I had this story idea with one chapter, but now that I am re-inspired to do this, here we go! Enjoy!
In order to get everything packed up, they had to take two cars. Uncle Harvey insisted that he take his nephew's car and fill it up. Ferris, who finally got his own car, packed it to the brim with his best friend's belongings. The trip was an hour and a half and the heat was still rising. Yet, Cameron didn't care. He was happy to have time away from Chicago. His unruly family didn't have to breathe down his neck every five seconds. No more arguments and no more worrying. He finally felt as though he had freedom, a smile on his face at the thought of his new home. Ferris reluctantly suggested University of Notre Dame, knowing his best friend wanted to get away from the drama. He'd gotten in right away.
"I thought you didn't want to be in a huge city," Sloane mentioned from the back, eyes dodging all around.
"I didn't," Cameron glanced to the back," but Ferris said that this was a good time for me to get away. Plus, they gave me a twenty thousand dollar scholarship. The less money I have to pay, the better!"
Sloane wished her boyfriend hadn't convinced Cameron to go so far away for school. True, he needed to be away from his parents. However, she would miss seeing one of her closest friends. They were only five minutes away from the school but they could see the city clearly. Cameron looked all around, taking in his new home. He could get used to this place. Ferris glanced over, both hands securely on the steering wheel and a sad smile on his face.
"We're almost there," he said," Are you sure you don't want to turn back around and go to the local university with me?"
"Sorry Ferris," Cameron laughed," but this is my dream and it's coming true."
Ferris nodded, although he really did want to turn the car around. He would miss Cameron too much, he told himself as they arrived. He could see the look of happiness on the blue-eyed boy's face. He could tell this is what he wanted...in a way. If his parents hadn't been such awful people, perhaps he would have gone to school in Chicago. Of course, plans were changing and life would not always stay the same. They all had to accept that.
"What hall did you say you lived in?" Sloane asked.
"Carroll Hall," Cameron said just as they arrived to his residency.
The group got out of the car and started to unpack. The amount of people standing before them was incredible. Trunks and boxes were all around, contents nearly pouring out. Some mothers were hugging their teens, crying about them not wanting to leave. Other mothers were calm and collected, wishing nothing but good luck to their babies. Fathers had proud looks (except for a few) and freshmen? They were just excited.
"Welp," Cameron looked around," We're here."
"Ah, just as beautiful as I remember it," Uncle Harvey sighed as he approached the group, putting down a box.
"You went here, Uncle Harvey?"
"Just for a tour. But man, it was amazing!"
Cameron couldn't help but smile. His uncle had always been a guy like Rodney Dangerfield (in both looks and comedy). Out of everyone in his family, he got along most with the older man. He was there in times of need. He kept his head up when Morris and Sandy would fight, knowing how badly it affected his nephew. He hated to see Cameron upset, so after years of heartbreak and mistreatment, he was happy for him to get away. Yet sad to see them leave.
After Cameron got his room number, the crew went straight to work. Boxes and bags dragged their way around the halls and up into 202. The blue eyed boy sat at the door, excited for the new world before him. When he opened the door, he saw that the room had yet to be occupied. He was relieved to know that he got first choice. He set his stuff on the right, taking the bed that nearly hugged the desk next to it. The three others looked to each other, unsure of what to say. However, the excited college boy smiled and turned to his group.
"This is it," he sighed.
"I'll say," Ferris mumbled, glad he could go to a school close to home.
"Oh, Cameron," Uncle Harvey sighed and slapped a hand on his nephew's shoulder," We've been through so much together. I just can't believe you're already a college boy."
"Well, believe it, Uncle Harv," his nephew said as he gave him a hug," Thanks for letting me stay with you. And being a better father than my own."
Harvey felt a great pride in his heart. He embraced the hug tightly, not wanting to let go. He knew he would never have children of his own, so seeing his favorite nephew leave him...it was devastating. Cameron thanked Sloane for all the sweet words and her various words of encouragement throughout the years. She smiled and hugged the boy one last time before walking out with Uncle Harvey. Ferris needed to be alone with his best friend. The two sat on the bed as they looked around. There was a minute of awkward silence, trying to figure out what to say or how to process the separation. Ferris, in a sense, was losing his best friend. The one he cared about for so many years. The one he loved dearly. He tried to hide the tears in his eyes, but Cameron noticed right away.
"Don't cry, Ferris," he said," Everything's gonna be okay. I'll write to you."
"Huh?" Ferris heard his voice crack as he desperately tried to wipe the tears away," I'm not crying."
"Yes you are," Cameron hugged his best friend," It's okay. This isn't the end for us, you know."
"It is. You're not coming back to Chicago, even if your life depends on it."
"Ferris, you know I can't do that."
"I know," he sighed," I just wish that life didn't move so fast."
Cameron smiled and pulled away. He studied his best friend for a minute, happy to remember all of those times he was dragged around town. He had to admit it- he had fun.
"You always stopped to look around- you never missed a thing."
Ferris smiled as they stood up. With a last goodbye, the three went back to their lives in Chicago. They hoped to see their blue-eyed friend again- but they were doubtful. As for Cameron, he sat on the bed and looked around. This was his life now. He hated to leave his friends, but he loved the idea of a new experience. He needed to get out of Chicago and this was his only escape.
"Alright, Cam," he whispered," let's get to work."
As he unpacked and made his bed, the door opened. Cameron looked over to find a young man walking in, two adults and a younger girl trailing behind him. His mane of black hair bounced excitedly as he pushed his suitcases in. His dark eyes glanced over the room until he saw the other boy. His smile grew wide as he tossed the bags aside. He looked happy to be in the presence of his roommate. He walked over to Cameron quickly, the other boy a little stunned by his overjoyed personality.
"Hey there!" he said," I was hoping you'd be here. I'm Charles Spadina. But you can call me Charlie, since we're roommates and all."
"Cameron Frye," the other boy noted as they shook hands," Cameron's fine."
"Great!" Charlie watched as his parents and the young girl put the boxes down," Mom, Dad, Sissy- this is my roommate, Cameron."
Cameron introduced himself to the father and mother. Charlie's mother, a young Chinese woman, looked over to see that the boy was alone. She asked him, in a sweet voice, if his parents had been here to help him. Before he could explain, the woman insisted that she help him get settled in.
"No, ma'am," Cameron insisted," It's alright."
"Are you sure?" she asked," Perhaps I can just-"
"Thank you."
The woman smiled and nodded, backing away from from the situation. As Charles was saying goodbye to his parents, the younger girl came up to Cameron. He looked down at her, confused, until the tween extended her index finger to him.
"Charlie's your problem now, kid," she laughed," Thank God for that."
"He can't be that bad," Cameron laughed, but the girl remained serious.
"You didn't have to deal with him for fifteen years."
"But I can't forget how much I'm gonna miss little Sissy!"
Charlie wrapped his arms around his sister, who tried to get away and became angered that he was holding her down. The siblings truly loved each other, but they liked to annoy one another. Cameron wished he had something so close. He could feel the love between the family. He wished he'd had that with his own flesh and blood. As soon as the hugs and goodbyes stopped, Charlie waved to his family and they went off, leaving their son to explore his own world. The students soon went to dinner, then home to get rest for their upcoming classes. Charlie, however, could not sleep.
"So where are you from?" he asked, putting up a poster.
"Chicago. And you?"
"Right on!" he said with a laugh," I'm from Pennsylvania. Out in Pittsburgh. I would've gone to their school, but I didn't get accepted. I was dared to send an application here because of my buddy Scott. We were playing truth or dare on Halloween and I either had to tell this girl that I liked her or apply to Norte Dame. But it doesn't matter- I'm glad to be here!"
"Me too," Cameron smiled," What's your major?"
"I don't know what it's called, but I want to be a surgeon! They get paid a lot and I kinda need the money. It's also great to save lives!"
Charlie had his heart in the right place but he seemed...dense. Although he had high spirits, the stories he told about trying to pet wild deer and trying to swallow quarters were obscure. Nonetheless, Cameron felt as though he could get along well with Charlie. As they were hopping into bed, the dark eyed boy looked over to his new roommate.
"Hey Cameron?"
"Hm?"
"You never did tell me your major."
Cameron paused for a minute and glanced over to the boy. He wasn't sure what to say, but he knew he had to come up with an answer.
"Truth be told,"he laughed awkwardly," I don't have a major. I just...I could never decide that I wanted to do with my life. It's always been a hard thing to figure out. I need to discover myself before I figure out what I want to do with my life."
"That's what college is all about, man," Charlie said with a soft laugh," You just have to discover your passion and who you really are. Yeah, it'll take some time, but once you find everything you could ever need. It'll feel great."
Cameron went to thank Charlie for his kind words, but the other boy had been fast asleep by the time he could speak.
Cameron sat patiently in History 104, his hands on the table. History was not a first choice, as he had some previously boring teachers- but this was college and it would be a new face for him. That, and he had to take the course for credits. The pens were organized neatly and his books were right before him. A few older kids chuckled, knowing how their behavior had changed over time. How they had given up and leaned more towards parties than studying. However, they would not diminish the hopes of a new student.
Suddenly, a man in a typical professor uniform showed up. His patched elbow jacket and khakis intimidated the young students, but the blue eyed boy in the middle kept a straight face. The professor had a serious look, his tiny glasses scanning over the crowd. Doctor Cipher was a lot shorter than Cameron expected. He was, nonetheless, nervous. The man wrote his name "Dr. Andrew Cipher" on the board, then stood before the crowd.
"Call me Andrew, call me Doctor Cipher," he said with a British accent," As long as you don't call me jackass, we don't have a problem. Now then, history 104. Sure, it may be a requirement for some of you, but those who enjoy history are in for a surprise. Who can tell me what they think of when they hear the word 'history'? How about the gentleman in the third row? Middle seat."
"Me?" Cameron pointed to himself.
"Of course!"
With all eyes on him, the boy could not think of something to say. The professor gave encouraging eyes, hoping he could get something out of his new student. The young man said 'Heroes' and the professor hopped onto his desk, scaring some of the students. He gave a thrilled smile to them all.
"Heroes are a big part of history," he exclaimed," I'm sure you've always been taught about the heroes of America and Europe and Asia and whatnot. They took history by the balls and led people onward! We have been inspired for years by such people. They have shown us the light of bad situations! Future generations- like yourselves- will shine the light on someone. One day, you will inspire people. One day, you will be an American hero. Not me, of course."
Cameron and the others chuckled as he got off of the desk to pass the role sheet around. Cam had a feeling that he would love this class. Dr Cipher then began to write notes on the board. As Cameron started to copy them, he noticed the girl in front of him was writing quickly. The wavy black hair bounced as she scribbled furiously. She looked like she meant business. As they continued onward, her pen accidentally slipped her hand. It landed at Cameron's feet, but she hadn't noticed.
"Shit," she mumbled as she grabbed another pen.
Cameron grabbed the pen, noticing the little bite marks on the cap. He looked at his own pen, knowing very well that it had bite marks as well. Before he could give the pen back at the end of class, she'd walked off. He'd seen her Wednesday for history- he could give it back to her then.