Page 3 of Chasing Xander
“It’s better to have too much and not need it than need it and not have it,” Sarah said. “Besides, whatever you don’t need, your father and I will just take home.”
Kylie sat on the corner of her bed, and her shoulders slumped. She didn’t have it in her to lug any more boxes unless they were empty and she was taking them to the Dumpster. She rubbed her hands over her face and yawned.
They spent the next hour going through the boxes, picking out what they needed while Mike carried the excess out to his truck. “Mom, we don’t need an ice pack.” Celeste tossed it into a box of items they weren’t keeping.
“Yes, you do.” Sarah retrieved it from the box and put it in the mini-fridge. “You never know when you might need ice.”
“Then we’ll go to the campus health center.” Celeste sighed with aggravation and gave Kylie a “help me” look.
Kylie shrugged. It was a stupid ice pack. She didn’t care one way or another if it stayed or went. Sweat dampened the back of her neck, and her stomach rumbled. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and it was now close to five thirty.
“It will make me feel better if you keep it,” Sarah said.
“Fine, whatever.” Celeste’s voice was defeated and tired.
“All right, that’s the last of it,” Mike said. “We should be going. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
As if on cue, Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. She pulled Celeste in for a hug. “Be a good girl.” She released her and turned to Kylie. “You, too.” She smiled warmly. “I wish your grandmother was well enough to make this trip with us. She’s so proud of you.”
A lump formed in Kylie’s throat, and she nodded. “I know.”
“No boys.” Mike pointed at them. “And look out for each other. Use the buddy system.”
“Dad,” Celeste groaned. “We’re not five anymore.”
Kylie laughed.
“I know. You’re older and smarter, which means you’ll get yourselves into more trouble. I’m not paying for you to party, Celeste. You’d best remember that.” His tone was sharp.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Anderson. We’ll stick together and be safe.” Kylie flung her arm around Celeste’s shoulders.
“Yeah, you don’t have anything to worry about. Promise.” Celeste smiled and wrapped her arm around Kylie’s waist. “See? Buddy system.”
“It certainly makes me worry less knowing you two have each other,” Sarah said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Okay. One more hug.” She wrapped the girls in an awkward group hug. “Enjoy this experience, but not too much.”
“Bye, Mom. Dad. I’ll call you later this week.” Celeste gave her parents one final hug and then closed the door behind them. She let out a long sigh and said, “I didn’t think they were ever going to leave.”
Kylie looked around the room, and a slow grin spread across her face. “We did it. We’re incollege!”
“I know!” Celeste squealed and jumped around. “What should we do first? Explore the campus a bit? Or get something to eat?”
They’d gone on a campus tour the summer before their senior year of high school, but that had been guided and boring. Now they were free to go wherever they wanted, without supervision. “I’m starving. Let’s go find food.”
“If I remember correctly, the closest dining hall is Nelson. We can go there, then wander around campus, see what we can find. There’s got to be something going on somewhere.”
Kylie opened the door and motioned Celeste to go first.
A petite redhead with wild curls stopped in front of them, a clipboard clutched in her hands. “Room two sixty-four… Celeste and Kylie, right?” She looked up at them, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, I’m Kylie. That’s Celeste.”
The girl smiled. “I’m Hannah, the RA for the floor.” She pulled a sheet of paper from the clipboard and held it out. “I’m hosting an informal meet and greet tonight. We’ll play some fun get-to-know-you games, and there will be snacks.”
Kylie took the flyer and glanced at it. “Thanks. We’re headed out to get some dinner, but maybe we’ll check it out when we come back.”
“The complete schedule of events for the entire semester is on the back.”
Kylie flipped the paper over, and her eyebrows shot up. There had to be at least sixty or seventy events listed. “Wow. Lots going on, huh?”
