Chapter 2: Bryn

I hang out with Poppy and Milly until the little princess falls asleep. Poppy rushes next door to leave her with Zac so we could hang out a little longer before I leave tonight. When I’m finally finished packing I walk into the kitchen to find my mom sniffling and sighing while she pulls a loaf out of the oven. It’s burnt and doesn’t smell very good, but she always tries her best. Cooking just isn’t mom’s strong suite.

“Mom? What did we tell you about being in here?” I say with a teasing smile.

She turns to look at me and bursts out crying. I rush over and wrap my arms around her.

“It’s okay mom I think we can forgive you this time. What were you trying to make?” I ask looking over her shoulder at the offensive attempt.

“I wanted you to have something to eat on the road.” She croaks.

“Aw mama. Thank you but I already have that covered and guess what?” I pull back to look at her. “I found a special restaurant near school that only sells plant-based meals. I’ll be fine I promise.”

“Are you sure? You can put college off for another year. Your father and I didn’t go to college and look at us now.”

I chuckle and kiss her on the cheek just as I hear dad whistling a silly tune from out back.

“You happened on success mom, that was luck. Not everyone is that lucky.” My mom and dad had a little travel shop where mom sold wacky jewelry that she made from recycled materials and dad would sell his sculptures made from similar material.

They are all about reusing in my house and I grew up appreciating things a lot more. It also helps cut our waste after my diagnosis too. Anyway, apparently unique jewelry and odd sculptures are popular, and my parents opened a show room in the city where all of their weird works of art can be purchased. They’ve been doing well and were able to give us a good life but made sure we knew how precious money is and not to waste it. They agreed to help pay for our college, but it was up to us to pay for everything else by getting a job while in school. Poppy and I have worked odd jobs since we were sixteen and I was able to save up enough to rent an apartment off campus with a roommate for the next few years.

“You already spoke to your roommate about your dietary needs?” Mom asks again.

This isn’t the first time we’ve discussed this.

“Yes mom and she was very understanding. Don’t worry so much! I’ll even video chat with you so you can see me eating all the yummy stuff I try. Okay?”

She nods and wraps me in another hug. Dad walks in just then and joins the group hug too. We laugh when Poppy comes rushing in and the four of us laugh and hug one last time. For the rest of the afternoon, we spend some last fun moments together and I made sure to cook everyone some meals, so they don’t go hungry while I’m gone. By the time it’s time for me to go I feel better knowing they won’t starve, and mom promised me not to attempt any cooking while I’m gone.

“Be careful sweetheart.” She says giving me one more tight hug. “I still think you should take our car.”

“You need it mom besides old Luis here is a classic.” I pat the hood of my car and even give him a little caress for good luck.

“That junker is ready to retire.” Zach grumbles and grunts when Poppy smacks him in the stomach. “What?”

“You know she’s sensitive about him why do you keep saying stuff like that?” Polly hisses at him.

He says something under his breath, but my sister simply glares at him, and he quickly apologizes to me. My sister has the poor guy wrapped around her finger and another mini her to deal with now. I wish them all the luck in the world because the little one is a diva already.

“Call us when you get there cupcake.” Dad says pulling me into a hug and kissing me on the top of my head.

I breathe deep and enjoy his familiar scent. My mom always smells like lavender and roses while my dad smells like wet dirt after a rainstorm and mint. It’s the scent that’s comforted me since I was little and I’m sure going to miss it. I have always been a daddy’s girl and leaving him is killing me.

“I will.” I turn to my sister next, and she gives me the saddest face. “Don’t cry again.” I beg her.

“I’m hormonal I can’t help it!” She whines, making me laugh and Milly cry. “I know Milly, we’re going to miss Auntie.”

I hug them both and then look at Zac. He smiles wide and opens his arms for me. I laugh and walk into his big arms and let him squeeze me to death.

“I’m sorry my brother couldn’t get his head out of his ass long enough to see you off.” His words break my heart a little, but I try to smile.

“It’s okay. I have all of you here and that means a lot to me. Take good care of my girls, okay?”

“You know I will sis, be safe.” I nod and walk toward my car.

I wave to everyone on more time before climbing into the old boy and start up the engine. It doesn’t purr like it would have in its glory days but it’s the sound of a wise old machine and that’s just as good.

“Let’s go Luis.” I pat him more time and pull away from the curb.

The urge to turn around and run back home is so strong, but I endure and make it to the stop sign at the end of our street before I burst out in tears. For the next three hours of driving, I cry and sing along to songs about home like a pathetic child. It was bad and I’m glad no one was there to witness any of it.

When I get off the highway and head in the direction of school, I pull out the paper with the address to my off-campus apartment. It’s only a couple blocks away from campus so I don’t bother looking it up on my phone’s GPS. A big mistake since I get lost twice before I give in and get some help finding the place. It’s dark now so I have to squint to make out the numbers, but I finally find it. I pull Luis to the side and park on the street in front of the place.

It's a townhouse set in a long row of homes just like it. The college built them when one of the dorms was hit with a huge fire, and they needed housing for the next couple of semesters. Now they only offer them to third and fourth year students. Thankfully it so happened that all the dorms were full and only one option was left for me. A senior needed a roommate, and I was dormers. Perfect!

I climb out of Luis and walk slowly around him to get an unobstructed view of my new place. It’s adorable and I can’t help but do a little dance of excitement. All those sad thoughts are finally fading away to excitement. I’m finally here at college! Ecuador was amazing and I’ll always cherish the time I spent there but I’m ready to do more.

Once I come back down to earth I open Luis’s trunk and start pulling boxes out. It’s late so I’ll only bring the ones I’ll need for tonight and tomorrow morning. I was told I could find the key in the mailbox next to the door, so I set my boxes down and dig inside for it. It’s empty!

What the heck?

I pull out my phone to try and call my new roommate and when she finally answers I can hear all sorts of noise.

“Tabitha?” I say into the phone.

“Oh my gosh! Bryn hi! I’m so sorry I forgot to call you, but there was a change of plans. I’m going to be moving in with my boyfriend instead, so you were assigned someone else!” She yells.

“What do you mean?”

“Bryn.” My whole body goes cold at the sound of the familiar voice.

I slowly turn around and see someone I never thought I would see again.

“Sawyer?”

“That was his name! Yeah, he said he needed a place, and he knew my boyfriend since their teams played against each other once. Anyway, he offered the place to him once we decided to take the next step.” Tabitha explains but I barely register her words.

Instead of listening to her ramble on I hang up on her and stare at my childhood friend in complete shock.