I finish drying myself after the quick shower I took to clean the airplane gunk that clung to my skin. I don’t know what they do, but airplane air is disgusting. As I open the bathroom door, I see the small suitcase I took home for the winter break waiting to be unpacked. I groan and decide to do it later. There aren’t a lot of clothes in it since Portland has a very different climate from Berkeley, so I keep my heavy winter clothes back home. But still, I’ll do it later.

My phone buzzes on my bed and I pick it up to be met with new messages from Matt, my boyfriend, and the girls group chat.

daisy 🌼

anyone back yet?

im bored

and hungry

Jamie

i’ll get to the dorm in 5

but i have to unpack

Allie

I just got out of the shower

Jess

I got here last night

If y'all want you can come

over and wait for Jamie

And then we can go straight

to Elena’s after that

daisy 🌼

YES PLEASE

omw

be there in a sec

already on your floor

Allie

Do you have to share

your every move?

Lol

daisy 🌼

shut up

Allie

I’m putting on some clothes

After helping Jamie out with Calculus last semester, we became great friends and she introduced Jess, her roommate and best friend, to Daisy and me. We all became the best of friends in no time, especially because all four of us somehow live in the same dorm building and, while Daisy is just two floors below, their room is on the same floor as mine.

I put on a fresh outfit, grab my bag, and lock my bedroom door. I check my phone again to read Matt’s texts while I walk down the hall towards Jamie and Jess’ room.

Matt 💙

Hey pumpkin

Hope you got to your dorm ok

I’m leaving my mom’s now

I’ll probably be home around 6

Want to go out and grab dinner?

Allie

I already told you to

stop calling me that!

Just finished unpacking

and I’m going out with

the girls for lunch

And I’d love to go out tonight

I’ve missed you

😘

Matt 💙

I’ve missed you too

See you later pumpkin

Allie

😒

Matt and I met last September at a random frat party. We started talking and got along well, so we exchanged numbers and texted for a few days before going on our first date. Things escalated from there and we were officially in a relationship not even a month after.

I put my phone back in my pocket with a smile on my lips.

I knock on the girls’ door and Jess opens it with a huge grin on her face and her light brown hair flowing down her shoulders. One second she is holding the doorknob and the next she’s on top of me, hugging the air out of my lungs.

“Allie!” She squeezes me and I feel like I’m going to explode.

“Jess, it’s too tight,” I manage to say and her arms loosen up around me.

She pulls back with her green eyes opened wide. “I’m sorry! It’s just that-” Daisy pulls me in for a hug.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you!” Daisy steps back and looks at my face. I see her usual braids are all black now. “My family is so boring! All of my cousins are either lame or toddlers, and my brother was there only for Christmas. So I only had five days of non-boredom before he had to go back to Cincinnati.” She pulls me inside the room and Jess closes the door.

“At least your mother didn’t try to force feed you ‘cause she thought you look malnourished and that you’re not eating enough at college.” Jess’ Texan accent comes out super thick and it shocks me.

“Wow! Jamie wasn’t kidding when she said that your accent would completely come back after the break.” I laugh.

“I can’t help it if I pick up the accents around me so easily! Anyway, how are you?”

“Right now I have a headache.” I walk towards Jamie’s bed and I lay flat on my back. “I hate flying. I don’t care if the flight is under two hours, I still hate it. But I had some painkillers, so I’ll be fine in 20 minutes.”

I close my eyes for two seconds and then I feel an entire person falling full force on top of me. I scream while I feel my soul leaving my body.

“WHAT THE FUCK?” My eyes shoot open and all I see is a huge smile right in front of my eyes. “I’m dying. Get off,” I manage to force it out even though I can’t breathe anymore.

The person lifts a little and I see Jamie’s face. “Didn’t you miss me?”

“Not enough to want you to merge into my body!” I push her away a little further.

“Ok then.” She starts getting back up, but I pull her back for a hug.

“Hi.” We both laugh and pull out, that’s when I see her hair. “Oh my God! You cut your hair!” The dark brown hair that used to almost reach her waist, now doesn’t even touch her shoulders.

“I did. Do you like it?” She tosses it from side to side and I laugh.

“Yes! It looks amazing!”

“Ok, now that Jamie is here and we covered her new hair, can we go to Elena’s?” Daisy nearly screams while getting closer to the door.

“Just give me five minutes to take a quick shower and change clothes.” Jamie jumps off the bed and runs to the bathroom.

“I’m setting up a timer!” Daisy yells and I burst out laughing.

“My girls! How are you?” Elena smiles when she sees us entering the cantina.

“We’re great” Jess gives the old lady a big hug.

“We’re also hungry.” Daisy opens a wide smile.

“I would hope so.” Elena laughs. “Now, sit down and I’ll bring your bruschettas in a bit.” She disappears into the kitchen.

“How was your drive, Jamie?” I ask sitting down in front of her, with Daisy by my side.

“It was fine, the traffic wasn’t too bad for a Friday, so it only took about three and a half hours.”

“I will never get over the fact that you’re from Fresno and you can just drive home,” Daisy whines. “If I want to go back to Cleveland I have to take a five hour flight, plus the time drive to and from the airport.”

“Babe, you’re the one who chose to come to California.” I chuckle.

“I don’t care, I still don’t like the five hour flights.”

“Well, let’s talk about good things. What did y’all do? ‘Cause I know I did a whole lotta nothing,” Jess complains. “Most of my family decided to go to Hawaii, but my broke ass and my cheap parents stayed behind.”

“I got to be in a place that actually has different seasons and a cold winter. I spent a lot of time with my siblings and met my new baby cousin.” I get my phone to show a few pictures I took of her. “Her name is Laura. Isn’t she the cutest?” The girls all let out ‘awns’.

We spend the next couple of hours catching up with each other and, after eating Elena’s divine food, we go back to Jamie and Jess’.

When I return to my room I check my phone and see that it’s 6:15 and Matt sent me a text.

Matt 💙

Just got home

Can I pick you up at 7?

Allie

I can be ready in 20

If you want to come

earlier it’s fine.

Matt 💙

I’ll see you in 20 then

Love you pumpkin

Allie

STOP CALLING ME THAT!

Love you too

I put my phone down still annoyed at the nickname he insists on calling me. I go to my bathroom to put on a little makeup and a cute light blue floral dress I got for Christmas. I check myself in the mirror when I’m done and like the way I look.

My phone buzzes on my nightstand, and I see Matt has arrived and is waiting for me downstairs. I put on my shoes and grab my things to make my way to the dorm entrance.