Through her Ribcage

2

"Welcome home!", my father announces as we drive through the tall, iron gates of my new campus. A giant smile creeps across my face. The nerves I'd harboured for most of the almost 3 hour drive have suddenly subsided. My mouth drops open as my eyes are drawn to the buildings that come into view.

My mother shrieks from the passenger seat, breaking me out of my gaze. I think she is more excited than I am. It is after all her dream come true. Her only daughter attending a Private, Ivy League School and completing a masters degree. I've worked so hard to get here, I hope I make her and my father proud.

"It's beautiful", I breathe out, swallowing down the dryness that has set up camp in my throat. I look out the window once more. Students with books in hand litter the paths and large concrete steps of each building, all with their own purpose for being here. I continue to scan my eyes over the elegant old architecture of each building that surrounds us as we drive through the middle of campus. Imagining what stories those stunning walls could tell. What I could and will learn from them... I really am home...

We come to a halt outside of one of the more modern buildings and my father puts the car into park. There's a few middle aged woman set up on 2 large wooden trestles on the grass in front of the building. Both tables have big signs attached 'WELCOME FRESHMEN'.

Once out of the car I break away from my parents, Jesse and Blair and approach the woman in the red blouse. "Good Afternoon, I'm Ms Tinker", she greets me, offering her hand to shake. Her voice is soft and sweet.

"Hi there, my name is Adeline Davis, I'm a freshman... today is my first day", I stammer out as the nerves return in full force. "Sorry, I'm nervous", I laugh awkwardly, trying to swallow them down.

"It's completely understandable hon.", she says as she looks down at the iPad in front of her. "Adeline? Spelt how it sounds? As in A . D . E . L . Y . N? ...".

"L . I . N . E", I correct her.

"Oh yes, here we are, my apologies", Ms Tinker says smiling sideways at me, clearly embarrassed for misspelling my name.

"It's fine", I say smiling.

She hands me my dorm room keys, my time table and an orientation pack and tells me the name of my room mate. She goes on to point me in the direction of the large building across the road where my dorm room is located. This is where I will reside for at least the next 12 months. I'm so eager to get up to my dorm and meet my room mate. I hope she's nice and we can be friends.

Jesse and Blair help me gather all my belongings before we and my mother walk into my dorm room building.

"19K... 19K... 19K", I say in an almost mantra as we navigate our way up the stairs in search of my dorm.

"19K!", my mother shrieks as we approach the door. "Here we go!", she basically sings eagerly as I push my key into the lock and open the door.

I inhale a deep breath as I take my first step into my room. The brunette stranger, who is sitting at the desk in the far corner appearing to study doesn't seem to acknowledge that I have entered. "Bethany? Charnas?", I ask.

The girl lifts her head and pulls her headphones from her ears. "Oh! I am so sorry! That is so rude of me!", she says getting up from her desk and taking the few steps over to me. Her short petite stature is a contrast to the loud confidence in her voice, "Hi! I'm Bethany but people call me Bethan. You must be my roommate, Adeline is it?".

I breathe a sigh of relief, "Yes I'm Adeline, nice to meet you.", I say smiling, extending a hand. Bethan looks down at my hand, laughs and then rolls her eyes, swatting at my palm before wrapping her arms around me in a hug. Her warm affection surprises me but I hug her back... Awkwardly.

"I'm Veronica", my mother cuts in, thrusting her hand towards us for my new roommate to shake. Bethan laughs and rolls her eyes again before freeing me from her embrace and hugging my mother. My eyes widen and I want to laugh out loud hysterically. Jesse and Blair to seem to have a similar reaction. If there is one way to make Veronica Davis uncomfortable, it is unwanted affection. Especially from a stranger.

"I'm Bethan Charnas, but we already established that", she says, giggling innocently, her wide smile spreading across her face as her arms release my mother. "And you two are?", she questions looking over at Jesse and Blair. My mother is completely lost for words and I thank Bethan inwardly for being one of the few people who have ever left her speechless.

"This is Jesse and Blair", I say pointing at the pair.

"Hi", they both respond in unison. Each raising a free hand in a small wave.

"Cute", Bethan says giggling at the identical action.

Bethan's phone begins to chime over on her desk.

"One second", she says, raising her index finger to us before turning around to retrieve it. "Hello", she says answering the call.

Jesse, Blair and myself place my belongings on the small unmade bed to the side of the room that I assume is mine.

"I'm really sorry, but I have to run", Bethan announces to the 4 of us. "It was so awesome to meet you all and I'm so excited to have a fellow freshman roommate. I'll see you tonight", she says hugging me one last time, weaving around us and leaving the room.

"She seems nice", Jesse says after Bethan has shut the door.

"Yeah sure", my mother says completely unimpressed.