1 Chapter 1

"Come on Laken, we're going to be late"

I listened to my mother scream from the kitchen. I grunted in irritation in the early morning hours and pulled back the covers on my bed to reveal a crowded, box filled room. I glanced around at the almost empty bedroom, today's the day.

I thrusted myself off of the indented mattress and grabbed my glasses off of my nightstand. I headed into the bathroom right outside of my door and flickered on the bright lights, causing my eyes a moment of blindness. After readjusting to the bulb light, I brought my glasses up to my face and stared at my reflection. My blonde hair stuck out in weird places, bags visibly hung from my chestnut eyes and clothes hung off of my thin figure. I shook off my appearance and started to dress into the clothes that I had set out the night before.

Once I was dressed into a uni hoodie, loose pants, I exited the enclosed space and entered into the spacious kitchen which my mother and I almost never use.

"You ready?" My mother asked in a rushed tone

"Yeah mom, I'm ready," I responded quietly. "How long is the drive," I pestered my mother.

She stopped skating around the kitchen and peered back at the stove clock then at the acceptance letter on the table. A small tear formed in the corner of her eye but she wiped it away before letting it fall.

"The drive is only a few hours long, the trip shouldn't be that lengthy," my mother sniffled and a little grin appeared on her lips, "Can't believe your going to college already, it seems like yesterday I was chasing you around the house trying to get you to wear pants" my mother laughed.

I wrapped my mother in a warm hug that we both needed, "I love you, mom" I whispered, resting my head into her shoulder.

"I love you too" she muttered "Now let's go, we still have to load the car," she continued pulling away from me.

My mom walked into my bedroom and seconds later came out with one of the bigger boxes. I quickly followed her and mimicked her actions, both of us on our way to load the tan, beat down van.

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"Alright, I think that's it," my mom sighed loudly after slamming the back trunk shut.

"If it's not everything, you now have an excuse to come see me when you bring whatever I left," I joked. She smiled brightly allowing her tired eyes to light up, before hopping into the driver's seat. I followed, opening the door to the passenger side and sliding onto the old stitched leather.

My mom started up the car, after both of us had buckled and drove out of the driveway onto the main road.

I was now on my way to four, studious years of college.