Entry #14.2 / 29th June 2022
The greatest irony of the day was fully waking up once we returned to the university dorms. Typical. Classic me.
Though, I do think this was more due to excitement than anything else. Myself, Janette, and Ryan would be booking the bus tickets to Washington DC this evening, and the fact that I was going against the crowd, against fitting in, made me feel giddy with excitement.
‘Wow, aren’t you a little rebellious one?’ The responsible voice commented.
‘Definitely!’ The bright voice beamed.
“Ryan,” I began hesitantly as Janette typed in all our information into the Greyhound booking site. “You said at one point you’ve been around America?”
Ryan nodded in confirmation before verbally. “Yeah, a few years ago.”
I pushed my lips together hesitantly. “Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?”
He smiled, “yeah. It was really good, I would recommend.”
I returned the smile, “did you go through any touring company? Or did you manage to get out there yourself?”
“I got there myself, and I wasn’t alone.” Ryan explained, “someone drove me out there. There was a group of us actually.”
I frowned. “I can’t drive and…” I glanced behind me, even though we were in the safety of their room. “I think I’m pretty much going to be going solo after camp as –”
“Wait,” Janette turned to Ryan on the bed. “Go and put the speaker by the door.”
As Ryan was doing as he was instructed, I narrowed my eyes. “Ugh… Why?”
“Don’t want anyone listening.” Janette explained.
I watched then as Ryan put the music playing speaker in front of the door. I didn’t know whether to be weirded out by the action or to be impressed by the thoroughness of it.
‘Impressed.’
“You were saying.” Janette encouraged then.
I blinked, trying to remember what I was saying. “Yeah… it’s nothing new really. Just after that mini-argument… Well, if I’m being honest, even before then, I’ve noticed a divide between everyone. I thought it was just one group in particular but it’s with everyone. School 101… I don’t think it helps that I’m a bit older than everyone else, and most people are still in uni so are still in the clique mindset. Though, at both school and my first-degree uni, I never meshed well with those groups. Always the outsider.” I breathed out, leaning forward on one of the beds. “So, I think even without the mini-argument I would’ve ended up solo anyway.”
“Honestly Rose,” Ryan began as he was once back on his bed, his eyes giving me confidence and reassurance. “It’s probably the best thing to ever happen to you. Some of the closest friends I have now I met on my solo travels. The best times I had on those solo travels were with people I just met. As when you’re alone you’re more approachable than being in some big group.”
I smiled gratefully. “Thanks. I just… I’m excited to go to places that I want too, which the benefit of going at it alone I guess, but… I can’t help but be disappointed a little. I signed up to be making friends, not surrounded by cliques.”
Janette hummed. “If you want my advice about it, just ignore them. Most of them aren’t going to have a fraction of the experiences we know you’ll have from the solo travels. They’ll be too busy accommodating to each other and wanting to do the ‘cool’ things. Ryan’s right, solo is the best way to go when it comes to travel.”
“There’s a load of irony in that statement for you two then.” I grinned and they both laughed slightly. “I’m glad though you’re both coming with me on this trip though. Hopefully it will give me confidence for when I finally do go solo.”
Janette then turned to Ryan with a teasing grin of her own. “We always manage to pick up the strays.”
***