Two Songs on the Radio chapter 2

The journey to Portsmouth took longer than expected. It was a Saturday morning, last bank holiday in August and the roads were, unrelentlessly, full. Still it gave me time to think things through. Assess what had happened over the past few days.

I still drew weak breaths when remembering the party last week. I had awoken to find Tracey next to me her hand on my chest. But I couldn’t stay until she woke, my mind wouldn’t let me though my body so did. I knew that in a weeks time from then, I would be going to Portsmouth, and Tracey to Cardiff for our respective universities.
Whilst at Uni there would, no doubt, be ample chance for sexual frolics. I didn’t mind I just wish I hadn’t had slept with Tracey before I left.

Talking of Tracey, I had recieved several texts and phonecalls from her since the party. But I did not know how to answer. The evening had been fantastic and, had I not been going off to Uni the next week, I would have consented to starting a full relationship with her.

But I couldn’t. Not when I knew we would be apart for so long. So far away.

I had, therefore, sent her a quick text saying that I was really busy getting ready and that I was unlikely to be able to see her before I left. It wasn’t a lie. The amount of things to do was immense. I had to ring up the accomadations office to find out where I would be living. Calls back and forth to the LEA to sort out my loans and not to mention the endless shopping. Shopping for clothes, essentials and of course cutlery, plates and pots that would no doubt be stolen or lost within the first fortnight.

My father sighed up ahead. His arm was leaning outside of the window as we waited in yet another traffic jam.
‘Caravans!’ he cried ‘Who’d want to spend a week in a caravan?’

A caravan had shot past them. I had had to much insight into my dad’s hatred of caravans that I failed to notice. Mum though looked at him.

‘I used to spend lovely holidays with my parents in caravans. I remember we had one in Bogner Regis.’

As mum and dad slipped into a light argument about the logistics of holiday travel, I slipped on my iPod and fell into a dreary haze.

An hour and a half we had made it into Portsmouth. My dad was now arguing about the way to the university but after he stopped and asked for directions we soon found it.

The University building was a tall imposing structure. It looked so out of place in a city full of low buildings that over looked the sea. Even the shopping center had a air of lowness to it, instead being several hundred meters wide instead of tall.

As I would be staying in dorms with other students, the man on the gate pointed us in the right place to collect our keys.

Tyfold Dorm was a small building consisting of four floors. On each floor there were five bedrooms, a shower, two toilets and a shared kitchen. Unfortunatley, my room was on the top floor. I found this incredibly irkesome for several reasons. Firstly I had to carry all my stuff up four narrow staircases and secondly if I spent a night out and came back to this. I wouldn’t bother climbing up the stairs and instead I would have just kipped on the floor.

Once all my stuff had been put away my mum and dad got ready to leave but first of course, they had to give me some advice.

‘Don’t get too drunk. Don’t do drugs and for the love of god, don’t get chlamydia.’

Dad paused then gave me a hug. He pulled away quickly as if he didn’t want anyone to see.

‘I better get the car over. Take care son.’

He walked away and mum moved in closer to me and said in almost a whisper.

‘I was waiting for a chance to give you these. Away from your father I mean.’
She handed me a box. Looking at the cover I saw ‘Durex. Extra sensative’ written on the box.

Mum smiled, kissed me and then enveloped me in a big hug.

‘Take care.’ she said and she left, leaving me all alone in a city I barely knew.

—

My room was in the corner of the building meaning that I got the most space on my floor. My room mates looked on in eny as I set up my stuff and attempted to make it home.

There were two girls on this floor and three boys. Of the girls there was Chanice, a stunning black girl with elegant locks that flew down her back, and Emma, a shy but extremley pretty English student with mousey brown hair and two beautiful eyes.

Of the boys there was David, 6ft 2 and athletic, David was a year older than anyone else and a sports science student. Luke on the other hand seemed more my type. He was blond with small fashionable glasses and studied History.

Once all my stuff had been put away in my room I headed of the kitchen, where a bout of socialising was taking place.

David was stood against the counter flirting intensly with Chanice as he spoke of all his sporting competitions he had won.