Tartosan Sun: Journeys

Chapter Two:

As the calendar moved from August to September, Britechester was buzzing with an anxious energy. Every year as the summer days dwindled and autumn beckoned the city’s famous and prestigious universities welcomed an annual ritual, move-in day. In the coming days a small army of students, parents, and faculty would descend on the universities and the surrounding city. Inquisitive young minds flocking to the two iconic campuses, the storied and hallowed halls of the University of Britechester...

... and the gleaming modern, high-tech giant, Foxbury Institute.

For first year students, like Danielle, Summer, and Liberty the craziness, the excitement, and the anxiety of move-in day started weeks and months before. The lazy, carefree summer days of years past were replaced by to-do lists, phone calls and email exchanges with the university housing and financial aid departments. There were student organizations to research. Maps of the campus to learn. For Summer there were medical exams related to her soccer scholarship beyond the exams and shots that every student needed before arriving on campus.

Not all of the tasks on the to-do list were boring and tedious. There was no shortage of shopping to do. Finding those little touches to make the dorm rooms feel cozy and like home is so important. 

First year students and their families began arriving in Britechester a few days early. It was a good time to do some sight seeing and  last minute shopping. It was a good time for a leisurely tour of the campuses too. Britechester and Willow Creek’s differences went beyond just culture and geographical location. The climates were worlds apart too. Winter in Willow Creek was fairly mild, with just a handful of cold days every year. A light jacket or sweater was usually enough to get you through the worst of it. The only snow was the kind on your tv screen when the cable went out. Britechester had four real seasons, and proper winter weather. It was much colder and snowier which required wardrobe additions that were nearly impossible to find in Willow Creek. 

Liberty’s mom Clarissa had received her business degree from Foxbury so she was the perfect tour guide for the girls. She helped them get set up with student ID’s. She showed them where to find the health center, the book store, the best dining halls. She went over their schedules with them and showed them where each of their lecture halls were located. 

Their tour ended back at the hub of campus life, Larry’s Lagoon. Officially it was Foxbury Commons, but of course no one in Britechester knew it by that name. “God this place has changed so much since I hung out here with my sorority sisters!."

Liberty didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, isn’t electricity amazing? You should check out the indoor plumbing too.”  

“Very funny Liberty.” Clarissa knew she’d set herself up for that one. Liberty had her father’s sense of humor. “Us old women are going to let you ladies spend the rest of the day looking around. Try to be back at the hotel by 6 so we can go have dinner together.” After a round of hugs they watched their mom’s retreat into the distance. In that moment it sunk into them, they were a long way from the only home they had ever known and they were free to do whatever they wanted. This adulting stuff was pretty sweet.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze. Nothing like the sweltering heat and humidity back in Willow creek. After their goodbyes, the girls decided to grab some drinks and snacks from the stalls in front of Larry's. They staked out one of the umbrella tables and enjoyed a spot of al fresco dining and took in the scenery. The campus greenery was vaguely reminiscent of the gardens that dotted the neighborhoods back home, especially along Orleans Street, the place that until now had been the only home they'd ever known. Those memories recalled the comforting scent of roses, honeysuckle, and gardenias. Danielle made a mental note to find some scented candles with those aromas, for that inevitable moment when she knew she'd need a reminder of home. 

Now that they were alone Liberty took the opportunity to vent a little. “My mom just had to sneak in that bit about sorority sisters. She won’t let up about me choosing a dorm instead of pledging a sorority. I love her and she means well, but she can be such a pain in the butt sometimes. She tries to run my life.” 

Danielle could relate to what Liberty was going through. “My mom hasn't gotten over me choosing Foxbury. She wanted me to go to Britechester. She keeps trying to make me feel guilty about it."

“My mom…” Summer began. 

“Oh Summer, shut up” Liberty said with a dismissive laugh, “your mom is like the ultimate cool mom.” Danielle nodded her agreement.

“Yeah right.” It was Summer’s turn to be theatrical. “You haven’t walked in and seen her dancing around the kitchen, wearing short shorts, a halter top, and singing "Single Ladies Put A Ring On It" into a wooden spoon."

“Ok that’s totally cringe. I'd die of embarrassment if my mom did that.” Danielle said.

“Ok so your mom isn't the ultimate cool mom" Liberty said. All three of them were trying desperately to get the mental image out of their heads. "But she's still sort of cool-ish. She's cooler than our moms.”

Summer knew it was useless to argue. Her friends had always seen her mom in the best light. She really wanted to change the subject and she got her wish in the best way she could imagine. “Mmm, hello” Summer purred, drawing each word out a little for effect.  

The small group of guys fully caught their attention. Summer wished she was wearing sunglasses so she could do that sexy cool movie thing of pulling them down a little to admire the guys over the top. “I think I’m going to like it here” she said. The comment was met with girlish laughter. 

“Ladies” Danielle said, “those aren't boys. Those are men.” 

“Yeah, understatement of the year.” Liberty replied while taking one last look over Summer's shoulder as the guys rounded the corner and disappeared. “See anything you liked?” she asked. Danielle’s relationships had been a carousel. If she made it to the third date with a guy it was a long term relationship. Summer and Liberty had made it their mission to help her change that.

“There were a couple that I wouldn’t mind seeing again.” She appreciated her friend’s efforts to help her find a guy. It wasn’t that Danielle had any trouble attracting guys. That had never been a problem. Her problem was she lost interest in them quickly and was ready to start looking again. It was the same thing here. The three guys who passed them were stunning. But she didn’t feel anything special. No fireworks, just appreciation for seeing three extremely handsome men. Her mom was probably right, she was just too much of a romantic and she needed a deeper emotional connection. More than any teenage boy was capable of. Her friends felt she was just too picky. Maybe I am too picky, she thought to herself. Maybe mom’s right. Maybe all of them were right. Try as she might to convince herself otherwise she didn’t believe either one of those explanations was right. It was something else though what that something else was she didn’t know. They were easy on the eyes, she mused to herself as she took another sip of her smoothie. That much is true.