Recruitment (OPEN!)

[Carleigh Davidson]

Dressed in the school's cheerleading uniform, Carleigh enthusiastically waved around her pom poms, trying to get other student's attention. The cheerleading squad at Hammel had always been a relatively small one. Contrary to popular television shows, it didn't garner a lot of attention or students wanting to join. Maybe there were misconceptions and stereotypes that kept a lot of people from joining, and so the squad was out in the courtyard, trying to get other people to see how fun it could be. Carleigh had been nervous when she tried out all those years ago, unsure if she was even remotely athletic enough. But they accepted everyone, regardless of personal experience or skill. For someone as bubbly and outgoing as the blonde, it was the perfect hobby and a great way to stay fit while making friends.

Her eyes flickered between students' faces, all avoiding eye contact with her. A slight frown appeared on Carleigh's face, but it was quickly wiped away as she narrowed in on a lone student walking by. Perfect. She bounded over, stepping right in front of them with a cheerful grin.

"Hey! You ever hear about Hammel's cheerleading squad?" She asked, launching right into her recruitment speech. Carleigh was determined to get people to join, no matter what. "Because you should join!"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Adjusting to a different schedule was quite harsh for the Brit, having been dedicated to the same one for several years. She always knew going to university would change this, but it was still off putting. Especially now that she was thinking of two schedules instead of just one.

There were times when two schedules never completely matched up – days where Penelope wouldn’t have classes when she did. Or, as was the case today, where Penelope got out of class later in the day.

She walked through the courtyard in silence. Without an Australian by her side, there was nobody else to fill that space, and honestly the psychometrist preferred it that way. Although, she had never taken it into consideration that walking alone caused her to be a potential target, so when someone suddenly jumped in front of her, Penelope’s dark eyes widened and she stopped in her tracks.

Carleigh. A name that Penelope even bothered to remember, yet her reasoning was hardly positive for knowing the bubbly girl. “No.” She stated point blank, lips pressing into a hard line as she waited for the blonde to move.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Had Carleigh been paying closer attention, she would've realized that the girl she was approaching was probably the last person the blonde should be asking to join the cheerleading squad. Nothing against her, but she was practically the embodiment of anti-spirit.

Or maybe that was just her personal experience with the British girl.

She stopped in her tracks, her smile completely wiped from her face. It took a second for Carleigh to recover. There was just something... unnerving about Penny. She felt awkward around Lucy's girlfriend, for reasons she couldn't quite explain. Plastering the smile back on her face, Carleigh let her arms fall to her side, gripping the pom poms tightly in her hand. "Oh come on Penny." She teased, the nickname Lucy used for her slipping out without much thought. "I hear extra-curricular activities are just as important as grades nowadays." The blonde knew that recruiting her to the team was impossible, but she could have a little fun with her.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It wasn’t just the blonde’s interactions with Penelope to confirm her beliefs. Penelope Blaise truly was the embodiment of anti-spirit. Most especially when it came to this school. She never wore Hammel’s colors, or showed any sign of supporting any team this school had to offer.

She was there because she had to be. And she stayed because she had to.

A part of the Brit was glad to see that bubbly smile clear from the blonde’s features. How could someone be so happy apparently all of the time? But it was irksome to see how easily it came back, like the rejection Penelope offered hadn’t even deterred her.

“Penelope.” She corrected immediately, straightening her back as her fingers curled around The Complete Works of Shakespeare in her arms. It was an argument she had heard before; that doing more outside academics would somehow help push a person further in life. How, Penelope never quite understood. There was nothing to gain from waving pompoms around at a handful of Gatorade filled cavemen that cared about a ball more than the concussions they would likely receive.

Still, she stood in place, looking back at the blonde. Her girlfriend’s apparent wife. “Exactly why are they just as important?” She asked, not so much as a genuine question, but wondering what on earth this girl had in store to defend her point. Or maybe the jealous part of the psychometrist wanted to see her struggle.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Most people would be surprised to hear that it took work to be happy. Generally, Carleigh was content with her life and the way things turned out and didn't have to fake a lot of optimism. There were some days where it was a struggle, though. Today wasn't one of those days, so the smile came back without much hesitation.

"Sorry." She apologized, brushing aside the correction. Penelope... sounded too severe. Penny was much better. Her eyes landed on the book of Shakespeare in her arms, as if to emphasis Carleigh's previous statement. While academics had their place in the world, it was important for students to get involved with the community and interact with other peers. A lot of jobs required team work, and you didn't learn that cooped away reading all the time.

It took the blonde a moment to figure out what to say. Her blue eyes lit up, meeting hers a bit apprehensively. "Well..." She began, tapping her chin. "It shows that you're well rounded. Not just a jock, or a nerd. A good balance." A smug smile appeared on her face, clearly happy with her reasoning.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Carleigh’s smile was possibly too happy for her own good. Was there a single sense of realism for this bubbly blonde? Penelope doubted it. Her hold tightened around her book as Carleigh’s gaze moved to it. As if there was anything wrong with being cooped up reading all day, really, she preferred it to social interaction.

Because then things like this happened.

“There’s little wrong with being a well-rounded individual.” Penny couldn’t help but to agree on a breath, “But you don’t have to wave pompoms to prove that you are.” As if to stress her point, the Brit glanced down to the ones Carleigh held, dark eyes looking flat with her expressionless gaze.

“Although I’m sure the majority of this school needs help on their spelling, and that there are plenty of other benefits when it comes to cheerleading, it’s really not something I’m particularly interested in.” Her lips pressed together into a line with an inhale, having put the statement as nicely as she could have. As much as she irrationally disliked this girl, she was still her counterpart’s friend. Not her wife.

If she could handle Sawyer, however, she was sure she could handle her. “Thank you for asking anyway.”

[Carleigh Davidson]

The smug smile on Carleigh's face only widened when Penelope agreed that being a well-rounded individual wasn't a bad thing. It wavered and faded away when she pointed out the pom poms in her hands, dissing the one activity she loved most. Her hold on went slack, limply held now as they fell to her side with a whoosh.

Well, that went surprisingly well. Although Penny had declined, (Which is what she expected in the first place) it was in a nice way. Her gaze landed on the girl, blue eyes meeting brown. Shrugging, Carleigh said "Fair enough. I wasn't really expecting you to say yes, just having some fun." She smiled, though it was more subdued than normal. The blonde just couldn't explain it, but this bothered her, the feeling of unease when she was around her wife's counterpart. Uncomfortable, even. And it was extremely hard to make her feel that way.

"So, why don't you like being called Penny?" Carleigh asked, the words leaving her mouth before she could register them. She was curious as to what the answer would be. Plus, maybe a small conversation would help the blonde figure out why she felt as though the other girl wasn't a fan of herself.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It would have been all too easy to make this girl cry, Penelope assumed as she glanced to the way Carleigh’s pompoms fell to her side. And what was worse, was the Brit hadn’t particularly cared at the thought. She was sure it’d be different had she been mean enough to do anything to invoke tears, but as for the time being, there was something satisfying about bringing the girl who referred to herself as Lucy’s wife down a notch or two.

With the conversation coming to a thankfully prompt close, Penelope shifted the book against her chest, having every intention of continuing her trek back to her dormitory.

But Carleigh wasn’t moving.

Strangely enough, the blonde was the first to ask Penelope the question, despite how often she needed to correct people when it came to her name. The thought to ignore her honestly crossed the psychometrist’s mind, but she took in a short breath and stayed put. “Penny sounds far too childish for my liking.” She explained shortly, “It’s a common currency and the name of a small robot.” Her eyebrows furrowed together briefly, wondering why she’d offer such information to the blonde. It was hardly necessary.

[Carleigh Davidson]

A simple conversation wasn't all that simple when engaged with the preppy blonde. Carleigh enjoyed talking and could keep a conversation going for a long time, even an incredibly one-sided one. Eventually, the other person would say something and that just generated a new topic. It was a never ending cycle, until the person brought it to a close and walked away before anything else could be said.

Penny had been close there, but the question slipped through Carleigh's lips. She looked at the British girl curiously, her head tilting slightly to the side. "The name of a robot?" She repeated, never hearing of it before. "But Penelope... it just sounds so.. harsh." Carleigh wrinkled her nose.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope was very rarely the leading source of a conversation. More often than not, she’d be the one to end it. Chit chat was never something the Brit fully understood. Still, she stayed put. For some reason, the blonde wanted to chat, and there was still time before she met Lucy.

So why not find out just why her girlfriend liked her so much? To learn exactly what was so seemingly great about Carleigh.

She let out a short breath, realizing that it hadn’t made sense to reference a robot. The robot that actually no longer existed but once lived in Lucy’s room. “Yes.” She said shortly, choosing not to explain the pun based story behind it.

“It’s better than Penny.” Penelope replied with a raise of her eyebrows. Unless, of course, it was coming from a particularly accented mouth.

[Carleigh Davidson]

Blue eyes landed on the British girl, confused about the reference. Carleigh had never heard of a robot before, but maybe she had missed something. Judging from her facial expression, it seemed that Penny didn't want to talk about it. Or maybe not talk to her at all.

Seriously, what was with that? She worked hard to be nice to everyone and couldn't recall a time where she had even been slightly rude to Penny. They hadn't had much of a conversation to begin with. The only one she could remember was in the previous semester when Carleigh had come by Lucy's dorm to drop off Cassandra and Penny had been there. The day she had asked if they were together and Penny had said yes. But that didn't seem enough to warrant dislike.

Unless...

Completely ignoring her response, Carleigh blurted out "Do you not like me because I kissed Lucy? Because she's the one that kissed me and it only happened once, I swear. Meant nothing." The blonde had no idea why Lucy would tell that to her girlfriend but it seemed to be the only reasonable explanation.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It wouldn’t have been hard to explain the reference she made, but really just a waste of breath. As Carleigh’s bright eyes looked to Penelope, her eyebrows rose a sliver expectantly waiting for her to say something. Hopefully something to end this meaningless conversation.

But when the blonde blurted out, her dark eyes immediately widened. If not for the sudden outburst, but the information within it. Immediately tension rose through her back as she forced it straight, fingers tightening around the book in her hands.

“Pardon?” She asked, unable to completely strip the surprise from her tone. “She kissed you?”

This was new. Penelope sucked in a quick breath, trying to regain her composure as she stared at Carleigh with a new sudden spark of distaste. Irrational, even as the blonde stated it didn’t mean anything, it still happened.

[Carleigh Davidson]

As soon as the words left her mouth, Carleigh instantly regretted them. Even if Lucy had told Penny, how was it any of her business? They had probably discussed the matter and moved on, like diplomatic adults.

Or maybe that was a little too much to ask for.

If she didn't feel the regret of letting that secret out before, she definitely did now, as dark eyes widened in response. Oh shit what had she been thinking? Clearly she hadn't been thinking at all.

The pardon stunned the normally cheerful blonde silent. It stayed that way for a minute, trying to gather the right words to say. To defend the harmless kiss. Defend herself and Lucy and the inevitable storm coming known as Penelope.

"It... It was awhile ago. Before you were official." Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. Afraid.

"I, uh... I'm not into girls." But that only made Carleigh like she was in denial. She could safely say this was the first time in her life she was so uncomfortable, given the situation and the way Penny's eyes bore into hers.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Finally that cheerful expression was wiped from the blonde’s features. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly on the terms that Penelope was hoping for. Because she hardly expected this.

The silence between them provided little comfort to the psychometrist, confirming what she questioned. As if it really needed to be reiterated at all. And when Carleigh finally did speak, she offered the worst argument imaginable.

“When?” She asked quickly. Sharply. A one word response from Penelope was often a bad sign. She worked with precision to insure she was given the information she wanted. Because they had only became girlfriends four months ago, but there were several months of commitment before that. Although never expressly voiced as exclusive, it still had felt that way.

“Right.” Because anyone could be attracted to Lucy Serrano, despite their claimed sexual orientation. The denial Carleigh wore seemed, to Penelope, obvious. Really, the psychometrist was surprised that Carleigh wasn’t on the verge of denying men as a whole from an encounter. Penelope was biased, but if anyone could turn a person, it was Lucy.

[Carleigh Davidson]

If anyone was counting, then this was the first time that someone completely stunned Carleigh silent, which itself was a feat considering her talkative nature. She had no idea what to do... what to say about this. What was there to say?

Carleigh gnawed on her lower lip, her eyes flickering to the ground, averting Penny's gaze. It'd be a miracle if she made it out of this conversation alive. "... March?" She said, but the way it was phrased sounded like a question. Like she was unsure. The blonde didn't remember the exact day, but March sounded about right. Though, by answering, Carleigh had to wonder if it made the situation better or worse.

Penny sounded doubtful. Carleigh swayed, feet glued to the ground. Because what was there to say? Although, Lucy was incredibly attractive. And fun to be around. They had struck an odd friendship, but it worked and she was glad to call the Australian a friend.

Did she mention her wife was a looker?

As if Penny could read her thoughts, Carleigh's cheeks turned a light pink. For someone who rarely showed embarrassment, it was a lot. "Well... it was just a peck, you know? Like a friendship... thing." She shifted, closing her mouth before she could accuse the British girl of not liking her. Because that'd likely just add to the shit show.