Sagehen Mesa - Season 2 - Episode 1- Jolene's First Semester

 At last!

I'm able to chart my own course now and I'm free to have my own adventures without anyone telling me I can't. 

I'm living in a cute little apartment a short walk from Sunset Valley Community College where I'm taking classes and working toward a degree in technology. The apartment is right across the street from this cool swimming pool. 

I've met a lot of interesting people, but I've come to realize that growing up in a small town where everyone knows everyone and growing up with my peers from a very young age has stunted my ability to make new friends. Things will go just fine at the start: I introduce myself, we chat a bit, then the next thing I know, I've said the wrong thing and either confused them or insulted them without trying to. It's so embarrassing!  In spite of this I have managed to make a couple friends this semester. 

 

Of course I have to check out all the bars now that I'm of legal age. I met a bartender named Sonia Ochoa, (well actually, she was just moonlighting as a bartender - she's really a political science student who's interning at the City Hall.) Anyway, we got to talking, and she said she was trying to find a cheaper place to live so she could ditch the bartending and focus on her studies and career goals. I told her my apartment has a spare bedroom, so I was looking for a roommate. A few days later she moved in.

 She's nice, but we're not all that close. We talk about going out clubbing together some night, but our schedules and project get in the way. 

My best friend here at school is Ashely DeSorrento. It's really nice to have a gal pal. I've never really had one before. The only other girls my age back in Sagehen Mesa were my sister and a few girls who spent most of their time babysitting to earn their college money. Ashley can be a lot of fun, even if she's addicted to taking selfies. 

I met her one day when I was out at the park introducing myself to several people and trying to improve my social skills. We were both hungry, so I suggested we try out one of the clubs and grab something to eat while we were there. 

I ordered us a large serving of onion rings, and Ashely was fascinated! It was like she had never seen onion rings before. 

We each had a plate of onion rings, then I went to dance, and she went back and ordered some more!

I think she felt like she was being judged by others in the bar, so she told me she was going to go to the bar next door and check it out. When I went over to find her a little later, she was sitting at the bar eating yet ANOTHER order of onion rings. 

I ordered a drink called a Big Mistake. It really had an effect on me!

Jolene's usual personality traits. 

Jolene's personality after drinking a Big Mistake. 

Ashley never ordered a drink, just kept on eating those onion rings. I watched her devour four plates of those things before we parted ways. 

"It was nice hanging out with you, Ashley. Next time I want to pig out on onion rings, I'll know who to call!" I said. Then I realized that didn't sound very nice. Dang it! Luckily, Ashely didn't take offense. 

We had other get-togethers and bonded over onion rings. She always ate about 4 plates and sometimes would throw an order of nachos in for good measure. Finally, I asked her why she was so obsessed with onion rings and why she could eat plates and plates of them and still be hungry. 

"My parents were very strict about what me and my sisters were allowed to eat," she explained. "My mom was a former beauty pageant competitor who never won a crown. She was determined that one of her daughters would accomplish what she never could, so she limited our portions and never let us eat fried food." 

"Dad couldn't take eating what he called 'rabbit food' anymore, and I think that's the main reason they got divorced."

(And I thought MY parents were whacky!)

"Sorry if I'm oversharing. I'm usually not comfortable talking about these things with anyone. You're easy to talk to," she said.

My other friend is a guy - Alden Lawson. Yes, that Alden Lawson. The handsome, rich and famous author. We met at the library on campus. I admit I was star-struck!

I asked him for his autograph. (I'm so cringe!) but he obliged. 

I finally got ahold of myself, introduced myself, and we chatted. 

He was such a nice guy. He doesn't like flirty girls though, so I need to rein it in. I'm used to flirting with the boys to get them to do things for me, whether that is helping me locate a buzzberry farm or taking me to prom. I tried to impress Alden with my exploits as a private investigator, but he wasn't impressed. I guess he thought I was either bragging or lying. I'm not sure which. I learned that Alden has a girlfriend, but I met the girl a few weeks later, and she wasn't anything to write home about. I think I can steal him from her if I'm patient and take my time. For now we are just friends, but hopefully someday we'll be more than that and I can live in a great big mansion with lots of servants and wear fancy clothes and go to glamorous social events. That would be SO COOL! 

Sent Alden several friendly texts to wear him down a bit, then I invited him over to my house. I hope Sonia doesn't get any ideas about stealing him away from me!

I cut in and talked about my classes, and we made plans to go work out at the gym together. Then Ashely called and invited me over to the sorority house. Ashley is living in the same sorority that her mother lived in when she went to college. I asked her if I could bring a friend with me. Boy will she be surprised! We gussied up and went over. 

I hope you don't mind me bringing Alden with me, we had planned on spending the afternoon together, I explained. 

"He's a best selling author; perhaps you've heard of him? He writes those mysteries with that big fluffy dog that helps the police solve their cases. You know Woof Twice for Guilty, and The Big Bad Woof, and the rest of the Woof series. They are some of my favorite books. They got me interested in becoming a private investigator. Well Alden's books and my cool Uncle Sam who's also a PI." 

"Alden's really handsome, don't you think?"

"All this rain should really bring out the flowers in a few days, don't you agree?" 

I invited Alden for a little cuddle on the couch, but he shot me down. How embarrassing! Men are a lot harder to woo than high school boys. 

I shared a few ideas for plots for his next book, but he just smiled and nodded. Then I had to use the bathroom, and found the toilet clogged. 

While I was trying to fix that problem, I guess Alden got a phone call from another girl inviting him to another party, so he made his excuses and left. 

He's a hard nut to crack! Anyway, I met the other sorority sisters. 

Hanna Germanotta is a social activist and a snappy dresser. 

Ye Gangnam was nice enough, but something seemed a little off about her. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was though. 

The last girl was Shannon Arkers. She seems a little funny looking, but I really need to stop being so judgmental. One thing college does is expose you to all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. 

Some are obnoxious, like Ze Lei Cusack who I see at the library a lot. 

There's also Darrel Buzzby, a handsome Native American man, who seems to like to be outside, rain or shine. 

We get along really well, and if things don't work out with Alden and me, I'd be willing to give Darrel a shot. 

I met another guy, who I think is Mormon. He's pretty clean-cut, and he's younger than me, but he's married already. I thought he was a nice guy and we could be friends, . . . 

but then right after telling me he's married, he started flirting with me. Ick! 

I also met a musician named Scott Nimmo. He could be another contender if Alden and me don't connect. 

Time flies, and my first semester is over. I passed the chemistry class with flying colors, but bombed the computer science final. Sonia has been a really good sport and has been helping me with my technology projects.

Hopefully this will give me a leg up on the next semester's classes. After finals I went to the Fall Festival to blow off some steam. I ran into by two besties there, and we challenged each other to a pie eating contest. 

Ashley might be able to eat more, but I can eat faster! I won the contest!

Alden had to quit and ended up puking. 

Even though I clearly won the contest, Ashley would not give up until she cleaned her plate. Then she went and bought a hamburger because she was still hungry. 

That girl's got a hollow leg!

Alden came to the festival with his girlfriend, so I couldn't work my magic on him, but I met another guy who really seems to be interested in me. His name is Lane Vogel. He was very flirty with me to the point of being too push for my taste.

That's it for now. We'll see what next semester brings.