Please, Please update! I promise something you've been waiting for happends in the next chapter. Something BIG.
August 24, 2013
I've officially been a college student for three days now. Mom, Dad, and Mike left two days ago to head back to Rosewood. Ezra's still hanging around. He says he has meetings with his publisher. I think he just wants to make sure I'm okay. He's checked and double-checked to make sure I know how to get from my dorm to his apartment. And if that wasn't enough, he made sure Spencer knew in case anything ever happened.
Spencer lives right down the hall from me. Her roommate, Troian, seems like a nice enough person. She's a theater major with a minor in film studies. Did I get all that right? Anyway, my roommate, Lucy, looks like she's sweet and fun-loving. She already invited me to go to a concert on Friday night. She's a music major. Her side of our tiny dorm room is decorated with posters from bands that I've never heard of. Lucy says her goal is to win American Idol. I say, do whatever it is you want to do.
Spencer declared her major yesterday. She is now officially a political science major. I'm not sure what she wants to do with it. I get the feeling that she might change her major down the road. I declared mine today. I'm now part of the English program, but I think I might add a photography minor or double major. I enjoyed my internship too much to stop learning more about photography. I like the idea of telling stories whether they be in words or images.
I talked to Hanna today. She and Caleb are all settled in an apartment in Los Angeles. She says that Caleb's family is great. I think she's a little relieved to be away from Kate and Isobel. I know she didn't want to leave her mother alone, but Mrs. Marin seemed to be really interested in Pastor Ted from the last update I got. Emily emailed me. Her classes don't start for another week, and she's taking the time to be with her dad. They've been apart for so long I think they're really starting to get to know each other.
The last time any of us were together—me, Spencer, Hanna, Emily—we were standing in my driveway and Spencer and I were saying good-bye to our friends before driving up to Columbia with my parents. There were hugs and there were tears, promises to keep in touch, and threats as to what would happen if we didn't. As we pulled out of the driveway, I took one last look at the tree house. I could barely see it. I haven't used it in a long time. I guess I won't be using it now.
August 28, 2013
Today was the first day of classes. I think it went well. I particularly liked my Literature by Women class with Dr. Mitchell. I actually hadn't read anything on the required reading list. This should be interesting. I met a friend—Ian. He's another English major. He's nice. He offered to lend me a pen when he saw that I had forgotten mine.
Lucy's trying to get me to go to a frat party on Saturday night. I don't know how I feel about that. A part of me is saying go. Another part of me hears Ezra in the back of my head warning me about parties. Spencer thinks we should do whatever we feel like doing that night. Spencer seems happier. I don't think she feels as pressured here. At least she doesn't have her parents on her back anymore. She misses Toby like crazy, and I think the fact that she had to leave a brother she barely got to know slightly bothers her. I think Jason is coming up in September to visit. That should cheer her up.
Ezra's still in town. He says he plans to be here until after my birthday. That'll be nice.
September 2, 2013
I think I understated how well Spencer was doing in an earlier entry. She's not just doing well. She's thriving. She enjoys her classes and she enjoys debating with other students. I think, for the first time in her life, she is able to be herself with pretext. We ended up not going to the frat party, not that one anyway. I have a large stack of books on my desk calling for my attention. I think I'm going to make this short so I can do my homework.
September 6, 2013
I caught myself thinking about the Springers today. It's the anniversary of the first time I knocked on their door all those years go. Look where it led me. They left something behind for me after they died. I know they did. It's more than just Mr. Springer teaching me the art of journal writing or Mrs. Springer's angel necklace. I think it's even more than just Ezra. It's all these little pieces that I'm trying to figure out and I just can't get right. They left me a message, a future, something. Now, I just have to figure out what that something is.
I love Ezra and I'm so glad that he's a part of my life. He has become a member of my family, and even my dad admits that that connection will be cemented soon enough. Sometimes, I wonder, though, what would have happened if none of it had happened. If I hadn't knocked on the Springers door, if Mom hadn't invited Ezra to dinner that first time, if the tree house had never been built. Would everything still have unfolded the way that it did?
September 10, 2013
Jason's in town visiting Spencer. He'll be here for three days before going back to Rosewood. Spencer is practically glowing. She even skipped class so they could have lunch together. I never thought I would write that sentence. Jason brought me my birthday gifts from my parents. I opened them early. My mom got me a scarf she thought I would like, and my dad, under my mom's direction, I'm sure, got me a pair of boots that I absolutely adore. Mike sent me a picture of my old room. Mom's kept it exactly the same even now that I'm gone. I should get going. I'm supposed to have dinner with Spencer and Jason tonight.
September 12, 2013
Jason almost kissed me today. I can barely believe it. I had always thought of him as Alison's older brother. Now, I can only think of him as Spencer's brother, and Melissa's. What am I supposed to do? Should I tell Ezra? Should I not tell Ezra? It's not like we're technically together. I told Jason I was unavailable. He seemed to take it well, but still. It was flattering to be thought of in that way. Sometimes I wonder if Ezra still thinks of me that way.
I'm still a little mad at him for what happened on his birthday. Why did he have to push me away? Why? Can't we move on? What's stopping us? Spencer's happy, and so are Emily and Hanna. Why don't I deserve the same thing?