some bronzer for some colour and decide that's enough effort for day one.

I step out and see that she has taken a seat on my bed. She lifts her head when she hears me come out and stands to inspect me like I am a work in progress. She lifts her hand and motions for me to spin so she can see all angles.

I oblige, slowly turning for her like a small piece of art in her personalised girlie gallery. I nervously await her response as she stairs at me through her long, mascara filled lashes.

"Yes, this will do. For now." She smiles and actually pats herself on the back.

"Why do I feel like I am now your project?" I ask with a sarcastic tone.

She winks at me, motioning for me to sit down in front of her.

"Because you are of course. I love a pet project and you, my new friend, are just the kind I like. It will be just like that movie, She's all that".

She giggles madly to herself and I take a mental note. Must watch whatever movie that is, so I know what I'm in for.

After fiddling with my hair for what feels like hours, she agrees to let me keep my good ol' messy bun and we finally head out to the welcome party. I assume it's more because she is excited to get out and meet and greet, that she allowed me to re do the quick up do and not take another hour trying to perfect my unruly do.

We grab our purses and phones and head for the lift. I pause and lock the door behind me.
Our roommates said that we would meet downstairs near the entrance to our building and meet some of the other cheer recruits and team members, so that we can all head to the welcome party together. Strength in numbers, in case there are more cheer- haters around, I think to myself.

In the lift, I can't help but fidget and fuss with my top or my hair and Candice shoots me a look.

"Anxious about seeing a certain someone?".
She raises her brows at me and I slap her arm in soft defence.

"No! Not anything like that." I assure her. Or maybe myself.

"I'm just nervous to see our new team mates. I hope I fit in". I tell her.

And again, myself.

"Oh hun, it will be fine I promise. These are our people! We like each other automatically, and if we don't, then we do a damn good job of hiding it in public." She giggles again and I join her.

Have I mentioned how much I adore this girl?

As the loud buzz lets us know we have reached the ground floor, i intake a deep, cleansing breath and steady myself before releasing.

We stroll out together as the doors open and see a huge gathering of gorgeous girls and hot guys at the entrance, including Lexie, who waves as soon as she sees us.

"Girls! There you are." She hugs me and Candice and then shuffles us forward.

"Everyone, this is Candice and Ellis, two of our newbies. Everyone make them feel welcome."

A powder puff of long, preened hair starts at us like a tidal wave and we are enveloped into hug after hug and hand shake after hand shake. We are told way too many names to remember but the gesture makes me feel more at ease. I'll have to work on remembering the names later.

One too many down under and crikey comments later, we are hearded towards the centre square, in the direction of where we got off the bus today but closer to our dorm, where a huge open square hosts a raging party out under the stars.

Candice grabs my hand a squeals.

"This is everything I dreamed of and more Aussie"!
She jumps up and down and gives me a quick hug.

I take a few more short breaths and try to relax. I'm
not  a huge drinker or party goer and this is a lot of people, but I'm well sheltered by the cheer group, the huge number of us is enough for me to shrink into the crowd of beauties and go unseen.

Candice starts to bop along to the music being played over a large set of speakers set next  to a small stage and dj set up.

The collective cheer group join her and the crowd begins to part a little as we are shuffled to the centre of the open dance floor.

I feel my heart beating fast. I wasn't expecting this straight up but I know if I shrink back too much now, it will make more of a spectacle.

I start to sway with the music, Candice has her eyes on me and smiles with encouragement. I let the hard thumping of the beat guide my body. I close my eyes and imagine I'm back in my room at home, dancing on my own, letting my heart and hands be moved with the beat.

I open my eyes and watch as the crowd of cheer crew dance expertly around me. A bubble of happiness bursts from my chest and I let loose. This is my home and I love it already. These are my people!

As the next song transitions, Candice squeezes my hand and pulls me close so I can hear her over the noise;

"Someone can't stop watching you."

She nods her head to our left and I see a group of burley guys sitting on some benches, enjoying the free dance-porn show I presume.

I gloss over their faces and recognise one, Gerbal surfer guy. As soon as my eyes meet his, he smiles.

"Ah, more like he is enjoying the free show." I gesture to the crowd of gorgeous people dancing around us.

"Nu uh..." she says, shaking her head.

"He hasn't stopped staring at you since you started to sway your hot bod"!
She emphasises the last part with a small slap on my ass and throws her head back in laughter.

"He is hot girl, go for it"

I shake my head and laugh at her, as we continue to dance together.

"I told you, I'm not into him, at all, Besides, look at all this eye candy, he is spoilt for choice."

She makes a pshhh sound at me and continues to dance. I can't help but feel the eyes boring into my back and as I dance around to face him again, I see that he is still watching me. I make sure not to make eye contact with him and start to feel self conscious about myself.

"I need a drink" I yell to Candice as she moves expertly to the music.

"Ok, grab me one too." She smiles and continues her solo routine next to Lexie and a huge hulk of a guy who's name I can't remember.

I nod and head out of the swarm of cheerleaders and walk towards the corner of the quad, where some refreshment vans have been set up.

I take a place in the line for the drinks truck when I notice someone standing quite close to my back.

Too close.

I spin around to see a mountain of a guy standing way too close to my personal bubble and I immediately take a safe step backwards, effectively tipping into the girl behind me, earning myself a scowl.

"I'm sorry", i quickly say but she turns away with a snarl.

I turn to face the mountain again and notice he has stepped back into my face.

"Gorgeous, Feel like a real drink?" He takes his eyes up and down my body. I am immediately grossed out.

He snakes his hand around my waist and pulls me into his rock hard frame awkwardly and way too personal for my liking.

"Ah, no thanks." I say and try to escape his hold but he only holds tighter, bending down to my shoulder and trying to speak directly into my ear. His breath is hot and wreaks of alcohol.

"Ok, how about we skip the drinks then and go find somewhere more private?"

Again, he pulls me impossibly close and I can smell the stink on his breath close to my cheek.

I'm about to attempt to throat punch him or something as he begins to grind on me, when he is suddenly flung away from me, pulling my top with him in the process and tearing the lace at the bottom a little.

He looks as shocked as I am to see that Gerbal- surfer guy is holding him by the shirt collar and as he flings him to the side, alcohol mountain loses his balance and tumbles down the two stairs below us.

"I believe she said no Chase." He says, scowling at the mess of a man on the ground.

"Jeezus Gerb? I was just having some fun. Fuck."

He says and stands up to his giant size again.

"Go have fun somewhere else dick and stop harassing my friend."

"How do you even know her?"

He smiles at me and winks.

"We are old friends."

Mountain, who I now know is called Chase, slumps off towards the centre of the dance floor again and it isn't long before he is man handling some more innocent girls and earning slaps left, right and centre.

I turn back to Gerb and give him a relieved smile.

"Thank you. Again. You seem to be making a habit of bailing me out today."

"You are just lucky I happen to have excellent timing."

He smiles at me again, and this time his smile reaches the edge of his face and shows two perfect dimples. It adorable. And I can see how this works for him. His look, his smile. Damn. I bet this is how he sucks them all in. Well, not me. I think. I hope.

"Guess so." I reply, realising again that I am just standing there staring at him.

"Well, see you around Aussie. Watch out for those jocks ok. New cheer girls are easy targets you see."

He flashes his dimple smile again and turns to walk off.

"Got it. And no offence taken by the way." I say, feeling like fresh meat for the slaughter.

"Later Ellis" he says as he stalks down the steps, without facing me. A bevy of heads follow as he walks by a small group of girls and he gives them a small smile, but no dimples for them. Just me, I think to myself.

"How do you know Bayne?" A pretty, petite blonde next to me says, her head cocked to the side, surveying my look in a very obvious way.

"I don't, not really." I reply and turn to face the front of the line up again.

"Well, he seems to know you." She says with a gruff tone and turns back to her friends.

I realise that she is right. He called me by my name. He must have taken notice on the bus today.

I step up to order some drinks and can't get him off my mind.

Maybe he was really just in the right place at the right time. Again. Yes. I'm sure that's it. He has plenty of people staring after him that he could go for, easily. And with not much effort on his part it seems. What would he want with me?