Parrallel: Connor: 1

Alyzabeth woke up to her phone vibrating beneath her pillow. She pulled it out and hit her alarm and groaned. It was going to be a very long day. She stretched out and sat up in bed. She looked at the time on the clock. 6 am. Ugh, she thought too early. She tapped the photo frame with his naval picture sitting on the night stand and smiled. At least there was a reason to this insanity. She would finally get to see him again.

                She pushed down the covers and threw her feet over the side of her small twin bed.  Careful not to wake her mother she quietly pulled her suitcase from beneath her bed. She opened the lid and walked to her closet. Finally finding some outfits worth wearing that would keep her warm, she pulled them off the hangers and started folding them into the suitcase. She walked over to her cherry wood dresser and opened the bottom drawer. Lizzie dug through until she found enough undergarments for the week long trip. She threw them into the suitcase and shut the lid. She zipped it and stood it up straight. She looked around her small room to remember what she was forgetting. After grabbing a scrunchie off her bed post she pulled her black curly hair into a pony tail and made her way to the bathroom.

                Even at a different time this morning, her routine was the same as every morning. She used the toilet and brushed her teeth. She washed her face and headed outside to start the coffee pot.  Within a few minutes the coffee was done brewing. She poured out the coffee into her red mug and sat down on the porch swing carefully sipping the steaming coffee. Although spring was underway, the morning was still crisp outside.  She curled her legs up under her on the porch swing with her huge coffee cup cradled in both hands. She looked up to the sky watching as the pinks slowly turned to blue. She inhaled deeply and breathed out.

The door opened and her mom stood there. She cocked her head at her daughter  and stepped out. “What are you doing?”

“Drinking coffee.” She took a sip before looking up at her mother.

“Outside?”

“You don’t like the smell of brewing coffee. So I’m just following the rules,” taking another sip.

“Why are you up so early?”

“Carrie is picking me up. I have a few things to do at school before my flight. “

“Lizzie”

“Mom, don’t start.”

“But honey?”

“No. I’ve followed all your rules. All of your wants. I got a bachelors degree, a masters, and in a few weeks I’ll graduate with a law degree. I’ll pass my bar because you wanted me to be a lawyer. You wanted me to stay in town so I’ve attended St. Mary’s for the last eight years.  I’ve kept all my curfews. I joined a sorority. I’ve done everything you have asked. I’m going to go see him.”  Lizzie took another sip of coffee and turned her body to her mother.

“You’re still after him.”

“I dated others like you asked me too.  I love him. I didn’t leave like he asked. You can’t keep this up.” She finished off her coffee and sat the mug on her lap.

“No, you can’t.”

“We love each other.”

“Really?”

“ What? Now your going to try and convince me that I don’t know what love is?” She put her legs on the ground, then stood up.

“Lizzie, you are not being fair.” Her mother pointed at her.

“No. Mom. You’re not.”

Her mother stood looming over her in the doorway, hands across her chest. Her hazel eyes searching her daughters.  She dropped her hands to her side. “Lizzie, just stop.”

“No, I wont. I love him and I miss him. Everyday. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. So if anyone is stopping, it’s going to be you. Enough is enough. You need to get over your issues with this relationship. It’s not your choice and you don’t have a say in it anymore.” She walked around her mother, and into the house. She washed her red mug in the sink and slipped it on to the drain board to dry. She headed to the small bathroom closing the door behind her. She looked into the white mirrored cabinet and saw tears start to fill her eyes. She undressed throwing her clothes into the hamper. She moved the rubber ducky shower curtain out of the way and leaned over turning on the water. She stepped into the shower letting it heat up enough to steam the bathroom and let the tears fall.

She pulled the scrunchie out of her hair and slid it on to her wrist. After soaping and washing everything, she turned off the water. Lizze took a deep breath, slid the curtain open, and grabbed the towel off the back of the toilet. She dried her body then stepped out of the shower wrapping the towel around her body.  Lizzie brushed her hair out, using the scrunchie on her wrist, combed her hair into a ponytail.

There was a soft knock at the door. She pulled it open and looked at her mom. “You wont be back before I get off school?”

“No, my flight is at 1:15.”

“Be careful. Text when you’re taking off and when you arrive.”

“Of course”

“I love you.” Her mother pulled her into a hug, kissed her cheek, and left. Lizzie dropped the towel in the hamper. In her room she pulled a light sundress with white daisies and pulled on her white wedges. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up off the pillow.

“Hey girlie, are you ready?”

“Yes ma’am. Just gotta grab my purse.”

“Okay, I’m outside.”

“Be out in a minute.” She stuffed her white cardigan into her purse, slung it and her back pack on her shoulder, pulled the handle on her suitcase and walked out to the pink prius that was waiting outside in her drive.

She heard the trunk click, so she opened it and tossed in her suitcase. She walked back around and opened the car door. She flopped her bags off her shoulder on the car floor and slid into the seat.

“Hello Alyzabeth.”

She smiled at her sorority sister. “Hello Casey.” She leaned over the middle console and hugged her.

“Bad morning?”

“Wouldn’t expect a good one.” She looked at her friend and smirked as Casey pulled on to the street. She was an exotic beauty. Her dark olive skin with ice blue eyes and long straight brown hair.

“She loves you.”

“I know,” she said placing her hands in her lap. She stared out in the window. Her neighborhood passing by. The highway and the familiar neighborhood surrounding her college passing in the window. They pulled into the back entrance and Casey stopped by the curb.

“Just block it out for now and get some studying done.”

“Okay”

“I’ll be back at 1130.”

“Thank you” She grabbed her purse and backpack off the floor of the car. She throwed them over her shoulder.

“Anytime Big” Lizzie closed the car door after the words and headed onto campus. When she reached the door of the Law library and stopped.  She felt the vibration in her purse. She searched for her blackberry and found it at the bottom of her purse.

“Hello?” She answered quickly so she wouldn’t miss the phone call.

“Hay sweetie.”

“Hi, sweetie.” She looked at her watch. “ Why are you calling?”

“I just got ouuta a meeting. I had some free time to talk. How are ya?”

“I’m good. I just got to the library."

" Are ya going to study?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, well I just wanted to call and say I mess you.”

“I miss you too.”

“I will see ya tonight?”

“Yes”

“Alright, I’ll be at the airport at 6.”

“Okay”

 *                                *                             *

She went and sat at the benches  outside. She knew she was too anxious to see him to get any studying done. She should have just stayed home then neither would have had to get up early. She grabbed her bags and headed to java café.

She stood in line behind some juniors.

“I can’t believe he’s still so hard on you”

“ I know, it seems the tapes are just getting worse.” She knew all to well which professor they were talking about. She had had him for two classes during her undergrad and three classes during her graduate study. He has also become her advisor. During the classes she despised him, but he was the one professor she had searched for graduation day. He was hard because he expected the best from his students. He also had to fight against this technology steered generation to have them understand the techniques and beauty of the written word.

“What can I get you?” She stepped up to the counter and ordered a chocolate chip muffin and a Java Chip. She would be wired by the time she got on the plane, but she didn’t care.

Hey grandbig! I turned behind me to see my sorority sister, Katrina.

Hey Katarina. What are you doing here?

Well, carrie said she would be on campus to pick you up so we decided to meet up with the family for lunch.  Jessica couldn’t do lunch so we opted for breakfast. I was on my way to meet her.

That’s great.

COuldn’t study?

No, I smirked, not really.

Too excited?

Honestly, yeah.

Do you want to join us? WE can hang out and watch everyone after she leaves for class.

Yea, I would love that. I remembered that was how I met Katarina her first week of school. I would sit on the grassy knoll beneath the large oak tree with my books stacked next to me and watch the bustle of the freshman. Katarina had tripped on the uneven patchwork squares that made up the campus quad and dropped her books. She sat on the floor tearing up. I got up from my spot and walked to her to help her. I gathered all of her books up and held out my hand to help her up next. Comeon, you need to chill.”

“What?”

“Come on, “ I pulled her up and led her to the knoll. “When’s your next class?”

“Um, thirty minutes…” she stuttered after checking her watch.

“Where?”

“In the science building.”

Ok, so just sit here. I pointed to the ground next to my books.

Are you a freshman?

I laughed, no.

What are you?

A junior.

Oh. Um. Why are you sitting on the grass?

“It’s relaxing. I can sit here between classes and relax while everyone else is rushing around.

So you just watch.

Yep.

Are you a psychology major?

Nope.

Criminal Justice.

No.

I don’t get it.

What?

If its not part of your major and why are you being so nice.

Isn’t everyone nice to you here?

Well, yeah, I guess.

Relax.

I am

No, youre fresh out of highschool full of mean girls, new to campus trying to get your bearings and worring why an upperclassman is being nice to you. You are not relaxing.

Sorry.

I wont bite. Just breathe. You only have fifteen minutes before class. What’s your name?

Katarina

Nice to meet you.

Ugh classes today suck. Carrie walked up to us and dropped her book bag.

Too much homework?

No,they are just inside. Today is beautiful. I don’t want to be cooped up inside.

I know the feeling.

Oh, Big convince the professors to teach outside today.

Big?

Hi, I’m Carrie.

Katarina, Whats a big?

Oh you know, the most amazing person in the world that love me so much she’ll convince our art teacher to teach outside.

Oh

I’m her big sister in our sorority. No promises, but I’ll try.

Try now please. Hi Professor Cowen.

Hello ladies.

Hi Professor Cowen, Beautiful day out. A great day to see art in its true beauty.

Very suttle Miss Porter.

Yes Sir.

Well you have five minutes to walk me to class and convince me.

Okay. That also gives you five minutes to get to biology.

How did you know? The girls rose and picked up their bags.

I smiled at her, “ Science building for a freshman.”

Oh of course

See ya later She waved to the girl as she strode off with the professor. Well, you said we were going to review architecture today. We have so many examples that we can see on campus.

 

Why is there a table on the knoll?

Well, I ate my lunch out here everyday. I think the grounds keeper felt sorry for me. So he put one high on the hill tthat we still have your spot on the grass to sit.

You came here everyday?

Yea, she did. Now I do.

Hi Jessica, its good to see you again.

You too.

So what else have I missed since getting stuck in the law library?

Well, thanks to you the knoll and its inspiration has been passed through the family.

Yea, Katalina gave me the same speech you did and I honestly don’t think I would be so level headed and close to graduation.

That’s amazing.

Oh my god Jessica, its official! Joyce came running up the knoll.

What

This is officially our spot!

Lizzie this is Joyce. She is the Greek Life intern. She’s my newest grand lil, Joyce this is Lizzie, my great grand big.

It’s so amazing to meet you.

You too.

Okay so this summer they will redo quad and we all put bids in for our spots when they showed us the new outline.  I put our bid in to have our letters in front of the knoll on Fridays.

So first Friday of school next year we will be set up right here.

That’s amazing girls! Katarina said

Oh. So sorry I missed the lil Ceremony.

It’s okay we know your super busy.

And I have your gifts here, Lizzie said digging through her purse. She pulled out two James Avery boxes. One is for you and this one is for your big.

Joyce opened the box and pulled out the material envelope. Inside she shook out the silver Alpha Phi drop into her palm. Thank you  so much!

Thank you for choosing our family.