𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡 | 𝟏𝟖+

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞

After four days and close to 44 hours of driving, we finally arrive on campus. It has been a draining journey and I still question why we didn't take a flight. We could've saved time and gas, and I would've avoided Alex.

We took the last slot open for move-in which is at 7:00 pm. Since we have about twenty minutes before then, we follow Chris' car where he drops off Alex at his dorm. While they unload the car, I search the directions to my dorm.

The directions don't come up and it keeps on saying there is an error, but I try everything to make sure I entered the correct address. I get out of the car and run to Chris, telling him that my phone isn't giving directions to my dorm.

"What's the name of it?" Chris asks.

"Rieber Hall."

"Well, this one is Rieber Terrace, so I don't know. You can ask Alex, he probably knows."

"Really, Chris? I refuse to sit in a car with him and now you want me to talk to him?"

"You're actually so immature," he remarks.

"So what?"

"Fine, I'll ask," Chris relents.

I walk back to the car as Chris asks Alex where my dorm is. I know I should've just asked Alex, but in my mentality, if I never looked at him or talked to him, I can still say that I have had an Alex-free UCLA experience.

I look up to see Alex staring in my direction with a devilish grin as if he's about to deliver news that he knows I will not be happy with. Chris walks up to me laughing.

"Cami, I'm sorry this is all funny to me," he giggles.

"What?" Now I'm just over it. I want to move in already and for everyone to just leave me alone. I'm tired, grouchy, and hungry as well now thinking about it. Chris points to the building next to Alex's. "You've gotta be kidding me." Chris looks at Alex and they both try stifling their laugh. "Real funny."

"It's almost seven. You want to go and check in Cami?" Mom asks.

"Yeah, let's go."

A few girls with blue shirts greet me as I walk into the hall. One of them checks me in and gives me my orientation folder with my Bruincard and room key. Another one helps my mom unload the car and places all my belongings in one of the rolling bins. 

I see that my roommate has already moved in with her items all put in place and decorations already put up. I chose to go random because I felt like it was too much work to find someone through social media. I put all my trust in that random roommate survey and I'm praying that I get someone sane (a little insane is fine). The two most important things for me are cleanliness and respect. I also hope I become friends with her too because who doesn't want to be friends with the person they live with?

"Do you need help unpacking? We don't have to wait until Chris gets here," Mom offers.

"No, I'm tired," I jump onto the bare mattress as it makes an odd sound beneath me.

"Then, I'll start unpacking for you."

"No," I respond a little too quickly.

"What?"

"I'll just do it later, it's fine."

"Camila, let me just help you," she insists.

"No, you and Chris can stay at the hotel. I just want to unpack later."

"I'm not even going to bother fighting you on this. You know you can be so stubborn sometimes."

"Well anyway, I'll say bye to you and Chris tomorrow morning," I inch my mom out of the door.