For Better For Worse

CHAPTER ONE

5 months later

Bethany's POV

"Just one call honey, and it will save you the trouble." My mom insists, gently rubbing my shoulders with a loving smile plastered on her face.

"Mommy, I'm fine. I can handle myself." I assure her for the umpteenth time. A scowl was taut on her features. She didn't like the idea of attending the same university as him. She kept persuading me to transfer. At first thought, I jumped at the idea. It was better for me to move on by keeping my distance, but after a lot of consideration, and factoring in the reason why I wanted to attend in the first place, I decided I wasn't going to give up my dreams because of him. And now, here I am. In the heart of my dream college. Our dream college.

At this moment, my mom and I are standing beside her car in the parking lot, just a short walk from the entrance of the school. I look over her shoulder, trying to steal a peek inside.

"One call to your father, and he'll make the call." She tries persuading at the last minute.

I avert my gaze to her "Mom, trust me," I told her. She pursues her lips, an indicator that she's giving up her persuasion. A pleasing smile graces my lips, and they spread to speak, but are interrupted sweetly when she pulls me into a warm embrace. The kind she always gave me when she was going on a business trip. An i'm-gonna-miss-you hug.

"Honey, you know I trust you. But I don't trust him. Stay safe." A sliver of panic bubbles within me, however, I manage to suppress it. I hold onto her for a while, taking in her sandalwood scent—custody of my dad.

"I love you, Mom," I say, squeezing tightly. Gosh, I'm gonna miss her.

"I love you too, honey. Mommy loves you."

We pull away. With one last smile, I pick up my suitcase and bags and I pivot, walking towards the entrance. I stop halfway through, turning back in hopes she would see me leave.

She is

She stands there, wiping the tears that stream down her cheeks. I smile at her, knowing she is—and will always be—my favorite person in the world. My ride or die, along with my best friend. My partner in crime and my confidante. Out of all my family, I knew I would miss her the most. Saying goodbye terrified me because I realized I would be alone, far from her physical presence and support.

"Bye honey" she mouthed, which accompanied a small wave. I retorted with a warm smile and with that, I turned, fully strutting in and making my way to my hall.

**

The elevator dings and finally slides open. I drag my luggage along with me as I saunter out. My head turns briefly between the paper in my hand, which had my dorm room's number, and the numbers on the gold plates attached to the doors.

It's the fourth and last floor of the building and I'm already exhausted from checking all four. This hall is pretty quiet compared to the last three, which were filled with overlapping echoes of Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, and Ariana Grande's music playing boisterously.

"Room 401....no.. 402... 403," I call, glancing down at the paper and gasping slightly when it matched the last number I had just called.

"Room 403" heaving a sigh of relief, I come to a stop at the front of the door. Setting my bags beside me, I take hold of the doorknob, turn, push in, and enter.

"Oh-"

"s**t!" I cuss out unknowingly, at the sight. I stumble back, slamming the door shut.

"Um-uh-um" her voice rambles behind. She coughs before clearing her throat. I took that as an indication and went further to turning the door knob and letting it fall inwards.

A brunette stood in front of an open window. She had a petite triangle figure, a round flushing face, and gorgeously pale skin. Her eyes were almond-shaped and her blue irises shone brightly. Her brunette hair was tinted with red at the bottom, falling onto her slopping shoulders and dimples showed up at the corner of her mouth as she smiled sheepishly.

"Hi! You must be my roommate" She uttered, breaking the awkward silence that seems to be at its peak.

"Yeah," I said.

"Well, I'm Kim, short for Kimberly." Her hand stretched out for my reach. I eyed her hand suspiciously before taking hold of hers briefly.

"Beth, Short for Bethany", I introduced, causing her to smile.

"Pretty nice name." She enounce

I smile. "Thanks" I turned, taking a good look at the room. It's kinda groovy. On the current right sat Kim's bed with a gray comforter. On the wall, above her bed, a few posters of some rock band are hung up, and on my left was my bed. Her side of the room is painted with light cornflower blue and my side is plain white. I better start thinking and a color to spice up my side of the room.

A large window was placed in between the two sides. From up here I could see the rest of the school.

"Er.. Beth?" I turned quickly at the sound of my name. Her hands rub the back of her neck as she smiles softly.

"What you saw... It's not-

"Don't worry about it, I didn't see anything." I interrupt assuredly.

She quirks an inquisitive eyebrow at me and I laugh breathlessly. "It's cool, Kim" then she grins cheekily. "I had a feeling you're gonna be fun."

Me too.

I plop down onto the bed, giving it a little bounce before feelings the softness and comfy- ness of the bed with my butt cheeks.

My head snap towards Kim's direction when I hear a loud chime. She lies on her bed, her face buried in the screen of her phone. Her shirt moves abruptly due to a sudden laugh she heaves and I catch a fleeting glimpse of her torso, her tatooed torse. A heart shape with the initial 'N' written inside.

"What year are you in?" I question, glancing down at her now-clothed torso. She's probably in her second year, she's way too confident to be a freshman.

She turns to me, pulling away from her phone and I shift my gaze to her "Oh! Freshman." She replies causally. I give a little nod. I jumped to my own conclusions again.

"You don't look like one" I tell her.

"Well..." Her legs swing off the bed and land on the ground, she straightens up as she perches on the edge. "I've been here before. Spent a whole summer here, so I'm accustomed to the place already." she continued "You know, I can show you around the campus if you want."

"Yeah, that would be cool, but I'm really tired. Maybe later?" I politely decline. It may look as if I was trying to avoid her, but that isn't the case. I spent about an hour walking all four floors of this building and I may have gotten a sore under my feet, cause it's been giving me gyp ever since I walked in here.

Thankfully, she didn't take it to heart and carries on with her business. I glanceat her as I lay, pondering on whether or not I should ask. If she's been here, she probably knows--- No, I shouldn't ask. It's not right.

It's my first week here, and I want it to be memorable