Masqueraded Identities

Chapter One

My mother hugged me to her one last time, saying, “If you need anything, just call!”

“Alright, Mom. I got it,” I said, rolling my eyes but smiling all the same.

She smiled at me as my dad gave me one last hug. With one last wave, they both walked out of my home for the next year. I was sad to see them go, but I only lived two hours away. Plus, this was a brilliant adventure and I couldn’t wait to begin it.

“That was the calmest goodbye I have ever seen here,” my roommate suddenly commented with an impressed whistle.

I turned around to look at her. She was grinning, and I suddenly realized she was actually being sincere. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah. So many parents here don’t know what to do when they have to say goodbye to their precious angels.”

I shrugged. “I’m pretty close to them, but they love watching me try to find a place for myself.”

She nodded. “I wish I had that. My parents are sometimes a little too strict.”

“Are you at least close to them?”

“Sort of. It’s gotten better. I'm pretty tight with my grandma, though,” she said as she put a tiny, silver ring in her nose.

            “Does a nose piercing hurt?”

“You know how there's that little pinch when you get your ear pierced? That's what it feels like, except in your nose.”

“Oh, okay. OH! I don't think I got your name. I'm Phoebe.” Technically, I should have known who my roommate was this summer so I could get a chance to know her better and message her on Facebook and whatever, but three days before school started, my roommate dropped out. I was assigned a new one, but hadn’t met her until today. We were both so busy getting unpacked and dealing with parents that we hadn’t even had time to formally introduce.

She smiled, saying, “I'm Taylor, but I prefer being called Tay. Sounds way cuter.”

I shrugged. “I think both are cute. But Tay definitely fits you better.”

It was true. She was short and petite, with her brown hair in a rocker haircut and many different colored streaks. Not to mention her nose-ring and bright pink lipstick.

Tay gave a bright smile, and went over to her bed. “I hate unpacking!” she exclaimed.

I lugged two giant bags over to my bed. “Me, too. I have like, eight bags. No joke.”

“Dang, girl! I only have six!”

“Well, I tend to have tons of clothes and shoes and unimportant stuff.”

Tay giggled. “Don't we all? My parents bought me a Kindle just so I could read books in it instead of lugging around all my favorites.”

“It takes me forever to read a book, so I just brought a few. I'm relying on the library if I finish my books.”

Tay snorted. “Good luck with that. All they have is old English and stuff... No thanks!”

I laughed. “Not a Shakespeare fan?”

“No way!”

I rolled my eyes teasingly, and began unpacking my clothes. Thankfully, the room was pretty spacious. I had a feeling all my junk would fit just fine in the two drawers and rather large closet assigned to me. Not to mention the beautiful wooden desk which also had drawers big enough for my school supplies as well as my textbooks. I was also ecstatic to find out that due to the wealth of Princeton, each room got their own bathroom. Yes, their OWN bathroom, which was not required to be shared with another suite. It was beautiful.