“Of course,” I agree excitedly. I settle in, completely comfortable now that the anxiety over Aspen potentially choosing another house to join has finally disappeared.
“Okay, so, I know that you’re studying microbiology, and you mentioned specifically wanting to focus on using plants to create medicine, but how did you end up choosing that? I’ve heard of people taking supplements that have plants in them, but I had no idea that was a real thing you could study.”
“Well, I like the idea of doing something that could help people one day, and I’ve always been really interested in plants and flowers,” I offer. “My grandmother had a large garden in her backyard that was my favorite place to spend time when I was growing up. Everything was so pretty to look at. My grandmother would also tell me about what each of the plants could be used for: pain relief, reducing inflammation, helping aid digestion. Others might be beautiful but dangerous if ingested or even touched. I became obsessed with the idea that some people might only ever appreciate the plants because of their beauty, but they would be missing out on their true value.”
“That reminds me of you,” Aspen says easily.
“What do you mean?” I ask quietly, unable to take in a full breath as I await her explanation.
“Well, Sage, I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, but I’ve seen it already. When people first meet you, they see how pretty you are. They look at your blonde hair, giant smile, and bubbly attitude, and assume that you’re a vapid sorority girl. But there’s so much more to you than that, just like those plants. You’re really fucking smart, and you’re kind without expecting anything in return. Your happiness is contagious, and every room is brighter because you’re in it.”
“Oh,” I whisper, my throat feels tight, and my vision blurs a little as I blink away tears. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“I’m really glad that you’re my roommate, Sage.”
“Friend,” I hurry to correct, glad my voice sounds more confident than a few moments ago. “You’re more than my roommate, Aspen. I’ve never had a best friend before, but that’s what I would like us to be,” I admit.
“I’m really glad you’re my best friend, Sage,” she confirms with a big smile.
My heart feels too big for my chest as I agree. “Me too.”
3
ASPEN
SEPTEMBER
Freshman Year
“Package pickup for room 3409,” I tell the woman working the front desk of our dorm.
“How many is it this time?” she asks with a raised brow.
“Only three,” I defend.
“Sure, because more than three packages a day is totally normal.”
“Exactly,” I agree with a laugh as she grabs the latest of my online orders. “Thank you!”
“See you tomorrow, Aspen,” she says, shaking her head slightly, but she’s smiling. She loves me, I'm sure of it.
“See you tomorrow," I agree with a wink before heading to the elevator.
One of the very best parts about beingaway from my overbearing parents is that I can order whatever I want without risking them opening the package before I have the chance. Luckily, they did that with clothes I ordered in high school, and it wasn’t anything incriminating, but it happened enough times that I learned to expect someone to open my mail.
Now I’m able to order whatever I want, and I’ve taken full advantage. We’ve only been here for about a month, and I’ve had something delivered almost every day. At first, it was just small things for the dorm room or supplies for classes. But last week, we started a unit in my textile class on lace and it inspired my latest round of purchases.
I hurry into my room, not surprised to find Arthur and Sage already hanging out and chatting. It's Friday afternoon, and the three of us usually hang out whenever Sage and I don’t have sorority commitments on the weekend.
“So, are you seeing how much money you can spend before your parents notice?” Arthur teases, eyeing the packages as I lay them out on my bed.
“I’m eighteen. I have my own accounts now,” I remind him as I carefully tear open the first, pulling out the tissue and carefully unwrapping what’s inside.
My family has the kind of money where generations of inheritance are carefully structured and divided among all family members. One of the trusts my grandfather set up started paying a monthly allowance when I turned eighteen, and I made sure to establish an account my parents didn’t have any access to for those deposits.
It’s not a crazy amount of money. My grandfather was a very traditional man, and I’ll probably never have access to the money he left in a much larger trust for when his grandchildren “start families of their own, continuing his legacy.”
Basically if I want to have access to a much larger sum of money than I do now, I’d have to get married. So while I’m sure I have more than the average college student—enough to buy whatever I want for now and to not worry about getting a job—it isn’t enough for me to realistically live off of and maintain the lifestyle I’m accustomed to for the rest of my life.
