Somewhere Only We Know

The Great Escape

Chapter One

Leaving for College was kind of like starting a new life. For me, that's exactly what it was.

My father had this sick idea that I was going to go full-time with him straight after high school. Didn't even want to pay me, said it would give me experience and that I'd thank him for it later. Yeah, right.

I nodded along and agreed with him for years, let him believe that I was the good obedient son he always wanted. God knows how much he beat me if I stepped out of line. I just couldn't wait to leave as soon as I could.

And then the opportunity came along. A scholarship. My father never would have paid for me to go to College, 'degrees get you nowhere' he used to say but really it was just another one of his methods of manipulation.

Coach Kerba always looked out for us, all of us. Even the ones who didn't really deserve it. Always thought Zachy, or maybe even Foley, was his favourite. But turns out it was me all along. The hardworking guy who was there for his teammates 24/7, barely had time for anything else other than the team.

I'm not sure if I would have even graduated if it wasn't for Kerba. He was the one who convinced most of my teachers to give me a final assignment, anything to boost my GPA.

And so Diego along with a few other guys paid me back for my dedication to the team and they helped me study practically every day.

And now here I was. Ohio State University. Ohio. It's funny really, I'm on the other side of the country as my father. I couldn't be further away from my old life.

I still remember the day I told him I was leaving. The bastard shattered my car, sliced the tyres, anything to stop me from going. As if I was going to take that piece of garbage truck anyway.

I remember my mother crying in the living room, she didn't want me to leave but what has that woman ever done for me to convince me not to leave her?

Estela...Oh, Estela. She begged me to stay, pulled on my arm, shouted at me in anger as I packed my stuff after my father said he didn't care whether I stayed or not. He told me to never come back, he never wanted to see me again. That was a few minutes before Estela made me promise to call her regularly and update her on what was going on. Could prove to be difficult with the time difference but we should figure it out.

I never knew College would be this...different.

There are people everywhere, walking all around campus and not a single one of them know my name. I could really become a whole new person and no one would know.

My RA explains the dorm rules to me as he walks me down the corridor. He doesn't ask why I only have a half-empty bag of things while everyone else is moving in with boxes and bags of their own shit.

I took as much as I could before my father practically dragged me out of the house. He was hoping I'd apologise, change my mind maybe, beg him to let me stay. But I did none of those things. I didn't need his encouragement to leave.

I know someone in the area though, I'm going to be seeing him soon and hopefully, he'll lend me some of his stuff.

"Here's the list of the rules in case you didn't catch some of them, no excuse to not be following them," the RA tells me and he stops outside one of the doors and knocks. "Coming in!"

He pushes the door open and steps inside with me following close behind. There's already someone waiting inside for us.

He doesn't even look old enough to be in high school, nevermind College. He stands there, in the middle of the room, an eager smile on his face like he's been preparing to meet me all day.