Southern Sunshine

Saying Goodbye

"I'm going to m-miss you s-so m-much!" The blonde woman blubbered, throwing her arms around what appeared to be a miniature version of herself. The warm Minnesota weather creating waves in the air around them as the young girl awkwardly patted her mother's back. "Mom, it's fine. Parent's week is in like... a month, and you're coming down for that." 

"B-but that's such a long time and you're my little girl." The last two words sent her mother into a new wave of wails and sobs, and Ainsley could do nothing but sigh heavily and roll her eyes.

"Mom, seriously, I need to go. Dad is waiting." She struggled against the vice-grip that was her mother's hug, pressing at her shoulders to try and get her to step away. She felt a little bad for her mother, who would be alone now that Ainsley was leaving. She was the last of three to go away to college, and Ainsley's father was gone so much on business that her mom may as well just live alone. But it wasn't like they couldn't talk, it was the 21st century after all. They had FaceTime and Skype and even Google Voice or whatever they called it...not that anyone actually used it. They could even call if it came down to it.

Her mom finally released her, and Ainsley gave the woman one more peck on the cheek before waving her goodbyes and turning to walk to the car. Midstep, she paused, turning on her heel and rushing back into the house. She came bustling back out with a kennel, her therapy animal encased securely inside. "I almost forgot to grab Riley and his bag." She said, sounding a little embarrassed. The grey Maine Coon cowered at the back of his kennel, glaring at the outside world as he flexed his claws. Ainsley cooed quietly at him, wiggling her fingers against the mesh front to try and get him to relax. He simply puffed up more at the noise and turned his green-eyed glare on her. 

Scoffing at the cat, she shook her head and gave her mom a little wave as she slipped into the passenger seat of the car, placing the kennel on her lap and wedging the bag underneath her seat. Turning her head, she said something to her father and they pulled away, leaving her mom waving with tear-stained cheeks in the driveway. This was the last Ainsley would see of her Lake Calhoun home in some time, and while that weighed on her heart just a little bit, she couldn't wait for the adventures college had in store for her.

"So, are you going to rush Theta Tau?" Her father asked, breaking the silence after about a half an hour of driving. Ainsley groaned, 1,000 miles of driving to do and he couldn't even wait a couple hours before bringing up the dreaded subject. She didn't want to join a stupid sorority. She was on her way to Walker University to play softball. They were one of the best in Texas, and coming closer and closer to being able to actually compete with teams from California and Arizona. She was Edina's star catcher. She was an athlete not some frilly sorority girl.

"I...suppose I can check it out." She relented, quite begrudgingly. She had no desire to actually attend any of the rush events, but since she agreed she knew she would have to now. Her mother wouldn't stop asking her about it, and if she had nothing to tell her, both her parents would know she lied and that would positively break her mother's heart. She thought of the Lilly Pulitzer dresses and planner packed at the bottom of some of her boxes that her mother had bought her solely for rush events and blanched a little bit. They were the tamer designs, but she didn't want to seem like some high school groupie who had planned her entrance into Theta Tau since day one.

"Good. I'm sure you'll get a bid. Your mother has already spoken to the current recruitment chair and considering the money she's given them over the years, it would be a scandal to not give you one." Her father's response made her slump lower in her seat, jostling the cat who yowled his disdain. 

"See? Riley thinks it's a stupid idea too." She grumbled, arms folding across her chest. Her father just grinned at her, knowing all too well the thoughts going through the eighteen year-old's head. He was in her shoes many a year ago, as his father pressured him to join Beta Sigma at the very same university he had met his wife, Phoebe. Brandon smiled at the thought, and wondered what his young Ainsley would find during her time with Theta Tau. 

Silence fell once more in her father's Chevy, and Ainsley grabbed her aux cord, plugging it in and hitting play on one of her favorite albums, one from an a Cappella group based out of Minnesota. There was fourteen more hours of driving to do, and she wanted to enjoy at least a few of them. Before long, she found the music lulling her into a deep sleep, and her eyes slid closed, arms wrapped tightly around her cat's kennel as he too, snoozed away quietly.