"Mom, please don't cry! You're going to embarrass me!" I complain, giving her a huge hug to hide her tears and to obscure my face from everyone else. I don't want anyone to recognize me as the girl whose mother was crying all the time.
"My baby girl is going to be so far away from us", she sobs.
"Dad, please say something to her. We've been here for 15 minutes, and I need to meet with my mentor," I urge him. The university provides us newcomers with mentors to guide us around campus, help us get oriented, and maybe give us some tips.
"Darling, Daniel is just 10 minutes away. If anything happens to her, he'll help. She's not on her own." my dad reassures her.
Daniel is my big brother and he's studying Biochemistry here. Why am I staying in the dorms and not in his flat with another friend of his? Well, it's his man cave, and they don't want any girl around unless one of them is interested in her, if you know what I mean.
"Mom, I'll call you whenever I can," I say. My mother shoots me a deadpan look. "Okay, every night, is that better for you?" She smiles now. Good emotional manipulation, Mom.
"I guess I'll have to settle for that." Yeah, you have to. "I still don't understand why you packed only the essentials. What about your toys? And your little teddy bear?" she repeats, and I know I'm blushing from embarrassment. I pray no one around here is in my class because this is humiliating.
"Mom, this isn't Toy Story, okay? Why don't you take a walk and see how much the university has changed since you left?" I glance at my father, pleading for help, and he nods slightly, grabbing my mother by the shoulders.
"That's a really good idea. What if we go back in time and visit the place we met for the first time?" My mother covers her mouth and starts crying again, but I'm sure it's not because of me now. I try not to cry as well, touched by my father's hopeless romanticism. I'd cry too if I were my mother.
As far as they've let me know, they met in the first year of University. They lived down the hallway from each other and met on move-in day at a dorm. But it started one day when he was always playing guitar — the same song over and over. And my mother was so tired of listening that song, so she put a note under his door about how terrible it was: 'Please learn a new song!' and well, they ended up together and had their song.
"Are you okay carrying all your luggage?" I nod, and they give me a big hug before they leave. This can't be so difficult, I think, glancing at my two suitcases.
I start searching for my mentor, looking at my surroundings. Newcomers are saying goodbye to their crying parents, others are lost trying to find their way to their dorms, and some are talking about sorority houses. Nerves start to get the best of me as I walk towards the person holding a sign with my name and grade on it.
She is a tall, brown-haired girl wearing a t-shirt with the university's name on it. I wonder where I can get one of those or if I need to be part of the orientation team to get one. I am about to introduce myself to her when I hear it.
"Giselle?!" Oh no, it can't be.
I don't have time to react before two strong arms hold me tight against a familiar body, spinning me around. When my feet finally touch the ground, I hit him a few times—first because he scared the hell out of me, and second because I can't believe my eyes. What the hell is he doing here?
"What the hell are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be studying at London University?" I yell at him, but I can't help but smile brightly.
"Well, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you that... I'm going to study here!"
YOU ARE READING
Fall Passion || r.b. (DISCONTINUED)
Fanfiction5 months later ... The moment she had waited for so long has finally come: Going to college. What she does not know is that the past is never erased and a love like the one she felt is difficult to overcome. Will she be able to start a new life or w...
