Avery
"Today my daughter, Avery Everton, is going to Kingston, Ontario, to study in St. Lawrence College. You know she is so excited about it. We are at the airport right now. Her dad and twin brother, Reed, are standing beside her saying their goodbyes. The plane will leave within forty minutes, and I still don't know how should I wave her goodbye. Wait, she is coming towards me I'll talk to you later, Mrs. Perkins". I hear mom say while I approach her. She puts her phone aside.
"Bye, mom. I'll call you after reaching there. Don't worry I'll be okay", I say as I wrap my arms around her. "Bye", she whispers. That's all she could say. I give her a kiss on her cheek and hug her again. This time tightly. I can see the tears that prickled on the corners of her eyes. Last night she looked so worried about me. I heard mom and dad's conversation. They were talking about how I am gonna stay alone somewhere, and do everything on my own without their help. Dad told her that I'm not a little kid anymore, and that I need to explore the world and sometimes everyone has to do their own works alone. Still she started crying. And dad wrapped his arms around her and said that their little daughter has grown up. And that I need to study hard and work alone. And I need to be successful in my life and make them proud.
Yeah of course, no one is responsible for my success. Only I am, and I can't rely on someone for whole life, right?
While leaving I look behind. Reed and dad, waving me goodbye while mom is crying, placing her head on Reed's chest. I smile at her.
My emotional mom.
Two days later in Ontario,
"Ah! Finally I reached the dream of my life. Now I need to find my room" . I say as I walk through the gate. I look around. The campus is so big that I can see it from here even though I'm standing so far.
Damn! Its so beautiful.
I see some students standing beside the tree.. I approach them. I take a deep breath and ask them, "Hey, can you please help me to find my room?"
A girl turns around. "Hi. So you are the new comer in our college. It's good to see you, girl! I'm Sheryl", she extends her hand. "Meet them." She points to other two girls and a boy standing with her, "She is Shannon, she is Rebecca and he is..."
The guy puts his hand over Sheryl's mouth and says, "Hi there, Milady. Myself Jose. Jose Rivas". he forwards his hand, holds my hand and kiss my hand. That startle me. Maybe that's how they welcome new comers. "What is your problem, Jose? Don't ever do that again", Sheryl says while pulling Jose's hair.
Jose pulls her back. Shannon and Rebecca starts laughing.
"They look so cute together", Shannon says.
"Shut up, anon". They both yells at the same time. They both do synchronize well. I tell them about my room again.
Sheryl takes my hand and starts walking, and the others walk towards their class. While walking she says, "Don't mind Jose. He can be a headache sometimes. That's how he is when he sees new girls", she frowns.
I laugh. "Yeah. I get it pretty much now".
She asks for my room number and card. I show it to her. We get inside the building and walk up through the stairs. My room is in on the second floor. I follow Sheryl as she walks down the hallway. She stops by a room, and maybe its mine.
"I think your roommate is a guy...", She says pointing to the room.
I look at her with surprise and yell, "What?!!" That just came out so fast and sudden.
I walk inside the room. The first thing that came to my mind is that the room is so messy. And the second thing that came to my mind is that... my roommate is actually a guy. I see boy's stuffs lying around.
"Maybe there's a problem you see", I mutter.
"Well this does happens rarely but it does happens. If you want to change your room then you can talk to the principal", Sheryl says while handing me over my card.
"Okay. but first I need to clean the room and take rest. I'm so tired". I yawn.
She nods and closes the door behind her while leaving. My whole body is aching, and I need to clean this room now. I took all the clothes and put them in a basket I saw around the corner. I put all the torn packets in the garbage can. The books are kept here and there. I rearrange those and keep it on the side of the table, some on the bookshelf. After I'm done, I head for a shower.
The moment I lay down on my bed, I realize how badly my body is aching that makes me laugh. I'm so tired.
Oh! I need to call mom too.
I grab my phone from the table and call her up.
- Hey, mom.
- Oh! My sweetheart! When did you reach there? Did you reach safely? How have you been? How you eaten anything yet? How is everyone there? Are they friendly or rude
- Mom?
- I'm so worried about you. Have you slept properly? Where are you staying though
Geez! I'm not having a chance to even answer.
- Mom, let me say.
- Oh yes?
- Yes. I reached here safely a couple of hours ago. Also, I'm doing great. People are nice here. A girl named Sheryl helped me to find my room. I met 3 other people also they seemed nice too. Here, all the students stay in the dorm. For now I'm just so tired so I'll sleep now after taking a shower. I ate snacks at the flight. I'll take my dinner when I wake up.
- Oh okay sweetheart.
- Yes, mom. Now you should eat properly too and sleep properly. Don't worry too much about me. You know I'll be okay on my own, right? Also. don't be such a crybaby. You're a strong grown up lady, haha. Do tell dad that i'm doing fine. Love you mom. Bye for now.
-Take care. Sleep well. We can talk later, dear. Sleep now. Love you too.
She hangs up the call.
I look at the time. Its 3 past half. I rush towards to bathroom for taking shower. After getting out I grab my luggage and change clothes. I put an alarm for 6, turn off the light and put the phone beside my pillow.
I wake up as I hear someone enter the room. Its so dark that I can't even see anything. "What are you doing in my room?" I hear someone ask.
Crap!
It's a guy and his voice is so deep and... adorable.
Sh*t!
What am I even thinking?
"This is my room and what are you doing here?!" I ask him.
The guy turn on the light and now I can see him too. He's cute though.
"Well this is my room too. I guess we're roommates", he frowns. "It happens so rarely. God! I now had to go through this?"
What's with that face? As if I want to stay with him?
NO!
Damn! I forgot to talk with the principal.
"Do you wanna tag along? I'm meeting the principal."
"NO, thanks. Suit yourself getting a negative answer", he laughs.
"Why are you laughing? I didn't say anything funny"
"I know how that asshole principal is. That's why" he walks towards the washroom as he says.
I rush to principal's office followed.
"Sorry we don't have any vacant room for now. But I'll let you know if there is. Sometimes it happens. And we never received complains before though. I'll let you know about it", the principal says as he starts talking over the phone.
We never received complains before? Huh! No wonder he laughed.
Guess he doesn't really care about it.
I walk back to my room and see the guy looking for something.
"What are you searching for?"
"A book"
"Maybe check the bookshelf"
"Its not there". he almost cries.
"But I kept all the books either on table or bookshelf"
He rushes towards me, "Listen, I hate when people touch my things. So you're no different. Don't touch." he yells.
I felt my hand tremble.
"Fine. Don't you come to this side of the room either. Mr. Whatever"
"drama-queen", he gives me a weary look.
"Don't call me that. Mr..."
"Its Shawn." He heads for the bed as i see him holding a piece of torn, unclean cloth he took out from a book. "For now I need sleep so just keep silent. Okay, drama-queen?"
"I said, don't call me.." I feel agitated now.
"Goodnight!", he shouts.
What a disaster of a day!