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My phone rang out. I rushed over towards my handbag, trying to find it before the call dropped off. “Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, how you settled in?” my mom asked.
“Fine,” I placated her. “I’ve only just got into my dorm room. Did you know I’m in the North Wing?” I questioned, because surely, she would have known where her own daughter was being placed per our legacy.
“Oh, no I didn’t realise,” she said, surprised. “But that’s okay, yes? I mean, it’s a massive upgrade from what you were likely to originally have.”
She was right. It was a generous upgrade—the best accommodations on campus. Yet, I would’ve been happier out of this building. However she couldn’t know this, or she’d start questioning and I wouldn’t let that happen.
“Don’t worry about me, mom, it’s no big deal. I was just surprised, that’s all.”
Overhearing my sister making some noise in the background, I knew the call was about to be cut. No one could hold a conversation with Delaney chattering nearby.I miss her.
A message pinged soon after Mom cut the call.
Mom: Legacy family meet up Thursday evening. Driver will collect you at 7PM.
Julia Rossi wasn’t a terrible mom, she was just clueless most of the time and wrapped up in her own daydreams.
I placed my phone on the kitchen island and grabbed my first suitcase to roll it on its wheels to find the bedroom. There was a small hallway off the main living space with only two doors which were wide open, allowing me to see a grand bathroom which looked just as opulent as the foyer.
More white. The purity of it, the innocence of the colour, made a sickening sense of dread curl in my stomach. I wouldn’t put it past him to try to mess with my mind. It was his kind of method.
Gloss and matte mixed white spread across the whole bathroom, with the only colouring being the towels, which were onyx black. Darkness versus light. That’s what it represented to me. A large oval bath with one heightened end sat beneath the grandiose mirrored windows. I could see out, but no one could see in.
Overlooking the forest woodland filled with trees and multi coloured plants, this side of the dorm must have been designed to see a different view from the living area. Shame it wouldn’t be a three hundred sixty degree view, but I knew it wouldn’t be because of sharing this level with three other dorm rooms. Even a quarter of the view was stunning.
As much as I didn’t want to be here, I couldn’t ignore the gorgeous sight the landscape presented. Marbled, light grey patterned swirls decorated the gloss white worktop subtly allowing another colour to be noticed, but not enough to take away from the starkness of light within this room.
Large rectangular tiles ran from floor to ceiling with a gigantic mirror on the wall spanning the width of the double sink with a glass shower enclosure in one corner, big enough for a few people, at least. Plus, a bench sat at the opposite end of the dials. It reminded me of the shower at my parents’ home, so I was glad I knew how to work it. And from experience, it was the shower of all showers.
I spotted the brands of body wash, hair products, and toothpaste that I always used and shook my head. I ran one of my hands through my hair, rubbing my scalp to loosen the tension. The essentials were already here. I wasn’t sure why I still continued to be surprised. Clearly, parts of me still were stunned by his ability to know everything about me. Having it set up just so proved that to me once again.
Pulling away from the bathroom, with a promise to myself to use that incredible bath sometime soon, I turned round, shoving my luggage into the only other room I hadn’t yet seen. The bedroom.Surprise surprise, it’s white. But worse, the bedding was scarlet red—in your face and bold. It was horrendous. Reminding me of blood, yet the colour was supposedly made to look seductive and inviting for those you bring to your bed. It reminded me of everything I didn’t want it to.
Making my way around the wooden oak four poster bed, I stroked my hand against the material of the bedding, feeling the softness. I’d be sleeping in a cloud of silk. I had no doubt how comfortable this bed would be. Regardless of the off-putting colouring—and whathewas more than likely making a point of—I begrudgingly liked it.
So, I’d suck it up; appreciate what there was, and push back against the other thoughts that filtered through my mind. I chose to come to Coldharbour. I decided to move back here when it was assumed I would stay where I was and carry on at the school which had an attached university. However, I needed my family and friends back in my life on a full-time basis, and this was the settlement. I’d deal.
I bent over to untie my laces, kicking them off to the side of the room. Promising myself that I’d find their new home for them later, I headed back out to roll the other two suitcases through to the bedroom so I could get organised and unpacked. Having my belongings sorted out always gave me a serene feeling. Hauling the first suitcase up on the bed, I pinned in the code for the lock. As I started taking out the mix of clothes, shoes and everything else that came with me, I got to work finding a home for each item.
Before I knew it, all three suitcases had been unpacked and organised, and I was thirsty from that mini workout, my throat parched. Walking back into the living area, I grabbed a bottled water from the fridge, draining half of it before noticing my phone light up with notifications where I’d left it on the kitchen island.
Pulling out a bar stool preparing to sit down to sift through them, a knock sounded at the door. Not good timing. I was a sweaty mess and could use a shower. Phone in hand, I headed towards the entrance using the peep hole again. Seeing the person through it, I wrenched the door open and squealed, as I hugged Lizzie tightly.
“I’ve missed you way too much!”
She’d been such a big part of my life as my best friend that moving away from her mentally killed me. Having her back in my life on a day-to-day basis overwhelmed me with such happiness that my eyes tried to leak.Dammit. I wasn’t a crier. I didn’t let tears materialise through pure force of will. I pulled back, grabbing her hand leading her into the living area, hearing the front door slam behind us.
Whistling appreciatively, she surveyed the room. “Jesus. This is a step above luxury. This is pure indulgence,” she said in awe, not that she needed to tell me. Nodding in agreement, I laughed when she became a nosey bitch, tearing through the rest of the room, hearingoohsandahhsas she then moved from one room to another.
I genuinely believed that without Lizzie in my life I’d have fallen deeper into the abyss. Without knowing, she’d lifted me up and kept me grounded. So, I made sure I appreciated her as much as I could. Not everyone had a special friendship who could transcend a lifetime.
Grabbing another bottle of water out of the fridge for her, I made my way over to one couch. I threw myself in it, kicking my feet up onto the coffee table. Lizzie ventured back into the room and joined me on another couch, grabbing a water with thanks.
“Milla, you realise we’ll be doing sleepovers here. Right?”
“I knew you’d say something like that.” I grinned.
