Today is moving day. My room was empty except my mattress. Mom was excitedly talking about her plans for my room when I moved out. I was excited. Ash was here helping, but she didn't say much. Our time together being cut short was obviously weighing on her. I picked up the last box, and put it in my mom's car. It was so surreal to look at my bedroom empty. I'd grown up there. I'd cried there, laughed, changed from a baby to what I am now. I could hardly believe it.
No one said much. We bumped into each other as we piled in the car. Mom was quietly crying. Ash wouldn't look up from her phone. I slipped my headphones, and turned on my music.
Ash always called me a sociopath for listening to Chopin so much. "Why can't you listen to garbage pop music like everyone else?" I could hear her poke. I chuckled to myself.
It was raining which made for essentially the worst moving in day ever. Most of the moving boxes where damp in the back.
Mom nudged me.
"What?" I asked, pulling off my headphones.
"Ash asked you a question," my mom probed.
I twisted in my seat, and looked back at Ash. "Yeah?" I asked.
"Why are you moving in so early?" She asked. My brow furrowed.
"I thought I told you," I responded.
Ash looked away, out the window. This area of the state was far more wooded than home. It had a sleepy kind of beauty to it. "The department assigned me to Professor Reed. She needs an assistant before the semester begins to do clerical work. It should be easy, and I get free room and board for working with her, plus it'll look great when I start applying for jobs." I smiled. I was so excited. "Also, no sexy professor. I'm working for Mrs. Reed."
Ash cackled. "Mrs. Reed huh? She sounds hot. I can't wait for you to come home with inappropriate lesbian professor stories."
I turned bright red, and laughed. "I'm not saying it's impossible."
My mother was smiling. "I always knew you were gay," she laughed.
"I am not!" I barked at my mom. "I'm only a little gay." I blushed.
"Mhmm," Ash chimed in.
"I'm going to school to focus on my studies. No more, no less," I declared.
Ash pointed ahead of us. "Look," she cooed.
The university's bell tower rose from above the trees. "Oh my god," I gasped. The black brick of the college began to unveil itself from the wilderness. I couldn't help but be in awe. The campus was huge, looming, with black french Gothic buildings. It looked like it came straight out of a Anne Rice novel. "Holy shit," I gasped.
My mother rolled her eyes. "Don't swear," she scoffed. I groaned. "Your apartment is a new build, so don't expect to live like a vampire, okay?"
We turned the corner, and a large building with the stone plague read, "student living quarters."
"We're here," Mom said. She smiled. The excitement in the car was palpable. "Mrs. Reed should be expecting us. Let's check in with her, and she'll show us around."
"Okay," I nodded. We slide from the van. I was shorter than most, something I got plenty of crap for.
We all rushed inside.
Ash went in first. The black and white marbled floor, grand hanging chandelier, and grand staircase could confuse you about the entire "new build" shenanigans. "Am I moving to Hogwarts," I joked.
"I'm so jealous," Ash exclaimed.
From down the hallway, I could hear the clack of heels. Within a few moments, a women appeared. "Hello, Grace," she said smiling at me. "My name is Mrs. Reed."
I stood in awe. She was beautiful. Her tall body showed no imperfection. She was thin, and had long curly black hair. She looked like an African model with the darkest pigmented skin I'd ever seen. She was stunning.
My mom nudged me to speak. "It's a pleasure to meet you," I smiled, reaching out to shake her hand.
"Please forgive me, but no thank you." Mrs. Reed declined my handshake, and began to walk toward the grand staircase.
"I'm sure you're ready to settle in, let me take you to your new home," Mrs. Reed continued. She walked with perfect grace in her heels. She showed no sign of any lack of balance from the slick floor. We followed her up the stairs gawking at the architecture. "While this isn't Hogwarts Miss Miller, we do offer a class on cultism and pagan ritual practices. I'm sure Mrs. Fen wouldn't mind you applying late. Her class isn't full quite yet."
"No way," Ash exclaimed. "I'm getting you Ravenclaw robes for your birthday."
I smiled. I was trying to pretend I wasn't incredibly thrilled. I was so excited I could run up the stairs, and through the halls.
At the top of the stairs we hit what looked like a hand woven rug. This place was over the top. "This way," Mrs. Reed gestured us down the hallway. "There's an elevator in the lobby to help you move in, but we don't encourage you to use the elevator. We like to keep it accessible to those who need it. If at all possible, please take the stairs. She stopped. "Aha, here we are. Apartment 11B is yours." Mrs. Reed handed me the key. I almost danced.
With glee, I slide the key into the slot, and opened my new apartment. "Now, your roommate hasn't moved in yet, but you've been assigned the light room. You'll share the common areas of the living room and the kitchen."
It was perfect. The kitchen and living room where separated by a white marble island, and there was a balcony. The living room was small, simple, but nice. I went to my new bedroom door, and pushed the white door open. My room already had a bed in it, and a dresser but nothing else. The large window made the average sized room seem much large. "The bathroom's attached," Mrs. Reed informed us.
"Now, Miss Miller, I don't mean to be rude, but we've some details to tidy up while your family begins to unpack."
"Of course, Mrs. Miller," I said while straightening my shirt.
She walked over the island, and pulled open a sliding drawer. Inside was a folder of paperwork. "So here's your lease, and your work contract," she informed me.
"Okay, is it any different than we previously discussed?" I asked, leaning on the island to open the folder. All the paperwork almost gave me a headache just looking at.
"Yes," Mrs. Reed answered. "The biggest change of which being your work assignment." Oh no, I felt my stomach drop. "Since your majoring in psychology, the university thought it'd be more fitting to assign you to your own department. Since Mr. Taylor already has a student aid, you've been assigned to Professor Malcolm."
"Professor Malcolm?" I asked. "I haven't even met him."
"We know. I apologize for this sudden change, but there's not much I can do at this point without the change. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to keep you on your current program."
I sighed. I didn't like change for the most part. Having a plan kept me level headed, and with minimum anxiety.
"Okay, what does he teach?" I asked.
"Professor Malcolm is our professor in human sexuality. Is that going to be a problem?"
I turned bright red. I could feel Ash's eyes on me. I could practically hear her teasing me from here. "No, of course not," I swallowed.
"Good," Mrs. Reed smiled. "Let's get down to business than."
"You're lease extends for the semester. You will have to move out at the end of each semester, and move back in at the start of each new one. We cannot guarantee any belongings left here will be here when you return, so don't leave anything. Don't paint, or screw any nails in the wall. We have weekly cleanliness inspections beginning the first week of classes. Students are not allowed to have any prohibited substances in their apartments or dorms. This includes alcohol, or any controlled substances. Medication must be kept in it's prescription bottle, and belong to the student who's housing it's found in. There's a zero tolerance noise policy. We're very serious about our studies here, Miss Miller. There will be no nonsense."
I gulped. "Okay," I answered.
"Do you have any questions?" Mrs. Miller asked.
"No, Ma'am," I responded.
"Good!" She smiled, and handed me a pen. "All I need you to do is sign here, and then I'll need your mother as a guarantor."
Mrs. Reed walked away to fetch my mother. I could hear her heals clacking as she left.
I began to read through the documentation, and sign where I needed to. Within a few moments my mother was given the same speech, and began to sign behind me.
"Fantastic, now Miss Miller, please turn this all in to me tomorrow. I will take you to meet Mr. Malcolm at 9A.M. sharp, okay?" She asked.
I nodded. "Okay, thank you." Mrs. Reed smiled, and clacked down the hallway.
My mom gave me a giant hug as soon as she'd finished. "Ash and I are all unpacked. Do you need anything before we leave?" My mother asked.
"I'm good. Thank you," I responded. My mother looked side, but she was holding it in, smiling with pride instead.
"I love you. We're going to let you settle in. Call me if you need anything," my mom's voice cracked.
"Okay mom. Love you. Bye Ash." I leaned over to wave at Ash. She had a smirk on her face. "Professor Sexy," she teased.
I laughed. "I bet he's fat," I laughed.
"You owe me big time. I'll let you know how far your mom makes it before she starts crying," Ash told me. I hugged her tight. "Thank you," I warmly said.
"Now, get out of here. You guys have a long drive home, and it's going to be dark soon."
Ash and my mom smiled. They cooed their goodbyes, and left me in my empty apartment.
It was just me now.
How quickly life changes, huh?