Audio and visual

Chapter four

I sat looking out the window, the family was silent in the car as we pulled onto the campus.

"This is it." my mom whispered excitedly as she squeezed my sisters leg.

I felt a little numb, she was leaving right away all of a sudden.

"Let's go." my dad said, and we walked out of the car and into the check in center.

Families were hugging and kids were teary eyed whilst others scrambled to get signed in, Eliza breathed a little deeper and I squeezed her hand.

We got her all cleared and my mom and dad and me herded her up to the stairs. My parents took turns asking for the rest of us to walk behind as they and Eliza exchanged private words.

I can only assume they were addressing Elizas greatest fear, not knowing anyone. My sister was a little shy and that's in a small town, small towns know everyone in their age group after 6th grade, they can point kids out on the street even if they don't know their names.

NewYork was completely different, she wouldn't know anyone much less have a group of friends dating back to elementary school.

Eliza had been E-Mailing her roommate, a Connecticut girl named Dorothy, but that was it. The idea terrified Eliza and made me itch to call Jade or Lacey.

The walk seemed to last forever, me and my sister were so close. I just hadn't noticed until now. We had gone to the same camps and schools and always talked about everything. I had known all her boyfriends, little 12 year old me had comforted her after her first heartbreak and 17 year old her had returned the favor. I would be alone a lot now, since my parents often were out until 8:30 at night, I wouldn't be able to complain about anything and everything, I wouldn't get help with Math, she would be so far away. My lip started to shake.

When we got to her room my mom said we could have some private time and her and my dad went off to try and find coffee.

Eliza closed the door and I looked around the pathetically small dorm silently. Eliza walked in front of me and said very seriously, "I'm not going to be out of the loop, ok? You know to call me when you pick a major." I nod, biting my lip.

Eliza goes on, "I want to know about all boyfriends, even if it's Jades, hell I wanna know about Eric's girlfriends, ok?"

"As long as you return the favor." I reply, both of us look at each other for a moment, the mutual sense not to cry strengthens.

"Of course." she smiles, touching my hair a little, "Send me pictures of what you wear to prom, tell me about stupid tests, keep me informed on every single and album coming out, correct me on which band member is who, email me links to good music." she bites her lip.

"Tell me what classes you have." I say, starting my own list, "Tell me if kids fall asleep or make breakfast in class and tell me about internships and parties you shouldn't have been at." I take a deep breath, "I want to know the entire schools gossip."

She nods, smiling a shaky smile, "Call me apart from mom and dad, tell me about things you shouldn't have been doing, because I promise you I'll call you at 2AM when anything happens."

"Call me if school feels like it's crushing you again." I reply.

"Call me if Ms. Tomilson goes insane."

"Call me if you get a fake ID."

"Call me if you get a fake ID." Eliza laughs lightly.

"Let's stay sisters alright?" She mummers, and then both of us are teary eyes and shaky lipped.