AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My dad’s the toughest guy I know and he’s staunch as hell about most things but when it comes to me and Hannah—and especially me—he’s a total softie. I know he’s going to miss me a lot.
I take a left on Emerson.
It’s part of the reason I decided to go to Hawthorne. All the way through the application process, it felt like the right decision. And especially today. I don’t say it to Hannah, but I would totally be second-guessing myself if I was boarding a plane to the west coast right now. I got accepted into schools all over the country.
I thought about following Hannah to California, just so I could be closer to her. I seriously considered it. Before everything happened with my mom, I thought I might end up at UC Santa Cruz or maybe Berkeley if I could get in.
But in some ways I’m not even sure why I bothered applying anywhere else. I think deep down in my heart I knew I couldn’t be that far away from my dad. He needs me. Even if he tells me he’s fine and he’ll be too busy with the new season to worry about me, I know he will worry about me. It’s just wired into my dad’s DNA to worry about me. So it’s better for both of us if we’re close enough to check in on each other.
My sister knows how I feel, of course. She knows why I decided on Hawthorne. “It’s a win-win for both of you, Zee. You can get the most out of your college experience by living in the dorm on campus and going to all the parties and so on, but you can still go home once a week. It’s the best of both worlds, when you think about it like that. Plus Hawthorne is an awesome school and they have one of the best undergraduate fine arts programs in the country. You’re totally going to thrive there.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“You know I’m right. Hopefully you’ll meet some super-hunk the first week of school and finally cash in that long overdue V-card.”
“Would you stop.”
“Did you go on the pill like I told you to? It’s a must for college.”
“Yes. I did. Are you happy now?”
She laughs. “Of course I’m happy! My little sister is on the cusp of an awakening. I just want you to live your best live, Zee. And hot sex is definitely required.”
“For you, maybe.”
“For all of us. And don’t forget condoms. Keep some with you and absolutely make sure they’re securely in place. Two lines of defense are a girl’s best friend. You never know where…they’ve been.”
“Okay, boss.”
“And make sure he’s not a football player. Dad would go ballistic.”
“No kidding.” While I’m stopped at another light I adjust the angle of my phone. My eyes are red and my mascara is smudged. “God, why didn’t you tell me I’m a total mess?” I wipe the smudges away with my fingers. The light turns green. “I’m almost there. I wonder if my roommate has arrived yet.”
“Have you made contact with her?”
“Just through Snapchat. She seems nice. She was valedictorian of her high school in Virginia. Very bookish but she also seems down to earth. I hope we hit it off.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“To be honest, I’m excited to meet some new people who aren’t born and raised in Hawthorne, Massachusetts, population 40,000, not including college students. Sometimes I feel like I know everyone in this town.”
“You’re going to have the best time, Zee. I’m dying to hear about how it goes. And remember Rule Number Two: have fun.”
“Sure.”
“Which means I also need to remind you at this critical crossroads in your life about Rule Number One.”
“I know, I know. No football players.”
“I need you to follow both rules.”
“Of course.” I’m suddenly nervous. There’s a red and white WELCOME FRESHMEN! sign hung over the Hawthorne University gate.
I drive up the familiar campus driveway.
Hawthorne University gets a lot of attention for being a beautiful place. It’s been called “the jewel of Massachusetts,” the “most picturesque college campus in the East,” and “the place you want your kid to go, with all the academic punch of an Ivy League school but with a (slightly) more reasonable price tag.”
“I’ll have exactly as much fun as I can have while living in one of the two all-girls dorms that Dad insisted on. It’s, like, maximum security or something, complete with a front desk guard, high-tech security systems and automatically locking doors.” Which feels a little over-zealous, but if it gives my dad some peace of mind then I figured what the hell. “No boys are allowed upstairs.”
