C3

“Is everything ready, Isa? “Mom was asking from the bedroom, today was the day I had to leave for California and my parents were exaggerating too much, as if it was a trip of no return.

“Wait a moment," I said while I put everything in my small suitcase and in a brown handbag, I didn't have much in terms of clothes, I wasn't the typical girl who was characterized by provocative clothes and those things... I was old”fashioned, better, that way I went unnoticed of those morbid looks.

The day was quite sunny and I liked days like that.

“Here” Dad received my bags as he saw me swaying from side to side as I struggled downstairs”I think we're in time for you to catch the bus”we left the house and headed for the garage.

I took one last look at my little place, that same place that witnessed many things, but that today I would have to leave behind, I put a hand to my chest full of nostalgia. I had never been separated from my parents and neither from home, for a girl who suffered from anxiety this would be a challenge.

“Is everyone comfortable? “Mom was buckling her seat belt, she was in the passenger seat and made sure everything was in order.

“Everything is fine," I pouted as the van pulled away towards the bus station. I, with my head leaned against the window watching the houses of my gossipy neighbors go by, by the way, I could also see the house of the most bitter man in my neighborhood, I remember which ball that fell in his garden he stole. Maybe it was the lack of a female companion that made him that way.

“You'll love that college," Dad encouraged me, even though he knew I was the one who had paid for all my college expenses, "it has huge fields and the teaching there is very good.

“I hope my little girl behaves herself," Mom arched her eyebrow suspiciously, "even if we're not with you, you should know how to behave.

“As you say, mom”I shook my head, mom was overprotective all my life, however, even if she was like that, she had no idea of the things her daughter did with her boyfriend, so I smiled, covering my mouth in a shy way.

By the way, Noah hadn't written me yet, I guess he must also be in the same situation as me, the only thing is that he doesn't have parents as ridiculous as mine. I grabbed my cell phone and checked if he had connected on W******p, but he still hadn't since last night which was the last time we wrote to each other. That was the good thing about having a faithful, kinky, loving boyfriend. I couldn't ask for more, apart from the fact that he was also sexy. Without a doubt one of the things I would really miss was the pounding he would give me at night.

Dad parked at a gas station, there was one of those little supermarkets that only offer snacks.

“Wait for me a moment," I said as I opened the car door.

“Don't take too long, remember we are a little late," said Dad as he loaded the tank.

I entered the place and the only thing I could take with me was a bag of almond seeds, since I couldn't eat just anything and even less when it was a long trip.

“It's two dollars and ten cents," the attendant was wearing a black apron, a red shirt inside and a breezier. She was chewing on a gum as if she were a goat “ here “ she gave me the extra, I turned on my heel and left the place.

I was sure of one thing, I would not like to lead a life like hers.

“Dad was dancing on top of the driver's seat while I was driving, I was a little amused by his movements and as always dad was very witty, maybe he misses me more than mom. We always got along well since I was a little girl.

Message from Noah:

“I'm on my way to Boston, I hadn't written you since yesterday so I spent busy trying to finish my bags.

Writing...

“I love you too much and please don't want you to forget it.

The cell phone was loading an image he had sent me, when it finished downloading I saw that it was the time we did it in his room, we were in front of a mirror naked, me, I was with my stockings on my back and he had been facing me with the cell phone to the side and his hand on my ass.

“Don't torture me with these things, my love, you know perfectly well that I will miss you and our little friend that you have a quarter below your belly button.

“I see you are going very happy”Mom had turned her neck towards me, she had interrupted my moment.

“I have a social life, Mom, in case you didn't know”I put my lips in a single line.

“We'll be there soon”my father had put the map on the car's screen and the estimated time was fifteen minutes.

After all, we had arrived at the bus station, apparently it wasn't just me who was in for it. I saw that other parents were arriving to drop off their children, there were suitcases everywhere, buses coming and going, it was better that they accompanied me here, because knowing me, I would have gotten on one that who knows where it would take me.

“I'll take the suitcases while you guys can go ahead," Dad suggested as he opened the car doors.

We walked at a slow pace, and I felt a little strange being surrounded by so many people. I'd have to get used to it because I'm sure it was the norm in college.

“The bus leaves in ten minutes, please take your tickets," I heard from the speakers.

Dad still didn't show up.

“Where did he go? “I breathed slowly, I was about to have an anxiety attack, but previously I had been learning through breathing exercises to control them. Everything that had to do with situations like that made me sick.

Thank heavens it didn't take long when I saw them coming with my bags.

“I'm sorry, but I had some problems with the security guard," smiled dad, "we have to go now, Isa," the three of us headed towards the bus I was supposed to go on, at the entrance there was a man with a funny hat and a uniform that matched the bus, he was asking for the tickets and at the same time making sure that everything was in order.

“Your ticket please," the man extended his hand, I already had my ticket ready, he checked it and instantly looked at me, I only needed that something was wrong, only the worst I imagined, "go ahead," he waved his hand, "See you," I opened my hand.

“I hugged my mom and dad, as always my mom was quite sentimental and started to cry, "don't worry, I won't stay there forever, I promise that when I'm on vacation I'll come to visit them," I rubbed her back to make her feel better.

“I said good”bye, daughter," Dad said, "Remember one thing, nothing is impossible for the Foxes," he gave me a thumbs”up of approval.

I nodded and got on the bus, according to the seat number it was my turn to sit in number twenty, I looked at the numbers on the shelves where the hand loads were placed.

Eighteen, nineteen, twenty “but when I sat down I had to share a seat with a dark”skinned guy, he was wearing dark glasses, his haircut was very short and his appearance was stocky.

“Can I help you with something? “he said, lowering his glasses.

“Yes," I said, "it's my turn to sit in that seat," I pointed.

“Of course." He got up from his seat, giving me room to get in.

I settled in perfectly, took out my headphones and searched my Spotify playlist for my audiobooks, it was going to be a long trip and I wanted to relax my head.

A few hours later, I noticed that the guy next to me kept looking at me out of the corner of my eye, even though he was wearing glasses, I was perceptive enough not to have noticed him.

“What's your name? “he broke the ice and said it like it was nothing.

“Are you asking me? “I took a hearing aid out of my ear.

“Yes, who else would I ask that question to if it's just the two of us going here? “This time he took off his glasses and wanted to penetrate me with his eyes, they were honey colored, but I could perceive something else about him, something that only us women can feel when a guy tries to see you with that mischievousness.

“My name is Isabella, but I feel better if you just call me Isa," I answered kindly, "What's your name?

“My name is Bruce," she held out her hand waiting to be shaken which I immediately shook like any polite girl, "you have a nice name, I guess you are going to California like me.

“That's right," was all I answered.

“Do you have a boyfriend? “Apparently the guy was going faster than a train at full speed.

I had to do something to make him stop asking, I knew where this was going.

“Some time ago I had a boyfriend who is now my husband, in fact, he lives in California and that's why I'm going to travel “we'll see how the news went.

“Well... good for you, how lucky he is to have a wife as beautiful as you “always the same typical phrase of men that when they are in that place they don't appreciate it.

“Thank you “I raised my eyebrows just once, to look away and continue with what really mattered. The attempts at wooing had run out on my dear Romeo.

Horns on the roof of the bus had signaled that we were arriving in California. The bus pulled into a station and stopped. Everyone, one by one, started to get out. Outside was a guy who was taking out the suitcases in a section that had the bus on its side.

“Which one is yours, Miss? “He asked, showing me all the ones that were there.

“It's that one," I pointed confidently, took it and started walking around looking for a cab to take me to Stanford University.

Fortunately there were cabs all around the station bay.

“Please take me to Stanford University," I said to the cab driver, but before everything I had already checked who I would choose, nowadays you could not trust just anyone, or at least I was a bit extreme about those things.

He opened the door with kindness and we left for there.

The city here was very beautiful from its beaches, the weather was perfect, plus I had been told about its redwood forests and the snowy mountain range, I hope to have the opportunity to know everything here.

“Thank you very much “I paid the cab driver and even told him to take the change, it wasn't much, but I'm sure he could use more.

I took my bags taking a few steps to the front, I had not walked far to realize how huge this university was, from its entrance it was adorned with large gardens and there was a kind of rotunda made with flowers perfectly decorated building a huge "S" of red roses in the center of the field. The structure was very beautiful, the arches on the walls were noticeable wherever I looked, many students were entering with their suitcases, others in their luxurious cars while I was starting from scratch, but my dreams of growing up could not overshadow it.

I dragged my suitcase towards the entrance, with my other bag hooked on my shoulder, I looked like a crazy woman trying to walk with difficulty.

“Can I help you? asked a rather handsome, straight black”haired boy behind me, wearing a red shirt with white stripes around the edges and in the center of the shirt were arched letters: Stanford University.