That almost makes me laugh. “No, but I’m good with that. You?”
She shrugs. “My mom has a store near the art school in Savannah. She sells a lot of their stuff in it, so during the semesters, she’s pretty busy.”
“That’s cool.” I nod, continuing to unpack my few belongings. “Is she an artist?”
“She does some things, but mostly she works with the students now.”
Carrying my clothes to the narrow closet, I sort them out on hangers. “You didn’t want to go to art school?”
“I’m no artist.” She laughs. “Much to my mother’s dismay!”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“I’m not so sure.” She shakes her head. “But I try to meet her halfway by being mystical.”
My brow furrows, and I take the small bucket of toiletries out of my case. “You’re a witch?”
“No, I’m majoring in psychoanalysis. I’m all about digging into your psyche and finding out where you’re broken.”
Great. I’m glad my back is turned. “Got any favorite theories?”
“Well, it’s pretty dated, but I love studying dear old Siggy.” I cut her a confused look, and she clarifies. “Freud. Sigmund.”
“Ah.” I lift my chin, and the last of my shit is unpacked. I push the bin to the door, glancing from her sparkly pink, Sanrio surprise explosion to my relatively bland, beige side, and I state the obvious. “My half looks pretty sparse.”
“It’s just the beginning of the year.” She jumps up, holding her arms wide. “You have plenty of time to express yourself!”
“I guess.” Expressing myself is one way to put what I’ll be doing.
“Check this out.” She takes a sheet from her desk, holding it to me. “Back to school frat party tonight. Let’s go!”
I quickly scan the paper, not the least bit interested. “It says it’s happening right now. I’m not even dressed for a party.”
Not to mention, frat parties are on myNotto Do list.
“You’re dressed like a college kid. Just put on some lipstick, and let’s get out of here.”
Hesitating briefly, I weigh the alternatives. I do need to get to know the campus better. “You’re on. Let’s go.”
“Huskies, Huskies, Huskies for the win!”A group of very drunk frat boys hang over the railing at the top of the stairs chanting what I assume is the school’s fight song.
I lean into Ali’s ear. “We’re the Huskies?”
“I mean, they’re pretty cool dogs, you have to admit.” She leans away, quickly scooping up two red Solo cups full of beer. “To fall semester and the best roommates ever!”
Everyone in this giant house is periodically either shrieking greetings to friends or boyfriends or shouting at the top of their lungs about how great it is to be back…
“I don’t remember being this enthusiastic when I was in college,” I say, forgetting my earlier lie.
Luckily, Ali doesn’t notice. “Probably because you were in a war zone. I imagine that would overshadow just about everything.”
I don’t bother correcting her, noticing two guys heading in our direction.
“Hello, beautiful ladies, I’m Ryan and this is Evan, and on behalf of Delta Rho, welcome back to Thornton.”
“Well, aren’t you the sweetest?” Ali’s nose wrinkles, and she grins up at Ryan, whose curly brown hair is shoved behind his ears.
He’s tall like a football player, dressed in a long-sleeved maroon Henley and jeans, and he sways a little closer to my roommate. “I am, yes. I am very sweet.”