I open the car door of my dads buick and stand there with my head held high. I stand there in excitement that we finally made it. I look around and see people my age walking and talking with their peers. I smile as I spot men and women in professional wear laugh and playfully hit each other passing by us. They give me a friendly greeting by nodding their heads and waving. I give them an adrenalized smile back and watch them walk away. I notice the exotic green grass is covered by blankets and people enjoying the nice weather. The birds chirping in a synchronized manner echoes my ears. I stand there peacefully as the fresh, warm air hits my skin causing goosebumps of delight. I keep noticing every little small thing in my presence and realize that everything here at my new school, Emory University, is absolutely perfect.
"Shit!" I jump as I hear a car honk from behind us, snapping me out of my muse.
I turn around and see other families in their cars wave their hands signaling us to hurry and move. Way to ruin the moment. I feel my dad put his arm around me and gently squeeze me in for a side hug.
"We're here, sugar," he smiles. "lets move your stuff from the car and into your dorm before these people kill us."
My parents and I instantly throw all of my things out of the car and onto the curb as fast as we can so we don't get yelled at again by car horns. I start to sweat and not feel the nice breeze anymore because of how fast we were moving.
"Here, I'm going to drop the car off somewhere so other people can get a move on too," my mom says as she kisses me cheek. I nod and watch her drive off as I stand with my dad who keeps bitching about his back.
"Okay," my dad blurts, "let's do this!"
I immediately take a hand full of my things when suddenly my dad makes a friend.
"Hey there young man!"
My dad waves to a tall, muscular brunette who seems like he could get the job done anytime. He wore khaki shorts, maroon vans and a white shirt underneath a dark blue short sleeve button up. He had brown, flowy hair and eyes so green that they could suffocate someone. I instantly felt embarrassment run through my veins as he started to walk over. Of course my dad would pick one of the most handsome guys to help our pathetic family move my stuff in. I heavily sighed put down my things because who knew how long this would take.
"You look pretty strong. Do you think you could help us out? The wife left so we only have two of us to move all of her things to the dorm." My dad explains as the brunette shook his hand.
"Of course, you guys would be my third today!" He cheekily smiles. "I'm Garret. Nice to meet you guys."
His attention was first caught by my dad and then by me. He instantly grew a bigger smile when he met my eyes and held out his hand.
"You are?" he spoke to me.
"I'm John and this is my daughter, Layla," my dad interrupts before I could answer for myself. I roll my eyes at my oblivious dad.
"Nice to meet you." I smile back with a gentle handshake.
Garrett chuckled and took his eyes off me, looking back at my dad.
"Shall we?" he asks while rubbing his hands together in motivation.
We all grab a great amount of my stuff and hustle our way to my dorm, which was Dobbs Hall. It was probably two minutes in before we took a break but I wanted to keep going. The sound of grunting and whining rang in my ears for the next five minutes before we finally make it to the dorm and sign in.
"Room 24," the pristine blond at the counter said as we took the key.
I followed Garrett because he seemed like he knew where he was going. When we arrived to room 24, we all plopped down all of my things and unlocked the door.
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We walk into a cream walled dorm room with a single bed. The room was obviously old but I think I'd rather have it that way anyway. In a way, it looked like a miniature apartment you'd see in the city. I knew this was going to work out.
"There you go," Garrett beamed. He dropped off very little thing into the room and in a pile. "need anything else?"
"No thanks, bud. We really appreciate it though," my dad says as he reaches for his wallet and pulls out a twenty. I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand out of shame.
"Oh, no, no," Garrett exclaimed as he laughed. "Thank you but I can't accept that. It's really no worries."
My dad shrugs and sticks it back into his wallet. I knew he wasn't going to argue back. Garrett and my dad exchange goodbye handshakes and I watch Garrett walk to the door before he turns around and looks at me.
"Oh, and Layla," he says, "I live seven doors down, in room 17, if you ever need anymore help with anything," he smiles and waves as he disappears down the hall.
I smile back without knowing I'm blushing and notice my dad staring at me.
"Don't even think about it, Layla."
_______________________________________________
It was three hours later until my room was the way I wanted it to be and I was all alone. Just an hour ago my parents left me to be on my own for the first time ever. It was probably the hardest moment I have ever experienced, saying goodbye to them. The image of my mom and dad bawling in my arms as I tried to calm them down keeps taunting me. I was their only child left that still had their whole life in front of them. I felt bad for not crying when they were saying goodbye to me but I think I needed this. I needed the feeling of freedom and control. It's not that it didn't hurt to say goodbye but I have to admit that it was relieving.
I stay thinking about my parents but most importantly the friends I will make here at Emory. Since I have a room to myself, I haven't experienced the bonding of a roommate. I was excited to have my own room until now, as I sit alone at my new desk looking at a picture of Lilian and I at my brothers wedding. I smile at the memory but then get an instant flashback of the man that I allowed to kiss my body that night. I can still feel the trembling feeling of his kisses and goosebumps that appeared on my body. I gently caress the spot he loved to bite on my neck as if I missed it, which I don't. I was completely over that Nick guy and that one time thing. It was something to remember for sure but it was not something to reminisce on. He was gone and I wasn't going to see him again, thank god.
I yawn and decided to I get up and slip on some pajamas. I turn the overhead light off and make my way through the dark to find my new bed and plop down. I cover my face in blanket as I feel tears coming. I knew the feeling of being alone and scared was going to hit me but not tonight. I try to hold it in but I couldn't. I silently sob in my white comforter and gasp for air every other second. I cried for a good fifteen minutes before I fell asleep with tears hardening on my face. I remember the last thought that went through my head before I dozed off; Nick.
