Chapter 8: Chapter 8

"She wants to move in with three men, Henry!" Mom insists, fuming all the way to the kitchen. "She's worked out this plan without consulting us about any of it-"

"Colleen." He says in that calm dad way and she stops yelling. She's just shocked and upset. I knew she'd feel this way and that's okay. "Juls, tell me the story."

"I have a friend who's moving to New Jersey, he has three roommates that live like a fifteen minute walk away from campus and he didn't re-sign his lease because he's moving. His friends have been looking for a replacement to fill the empty room. So Carlo offered it to me, I met his roommates properly today and as far as student housing goes, it's nice."

"Well....what's the rent like on it?" Dad asks and I shrug.

"It's not bad actually, it's six-forty-three a month.' I tell him and he nods with a noncommittal shrug. "It's close to campus and work and it would be so much better for me and my mental health, I'd make friends and stuff. Dad, I think this is a really cool opportunity."

"Hmm." He nods with a shrug and I wait for his line of questions. "And it's with three men." He repeats and I nod. "That you don't know."

"I've met two of them before today, they're all really nice."

"They're nice now." Mom butts-in. "Well see how long that lasts."

"Mom, they're fine!" I insist. "I'll have my own room and space and it's not like any of them would be interested in me anyway."

"I don't like it, I think you're doing this too fast and you'll regret it." She repeats and I sigh. Dad gives me a weak smile and I nod, understanding that this was just hard on mom.

"Look, Juls, I think it could be worth looking into." He admits and I grin.

"Henry." Mom warns, crossing her arms and he shrugs.

"But," He says pointedly and mom sighs out a tense breath. "Juls, you need to understand that this is a year with these people, once you've signed the lease, you're in for a year whether you like them in a few weeks or not." I nod, knowing that for myself.

Honestly, if one of them turned out to be an actual dick, I could handle that. It wouldn't be the end of the world, I was strong-minded about things and good at ignoring issues.

"I know dad." I sigh. "But I can handle myself, I'm not a little girl anymore and I want to be independent."

"Look, I want that for you and so does your mother." Dad continues and I lean my elbows on the counter in front of me. "I just want you to be safe and financially stable, we can't give you more than we are right now for school.'

"I know that." I admit and he nods. "Dad, I'm going to do this. I feel sure about it and I trust my gut but I'd rather do it knowing you and mom aren't pissed.'

"I'm not pissed, I'm just worried." Mom insists and I sigh.

"Okay, well how about we do this." Dad says, picking up the lease from my hands. "I'll fax this to my lawyer, have him read it over. We'll talk about how to put together a budget with your money and then we'll see how possible it is."

My parents really had no clue how much I had saved up. I knew they thought I'd be relying on my pay from the pool to cover a lot of my expenses. But, if I could show dad, maybe he'd ease up.

"And I want to go see this place with you when you sign your lease, make sure it's alright. I don't want you to live in a dump.' He says and I give him a smile with a quick nod. "If those things happen then we can give this a shot, alright?"

"Alright!" I say excitedly. "They said I could move in as soon as I was ready."

"So....when are you planning to leave?" Mom asks and I shrug.

"I was thinking probably in a week, get settled in before school starts. I need to get my credit checked anyway." I shrug and she presses her lips together. Jesse was in his senior year at school, he'd be looking at colleges soon and I know mom wasn't ready to be an empty-nester.

"Alright, then you'd better get your life in order, young lady." Dad says and I grin, skipping around the island and throwing my arms around him. "Go easy on your mom.' He whispers and I nod.

"Thanks for offering to help." I whisper back and he gives me a good hug.

He takes the lease and walks down the hall to his study, no doubt to fax the lease and I look at mom.

"I didn't even know this was a possibility until today, otherwise you know I would have given you notice." I remind her and she nods, looking away. "We've been talking about 'the day I move out' for a long time and-"

"I just didn't think it would be so soon.' She whispers and I smile, walking around the island to give her a hug. "Who's going to watch TV with me?" She whispers and I smile, giving her a good squeeze.

"Dad." I remind her and she chuckles a bit. "Mom, I'm ready for this. I'm excited to be young, to stop taking such big bus rides and live a little. But I'm just in the city, not in a different state."

"I know." She sighs, pulling back and rubbing my arms aggressively. "Please stay in touch though?'

"I will, I promise?' I assure her and she smiles.

"And be careful with all of those boys you're planning on living with, you don't know what they're like yet?' She reminds me and I sigh.

"Mom, I can handle it. We're going to leave each other alone and everything and be civil roommates?' I remind her and she nods, looking like she understood that. "I know you'd feel better about it if I'd known them for a really long time, but I wouldn't blindly walk into anything that's not a good idea."

"I know." She admits with a shrug. She then gives me another hug and I sigh, I felt bad for mom. I knew I was her friend just as much as I was her daughter, but mom needed to get out there and make new friends. I've stayed as long as I can for her, but it's time for me to move on. "I'm going to miss you.'

"I haven't gone anywhere yet." I remind her and she nods. "But I'll miss you too." I admit and she squeezes me tighter.

"Woah, what's going on out here?" Jesse asks with a chuckle, walking into the kitchen and picking up a bag of chips from the counter.

"Juls moving out." Mom sighs and I pull back from her hug.

"Oh that's awesome!" He insists, opening the bag of chips. "And here I was thinking you'd never leave."

"That's enough young man." Mom says, putting her hands on her hips.

"And put those away, your father's making supper."

"I'm going to run and put my stuff away before dinner?' I whisper and she nods.

I walk down the hall of our bungalow to my room and flick on the lights. I still had a twin bed, how awful is that? But, on the whole my room was tidy and neutral. I'd redone it in grade eleven to try and fit my aesthetic better. I toss my tote on my desk chair and walk over, riffling through it for my phone.

I have so much shit to do.