Kim Turrisi - Carmilla

The day Ive been counting down to has finally arrived. Im moving into my college dorm. Being an only child has its advantages, trust me, but the invisible shield that my overprotective father has had around me is getting old. Ill be free of the chains once I land in my dorm. Silas University, Im all yours.

The drive has been excruciating with my fathers nonstop chatter. I barely notice the fog roll in over campus as we arrive. Silas is an institution in Styria, Austria. Built in the 1800s, it has castle-like architecture thats haunting yet regal. Ornate archways decorate all of the building entrances. Magical. Weathered stone buildings housing students and classrooms surround a green quad crisscrossed with cobblestone paths. Its perfect.

The renowned journalism program and small class sizes originally attracted me to Silas, but now Im all about the campus lore. I mean, for starters, theres supposedly some weird glow from the Aquatic Center after dark. Ive always loved inexplicable phenomena. Cant wait to check that out.

Laura, I know theres a lot to do here but your number-one concern is school and keeping your grades up, my dad says. Here we go again. My eyes fight hard not to roll, but they fail miserably. If you dont get the grades, well pull you out. He adjusts his voice to sound as tough as nails. I want you to be able to support yourself, not need another person to survive. To do that, you need a college education with grades that help you rise to the top.

Dig deep, Laura Hollis, I coach myself, willing the butterflies out of my stomach. Hes got me on edge. Like being an incoming freshman in a school where I dont know one person isnt enough. Dad, I get it. Trust me, its all Ive heard since I got accepted, I say. I feel guilty for snapping at him, but its not the time to pound his lesson into my head.

Laura, this is what fathers do, he explains.

Drive their daughters crazy? I ask, half kidding. At least he laughs.

A slight mist starts to fall as we haul my stuff from the parking lot. The sidewalks are lined in a damp moss. I glance up and see ominous dark clouds hanging over the campus. When I open the double wooden doors of the dorm, a chill washes over me. I adjust the collar of my jacket to warm my neck and continue down the hall, scanning the room numbers. Dim lighting gives an amber glow to the walls, and I can hear the faint sounds of other students getting their rooms set up behind closed doors.

They could use some heat in here, Dad remarks. Im shivering, but Im not sure its from the cold.

We walk down the hall past rooms 305 306 The doors are decorated with a variety of pictures, posters and streamers. Room 307, thats me! I announce. A sign on the door says, WELCOME, LAURA! XO, BETTY. Shes my new roomie. I like her already!

The doors ajar, so I kick it open with my foot. Its a pretty typical dorm room, with two beds, two desks and a teeny kitchen. But we have a big window! Bonus. I peek out and see that we overlook the quad. Nice. The goth architecture combined with the gold sheer curtains hanging from iron rods is giving off a very cool vibe.

Its pretty much the polar opposite of my room at home. My roommate has a flair for decorating. There are countless Zen touches all over. Lavender candles, even a Buddha statue. Back home, Dad is a stickler for less is more. He doesnt like anything chipping the paint, so my room is as sterile as a hospital and just about as inviting. I take a deep breath. Im so ready for all of this. The adventure, the freedom, all of the new experiences. Its really happening!

Betty isnt here, but her side of the room is cluttered with piles of clothes against the wall and a bed thats semi-made really more like a bunched-up comforter on top of a wadded-up sheet on a thin mattress. I throw my suitcases on my bed and look for the closet.

Do you want to grab some dinner before you unpack? Dad asks.

Im not really hungry. I just want to get settled, you know? I say. If Im being honest, I just want to be alone to absorb all of this goodness. I worked my ass off to get here, and Im ready to start.

All right, kiddo, Im going to head home and leave you to it. Hes intense but I know he means well. I give him a big hug, and Dads arms around me feel safe. Warm. A tiny pang of fear sneaks in. Im really on my own. I step back hesitantly and steel myself for the actual moment he leaves.

Studies first. Eye on the prize. The TV internship. The coveted internship that Ive had my sights set on for the last two years. Working in the research department behind the scenes of a morning show. Basically my dream job. Stick to the plan, I scream in my head. Slay my first two years at Silas and I have a shot. My dad believes it, just like I do, and thats what Im thinking as he walks away. I put some music on to help with the monotony of unpacking. Gwen Stefani is always good for a pick-me-up. Id folded all my T-shirts and color coordinated them so I could just drop them into the drawers in my dresser. I find a plastic bin in a suitcase, open it and start to laugh. Dad loaded me up with all my favorites: endless cookies, Pop-Tarts, soda and chips. He thought of everything.

I rip open the Oreos and munch on a few while I put away my jeans and jackets. Sounds from outside interrupt me, but when I look out the window, all I see is darkness. Is anyone even here? Its eerily silent, inside and out.

But when I whirl around, I see a girl in a pink skirt wearing neon Chuck Taylors and a smile for days. Shes got a pizza box in one hand and a six-pack of beer in the other. Where did she come from? I didnt even hear the door, I say, a little weirded out. Um hey.

You must be Laura. Im Betty. Gwen Stefani, I love her! She sets her food down and rushes to hug me. Her energy is electric.

Cookies! My kind of girl. I thought we should celebrate. Hope you like pizza. And beer.