by Kiki Archer
Freya had returned from her first day absolutely full of beans, clearly confident in her chosen course; the fast approaching school placements her only slight concern. She had rattled away about the wide variety of characters, all with the aim of becoming qualified history teachers. Kat knew from her experience on the same course that at least forty percent would not make it. The majority of that number leaving straight after the first school placement, suddenly realising that teaching was not for them after all. The others would be picked off due to poor assignment grades, unprofessional behaviour on school placements, or even the inability to pay their university course fees.
Renee Eves had been described as ‘a right laugh,’ and ‘looks a bit like Rihanna.’ Freya was constantly going on about some outrageous face she had pulled, or some hilarious comment she had made; but Kat’s picture was still quite vague. Freya had insisted that Renee was straight, but for some reason Kat’s own Gaydar was pinging loudly, and she had not even met the poor girl yet. Her comment of: ‘I think I need to meet this Renee,’ had caused their very first minor argument. Freya had literally taken a step back with offence and asked Kat if she was serious, to which Kat coughed lightly and said yes, she was serious; she did want to meet her. Freya had shaken her head and sighed loudly, before deciding to take the huff. Both felt a sense of regret at their own defensiveness but continued to spend the next hour sneaking glances at the other, not actually wanting to be the first one to break. A glance, met in the middle, finally broke the silence and both smiled with relief. Their standoff had been brief and their behaviour silly. The discussion, held from either ends of the kitchen table, was lengthy and tended to go over the same ground with Freya always coming back to the point that Renee was straight and Kat always reminding her that declared sexuality made little difference. But in conclusion they felt a sense of achievement in their ability to talk sensibly ... if not slightly heatedly on Freya’s part. They had made up quickly and their love for one another had been swiftly and wholeheartedly declared; but there was still that slight niggle in the back of Kat’s mind, and it was that niggle that was causing her nerves this evening as she opened the heavy apartment door.
Freya heard the click and raced over from the pouffe, flinging her arms around Kat and acknowledging Ben with a quick head nod. “Hi guys! I got eighty five percent in my first assignment!”
Kat’s offer of congratulations was interrupted by Freya’s warm, soft lips on her own; their usual hallway greeting. Kat wondered why she had assumed it would be different tonight.
“I love you,” whispered Freya beaming from ear to ear. She took Kat’s hand and they walked the three short paces into the open plan lounge. “Renee meet Kat, Kat, Renee.”
Kat shook the outstretched hand and placed a light kiss on the rosy brown cheeks, literally dazzled by the flash of perfect white teeth.
Renee smiled again. “Hi, pleased to meet you,” she shifted her weight onto her other hip and nodded in approval. “Girl, have I heard a lot about you?!”
“You too,” said Kat with possibly more meaning than she would have liked. “Hang on, I have still got my coat on, give me a second.” She fiddled with the buttons as she spoke. “Freya, that’s an amazing result, really well done!” She turned back towards the door where Ben was deliberately messing around with the shoe rack. “Don’t forget Ben,” she said, turning just in time to catch Renee making an hourglass figure shape at her with her hands, and a smokin’ hot wolf whistle signal with her mouth. Both seemingly to Freya’s amusement.
Freya stopped grinning and stretched out her hands at both parties. “Ben, Renee, Renee, Ben.”
Ben padded into the lounge. “Hi, nice to meet you. Hey! Has anyone told you that you look like Rihanna?”
Kat knew the remark was aimed at her and rolled her eyes at the cluster of coats hanging from the rack. Ben was such a pain.
Renee fingered one of her intricate cornrows. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”
“I’m going to be her bodyguard tonight,” giggled Freya, jumping onto the black leather sofa.
Ben nodded. “Oh yeah, Lucy mentioned that it’s your big tennis beer circle. I thought our rugby circles were bad, but the girls are a million times worse!” He paused, maturity getting the better of him. “Seriously though, just take it steady. I’ve seen some dreadful sights after the beer circle booze ups. It’s not funny if you end up in hospital having your stomach pumped.”
Renee took a seat next to Freya. “Don’t worry Gramps, you can trust me to look after her.”
Kat noticed the tone and felt a pang of anxiety. Was it nerves? Was it jealousy? Or was it her deep seated insecurity once again rearing its ugly head? She walked around to the other side of the sofa and rested gently on the arm next to Freya.
“Shove up a bit.” Freya nudged Renee and made enough room for Kat to squeeze in.
Renee took the hint and moved herself onto the pouffe.
“So, how was uni?” asked Kat, reassured by Freya’s small gesture. She knew she was being ridiculous and she had every faith in Freya and her vow to be faithful. But she would always worry, worry that she wouldn’t be enough.
“We are loving Elaine Springer, aren’t we Frey?!” Renee leaned over and slapped Freya’s thigh.
Kat was taken aback. First by the thigh slap, but more so with the tone in Renee’s voice, speaking as if they were lifelong best friends ... and Frey?! Kat straightened in her seat. Other girls weren’t allowed to call her Freya Frey!
Renee carried on. “Elaine is so cool and she has this really funky dress sense and she wears the cutest pair of glasses.”
Ben was hovering around in the kitchen. “Is that what you’re into then? Women with cute glasses?”
Kat had to stifle her laughter. Ben was a true friend.
Renee gasped and fanned herself in mock embarrassment. “Look at you, sneakily checking out if I’m available.” She winked at Ben. “But no, I’m not into women.” She slapped Freya’s thigh once more. “Much to this one’s disappointment.”
Freya laughed loudly and confirmed her assessment. “See, I told you she was a right laugh!”
Chapter Ten
Freya and Renee raced down the sticky steps into their heaving Student’s Union bar. They were half an hour late. Kat and Ben had kept them talking in the apartment, warning them of the dangers of downing drinks and doing dares. The chat actually managed to have the opposite effect and increase their already heightened level of excitement. The evening was going to be raucous and both were in the mood to celebrate. The term had started well. They were holding their own in seminars, up to date with coursework, and their first assignments had been returned with distinctions. Yes, they had declared on the way over, it was time to let loose and party.
Freya had been instantly drawn to Renee’s wild sense of humour and their stifled giggles from the very first lecture had been quickly followed by uninhibited laughs at the bustling Fresher’s Fair. Upon entering the lively hall, Renee had immediately pointed Freya in the direction of the LGBT table and laughingly instructed her to go and sign up. However, the lone woman who was sat at the rainbow decorated table, with crazy hair and crossed eyes, looked like she was more into segregation than inclusion. Freya had politely declined Renee’s request and made her way over to the bustling tennis stand instead, signing up and promising to be at trials the following Friday. Renee had taken the pen, declared she was the third Williams sister and stated her playing level as regional; which much to Freya’s surprise, she actually was.
The tennis trials had been more like a round robin tournament, with each of the first year students playing against the other, until the six with the most points played a match against a member of the university’s current first team. Freya had made it into the final six, securing a place on the squad, but had lost her last match which meant a position in the second team; which in itself was a real achievement. Renee, who impressed in the early rounds, was put against the university’s number one seed. S
he won in straight sets and became the only Fresher to make it into the top team. Freya had assumed from their brief friendship that she would be whooping and dancing and ensuring no one ever heard the end of it, but she didn’t. Renee was actually really modest about it, which Freya found very interesting indeed.
“Do you think they will fine us?” giggled Freya, hopping down the last step and pushing open the double doors to reveal a bar full of students in various states of undress. The Student’s Union had been a real highlight of the open day tour, with Elaine Springer allowing them to stop and sample a beverage of choice. Freya had sipped her half pint of cider - it was what all of the others had chosen and she did not want to appear unprofessional by drinking a pint, or lacking in spirit by choosing a soft drink. So, she sipped her beverage and fell in love with the room’s unique design. It was set out like an athletics stadium with a four sided bar in the middle, a circular race track running all the way around the outside of the bar and a large outer area full of big round booths and clusters of moveable tables. Each booth was now full of one sports team or another and the groups that had arrived late had to create their own circles with the lightweight metal tables. She spotted the tennis girls in one of the first booths and felt a rush of adrenaline. This would be a night to remember, her first ever university beer circle. They were the stuff of legends ... or so she had been told.
Renee felt the same buzz and shouted her response, the noise of drinking songs and forfeit commands was deafening. “Yes! We will definitely get a fine ... or possibly a dare,” she smiled.
They sheepishly approached the beer circle and were met with a roaring shout. “What time do you call this?” Big Bird, the tennis club’s ever so boisterous social secretary was leaning forwards across the table and pointing her stocky finger. They had been to a number of social do’s, fundraisers and post match drinks in the bar before, but nothing had been as full on as this. As a club, they were currently unbeaten, and Renee and Freya were both quickly becoming the weekly star players for their respective teams. Freya still found post match showers embarrassing though, and it was fine when the games were at home as the university had modern facilities with individual shower cubicles; but some of the away matches were at old decrepit universities with rows of wobbly, always dribbling, always cold, showers. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about her body, more that she didn’t want the other girls to be embarrassed around her. Deep down she knew it was a non issue, especially since Big Bird made it her duty to sit and comment on everyone’s tit size, arse size and style of trim. Freya thought back to the most recent away fixture, trying to pinpoint what exactly it was about the showers that had made her feel uncomfortable. Renee’s staring eyes suddenly came to mind.
“I said, what time do you call this?!”
Big Bird’s bark pulled her out of it.
The pair stood nervously in front of the other on-time tennis players, unsure of the seriousness of the question.
“Seven thirty?” offered Renee, glancing at her watch.
“Right! That’s thirty minutes late.” Big Bird turned to her circle. “Who thinks it should be a mouthful of beer for every minute late?”
The cheers were thunderous.
Big Bird stood up, which due to her height and width, commanded even more attention. “There are fifteen girls in the circle. Get on the table and have a glug of everyone’s drink, sing the uni song and then go round the circle taking a second glug.”
The cheers became even more thunderous.
Freya looked at the sticky wet mess on the large round table and instantly regretted opting for her white jeans.
Big Bird noted their reticence. “That, or go and snog Weener.” She pointed at Martin ‘Weener’ Webley who was standing naked in the centre of the boys football beer circle, with the group in the middle of some raucous, vulgar song.
“I’ll take Weener,” said Renee, immediately making her way towards the chanting footballers.
Freya watched in horror and admiration as Renee clambered onto the sodden table and made her announcement. “Sorry lads, I just need to snog Weener.”
The group of lads jeered and started the required song. Each beer circle had its own rules and all participants knew best to follow them to a tee, no matter how harsh they were. “Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof, woof, woof,” the required chant for whenever a girl entered their domain.
Freya watched with her mouth wide open as Renee ferociously snogged Martin Webley, a really shy, apparently great footballer, also on their history teaching course.
“What’s it to be then Sparkles?” Big Bird referred to the name splashed across the back of Freya’s bright yellow tennis t-shirt, an absolute essential for any social event and an instant dismissal from a beer circle if not worn. She had got off fairly lightly when the t-shirts were presented at the end of the first match and felt sorry for the one’s labelled ‘Sticky Fingers’ or ‘Anal Annie.’
Freya lifted herself onto the table and sat cross legged in the middle, instantly conscious of the cold, wet liquid seeping through to her knickers. She reached for the first drink offered. “I guess I’ll take the drinks!”
Big Bird roused the group in song. “Get it down you student warrior, get it down you student chief, chief, chief, chief.” She loved her job as social secretary and lived for the lively buzz of evenings like these. Newcomers always saw her as hard faced and fearsome but once they got to know her they quickly realized she was a softy at heart.
Freya took swig after swig of the outstretched drinks, pausing only to catch her breath and shimmy herself on her bottom around to her next teammate. The drink of choice seemed to be a mixture of cider and larger with some blackcurrant cordial or something added. Whatever it was, it wasn’t great. Freya had spun full circle and reached out for Big Bird’s plastic cup. She took an impressively large mouthful and rose to her feet, singing with gusto. “With a B and an I and an R and an M, and an I and an N and a G and an H, and an A and an M, and a shout with me, we are Birmingham Uni! La, la, la, la, la, la, la ... la, la, la, la, la, la, la ... la, la, la, la, la ,la, la, we are Birmingham Uni.” It had been made very clear that all Fresher’s needed to learn the university song if they wanted an easy ride on their first beer circle and Freya had sought help from Kat on perfecting the lyrics. It had obviously worked as the group of tennis players erupted into cheers of congratulations.
“Sparkles, you’ve saved yourself, no need to do another round of drinks.” Big Bird signalled Renee who was clambering down from the footballers table. “Right ... Colgate, get yourself up here and sing us the uni song.”
Renee jumped onto her second table of the evening and tried to remember the words. She stumbled, “I’m a B and an I, I’m an R, no we’re-” she raised her hands in apology, “I don’t know it!”
The drum roll of hands on the table got faster and louder and Renee actually seemed to be wobbling with the force of movement.
“CONTRIBUTIONS!” shouted Big Bird, emptying a discarded plastic pint glass onto the floor and offering it into the circle to be filled by the other members’ drinks. What was produced was a slushy mess of dark red liquid. “Down in one, then balance the empty glass upside down on your head. Go!!”
Renee did exactly what was commanded, necked the drink in four swift gulps and balanced the empty cup on her head with only the smallest amount of liquid trickling down her face and towards her cleavage.
“Bloody hell! You drink as well as you play tennis! Now put those pearly whites away Colgate and grab a seat!” Big Bird was impressed.
Renee dropped down into the booth next to Freya and let out a giggle of nerves. She whispered, “Shit, maybe Kat and Ben were right!”
Freya ignored the comment and focused her full attention on Big Bird; she did not want to give her any more ammunition.
Big Bird let out a huge belch. “Right! Now that we are all here, we can begin!”
“We haven’t started yet?!” laughed Renee.
&nbs
p; “DREGS!” bawled Big Bird reaching for the discarded plastic pint glass. She started to sweep the spilt liquid from the table into the cup, passing it around the circle for her comrades to do the same. “Rule number one newbie ... no one ever speaks when the social secretary is speaking.” Big Bird reached for the cup, now filled with a centimetre of dirty brown liquid. “The punishment for this offense is dregs! Now get it down.” She thrust it towards Renee and started to sing. “There was a lady in red...”
The group sang the responses in perfect unison, “There was a lady in red.”
“...and she liked to give good head.”
Renee held the cup above her head and studied the bits floating around.
Big Bird carried on singing. “There was a lady in glitter...”
“There was a lady in glitter.”
“...and she liked it up the shitter.”
“One more and it needs to be gone!” bawled Big Bird. “There was a lady in fluff...”
“There was a lady in fluff.”
Renee closed her eyes and downed the drink.
“...and she liked a bit of muff.” Big Bird slammed her fist on the table. “Well done! Right girls, it’s a three minute pit stop! Piss, puke and pints. Make sure you are back here with three full pints and no sloping off newbies!” She gave Freya and Renee the daggers.
“Why would we do that when we’re having so much fun?” shouted Renee, trying not to retch.
“You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you, Colgate!” smirked Big Bird, pulling herself out of the booth and staggering towards the ladies.
Renee reached for Freya’s hand and yanked her out of the sticky seats. “Come on purple ass, we only have three minutes!”
