get your words out { 2021 } challenge tracking

[iluvroadrunner6]

Directory:

PERSONAL GOALS:

2021 Year Goals

TEQ Edit List

TV Watchlist

GYWO Yahtzee COMPLETE

OFFICIAL CHALLENGES:

1/14/21: Stop, Drop, Write Challenge COMPLETE

1/23/21: January Challenge: Tarot Prompt COMPLETE

2/16-17/21: Roll the Dice Challenge COMPLETE

3/1/21: February Challenge: Masked/Unmasked COMPLETE

3/15/21: Five Minutes Challenge COMPLETE

3/27/21: March Challenge: It's a Date COMPLETE

4/28/21: Challenge: Roll a Prompt COMPLETE

5/10-12/21: Time Management Challenge COMPLETE

5/23-29/21: 7 Days, 7 Stories COMPLETE

6/21/21: Five Minute Challenge COMPLETE

6/28/21: Challenge: Senses COMPLETE

July 2021: Mid-Year Marathon COMPLETE

7/13-16/21: Roll the Dice Challenge COMPLETE

7/15/21: Challenge: Playlist COMPLETE

August 2021: Mid-Year Marathon INCOMPLETE

8/1/21: Christmas in July Challenge COMPLETE

8/11-12/21: Time Challenge COMPLETE

8/21/21: Random Challenge COMPLETE

10/12/21: September Challenge: Dressing Up COMPLETE

10/15-19/21: Nano Prep Challenge IN PROGRESS

10/18-31/21: 2021 Spoopy Word Crawl IN PROGRESS

10/26/21: Halloween Prompts COMPLETE

12/27/21: Stop, Drop ... Write COMPLETE

12/30/21: November Challenge: What's in a Name? COMPLETE

12/31/21: December Challenge: Auld Lang Syne COMPLETE

Word Count: 11,246

Comments

6/28/21 | challenge: senses | original | 1,129

[iluvroadrunner6]

“So what are you looking for, exactly?”

Wind whips through the slightly cracked windows as we drive down the open highway towards Stillwater University. Justine, after spending most of the trip perched in the passenger’s seat with her gaze focused on her phone, looks over at me with a skeptical expression.

“Did Mom want you to ask that, or did you come up with that one on your own?”

I roll my eyes before turning back to the road. “College isn’t just a thing you do, you know. Hopefully, there’s something you want to get out of it beyond a degree.”

She shrugs, taking on that disaffected teenage look that she’s perfected since turning fourteen. It’s hard, being the bookend siblings where you want to be closer to your sister but not knowing how to bridge the gap between you. But we have an entire day to make this work.

“Not according to Mom.”

“Well, Mom isn’t here.” I reach down to the cup holders and pull out my soda that we’d picked up for the road. I take a long sip, the tart taste of Coca Cola exploding on my tongue before I swallow and put it back. “And Mom isn’t the one who’s going to have to be there for four years. This is your life. You should make sure you’re getting the most out of it.”

“But we’re Stillwater legacies.” Justine looks up with a sigh. “It’s where she wants me to go.”

I turn my eyes back to the road, two long black corridors stretching out ahead of me. The green highway signs indicate our exit is coming up, and I transition to the right lane, ready to pull off and get this trip on their way.

“Just really think about it,” I finally reply, not wanting to put too much pressure on her, but at least letting her know she has options. “I want you really to love the place you go. This is the start of the rest of your life.”

“Whatever,” Justine sighs as they pull into the parking lot. “Let’s just get this over with.”

* * * * *

Stillwater University sits away from the city, full of sprawling green hills criss-crossed with paved pathways. Students wander between buildings, chatting with each other as they go, accompanied by the smell of fresh green grass and slightly stale coffee. Justine and I wait outside the student center with the rest of our group, and Justine’s eyes wander carefully over the faces. After a few moments of silence, I lean forward, nudging her shoulder gently as I do.

“Why don’t you go talk to some of the other kids?”

“You say that like you actually think they want to talk to me.”

“Everybody’s new here. Gotta make friends somehow.”

“Are you going to keep bugging me until I go over there to talk to them?”

“Maybe.”

“God, you’re the worst.” And with that she stalks off to find a group of girls her age to attach herself to. Satisfied with my progress, I perch in an uncomfortable metal picnic chair outside the student center, letting the sounds of student chatter wash over me and take me back to a more pleasant time.

“Mind if I join you?”

I look up to see one of the fellow older siblings joining me with their own cup of stale coffee. I raise my cup to him with a nod before extending a hand. “Alyssa.”

“Brian,” he smiles. “I take it you’re on babysitting duty too?”

“Eh, I didn’t mind. My mom’s kind of got her heart set on Justine going to Stillwater too, but I want to make sure it’s what she wants.”

“A legacy, huh?” Brian smirks. “What about you?”

“Oh, no.” I shake my head with a teasing smile. “I broke her heart by deciding to go to NYU.”

He laughs. “You’re right. You’re clearly the family disappointment.”

I shrug. “It worked for me. Justine’s my mother’s last hope, but I don’t want her to just give in to my mother’s whims.”

“Charlie’s the same way. Not used to his life being his own yet. Just gotta give him enough leeway to figure it out on his own.”

“Yep,” I nod. “And occasionally nudge them so that they get out of their own way.”

“That too.” The tour guide returns from lunch and rounds up the kids again, brushing a few stray crumbs off the front of their college t-shirt.

“Alright, if you’ll all follow me, we’re heading this way, towards Greek Row.”

Brian smirks as we get to our feet. “Looks like things are about to get real interesting.”

I laugh before turning to fall in step next to him. “Isn’t it just?”

* * * * *

“Thanks,” Justine says as we pull into the dark driveway, golden lights glowing from the windows. “For pushing me to get out there today.”

I can feel the tired ache from a long day of being on my feet, so I hang back in the car for a moment, glancing over at my sister curiously. “I take it you got something out of today?”

“I don’t know if Stillwater is going to be the school for me,” she admits, sheepish. “I want to look at some other campuses. But I can see why mom really wants at least one of us to go there. In a weird way, it almost feels like home.”

I reach over and take her hand gently, giving it a firm squeeze. “Whatever choice you make, I know it’ll be the right one. And Mom will back your play.”

“I just don’t want to let her down.”

“At least you can tell her you had fun. That’s important too.”

Justine nods in return before giving a heavy sigh. “We should probably get in there before she accosts us in the car.”

“Probably,” I laugh as I get up to follow her in. About halfway up the front steps, she turns to face me curiously.

“So who was that guy you were hanging out with today?”

I blink at her before shaking my head. “No one. Just someone to pass the time with.”

“Uh-huh.” She grins. “Did you get his number?”

I roll my eyes and pull open the door, basking in the scent of fresh-made food, the familiar Italian spices of a well-made meal.

“So?” Mom pops in from the kitchen, flashing us both an eager smile. “What did you think?”

Justine sighs. “Can we eat and talk at the same time? I’m starving.”

I laugh at the exasperated look on our mother’s face as I make my way inside. “Don’t worry, Mom. It didn’t go as bad as you think.”

But full thoughts can wait. Right now, we eat.