Across The Hall

Saturday morning Christen is awoken by the obnoxious ringing of her phone. As she begins to stir, she feels the heaviness of her fatigue-ridden limbs. Her head is still cloudy with sleep and her eyes defying the early morning light as they fight to stay shut for just a few moments more. Across the room, Kelley groans as she violently pulls a pillow over her head.

“Please just answer your damn phone already” Kelley’s muffled, whiny voice begs her roommate. Christen haphazardly reaches for her phone. Her hand swats the bedside table a few times before finally landing on it.

“Hello?” Christen exhaustedly croaks out once she finally answers the call. Ever since her little chat with Tobin last night, Christen has been replaying the conversation over and over in her head. Her mind wonders from questioning if she did the right thing, said the right words, or even acted the most mature to what would’ve happened had she said yes to giving a relationship a try. What would’ve happened then? Her hand was placed to comfortably on my thigh, her eyes gazed so deeply into mine. Would we have kissed? Would we have closed that small gap between us and connected our lips together for the first time? Would her lips fit perfectly with mine? Would we leave each other breathless afterwards? Would we –

“Good morning, baby girl!” Christen’s mother’s voice chimes happily through the phone. Christen takes a moment to sit up and rub her eyes. When she glances over to her alarm clock, she sees that it’s only 7:34 in the morning. Normally Christen would’ve been up for a few hours now, but after an exhausting week of avoiding Tobin, she had a little sleep she needed to catch up on.

“Mom? Why are you calling so early?” Christen groggily questions with a yawn playing at the back of her mouth, waiting to surface any moment now.

“I just wanted to call and let you know that we’re on the road again and we should get to campus in a couple of hours” Christen’s mom excitedly informs. On the road again? Get to campus in a few hours? What campus? This campus? What is she talking about?

“What do you mean you’re getting to campus in a few hours?” Christen asks, genuinely confused, the suppressed yawn immediately following.

“Well we wanted to make sure that we get there before all of the events begin. I don’t want to miss a thing!” Events? Now I’m really not sure what she’s talking about.

“Events for what?” Christen asks as she tries to stretch the sleep from her body.

“For Family Weekend!” her mother exclaims, “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already! I’ve been texting you since last night with updates of how close we were. Did you not get them?” Christen pulls her phone away from her ear and glances at the screen. Sure enough, she sees a small text message notification bubble at the top of her screen. Upon clicking on it, she sees she has 19 unread texts from her mom. Wow, I didn’t even notice. I wonder why that is? Oh right, my brain was a little too preoccupied at the time.

“No, no I got them. I’m just seeing them now. Sorry, mom. So what exactly are we doing today?” Christen sheepishly asks, knowing full well that her mother won’t let her off the hook for forgetting without making some sort of a scene as a result. She’s right. That’s exactly what happens.

“I can’t believe you forgot about this, we just talked about it a week ago!” her mom’s voice bellows from the phone speaker. Well to be fair, I had just experienced that awkward elevator interaction with Tobin at the time… “Really, Christen, sometimes I think you would forget your own head if it wasn’t attached to your body!” Poor dad and Channing, they’re stuck sitting in the car listening to this. At least I can fake bad connection if this lasts for much longer. Her mother pauses and sighs before continuing. “Just be ready to go in about two hours when we get there. Do you think you can remember that?” Wow, passive-aggressive much?

“Yeah, mom, I got it” Christen exasperatedly states into her phone, “Let me know when you get here and I’ll meet you in the Main Lobby.”

“Alright, sounds like a plan” her mom agrees with a little less annoyance in voice than before. “Oh, and wear something nice, I want to get a few pictures for our Christmas card this year!” Christmas card pictures? But Tyler isn’t even here! You know what, I’m not even gonna question it. It’s just easier to just do what she wants and get it over with.

“Ok, bye mom. Love you” Christen tiredly responds as she prepares to end the call.

“Bye, sweetie! I love you, too, and I’ll see you real soon!” her mom chirps before hanging up. Well this is going to be an interesting day.

Christen lazily drops her phone to her side and releases a tired breath of air. Kelley moves under her scrambled up pile of blankets and pillows. Eventually she peaks her head out from under the one over her head and scrunches her face in reaction to the sunlight.

“Was that your mom?” Kelley asks with a slight rasp and noticeably less sleepy-irritation in her voice than before. Christen nods.

“Yeah” she simply confirms, still trying to regain the energy that was swiftly consumed by her mother just seconds ago.

“Does she hate you or something?” Kelley queries with as straight of a face as Christen’s ever seen. “Why else would she call so early in the morning?” This earns a small chuckle from Christen. Apparently interrupted sleep is a very serious offense to Kelley. Good to know.

“No” Christen returns with a humored smile, “She just called to tell me to get my ass into gear for some event or whatever going on around campus today.”

“What, Family Weekend?” Kelley asks. How did she know? Did everyone know about this but me?

“Uh, yeah, I think that’s what she said” Christen answers. Kelley lifts the pillow above her face just the teensiest bit more as her eyes begin adjusting to the room.

“Oh yeah my family’s coming to that as well. My dad’s a pilot so him and the family are flying in some time this morning. I have to go meet them at the airport later” Kelley explains.

“Oh cool” Christen begins as she reaches around for her glasses. Once she finds them and slides them on, the sight of her scroungey-looking roommate becomes even funnier. About half of Kelley’s hair is still stuck to one side of her face and for whatever reason, her shirt is on backwards. “I’m glad I’m not the only one having to suffer through today.”

“Hey speak for yourself” Kelley immediately corrects, “I actually love seeing my family. They promised they’d bring me presents and my dad said he’d show me some pictures of the chipmunk he adopted.” Her dad adopted a chipmunk? I’m beginning to see where Kelley gets her personality from. “Do you come from a dysfunctional family or…?” Christen shakes her head in the negative.

“No” Christen sighs, “We’re actually a really close-knit family. But sometimes my mom can be a bit too much and I’m getting the feeling that today is gonna be one of those days.” Oh it definitely is, I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. If that phone call was any indication, today might be one for the record books.

“That makes sense then” Kelley concludes as she finally sits up and swipes away the stray hair glued to her face. The two sit in early morning silence for a few brief moments. “Well I guess I’m awake now and I’m starving” Kelley eventually interjects, “Wanna go get some pancakes?”

“Sure” Christen shrugs.

At around 10:07 am, Christen receives a text from her mom informing her that the family is currently parking in the lot just outside her building. Christen reluctantly slips her feet into her flip-flops and grabs her key before exiting the room. Once the door is closed and securely locked, Christen glances across the hall to the sign hanging from the door of room 317.

‘If this door is closed, that means we’re sleeping so keep it down you chuckleheads! Some of us actually have futures to think of.’

Christen just shakes her head and smiles at the sign. Even if I didn’t recognize Kling’s handwriting, there’s no question who wrote that.

After several flights of stairs, which at this point she is very familiar with, Christen arrives to the ground floor and makes her way to the Main Lobby. As she walks, she passes a number of students with their excited-looking families in tow. I didn’t realize how big of a deal today is.

Soon enough, she’s in front of the front desk and her eyes scan the room. It takes her less than 30 seconds to notice the group of three entering the front doors. As if by using her special ‘mom radar’, Christen’s mother immediately spots Christen and her eyes fill with pure glee. Even though her mom can be a lot to handle at times, it still warms Christen’s heart to see how much her mom has missed her. It isn’t until seeing them again that Christen realizes how much she’s actually missed her family these first few weeks of school.

“Christen! It’s so good to see you!” her mom exclaims as she engulfs Christen into an anaconda-like hug the moment Christen is within reaching distance.

“It’s good to see you too, mom” Christen mumbles in a half breath from her mother’s shoulder, “But if you want to keep seeing me you should probably let me breathe so I don’t suffocate.” Christen’s mom lets out a somber laugh as she releases her daughter from her protective arms. When she pulls away Christen notices what looks to be the beginning of a few tears forming in her mother’s eyes. A pang of guilt flashes through Christen’s stomach. Oh mom. Don’t cry. I don’t want to be the reason that you cry. But not a moment later a large smile grows on the woman’s face. Happy tears. They’re happy tears. She’s just excited to see me. Christen feels instant relief.

“Come here, kiddo” her father says from just behind her mother. This whole time he’s been waiting so patiently so speak to his daughter and the look of anticipation on his face as he holds his arms open is enough to make Christen’s heart burst. Oh dad. Christen rushes to him and his strong arms wrap her into the kind of hug that only a loving father can give his cherished daughter. Christen instantly feels safe and at home. Her dad has always been one of her biggest supporters, the person who never fails to pick her up when she’s feeling down. He’s a big man with a big heart to match. Christen is positive he will always remain the number one man in her life. When the two break apart, he ruffles her hair a little bit, causing Christen to laugh. Then Christen turns to Channing. She looks like she’s unsure what to say so Christen wastes no time pulling the girl close.

“I missed you, little sis” Christen admits as she sways the girls back and forth. One of the things she’s missed most since moving away from home has been her sisters. They’re her partners in crime and her greatest friends. It doesn’t matter how well she can befriend someone, Christen knows no one will ever knock her sisters out of their top spots on the list of her favorite people. No one will ever come close. After a few moments, Christen can’t help but wish that Tyler was here as well, but having Channing by her side is more than enough to make her happy. I love this kid.

“I missed you too, middle sis” Channing replies while patting Christen’s back. Christen chuckles, she had momentarily forgotten about her childhood nickname. Christen slowly breaks the embrace as a mischievous grin surfaces on her face.

“I’m sure you have” Christen slyly states, “I mean who else is going to kick your ass on the pitch while I’m gone?” Channing responds by giving her older sister a playful shove.

“You wanna fight?” she dares as her eyes exude a challenging confidence.

“Come at me, bro” Christen quickly returns while taking a jerky step in Channing’s direction. Although they both know there is no truth behind Christen’s threat, Channing still instinctively steps back. Christen smiles victoriously. “Two for flinching” Christen declares as she lightly punches her sister’s arm. Channing immediately rubs her arm and fake pouts.

“Next time I’m staying home” she proclaims, feigning hurt.

“Well who said I want you to come back?” Christen teases. Channing just narrows her eyes at Christen.

“Alright, ladies, I think that’s enough” their dad finally interrupts, “What do you say we get this action-packed day started?” The two girls continue their stare-down for a brief moment more before breaking out into smiles and nodding their heads.

“Great” their mom chimes, “Let me just check the list of events and we’ll get going.” And with that Christen’s mother pulls out a thick brochure from her over-sized purse and her eyes peruse the pages.

I’m in for a long day. Christen glances back over to Channing and when their eyes meet, she can tell the younger girl is thinking the exact same thing.

It’s a good thing we have each other.