Maybe Happily Ever After✔️

13. Fall Festival

Friday, November 5th, 4:50 pm

I tapped my foot impatiently.

I was standing in an elevator waiting as it went up to floor 8.

I was across campus in one of the dorm buildings. Gen's dorm building to be specific.

She told me that her mom sent her a care package and that there was some money in there for me.

I worked all summer at the antique shop and Aunt Lucy said she would give me the money I earned later in the semester. Once I had it, it should be enough to help me with my savings.

I just needed enough money to move out on my own and figure things out work-wise.

The elevator dinged and opened up.

I moved quickly through the open door and headed down the hallway.

Gen said her roommate wouldn't be there and that she had to go downstairs to get it from the mailroom.

She also said the door would be open so I wouldn't have to stay out in the hall.

It seemed a little questionable to me to just leave your door open, but once I headed towards her room I saw why she didn't lock it.

I noticed all the room doors open and girls walked back in forth between each other's room.

I recognized them as the cheerleaders she's always with.

One of them waved at me and I smiled back politely.

Once I reached door 8BA, I twisted the knob and entered the room.

I noticed the light was already on and no one else seemed to be in here.

I shut the door behind me.

The room looked almost similar to my room except we had room for a couch and a bathroom in ours.

I moved over to a desk and recognized it as Gen's.

A corkboard hung on the wall with loads of pictures on it.

I saw pictures of Aunt Lucy, graduation, and some pictures of her dressed up to go to parties. I saw some more pictures of her when she was younger dressed in cheer uniforms.

I remembered when she would spend most of her time at the cheering gym and I was stuck home with Aunt Lucy.

Those were the worst because at least when Gen was there, Aunt Lucy wouldn't even notice me.

I stopped and noticed a picture in a frame on her desk.

My hand covered my mouth in an instant.

In the picture, my mom, Stepdad, Gen, and I were together.

We were standing outside my old childhood home and I was holding onto Gen. She was smaller than me and I saw the smiles on our small babyfaces.

My stepdad Steve and my Mom stood behind us smiling as well.

Where did she get this picture?

I must have been like 8 in the picture.

And why did she still keep it?

I felt the tears threaten to fall out of my eyes and I sniffled. It happened almost 10 years ago and I was still emotional about it.

I had many pictures of my mom after the move and I still couldn't believe I've never seen this one.

I turned away from the picture and calmed my breathing.

Where was Gen? She said it would only take her 5 minutes and I had to meet up with Casey before the festival started at 5:30.