And They were Roommates // Vat7k college au

Bad Impression

Varian finally thought he had his life together. I mean, after everything he'd been through, it was honestly shocking that he even had such a thought. And he had always been excited, praying to get to this very moment. But now, as the excruciatingly long 3 hour drive to Corona State College was concluding, he was having a proper full on crisis.

What if he didn't make any friends? What if he could never find where his classes were? What if he walked into his room and immediately made a bad impression on his roommate? What if he couldn't memorize the extremely confusing schedule that his classes are in? What if work got too overwhelming tied in with school? What if-

"Alright kid, we're here," Varian's thoughts were cut off by his father's scratchy voice declaring their arrival.

"Already?" Varian fully snaps out of his head to see, yep, they're in the parking lot in front of the dorming buildings.

"Yes, and if you think you're going to go in and sight see or whatever, you are very wrong my boy! You are going to help get your stuff up there whether you like it or not!" Quirin is already undoing his seat belt as he finishes speaking, but all Varian can think about is how fast all of this is going and how he feels so old because he just saw a child with their father as they were driving in and his entire life is flashing before his eyes and-

"Varian?"

Blue eyes lock with brown as Varian looks over at his dad, who now looks very concerned.

"Are you alright Varian?" He asks and Varian opens his mouth to respond, but he just can't and so he closes it in defeat after a few tries. Good thing Quirin knows his son's anxious behavior down to a T, because he's catching on to what's happening.

"Varian, don't freak out over this. You're gonna be okay! You have two days to unpack and settle into your new home-" The word makes Varian's eyes widen because he just got here and it's already being called his home and Quirin's eyes flash with panic as he tries to reword his sentence.

"Well not your home home, my- OUR house back in town is still your home, and-" He cuts himself off when he sees Varian starting to shake his head at his father's failing attempt at making him more comfortable rather than less anxious. Quirin lets out a gruff sigh.

"Okay, dropping the home part. You still have a bit to finish settling into your new living space. Alright, how's that?" It seems more like a rhetorical question than a literal one, but Varian still nods with a smile because his dad is just trying so hard to make him feel better and he just doesn't deserve it. Despite his son's internal doubts about his own self, Quirin continues on with a warm grin.

"So there's no need to panic, because you'll make new friends! And if all else fails you'll have Eugene, and you'll have Amber-"

"Amber's going here?!" Varian cuts him off as he perks up in his seat and his pupils kind of dilate because wow, who would've thought his cousin was going to the same college as him. He wouldn't volunteer it, but Varian actually was starting to forget about his negative "what if's" and focus on the more positive things. Ah, what family can do to you.

"Ulf didn't tell you?" Quirin genuinely questions and then laughs a little. "You think he would've! The guy was constantly rambling about how his daughter got into one of the best schools in the state! And OH WAIT, I know someone else who did that!" Varian smiles.

"You, my son, have gotten into one of the BEST SCHOOLS IN THE STATE and you're melting in my passenger seat worrying! I mean, you are amazing!"

It's actually working. Varian is now beaming because wow, he DID do that! He's amazing!