alarm wakes me at 8am. I stumble into the shower, dress and drink my morning tea in half an hour. My friend, Juan, arrives at 8:30am with his smile intact. How did I get so lucky with the friends I’ve met here?
“Why are you always so upbeat?” I joke when I greet him at the door. I feel sluggish and blue.
“This might be the last time we’ll see each other for a while,” he reflects with a wry twist to his mouth. “I want you to remember what a good time we had on this day.”
Suddenly, I feel a pang for Tristan. That’s what I wish I’d said to him before we parted.
“At least you still have the security of your life at SDSU,” I observe.
“Joanna, you get to start a new life in Mission Beach. I have to work through another year of courses out here. It’s not as if life around campus is all that upscale.”
“All good things come to those who wait, Juan. I’ve finished my college courses, but I don’t have a job yet. If it weren’t for Ashley and her need for a roommate, I’d be on the street.”
“Any news on the job front, by the way?”
“I have a couple of interviews at psych hospitals next Monday. Who knows what the competition will be though? With my luck, I’ll end up working behind the counter, at Starbucks.”
“Whatever pays the rent,” he scoffs. Juan’s rather casual about his own career plans.
“Hey, are you hungry for breakfast yet?”
“Sure, I can always eat. I’m a growing young man,” he asserts and then flexes his impressive biceps for me to see. I try not to look too interested.
“Since our cupboards are nearly empty, I’ll get you some fast food, sir,” I tell Juan. Then, Ashley’s brother, Erik, arrives to help us load the truck.
I take food orders for everyone and drive to the nearest Carl’s. It gives me time to think about my friend. Juan’s an impressive specimen with his copper skin, dark hair, eyes and heavily muscled body. I don’t feel any electricity however. Who knew that someone like Tristan Grant would light me up?
The packing moves along well with all of our books, most of our clothes and our furniture loaded except for our mattresses. We’ve rented the moving van for several days. We’ll spend a final evening in our apartment then my life will change. I feel a mixture of regret about ending my college career here as well as excitement for the future. I’m so comfortable here with my friends, school and job. Now it’s all uncertain again. One thing I won’t miss is the junky old apartment that Ashley and I rent here near campus on Montezuma Road. The area near campus isn’t all that safe with a lot of vagrants hanging around at night.
The van is nearly full and it’s 5:30pm. Ashley, her twin brother, Erik, and Juan look exhausted. I make a pizza and beer run for the second time today. We sit slumped against the walls while Ashley fires up her laptop and we watch a Netflix film about some forbidden romance.
Juan looks at me while I clear away the empty boxes of pizza, beer cans and water bottles. He’s getting bored watching the film.
“Joanna, let’s go for a walk,” he suggests with a smile. “Do you want to try McMurphy’s Pub or Effin’s Pub and Grill?”
I leap at the chance to spend some time with Juan, just saying goodbye. “McMurphy’s is closer and has better ratings on Yelp,” I offer while putting my arm through his. We walk arm in arm toward McMurphy’s bar where the music is blasting and the coeds are celebrating the end of another semester. Everyone’s in good spirits.
We have a few beers on me and reminisce about our time together. Around ten, I yawn and mention how tired I feel.
Juan smiles as we head back to my apartment. His puts his arm around my shoulders in what I hope is a friendly gesture. As we reach the door to my place, I note that the light is still on in Ashley’s bedroom. She’s probably packing a few last
“Why are you always so upbeat?” I joke when I greet him at the door. I feel sluggish and blue.
“This might be the last time we’ll see each other for a while,” he reflects with a wry twist to his mouth. “I want you to remember what a good time we had on this day.”
Suddenly, I feel a pang for Tristan. That’s what I wish I’d said to him before we parted.
“At least you still have the security of your life at SDSU,” I observe.
“Joanna, you get to start a new life in Mission Beach. I have to work through another year of courses out here. It’s not as if life around campus is all that upscale.”
“All good things come to those who wait, Juan. I’ve finished my college courses, but I don’t have a job yet. If it weren’t for Ashley and her need for a roommate, I’d be on the street.”
“Any news on the job front, by the way?”
“I have a couple of interviews at psych hospitals next Monday. Who knows what the competition will be though? With my luck, I’ll end up working behind the counter, at Starbucks.”
“Whatever pays the rent,” he scoffs. Juan’s rather casual about his own career plans.
“Hey, are you hungry for breakfast yet?”
“Sure, I can always eat. I’m a growing young man,” he asserts and then flexes his impressive biceps for me to see. I try not to look too interested.
“Since our cupboards are nearly empty, I’ll get you some fast food, sir,” I tell Juan. Then, Ashley’s brother, Erik, arrives to help us load the truck.
I take food orders for everyone and drive to the nearest Carl’s. It gives me time to think about my friend. Juan’s an impressive specimen with his copper skin, dark hair, eyes and heavily muscled body. I don’t feel any electricity however. Who knew that someone like Tristan Grant would light me up?
The packing moves along well with all of our books, most of our clothes and our furniture loaded except for our mattresses. We’ve rented the moving van for several days. We’ll spend a final evening in our apartment then my life will change. I feel a mixture of regret about ending my college career here as well as excitement for the future. I’m so comfortable here with my friends, school and job. Now it’s all uncertain again. One thing I won’t miss is the junky old apartment that Ashley and I rent here near campus on Montezuma Road. The area near campus isn’t all that safe with a lot of vagrants hanging around at night.
The van is nearly full and it’s 5:30pm. Ashley, her twin brother, Erik, and Juan look exhausted. I make a pizza and beer run for the second time today. We sit slumped against the walls while Ashley fires up her laptop and we watch a Netflix film about some forbidden romance.
Juan looks at me while I clear away the empty boxes of pizza, beer cans and water bottles. He’s getting bored watching the film.
“Joanna, let’s go for a walk,” he suggests with a smile. “Do you want to try McMurphy’s Pub or Effin’s Pub and Grill?”
I leap at the chance to spend some time with Juan, just saying goodbye. “McMurphy’s is closer and has better ratings on Yelp,” I offer while putting my arm through his. We walk arm in arm toward McMurphy’s bar where the music is blasting and the coeds are celebrating the end of another semester. Everyone’s in good spirits.
We have a few beers on me and reminisce about our time together. Around ten, I yawn and mention how tired I feel.
Juan smiles as we head back to my apartment. His puts his arm around my shoulders in what I hope is a friendly gesture. As we reach the door to my place, I note that the light is still on in Ashley’s bedroom. She’s probably packing a few last
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