Chapter 1 - Moving day
Daisy Cross
“Oh, my poor sweet baby, I can’t believe you’re leaving us.”
I try to evade my mom’s hug, but she catches me in her arms. The familiar perfume engulfs me and tickles my nose.
“Mom, stop it.” I sigh and roll my eyes as I try to pull away.
My new roommate smirks at me, but in a friendly way. I think. We only had time for a very quick introduction before my mom stormed in and started setting up my side of the room.
I had to keep stopping her from encroaching on my new roommate’s space. I think she said her name was Saf?
“I know, I know, you’re too old to hug your mother, but you’re my baby.”
I was expecting this. My mom has been a stay at home mom since I was born. And I’m an only child.
“I’m almost nineteen, mom. And it’s about time I get some independence.”
“I know, I know.”
She finally lets go of me and grabs a stack of t-shirts from the suitcase on my bed.
“So you’re Daisy’s new roommate?” Mom looks her over as she places the shirts in the dresser drawer. “I hope you’re not one of those party girls that go out drinking and whatnot.”
“Mom!” Horrified, I try to mouth an apology to Saf. She’s putting her own stuff away and glancing over at us as if we’re the entertainment.
“What? I have to make sure you don’t end up failing or getting pregnant or addicted to drugs.”
Mom reaches for a stack of underwear, but I cut her off. I quickly try to usher her out of the room while Saf looks like she’s trying not to laugh.
“You know, I think I’m all set up here. Thank you for helping me unpack. But you should probably get back on the road. You have a long drive back.”
“Are you sure? The bed still needs to be made.” Mom tries to skirt around me to get back inside.
“I’m sure. Besides, we have orientation in a few minutes, so I have to go, anyway.”
“Orientation? I didn’t know you had that.” She reluctantly lets me shoo her into the hallway.
“Well, we do. So I guess this is goodbye.” I smile at her.
“I can’t believe it.” Her eyes tear up. “The house is going to be so empty without you.”
“You still have dad, and the ladies from church, I’m sure they’ll stop by.”
“But it’s not the same. I’m going to miss you.”
I take a moment as it hits me how much my life is going to change. How much her life is going to change.
“I’ll miss you too.” This time, I don’t struggle when she hugs me.
“I guess I should get going. It’ll be late before I make it back home.” She tilts her head and strokes my hair out of my eyes. “You take care of yourself, ok?”
“I will.”
“And you paid for the food at the dining hall, right?”
I nod. “Yes, mom.”
“Make sure you make good use of it. And try to eat healthy. Oh,” she digs into her purse and pulls out her wallet. “It’s not much, but here.” She takes out some money and pushes it into my hand. “I know you’re independent and paying for everything yourself, but a mother has to help out a bit, right?”
She looks insecure, and I glance at the money. It’s three hundred dollars. She must have saved and scrimped from the allowance my dad gives her to save up that much.
“Thank you, mom.”
She strokes my cheek. “You be good now, ok? And make sure to look Neville up.”
I grimace. “Mom, he’s my ex. I don’t think I will.”
“Daisy Cross! I didn’t raise you to be rude.”
“I’ll be polite if I see him. But I think I’d rather not.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course you want to see him. You make such a beautiful couple.”
“I really don’t think-”
“Daisy, don’t be rude. It’s only polite of you to check in with him. Do you still have his number, or do you need me to ask his mom for it?”
I take a deep breath. There’s no point arguing with mom when she has an idea set in her head.
“I have his number, but I’m not going to call him.”
“Well, I’m sure he’ll look you up. I told his mom that I was bringing you here today.”
“You told her?” I groan inwardly.
“Well, it’s hardly a secret. You’ve been talking about it for years. And Neville knew you’d start here after working a year.” She sighs wistfully. “He’s such a good boy. Big hockey star and everything.”
“Great,” I murmur. “Well, you should really be going now.”
“Oh, right. Yes, I don’t want you to be late for orientation. You call if you need anything, ok?”
“I will.”
She gives me one final hug before she hurries off. As soon as she’s disappeared behind the corner, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I close the door for some privacy. Saf is studying her phone as I go to empty the suitcase.
“Did you say we have orientation? Because I can’t find that on the schedule.”
My cheeks heat. “We don’t. I just needed an excuse to get rid of my mom. She’s a bit... overbearing sometimes.”
“Oh.” Saf laughs. “Yeah, she seems very... involved.”
“I’m an only child.”
“And did I hear her say she has a boyfriend lined up for you?” My new roommate raises an eyebrow.
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. Neville is my ex. We met when I was fifteen and he was sixteen. For two years, we dated on and off. When he left for UNI, two years ago, we were off. I haven’t seen him since. Apart from running into him briefly when he’s been home to visit his parents.”
“But your mom still ships the two of you?”
I sink down on the unmade bed and take a moment. “Our parents know each other from church. They immediately thought it was the perfect match.”
Saf sits down opposite me, on her own bed. “I see.”
She’s beautiful, with her brown hair that falls over her shoulders in perfect waves. She looks so elegant and worldly. Next to her, I feel like the country bumpkin I am with my freckles and straight auburn hair.
“I’m sorry, it’s been a lot today. I think you introduced yourself, but was it Saf?”
She nods. “Sapphire Aurora Harrison. But people call me Saf. Or Saffy.”
“I’m Daisy Cross.” I give her a warm smile.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.” This is the woman I’ll be sharing a room with for the next year. I’ve read so many horror stories about bad roommates, but there have to be good roommates out there as well. I just hope Saf is one of the good ones.
“What are you studying?” She takes out a box of junior mints from her bag and holds it up to me. I shake my head.
“Chemical engineering.”
“Oh, same. I guess that’s why they paired us up.”
She takes a handful of the candy and tosses it into her mouth.
I relax a little. “At least we’ll know someone in the class then.”
“I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit worried about the course load. Did you look it over?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “I know what you mean. It feels like a lot. But maybe we could help each other study?”
She puts the candy away and gets up. “Sounds like a plan. Do you want to go see if we can find the dining hall?”
“Sure.” I get up and grab my jacket before I follow her out of the room. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Saf shakes her head. “Nah, I’m here to focus on my studies, but you know, if I happen to meet the right guy, I’m open to dating. What about you? If your mom’s pick doesn’t pan out, I mean.”
She winks at me.
I touch the phone in my pocket. “I don’t know. I’m not really looking.”
