Losing Charley

Chapter 3 Part 2

I walk into the doorway to find my roommate, a girl with curly, dark-brown hair and a strong Northern accent. I was unsuccessful trying to contact her in order to figure out who was bringing what.

"Hey, you must be Crystal. I'm Charley. It's nice to meet ya."

"Nice to meet you, too. We are about to leave to go get some items we didn't bring. See you in a little bit."

Okay, that was weird! This might take some time to get use to. Anyway, Dad, Mama, and I make multiple loads to get everything. Mama helps me make my bed and put up clothes. When that is finished, she is smiling.

"Well, looks like that's it. I guess we will get back on the road."

I nod and follow them back to the Chevy. I hug them both. Dad puts the Chevy in reverse and waves as they head back home. I wave until I can't see them anymore, then I turn around and try to put away the remainder of my stuff. How the crap am I going to get all of this to fit in this cracker box of a room?

I'm alone in my room for about fifteen minutes when Crystal returns with her parents. They bring in a few groceries, and then she walks them out to say goodbye.

When she returns, we make small talk. I can tell that she is different from me. She is very confident in being on her own. She knows who she is and why she is here. Crystal turns around and asks, "So, you want to walk around and see what's going on?"

"Sure." I am at a disadvantage from everyone else on campus. Since I changed my mind so late in the game, I missed Orientation. It is very obvious that friendships started there, and currently I just have a roommate as an associate.

Crystal and I walk down the hall and introduce ourselves to our hall mates. The first person I meet is Georgia. She is all of about four-feet-eleven. She has the cutest smile. You know how your gut tells you things? Well, I know she is going to play a starring role in my college life. There is something about her that is familiar. Her roommate, on the other hand, I think not!

Across the hall I see two very athletic-looking blondes, Cassie and Jenny. You can tell that they have spoken before moving in, hence, the matching loft beds, comforters, and room decorated like an interior designer.

To my right, is another Southern Belle, Caroline. She looks like the cheerleaders at my high school, skinny, blonde, and overly excited about everything.

To my left are Anna and Tori. Yet again, these two look like they don't match as roommates since they are both from opposite sides of the Mason Dixon Line, but there is something different. I have a feeling these two have more in common than they know.

Crystal and I make our way outside and walk toward the train track. It is about four o'clock, and we are supposed to meet on the lawn in front of Rush dorm to have some "freshman fun." Seriously. WTH?

"So, Charley, how excited are you about this?"

"I've been waiting for this all day! Haven't you?" I say sarcastically. I have never been one that likes to play the get-to-know-you icebreaker shit.

"We might get along more than I thought, Charley. I had that exact same thought." Crystal smiles at me as we cross the street.

We walk to the front lawn and divide into our groups. I notice two girls that look like they have been lifelong friends. Then they talk, and their accents are dynamically different. This must be what happens when you come to Orientation. The "freshman fun" leader, Lucas, starts to talk. He is well over six feet tall, dark hair, and looks like he spends hours in the gym. I guess I can handle the next thirty minutes of torture if I can look at him.