"I think that's the last of them," Cheryl said as she followed her daughter into her cramped dorm room. She was glad she still stayed in shape after all these years. She pitied how her husband Doug couldn't be here to see their daughter off to college, but he wouldn't have been much help anyway due to his bad knee and an even worse back from years of heavy lifting in an auto shop. Even between the two of them, the dozen boxes of books, clothes, and a new computer had filled up her SUV and crowed up this small room. Luckily her roommate seems to have already arrived and put all of their own stuff away, but left the walk area open enough to not be in the way.
"Thanks Mom," Danielle grinned and hopped, over excited to finally be moving into her new place. They then spent about half-an hour unboxing her stuff when there was a knock at the door.
"Hello?" said a handsome young man that had to be a freshman student like her daughter. He was just a little taller than either of them, but had a slight build, like that of a runner. "Are you the family of Daniel?" He asked honestly as he looked at the two ladies through his slightly darkened glasses that were lightening by the moment as he'd just come in from the bright sun outside.
"What?" Danielle shrieked.
"Just calm down dear," Cheryl said and addressed the young man. "There must be some mistake. My daughter Danielle was assigned this room."
"Um..." he just stared blankly at the beautiful ladies in his room, unsure of what to say next.
"I got orientation in an hour!" Danielle was fit to be tied. "I'm going to go check with Residential Services!" And she was off in a flash. This left the Cheryl and the mystery boy alone, unsure of what to do next.
"I'm Cheryl, Danielle's mother," she decided to introduce herself to the young man and held out her hand.
"Mike," he said nervously, but gave her a firm handshake anyway. "Michael really, but everyone calls me Mike."
"Well Mike, sorry to be a bother on you," Cheryl said sincerely.
"Oh, no problem," he waved his hands in front of him. "I just was getting back from my orientation and saw my door open. Figured I'd meet my roommate." Then he paused for a second, "Didn't expect to get a pair of beautiful girls though," he said with a funny grin.
Cheryl laughed and actually blushed at the compliment. She hadn't dressed for beauty today, unlike her daughter who was expecting to make a lot of first impressions, especially on boys. Danielle was wearing a white low cut top that showed off her medium sized breasts and a very short bright red skirt to show off her legs. It was a warm day, so that'd been fine with Cheryl, as she know what it was like to be her age. She on the other hand was just wearing a loose purple tee shirt and some comfortable jean shorts. She admitted to herself that she still looked good for just hitting forty, but figured the boy's words were mostly directed at her attractive daughter.
"You're sweet," she smiled at Mike, and then turned to the boxes. "Well, I guess I better start repacking everything."
"Do..." Mike started, but stopped to consider his words. "Would you like any help?"
Cheryl was tired from having driven the last two days to get here, and from unpacking a lot of it already. "Sure Mike," she said. "I don't have any packing tape, but I guess Danielle won't be moving far. Let's just get everything back in some boxes and see where we go from there." After that Cheryl repacked the clothes she'd just unpacked, while Mike reboxed the computer and the blankets from the bed. Packing is always easier than unpacking, so even though forty-five minutes after they started they were almost done when Cheryl's cell rang.
She looked at it and saw it was her daughter and answered, "Heya sweetie."
"It's a crazy house here. I'm still waiting in line, but am going to have to ditch for orientation and try back after," her daughter said with exasperation.
"Don't worry about it honey," Cheryl consoled her, "I'll go get in line after I take care of these boxes. How long is your orientation?"
"The paperwork says two hours with a campus tour, but I could..."
"No, you go. I got it," Cheryl smiled.
"You're the best Mom ever!" cheered her daughter who then hung up.
Cheryl sighed and pocketed her phone and turned to Mike, "Well, looks like I get to take these all back to the car."
Mike thought for a second and said, "Well, since I won't have a roommate, you can leave them here. I promise. I won't touch them."
Cheryl smiled, "Well then I guess I getter go get in line at Residential Services..."
"Sounds like it is really busy," Mike said, "If you want... you could just take a break here."
Cheryl smiled wickedly, "You sly boy. I bet you just want to see Danielle again."
"What?" Mike's eyes went wide, "No I just..." He squirmed under Cheryl's motherly gaze, "I was just being friendly," he almost whispered shyly, refusing to look her in the eye.
Cheryl let up her glare, "You don't talk to girls much do you?" He didn't need to answer; she could see he was the shy geeky or nerdy type. "Well you're an adult now, and college is a great time to reinvent yourself." Cheryl sat on his bed and patted the spot next to her, "Here, have a seat." He hesitantly followed and sat next to her.
"Look me in the eyes," she directed and he did as she said. He actually has beautiful blue eyes under those glasses she thought. "Now talking to girls is easy," she explained, "Just look her in the eyes, tell a girl she's pretty, and say what you like about her."
"Okay," Mike said meekly.
"Well..." Cheryl said like she was trying to pull his teeth out.
"Oh, um..." the young man blinked, "You're really pretty." He tried, but was falling flat on his face.
"Put it in your own words and mean it," Cheryl explained. Be honest and open, but put your heart into it."
He looked her over and thought for a second then started again, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever meet." Cheryl nodded, and he continued. "You're long blonde hair shimmers in the sun, and your lips... I just want to kiss them."