Private Leave The Beach Behind

Jae settled into the taxi seat, his duffel spread across his lap. "I. . . I'll try not too." It felt surreal, to ride in the back of that taxi while holding basically all he owned. This was really happening wasn't it? Leaving his aunt's home, and going to live at the school dorms. Jae stared out the window, and tried not to think about much of anything. He was tired, couldn't all his emotions wait a day?

The taxi pulled up beside the school dorms and Jae shuffled out of the car and waited for Mr. Edwin to give directions. He supposed the school would have found somewhere to put him. He wondered if he'll like his dorm mates, and if they'll like him. The dorms were further away from the ocean, but that was another thing to worry about tomorrow.

Take this day by day. He supposed that was all he could do, for now. Get through today, deal with tomorrow. Then maybe one day he will sort through these confusing, conflicting feelings. Whatever they may lead to.

Jae let Edwin do the talking as they checked in with the administration staff. A room was ready and waiting for him, along with the school debit card given to all dorming students. Jae studied the card, flipping it back and forth. Money was never an issue for him, as even when his aunt gave him an allowance, Jae made more than enough money through selling his tears. As it turned out, there was quite the market for mermaid tears on the island. In less than a year Jae had learned the ins and outs of the island pearl trade.

The administrator gave them directions to his new dorm. Jae was equally quiet there, and in what felt like a blink of an eye, he now stood outside the door to his new dorm. The teen shuffled from foot to food, and adjusted the strap of his duffel. "I. . . I think I'll be fine from here." Jae said, and pushed a small smile behind his words. "I guess I'll go get settled in, and meet my new roommates." Maybe they'll be nice.