Chapter Text
St. Bonaventure, 16:45
I never was a fan of being away from home, but I couldn’t just let this opportunity go by. A full scholarship at St. Bonaventure University playing softball… go Bona Wolves!
My dad would’ve been proud… He got sick a few years after the -impending- divorce that everyone thanked. He was great, he taught me everything he knew of softball. I lived with him in his last years, when he was too ill to take care of me and too proud to let me take proper care of him. But thanks to him -and also to my mom’s support- I got here.
In the whole drive my mom was a tad quite, which was uncharacteristic of her, but my brother did all the talking and singing. I was half listening, half contemplating, there was a lot of nature here, not the view you expected from New York State, but I was grateful, I wouldn’t tolerate all the smog. When we finally parked, I grabbed my life, a suitcase full to the brim of memories and a handful of souvenirs, and stepped out; my brother grabbed the boxes and mom waited in the car, because she wasn’t one for goodbyes.
“Get your ass over here and kiss your sister goodbye!” I said when we finished arranging my stuff at my designated space of the room
“You’re so dramatic! I live in the other campus, it’s not like I’m at the other side of the country”
“Being at the same school doesn’t mean we’re seeing each other frequently, you’ll be too busy to hang out with your little sis, OR even worst, embarrassed” I whined with a pout.
“Please” he rolled his eyes, and gave me a crushing hug “After this year, be certain that you can count on me, just give me a call or even just a text” and with that he left, mom too, I saw her from my window waving knowing she wouldn’t see it, but I’m sure she knows I’ll miss her. If you think I’m staying here, wallowing in self-pity, well let me tell you your half right, I want to, but I also want to meet new people.
The campus is filled with beautiful trees and a pretty diverse student body, I was walking without looking where I was going, looking up, until I crashed against someone.
“Wow! You okay, gorgeous?” The person said with a chuckle. I lifted my gaze kinda irritated “That’s how you salute a strang-“ and then I spotted his eyes, they were brown, but really soulful, I stutter a little, but compose myself quickly. I stand up and helped him up.
“You said that to everyone?”
“Sorry, I didn’t give it much thought” he sounded worried.
I smirked.
“It’s okay, it was my fault, I wasn’t looking, but careful with the compliments.” I started walking away when he shouted “I’m Shawn by the way!”