All Moved In

The following morning, as they gathered their belongings, Dee’s voice cut through the sound of the alarm. “Gemma, if you’re planning to shower before we hit the road, you’d better get to it now.”

“No thanks. I’m avoiding the shower as long as possible,” Gemma replied, tugging Tony’s sweatshirt back over her head and pushing her arms through.

Kyle shot her a knowing smirk. “Right, because ‘nothing’ is happening.” He pointed at the shirt and shook his head. “If you don't shower and the U-Haul ends up stinking, that cleaning deposit is coming out of your wallet, not mine.”

Gemma shrugged, laughing. “My name isn’t the one on the rental paperwork.” She lifted an arm in his direction, challenging, “Besides do I really smell that bad?”

Kyle recoiled with a grimace. “What, am I supposed to bend all the way down? You’re so short I’d throw out my back just trying to check.”

“Har. Har.” Gemma snatched up a pillow and threw it at him. He caught it effortlessly and tossed it right back.

“I smell just fine, thanks,” she shot back, standing up and smoothing out the shirt, still in her pajama pants. She caught her reflection in the mirror and added, “I look like a total hobo, but I really don’t care.”

After pulling her dark hair into a quick ponytail, she stepped out of the bathroom.

“Well, you’re our hobo,” Don joked, ushering everyone toward the exit. “Mom’s got a schedule to keep, so let’s get moving.”

After tossing their bags into the minivan, Gemma and Kyle settled into the U-Haul cab. Kyle looked over at her and asked, “Ready for this?”

“Not really,” she replied, “but let’s get going.”

Kyle put the U-Haul in gear and pulled out of the hotel parking lot onto the interstate. Gemma dug around in the floorboard. “Didn’t we leave anything to eat in here yesterday?”

“There might be half a beef jerky floating around down there somewhere,” Kyle replied. “We’ll get our morning snacks when we stop for gas.”

“Just a half a beef jerky? Eww,” Gemma groaned. "Kyle that's gross."

“Beggars can’t be choosers, Gemma. Besides, I don’t think you’ll starve to death between now and our first pit stop.”

Gemma sat back in her seat with a dramatic sigh. “I just might. I need a mocha and a powdered doughnut, stat.”

“Quit being overly dramatic. You’re not going to school to be a drama major,” Kyle laughed.

Gemma rolled her eyes and tossed a wrapper at him. “Hey, I’m driving! You could’ve put my eye out or something.”

“Now who's being dramatic?” she shot back, grinning. 

When they pulled in for gas, Gemma jumped out and headed inside to grab coffee and snacks. After a quick stop at the restroom, she returned to the U-Haul with a bag full of junk food and two coffees, her mocha and a black coffee for Kyle.

She grinned, holding the bag up in front of her brother. “This is how you buy snacks, Kyle.”

Kyle spotted the barbecue chips through the sack and shook his head. “You are going to regret eating those for breakfast one of these days.”

Gemma popped one into her mouth. “Now is not one of those times.” She took a sip of her coffee and ate another chip.

Kyle laughed, making a face. “Now that’s disgusting—even for you.”

The rest of the ride, they argued over music and snacks—especially when Gemma discovered Kyle had eaten the last of the powdered doughnuts she’d bought for herself.

“You were too slow,” Kyle said with a grin. “I had to eat them before they went stale.”

When they pulled onto campus and parked in front of her dorm building, Gemma looked out at the tall buildings surrounding them. “Kyle, I want to go home,” she said quietly.

Kyle turned to her, his voice gentle. “But do you really, Gemmy Bear?”

She let out a shaky breath. “Well… I do and I don’t.” Her nerves twisted in her stomach, making her feel physically sick.

While Don and the kids unpacked the truck, Dee busied herself putting Gemma’s room together. She hung up all of Gemma’s clothes, knowing that in a week the closet would look just like it did at home—shirts half hanging, half on the floor. She put away the bathroom supplies and made the bed, smoothing the comforter with a practiced hand.

When they’d brought up the last box, Gemma looked around and shook her head. “Mom, you didn’t have to do all this.”

Dee pulled her into a hug. “Yeah, I did.” She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled. “Now, let’s go drop off the U-Haul and get you some dinner before we have to take off. I wish your dad could’ve gotten more time off work. I hate just dropping you and taking off again.”

They returned the U-Haul and went to a little diner on the edge of campus. Sitting in a booth toward the back, they ordered and settled in to wait for their food.

While they waited, Gemma’s parents handed her a debit card. “There will be money on it every week so you can get what you need,” her mom said gently.

Kyle grinned. “And I’ll add to it—if Tony hasn’t screwed up the ledgers by the time I get back.”

She playfully shoved him, though she knew she’d never have a chance at moving him. “How can he screw them up in four days?”

Kyle just smirked. “You’d be surprised.”

By the time they brought her back to the dorms, everyone was sniffing, pretending they weren’t about to cry. Gemma thought she might have even seen her brother wipe away a tear. They all stood on the sidewalk, hugging tightly, saying their goodbyes.

Gemma watched them drive away, then turned to enter what would be her home for the next four years.

She took a quick shower and, for pajamas, slipped on only Toby’s sweatshirt. Settling cross-legged in the middle of her bed, she snapped a picture and posted it with the caption:

—all moved in, ready for bed. goodbye for now oklahoma and hello colorado.