"Room sixteen… and seventeen. Here we are, Lisie."

"Thanks, Dad," I chuckled a little. He was more enthusiastic than I was about moving me into another dorm. Even though I was sweating like a pig in this heat, he was still chipper. "I know how to count."

He laughed at my jabbing joke too. "So what do we do first? Your mother will want to put your bed together?"

"And the kitchen," I added, turning the key.

I swung the door open to find a boy in my room.

Weird. I hadn't decided to put I was gender nonconforming this time. I checked the paper and key envelope I still carried in my hand. Room seventeen. Key two. He didn't look like an Aki.

"You're not a girl," I blurted out.

"Hmm?" The guy turned around, pulling an earbud out. "Oh hi! You must be Liz!" He held his hand out. "I'm Yusei."

I wasn't sure what else to do, so I took his hand. "It's Lise." I corrected. People always got my name wrong.

My Dad was much friendlier than I was. "Hi Yusei, I'm Roman!" He shook Yusei's hand with his trademark grin. "I'm the Dad."

I rolled my eyes. Being nice and friendly, meeting new people. It was so easy for him.

"I figured," Yusei was saying.

"Lisie, where do you want- Oh, hello there," my Mom set my kitchen box down to shake Yusei's hand as well.

My sister gave me a look and jerked her head at the stairs. She also carried a box of kitchen things. Guess I was on my own to deal with our parents.

Who had already found out Yusei's entire life story apparently. All three smiley and excited.

"Are you boring people again with your mechanics obsession?" A girl leaned on the doorjam.

"No!"

This was probably my actual roommate. Wow was all I could think of. Brown, almond shaped eyes that were warm as they were shrewd. Red hair fiery and bold. It didn't look dyed either. She was shorter than me, but… She had boobs that I would kill for. Puberty had not been kind to me, but it had hit her like a fucking bus.

How unfair.

"Hi, I'm Aki, your actual roommate," she offered her hand too.

She shook it once and waved at Yusei. "Hello? I told you not to unpack. There's a party? At Mulligan's?"

"Right, I totally forgot!" Yusei facepalmed. He smiled at me. "You coming with?"

I frowned, blinking at him. We'd just met and he was already inviting me to a party? In the middle of the day too? I thought college parties only happened at night? Then again, I had never been invited to a college party, much less attended one.

Besides, my parents would be pissed if I just left them to unpack by themselves after they flew and drove all the way over here.

I was wrong. Both my parents nodded and made shooing motions.

Well that clenched it. "Nah, I gotta unpack. Thanks though."

He might have looked disappointed for a second, but it was gone just as quickly. "Next time. See ya later!"

"Oh, Lise, feel free to move my shit wherever," Aki said. "I don't care as long as I have a place to sleep. Rearrange all you like. Be back whenever. Bye!"

"Bye!"

They saw themselves out.

"They seem nice," Mom said.

"Yeah, looks like you'll have fun here."

I grabbed the first Kitchen box Mom had abandoned to talk to Yusei. "I'm gonna go help Maeve unload the kitchen."

"Oh good idea!" Mom rubbed her hands together and tied her blond hair back from her face. "I'll put together your bed and your father should start making a list of everything broken or worn down so you don't get charged for things you didn't do!"

"Good idea!" I called back down the stairs.

Maeve had already unboxed my coffee machine and milk frother. My sister might be a bit annoying from time to time, but she and the entire family understood our need for caffeine. It just needed a quick dusting down.

I set my box down next to hers on the kitchen table. "Thanks for getting started."

"No problem. You got the dishware?"

"And silverware."

"Perfect."

"So," Maeve waggled her eyebrows at me. "He was cute."

I was clearly not going to survive my family today. "Not you too…"

"What? You deserve a cute guy!" She smiled innocently, spreading her hands. "Or girl. Your roommate is hot too."

"You didn't even see her!"

"No, but she sounded hot."

"You're impossible."

"Just part of my charm," Maeve winked and gave me some finger guns. "Speaking of charm, I think what little of the kitchen is yours is good to go."

My parents always said it was no trouble for them, but we were definitely going to Morbucks after this for food and cleaning supplies. At least half the counter was mine with my espresso machine, milk frother, electric kettle, and dish drying rack. Half the cabinets were full of my dishes and mugs.

Aki had said she didn't mind but I didn't know… This dorm's layout was old and weird. I mean our bedroom was downstairs and we had to walk upstairs to get to the kitchen, bathroom, and living spaces. And here I was unpacking and taking up space. Aki didn't even care by comparison. She just wanted her bed by the sounds of it.

"But Mom will probably want to rearrange it for best use."

We both laughed a little. "Yeah, Mom's pretty thorough."

"As am I," Dad came up. He was already noting everything that wasn't up to par. He'd pulled back his greying blond hair and put on his glasses to properly take notes on his notepad. Ever the analytical scientist. How Maeve and I became artists coming from two scientists was completely beyond me. "Are you making fun of your mother?"

"Nah, just making sure the boxes are empty before she takes a look," Maeve said quickly.

Dad poked her with his pencil's eraser, making her jump and squeal. They both laughed. He was just kidding, as usual.

He pointed back down the stairs. "You might wanna see what to do about the bedroom. It's small, but if your roommate really doesn't care, you might be able to arrange something comfortable."

"Sure."

I walked in to find my Mom had not only put my bed together but Aki's as well. She'd also taken the liberty of putting all my clothes away in the closet. Guess that meant Aki was getting the armoire. She'd put my desk supplies on the bed and desk, including my posters, computers, and sketchbooks.

"Geez, Mom, overachiever much?"

"I just wanted you girls to be comfortable and taken care of," Mom insisted. She pulled out extra pillows from the vacuum sealed bag of clothes and bed things. "Do you want these on the bed or upstairs?"

"Uh…" I didn't get my decision-making skills from my Mom. She was always the one with a plan and new tasks for herself and everyone else. "Probably the bed? I dunno if Aki likes orange."

"All right," Mom added the orange throw pillow to my twin bed. She'd already arranged my Eeveelution and dragon stuffies amongst the pillows. She made a sound in her throat and directed me to the one stuffie that didn't match; my stuffed puppy I'd had since I was three. "Made sure to give little Long his special place."

"Thanks Mom."

We made short work of arranging the room. It really wasn't built for two people to share, but the school, like all schools, was cheap and shoved students together. We got my bed in the corner, pushed up as far as it would go to have storage underneath. Aki's bed went in the exact opposite corner. For some fresh ideas and less blankness, I had my desk against the window, which doubled as a bedside table. Mom left me to put up my posters on my wall and the doors of my closet. She needed to determine what to arrange and buy me to get me through the next month.

By the time we were all done, everyone was coated in sweat. How did people get through sticky, humid heat like this? I felt like I'd taken a sweat shower, and needed another actual shower to feel clean again.

"Shopping? Shopping?"

"Yes, let's get those ramen packs. It's the college experience!" Dad was still enthusiastic even after all that. He'd always loved adventures with the family.

One trip to Morbucks later, and I was set for at least two months. I had ramen, soup ingredients, fruit, milk, coffee pods, veggies that would definitely turn black before I ate them, crackers, fruit snacks, instant rice cups, instant mac n cheese, cereal, chocolate bars, a new book that I'd snuck in there, eggs, and some alcohol.

"Seriously, Dad?"

"What? You're of age, and I can get you the good stuff! You'll be so popular!"

"That's not how that works…"

"Just save it to have a load off Friday night then with your roommate," Maeve suggested.

I nodded, conceding that point. "I mean… Probably after syllabus week."

"No judgement, it's what kids do at your age," Mom assured me.

I buried my face in my hands. "Just pay the cashier, Mom."

"Oh, right."

It took a few trips to get everything up into the kitchen. Even with the four of us. Mom staying near the rental car to hand stacks of food to us that she'd prepared based on heaviness and individual, and the rest of us bringing things up and then back to get more.

Dad, Maeve and I plopped down on the couches to rest. Mom organized the fridge, and other foods that didn't need to be refrigerated. Then took another fifteen minutes to make sure the bathroom was clean and stocked with supplies for personal care and cleaning.

"Mom, seriously," I stood in the bathroom doorway. Unless I stood in the tub, it was only big enough for one person to stand in comfortably. "You don't have to do all this extra stuff. Let's go get dinner."

"I vote pizza!" Maeve agreed loudly.

"I just wanna be sure my baby girl will be okay over here by herself," Mom insisted, wiping down the mirror of the ancient medicine cabinet.

"Mom, it's okay, I will be. This isn't the first time you've dropped me off at college, remember?"

"I know, you're a big transfer college woman now, but this is the last thing I can do for you until you come back for Thanksgiving." She sniffled.

"Cerise…" I stepped back to let Dad into the bathroom with Mom. It was a tight fit for the two of them. Dad was nearly a foot taller than her too. "It's not forever."

"I know," Mom set down the cleaning supplies. Her tiny hand joining Dad's big hand on her shoulder. "Doesn't mean I don't worry."

Maeve joined me in the doorway. "Are we having a cry fest in the bathroom? Because if Mom and Dad are crying then of course I gotta cry too."

"No, we'll do that later," Mom laughed and wiped her eyes. "I think someone suggested pizza for dinner?"

"Yes!"

As promised, Dad found a pizza place for dinner. One that gave us decent sized individual pizzas for each person. It was Mom's favorite food, but none of us were complaining. Pizza was perfect after all the moving work we'd done today.

I answered questions and had a conversation like normal, but Mom had a point. I loved them, and I liked being on my own, but it was still… different. Especially since this time they would be on the other side of the country.

Everything was suddenly too fast. Getting to the hotel, showering, and going to bed for the night. Me and Maeve in one bed and Mom with Dad in the other. Morning coming so soon, and the flight back. Leaving me here. Four people had come here, and only three were going back.

Rental car packed up, everyone clean, and fed thanks to the hotel breakfast… There was my new dorm again. It was time to say good-bye.

Maeve crushed me into a hug. Despite being shorter than me, she lifted me off the ground. "Don't slut up your college," she said. She was joking but tears leaked into the corners of her smile that she quickly rubbed away.

I snorted and responded, "Don't dork up high school." I rubbed at my eyes too.

"You'll do great. Just keep being you," Dad pulled me into his signature big warm hugs.

"Thanks, Daddy."

Mom was last. She held me a little too hard and for a little too long. "You'll always be my baby. We'll see you on Thanksgiving. Let Dad know the soonest you can be home."

"Will do. I love you."

"Love you too."

They piled back into the car and I went inside. I had to throw my backpack under the bed after all. Prepare for classes starting in just five days.

I leaned on my desk to look out the window. They hadn't left just yet. Made sure I got inside okay first.

I waved, and they waved back. Dad put the car in drive and they were off to the airport. I kept waving until they turned the corner and out of sight.

I took a deep breath and turned back to my new room I shared with Aki. New school, new room, new roommate, new life. Here I come.