“I’m going to piss,” Knox tell us. “Be right back.” I just shake my head because it’s always like this. Living with my three best friends is living in the world of too much information, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Whit holds up the syrup with a crazy smirk on his face. “How about you, Ty. Waffles?”
It’s tempting; he’s a really good cook. But I’m already late. “Next time. I gotta head over to campus.”
“Campus? What the hell for? Classes don’t start for almost 48 hours. Nothing is happening on campus except--oh, fuck. Do not tell me you’re going there?”
I drain the rest of my coffee, and search for the clean t-shirt I brought downstairs. “Going where? The campus of the college I attend?” I’m being an evasive dick. He knows it and I know it.
Whit levels me with a look. It’s not often Caleb Whitman is serious, but when those rare moments occur, my boy means business. He’s not harsh--he couldn’t be if he tried--just somber. “It’s freshman move-in weekend, so unless you’re transferring to the dorms, you’ve got no reason to be there.”
I tug my shirt over my head and look around for my keys and spot them on the hook by the door. “Nope. You fuckers are stuck with me.”
“So, you’re heading over to campus because?”
He wants me to say it and I can’t. Not until it’s over.
I hold up my empty mug. “I’m out of coffee.”
“And the coffee at Drip is so much better than what we have here?”
“Yea,” I say. “Something like that.”
He laughs mirthlessly, shaking his head at my foolishness. It’s nothing new. We all do dumb shit on the regular. And we’re here to pick up each other’s pieces when they inevitably fall.
“Take a hat,” he says, winging his ballcap in my direction.
I say nothing. I just catch the cap, grab my keys, and head out.
***
Phoebe
Bainbridge University is beautiful. It’s a school steeped in history and tradition and the campus looks like the cover of a magazine. Broad, shady trees create a tunnel through the courtyard, and everywhere I look, there’s a stately lamppost, a statue, or a wrought iron bench surrounded by beds of flowers. I remember visiting here three years ago, when I was starting my senior year of high school, and I knew… I just knew, the moment I stepped on campus that this was the place for me.
What I didn’t know was that my life would take an unexpected detour, and I’d be standing at the fountain in the center of campus as a twenty-year-old incoming freshman, with only six credits to show for the last two years of my life.
I knew this day would come. I just never thought I’d be here alone.
Shaking off the melancholy mood that has descended like a cloud over me, I scan the sparse crowd of students and parents looking for Gabriel, my tour guide. If his profile pic is accurate, I’m looking for a tall, athletic-looking guy with dreads. I can’t imagine he wears his maroon and white BU sweatshirt in weather like this, but since he’s a campus tour guide, it’s a safe bet he’ll be wearing a school shirt.
I take a seat by the fountain, since I’m twenty minutes early, and scroll through my phone to pass the time. There’s a text from Sam, wishing me a happy second day and asking how move-in went. I text him back.
Phoebe:Great. My roommate is awesome. She and her friend Ian helped lug all my stuff inside last night. I unpacked in record time, and I’m all set. The only things left to do are take my campus tour and hit up the bookstore for a book I couldn’t find online and some new brushes.
Sam:Good. You know we would have come down there to see you off, right?
Phoebe:I know, but I also know it’s a lot. How’s my mom?
Sam:Missy’s ok, kiddo. Try not to worry about her. I’ve got it from here. Whether she wants me around or not, I’ll be sticking close by the next couple of weeks.
Phoebe:I know, but you don’t have to. I was thinking of coming home next weekend.
Sam:Nope.
Sam:Don’t do it.
Sam:Don’t be that girl who makes it to college just to come home every weekend. You’ve given up enough, kiddo. This was the deal: you earned that scholarship, so you take it. Besides, hanging out with your mom is not a hardship for me.
