18 GIRL POWER
After leaving the hospital, Zoe went to the airport to fetch Erin.
"Hey!" Zoe beamed as she approached her long-time friend, Erin, who had just gotten off from the plane at Coffs Harbour Airport.
She looks elegant with her button-through floral maxi dress and a smocked waist with tassel tie. But her mannerism is the exact opposite.
Erin rushed to her, dragging her king-sized suitcase behind. "Zoeeee!" She screamed energetically as if she hadn't been on an eight-hour-long flight.
Zoe removed her bronze sunglasses and chuckled as she gazed at her lovely friend who was zigzagging with her load and her stilettos towards her.
She may have preferred to be alone on this vacation, but now that she sees Erin, it might not be bad after all.
After she saw Erin, their good old memories flashed through her mind. In particular, the first moment they met in the university…
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She was waiting patiently in line at the Registrar's Building when Erin greeted her.
"Excuse me, are you Zoe Cheng?" She asked politely with both of her hands together and blinking eyes as if she's a lost behaved scholar who was looking for her study mate.
Zoe pushed back her eyeglasses, which were on the brink of falling on her nose. She nodded to her and timidly responded, "You're Erin, right?"
"I knew it!" Erin clenched his fist and squealed as she made a yes gesture. "Hello, batch mate! Oh my gosh, it's my first time here in this country. It's great to know that I am not alone!" She waved her arms and hugged Zoe tightly.
Zoe flinched and jerked her head backward. She was not into the habit of hugging or being hugged by someone. Whenever she was at school, she was always by herself and her books.
"I'm getting all giddy!" She muttered and bounced from foot to foot. "Anyway, I will just be at the end of the line. Let's chat afterward, okay?" She grinned as she danced away.
Zoe shifted and moved as the student in the front of the line advanced. She was dazed that someone from her homeland would be in the same school as she was.
Because of the dreadful memories that she had back during their middle-school year, she decided to study in a state far from theirs for her pre-medical course. She hoped that here, she could start a new life with no one knowing about her past.
'That was weird. Of all my classmates before who could've been with me in this university in this land, why Erin?' She thought to herself as she pulled her newly bought books against her chest.
'At least, it's not Savanah.' She quickly replied to herself and nodded. She is shaking her head to stop the conversation going on in her mind when two girls cut into the queue and jump in front of her, even knocking her slightly to give way.
'What? I thought these things only happen during middle school years.' Zoe murmured without saying anything. She stepped back so the girls could have spaces for themselves.
"Hey, Zoe Cheng!" Erin shouted who was a few distances behind her. She also fell in line where Zoe was, although there were other lines for other windows.
Zoe turned around and blushed as she looked at Erin. She was not used to hearing her name called out loud in public.
She also glanced at other students who might have heard her name, thinking that someone might know her. Fortunately, they were all busy minding their own business.
"Yeah?" Zoe said.
"Nothing! I'm just letting you know that I'm still here! I didn't cut in the line because I respected the people behind you!" She called out to her, hoping the two girls in front of her would get a hint.
Now the people who were waiting in line behind Zoe were conscious that there were cheaters in front of them and started grumbling in whispers.
They have been in line even before the registrar opened until near lunchtime. And now these two just came in like they have just woke up and had time to eat both breakfast and midmorning snacks.
Zoe glanced at the girls in front of her who were still acting oblivious as they chattered away. 'These girls are shameless.' She grumbled inwardly looking back to where Erin was.
To her surprise, she was already a few inches away from her side and glaring at the two indifferent girls in front of her.
"Hey," She poked on one of them. The girl turned back and looked at Erin. "I think that spot was my friend's."
'Whoa! We're friends now?' Zoe thought to herself as she hid behind Erin knowing how things would turn out.
The brash girl gave Erin a once-over and said with a raised eyebrow, "And yours was? Do you even know what line this is?"
"Of course! This was for…" She moved sideways to check what is written on the front window of the line where they are. It was covered with the backs of the students a while ago that's why she wasn't able to see it.
"Scholarship." Erin's smile stiffened as she realized just where she was which was written on bold letters in front of the window. She wanted to slap herself from embarrassment.
There is no way she would fall in that line! If their classmates during mid-school were there, they would certainly laugh their hearts out.
Of course, it's a different matter for Zoe who always aced in their exams. 'Why didn't I think about that before falling in line?' Erin wanted to cry in regret.
The girl laughed in mockery as she glanced at Erin from head to foot. "Really? I bet you don't even know what a metacarpal is."
'Now the ball was on this girl's side,' Zoe muttered glancing empathetically at her newfound friend. 'I must help her.'
She tugged on Erin as if she was stopping her, but in fact, she was giving Erin a clue as she dribbled her fingers on her arms.
Fortunately, Erin was quick-witted enough to get it. She drew a deep breath, crossed her arms, raised her eyebrow, and smirked.
"Of course I do. And if you won't scramble to the end of the line at my count of three, you will feel my metacarpals on your hair and drag you there. One…"
The two girls didn't even wait for number two before they scurried to the end of the line. Erin and Zoe giggled and high-fived.
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Friends help each other through thick and thin.
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