Hearts Don't Break Around Here

Chapter 7 - Cookie Crumbs

Freshman Year (College)

"Hello? Snickers?" Roseanne asks excitedly over the phone. She's sprinting down the stairs of her dorm building, excitement almost overflowing out of her chest.

"Rosie, where are you?" Jennie answers, sounding just about as excited as Jennie can sound. "I'm standing outside of Brady Hall."

"I'm coming! Just give me like two minutes. Is Brady Hall the one next to the giant statue of that fat guy?"

Jennie chuckles. "You mean the headmaster's office? Yes. It's got ivy growing up the side."

"Cool cool!" Roseanne's feet are carrying her so fast she almost can't keep up with them. "I'll be there soon." Move-in day has been incredibly exciting. Roseanne brought way too much stuff for her tiny dorm room, which she was kind of expecting. She ended up having to store some of it away; even the floor length mirror with the neon blue frame, which she was super excited about. But it doesn't matter! Because she's officially a college student. No parents, no rules, no high school. And now she's buzzing with excitement because Jennie is here; and they haven't seen each other all summer.

After finding out that they both made it into Harrison, Roseanne and Jennie had a long discussion about being roommates. They both agreed that maybe, for the first year of college, they should branch out and try to meet new people. Also, Roseanne's older sister always advised her to never live with her friends, because she'll end up "wanting to slit their throats" by the end of the year. So Roseanne and Jennie had both agreed to be put with a random roommate.

Jennie's parents then proceeded to break the news that the whole family was going to be spending the summer with Jennie's aunt, who has a condo in Florida. They wanted to spend quality time together before Jennie went off to college. It was a cute notion, really. But after three months without seeing Jennie, Roseanne misses her more than ever. She sees a brick wall covered in ivy and feels the grin spreading across her face.

Jennie is standing at the front door of the dorm building. She's wearing her classic black t-shirt and jeans. She still has her phone pressed to her ear and she's scowling into the sunlight, looking utterly confused. Her hair is a little shorter than it was when she left. Probably freshly cut. She's got a light sunburn on her cheeks. When she sees Roseanne running towards her, her face melts into a grin.

"Snickers!" Roseanne shouts, tackling her, quite ungracefully, into a dangerously tight embrace. "Oh my god I missed you!"

Jennie giggles into her chest. "Hey, Rosie."

"Never go to Florida again."

Jennie hugs back. "I'm not planning on it, I don't think."

"Good." Roseanne squeezes tightly before letting go. "Look at you! New haircut?"

Jennie is still grinning. She lifts a hand to her eyes to block out a bit of the sunlight. "Yeah. My mom said that my longer hair was...in bad taste."

"Sounds like your mom." Roseanne says fondly.

"Yeah." Jennie laughs, taking a step back and looking at Roseanne. "Of course I sit on a beach for three months and you somehow manage to get a better tan than me." She scoffs. "I'm just pink."

Roseanne shrugs. "Yard work with my dad. You know how it is." Jennie smiles at her, rolling her eyes. Roseanne jumps happily. "Ah! I can't believe you're here!" She exclaims. "Have you walked around campus yet? We gotta go try the cafeteria."

Jennie bites her lip, looking up at the building and moving towards the door. "Okay, I just have to get my wallet. Wanna come see my room?"

"That depends. Is it more or less boring than your room at home?"