Chapter 30: Going to the Dorms

Drew PoV

Drew frowned as he loaded stuff into his family's truck.

His little brother smiled as he gave him a paper mache sculpture he had made at school last year.

Drew looked down at the sculpture, its vibrant colors sticking out like a sore thumb. His brother was still at that age where he tried to make everything super colorful.

"This is really cool, Tyler," he said, smiling slightly. "I'll make sure it gets a special spot in my room."

Tyler beamed, his chest puffing out with pride. "You better not let anything happen to it, or I'll come and kick your butt!"

Drew chuckled, ruffling Tyler's hair. "I'd like to see you try, squirt."

Their mom called out from the front door, "Drew, honey, are you sure you've got everything?"

"Yeah, Mom!" Drew called back, closing the truck's tailgate with a satisfying thud.

He turned to Tyler, who was trying to look stern and serious but couldn't quite hide his sadness.

"Hey, it's not goodbye, buddy. It's just a 'see you later'," Drew said, pulling his brother into a hug.

Tyler nodded, clinging to Drew for a moment longer than usual. He sniffed. "I know. Just... don't forget about us, okay?"

"Never. I'll come back every weekend. We'll watch movies, play games, and I'll beat you at Mar Kart, just like always." Drew promised.

Tyler smiled and nodded.

Drew gave Tyler one last squeeze before letting go. "And hey, you better practice. I won't go easy on you just because I miss ya," he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Tyler's smile grew, and he punched Drew lightly on the arm. "I'll be ready. You're gonna be so surprised!"

Their mom stepped forward, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Drive safe, Drew. And remember, this house is always your home."

Drew nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I will, Mom. And I know. This isn't the end, it's just a new chapter."

With a final wave, Drew climbed into the truck, started the engine, and pulled away from the curb. In the rearview mirror, he saw his family standing together, waving until he turned the corner and they were out of sight.

The road to college stretched out before him, filled with possibilities and new experiences. But no matter where it took him, Drew would always come back to his family.

----

After an hour of driving, Drew parked the truck and took a moment to look around. The campus was buzzing with activity; students were everywhere, some touring the campus, others lounging on the grass with books and laptops.

He grabbed his bags and the paper mache sculpture, a reminder of his sickly brother's earnest attempts, and made his way to the dormitory.

The building loomed ahead, a mix of old brick and new glass, and he could feel the weight of countless other students who had stood here before him, on the threshold of their own experiences.

As he entered the lobby, he was greeted by the resident assistant, a friendly upperclassman with a clipboard. "Name and room number?" he asked with a smile.

"Drew Carter, room 204," he replied, shifting his bags to one hand.

"Ah, you're on the second floor. Elevator's to your right. Let me know if you need any help," he said, pointing him in the right direction.

Drew thanked him and followed his directions, finding his room without trouble. The door swung open to reveal a small but cozy living room.

He stared at the green couch situated on one side of the living room. Had his roommate beatened him to this place?

Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged from one of the rooms, his seafoam green hair dripping with lingering droplets.

Sylvester gasped. "Drew?"

Drew scoffed. He didn't expect to be rooming with this guy. He set his bags down with a deliberate thud, making it clear that he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

"Didn't think I'd be sharing a room with you," Drew said, his voice flat. He made no move to greet Sylvester, instead focusing on inspecting the couch and the rest of the living room, as if to mark his territory.

Sylvester's expression faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly, the droplets from his hair catching the light as he moved. "Yeah, well, life's full of surprises," he replied, trying to keep the mood light despite Drew's obvious coldness.

The tension hung in the air, an invisible barrier between them. Drew was here for his studies and basketball, not to make friends, especially not with someone like Sylvester, who didn't take basketball seriously. 

Drew merely grunted in response, turning his attention to the paper mache sculpture in his hands. He placed it carefully on a shelf, ensuring it was secure and visible.

With a mental sigh, Drew began unpacking his things.

"Did you make this?" Sylvester managed to speak up after a while of just staring.

"No, my little brother did."

Sylvester's demeanor softened, and he stepped closer to get a better look at the sculpture. "It's impressive. You can tell he put a lot of heart into it."

Drew nodded, a mix of pride and sadness in his eyes. "He did. And I promised him I'd keep it safe."

There was a moment of silence, a mutual understanding passing between the two roommates. Sylvester cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "Well, if you need help with anything, let me know. I know moving in can be a pain."

Drew looked at Sylvester, reassessing his initial impression. "Thanks, I appreciate it. And hey, if you ever want to shoot some hoops just say so."

Sylvester's face lit up at the mention of basketball. "Sure."

"Well, I'm gonna go get the rest of my stuff."

"Need help?"

"Nah, I can handle it." While it would be faster, Drew didn't want to feel indebted to Sylvester, or anyone else for that matter.

He headed back out to the truck. The air was crisp, and the campus was alive with the sounds of other students moving in, their laughter echoing off the walls.

He opened the back of the truck and began the process of unloading his furniture. The first piece was a desk, solid oak and heavy. He maneuvered it onto a dolly and wheeled it into the building, muscles straining slightly with the effort. It was a piece he'd had since high school, and it carried memories of late-night study sessions and victorious video game battles with Tyler.

Next came the bookshelf, then the chair, and finally, the small dresser. Each piece was a part of the home he was creating here, in this new space. As he arranged the furniture in his room, he felt a sense of ownership and independence. This was his domain now, a place where he would grow, learn, and maybe even have a little fun.

He smiled. Maybe he could challenge his brother online to some Mar Kart matches. It wasn't like they had to be together in person to have fun together.