"Margie is coming over, too. She's going to need a drink and emotional support when he drives away." I looked at Mom as she stood leaning over the counter with her hands folded. She gave a half-hearted laugh. I knew she was struggling with the fact that I was headed for college.
Eli and I were headed for college. Eli, my best friend. It's always been Alice and Eli or Eli and Alice. Our birthdays are 5 days apart, and we've lived across the street from one another for our whole 18 years. We're partners in crime and have always been attached at the hip. Minus those weird few months in middle school when we were both starting puberty, and he was being mean to me. He started calling me Al, and I hated it, so I started calling him Ellie. Now, when we call each other that, it's endearing. He was my first kiss in the 3rd grade and my 8th-grade "prom" date.
Believe it or not, we never dated. I just never looked at him like that. He was always super nerdy, and I was kind of a tomboy. Honestly, though, I can't deny that he turned out pretty cute. He sprouted like a weed in high school and is now 6'2. He dropped all his baby fat and hit the gym so he's lean, but still a little lanky. I always told him his arms and legs were so long that he didn't know what to do with them. He's always had beautiful eyes. They are chocolate brown, but on the outside of his iris is an orange-yellow ring, I have never seen eyes quite like his.
I also have changed over the years, I was a late bloomer, and my breasts randomly grew my sophomore year. I went from an A to a small C cup. My curves also continued to define, and I started being looked at by the boys. Eli punched my last boyfriend in the jaw after I told him that he pulled my hair and pushed me down during an argument.
I'm thankful for Eli. He's always had my back, been my shoulder to cry on, and someone I could tell all my secrets. He is an only child, and I might as well be. My older brother is 8 years older than me, and he didn't want a sister, I was an oopsie, of course. My brother had been out of the house for a long time, and my mother was about to see me off as well.
Eli and I are going to the same university. It's only about an hour from our hometown, but enough for his mom, Margie, to freak out. She's always had anxiety and has been a bit of a helicopter mom, especially after Eli's dad passed away when he was 12.
I was more than ready to be off on my own. I had been looking forward to college since starting high school. I knew since I was a kid that I wanted to be a veterinarian, and I was determined to do so. Eli wants to be a web developer. He's always been tech-savvy and into video games.
We were both moving into our dorms today. My car was loaded to the roof with boxes, as was his. We were going to leave at the same time, so I was just waiting for him and his mom to come over. I could tell my mom was sad because she was quiet, and my dad was sitting in his den on his computer. That's the way he deals with things working.
I was sitting on a barstool eating Doritos when I heard the front door open and Eli appeared in the kitchen. Margie came in behind him, wearing a mask of anxiety. Mom immediately poured her a cup of coffee.
"Ready to hit the road, Al?" Eli smiled at me and snatched away the bag of chips. I dusted off my hands and nodded.
My dad shuffled in and stood in front of me. He was a tall, somber man, but I could tell his eyes were wet. I had always been a daddy's girl, and leaving him was hard for me, too. I stood up and threw my arms around him. He was stiff in my embrace, but I could feel his hands squeezing my back.
"We should go before Mom ties me up and locks the door," Eli said, grinning at her. She gave him a small smile but then burst into tears. My mom put her arm around her.
"We're only an hour away, guys. 45 minutes if you drive like Eli." I chuckled.
He shot me a sideways look. His mom was not a fan of his speeding.
"I know!" Margie wailed, "I just can't believe my babies are grown up." She moved to run her hand through Eli's shaggy hair and patted his back. She smiled lovingly at me. "I know you guys will take care of each other, though."
I nodded and followed Eli toward the door. After another round of hugs and tears, we both started toward our home away from home.
***
The week has been a huge blur of chaos. Eli and I helped each other move our things in. I had a room to myself, which I was thankful for. Eli was paired with a guy named Daniel, who also seemed like a nerd. Hopefully, the roommate matching system will not let Eli down.
My classes were mainly located in one building. All intros to sciences, luckily I took most gen eds senior year as dual studies. By Friday, I had already met a few people in my dorm and classes that I enjoyed talking to. My next-door neighbor and I bonded over music and made plans to go to a concert next weekend.
I hadn't seen Eli since Wednesday, and it was Friday. My classes ended by noon, and I was looking forward to a break. At 3 p.m., I got a text from Eli saying, "Let's hang out tonight and celebrate making it through week 1."
I replied with an "Okay, sounds like a plan."
He said, "Be over at 5?" And I replied with a thumbs-up.
I was lying on my bed and dozed off. I woke up at 4:30 to loud scraping across the floor. I assumed someone was moving furniture. I lazily grabbed my shower supplies and headed to the bathroom. Luckily, the one at the end of the hall wasn't occupied.
I peeled off my clothes and ran my hands over my pale legs. I decided I should probably shave, so after slinking in and washing my hair, I gave myself a once-over with the razor. My midnight black hair is long, cascading to my waist, and gets in my way when I'm shaving so I try to clip it up, but my clip wasn't in my bag so that was a nightmare.
I washed my body and stepped out of the shower. I dried off as much as I could with the towel before wrapping it around me. I grabbed my things and walked back to my room.
I pushed open the door and squealed before my brain registered what was happening. Eli was sitting on my bed scrolling on his phone. He looked up and then away, embarrassed.
"Alice, shit I'm so sorry." He covered his eyes with his hand. "Want me to step out?"
I shut and locked the door behind me
"Nah, just keep your eyes covered."
He nodded, and I went to my closet. The mirror on the door is facing my bed so I can see Eli behind me. I grabbed a pair of soft shorts and a tank. I dropped my towel.
I could have sworn I saw Eli's eyes peek out from between his fingers. I didn't say anything. I just continued to get dressed.
"You can look now." I laughed as he brought his hand down.
"Good. Now open your fridge." He pointed to my mini fridge in the corner.
I looked at him quizzically before opening it to find a bottle of tequila. "Damn Eli, where did you get this?" I took it out and walked over to sit beside him on the bed.
"We're in college now. We can get it anywhere. I figured we needed to celebrate surviving our first week of college."