Our Messed Up Thing

chapter 7

"We are going to miss you so much, princess." My dad cries, giving me one last kiss on the cheek.

"Dad, we are still going to see each other. We are just not going to live together." I reply, praying they stop the dramatic scene in front of the entire campus.

"Exactly!" My mom exclaims in a complaining manner, gaining many students' attention. I notice Archie letting out a little giggle. I look to the side and notice a group of boys also giggling, but suddenly they stop and worry covers their faces. I turn to find Archie shooting glares at them. I'm pretty sure if looks could kill, they would all be dead by now.
I shyly thank him with an awkward smile and turn to face my parents again.

"Mom, Dad, please stop..." I whisper, almost quietly enough for them not to hear me. Unfortunately they did.

"Why would you say that, honey?" Dad frowns.

"We are only expressing how much we love you." My mom adds.

"Okay, okay. Well... B-Bye." I say with a stutter. It surprises me considering the fact that I thought that leaving them wouldn't affect me.
              We all hug each other one last time while Archie waits by the stairs, my suitcase on one side, his own on the other. "I love you," I whisper to my parents.

"Aw, honey, we love you more." They say simultaneously. It doesn't creep me out, it just makes me miss them more.
          They are gonna live 45 minutes away from here so I won't be able to see them each afternoon. Just Fridays, or the weekends.

As I'm walking towards Archie, whom I suppose has already... quickly said goodbye to his parents, Mom and Dad are making their way to the car, already crying waterfalls, and the Scotts are already in theirs, waiting for my parents to get a grip I guess.

"Wait, Gigi!" I hear someone scream.

I immediately recognize Ryan's voice. He's running towards me when I turn around.
       I kneel down a little bit, which there was no need to do because he's almost as tall as I am being just fourteen years old, and he embraces me warmly.

I realize that I'm going to miss this annoying nugget more than I will my parents.

"I'm going to miss you," He struggles to say, making me think about our normal way of showing affection; tickling each other. "Hugging you is awkward," He adds.
          Instead of teasing him I get a sisterly instinct to let him go. I can't do so though because he pulls me back in "I never said I never liked your hugs,". Ugh, I'm going to miss this guy so much.

"Who doesn't?" I tease and earn a little nostalgic giggle from him, earning another from Archie. When we finally let go I add "Remember, the first days in school are never supposed to be easy, but everyone is going to like you so much, Ryan, you will have made so many friends by the first week. You might even be the cutest guy in your year." I say the last comment with sincerity.

My brother is quite the handsome man. Even though my eyes are a blueish-green, his are brown. But a pretty brown. His face is completely symmetrical, like Archie's. He has a natural tan; born with it, giving him a mysterious vibe. A cool vibe. I sound so cheesy but I am certain that he will become the handsomest man alive when growing up. His hair is a dark brown, just like mine, however is plain, while mine is wavy.

"Heh, I hope!" He responds. "I love you, G." He whispers, possibly embarrassed by saying those words out loud.

"Yeah well, I love me more." I tease, rubbing his hair and making him laugh. I stop though when I hear Archie giggling too. "I love you too, nugget." I correct.

Ryan then runs towards the car. Before getting in it he looks at me, worried of not finding me, and when he finally spots me he waves goodbye in an extreme manner as I laugh to myself and wave back. And so to the rest of the parents.

Once they have all left I turn to Archie to get my suitcase.  I am stunned when I see him carrying both suitcases up the steps, which are many.

"Archie!" I scream, not making any difference in his actions. I know how much my suitcase weighs, and even though he's the strong type, that many steps and that much weight must be hard for him to manage simultaneously. I rush towards him and am already tired by the time I get to him.

How does he do this?

"Hey, give me my suitcase." I command. But he bulges when I try to take it from him. "Archie, this is too much to carry." I sigh. He still gives me nothing.

I sigh in defeat as he manages to get to the top, still intact, his breath completely controlled. "I am still going to carry your bags to the dorm." He opens his mouth to speak finally, however those words I did not want to hear.

I'm not in the mood to argue, plus the suitcase is quite hard to manage. So instead I smile and give him a quiet "Thank you," as we walk towards our dorms.