When We Collide (Temporarily On Hold)

2 🌸

The walls of this room are far too white and I feel like they are closing in on me.

I had unpacked all of my clothes and put them away in the dresser, knowing full well that that was the easy part. All that is left is the personal touches.

I stare at the box that is currently sitting on my bed. It's an unassuming box that was once the home of my favorite pair of black knee high boots. But now the box is taunting me; daring me to open it and look at the painful reminders of the past.

The room begins to get smaller, while the box gets bigger. I can feel the heaviness of what lies inside, weighing on my chest and I can't seem to get a deep enough breath to satisfy my lungs.

I can't so this.

I can't open the box; I can't look at the past that I have buried there. I grab the box and shove it under the bed, hoping that will help make the room stop shrinking. I need to get out of here, away from that stupid box that I should have left in Acala.

I grab my cross shoulder purse and shove my wallet into it, before grabbing my keys and locking the dorm door behind me.

I don't have a lot of money, just what I had saved for the last few months from babysitting and cleaning houses. I knew I would need to get a new comforter, sheets and other things that I wasn't going to bring with me and now seems like a perfect time. Maybe I'll pick up some applications for work while I'm out.

The halls still have random people milling around. I didn't know that the dorms were coed. Once again, I'm glad I got a single room. I begin to head towards the elevator when I decide I really don't want to be alone.

I glance around at the doors to find Ryan's room. 532, that's what she said. I turn towards my right and side step some boxes. I make a mental note that the bathrooms are here.

That's what sucks about dorms, shared floor bathrooms.

I knock on Ryan's door, hoping that I remembered the right dorm number. My prayers are answered when the familiar blonde answers the door.

"Hey Brin! This is Sadie, my roommate." She points to a small brunette that is currently stuffing her luggage under her bed.

"Hey, nice to meet you. Sorry about the mess." She laughs, her green eyes crinkling a little.

"It's college" I joke with a shrug before turning to Ryan.

"I actually have to do a little shopping. I think there is a Wal-Mart just a few streets over. Maybe do you guys want to go with me?"

"Yeah"

"Sounds good." They say at the same time.

I wait as they grab their purses and lock the door before we head out.Being around other people helps me push the box and its contents to the back of my mind and I couldn't be more grateful.

"I'll call a cab."

"No don't worry about it, I got a car." Sadie says as she digs through her purse pulling out some keys with a giant heart key chain on it.

"So Brin, where are you from?" Sadie asks as we walk through the student parking lot.

My mind races back to Acala. The small town that takes a persons heartache and turns it into a story for the local paper and town to gossip about. So much for leaving it in a box and forgetting about it for now. I don't even want to talk about it.

"Some small town USA, where nothing exciting happens. What about you?"

"Lakenbridge, California. Not a small town, but not a big city either. Just the perfect combination of the two." She presses a button on her keys and the lights flash on a nearby blue Honda civic.

I don't even try to get shotgun. I slid into the back seat, pushing some papers and a sweater out of the way to sit down.

"So what are you shopping for? I could use some snacks and maybe a robe. I forgot the bathrooms weren't in room." Ryan laughs, as Sadie and I join in.

"I need a comforter set and some other things, honestly." I say, admiring the different building style here.

"You didn't bring one from home?" Sadie asks, her eyes meeting mine for a brief second in the rear view mirror.

"Uh no. I didn't want to much to carry since I traveled alone."

"Yeah that's how she met me. She was but a lonely straggler and I saved her." Ryan laughs putting her hand over her heart dramatically.

We all laugh and thankfully they ask no more questions as we pull into the Wal-mart parking lot. I make quick work of getting a cart, while Ryan and Sadie grab us some frappuccinos from McDonald's.

"Alright, bedding first?" Ryan asks already walking through the store like a girl on a mission.

We spend about two hours walking the entire store. They helped me settle on a purple and white comforter with dark purple sheets and we talked Ryan out of the little silk robe she wanted to walk around the dorms in.

But mostly, we got to know each other a little better. I kept some things to myself by keeping the answers vague but they didn't seem to mind. Somehow we managed to stuff all the things we bought into the trunk of Sadie's car, much to my astonishment, and we are heading back to campus.

"OH.MY.GOD! There is a Five Guys! Turn left Sadie!" Ryan yells pointing at a restaurant causing Sadie to cheer as she approaches the turn.

"What's Five Guys?" I swear at my words, Ryan became the exorcist, turning her head a complete one-eighty to face me with wide blue eyes.

"Did you seriously just ask that? You've never had Five Guys?" Her voice and face are so serious that I can't help but laugh and shake my head no.

"Oh, honey. You poor, unfortunate soul you. It's okay. We're here. We will show you what you've been missing." Sade looks at Ryan who nods her head sadly before they start laughing.

I am really glad I ask them to come along today. They have been a great distraction and nothing solidifies this more as my home than having great friends.

<3 <3 <3 <3