I’d gone from zero confidence under her tutelage to having something resembling a backbone. In no time, the two of us were like two peas in a pod, and for the first time in my life, I had a real friend and not someone who just wanted to get close because of my family name.
Funnily enough, mom loves Jessica; she’s not known to like anyone outside of family and her closest friend, who she’d had since childhood. But for some reason, she found Jess’ straightforward, no-nonsense attitude refreshing.
Maybe because she’s never been as bold as the teen in her life. Or because my friend is one of those people who literally lights up a room with her presence. Whatever the reason, I’m eternally grateful that she’d allowed me that one ray of sunshine in my life after years of nitpicking who I kept company with.
My parents liked her so much, especially my dad, who appreciated her influence on me, that they paid for her to come to the same college as I. Her family isn’t as wealthy as mine, and her grades had only garnered her a partial scholarship, but dad had pulled some strings to get her in.
Jess is a sensible person, not one of those idiots with too much pride to realize when someone is handing them an olive branch, so she’d accepted with gratitude and a promise to give it her all once here in the prestigious university that was a window to a brighter future.
It’s one of the things I’m most proud of my parents for. A reminder that even with all her faults, mom is a good person at heart and not just the shallow, self-centered being she can appear to be at times, with her hang-ups and phobias always leading the way.
Anyway, Jess and I have been joined at the hip since the first week we met, with just the last few weeks separating us for more than a night or two. I’d fallen sick at the end of summer and had to miss the first few weeks of class, and though she’d offered to stay back with me, I knew she was just being the good friend that she is and had forced her to come without me.
Since she’d started before me, we weren’t able to share a room this semester but were going to work really hard on fixing that next year. Mom had a conniption at the mere mention of an off-campus apartment which dad had offered.
No worries, though; I’m still working on that one. “Hey, girlie, you’re here.” I turned just as Jessica rushed into the room and wrapped her arms around me in excitement.
“You finally made it. I missed you so much; how are you feeling?” She rattled that all off in one breath, which is her usual way, and I let whatever lingering apprehension I had fall away as I felt the familiar softness of her hair against my cheek.
“I’m much better, thanks, and you? How have you settled into college life? Or are you still getting the feel of the place? I didn’t know it was this huge; I don’t remember seeing all these buildings when we came here last summer.”
She grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the little bed, pulling me down beside her. “There’s so much to tell you I don’t even know where to begin. I didn’t expect this to be so much fun. I was a little bothered being here alone without you since I don’t know anyone, but it hasn’t been that much different from high school, you know.”
She nattered on and on about her time here so far and spoke as if she’d been here for years instead of just a few short weeks. “And guess what….”
“Hey-hey, take a deep breath; I can hardly understand a word you’re saying.” We laughed and fell back across the bed together as we caught up on each other’s lives since we’d parted.
She gave me the rundown on the campus and who was who. “Wait until you meet Cody Baxter.” She went on about some jock that was all the rage on campus and how all the girls were hot for him.
“Including you?” I knew that couldn’t be since she was head over heels in love with her high school flame, who was going to school not too far from where we were and had planned to spend their weekends together.
“Nah, I’m still gone over my Troy.” She hopped up to help me unpack after bemoaning the fact that she’d missed my parents. I’d rushed them off back home since mom had been getting really close to making me get back in the car so she could take me home and lock me away somewhere I would be safe.
Dad had come to the rescue once again and, with a wink, had whisked her away after getting me settled. Now I have my best friend to keep the fear that was nipping at my heels away.