Tangent Souls

Chapter One: A Snowy Start

It's starting to snow again; it's the second week of January so I'm not surprised, but now I'm worried about the drive back to campus. I know at twenty I should have learned to drive but in my small hometown I had never traveled anywhere I couldn't walk to, and now a parking space, let alone a car, was something I wasn't willing to spend my money on.

"Are you ready, Jellybean?" My mom asks, peeking her head into my room.

"Yep, I'm ready," I replying throwing our road trip Twizzlers into my purse.

I'm going to enjoy the three hour drive with my mom. I know I probably won't make it back home again before summer. Even then, I won't have much time with my parents since the wedding is the weekend after school let's out.

Ugh, now I'm thinking of Blake again. Gosh I miss him. I was hoping he would drive me back to school but his job has been so demanding lately he couldn't get the time off to make a visit back home. I haven't actually seen him in person since September and it's driving me crazy. I know I shouldn't complain though, he's working so hard to save money so we can buy a home once I graduate. My part-time job at the university coffee shop barely covers my books each semester, so it's certainly a good thing one of us is working. Anyhow, I wish he could take a break. He deserves it.

I send Blake a quick text letting him know I'm heading back and that I'll give him a call tonight.

As we make the drive the snow continues but it doesn't stick. Knowing my mom should make it home safely later lessons my anxiety. I hand her a Twizzler every few minutes and scan the radio stations. I try to find the 80s and 90s station that gets a signal on this stretch of the highway.

"So are you excited?" my mom asks. "I'm sure you are, I know you've loved going back to school since the first grade."

"Of course." She knows me well. "I think I have some fun classes this semester. I have Comparative Literature, Art History, Economics Two, Swing Dance, and this one advanced math class that I got permission to take with the graduate students."

"Graduate students? Are you sure that's ok? You won't be too stressed right?"

"No Mom, I'll be fine," I shrug. "It's math, that's my thing. I'm excited."

She squints her eyes just a bit and seems like she's hesitating to ask me something.

"What are you thinking?"

"Will there be any of those.... special people in your classes?"

"Ah Mom come on... You know you are supposed to say Non-human Person."

It's been 42 years since the Non-human community became a part of society, no longer hiding themselves and pretending to be myths, but still Mom acts like they are some sort of taboo mystery we should avoid.

"And I don't know. I would think so. At least in one of my classes I would suspect."

The acceptance of Non-humans was one of the reasons I chose New Wellston University. I'm just a regular human, but goodness I have empathy. It's important to me to be somewhere that values inclusion.

Maybe this semester I will make some Non-human friends. Honestly making any sort of friends would be nice. Thinking about Freshman year and even the start of this year to some extent, I may have been a bit too studious. I've been so focused on being at the top of my classes and working at the coffee shop that I haven't been to a single party. At this point no one is bothering to invite me anymore so I'm not quite sure how to socially reintegrate. But I'm going to figure it out.

Oh and I do have Grace. My roommate since last year, I know she always seems to be finding parties to attend or social groups to join. She'd never leave me behind if I actually asked to tag along. She's a bit of a party girl, but she does well enough in her classes that I have no fears of her dropping out and she really is my best friend these days.

Yes, this semester is going to be a fresh start for me. I'm going to decide on my major this Spring, I'm definitely going to make some more friends, and I'm finally going to start my life with Blake. It's going to be a good year, I know it.

When we arrive at my old brick dorm I can see the window to our bedroom from the parking lot and notice the lights are on.

"Grace is home, " I say pointing out my window to Mom.

"Good, you won't be alone then. I'll let you know when I make it home, OK." Mom is all business, she'll be back home and making dinner for Dad within four hours.

"Have a good first day tomorrow Jellybean. I love you."

"I love you too. Be careful."

I know she'll text me when she gets home. She never forgets. I wish Blake was as on top of things as Mom. He's developed a bad habit of losing his phone lately and I can't help but worry he'll crash and be stranded in some snowbank without a phone. After four years I can't imagine what things would be like without him.

Inside the dorm room I find Grace with her air pods in, writing furiously in her journal. The way she's writing it must be some juicy drama, I'll have to ask her for the details later.

On my side of the room I flop on my twin bed. The sheets are kids sheets, which I know is silly, but the otter print makes my heart happy. My family home is walking distance from the seaside and I grew up swimming in the ocean everyday the water was warm enough for me to tolerate, which really doesn't have to be all that warm. And who cares anyway? Grace and I are the only ones who see them. Blake hasn't been able to make it to campus for a visit this school year. Our time together during my Fall Break was spent at a tiny cabin near the lake.

Ah that's right, I said I would call him when I arrived. I go to the favorites section of my phone and tap on his picture. Seeing his face makes me miss him more. I love his brown eyes.

To my relief he answers. I guess he isn't stranded in a snowbank, at least for now.

"Guys, It's Eliza!" He shouts too loudly. "I miss you, are you at school?" I hear garbled chatter in the background. He must be with his new friends from work.

"Yes, I just made it back."

"Cool, Great," he says, still too loud.

"Goose, are you a little tipsy?" I ask slightly worried. I mean it's alright since he is a year older than me, but I want to know he won't be driving anywhere.

"Just a little bit. It's fine, I'm fine, I swear. I'm out with the work crew, but we aren't going anywhere. We're at Devon's place. Can I hangout for awhile and call you back?"

"Sure, of course. Just be careful. I'm probably heading to bed early though. Love you!"

"Love you too. You're the best, talk to you later. "

I sigh as I hang up. The work crew, he's always with the work crew lately. I'm glad he likes his job and has made friends, especially since his work and apartment are about two hours away from home and nearly five from me now, but he's so busy. I hate to admit to myself that I'm jealous, but I am. It's not an overwhelming jealousy and I trust that he is really making good decisions for himself and for our future, I just can't help but feel like I'm missing out on part of his life now.

I unpack my duffel bag and start prepping my backpack for the morning. My first class is at 9am and I want to go for a quick run at the gym before I head to it, so I want to make sure everything is ready to go tonight.

After talking to my parents on the phone and rereading a few textbook chapters I'm tired enough for bed. it's only 8:30 but it's dark enough out that it doesn't matter. I slip underneath my otter sheets and whisper goodnight to Grace who is now on her bed watching a movie on her tablet.

"Goodnight Eliza," she whispers back. I know she's a night owl and will be up for several more hours.

When I close my eyes I like to imagine numbers floating over me. They're easier to visualize than sheep for some reason. Maybe Pi or the Fibonacci Sequence. Tonight it seems to be a simple geometric sequence: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243... Slowly I drift off and sleep so deeply I'm not even disturbed by Graces muffled laughter as she watches her movie in the darkness.