Cigarettes & Coca-Cola✔️

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Terrifyingly exciting

'You ready to go?' My mom asks, knocking on my bedroom door.

I nod my head and don't say anything. I look around my room. Still bare, but still home. Most of my books were off my shelves, my closet nearly empty and my stuffed teddy bear now no longer on my bed where it always laid, but in a brown box.

When my mom realized that I wasn't going to say anything, she did instead. She always tried to fill the silence, when she thought it was needed.

'Well if you need anything, just ask.'

Once again I don't let the words tumble past my lips.

Lastly, I pack away my toothbrush and all the other things I haven't yet. Taping the last of the few boxes shut I sigh. An anxious feeling churned in my stomach as the unsettling thought of going to an unknown place alone re-entered my mind.

Fuck. I thought. This was going to be a long day.

☠

My dad sat in the driver's seat of the car as my mother and I loaded the last box into the trunk. 'It's going to be fine, Ana. You're going to make so many friends.'

I grimace. I hated making new friends and I hated it because I struggled to make new friends.

'Oh, come on Aviana. It's not that bad.' She says as she climbs into the car. I sigh and open the back door of the car and climb in carefully. Trying not to damage it in any tiny way.

The trip to Collins University was long and quiet for the most part. My mother only speaking when she remembered something about the work that she hasn't told my dad yet. I internally groan as she keeps jabbering about her boss and the kitchen lady who stole her sugar.

I lay my head against the cold glass of the window and mindlessly hum a tune softly to myself.

When I see the big sign that reads the name of the university my heart drops and my stomach flips. It was a terrifying feeling. It was exciting.

'Well we're here...' my mom all but squeals. I cringe at the annoying high pitched sound.

'Yep. Looks like we are,' I pause staring at the massive building, 'here.' I mumble the last part to myself.

I walked up the stairs not caring if my parents were following or not. I wanted to be here. I didn't want to be here, too. I huff at all these confusing emotions I was feeling.

I was terrified, but for once in my life, I didn't feel like a stranger anymore. I was apart of something.

'Let's find out where you're dorm is.' My mom says laying her tiny hand on my shoulder. It didn't feel right. I didn't want her touching me.

I moved out of her grasp and walked to the reception desk to get my dorm room number and key for said dorm room.

☠

The receptionist was chatty. And she is still talking with me, I glance at my phone, 20 fucking minutes. I try to hide my annoyance, but I think she finally sensed it.

Scowling at me she handed me my key and an orientation program. I smile sarcastically and walked away.

'Fuck me.' I mumble to myself.

'What took you so long?!' My dad barks at me. I sigh and apologize. He shakes his head and waits for me to lead the way to my dorm.

It turned out that I now lived in a small two-bedroom house with an unknown roommate. The tiny homes were newly built and each one of them looked the same.

'This is adorable. I wish I had gone to college.' My mom says sadly. Growing up poor my mom didn't have lots of things and she learned how to appreciate the little things in life. Such as the changing of a season or the blossom of a new flower in our home garden. She's the strongest woman I know.

2984

I stare at the number as I unlock the door. This is my life now. I finally admit to myself that everything is about to change.

The wooden door opens with a tiny creak and the bright white walls welcome us in. The living room was basic. A grey L- shaped couch sat in the middle of the room, a fireplace opposite it, and a big flatscreen hung ontop.

I frown in confusion. This isn't what dorms are supposed to look like. My line of sight moves to the medium-sized kitchen in the farthest corner of the room.

Shiny wooden countertops and pretty dark wood cupboards,  that make the house feel a little homier. I walk over and drag my fingertips across the top of the couch cushions as I walk past.

'Do you think you have your own bathroom?' My mom asks.

I shrug and walk towards a closed door. Hesitating ever so slightly I open the door.

The room is empty, except for a big queen-sized bed that stood in the middle and a white desk shoved in the corner with an uncomfortable-looking chair.

'Wow. Why is this place so big?' I ask absently.

'The whole university got remodeled after Alexander Ambrosi bought the school.' She spits out his name as if it was a curse word.

I frown. 'Why did he buy a school?' I knew of Mr. Ambrosi, and even though he had hundreds of homes across the world, he still wasn't much of a real-estate man. He was more in the telecommunications business.

'His son.' My mom says looking around the bare room.

'His son?' I ask pretending to be uninterested.

She glances at me and nods. She doesn't say anything else. Odd.

We walk out of the room and into the main living space, where my dad was already sitting on the couch. He unloaded the boxes and they now sat on the floor.

'Thanks, dad.' I smile.

He nods and continues looking around the room. After about 10 minutes I bid my parents farewell and tell my mom I would answer "all" her calls.

When they are gone, I move the boxes into my room and begin to unpack. I open the set of doors on one of the walls praying for a bathroom. I was well disappointed when it was just a closet.

With a small huff, I put away my clothes and shoes. I fold up the boxes as I go.

When I finally make my bed with my favorite sheets, a sense of calmness fills my body. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.