* * *

“Mom? I’m home,” I walked through my front door lugging my suitcase on one arm, a leftover Subway bag on the other, and balancing my pillow on my head. I waved a quick goodbye to Marti and tumbled all my stuff into a pile in the entry-way.  Marti honked and headed back to her Aunt and Uncle’s house two doors down. I looked around my house with a sigh. So friendly. So familiar. So comfortable.

I smiled.

  “Mommy? Where are you at?” I circled through my house, my eyes searching primarily for any of my apparently absent relatives, but also for something to eat. I was famished. I made it to the kitchen with no success on either front, and I sighed as I saw the heap of unfinished scholarship applications on the table. I’d been meaning to wrap them up and mail them for months, but somehow even though I was a crazy nerd I was eerily freaked out by the idea of college.

  I spotted a note on the counter. Somewhat disappointed, I read it quickly.

 

Welcome home Meggy! If you get here before we get back, let Mocha out. We’re out shopping.

Be home soon!

Love, Mom and Dad

 

Huh. Kind of vague.

 I looked around, thankful that school didn’t start until Monday. Before the load of homework arrived I could relax. Doing what was the question? First things first, let the cat out.

  “Mocha! Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Where’s my sweet Mocha?” Mocha came trotting around the corner, her pale beige fur sleep-flattened. No doubt she’d been napping on my chair again. “Hey pretty kitty. How’s my baby?” I don’t know if most people talk to their cats like that, and I personally don’t do it in public, but when I’m home alone I let myself go. I love my kitty cat. She’s always there to keep me company on late study nights.

I’m kind of an only child. Not really. But my brother hasn’t been in the picture for a few years. He shipped off to Cornell University to study law fourish years ago. We were freshies together and now he’s a senior just like me, but in college.  Anyways, since his first year on his own he hasn’t been home for any occasion besides a few days every Christmas. Not even summers. I guess after a few months away from home he lost his babyish neediness and became some sort of overly independent workaholic. I only hear from him every few months in a text, or if it’s a birthday, death, or anniversary he’ll award me a phone call. He’s always been quiet, so it didn’t take long to get used to.

I shoved Mocha out the door and sat down at my computer, wishing my parents would get home. All of junior year I’d had severe cravings for independence, but now that leaving was a reality, I’d been missing mom and dad in advance.

  My Facebook page was awhirl with notifications and messages since I hadn’t checked it all week. Ooh look! Even a friend request. Those are usually pretty rare for me, especially since my insanely over-protective privacy settings make me almost impossible to find.

 

David O’Hara.

 

Madelene’s brother. I bit my lip, not sure how to answer. He was nice, but.

My mouse hovered infuriatingly over the “Confirm” button, daring me to make an impulsive decision for once in my life. I remembered Marti’s voice saying, “Meg, you never take any risks….”

And she was right. I set my jaw.

 

 And clicked.