Keep Ya Friends Close & Ya Enemies Closer

1

                  Campus was jam packed with students, parents, and staff. Music was playing in the background, I guess to take the stress away from everyone on move in day. Desiree was in the parking lot helping unload her stuff, but was amazed at how many other people was doing the same thing, she just couldn't imagine it. Among the crowd of people, Desiree searched for her best friend, Meliora. She had wondered if she had already arrived and moved in yet or was somewhere doing the same thing she was doing, but her thoughts were interrupted by her mom calling her name.

"Desiree!", Mom said looking furiously.

Snapping out her thoughts, "Huh, Oh sorry. I was trying to see if Meliora was here yet or not."

"Child, you know that she will be here soon enough and that as soon as y'all finish move in y'all gone find each other. But right now, do you mind helping us move your stuff out the car." 

Laughing, "Yeah Ma you right. I guess I'll help move the stuff". 

                They continued to take the stuff out the car and put in the moving bins. They needed at least for all of Desiree's stuff. When they finally unloaded, one of the move in volunteers came and helped move the bin to the residence halls. He was a tall, muscular brown skin, definitely football player, with hazel eyes and low hair cut. He definitely caught Desiree's attention and when he asked what hall, she was lost of words. 

"What hall?" 

Stuttering, "Um, Lex- lex- lexington" 

The volunteer just chuckled at her, but said, "Okay. Follow me." 

               Desiree's mom looked from him and then back to her and raised her eyebrows with a smirk on her face. Desiree's dad just looked disgusted, but all three followed the volunteer to Lexington Hall, which wasn't far from where they parked. As they walked to the hall, Desiree got more and more excited about leaving home and staying on campus. She saw so many walks of life and just couldn't wait to get her feet wet. This would be her opportunity of freedom. No more asking for permission from her mom to go places, she could sleep in when she wanted, stay out as late as she would have liked. She knew it was only a matter of time before she could get rid of her parents.  

"Well here we are. Lexington Hall. Do you know your room assignment?"

Desiree looks in her purse for her room number and key. "Yeah 2234." 

They walk inside and upstairs to the room.

"Well looks like your roommate hasn't moved in yet. Lucky you." 

Mom wastes no time in getting started. 

"Ma what's the rush?" 

"I'm trying to get some of this stuff unpacked and set up before your roommate gets here. You don't know how much stuff she is bringing. Let's at least make the bed then we can put everything else on top of it." 

"Okay." 

"Well thanks - uh we never got your name?" 

"Jarod."

"Well thanks Jarod for the help. And if you see my girl around on campus, don't be a stranger either."

 Looking at both Desiree and Jarod.

 "Y'all exchange information in case you need some help on campus with your classes or just getting around". 

Dad asks, "Jarod, what's your classification?" 

"Sophomore."

Mom buds in, "You look out for my baby now. You should know the ropes on campus by now." 

"Yes ma'am. I will do my best to look out for her. Y'all have a good day. And Desiree I'll see you around". 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"MA COME ON!! WE GONE MISS CHECK IN!!!", Meliora yells from the car. 

Her mom is casually walking out the door. "CHILE WHO YOU YELLING AT? LIKE YOU DONE LOST YA DAMN MIND!" 

"I just don't wanna be late, and you in there doing who knows what."

"I was making sure that we didn't leave anything." 

They arrived at campus and the crowds had died down. 

"See look, there are still people checking in and arriving. You ain't miss a thing" 

"Yeah. Yeah let's go." Meliora hops out the car and starts to unpack it. She finds a bin to move all of her stuff in. 

"Girl what is the rush? And why is you unpacking this car by yourself? All these fine young men out here, you done lost your mind for real." 

"Ma my check-in was at 11:00 and it's 1:00 now. I wanted to be here on time. These boys can't do nothing for me, I don't need they help."

In the midst of they're argument, they don't notice the tall light mocha colored basketball player walk up to them. 

"Um, excuse me? Do y'all need any help?" 

Startling both Meliora and her mama, Meliora is quick to say, "Nah we good. We got it." 

But her mom interjects and says "Yes. We could use the muscular man power. What's your name?" 

"Timothy."

"Well Timothy, this here is my daughter Meliora. This is her first year here." 

Meliora rolls her eyes and starts to walk away. 

Timothy chuckles and says, "She's cute."

Meliora walks to the check - in table. She stands in line so that she can get her room key and assignment. 

"I can take the next person right here."

Meliora walks up to the girl at the table and states her name. "Meliora Adams."

The girl looks down a list and finds Meliora's name. "Ah here you are, Lexington 2248." She hands her the key and a map. 

"Thank you." 

Meliora walks out to find her mom still chatting it up with Timothy.

"Why don't y'all get a room already? As a matter of fact just wait until I'm settled in then y'all can go home. "

Her mom walks towards her. "Where we gotta go now? "

"Lexington." 

"Oh I know where that is. I can take y'all. It's on my way to the gym." , Timothy says. 

Meliora mumbles under her breath, "Great, how convenient."

They follow Timothy to Lexington Hall. Just before they can get in the door. This football player is walking out, almost bumping into Meliora.  Jumping in front of her, Timothy says, "Damn man I know you see these ladies right here. Try paying attention before running them over!" The player looks up from his phone, apologizes to Meliora and her mom, but when he sees Timothy, there's a change in tone and posture. "Nigga you ain't talking to me like that." He walks up on Timothy.

 "Back the fuck up off of me Jarod! It ain't my fault you a woman beater!"

"Nigga don't compare me to you!" He pushes Timothy real hard to the floor and walks away. 

Meliora looks at Timothy for a second then walks in the building. The two walk upstairs to 2248 and opens the door. Come to find out, Meliora's roommate had already moved in.  Her side of the room looked like she had been there for some days now.  

"Well isn't this cute?", Mom says while looking around the dorm room. 

"Yeah, I guess. It'll be better with my stuff though. Let's get unpacking."