It was dumb, though. I couldn’t keep my rust bucket here. Freshmen weren’t allowed to keep cars on campus, not those who were living on campus. There wasn’t enough parking or something? I didn’t know, but the communal lots were reserved for upperclassmen and those who were commuting.
“Mom,” I whined as her hug ended.
She reached for the corners of her eyes, swiping at her tears. “I know, I know. It’s silly, but you’re my baby, honey. You’ll always be my baby.” I was their only kid, so that was an understatement. Mom smoothed my wild brown hair. “It’s not going to be the same at home without you.”
“I know.”
“You’ll be fine,” she said, though I knew she was more saying it to reassure herself than me. “You don’t need Ash here with you. You can make new friends. I’ve always heard college friends last a lifetime.”
I knew she was trying to be comforting, but it came out sounding like she thought Ash and mine’s friendship wasn’t going to last much longer, now that we were on different campuses. That…that wasn’t something I wanted. I needed Ash, and even though she was aloof half the time, Ash needed me. We were best friends, friends till the end. I’d helped her when she needed help.
That day…even after all this time, even though it’d been months and months since then, Ash still never explained what happened. Calling me in the middle of the weekend, when she was supposed to be losing herself in her secret boyfriend. Me, having to pull up to a gas station and honk a certain number of times to let her know it was me.
The blood on her hands and clothes.
She never told me what happened, and honestly I didn’t want to know. There were some people you’d hide bodies for, and Ash was the one I’d commit any crime for. Hiding a body, lying to the police. I had her back. I wasn’t a snitch, and neither was she. I let her keep her silence.
Although, I did think I had a suspicion as to what that weekend was about, and who her boyfriend was. A nagging suspicion that only grew every time someone talked about the Midtown Strangler and she paled, but that was neither here nor there.
This was my story, and I had to live it.
Once I said my goodbyes to them, I waved and watched them drive off. Their car grew smaller and smaller on the road, and I closed my eyes as the wind picked up, whipping at my hair.
This was the start of a new chapter in my life.
I really hoped it would be a good one.
Chapter Two – Kelsey
By the time I returned to my room, my roommate was back. She had her long legs spread out on her bed, her phone in her lap and earphones in her ears. She didn’t even glance up at me when I walked in, didn’t even look in my general direction. I wanted to glare at her, because I did not need to room with a bitch—no one needed that—but as I walked deeper into the room, she slowly pulled out the earphones.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey,” I said right back.
She heaved herself off her bed, and once she got to her feet, I saw she was a good half a foot taller than me. She was thin and slender, her blonde hair in a cute pixie cut, framing her face perfectly. Her brown eyes twinkled as she took me in. My style, or lack of it, really.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to be here when the parents were here,” she said. “I’m Melody, but you can call me Mel, if you want.” She sounded nice enough, and I prayed we wouldn’t have problems, that we wouldn’t clash.
When you roomed with an absolute stranger, you never knew.
“I’m Kelsey,” I told her. We didn’t shake hands, because that would’ve been fucking weird, but we did give each other awkward smiles. Yes, awkward smiles for the win. “It’s okay. My parents aren’t that great anyway. You didn’t miss much.” I liked my dry humor; I hoped she’d get it and not think I was being serious.
I loved my parents, both of them. They were flipping awesome and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
Mel’s lips curled into a grin. “I bet. Parents are always a drag. It’s why I kicked mine out of here before I even brought my stuff upstairs.”