Take On the World // Oneshots

The Roommate

Rey

"Call me when you settled in, ok?" mom told me while squeezing my right shoulder.

We had just finished carrying all my things up to my dorm room and were standing in the middle of a city of unopened boxes and suitcases.

I could tell she was about to cry, and I couldn't blame her. It was strange knowing I wasn't going to wake up and see her in the morning until Ben and I went back to Jakku in a couple of weeks.

And I could feel the tears threaten to choke me, too.

"I will," I said staring at my bed. I couldn't force myself to look at her teary eyes. I couldn't dare myself to say my final goodbye.

I heard my mother inhale sharply before pulling me to her chest and wrapping her arms around me.

"Your dad would be so proud of you... I  am so proud of you," mom whispered and kissed the top of my head.

Traitorous tears spilled down my cheeks as I held her tighter, unwilling to let go while also knowing that I would have to. "Thank you, mom. For everything," I choked against her shoulder. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too, my Rey," she uttered and combed through my hair with her fingers. "The house will feel so empty without you and the boys. Who is going to wake me in the middle of night by climbing through your window to see you late at night?" mom joked, hinting at the night Ben had snuck into my room after a party he had to attend for Snoke.

I laughed letting her go and finally looked into her green eyes. She was sad, I could tell by the way her eyes glistened with fresh tears, but even through her sadness I could see that she was ready to let go. And I was ready to let go.

"I'll call you," I reassured her. "After I unpack my stuff and clean up, I'll call. I promise."

She smiled and planted a motherly kiss on my forehead. "I can't wait."

"I love you, mom," I said as we walked to the door.

"I love you too, my little Rey," she replied before walking down the hall. Before she stepped into the elevator, mom waved at me one last time and then was out of sight.

I stood at the doorway, gazing at where she had stood just moments ago before turning on my heel and tending to my things.

Sighing, I kneeled next to one of the unpacked boxes and tore the box open, revealing stacks of books from home. I hadn't realized I had brought this much when I left home this morning. Though it may seem like a lot in comparison to the room I was sharing with another girl.

I should have brought fewer books, I thought as I remembered that at least a quarter of the boxes were filled with reading material.

Yet before I could continue unpacking, I heard the door behind me open and I set eyes on a small, pretty, dark-haired girl.

"Hi!" she immediately greeted me. "I'm Rose Tico. I live here."

"Hi, Rose. I'm Rey," I offered her my hand and she took it, "I'm your roommate."

Rose smiled at me. I was a little taller than her but not by much.

"Well, Rey, welcome to the University of Naboo! I just started, but I've been here for a couple of weeks already. I had to check out the room and campus before everyone else arrived," she explained giggling.

"I just arrived here from Jakku, so I'm grateful to know someone who already knows their way around," I told her with a small smile before turning back to my things. I was extremely shy and unsure around Rose. She had already been here for a couple of weeks and I hadn't even unpacked my things yet. I felt like a fool.