In Between the Lines

Chapter 1

College is a special time in a person's life. It's where you finally find yourself and begin to understand more than you could ever think. But first, your world will turn upside down with the vast changes it brings.

People are moving around everywhere. Boxes are tossed over heads and luggage carts roll passed as I walk down the hallway to my new abode. MattieLou 457. I would be living here for the next year until I can legally get my own apartment. My parents had already unloaded all three carloads of furniture and luggage.

My new neighbors are yelling their names as I go by to make quick introductions. I missed almost every name.

Finally I make my way to the last door on the left and stare at it for a minute. Here goes nothing.

I push the door open and the room is bursting with people and possessions.

"OH MY GOD you're here!" A blur of strawberry blonde hair jumps at me.

"Yeah, I couldn't find a parking spot," I grin as I drop the last bag onto the floor.

The crazy girl who attacked me is my roommate and friend from childhood, Averie. She is a small girl with short strawberry blonde hair and a sporadic personality.

Both sets of my parents are standing in the corner waiting for me to advise them but I don't even know where to start.

The room is set up very simple. When you first walk in there are two closet areas separated equally to the right. To the left is the bathroom with a toilet and a nice walk in shower. Passed the bathroom is a sink and mirror area, then the room. Its a good sized room with to half lofted beds, two desks, and two dressers. Directly in the middle is a huge window that has a perfect view of the football practice field and band practice field. 

My stuff has been put on the right side of the room so I guess that is going to be mine.

"I guess we can start with the bed," I announce and everyone starts shuffling.

My dad is in the bathroom, setting up my shower curtain and baskets. My mom and stepmom are helping with my bed and unloading my clothes. One folds and one hangs. We have a well-oiled machine built and ready to take on all of these boxes.

It takes us about an hour just to get everything perfect on both sides of the room. My dad and stepmom gather their bearings and get ready to leave.

"Let us know if you need anything. We are only a phone call away," They both hug me tightly.

"I will, Love ya'll," I say as they make their way to the door. With one final wave they are gone.

My mom looks at me in relief that he is finally gone. They were all trying so hard to get along and I really appreciate the effort. We haven't had a good day  together in a long time. Since graduation everyone has been trying very hard to get along.

"Alright Brooke, Do ya'll need anything else?" Mom asks warily. I know she isn't ready to leave her little girl. On her side I am an only child, and she has been with me through everything. 

"I don't think so," I shuffle towards her and hug her closely. 

"Before I leave I have to get pictures!" 

Averie looks at me and we laugh. Of course, she can't do anything without posting it on facebook.

She takes pictures of the entire room and one of me and her," Now, if you need me call and if you don't need me call. I love you sweetie."

"I love you too mom," I walk down our small entryway and see them out,"I'll call you later!"

"Ok," she yells from down the hallway," make new friends!"

My eyes roll of their own accord as the door closes behind me.

"Well," Averie says grinning,"We are in college!"

"Yes it is official! We are finally adults."

Of course this is not one hundred percent true. As a freshman living on campus there are a few guidelines as to how free you actually are. You call your parents crying about easily fixed things at least three times a week and your Room Advisor is basically your mom. She or he tells you to quiet down and they check your room a few times a semester to make sure you don't have anything illegal. It's basically a glorified high school with harder classes. 

You get the freedom of picking your mealtimes, classes, and sleeping habits. But you still have to report to someone and you rarely have free time.

After our breathing time we both climb up on our bed," Wanna watch tv?"

I nod and hop up to turn it on. That's when I realize that we don't have a cable core, or a DVD player.

"What are we gonna do now?" I ask, but just as the words leave my mouth a knock comes from the door.

As I open the door, I'm greeted by a short girl maybe a few years older than me with dark skin and a tall boy with longer blonde hair.

"Hey, we are your Resident Advisors for this floor! My name is Bre, and this is Nick. We are having a mandatory floor meeting just to welcome everyone and kind of give a rundown of the rules." 

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Brooke and this is Averie. We'll come down there."

Averie hops down off of her perch and follows me down the hallway to our lobby. 

Already, people are sitting on all the furniture and trailing around the walls. We pick a spot in the back,  standing on our tip-toes so we can see the middle of the room.

The meeting is rather short and they go over most of the rules. Quiet hours are after ten every night. IF you have any other questions, come ask them, etc.

"Alright ya'll we are going to have a little game night at the Student Recreation Center and then free ice cream afterwards if you want to go," Nick announces before everybody leaves.

"Let's go!" Averie cheers.

*                                   *                                  *

By the time we get back to the room it's already 11 o'clock and we both crash.

"I can't believe we are actually here. We made it to college, basically living on our own."

I nod even though she can't see me in the dark,"I know. It's crazy."

We both climb into our beds dressed in our matching night time attire, a t-shirt and underwear. 

"Goodnight sweet dreams," I say quietly.

"You too."

With all of our crazy running around it doesn't take to long to fall asleep, but it feels like as soon as I have the loudest alarm jerks me from slumber.

"THERE IS A FIRE EMERGENCY IN THE BUILDING!"

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