Ember

Ember. It's an unusual name but it suited me well. Fire red hair with a snarky attitude is what my parents always said. The dread washed over me. I was standing in what would be my dorm room for the next year. Fresh out of Highschool and freshly orphaned. No hand-holding this time. I threw my bags on my side of the room. Movies were sorely mistaken, the room looked no bigger than a jail cell. At least this wasn’t all bad, my best friend since fifth grade decided that after the accident, that NYU didn’t look so bad in comparison to the Harvard acceptance letter she got in the mail that she hid in her trashcan. I refused her a million times, but I guess Alana couldn’t take no for an answer. Speak of the devil. Her delicate frame entered the room, practically strutting. Her dirty blond hair is in a messy bun. Wearing sweatpants and a crop top showing her tanned skin. Her hazel eyes scanning the room under her thick lashes.

“Guess we are going to be closer than ever, huh Em?” Alana said as she dropped her bags.

We didn’t bring much. Alana insisted that she would get us anything we needed. Her parents both being well-known lawyers in LA were well off and made sure Alana and I would be taken care of. But I already had a few job interviews set up, one that I need to head to first thing after I am unpacked. I loved Alana and her parents for all they have done for me, but I hated having to rely on someone that isn't family, even if they could obviously afford it.

“This reminds me of the one time we went to summer camp and we both got kicked out because you made me go skinny dipping,” I said with a smirk as I went to start putting things away.

“Hey, I did not force you, plus those cabins were tiny, you should've thanked me,” She scoffed as started putting stuff on her bed. “Anyway, I heard that there is going to be a big party thrown at a frat house this Friday, we should go, meet some new friends,” She said as she wiggled her eyebrows.

“Ahhhh, already trying to get boyfriends are we?”

“Oh come on you prude, these aren’t High school boys, lets have some fun.”

If only it were that easy. I've just never been that interested in boys, or girls for that matter. Yeah, I can see the appeal of guys. But none ever got my attention. Like really got my attention. Maybe it's because the guys in Highschool never looked or acted as college guys did. Maybe here, I could find someone.

“Yeah, yeah, experimenting, college, drugs, alcohol, yadda yadda,” I said putting away the last of my clothes from my duffle bag to the little closet space I had. only to see the picture of me and my mother and father at the bottom of the bag. I zipped up the bag. Not ready to face that reality right now. Maybe later.

“Come on, school starts next week. Let’s have a little fun before then, come on. Please I need my wing-woman there.”

I scoffed “Like you need a wing woman, look at you. But if it’ll stop you from asking a million times, I will go”

“This is going to be amazing, I will get us fresh outfits for the occasion. We are going to look amazing,” She practically squealed.

“Okay, while you do that I am going to explore campus and look for my classes, don't want to be wandering around lost next week,” I said, one foot already out the door as she shooed me, already looking at her laptop.

I walked down the three flights of stairs to the outside. The sun shining with no cloud in sight, but not making it as warm as it is in LA. I looked at my phone as it led me to a little coffee shop just a mile away from the dorms. It wasn’t a long walk and that was good short commute. I wore dark skinny jeans and a white tank top with a flannel covering my arms. I hope it was good enough for a job interview and first impression. Alana was always the one with the better fashion sense. Plus I did not have much else. As I walked up to the Lava Java, it looked way busier than it should at five o’clock at night. I opened the doors to be greeted with a busy atmosphere. Sleek black brick walls with modern lamps. A bar connecting with where they make coffee, two grey couches with a coffee table in-between them, and a few tables with chairs scattered around. People were everywhere but there wasn’t a line. A 30 something-year-old man stood behind the bar.

“What will it be,” the man asked with a kind smile.

“Actually, I emailed a few weeks ago for a job interview. I am looking for a part-time job during college.”

“Fantastic, you start tomorrow. You can wear anything casual, holes in jeans are acceptable. No shorts that are too short. and we will provide an apron and name tag,” He said casually.

“Uh, excuse me?” I said before I could help it. I mean, this man doesn't even

“Kid, when you work here as long as me, you can pick the good ones from the bad ones. Unless you don’t want the job. Names Joe,” He said throwing his hand across the bar to shake mine, his kind brown eyes. He was bald and slender. Not the type you’d think would work a coffee shop in a college town.

“I’m Ember, But everyone calls me Em.”

“Nice to meet you Em, I’ll have everything ready for you at 5 am sharp.”

I flinched but nodded and waved goodbye. Five am it is.