C1

• Rose Miller •

"Yes mom, dad said he's gonna be here waiting, " I sighed as I held my phone between my neck and shoulder, struggling to pick up my luggage from the cart to make my way out.

The warm breeze of LA was clear through the opening and closing of the doors that I couldn't help but breathe it in despite the stressful surroundings.

"Now honey, make sure you call, get to all your classes-"

"Mom, this is the millionth time, " I chuckled at her unhindered reminders. She's always been way too caring and overly protective of me ever since she and my dad divorced five years ago.

My mom was the one I mostly stayed with and I often visited my dad when he lived just an hour away, so I and my mom were close and leaving her was a very emotional process.

She's always reminded me of how lucky I was that I and my dad still got to see each other since most divorces don't work well with those conditions, but they were civil enough to keep that agreement. I kept a pleasant relationship with both, but since I lived with my mom more, she's the one I favored through a lot.

My dad is a professor and when he moved here a little over a year ago with his new family for a job at LAU, he knew that my college chances would be here and so; I am.

"Oh honey, I wish I was there, I'm so proud of you, " she sighed, her tone sweet yet longing and I don't blame her. I can hear the controlled crying from the trembling of her voice, but I didn't point it out. "Me too mom, but we both know dad will take care of me plus, I'm living in a dorm," I said sounding reassuring knowing that that's what she needed.

As I reached the outside while I listened nonchalantly to my mom rambling about boys and parties and freedom - saying about how I am in control and I shouldn't abuse it and all that - I looked around for my dad, hoping that he would be there to not disappoint and to my relief, I saw him leaning against his car at the end of the second bay and I smiled in relief.

I immediately took notice of his original appearance, well, difference since I last saw him. His hair was mostly greying but still as lush as I remember, he was slightly clean-shaven but the shadow of facial hair was still clear. He wore a blue flannel shirt paired with brown khaki pants and some sneakers - his usual look. I chuckled at his mindless fashion.

"Hey mom, dad's here, you'll be ok if I call you later?" I said as I dragged myself and my bags towards my dad who meets me halfway with a very warm and welcoming grin and then he grabs my bag staying silent, knowing I was on the phone with my mom.

She signed before responding, "all right honey, I'll call you, stay safe and I love you, hun, " she said blowing a kiss to the phone and I laugh at the habit. I said my goodbyes and did the same before tucking my phone in my purse and getting in the passenger seat.

"Wavey! I'm so happy to see you welcome to the west coast." I cringed at the name as me and my dad buckled down. "Dad, I told you, don't call me that," I stated politely with a warming smile on my face not wanting it to be as awkward as it was in my head.

He drives away with a sigh, "Honey, that was a name from your mother it's beautiful, I don't know why you went another way, " he chuckled his deep and intimidating voice with a hint of his southern accent still clear, I remembered it being stronger but I guess that's changed too.

"Yeah, well, things happened," I said trying to sound as polite as possible. I've always hated talking about everything that happened after the divorce because if the walls in my room could talk, they would spill out books of what I went through. It was dark and something I swear to forget.

I looked over to him, noticing the silence, and a frown painted over his face. For a moment I felt guilty, but a part of me knew that I had the right to be mad. I know it's silly, it's been a while and I've settled a wonderful relationship, but truthfully, I never really found out why they broke. No one ever told me, no one wanted to, and I felt left out because of it. They said they were going to when the right time comes, but I'm eighteen now, and I don't know when else is a perfect time but now.

I took notice of the tension in the air and he sure did too. He was gripping the steering wheel rather too harshly. His knuckles paled. I turned away and just looked outside my side window, admiring the modern city. It was definitely much different from what I was used to. I was used to fewer trees and more buildings, though this place was still a big cityscape, it sure was greener than what I was used to. The buildings towered lofty above us, their silhouettes covering us every time we pass by. The cars weren't fast nor slow as the traffic slowly moved through the threading roads of the city.

Dad mentioned that we were nearer to the coast, and that made me happy, I definitely placed visiting the beach on top of my LA itinerary, perhaps it would be a good idea today once I get settled considering that the weather is very calm and clear today.

I gape at the sights. It was definitely a dream of mine to leave somewhere near beaches or just anywhere outside my hometown, and now here I was driving through LA to my new dorm.

As my thoughts move back to where I was, I felt a sinking feeling again.

This reminds me of the tension-filled car rides from events at school and how he and my mom would stay silent throughout the car-ride before bursting to a full scream fight at home. I'd always have to put on loud music through my headphones to block them out and sleep through the night because of it, I learned how to deal with it gut it never was easy. It never got physical - as far as I know.

"So, are you sure you don't wanna stay with us? With Lillian and the kids." He finally said, breaking the hard tension but only to make it worse for me.

The mention of his family hits a part of me. It always pained me to hear about them, especially because he moved here with them instead of waiting for me to graduate. He wasn't even there when I did. Because of that, I resented Liliana. I thought she was the antagonist to my story, stealing my dad away, but I'd feel guilty and stop when I catch myself. My dad never knew about my resentment and I'd love to keep it that way, I don't want my dad to hate me for that silly thing.

'But you know she's bad news either way' my subconscious adds but I rolled my eyes and drowned her out.

"No, I'll be fine really and the dorms I got were really promising and there are bathrooms in them so it's a good deal, " I reassured, my voice soft and uncomfortable but I did a splendid job of hiding it.

I looked over to my dad again, now seeing an endearing smile spread across his face. "It would've been nice and Lillian would be happy, but I understand." He said lovingly, and I smiled. I missed my dad. I mostly did not hate him, but there would be times when I would like the time when he forgot my graduation or birthday, but I could never hate him for so long. He taught me how a lady should be treated, how I should be treated ironically enough.

"Yeah, but I gotta be independent now, right?" I asked, trying to make sure he understood why I'm here, anyway. He nodded in understanding, his eyes still fixated on the road. I could only imagine him avoiding my gaze because he knew I was good at reading expressions. "I can't believe you're in college, I wish you were still a kid. How's the flight? Do you have plans today? Have there been any boys? What are your classes?" His millions of questions take me by surprise? He probably had so many. We never really catch up anymore and now, I can't blame him for asking them.

The car-ride finally lifted to high spirits and I speak to him about how everyone cried as they sent me to the airport, my friends, my aunts, and some of my cousins. I explained to him how I had a strict policy of not dating anyone until I'm sure I knew them well. Besides, I've only ever had three boyfriends, and this rule applied to them and none of them were asses. No messy breakups or drama. Then our conversation turned to talk about my course which was music and he told me how he knows a lot of major clubs in school for me.

Him being a Biology professor; he asked me some of his quizzical questions about anatomy and whatnot, all of which I got correct. We continued to speak about my classes in which he was disappointed to find out I wasn't in his class but I laughed tuning about how awkward it would've been if he was.

After a few minutes, he drove into a vast parking lot in the middle of a few buildings towering high and I could only think they were all freshman dorms and I thought about how crazy it could get on Fridays and the weekends. The place wasn't quiet either. There were more people than I had expected, families saying goodbyes and tear-filled reminders. It was all endearing to see, but it just made me wish my mom was here.

My dad turned the car off after he parked and immediately got out and I followed.

As I walked out, the sticky warm air of California immediately welcomed me. I smiled, I've always loved summer-ish weather, though fall is just beginning so I don't know what to expect in the coming seasons. The skies were a beautiful blue and the chatter of the people filled my ears. Turning around, I noticed my dad closing the trunk with a bunch of my things at hand. But there's an extra one that I don't remember I have.

I furrowed my brows at him as he walked my way as I continued curiously staring at the bag that I can only assume was a guitar.

"I'm sure I didn't bring my guitar, dad," I said, unsure of why he had one. He played no instruments.

He looked down at the bag and laughed out loud before stretching his hand out to give me the bag. "I got you this hun. A welcome gift. The kids help pick it out and I hope you like it." He said he's eyes hopeful, and I immediately ran up to him and hug him. He's always been this sweet and now I feel like I have debt, but if I mention it, he'd just push it away.

After our exchange and after he said how proud he was that I was his daughter, we finally made our way to my building.

The lobby filled, but most of them were already on their way up so the line to the front desk wasn't long and it was quick, anyway.

"Hi, the last name, please?" The lady at the deal said with a professional smile. "Parker, " I said with a smile as I looked over my dad who was looking around, observing the surroundings, probably wondering how safe it is.

After the last had finished typing, he picked up a key and an ID from a box before handing it to me, "here you go, yours is room 304, here are also some rules and just FAQs." She continued as she shuffled through a few papers before handing them all to me, which I got with a smile.

I looked at the key and the ID cringing at the picture and the full name printed and mentally slapped myself for giving my full name on the application. Not that it was a requirement.