Page 6 of Player
I leave my room without either of them pausing for a moment, and head back to the floor’s shared living room.
The floor is silent, with all the bedroom doors closed. I check my phone screen, it's past one in the morning.I figure Pia is already asleep, and even though we get along well, I don't want to disturb her.
I end up settling on the living room couch. Immersed in darkness, the only light entering the room comes from outside.
The stress and excitement of the day are wearing off a bit, but my thoughts are racing in every direction. I can't wait to start classes, and I'm debating joining several clubs that particularly interest me. There are various extracurricular activities available on campus, but I'm aware that I shouldn't spread myself too thin: my priority remains passing my semesters.
My phone screen lights up when I receive a message.
BRADLEY
You sleeping, Dixie Dix? How was your day?
I smile reading the nickname my brother gives me and tap a response.
DIXIE
Yes, I'm sleeping, so stop talking to me!
Immediately, my phone rings. I answer quickly while glancing at the nearest door, hoping I’m not disturbing anyone when my brother says in my ear, "So? How was it?"
I put on a falsely disappointed voice. "Lame."
A silence passes on the other end of the line, then, "Your humor is still terrible, you know that?"
I laugh quietly. "That's why I didn't choose the 'circus clown' major."
"Getting worse and worse… ," but I can hear a chuckle that contradicts his words.
"And you? How's it going? Where are you anyway?" I press him.
"It has its ups and downs, Dixie Dix. I'm in Tampa."
A certain weariness comes through in my brother's deep voice.
"You know you can talk to me, Bradley? I'm here if you need to confide in someone."
"It's late, and I didn't think you'd answer," he admits. "Don't put too much stock in what I say in the middle of the night. Sometimes things seem worse than they really are, but in the light of day everything goes back to normal."
I think about my memorable encounter with my new neighbor, Player. I have a feeling that in the light of day, nothing will be better where he's concerned.
"So? Are you going to tell me about your arrival at college?" my brother continues.
A sigh escapes me. "It was good."
"That's it?" he exclaims. "I don't believe you. You've been waiting for this moment for years. Do you regret it?"
"Do you?"
A silence stretches between us. My brother enlisted in the army a year ago and is stationed far from home. I spent the last twelve months with only our parents, and Bradley's absence was sorely missed.
"Will we see each other at home for Thanksgiving?" I ask him hopefully.
"I don't know yet if I'll get leave."
I hear a hint of sadness in his voice, and my heart tightens.
"You'll at least come visit me on campus, right?" I insist.
