Until Now Chapter 2

Taylor dropped me at my dorm after our 5 minute tour and 30 minute chinese food break. Its not as big as they make it out to be, nor as beautiful. A funny bit about Taylor, she is the kindest, softest individual but so hard to hit to the core, or maybe her core is just different than mine. As I approached the door to my new flat, I felt cautious. It was uglier than I'd imagined. Cold dark bricks, no sign of a garden or shrubbery, just dirt where the brick ends. I paused a moment to take it all in and reached for the door. I soon found out it was locked. With no one in sight around my barren new home, I waited. About 30 minutes later a girl to opened up the big glass door, I quietly scurried in behind her, trying stupidly to prove that I belonged to this ugly building, even though my heart scarcely believed it. As I approached the 2nd floor I was greeted by a small kenyan girl. She was younger than I and now took the title R.A. Apparently I can't get a key until tomorrow, nor food. I went to room 222, the room I'd so carefully chosen so I wouldn't forget it. Ashley, roomate #1 greeted me warmly, yet coldly at the same time. I got a hello and a smile as she continue to tend to her mac. I sort of imagined a "wow, so tell me new roomie, how was your trip, lets be best friends" type of speach but was now left alone. No cell, no luggage, no blankets, nothing. I was a whole lot less of a person since I left this morning. To explain my current empty situation further, I forgot to mention that the airport has lost my luggage containing every piece of clothing that belongs to me. I opted not to take my cell, believing that I wouldn't need it in college/ my mom didn't let me take mine. And the bedding and decorations I'd shipped from Ikea apparently hadn't arrived either. So here I am, alone with my thoughts, which took me to my departure from Sky Harbour Airport . I didn't sleep last night because I was packing and saying goodbye to friends. I suddenly realized that I hadn't felt nervous... until now. I thought about my jellybean goodbye in the Starbucks parking lot with Jarred. His weak attempt to kiss me one last time was much more endearing than my lack of one from Caleb. I thought about my final vie for his attention and the "sorry you're too late" note he posted on the outside of my window. Its funny how Caleb has always had a way of leaving me hopeful, even in a rejection letter. You expect a hand written note posted to your 2nd floor room to be romantic. Not this one. I guess I deserve it though. I should let whats over be over. Caleb and I dated for year and it ended in January. Well, not really. I can't quite remember who did the breaking but when Jarred took me to his best friends wedding as a date, Caleb took it as dead and done. When he found out I was leaving for Virginia I think he wanted to rekindle our flames but a close friend of ours told him I felt otherwise. I guess he believed her or was finished with me because over the summer he's gained some type of bitter taste towards me, leaving me with remaining feelings. Jarred on the other hand was not one to give up merely on one persons word, not even on many people's words. Virtually all his friends, my friends and even myself told him I was wasting his time. He either doesn't care or doesn't hear because his goodbye was much sweeter than the, "you're too late" note posted on my window. His goodbye involved jellybeans( my favourite candy) and the other type of hand written note. My thoughts were interrupted by two large southern girls. They were making their rounds meeting new girls on the hall. They jumped on my empty bed and gave me the distraction i needed, southern hospitality. And until now... I hadn't smiled in central virginia.

Until Now Chapter 1

Airports hold a heavy feeling, not always a bad heavy feeling but feeling in itself. Whether you're flying in from Buffalo, Monaco, Toronto or Phoenix, the airport is without a doubt a place of meaningful endeavors, wild stories and romance. A place where love is lost, returned, gained and released. A place of renewal, sorrow, romanticism and longing. Sure I'm a bit over dramatic and currently dwelling on my own mixed emotions, but this airport feels different somehow. I've just arrived at Lynchburg Regional Airport in central Virginia. Its about 4 o clock and the flight from Phoenix has pretty well taken me all day. As we were landing i noticed how barren this area is. Could there possibly be a "big university" in the land of what looks like giant broccoli heads? I am immediately overcome with regret for not further researching my new home for the year. I feel a stab of betrayal for Phoenix as I already referred to this place as home.... before I've even disembarked into it. Leslie said this place was magical but I've been here for 5 minutes and just don't see it. It definitely doesn't look like the pictures. As I bring my new Roxy carry on and Mom's pretty Neiman Marcus bag down the staircase of the aircraft, I get a waft of stifling, sticky, yet fresh air. Taylor Trute, "a friend since birth" as we used to say, is waiting for me here. Although she is supposed to be familiar, we haven't really spoken in what seems like years. You grow alot from 16-18, mentally speaking. Her familiar smile and bouquet of flowers brought immediate comfort that unfortunately didn't shadow the disdain I've already stapled on this city. We grab my things and head to campus. Taylor is filling me in on all the things I need to know about Liberty University. The only research I've done is a bit of word of mouth and whatever Taylor's told me, plus I took a look at the website, and it looked good enough to get Mom off my back. So here I am, a sophomore at LU. Taylor tried to take me to the 'Rot' (dining hall) but I apparently was supposed to check in at an orientation days earlier. I played stupid but pre planned to miss it in order to soak up every last breath in Phoenix that I could. Two friends Jenna and Leslie went to it and I called to get the dirty details. So I'm as good as caught up to speed. Jenna and Leslie are the same age but I'm a grade ahead because I grew up in Canada. This fact I will further explain later. The two grew up together but since I moved to Phoenix 2 years ago Leslie and I have become nearly best friends. We didn't all move out here together on purpose. My Mom had asked me to move out a while ago, after the long battles we'd had at home I needed to be on my own, away from her and from Caleb, who we'll get to later too. Anyways, she suggested a christian university far far away. Virginia is clear across the country AND she said she'd pay. Good enough for me. Plus my ex boyfriend Drew attended so I sent an application to transfer. I didn't think I'd actually go through with it until Leslie said she was going. I hadn't heard her mention it until then and it wasn't until then that i announced my departure north as well. She was disappointed not to be having her own pioneering experience but i assured her that pioneering, in my experience, was overrated. She needed to try it with an expert first (me). True enough I've pioneered a bit. I moved schools in grade 6 and then back to the old one again, which is like going to a whole new place where everyone knows your secrets. I went to a high school where none of my friends but Taylor attended. I spent grade 10 touring the United States with my family in an obscene RV. THEN...we moved back to Canada for grade 11. We then moved to Phoenix in February of that same year. Alright I'm not an expert, just well versed. I guess I always thought I was an expert on changing.. until now.