Moving In With The Enemy

Chapter 4 ~ "Let It Settle"

After the big stuff was done, I said a big goodbye to my dad and brother who didn't want to keep getting in my way.

"You can always call home, alright?" Dad asks and I nod. "Don't be a stranger, come back to visit every once in a while, okay?" 

"Okay." I answer and he gives me a hug. 

"I love you, Annie. Have a great time." He whispers and I smile. 

Jesse gives me a quick hug too and they peel out, leaving mom with me to handle the rest of the details.

Mom had an eye for design, she helped me decide where things made sense, hung up my clothes to best fit the flow of my closet. She made my new big bed with me, putting things into place for a long time until it looked close to my room at home. Things looked cozy, warm and comfortable. 

"Alright.....is there anything else you need help with?" She asks and I sigh, shaking my head.

"No, mom I think that's it." I admit.

"Well, then let me give you a big hug." She whispers, squeezing the life out of me and I smile. I'd come home every so often, just so mom wasn't lonely. "I love you alright? You need my help you can always call home."

"I know." I whisper and she nods. "I love you, mom."

"I love you lots." She whispers back and I grin. 

She was about to leave and then I'd be doing this, my parents wouldn't be there when I came home anymore. This was so sad for me and I hadn't even been thinking about it. 

She hugs me for a long time and I sigh, enjoying it as much as I could. Eventually, she pulls back and I smile at her.

"You're so grown up now." She whispers and I laugh. "You're sure you'll be alright?"

"I will, I'm sure." I tell her and she nods. I could figure out how to best handle this, it would take some adjusting but it wouldn't be impossible. 

"Alright, then I'll let you settle yourself in and spend some time with your roommates." She whispers and I smile. 

I walk her out to the front door and she gives me one last hug, kissing my cheek and waving as she steps outside.

"Bye mom." I smile and she smiles back, walking back up the metal stairs.

I linger by the door, watching her get in the car and go. It hadn't really hit me until right now that I was actually moving out away from my family.

"You and your family are close, huh?" Mark asks and I nod, turning back over my shoulder, seeing him enter the kitchen and open the fridge. "I guess you'd have to be to live at home for that long."

"Yeah, we're close." I shrug. "H-how long before this starts to feel like home?" I ask and he chuckles.

"Probably a few weeks." He shrugs. "You'll get used to it."

"I hope so." I sigh, shaking my head. "It's cool and everything but.....it's really different really fast."

"At least yours are close if you need them." He shrugs.

"Where are yours?" I ask and he chuckles.

"Salt Lake." He answer and I raise my eyebrows. "I know, it's a good ways to go, isn't it?"

"It's not too close, no." I admit, walking to the counter so it didn't seem like I was so far back away from him while we talked. 

"I couldn't handle that community and everything my parents expected of me." He shrugs. "They're devoted mormons."