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After two years at the local
community college, I know it is now time to live out my childhood
dream and pursue a degree in Marine Science at Coastal as well.
    With the support of my parents and sisters,
I’m able to face the fact that I’m leaving behind a piece of me in
Gaffney, and I know my time at Coastal won’t be like a normal
college student. I’ve scheduled all my classes on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday so I can take care of Gunner and my other
responsibilities on the weekend. As we pack our cars and make our
way toward the beach house, I begin to cry knowing what I am
leaving behind, but I know my future, no our future, depends on this, and if I want to
make something of myself this is the time to do it. It’s freeing,
yet terrifying at the same time. The most terrifying thing isn’t my
fear of passing my classes it’s the fear of running into GC. He’s
now the starting point guard for the Chanticleers and I’m not sure
I’m going to be able to handle seeing him face to face and
pretending that I don’t still love him. I’m just thankful that we
have different majors and that I won’t be there on the weekends.
Instead, I’ll be in Gaffney taking care of the one person who
matters the most in my life, my son.
    Pulling into our beach house driveway, I feel as if
I’m at home. There are so many memories here, and I can’t wait to
spend this time with my sisters. We’re as close as they come, and
to know that we are finally living out our dream together makes me
happy.
    As I stand and close my car door, I look over to
Tinleigh and Carleigh. They must be reading my mind.
    “ Mar, it hasn’t felt right without you here,”
Carleigh says as we make our way up the flight of steps and into
the house. I take my bags and drop them into my room. It’s kind of
crazy to know that we have shared one room in this house for the
past fifteen years, but now we each have our own room thanks to
Daddy’s renovations, and this isn’t just a fun place to visit, it
truly is a home away from home.
    GUNNISON
    Pulling into University Place, I can’t wait to get
my truck unpacked and meet up with the team on our first night back
since last semester. The past two years have been insane with the
team and becoming starting point guard. In the two years I’ve been
here my team has become my family. I rely on them and coach for
everything. As a team we’ve beaten the schools most consecutive
wins record and won the championship game both years. With those
two accomplishments, my dream of going pro is possibly becoming a
reality, but regardless, I’m here for a degree first and
foremost.
    More importantly it’s been odd knowing two out of
the three Anderson sisters are on the same campus. Since I’ve
started college, I’ve tried multiple times to get close to her
sisters, but I’ve only been able to confront them once. Regardless
of whether we are on campus or at a party at Brett’s, they avoid
me, and I can’t help but continue to feel a connection to her.
Every opportunity I have to get a glimpse of them I take because
seeing them brings Marleigh back to me. It reminds me of when a
wave reaches the edge of the shore and just as it’s about to touch
your feet it vanishes back into the ocean. Every day I pray she
will come visit them, and give me the opportunity to rekindle what
she so quickly extinguished. Knowing I haven’t seen Marleigh since
that week at Garden City haunts me day and night. It was the best
week of my life and I thought Marleigh felt the same way.
    Over the past two years, I’ve dated Summer, off and
on, and met a few other girls, but no one compares to her. This
year I’ve decided to quit acting like a girl about the Marleigh
situation. My priorities are basketball, finishing my degree, and
finding a girl who will make me forget the name Marleigh, and I’m
hoping I won’t have to look far.

Chapter 10
    MARLEIGH
    After unpacking and making a quick run to the local
grocery store, I take a