Lost Tempest Queen

Quality Time

I finished my acceptance letter, and I am reviewing my timetable for the four classes I have signed up to start this semester. Now I need to review the dorm rules and start packing. I know that I didn't give myself much time to be as prepared as I normally would have. I was so happy with my diner job the last three years. I was able to pay my Jeep's insurance and cell phone a few months in advance. At least I can find a new job on campus. I need to set up a new job as soon as I can so that I will have expense money. I didn't want to have to ask my parents knowing that my Mom wasn't happy with me moving away in the first place. I make a mental note to look online under Zip Recruiter or Indeed. Again Va-Lara comes to mind, but I shoved the thought aside again.

I feel exhausted having spent the last two days doing paperwork and packing. I am supposed to move into the dorm next Tuesday because my first classes will start on Thursday. My Mom came home from her trip in a better mood. She has been smiling and happy. Excitedly talking to me about what dorm life will be like and the ins and outs of college life. I found out that my mother studied in college abroad in England. At first, I was shocked but I missed this part of us so we set off talking about boys, the classes that I chose for my first semester, and then my dreaded birthday. Don't misunderstand I couldn't wait for my birthday just not the stupid birthday party my mom did every single year.

My Mom would call all her friends, then my party turned into her formal event. Where I'm dressed like a princess and shown off like a prized show horse. I am sick of getting all pampered up and trotted around to the audience. All I wanted was a quiet night with just Mom, Dad, and Braiden. My brother gets to miss this year because we are dropping him off at the airport on Sunday to go back to school himself. Last year when he left for California to go to school, I felt so alone only seeing him a few times a year is hard. The closer it comes to moving day, the more anxious and excited I get. The days passed in a blur and before I knew it we were dropping Braiden off at the airport.

With a kiss and a hug, he promises to FaceTime me every chance he gets. I will see you at Thanksgiving punk, he says with a smirk. I watch him leave feeling slightly hurt, that it will be so long before they will see each other again. Over the past few days, I have looked for any job opening but I keep coming up empty. This would suck if I couldn't find a job. Remembering Va-Lara I go ahead and pull out my phone on the way home. I sent her a message reminding her who I was and explaining that I would be there on Tuesday. I don't know what I expected but with her quick response asking a million questions, that wasn't it.

Hey Girl!!!

I am so excited that your mother is allowing you to attend UNCW

What classes did you sign up for this semester?

Hey, you need a Job? I have the perfect one if so!!

What time will you be here on Tuesday we can catch up if you want.

After expressing that I was interested we agreed to meet up on Wednesday around noon to have lunch. I lean back in my seat with a sigh, feeling like a weight has been lifted off of me. My dad noticing my exhaustion has a slightly worried expression. Bug, Ya feeling alright? Yeah, Dad is just a bit tired been having strange dreams. I saw my mom's face change in an instant she tried to cover it up it went from panic to nothing. Strange dreams huh? he asks me not noticing anything strange with my mother. What are these dreams about? Mom asks me, but for some reason, my first instinct is to lie. Nothing I'm just standing in the jungle as someone is calling out for someone called the Tempest.

Then it's gone and I wake up feeling tired because it's an almost nightly dream. My mom couldn't hide her anxiety before I saw it. This time I wasn't the only one to notice because Dad looked rather confused. After that, there was an awkward silence till my dad sighed. Rylie how about we watch a movie together so you can relax tonight before dinner? Ok that sounds great, Mom you gonna watch with us too? No hun I have some work to do I will see you at dinner she says. Once we get home me and dad lay on the couch and he starts flipping through the movies.

He glances over and asks if there is anything in particular I want to watch. We can watch The Lion King, I know you don't like scary movies. He rolls his eyes as he laughs. We tried to sneak some snacks but Mom shut that down grumbling about dinner being soon. I ended up falling asleep about halfway through the movie; since I enjoy scary movies. Dad says that they give him heart palpitations. Mom woke me up when it was time for dinner but she acted weird the whole time. Dinner was very quiet and mom mentioned that she would have to go out for a quick meeting after dinner but she would see me in the morning.

The next day Mom was back to normal, we went over some birthday party stuff and I started packing my Jeep for the long drive. Even though my parents would be going to the dorms to help me to get settled I would be driving myself. I love my Jeep way to much. My baby is a 2019 electric teal Jeep Rubicon four wheel drive. Leather seats and a nice boss sound system. I take pride in my Jeep because this was my biggest expense on my own so far in life. I had it painted the same color as my eyes. With my Jeep busting at the seems with all my stuff for school, I am ready for the three hour drive. I am glad that it was time for dinner since I was famished.

Me and Dad chatted about safety and he had printed out a maintenance schedule for my Jeep. Mom clearing her throat pulling mine and Dads attention from our conversation to her. She had a small smile but her eyes didn't reflect any joy. What time are we heading out in the morning? she asks, not giving away any of the distain I feel from her. I really don't understand why I feel like that since she didn't say anything out of line. It was almost like a gut feeling that didn't match what was right in front of me. I shrug it off thinking maybe it was just anxiety that came with going against her wishes for once. Well Mom its a three hour drive so I was thinking, we should head out around nine AM.

That way after we unpack, we are free to grab some lunch before you guys need to head back home. I tell her with a small smile, but unlike my mothers smile mine was real. That sounds like a good plan, dad says to me, as he looks at my mothers now obvious scowl. I have had enough of her hating on my choices. Mom I don't understand why you are so upset for me making good choices to help me to grow. I feel like you just can't manage to be even a little bit happy for me. At this point I was so upset I stormed out and head upstairs to get ready for bed. Even if she couldn't manage to even pretend, I was looking forward to my new start. Mom doesn't bother to come and tell me sorry for her poor behavior, instead I hear mom and dad arguing down stairs. I turn on some music to tune them out and go to bed.