“Yes, I’m so excited and insanely nervous. There are so many people everywhere. Why didn’t you tell me there’s a bazillion people in the city?” I exclaim. It’s not like I haven’t been here before, but somehow I just thought it had to do with the football crowds. Maybe it’s my anxiety of being left to my own devices.
“There aren’t that many Chicagoans. Relax, sis. You’ll be just fine living in your fancy dorm room with your first roommate.” Yes, that’s a whole new experience I’m not sure I’m ready for.
“Thanks. She’s not here yet.” We spoke briefly on the phone the other day once we got our room assignments just to see what we were bringing. The room was fully furnished and hooked up before we arrived, so we only needed to bring our clothes, toiletries, and a few things that we would need for comfort.
My parents want me to get what I need while I’m here because it would be easier, so I’ll be doing some Amazon deliveries over the next two days once I get settled. I have my bedding, but that’s pretty much it.
“Well, I’ll check in with you later in the week,” Toby says, reassuring me that he’s close.
“Okay. I have to finish unpacking.” I don’t want him to think I can’t handle things on my own because he’ll tell my parents.
“Where’s Mom and Dad?”
“They’re running down to get some food for us at the local pizza place.”
“Give them my love.” That’s the one thing my brother isn’t shy about admitting and that’s the love he has for my parents and me.
“I will.”
As soon as I hang up, there’s a young girl with brown hair who’s at the door with her suitcases and a nervous grin. Her eyes are bright and wide. “You must be Lara?”
“Kelly?” I ask, smiling at her. She’s cute in her “totally not okay, but they let me out anyway” tee shirt. Immediately, I know we’re going to get along.
“Yep.”
“It’s so good to meet you.” I stick out my hand as she stops inside the room.
“It’s funny that you beat me here since I grew up just outside of the city,” she remarks, taking my hand.
“I know. It’s because my parents wanted a head start. They’re planning to spend the weekend in the city before heading back, so they want to pawn me off as fast as humanly possible.”
“You’re not supposed to tell strangers that, pumpkin,” my mom says, pressing her finger to her lips.
“It’s okay. My parents didn’t bother to come down.” The smile on her face is an attempt to mask the pain of that statement, but it’s clear she’s not happy about the situation.
I look at my parents, and I’m reminded of how lucky I am that they love me so much. “Well, who wants some pizza?” I call out.
“I’m starving,” Kelly says. Good. I’m going to like her for sure.
****
“Come on, who cares what they say. We’re in college and we’re adults so we can come and go as we please,” I whisper, dragging Kelly by her arm.
“Girl, you’re going to get us in trouble with the resident chick.”
“Please. It’s not a big deal. We’ll be back before they even know we’re gone.” It’s midnight and I want to head out to grab some munchies. It’s nearly two when we creep back into the dorm and no one sees us. At least until we reach our floor.
“Lara, Kelly?”
“Maria, what are you doing up?”
“Someone pulled the fire alarm. You two were missing and that’s not acceptable.”
“Well if it had been a real fire we wouldn’t have burned up.”
“Damn, I didn’t realize there were curfews,” I lie. Curfew is midnight during the week and no curfew on the weekends, but I don’t want her to know that. We’ve only been here less than a week.
“Fine. Don’t let it happen again.”
“We won’t.” I smirk. Grabbing Kelly by the hand, I led her back to our dorm. As soon as the door is closed, I break out into a fit of laughter. “Damn she’s a drill sergeant.”
“I told you she’d catch us.”
“Relax, nothing happened and now we have ice cream.” That lightens her mood and she grins, snatching the bag from me.
“Yes we do.”
Chapter Two
Landon
Looking at the reports on my desk, I see everything is in order. My life for the past fifteen years has run like a well-oiled machine, and the pain of the past has been put far behind me. My phone rings, and I see it’s my father. Sending it to voicemail, I try not to let that instant irritation settle in my gut. A mistake. Why did I even think for a moment that I could let him into my life?
Hearing several taps on my door frame, I look up from my computer to see my head of operations, Danny Graham, leaning against the door. “Whoa, looks like I came in at the wrong time?”