There is one more container in the trunk full of snacks, protein bars, and Gatorade, and I also have a new bed spread set. I grab the bed spread in my left hand.
“Well, come on,” Mama says, smiling over her shoulder as she walks by with the container.
I follow her, my heart suddenly beating faster with anticipation. As we approach the brick building, I can’t help feeling a nervous ball of energy hit me. I thought I’d be prepared for college. I’d packed up a week prior to move-in day and went shopping at Walmart with Mama the day after packing to get everything I needed on my list.
But walking to this building is daunting. I’ll be a freshman here, and I have yet to meet many of my track mates. I have met my roommate, Kendall, who also runs track so far, but that’s about it. Staying in the apartments comes with my full-ride scholarship and Mama is so thankful for that.
The doors of the building slide open and cool air wraps around me, some of it cooling the sweat at the nape of my neck. Mama keeps on walking as if she knows where she’s going. She places the container down and then taps the button on the elevator, huffing as she looks around the lobby.
“Isn’t there supposed to be someone here to greet us?” she asks.
“I don’t think it works that way with the apartments.” I shrug. “They emailed all the info and I have the key.”
“Huh.”
“Mama, you know you really should have told Uncle Jeremy to come. He could have carried everything in for us. You know he doesn’t mind.”
“Yeah, I know, but I didn’t want to hear him talking the whole way here, Amber.”
I laugh. “He’s your brother-in-law. He loves talking to you.”
“Yeah, and there’s only so much of his talking I can take. He had to work today anyway. Him and Janet need the money now more than ever with their baby on the way.”
That’s true.
The elevator doors shoot open and we stagger inside with my things. The elevator shoots up to the second floor and we make our way down the hallway, strolling past other apartments with doors ajar and parents with their daughters, laughing or hugging or chatting.
B2 appears. That’s my apartment. During the tour, I was shown this apartment and it was very accommodating. I was also given a key I had to sign for and Mama told me I better not lose it, or I was going to have to find a way to pay “fifty damn dollars” for it.
I stick my key in the lock and it opens right up. The apartment is already furnished, courtesy of BU. They truly treat the athletes like gods and goddesses here. There’s a love-seat in the middle of the living room and a recliner. Unfortunately, we’ll have to get our own TV, but that’s fine. I don’t watch much TV anyway.
Straight to my left is a G-shaped kitchen. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough with enough cabinetry for two people, and a stovetop which is great because I enjoy cooking my own meals when I can.
“I think it is incredible that they accommodate like this,” Mama says in awe. “All of this was included with your scholarship?”
“Yep. It sweetens the deal, right? BU was the best choice out of all of them, Mama.”
“It sure was. Hell, this apartment is as big as our damn house!”
I huff a laugh and make my way down the hallway. The door of the first room on the left is halfway open and I push on it with the tips of my fingers to get a better look inside. The bed was already a part of the apartment, but the room is fully decorated. A sky-blue bed spread is laid out on the bed with decorative matching pillows atop. A laptop in a case is on top of the desk, and there’s a portable speaker there too.
Kendall has already staked her claim. She moved in yesterday. We’d agreed via email that we’d do move-in on different days so that we wouldn’t clash into each other with our families. I wonder where she is now.
I keep moving, opening the second door at the end of the hallway. It’s the same size as Kendall’s, though hers is right across from the bathroom. She did tell me her bladder can be irritable at times.
The bed is sparse, the desk vacant. There is a window above the desk and I move forward to look out of it. It reveals the parking lot and some views of the campus.
I release my suitcase and place my bed set down in a corner. I want to make my room cozy like Kendall’s, give it a big Amber welcome.
“You like it?” Mama asks, as if she’s the one who staged the bedroom for me.