As I waddled my way over towards the table where Hannah was seated, she got up herself and moved towards me. She seemed to sink into me a little as we hugged, trying to nestle herself into my body as much as she could. The hug lasted for a few seconds before she stepped back and said, her eyes roving over my body, "You're looking good, Mel."
"Thanks," I responded, flushing a little. Full disclosure, Hannah and I were kind of a "thing" back when we had been sharing a room during our Buttercombe days. With how... enthusiastic Hannah got about feeding people (and how enthusiastic I got about being fed) it was probably inevitable. It hadn't been really serious, though, since Hannah had been feeding basically anyone who let her. But that's beside the point.
Hannah led me back to the table she'd occupied, which was already laden with a vertiable cornucopia of burgers, french fries, chicken tenders, and even a few salads that were laden with ranch dressing (one of the only ways I eat salad, of course). "You know me so well," I said to Hannah, sitting down and tearing into the fast food feast before me. Hannah took some time to eat the one burger and packet of french fries she had allotted to herself. Once she'd done that, she started handing me food and whispering encouragement into my ears, the way she had done back during Junior and Senior years. It was honestly kind of nostalgic.
Eventually, though, all good things must come to an end. My Buttercombe hoodie was proving to be a little inadequate at keeping me covered after a hearty lunch, and was riding up a little on my distended gut. I was painfully full, which was kind of nice since I hadn't felt that way once after graduation (stupid Mom and her stupid portion controls). Hannah looked like she had been having fun too, if that unsubtle leering at said distended gut was any indication. We just sat there for a bit, just reveling in the moment.
Finally I said, "Thanks for lunch Hannah. I needed this."
"No thanks needed," she responded, "I'm always happy to see you."
"Actually, that reminds me," I said. "Remember that conversation we had a few weeks before graduation?"
"I think so..." Hannah replied, her grin indicating that yes, she did remember it. We had been talking about what we would be doing after graduation, and the topic somehow wandered to our families. Which, naturally, led to an extended rant about my mother and her controlling tendencies. Such rants were nothing new (I had complained about the subject a bit during our very first conversation), but what had been new was Hannah's offer to room with her if I found living at home again just unbearable. Considering how far away from home that was, I had been ambivalent at first and told her I'd think about it. Now that I'd been living under the roof of that tyrant again, moving far away seemed a more palatable option. Sure, I'd miss my dad and my little sister Alice, but I had to spread my metaphorical wings sometime, right?
I took in a deep breath, knowing that these next few words would change the direction of my life. "If that offer is still open, I'd like to move in with you." Hannah's wide smile and big hug gave me the answer before she even said a word. And that was the story of how I managed to get out from my mother's controlling thumb for good.
But it was only the beginning of the next part of my life. See, Hannah was moving into an apartment near the prestigious Stuffington University to work on her business degree. I guess you have to go through the proper steps to inherit the family business, even if you're the heiress to the Hammond Hotel chain. Yes, that Hammond Hotel chain. I know, I kind of freaked out too when I learned that fact about my new-old roomie. (How had that subject not even come up during our time at Buttercombe?)
So after I got myself situated in the new apartment with Hannah after a tearful farewell from my family (I thought I even saw Mom's eyes mist up a bit), I had to figure out what to do with myself. I mean, I could sit around the apartment and eat all day (and Hannah probably wouldn't have minded that), but doing just one thing day in and day out seemed unfulfilling. So I gave it some thought, and finally decided on a course of action.
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