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I settled into Northern California pretty easily. Sure, it was a completely different environment and atmosphere than what I was used to, but I was the one who decided to move, so I was determined to make the best of it.
My new roommate, Brooke, was really nice, but also a little socially awkward. When I walked into our apartment the first time, located conveniently across the street from campus, she barely glanced up from her computer to give me a smile, her light brown hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. As soon as I started bringing my things inside, she disappeared into her room and closed the door.
At first I thought she was rude, but soon learned that she was painfully shy. I wondered briefly how she would make it in a major like television production, but my reservations disappeared when she showed me an editing project she was working on for her YouTube channel. She was talented, smart, and creative, all things I wouldn’t have guessed simply by looking at her and observing her body language. Brooke was completely focused on her classes and I appreciated that, figuring she would help me stay focused too, instead of distracted with things I didn’t need, like guys.
I had to admit that even though the weather in Northern California was far colder than it was back home—which sucked—and the people were completely different, my classes were awesome. The school had state-of-the-art equipment, and I started working at the campus television station within my first month of arriving, getting the most hands-on training I’d ever had. I was completely enthralled and totally captivated, convinced I’d made the right decision to move, even when things outside of school didn’t always feel right.
I was more homesick than I ever thought possible, the feeling of not belonging and being in the wrong place nagging at me, but knew I needed to stay. I made sure that the positives outweighed the negatives in my mind; otherwise, I’d probably pack up my car
and leave in the middle of the night.
Rachel never believed me when I told her that the people up north were far less friendly than the ones in LA. Whenever I had walked through campus at State and said hi to people I didn’t know, they all responded or at least smiled back.
Not here.
When I said hi to a stranger, they looked at me like I had two heads and continued walking, never once responding to me or doing something as simple as smiling. I wasn’t acknowledged in the slightest, but Rachel didn’t believe me. She insisted that I was exaggerating. I couldn’t wait to prove her wrong the first time she came to visit.
As I was sitting on my bed, thinking about all the things I missed from home, my cell phone sang out its familiar ringtone for Rachel, pulling me from my pity party.
“I was just thinking about how much I missed you,” I told her.
“Come back.”
“Stop. It hurts me when you say that. Being away sucks. It’s so different up here.”
“You like it though, right?”
“Not really,” I admitted before pulling open the sliding glass door in my room. Stepping onto the oversized balcony, I sat down on the old couch we’d placed outside and propped my feet on the balcony railing. “But I love my classes. And the TV station is unbelievable.”
“That was the whole point right?”
I swallowed. “Right.”
“How’s your roommate?”
I thought about Brooke and how different she was from Rachel in every single way. “She’s . . .” I paused, unsure of how to describe her exactly.
“She’s what?”
“She’s really nice, but she’s super shy and doesn’t like to leave the apartment unless she’s going to the library or class.”
Rachel burst out laughing. “I’m so glad your roommate sucks,” she said between more fits of laughter.
“She doesn’t suck!” I whisper-shouted. “She’s just not you.”
“To be honest, Jess, I’m relieved. I was going to hate having to off your new roomie when I come visit.”
My ears perked up at her words. “Please tell me you’re not messing with me.”
“Why would I mess with you?”
“So you’re coming up here?” I asked hopefully.
“Are you coming down anytime soon?”
Her question made me want to pack a bag and leave the second we hung up.
“I want to, but probably not.” My class schedule wasn’t heavy enough to keep me away from home, but the extra nights I spent at the television station were a problem.
