Farewell -2

"Hey! You've got exactly one minute to hand over fifty bucks."

I yanked myself out of the hug, my arms snapping into a firm fold across my chest.

"Fifty bucks? For what? And what's with the countdown like you're running a heist?" I cocked an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

Bob, ever the little schemer, turned toward Mom and Dad ... .who were still watching us with so much pride, and then flashed them an angelic smile.

Then, with a grin so smug it should be illegal, he pulled out his phone and hit play on a video.

A video of me.

My stomach dropped.

"Hey! Delete that!" I barked, with authority.

But Bob? Oh, he wouldn't budge an inch.

Instead, he giggled, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"And guess what?" he teased.

I huffed. "What?"

"I got the number of one of the students here… and if you don't pay up, I'm sending it straight to them."

I scoffed, arms still folded, not even bothering to entertain the idea.

Please. There was no way Bob had managed to get someone's number already, let alone had the nerve to actually send them anything.

Bob stretched out his hand, palm up, waiting.

Expecting.

When I didn't so much as glance at it, he shrugged and turned back to his phone.

"Alright, since you're not cooperating… I'm just gonna… send… it… now!" He tapped his screen dramatically, pausing for effect.

I didn't react at first… .until he tilted his phone towards me, and I saw it.

The message was actually sending.

My eyes widened in horror.

Panic took over. I lunged, trying to snatch the phone from his hands, but Bob was quick. He yanked it away at the last second, laughing under his breath.

"Hey! Please stop it!" I hissed, keeping my voice low so I wouldn't attract attention.

Meanwhile, Bob glanced back at Mom and Dad, still acting like the perfect little angel in front of them.

He stretched his hand out again.

"Fifty bucks."

I clenched my jaw.

This little gremlin was serious.

With no choice left, I dug into my pocket and yanked out a crisp fifty-dollar bill, slapping it into his palm.

Like a pro, Bob pocketed it in one smooth move, all while Mom and Dad remained blissfully unaware.

"Here, take it! Now delete it!" I whisper-yelled, desperation leaking into my voice.

Bob smirked, his finger hovering over the screen.

"That's a good girl…" he taunted, finally canceling the message.

I let out a deep breath of relief.

The last thing I needed was to become a walking meme on my first day.

Bob, still grinning like he just pulled off the heist of the century, threw me a couple of mock air kisses before whispering,

"Love ya, sis."

Then, just like that, he turned and strutted back to the car.

I groaned, throwing my hands up in exasperation.

"Tsk! So annoying!" I muttered, making dramatic faces at his back.

Mom and Dad finally started the car, and as I took one last look at them and waved, they drove off.

Inside the car, Dad glanced at Bob through the rearview mirror.

"So… what were you two whispering about?" he asked.

Bob, ever the picture of innocence, shrugged. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little sibling farewell."

As he spoke, he casually slid his hand into his pocket, pulled out a crisp fifty-dollar bill, sniffed it like it was pure gold, and smirked.

Meanwhile…

I made my way down the dorm hallway.

As I passed one of the rooms, I caught a glimpse of four girls huddled together, laughing and gossiping.

Their door was slightly open, but the moment they spotted me, they froze.

Like I was some kind of alien invasion.

One of them, without a word, shot up from her seat and shut the door.

I rolled my eyes. "Relax, it's not like I wanted to eavesdrop on your groundbreaking conversation," I muttered under my breath.

I kept walking until I finally found my room.

"3…1…4."

I read the numbers on the door out loud, then knocked lightly before gripping the doorknob and pushing it open.

And that's when I heard…

"Okay! So if I add just a little bit of liquid nitrogen and some carbonated soda…I should get…"

I stopped short, blinking.

My roommate was conducting a full-on science experiment.

She was hunched over her desk, completely oblivious to my entrance, mumbling to herself as she measured out chemicals into tiny glass vials.

Then…

PFFT!

A tiny puff of smoke burst from one of the vials.

She gasped, jerking back as droplets of liquid splattered all over her lab coat.

"Ugh, no, Alisha, that did not go as planned. Well… better luck next time."

She sighed dramatically, peeling off her coat…and then she saw me.

For a moment, we just stared at each other.

Then…

"AHHH!"

She shrieked and jumped backward.

Which, of course, scared the life out of me too, making me let out my own startled yelp.