Matt
"Oh, look honey, there's the sign!"
19-year-old Matt Anderson's brown eyes had hesitantly looked up from his iPhone, and in his parent's backseat, he'd read a highway sign that'd read UW-Stout Exit 41, and felt his chest constrict and his heartbeat rapidly accelerate. So many thoughts and scenarios that'd plagued his mind over the summer had come rushing back all at once; the nerves jolted him awake better than a Starbucks iced caramel macchiato ever could've.
Matt was merely minutes away from starting his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
"Are you excited Matt? We're almost there!" his mom had gushed from the passenger side. She had been way too awake for him; she'd always been more of a morning person, unlike Matt and his father.
"Yeah, can't wait," Matt replied while he'd continued staring out his window.
He'd let his mind wander back to the many questions he had:
What was his roommate really going to be like?
Was he going to like his classes?
What major should he decide on?
How true was Stout's reputation for being a party school?
Was the food at the cafeteria decent?
Where was the nearest Chipotle?
Would anyone like him, or would he make any real friends?
He'd known starting over and making entirely new friends would've been his biggest challenge. No one from his hometown in Eagan, Minnesota had enrolled with him; it had been an opportunity for Matt to try and truly be who he'd wanted to be.
Back home, Matt hadn't necessarily been deemed a loser, but it wasn't like he'd been considered homecoming king material either. He'd always just blended in and was basically a background character to everyone else's high school center-stage experience. He'd had some friends that he'd go with to the movies with, or go grab half-off appetizers at Applebee's after the Eagan Wildcats Friday night football games, but he'd never felt like he'd been fully integrated into those groups; he was more just a loner on the outside looking in.
All that was about to change, Matt had assured himself. He'd just had to get over his nerves, and not care so much about what other people had thought of him. That should've been super easy right? Matt had taken a quiet deep breath to hide from to his parents how terrified he'd actually been.
His dad had driven up the exit off of Highway I-94 East, and they'd immediately parked at a Holiday gas station to stretch out and get a quick bathroom break in before they'd entered the actual campus.
"Hmmm...look at that, Tombstone pizzas, buy one get one sale going on," Matt's dad nodded towards a sign on the window as he'd filled up the car.
Matt rolled his eyes; his dad always pointed out sales like that without actually doing anything about it himself. He'd quickly learned his father merely wanted him to spend the money, so he hadn't had to.
"Oh yeah, look at that."
"Might be nice to have some in your dorm...you have a fridge in there, right?"
"Yep, a mini-fridge, a freezer, and a microwave attached on top."
They were both masters of small talk...Matt inwardly cringed.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout was located in a small town named Menomonie, Wisconsin. It had the stereotypical small Midwest town aesthetic: two main roads had made up the small downtown, and yes, one of them was called Main Street. They'd driven past multiple fast-food restaurants, and strip malls that lead to a bridge over the Red Cedar River that flowed into Lake Menomin, the main town could've been seen overlooking off in the distance.
The campus had instantly appeared, and Matt noticed the red brick dorm buildings named Wigen and Fleming/Hovlid. It was North Campus, which he'd remembered meant upperclassmen mostly lived up there. The center of town had appeared next, right at the intersection of Broadway St. and Main. Apartments, local restaurants, shops, a bookstore, and plenty of townie bars littered along the street; one bar that'd stuck was named "The Pickle."
Who in their right mind would name a bar The Pickle?...Matt winced at possibly how many regretful decisions had probably been made in there over the years. Probably don't even want to know that actually...
A long line of cars in the parking lot had students in the same color shirts all directing them on where to go next. There was some station in front of the athletic center, the Johnson field house. A couple of overly peppy girls stood there, and greeted every car who'd stopped in front of them.
His dad had pulled up and lowered his window.
"Hey there, Welcome to Stout!" One girl had greeted them with a mega-watt smile. "My name is Christy, and I'm going to help make this big move a little easier for you folks today, I just need to know your name what dorm you're moving into today?"
Matt's parents both turned back towards him to answer.
"Umm...my name's Matt Anderson, and I'm going to be in, umm...I'm going to be in HKMC." Matt had been so nervous that he'd almost forgotten where he'd be living.
Christ Matt...Way to look stupid in less than five minutes here...
"You're going to love it there!" Christy bounced in her step. "HKMC was where we'd lived last year; we were all on the same floor and look at us now! Still the best of friends!" Christy emphasized her point by bouncing over to the girls, and shared an Instagram worthy group hug with the girls.
Matt attempted to return their smile, but inwardly had wanted to curl up in a blanket already and hide away from everything.
"Ok, next we'll just need your room number," Christy had turned towards the stand, where a gigantic corkboard displayed all the different dorm rooms of each building with two sets of keys hooked under each room number.
"I'm in Chinnock 316," Matt replied.
Christie handed his dad his set of keys along with other welcome/orientation pamphlets in a goodie bag, and told them to specifically follow the green color-coded traffic cones to get their next instructions. They hadn't even made it twenty feet before another group of students in green shirts had directed them to park in a spot.
Matt gazed up towards HKMC. Like the other dorms, it'd been constructed with red bricks with a landscaped concrete walkway up that'd lead up towards the glass doors of the main lobby. It'd been named HKMC for the four halls it was comprised of: Keith, Hansen, Milnes, and Chinnock. His dorm branched off to the right, and was paired with Milnes, which was the girl's dorm.
A group of students in athletic wear surrounded their car and greeted them, and had begun to haul Matt's bigger items like the futon, and his suitcases full of clothes.
"Well thank god we have you guys here!" Matt's mom smiled with relief. "How did this whole thing get organized anyways?"
"We're the Track & Field team," A girl with dark skin and high ponytail had replied. "All the athletic teams return to campus early to help out with Freshman move-in day." She'd grabbed another bag out of their trunk, and followed the others.
Matt had noticed some of the guys that'd worn cut-off tank tops, their muscles strained from exertion as they'd carried his futon. Matt had also noticed one particular guy had a tattoo along his ribcage and wondered what it'd said, but looked away before he could've been caught staring.
The inside of HKMC had been incredibly overheated with no air-conditioning running, and after just one trip up to his room on the third floor, Matt broke out in a sweat like a human waterfall. Sleeping in his room was going to be a bitch and a half, but thank god he'd thought to bring two fans with him.
While they'd maneuvered around other groups of people, the track guys finally got to his room on the third floor. They'd waited for Matt to unlock the door; one of them was able to lift the end of his shirt to wipe sweat off his face. Matt nervously grabbed for his keys, self-conscious as they'd stared at him, and hadn't wanted to annoy these them by keeping them waiting any longer.
His room was completely bare; Matt had been the first to have made it. It'd led him to think about his roommate again. During orientation back in the spring, Matt had checked off the box letting the housing department match him with a random selection; how stupid of an idea that'd been. When July came, they'd emailed him that he'd been paired with someone named "Thomas Thornfield." Curious to learn more, Matt had immediately logged onto Facebook and checked him out.
Looking at his profile, Thomas was a total gamer, was probably really weird, and they probably weren't going to become best friends either. Nonetheless, Matt had started a message thread so they could introduce themselves, and figure out who'd bring what when they'd moved in.
"Alright honey, I will put away your clothes if you and your father want to adjust the bed, and move the futon," Matt's mom announced. She'd immediately started to open his multiple suitcases as the Track athletes waved their goodbyes to go help the next family.
Matt and his dad had attempted to lower the lofted bed down one level, but they headn't been sure if the bars were completely in, so Matt had cautiously climbed on to test it. It'd seemed sturdy enough.
His mom's eyes started to well up in tears "Well, it looks like this is it... I can't believe my son is about to begin his college career!" She'd wrapped Matt up in a tight embrace.
"Mom, I'll be home for thanksgiving, remember?" Matt groaned. "It'll be here quicker than you think, and I know I'll have plenty to share with you by then. I can call too since I know you want me to."
"But that feels like ages away! What will I do until then?"
"Well, I don't know, maybe remember your other son?" Matt's dad commented from the other side of the room. Matt had tried to hide his smirk as his mom scolded her husband.
"Oh please, we all know he'd rather be out smoking god-knows-what with his friends." his mom wiped her eyes, but couldn't help but laugh. They'd both wished Matt luck with everything, reminded him to call if he ever needed anything at any time at all, and left Matt to finish up the room.
After he'd finished, Matt had the overwhelming need to get up and do something. Other families had been moving onto his floor, but he'd decided to give them their space; he hadn't wanted to seem like that weird kid who'd went out of their way to greet everyone...no one liked that guy.
Matt decided to go outside and simply walk around his new college campus.
Just before he'd headed out, Matt checked himself out in his mirror. He had the same short brown hair he'd styled in the front, his matching brown eyes, and his usual t-shirt + cargo shorts combo.
Maybe he'd finally develop some more style while he was away at school?
With the sun bright in the late summer sky, Matt strolled by another dorm named North Hall, and noticed the football team out front helping people move in. All of the athletes had worn navy-blue and black Blue Devil jerseys, and Matt wondered if he'd make it to a game at some point. Stout wasn't exactly known for its football program, but he'd heard the hockey, rugby and track teams were pretty impressive, even if it was a Division-Three school.
Matt slipped on his headphones that'd added some rhythm to his step. He'd never admit it to anyone, but he'd liked making playlists for everything: from his favorite books, movies, or whatever mood he'd felt during the week. As he'd casually walked down the quad between the dorms and the Price Commons Dining Hall, he'd jammed out to bands like Yellowcard, Third Eye Blind, and Hot Chelle Rae. The upbeat, catchy songs had been perfect for the situation of being a wandering college freshman, truly free for the first time in his life.
Half an hour later, Matt had returned to his room to see his roommate, Thomas, had already moved in and was at his desk, playing some online game on his laptop. He'd yelled at someone into his headset. "C'mon man! You gotta look behind you every once in a while, or that asshole will keep fucking us up!"
Matt had never really been into video games, but had always been amused at how intense some players usually got. He'd personally always preferred to open up a good novel or get caught up on any weekly WWE shows he'd missed.
Matt pointedly coughed, so Thomas glanced up and his spectacles had caught a flash of light from the window.
"Oh, hey man! I just gotta finish this level and I'll be done," Thomas's eyes had barely left the screen. Matt nodded but had felt a little put off by Thomas's obvious lack of interest in him. He'd also heard him mutter "nah man, my roommate just walked in, so we gotta chat for a minute."
While he'd waited, Matt took in his new roommates' side of the room; Thomas had brought the TV and his PlayStation, but had enormous plastic bins full of his clothes, more gaming accessories, and one full of snacks like Flaming Hot Cheetos and Double-stuffed Oreos. What'd made Matt become confused was how his closet was also full, so why would someone need so much clothes? He'd already had some random things strewn around his side, like he'd already been there for weeks.
Matt studied Thomas up close. He was also a bigger guy, but he'd seemed like someone who put personal hygiene low on his list of priorities: his hair stuck up in random spots, and his fingernails had desperately needed to be trimmed. Matt inwardly groaned, and wondered if he was going to have to talk to his roommate at some point about odor issues, or if he'd planned to stay up until three every night and scream at his screen.
Thomas's game was eventually over, so he'd logged out and took off his headset before he'd turned towards Matt. "Hey there man, nice to meet you in person now."
"It's nice to meet you as well." Matt had offered his hand, and Thomas's grip was about as firm as a dead fish.
College was off to a great start...
Madison
"Oh...Hell to the no!"
Madison Parker liked everything to be in a specific space where it'd belonged, and she hadn't met her roommate yet, but she'd shook her head as she, her mom and younger brother had entered her room and witnessed the disarray on the other side of their dorm.
I see she'd just taken the right side without getting back to me on that, Madison fumed.
Her and her family had taken in the Mandela tapestries, clothes already strewn around, random colors that hadn't matched, the succulents on their windowsill, and all the random knick-knacks on her roommate's side. All of it had made Madison want to head over to the housing office to see how quickly she could've requested for a switch. Obviously, this 'Eden Harrington' she'd been randomly matched with weren't going to get along. Eden's side had screamed "bohemian, hippie chick" who'd only bought anything she'd owned from flea markets or thrift stores.
Madison cursed under her breath. How much weed must Eden already have hidden somewhere? It would've been just her luck to have a pot head random roommate while Madison would still have to work on all her honors coursework.
"Oh Madison, you haven't even met this girl yet," her mom chided. "I say, give her a chance before you go making judgements and assuming the worst." She'd set down one of Madison's Michael Kors bags on Eden's armoire chair.
"Yeah Mads, why you gotta be so judgy?" her little brother, Dante, poked her hip, so she'd tried to swat him away like a housefly.
"But look at her stuff...none of it matches, and this mess is already giving me an anxiety attack." Madison groaned. "We're going to hate each other before the semester is even over."
"Madison, I know I raised you to be more accepting than that." Her mother frowned. "Now, you and this girl might not get along, but you two could become really close." Her mom wandered over towards Eden's desk near the window, and pointed to the many photos Eden had already hung up of herself, and of her friends and family. Madison eyed them too and recognized her new roommate in all of them.
Eden Harrington had long light brown hair highlighted with layered blond balayage highlights and rose-gold edges. Beneath her blunt bangs, she had vivid green eyes that'd popped even just in photos, and flashed a huge smile in every shot. Madison had to admit she'd looked like a really cool chick, and maybe if they weren't roommates, they would've become friends.
As she'd taken another look around the room, Madison thought to herself how she'd definitely had to think of some guidelines so it wouldn't get too disastrous and cause her to lose her shit.
"I guess there's nothing I can do at this point, I can't switch until next semester anyways." Madison checked her reflection in a mirror above her dresser and fixed her long, wavy raven-black hair while assessing if any of her foundation had smeared amongst her sharp, defined features. In her reflection, Madison caught Dante as he'd over-dramatically copied every one of her gestures and swung around to catch him in the act. "You do know that I can see you in a mirror right, smartass?"
"Maybe I wanted you to see," Dante, all of nine years old, had struck a pose and made a fart noise, but retreated behind their mom as soon as Madison had made a grab for him. Her mom was about to say something when they'd heard a knock at the door, and in walked her smiling new roommate, Eden.
"You must be Madison; it's sooo great to meet you!" Eden practically bounced across the room. "Should I shake your hand, or do you like hugs? I should let you know, I'm a big hugger, and if you don't, that's fine, that's why I ask!"
It didn't matter what her answer would have been, Eden had already wrapped Madison up in a warm, maybe slightly awkward hug. Madison peaked over Eden's shoulder to her mom, who'd looked on with an amused expression.
Heather
She'd been ready for a fresh start since her sophomore year at Prior Lake High School, to finally start her life over and leave all the torment and bad memories in the dust where they'd belonged.
Heather Gracie was all moved into her dorm on the third floor of Milnes Hall, so she'd decided to grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in town with her mom and her older boyfriend, Ryan. They'd gone to a place that'd been named the "Log Jam" because one of the track athletes helping them move in had recommended their Lumberjack Burger.
As the three of them returned to campus, Heather had run a manicured finger through her long, golden blonde hair and took countless photos on her Canon DSLR while Ryan had simply smiled at her with his warm, cozy brown eyes. He of all people had known she'd only fussed over her hair whenever she was nervous, and kissed her cheek while he'd squeezed their entwined hands with silent reassurance.
While her mom wasn't looking, Heather had reached up to fix Ryan's dark waves he'd grown out over the summer. It'd gotten almost two inches longer than how he'd normally worn it, but Heather hadn't mind having more to play with whenever the mood had struck. It'd given her boyfriend a lazy, sexier laid-back vibe that she'd really begun to like.
Heather thought about everything the two of them had been through over the last three years together; so many sacrifices and so many changes. If any of it had taught her anything, it'd showed her who'd truly mattered in her life, and who hadn't even deserved a second thought as they'd driven away to Menomonie, Wisconsin earlier that morning.
"So, have you talked to your roommate at all recently?" Her mother, who'd Heather looked so much alike, asked when they'd entered back through the glass-doored HKMC main lobby.
"I talked to her about a month ago, just to see if there was anything else I needed to bring." Heather shrugged. "Otherwise nope, not much else."
"Well, she seemed nice at least, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so..." Heather hadn't wanted to admit she'd been nervous as hell because as soon as she'd gotten her roommate's name, Lindsay Erickson, she'd immediately gone onto Facebook to check her out and see her long platinum blond hair, baby blue eyes, her perky little dancer's body, and all her friends with the typical group poses with hands on their jutted out hips and big smiles around. They'd even all owned different versions of the same Coach designer handbag; it'd looked like Lindsay had the "picture-perfect" life of a normal popular girl in high school.
Lindsay had already moved into her side of the dorm when the three of them had returned. Her parents were already gone, and Lindsay turned around with the flip of her platinum hair, and flashed them perfectly composed smile in greeting.
"It's sooo nice to finally meet you, Heather!" Lindsay waltzed over and embraced Heather before she could've even responded. "Can I just say, your Facebook and Insta' pics do NOT give you justice! You're, like, so gorgeous... ugh, I am so jealous." She'd actually said the word "ugh".
"I love what you did with your hair, Lindsay, you've got to show me how you did that sometime," Heather tried to replicate Lindsay's bubbly tone, but she'd hoped she hadn't sounded too snarky, but her new roommate hadn't seemed to notice
"We will defs have to chat, but I'd actually already promised a friend that I'd meet up with her. She's actually moving onto this floor, and you'll love her, so ciao!" Lindsay flew out the door and left the three of them in the room. When the coast was clear, Heather had glanced over at Ryan, who'd smirked with a shake of his head.
"You've got to be kidding me," he'd muttered under his breath, and her mom's forehead wrinkled as her frown deepened.
"C'mon guys, it's not a big deal," Heather rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Compared to others, she seems harmless. I can definitely handle her."
"I believe you, babe, I just don't want you to have to deal with more of that bullshit," Ryan said, frustration plain in his eyes. "I mean, you came here to escape, but one look at her, and it looks like it's followed you here."
"Just be sure to call me if there are any issues at all, because I love you and want the best for you, ok hun?" Heather's mom wrapped her arms protectively around her only daughter. Heather silently wondered how was she going to survive when she didn't have her mom in her corner at every turn? "Ok, now you two scrunch together for a picture for me."
Her mom whipped out her phone as she'd stepped back and Ryan scooted in closer to wrap his arm around Heather's hip. They'd smiled while her mom struggled to figure out her smartphone's camera, even though she'd already had it for over a year by that point.
"I'll be sure to come visit often, just to make sure there aren't any knives to take out of her back," Ryan joked as he'd given Heather a chaste peck on the lips. "Love you, babe, and you're going to be great. Just get out there, and you'll meet amazing people in no time, I know you will."
"Well damn, now I guess I have no choice, now that you've put that pressure on me." Heather laughed before her expression grew serious. "But thank you, I love you too, and I'm not worried one bit."
Ryan and her mom gave their goodbyes, and Heather fought back tears as they'd left her completely alone in a new, unfamiliar world that would be her new home until May the next year. The last thing she'd wanted was to start bawling and have people on her floor think of her as the girl who couldn't handle being away from home for the first time ever.
Strong girls didn't cry at the first sign of trouble.
Eden
Her new roommate, Madison Parker, had not liked her one bit.
Eden's new roommate and her family had left a little bit ago to grab lunch in town, but Madison's mom had seemed more interested in meeting her than Madison herself. She had asked Eden questions like where she was from, her interests and hobbies, and what her major was. All the while, Eden kept a smile on her face as she'd answered everything, and ignored Madison's silent-but-obvious judgement over her visible tattoos, her piercings, and her fringed high-waisted denim cutoffs. Personally, Eden always liked to pride herself on not passing judgement based on outer appearance, even though people stereotyped her all the time.
Eden knew she'd always been out there with her "artsy" style, and people usually assumed she was some big hippie pothead. She couldn't lie, she'd done it a couple of times, but actually hadn't gotten into it like everyone else. All it'd done was make her sleepy and hungry, and after puking an entire large pizza she'd mindlessly eaten in one sitting, had easily never touched it ever since. Now a chilled bottle of Rosé, that was her drug of choice. It had always either been a bottle of wine or coffee, maybe cats too? Like Oscar, her Egyptian Mau. He was a little grump towards everyone but her, and Eden still knew she'd been blessed the day he'd picked her as his human when she'd found him at a local shelter seven years ago.
Eden hailed from St. Anthony Falls, MN, and while it was in northern Minneapolis, she'd had never felt much like a city girl. She'd long-boarded to school every morning, and helped out at a small art gallery whenever they'd had an upcoming show while she'd worked part time as a server at her family's local pizza shop after school some days and weekends. Art had always been the one thing she'd ever excelled at. She loved to fill a blank canvas with her latest ideas, but she'd always wanted to go specifically into Animation. Growing up, her favorite movies had been Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, or almost anything released by Disney or DreamWorks. She'd been inspired to one day create movies that would inspire the next generation to want to pursue their dreams too.
Eden personally decided to come to the University of Wisconsin-Stout for its affordable art program, and its high post-graduation employment rate. It was considered a Polytechnic school, which meant it was hands-on learning, not lecture based, and instructors actually knew their student's names whenever they'd visited during office hours. Plus, Eden's favorite art teacher had graduated twenty years ago, and had highly recommended the school to her. There'd also been the Minnesota Academy of Art and Design, or "MCAD" for short, but Eden had wanted a change of scenery from the twin cities. Plus, college was going to take money out of her pocket, not her parents, when she'd eventually have to start paying back her eventual student loans.
Eden's parents came back into her dorm as she'd hung up another one of her favorite art pieces on her side of the room.
"Okay honey, close your eyes really quick, because we have a surprise for you." Eden's dad grinned as him and her mom hid something behind each of their backs.
"Oh no, you guys didn't have to get me anything!" Eden grimaced. "Just being here right now is enough."
"C'mon Eden, humor us! Our little girl is about to start her first year of college!" Her dad was the only one more excited about all of it more than she'd been. Eden smiled as she'd covered her eyes, and when her father had told her she could look, her parents held out a hoodie and a new sketchbook, both navy blue with the white Stout logo on the front. Eden wondered if it would've been weird to see if they'd wanted to open a bottle of wine to celebrate.
Luke
I can't wait for the day to finally fucking end...
First, Luke Mitchell and his parents had to get up at three in the morning back home in Milwaukee to drive four hours to UW-Stout to get there by nine and not be late for his freshman move-in time. Second, his mom had to stop every forty-five minutes on the dot because she had the bladder of a chipmunk. Last but not least, his dad had to use every opportunity to remind him to not fuck up his time at college and drink away his degree. After he'd heard it three times through half the drive, Luke had decided to put his headphones in, and pretended to sleep the rest of the way.
The sad part was, Luke had actually been used to hearing that from his dad for quite some time. Same shit, different day, Luke had always told himself. He'd made some big mistakes in the past, had apologized and tried to do better afterwards, but his dad had never forgiven him, nor looked at him the same again. It certainly hadn't helped Luke having two perfect older brothers, Jason and Brett. Both of them could do nothing wrong: they'd gotten perfect grades, had been captains of their varsity football teams, had beautiful girls to take to every school dance, and neither had ever gotten in trouble with the police. Their dad couldn't have been more proud of them.
He'd then look down his nose at Luke as if to think, What happened to you? That certainly hadn't created resentment over the years...
Luke was coming to college with some big goals ahead of him: get good grades within the Packaging program he'd major in, eventually become president of the Packaging Committee, hopefully make the Dean's list, and land a well paying job before graduating to prove he was actually worthy of being taken seriously.
They'd finally arrived in Menomonie, and his parents both smiled at each other as they'd reminisced about when they'd gone through their freshman experience many years ago. They'd met at UW-Stout, had started dating by Thanksgiving that first semester, and were still together almost thirty-six years later.
Jason, his oldest brother, had also met his current fiancé when he'd enrolled, but they hadn't met until his senior year. The second oldest, Brett, was currently enrolled as a junior, and had been casually seeing a girl since the beginning of that summer, and was hosting a cookout they'd all go to after Luke was all moved in.
They'd met his roommate, Rob Giguire, who had already been moved in. Luke's dad had taken one look at Rob's shaggy dark hair beneath his beanie, his Bob Marley shirt, his longboard resting against his dresser, and had actually straight up asked if he'd had drugs on him right then and there. Rob had laughed it off, but Luke's father stared him down before he'd made a quip about how him and Luke would get along just great.
Luke's mom smacked her husband on the shoulder with an icy glare while Rob's laughed had begun to sound a little forced. "Right on man, he seems like a cool dude...Well, I'll catch ya later. Peace out."
Brett's house was about three blocks away from the main campus. When they'd arrived, Luke's dad lead the way around towards the backyard. Luke caught sight of Brett up on their small back porch, grilling brats and hotdogs while his buddies all played cornhole on the lawn. Everyone there had a beer in their hand, and Jake Owen's "Beachin'" blasted over someone's speaker.
Brett immediately spotted them, and waved them all over. Luke grinned as Brett had pulled him into a one-armed hug, then proceeded to embrace his mom and give their dad a firm handshake.
"Hey guys, glad you made it! How was the move-in?" Brett wordlessly offered them each a beer, to which only his dad accepted. Luke figured he'd better wait for his parents to leave before he'd joined in. The law in Wisconsin was that someone could drink while being underage as long as their parents were with them and allowed it. Luke knew better than to do anything to add fuel to the fire, and swore he saw his dad ready to pounce with some asshole remark.
"It actually wasn't too bad this year." Luke's mom smiled. "They seem to get better at it every time we come back."
Brett nodded. "So, what hall are you in again, bro?"
"Third floor Chinnock."
"Aw man, I was in South Hall, and let me say there's a reason why they call it the Dirty South." Brett grinned behind his shades as he'd bitten into a brat. Their mom rolled her eyes, but shared a secret smile with her husband, and Luke pretended he hadn't seen it.
"Well, that still didn't stop you from staying on task and getting your work done." Their dad scoffed. "We met his roommate, and the kid's obviously a pot smoking dope. Claimed he didn't have any, but by the smell of him, he'd already lit up most of it."
Luke glared at the back of his dad's skull, knowing he'd have to apologize later for his dad's rude behavior. He didn't need his roommate thinking that he was some goody two shoes who'd narc on him at the first chance he got.
His dad kept going off. "Brett, I need you to keep a close eye on this one." He'd gestured to Luke. "Keep him out of trouble, we sure as hell don't need him getting kicked out."
I got in by getting a 32 on my ACT, asshole...Luke silently fumed. His grades had always been spectacular, but whatever; his dad hadn't cared, he'd only remembered the nights that involved the police on their front doorstep.
Luke's mom had started to protest, but before she'd said anything, Brett had wrapped his arm around Luke once again, and flashed his angelic smile. "No worries, pops. I got him taken care of."
His dad raised his beer to that, and Luke's shoulders dropped with relief. Thank god Brett was there to say what Dad wanted to hear, but Luke's thoughts darkened whenever that dark voice in his head reminded him how maybe his dad wouldn't have been so hard on him if only his older brothers hadn't been so perfect to begin with.
Jared
Walking onto the third floor of Chinnock like he'd owned the place--because by the end of the semester he probably would--Jared Mikaelson was ready to become a campus legend. Standing at six-foot-two, with perfectly swept back blond hair, blue eyes, broad shoulders, and a grin that could've gotten him anything he'd desired, he'd known it was only a matter of time before everyone worthwhile would've known who he was.
He'd noticed a couple cute girls from the track team as they'd helped haul his stuff up to his room, and had taken the opportunity to introduce himself. He'd ignored his uncle shaking his head while he'd carried Jared's sixty-inch TV over his shoulders. Much to his satisfaction, they'd Rather quickly gotten him all moved into his new dorm room on the third floor of Chinnock. He'd eyed how small the space was compared to his room back home in Madison, Wisconsin and had got a message from his roommate, Brayden Nelson, that he'd been running late, but would hopefully get there later that day.
"So kid, judging by the way you were too busy talking to girls instead of, oh I don't know, helping me carry your TV, I'd say you're going like it here just a little bit." Jared's uncle threw him a pointed look when it'd become just the two of them unpacking his belongings.
"Yeah man, sorry about that, but priorities you know?" Jared flashed his signature grin as he'd hung up his shirts in his cramped closet. "I'm digging the small-town vibe. It's different."
"I don't get it though, I for sure thought you'd at least be going to St. Thomas if not somewhere on the East Coast?" his uncle inquired.
"Yeah, because that's what my parents expected," Jared rolled his eyes as he'd tossed his navy comforter onto his lofted bed. Ever since college had been on the horizon, his parents had already decided what he'd do for the rest of his life, and always made sure to inform their fellow country club patrons and fellow board members over cocktails at eleven in the morning on the weekends. The only person they'd never really discussed any of it with had been Jared himself, and that'd always gotten on his nerves.
Whatever, I'm here now, and it's where I'll leave a legacy, Jared assured himself.
"Well, if it counts for anything, I'm sorry they couldn't be here with you, kid," Jared's uncle patted him on the shoulder, but Jared shrugged him off. He'd always cringed whenever his uncle had gotten all warm and fatherly like he was freakin' Bob Saget from Full House.
"Whatever, it's not like I expected them to actually show up, so it's all good."
Both his uncle and Jared had known the truth; how both his parents were too busy planning the next gala event or golf tournament to actually remember to help their only son move into his college dorm. Growing up, Jared had to teach himself to master the art of hiding the disappointment and change the subject, because to him, they were not worth much of his concern. It's not like they were thinking much about him either.