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I spend most of my morning exploring the bustling college town. There’s so much to see. So many shops and restaurants. So much life. After a while, I stop at a coffee shop where I proceed to drink my weight in caffeine while I scour through the syllabus for my World of Design and Construction class, which is the class I’m most excited about taking this semester.
As I’m leaving, I happen to spot aNOW HIRINGsign hanging by the register and decide to go ahead and fill out an application while I’m there. The last thing I expected was to have the manager come out and hire me on the spot, but I guess she’s pretty desperate and my experience as aStarbucksbarista my senior year in high school was a bonus. So, as I exitBrewers(clever name if you ask me) I feel pretty good about how my day is playing out.
In one morning, I’ve managed to familiarize myself with my new city, put in some prep work for a couple of classes, and land a much needed job that I start next week. Go me. Internally, I’m high fiving myself as I head back toward the apartment building, which conveniently, is only a couple of blocks from my new job.
I knew I would need to find something part time if I wanted to be able to afford any kind of social life, but I didn’t expect to find it so quickly. Not that I have many friends to enjoy said social life with, but one step at a time. I’ve only been here a week. And Rita seems like a cool chick to hang with, so there’s that.
I wasn’t planning on returning to the apartment so early, but truth be told I’m kind of tired and want to put my feet up and binge watch whatever nonsense I can find on Netflix.
As I cross the parking lot, I scour the area, looking for Atlas’s black Jeep that he drove all the way here from Boston, which I find crazy. I get the convenience of having a car, but not if it means having to drive it across the country to get it here. I’d rather walk or take the shuttle, which has worked out nicely for me with the exception of Tuesday
To my surprise, and relief, I don’t see his vehicle anywhere in the parking lot. Maybe luck is throwing me a bone? Perhaps it feels bad for the shit show that’s been my life this week. Either way, I’ll take it.
Digging my keys out of my bag, I unlock the front entrance and push my way inside the air conditioned building, which feels amazing given how damn hot it is outside. Since Brennon had a key made for me, I no longer have to wait for someone to buzz me in, thank goodness. Two days in a row, Atlas made a show of making me beg to be buzzed up when he got home before me. Okay, so the silent treatment wasn’t a complete success, but other than that I haven’t spoken two words to him.
Needless to say, I’m glad to not have to deal with that shit anymore.
When I unlock the door and push my way into the apartment, I find my brother lounging on the couch —my bed— his long legs stretched out and propped on the coffee table in front of him. He barely moves when he sees me enter.
“Hey.” I chuckle at him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just tired,” he says, yawning around the words.
“Any particular reason why?” I ask, pushing the door shut behind me before kicking off my shoes.
“Just... Adjusting.” He shrugs, patting the cushion next to him.
“Yeah, me too.” I drop down on the couch beside him.
I’ve kept it to myself, but this week has been a lot harder than I anticipated. I’m actually pretty homesick. Just ask my mom. She probably thinks I’m losing my shit, considering I’ve called her every single night since arriving. I think I’ve talked to her more in the last week than I have in the past year. I miss my dad too, don’t get me wrong, but it’s different than how I miss Mom. Probably because I primarily lived with her.
Our parents divorced when Brennon and I were fourteen, and while it sucked, they both did their best to make sure we felt it as little as possible. They put on a happy face for us, attending family functions and parties together long after their divorce was finalized. And while we technically lived with Mom, we stayed with Dad quite a bit, too. He bought a house two streets over which made it super easy to bounce back and forth. Even still, I preferred the comfort of my own room and my own bed.
“How are classes going?” He reaches for the remote, turning down the sports show he seemed to be half watching.
“Pretty good.” I tuck my feet underneath myself and get comfy. “Though I’m still convinced someone sabotaged me. What else could explain how Atlas ended up in two of my classes? The universe hates me!” I explain dramatically.
“The universe doesn’t hate you.” He grins, his eyes- so amber they almost look brown- meeting mine. “But it seems as though it’s having a pretty good laugh at your expense.” He chuckles.
“Thanks, asshole.” I swat playfully at him. “Seriously though. How does that even happen? One class, sure. But two?”
“Well, they are both requirements for almost every major, so if you think about it, it’s really not that unheard of.”
“But you’re taking both of those classes and we didn’t end up in the same ones,” I counter.
“Luck of the draw, I guess.”
“Luck. Shmuck.” I blow a raspberry in the air. “Where ishe who must not be named, anyway?” I gesture around the room.
“Not sure. I was half asleep when he left. I vaguely remember him saying something about food and titties.”
My nose skews. “Seriously?”
“No idea. I might have been dreaming.” My brother’s rich laugh fills the room.
“I’ll never understand why you’re friends with him.”
“I could say the same about a certain redhead that’s been attached to your hip for the last thirteen years.”
