“Grandma, I’m going to the market. Do you need something?” I called as I rushed towards the front door.
“No sweetie, but do bring the stuff we need for the movie,” she shouted from the kitchen.
My name is Lily Lodge. I’m 18 years old. People best describe me as a sweet yet strong girl. Maybe that’s because my parents passed away in a car accident when I was 8. My Grandma, who’s 63, took me in and took care of me. I’m grateful to her. We live in a small town, Montona.
I entered the market, “Good morning, Mr. Jake,”
“Ah! Good morning! How’s my favorite customer?” he asked.
“I’m doing fine. How are you?”
“I’m good and healthy,” he gave me a warm smile.
Mr. Jake had lived his whole life here and he used to know my Grandma. Well he still does. He’s 57 years old with two sons and a daughter. His family is really nice. They supported us after my parents died.
I wandered through the racks, searching for coke and popcorn. I paid and left. “Goodbye Mr. Jake. Have a nice day,”
At night, we played a romantic movie, ‘A Walk to Remember.’ Grandma told me it was a 90’s classic and even though this was her thirteenth time, she was still so into it as if it was her first time. She stopped the movie during a kiss scene. I asked what was wrong but she sighed and looked at me. “Is everything alright?” Her silence was scaring me at the moment. I could hear crickets outside.
“I’ve been thinking lately. Keeping my money in mind and the savings I had been doing since you were born and the money your parents have left you with, I think…I think I’d be able to handle you college fees.”
A spark appeared on my face. “I…”
“Don’t say anything honey. You are my granddaughter and it is my responsibility of giving you the rights of going to college. And don’t even say you don’t want to because every American child had a dream of going to college. Or so they say,”
I hugged her tight and tighter. “Thank you so much, Grandma,” tears filled my eyes.
“There’s nothing to thank about, honey,” she moved back, “but I’m afraid you’ll have to stay there. I can’t have you travel every day. It’s not safe. Also you’ll have to stay at hostels and I don’t know much about them which is why I’m not wanting you to stay there but if there isn’t any other way then of course you have no other option,” her voice showed grief.
“There is a way,” I said, “I’ll apply to a college that provides its own dorms. That way I will always be in school premises and it’ll be safe.”
There was a sign of relief on Grandma’s face. “Alright honey, you start from tomorrow.” She whispered the next part, “You’ll be gone in just a month.”
Leaving Grandma like this really made me unhappy but the thought of going to college, of going to a new place, experiencing new things that made me feisty. To my amusement 90% of the colleges provided their own hostels. I chose CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) it was the best in Angelic Falls. Angelic Falls was a city, three hours away from Montona. I heard it was a beautiful city.
On 28th of August, I left Montona. Leaving Grandma was harder than I thought. I had spent my whole childhood with her in that town, the town where I found my childhood and happiness. Sure, it was a reminder of that terrible accident and the sleepless nights I spent crying under my pillow but the cheerful moments I shared with my Grandma, obliterated all the bad ones away.
I was worried about where I was going to spend the night. College was staring tomorrow which meant I had nowhere to go for the night. I didn’t want Grandma to worry so I told her that college was starting from today. The bus wasn’t leaving till evening and I had to get here on time to get the room.
I reached the city at night. With just a trolley bag and a backpack over my shoulders, I wandered in the city, glaring at the tall luminous buildings and inhaling the ecstasy that surrounded me. It was Monday and the streets were crowded and the roads were lined up in heavy traffic. I couldn’t even compare Angelic Falls with Montona. But still, I already missed that little place.
I was alert. Being in a new city, around new people and roaming around with bags was unsafe. The traveling and thinking made me hungry. I spotted an ice-cream parlor and ordered a large chocolate ice-cream cup. While enjoying my delight, a woman not more than mid-forties came to me. She wore a blue apron over a red half-sleeved shirt with a neat ponytail. Her name was Mandy. She offered me to stay here for the night after I told her my story when she asked me what I was doing with these bags. She was the manager of the parlor.
I left my bags at the shop and ran to the telephone booth to call Grandma. “Hey Grandma,”
“Dear! Are you there yet? I called you but a woman answered and said that your phone was powered off,”
“Yes I got here just a few minutes ago and that woman was right. My phone’s battery was dead so I’m sorry I couldn’t pick up.” I laughed at Grandma’s innocence of calling the phone operator, woman.
“Did you get a room?” she asked, concerned.
“Yeah uh…can I call you back when my phone is charged? The booth takes money,”
“Oh sure, stay safe and enjoy. Bye dear!” I walked back to the shop. I didn’t have much of a choice so I had to lie to Grandma even though it was hard.
A few minutes later, three guys started to follow me and whistled. They were definitely high. I ignored them and kept walking. One of them held my wrists and pulled me back to him. I kept no eye contact but said firmly, “Leave my hand,”
He pulled me closer and the moment he held my waist I pushed him back which made me lose my balance and trip. But I didn’t fall. Someone held me from my arms.
“Whoa!” he exclaimed. The guy looked at me with a grin and helped me stand straight.
“You again,” said the fat one.
“And it’s you…again.” The guy was wearing a black pajama with a white T-Shirt on top. “Guys this has been the ninth time this week. Stop flirting. Think of your daughters…if you have any.” The guys seemed pretty…calm.
“We’ve been ignoring you a lot, boy. Now you either leave or…”
“I see I’ve definitely pissed you off. But before you do something stupid; there are police officers behind you looking at us…so if you wanna create a scene, I suggest you better think twice.”
They turned to see the officers and then looked back at the guy. They slowly walked away and disappeared in the crowd.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you,” I said, reassuringly.
“Are you new here, in this city I mean?”
“Nope,” I said, quickly. Why I said that, I had no idea but it felt right. The guy narrowed his eyes looking at me almost not believing in me.
“Alright, I’ll see you soon then,” he shrugged and smiled. I watched him go. He was very attractive. There was something about him that was very striking. I noticed him slowing down. He turned around and looked at me. He waved me goodbye with a nice and warm smile.
Wait!
Did he know I was watching him? This is embarrassing. I watched him till I lost sight of him. I went back to Creamery. That night I helped Mandy with the orders and everything. I ate ice-cream after the shop was closed. I wanted to get rest. I was exhausted.
Staring at the ceiling above, I couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow awaited me.
Tuesday dawned. I gave Mandy my number and offered help whenever she needed it. I owed her. I wore blue fitted jeans and a black T-Shirt to college. With a neat pony tail and black joggers I walked through college grounds.“Lilly?” someone called.I stopped and turned around. What I saw made my heart skip a beat.“Anna?”
My eye’s fluttered open when I heard drawers opening and closing. I got up and saw Ed in light blue jeans and a denim blue shirt with a small towel around his neck. His hair was wet and rough. That gave a very sexy look. He looked at me over his shoulders. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”“No,” then an afterthought struck me, “wait, we’re not late for school because of me right?”
A tall guy dressed in army green shirt and black jeans stood heroically by the stairs. He had black hair and beautiful green eyes. He was striking.“You got a problem?” asked the boy.“This is my best friend’s birthday. I don’t want to create a scene so…” the cute guy started but he was caught off guard when I kicked the boy holding me, between his legs. The boy made a squeaky sound before he passed out. I looked at the cute guy who was completely amazed by what I had just done.
At night, we played the one and only, ‘Truth or Dare.’ They weren’t as many people…well actually it was only the four of us.I know. Sounds boring right?The day was quiet tedious and Anna needed ‘distraction’ because according to her if she did not get a ‘distraction’ she would go mad and kill all of us. Math really does drive people crazy so I don’t blame Anna. She was never really the study or getting good grades type. All that satisfied her wa
The next morning, Anna’s excitement got her up at 6 a.m. which led her into waking all of us after thirty minutes. We left for Montona at 9.Andy was too sleepy and Anna’s energy drained so they both slept at the back while Ed drove and I kept him company. I was very tired but he was too so I decided to stay up.“Go to sleep Lil, I know you’re worn-out. I’ll wake you when we get there,” he said. He saw right through me.
I laughed as Grandma recalled the day when we got invited for dinner over our neighbors and the family started fighting while we were sitting at the table, “Yes. That was rather awkward”“Your friend Edward is handsome? He’s such a decent boy and his voice, his height, he looks sporty.”I looked at her, smiling, “He plays football, sometimes. And I know where you are taking this, Grandma.” After a moment of silence I continued, “He’s my best friend Grandma. We just had a silly fight while comi
Ed and I went over to Danny’s in the late afternoon while Anna and Andy gave company to Grandma. I was happy she could meet my friends. Grandma was enjoying their company and it seemed as if they were enjoying hers as well. It had been a long while since this house was so lively, since Grandma was so active and cheerful. I could tell that Ed was reluctant to go. Why though?“Behave” I whispered to Ed as I rang the bell.
It had been an hour since Grandma had collapsed. We brought her to the hospital and since then I have been striding near the door where Grandma was taken in. The more time passed, the more panic aroused within me. Why did she collapse? What happened? Is she sick? Or is it her age? The questions kept building inside me. I was tapping my thumbs together, impatiently. Anna and Andy were sitting on the chairs, looking at me, concerned. Ed had gone to bring us some juice.