Fluorescent || Bruno Mars

01.

I took one last glance at my half empty bedroom. The walls once filled with various artwork and posters now displayed no trace of me whatsoever. The memories flooded back into my mind. From the endless nights crying over heartbreak after another, to procrastinating on my numerous research papers by adding unnecessary editions to my walls, and organising the books on my shelves that always seemed to get out of order. Or to getting ready to attend my senior prom, I laughed lightly remembering the intoxicating aroma of hairspray that never seemed to go away.

"Rosyln! Are you ready to go?" My mom called loudly to me, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, I'll be down soon!" I replied, still looking at the spacious room. I picked up my luggage and shut the door behind me tightly. I strode down the hallway; with my free hand, I ran my fingers along the walls. I knew it was going to be awhile until I got to feel these walls again.

"ROSLYN!" I sensed the loss of patience in my mother's tone. I reached the staircase, staring at the various picture frames as I went down. My mom just had to capture every aspect of my life. I began to go faster, as I heard the tapping of her foot.

"Sorry mom, just gonna miss being here that's all." I exhaled solemnly.

My mother wrapped me in a tight embrace and cooed softly into my ear. "Baby, it's okay. You're going to come back and visit plenty!" She said whilst rubbing my back.

I bit my lip, and she cupped my face. "I'm just nervous."

"Now don't you worry, everyone will love you." She said sweetly.

"You're supposed to say that, you're my mom." I replied.

"Come on, Roslyn. Say goodbye to your father." She said, shooing me into the living room. He was placing a new pair of curtains for our glass door that led to the backyard.

"Dad?" I said quietly, but loud enough for him to hear.

"Hey Roslyn! Are ya leavin' already?" He said while adjusting the hooks of the curtain.

"Yeah." I rubbed the back of my head. My dad stepped off the ladder slowly, and almost knocked over the can of paint.

"I meant to do that." He chuckled.

"Sure you did." I laughed. He smiled at me,"My little Ros is all grown up." He said whole-heartedly.

"I'm sure going to miss ya." He pulled me into a hug. I inhaled, trying to put together what my father smelled like. As a mental memory. He always smelled of work and a faint scent of Kenneth Cole for men. I was always close to my dad, he was there through everything. I told him what there was to know about me. He confided in me, and I confided in him.

"Call as soon as you get up there. Make friends, have a good time. Stay clear of boys, they're nothing but trouble. I should know I was one." I stopped my dad before he went any further. He gave me the exact same lecture before I went to prom.

"Dad, I'm sorry to cut you off but I have to go. I love you." I kissed him on the cheek.

"Ros, just please be careful." He called out to me before I headed out the door.

***

I've only seen N.Y.U. in my dreams. It was so beautiful. From the corner of my eye I saw my mom looking at me with such contempt. After driving all over the place for a decent parking spot, we finally found one and parked promptly. My mom took the keys out of the ignition.

She turned to me hastily,"Well, we're here."

Tears stung at my eyes as I looked at my mom. She took some tissues out of her bag. "Don't cry baby, it's time to try new things. Think of it as an adventure!" She leaned over the seat to hug me. "Go show them who Roslyn Brooks really is." I hopped out of the vehicle and my mom did the same. She handed me my suitcase and placed a kiss on my forehead.

My mom started the car, and gave me a subtle wave. And with that, she was gone. I watched as the SUV got further and further away from me. I picked up my suitcase and decided to explore. A banner was hung neatly on two trees. In sparkly letters it read: WELCOME INCOMING FRESHMAN OF 2014!

I pushed my way through the abundance of people, desperately trying to get to the schedule line. I swear I think I stepped in some gum. Ew, gross. I sighed, finally getting to the front. "Hello sweetie! What is your name?" A girl at seated at the table asked me. She just seemed too damn happy. "Roslyn Brooks." I stated. She shuffled the cards she had and handed me a brochure along with a free bag. I opened the brochure and my schedule and room number was in the seam of the book. I took it out, but I had been so concentrated into it that I didn't even notice anyone around me. I was pushed back hardly, knocking the wind straight out of me. "Would ya watch it?!" I spat angrily. I didn't even notice the person come back.

"Oh, sorry princess. I'll try and be more careful this time." The stranger remarked with sarcasm. He wore a red letter man, and a loose v-neck underneath it. His hair was a mess of curls on his head. I wasn't going to lie, he had the most captivating set of light brown orbs you could ever see.

I grimaced at his remark. "Don't call me that." He tossed the football that he had in his hands to his friend. "Ayyy nice throw, Brunz!" He yelled.

"How does pristine sound?" He chuckled.

"Ugh." I said annoyed. I walked away,"Hey, hopefully we'll have a class." He licked his lips. I ignored him and kept walking. When I looked back, he gave his team mate a high five. I rolled my eyes, I didn't think someone could be so into themselves. It's sickening.

I reached my room. I opened the door slowly, and there was a girl hanging up a couple of Polaroid pictures.

"Oh I didn't hear you come in!" She said happily. The girl walked over to me,"Here let me help you out." She placed the suitcase on the other mattress. "There we go, you're Roslyn I presume?"

"Yeah, how did you?"

"I looked ahead, I'm Cara!" She stuck her hand out excitedly.

I shook her hand and sat down on the mattress. It made a creaking noise, somewhat startling me. "Ya don't talk much do you?" She said.

"Nah, not really."

"Homesick?" She questioned.

"Somewhat." I looked out my window. I watched the two boys throw the football. The one who bumped into me waved at me. I gave him a rushed wave and tore my gaze from the window.

"Who were you waving at?" Cara jumped up to see. She noticed him still looking.

"HI BRUNO!" She screamed.

He waved back almost instantly. "Hey Phredley." She called. The other guy 'Phredley' waved as well.

"How did you meet them?" She said so confused, like she couldn't fathom it.

"Well, that one over there bumped into me." I pointed to Bruno.

"Ah I see. I know him because I went to high school with him."

"Was he always like that?"

"Like what?" She asked, dumbfounded.

"I don't know? Cocky?" I stated.

"Well not really." She played with her nails. She put on her sandals. "Come on!" She tossed my shoes at me.

"Where are we going?" I began to slip on my toms.

"We're gonna tour the campus!" She squealed.

Well this should be fun.