Page 21 of Stops Along the Way
We spring into action. Amelia gathers up the trash while I clip closed the pretzel and chip bags for us to bring on the road tomorrow. It’s exhilarating to be walking distance from hanging out with people on campus rather than having to commute somewhere to see friends like I do back home.
She slips on her Audubon College sweatshirt while I mess with my hair in the mirror. Does up or down scream more casual? And why do I even care? It’s not like I’ve ever put extra effort into how I look when I show up for game nights.
Yet we’re a long way from Roll Again.
“You know where this room is?” I ask.
“Camila lives in that building. I texted her that we’re heading over that way. It’s not too far from here.”
Iris:All right, we’ll be there soon! Can figure out tomorrow then
Declan:Nice
“Here.” Amelia throws me the Kermit sweatshirt. “You’ll be cold.”
“I thought you deemed this un-collegiate.”
“You’re not a college student yet,” she says. I hesitate, not sure I actually want to wear this on campus, but she insists. “Since you missed it so much. Put it on already. Come on.”
I slide it over my head, careful not to mess up my ponytail. I reach over and grab Amelia’s lanyard of keys, which she left on the table in front of the mirror, where I see myself. I have to admit this might be the perfectI don’t care what anyone thinks of me now that I’m in collegelook.
“I’m pulling it off,” I tell Amelia, in case she needs assistance with the full visual of my attire.
“I’msureyou are,” she responds with unclear sincerity. Too late to change now. Amelia is already out in the hallway, and I rush after her, letting the door lock behind us.
“So, we’re just going to go hang out with Declan and his brother?” I ask.
“Well, you are,” she says. I’m not sure what she means, so I wait for her to explain further. “One of Camila’s friends ishaving a going-away party on a different floor, so it actually works out well for me. I’ll swing by that with her really quick.”
I walk a few steps down the dorm hallway in silence. “A going-away party? Aren’t you all leaving to go home for the summer?”
“The friend is transferring to a different school, so I should probably stop by there tonight.”
When I finally realize exactly what’s happening, I try to find a way to ask this question that doesn’t sound like I’m about to go running off tattling to our parents. “You’re just dropping me off at some guy’s dorm?”
Amelia gives me a pointed look. “It’s your friend? Would you rather hang around with a bunch of strangers you don’t know?”
“No, but—”
“Come on, it’s going to be fun! You can get a taste of the college experience.”
This hallway stretches on forever. We pass a few other students on their way out somewhere tonight, as well. “Which is what?”
“Sitting around in some dorm eating pizza.”
“It really is all about food, isn’t it?”
“And I won’t be out too late since we have to leave pretty early tomorrow.”
“Okay, sure.” There’s ample attitude in my response.
Amelia stops walking to look right at me, head tilted ever so slightly so I’m in her periphery, giving me a chance to tell her how I really feel. “That’s fine, right?” she asks. “Really, since they’re in the same building, it just seems like such an easy way for us to do both, but if you don’t want to hang out withDeclan or don’t want me to go to the party, we can reconfigure, no problem.”
I consider this. Amelia and I have already spent most of today together, and we’ll have lots of time on the drive home, and we already text and call each other most days. Even if those interactions feel brief, at least we’re generally always in contact.
But part of me wants to know for sure that, even now that our lives are diverging, my sister would choose to hang out with me. Not just because I was always a default available option, the younger sibling shehadto spend time with.
That being said, I am curious for a taste of what college will be like. Knowing Amelia will be easily reachable on a different floor feels like a perfect safety net.
