Through her Ribcage

3

I look out the window where my father is pacing back and forth by his car. A tight expression is pulled across his face while he speaks into his smart phone. I can imagine he's on yet another business call. He never seems to take a day off. Even when he's taking his only child to college.

I notice my new room mate excitedly run from the dorm building towards the road where an older series black Ford Mustang comes in to park along the side. It stops my father's pacing as he looks up to admire the vehicle. He's always loved vintage cars.

The gentleman driving, who I assume is Bethan's boyfriend, looks to be quite a bit older than us and from my 2nd storey window I can see the arm he has resting outside of the cars window, is covered in tattoos.

Jesse comes to stand next to me, his eyes move to where mine are staring, just as Bethan climbs into the passenger seat. "Maybe not so nice then?", he says.

"We can not judge her based off of the company she keeps", I say nudging him with my elbow.

My mother looks past us both and out of the window as the shiny Ford pulls off the curb and drives away. She huffs in disgust before turning back around to continue her inspection of my new dorm room. Jesse and Blair begin helping me unpack my books onto the empty shelf that's mounted on the wall opposite the foot of my bed.

"Did you bring every book you own?", Blair asks, staring at my box of old and new novels.

"Only the necessary ones", I say laughing. I may have a passion for numbers and be studying a masters degree in Mathematics but my addiction to fiction novels began the moment I could read.

Once seemingly satisfied, my mother announces that they must go if they want to beat the afternoon traffic back to Vermont.

"Thank you both for helping me", I say to Jesse and Blair as we walk down the stairs. "And thank you both for coming", I continue as we approach the exit, heading back to the where my father waits patiently at the car with his mobile still pressed against his ear.

"Anytime", Jesse says smiling at me.

When we reach my father's white Range Rover, he asks whoever is on the other end of his phone call to please hold before coming in to hug me. He tells me again that he's proud of me and that he loves me before climbing into the drivers seat and going back to his call. My mother hugs me and dives into giving me a quick last minute lecture on not attending college parties, no drinking alcohol and only focusing on my studies.

"It's me we're talking about Mum and it's Harvard", I say hugging her again.

"You're so right, what am I so concerned about?", she says sighing. "I am so proud of you Adeline Jane."

"Thank you Mother", I reply smiling.

I turn and hug Blair as my mother takes her place in the passenger seat and a lump begins to form in my throat. What am I going to do without my best friends around me every day?

"I'm going to miss you", I say to her, tears pricking the back of my eyes and threatening to fall.

Blair pulls me to arms length, flicking her long sandy brown hair over her shoulders and places her hands in mine between us, "Don't you dare replace me!", she threatens playfully.

"I could never", I reply pulling her in for another hug.

"Come on kids please", my mother calls out the passenger side window.

"Kids?", I mouth to Jesse and Blair, rolling my eyes at my mother's choice of words.

"We're coming Mrs Davis", Jesse says as he stands up straight from leaning against the car.

I free Blair, allowing her to slide into the back seat before wrapping my arms tightly around Jesse's waist, breathing in the scent of his cologne. He smells so familiar and like home. I am going to miss him so much.

"Be safe but have fun", he says lifting my face to look at him using his index and middle fingers under my chin.

"I will", I smile back at him.

Jesse bends and kisses my nose, then my lips before letting me go and climbing into the back seat of the car next to Blair.

"Goodbye!", I say waving to the 4 of them, "I'll miss you!".

After a small wave from the car full of my favourite people, my father pulls the car out of the parking space and drives towards the exit of my new college.

Once back up in my dorm I continue to unpack my things. Folding most of my clothes neatly and placing them in the chest of drawers. I hang my dresses, long skirts and remaining clothes up in my wardrobe before straightening the few pairs of shoes I brought with me along the wardrobe floor. Next I set my class text books and day planner out on the desk that is on my side of the room. I make my bed, applying fresh sheets and a duvet and fold my favourite fluffy blanket that I brought from home across the end.

I stand back and admire how I've prepared my side of the room. It's neat and organised. Exactly how I like it.

After some supper and I've changed into my pyjamas I take a seat at my desk and go through my timetable for tomorrow once more. I look over the map of the college grounds and over each class number and time I need to be there. I make notes along the margin for how much time I have in between, planning out my first day down to almost the minute.

When I'm feeling confident with tomorrow's schedule I decide to climb into bed. It's barely 9pm but I know it'll be a good idea to get an early night, in preparation for my first day of classes. I pick up my phone and send a good night text to both Jesse and Blair before replying to my mothers 'Good luck tomorrow' text she had sent an hour earlier.

The quiet and emptiness of my dorm room begins to dawn on me. I'm so looking forward to getting to know Bethan. I hope she's not out every night with her boyfriend or this college experience could be very lonely and dull.

Hopefully tomorrow is as great as I hope it will be or college isn't going to be what I imagine at all.