College Porridge p.2

I was down at mom's for less than 24 hours, and then we were hopping back on the road to take up the rest of my belongings. I realized, then, just how in love I was with that new life. I had to get back. So we filled the truck and the Red Rocky up with what was left of my belongings back at mom’s.

When we got to Blueberry town and unlocked the door to my apartment, my roommate, Jessie, was home with her fiance. They hopped up and helped us bring things in, and all of the sudden, her brother from next door, a guy from downstairs, and Kylie and Rachel were all carrying laundry baskets and furniture in.

It was a good thing too, because to carry in my mattress was a job for ten men and three horses. Jessie's fiance and brother put my bed together, Rach and Kylie became professional interior designers and figured out the best places for my dresser, bed, desk, etc. We were done in no time, and I promised to make cookies for everyone who helped.

After that, it was time to make my first grocery run. The blessed Sam's Club was closed, Macey's too, so I looked around for Walmart. (I avoided using maps as much as possible, and tried to find places the old fashioned way: driving in circles.) There were these weird gates at the entrance of the store. After I stared at them with wonder and walked through, I realized that I'd needed a cart, turned around, and jumped when the gates locked me in. I was absolutely confused and accidentally mumbled, "What on Earth.” Some people looked at me like “What is this weirdo doing?” and I laughed.

Well, I guess I'll just get as much as I can carry.

• Milk

• Eggs... no not eggs. I don't have a spatula... or pan. or butter.

• Butter

• Cinnamon Raisin bagels

• Cream cheese for my bagels

• And one other thing, I don't really remember what, hehe

Walking around the store with all of that silly junk in my arms, I felt like a real college kid. And I loved it, so I smiled and went home to put my groceries away.

The next day, I started my routine of going to the Rec. for a good workout, and home for my bagel breakfast. Rachel makes necklaces and earrings out of mini pennies, so we went for a jewelry photoshoot around town, got free bread from the little bakery, and did some more grocery shopping at blessed Sam's, which is where Rach and I bought rotisserie chickens. All week, all I ate were pieces of rotisserie kitchen, cream cheese bagels, and Asian salad.

Now, you must know that it was finals week, so everyone was a bit wired and anxious, but for some reason, I wasn't! It was probably because I was just so happy to wake up every morning in my big, princess bed that took up nearly all of my room and walk up the hill to the Rec. when it was sixteen degrees out. I loved walking everywhere with my mittens and sweaters on. Silly me always seemed to be missing a coat.

That week, the girls were studying 24/7, so I went out by myself a lot. At night, we would go to the business building late at night and do homework with the frat boys. (Even the ones that aren’t business majors study there [like me]). We’d fill our tummies with Skinny Pop and Cheez-Itz, roll around the room in our twirly chairs, and jam out. But I never did my homework. While they’d zone in on their laptops, I‘d be writing in my journal or making blog posts.

Friday night, finals were finally over for the girls, so on Saturday, we were headed to a little party that the guys were throwing. I put on a cute, little top, and did something with my wild hair, put on some lip gloss, and opened the front door to leave. There on my doorstep, about to knock, was the boy that‘d helped me move in on the day that I met Rachel. I jumped and made a silly sound, startled, then laughed and invited him in. He’d come to see if I could go out that night. I told him that I’d actually been on my way out to a friend’s, and that I was leaving in the morning, but that I’d love to go out after Christmas. We talked and laughed in the kitchen for a bit, and then went our separate ways.

Nick had made brownies. The halls were decked with Christmas garlands and lights. And I was, of course, the youngest munchkin there, because everyone I met at school happened to be a juniors. Funny. Kylie was begging Nick to give her a brownie and he kept denying her because they needed to cool. Finally, he gave in and cut her a slice, Rach too. I came by a few minutes later and asked for a piece of my own. The next piece was a mini one. He put it on my plate then smiled and said, “You probably want more than that.”

“Always.” So he gave me another piece! I thanked him and walked back to Rach and Ky. Immediately, Kylie looked at my plate.

“NICK! YOU GAVE ALLY TWO BROWNIES????”

Nick, the flirty friend, had a tendency to be extra nice to new girls. When we‘d first walked in and given all of

had a handstand competition, ignored Elf (There was just too much fun being had. No one cared to watch a movie, but it was sweet to have in the background), and played this game where you present powerpoints to the group. My topic was “positive virginity.” Wild.

After that rager, we decided to have a sleepover. Kylie grabbed her fan for white noise. Rach grabbed her mattress. And we stayed up so, so late. I was so sleepy the next day that I skipped church, left an hour late, packed up two laundry baskets full of clothes to take back to mom’s for Christmas, and forgot to bring a single pair of shoes. The ones that were on my feet were—surprise—slippers.

So, for the majority of my time back at mom’s, I’ve been wearing my snow boots from ninth grade (not cute).

And everything that’s happened since I’ve been back, whole different story.