“Calm down, James. Samantha knows how to behave herself.” She glanced over at me for a second. I got the feeling that she didn’t totally believe that herself, but I rolled my eyes and shook it off. She was probably still skeptical after catching AJ and I in the act several months ago, but I guess that’s my fault.
We reached the fourth floor and rounded the corner. I was again overwhelmed by my new surroundings as I took note that all of the students looked way older than me. It felt like my first day of kindergarten.
“Which room is it again?” Daddy asked breathlessly from hiking up the stairs.
“Umm…..417,” I replied as I noticed the sign on the wall. “It looks like we have to go this way.”
We walked down the long, narrow hallway that could’ve definitely used a few more lights. If it was this dark in the daytime, I’d hate to see it late at night. There were students lining both sides – a few staring as we passed. It felt like it took us forever to reach my room. I knocked once instead of using my key. Deanna flung the door open and screamed at the top of her lungs.
“I’m so glad to see you! I waited for you to get here before I decided on a bed.” She was so excited that she didn’t even give me a chance to put the box down that I carried. “Want this one?” She asked, pointing to the bed farthest from the door.
“Sure. That’s fine.”
The room was larger than I remembered it being when they gave us a tour during orientation. We had a huge window between our beds overlooking the courtyard and a built-in bookcase on the opposite wall. The floor was tiled instead of carpeted, reminding me of a hospital. The first thought that came to mind was that Dee and I would have to make one of our first purchases as roomies a huge colorful rug that warmed the place up a little.
“Well, we’re going to go grab more. Go on and chat for a minute. You can help with the next load.” Mom was trying to smile, but I could see right through it as she and my father left the room.
Deanna’s face lit up again. “You should come tour campus with Karl and me tomorrow. We’re going out to breakfast first and then getting started.”
“I would, but I have to be at the airport by 8 a.m,” I replied.
“Shoot! I almost forgot about that.” She moved in close to whisper just in case my parents were still in earshot. “Did you mention it to your mom and dad yet?”
I looked at her like she was crazy. “Yet? How ‘bout never? They’d kill me!”
She laughed a little and went back the dresser to unpack a few more of her things while I thought about the trip. Of course I was excited about seeing the Botticelli exhibit, which was the whole purpose of me and AJ’s visit to New York, but being alone with him and being able to spend his birthday together was my real reason for wanting to go.
I noticed that Deanna’s parents weren’t around. “Where’re your mom and dad?”
She rolled her eyes in irritation. “They ran to the store. Mom insisted on buying us both pepper spray since we’ll be here alone. My dad told her that we’d be fine, but she’s very persistent.” Deanna and I both laughed. “Well, here. I’ll help you get your stuff,” she offered, shutting the drawer she’d just filled.
We turned and left the room, squeezing through the crowd in the hall, trying to look like we actually belonged. I was so far out of my element that it made me want to hyperventilate, but I managed to hide my nerves for the most part. As we rubbed shoulders with strangers and uttered a never-ending stream of “excuse me’s”, one guy in particular stood out, mostly because our eyes locked on one another as I passed. He smiled, but I quickly dropped my gaze to the floor so that he wouldn’t think I was looking at him for the wrong reasons. He chuckled when I passed, but didn’t say a word.
Deanna led the way back down to where the truck was parked, and my parents were already way ahead, passing us by on their way back inside the dorm. I opened the back of the truck and searched for something to carry that wouldn’t be too heavy.