Chapter 2 - how the other half live

Back in Bobbi’s dorm, it was a lot livelier. The place was packed full of loud, extraverted guys who liked their drink and fun times. Bobbi was sure that most people would have hated it; certainly her mother did, as she dropped her off one weekend and saw a team of overexcited guys playing a rowdy game of football through the corridors, dressed in just their underwear. However, Bobbi found that she suited the lifestyle perfectly. Besides Edith, she had always got on with the guys so much better than other girls. Guys said what they thought, without the bullshit or mind games, and Bobbi respected that. Her figure was small and petite, having thankfully not inherited the gigantic breasts of her Aunt Jan, who always complained of back ache.

Combined with her general lack of interest in make-up, Bobbi's plain features and love of oversized sweaters, made her fly under the radar of these boys. It might have seemed strange for Bobbi, a girl who was so mad about guys, to admit that she liked this situation; but that was the absolute truth. She wasn’t harassed or objectified in the way some girls were. She got by on her wit, personality and humour alone. She was one of the boys and could quietly drink any one of them under the table; a skill that was weirdly respected in that environment.

Although Edith’s dorm was fine, here there was no chance to be lonely. There was always someone around to drink with, or smoke a joint. Bobbi hadn’t really expected to be so accepted by the guys as she was, and that was the most pleasant and surprising part of it all. Unlike the douchebag little boys who ruled the sports teams in high school, here, even the most ultra-macho football players were up for some fun; pulling some stupid prank or getting up to mischeief with her. Bobbi had a smart mouth and an intolerance for backstabbing or pettiness. She knew what it was like to be bullied for not being the type of person others thought she should be; or for daring to stand up for what she believed in. However, in college, people seemed to love her for her outspoken ways. They revelled in her blunt, honest and witty analyses of situations. Everyone knew her in the building and… it was actually hard to comprehend this, but, for the first time in her life, Bobbi was actually one of the popular crowd.

“Hey, Bobbi! Go long!” cried a deep, masculine voice, as a tall, handsome guy suddenly appeared in the corridor. He held a football in his enormous hand and was preparing to launch it at full speed at her. She dropped her cell phone and notepad straight away, knowing she only had milliseconds to react in time. Tommy’s throws were always the most powerful, and when it launched towards her, she had to be ready. Her hands swept up, forming the diamond shape the guys had taught her, and she threw herself back to brace for its impact. In her controlled fall, she flew back into the kitchen door, as the ball finally connected with her. She hadn’t realised that Paul and a crowd of other guys were inside, waiting to tackle her. Then she launched herself those extra few feet, pushing her small body as fast as it would go; swivelling and diving past them all and landing flat on her face; until she reached across the untidy, makeshift line that had been marked, amateurishly across the kitchen floor. Touchdown!

Bobbi heard a roar of cheers and delight all around her. Guys fell down upon her and then picked her up off the floor. She was ambushed by excited, noisy hugs. Her short hair was ruffled and thrown completely out of style.

“That was awesome!” cried Tommy approvingly, before turning with the ball that had just been passed back to him and kicking it down the long corridor, without a care for where it landed. In a sudden rush, it was quickly followed by all the guys who had surrounded Bobbi. Like dogs after a stick, Bobbi felt the rush of wind as they dispersed just as suddenly as they seemed to envelope her. The kitchen door swung closed and, but for the noisy cries and howls of the boys, getting further and further away, she was alone once more. She smiled to herself, dusted herself off, and tried to recall where the hell she had put her cell phone.