Saturday is the craziest I have seen campus yet.  Parents, students and professors are scattered around campus hosting an  open house to all the parents that have driven up for Parent's Weekend.  Students that live and participate in Greek Row are the volunteers for  the event and they coordinate activities for the parents to enjoy with  their students. There are tennis matches going on in the sports complex,  live music has been set up in the common area and food trucks line the  parking lot of the campus. Every building has its' doors open and students  can show their parents their classrooms. My mom has decided to buy all  of us a ridiculous amount of Pepperdine swag including T shirts,  sweatshirts, stickers and a large rectangular bumper sticker that my  dad didn't seem overly thrilled with, to stick on my mother's Mercedes  at home.  He loves me, but he doesn't necessarily feel the need to show  it by putting cheap stickers all over his expensive cars.

We wander through the food trucks and each pick something different  to try. While we are munching,  Liam challenges my mom to a friendly  tennis match down at the outside courts. My mom has always played tennis  at our country club so she is a bit competitive when it comes to their  "friendly game"- I know where I get my competitiveness from.

My dad and I sit in the bleachers  and follow the ball ping back and forth with large ice cream cones in  our hands, shaking our heads at how seriously my mom and Liam are taking  the game. She gives Liam a run for his money but they both are overly winded  when my mom finally wins their match.

Once the sun has set and the breeze rolls in, we decide to find a  large picnic blanket to settle onto the grass. Our campus over looks the  vast ocean and Pepperdine always has a spectacular fire work show on the water to  conclude the days activities. We all get comfortable on the soft flannel  blanket and I rest my head on Liam's shoulder. We are just about to  look to the sky when I feel Liam pull himself to his feet. I move my  head upwards and see Topher standing by the corner of our blanket. I  quickly hop up too.

"Oh, hey dad," Liam says awkwardly and my parents instantly flick their heads over to us.

"Hi, Mr. Greysor," I say shyly and give him a small wave. My parents  then quickly clamber to their feet and stick their hands out to introduce  themselves.

"Oh you're Liam's dad, it's so nice to finally meet one of his  parents. I'm Eleanor and this is Phil," my mom says as she shakes Topher's  hand. I turn a shade of pink when I hear her take note of Topher's good  looks. She has always found Liam an attractive young man so she finally  understands who he got his looks from. Liam glances to me and I am  mortified.

"Hi, I'm Christopher, it's nice to meet Eleanor's parents," Topher  replies and my mom lets out a light laugh.

"I think you are the only  person besides her grandmother to call her by her full name." I wince  because I truly don't care for my full name and would prefer if no one  referred to it. I quickly change topics.

"Yeah mom, Liam's dad is actually one of my professors. He teaches  business here," I explain and everyone notices her eye brows furrow in  confusion.

"Oh, I had no idea your dad was a professor here Liam. That makes  sense as to why you and Ellie liked Malibu so much then," she says,  almost offering an explanation to herself. She's wondering why I never  mentioned Liam's dad being here, let alone him being my professor but I  wasn't sure what Liam wanted to make public. I don't know how much  history Topher wants exposed either, so I don't know what his response  will be to my mom.

"Well Malibu is a great campus and it does seem like these two like  the beach as well," Topher replies, completely ignoring the fact that we  were unaware he was here until I was physically on campus.

"Yes, well I will say this place is beautiful. I'll be sad to leave  tomorrow," My dad says and our attention snaps to the sky as the first  firework goes off.

"Well I'll let you get back to the show. It was a pleasure meeting  you. But Liam if I could have a quick word with you," Topher says as he  motions for Liam to follow him. Liam looks to me and I shrug my  shoulders. What am I going to do, tell him no? My parents wave Topher  off and we settle back onto the blanket. My mom immediately leans over  to me, "How did I not know Liam's dad worked here?" I wonder what I am  allowed to tell her and I decide to go for the truth.

"We didn't know until my first day of class. Liam hasn't seen his dad in over ten years." My mom's eyes go wide and her eyebrows shoot up her forehead in disbelief.

"Well from what you told me his mother is a bit of a nut job, how's  his dad?" She asks and once again I am conflicted on what to tell her. I  can't tell her that my thoughts on Liam's dad differ day to day.

"He's nice. I think he's trying to make up for lost time with Liam  though. It's been a bit of a rough ride for Liam. I think he is  trying to work through some issues." My mom nods and we watch the fireworks light up the black sky. I keep  glancing around looking for Liam and I don't know where they wandered  off to. The fireworks start quickly popping off and I know it's the  finale. When the last golden spark fades from the sky and there are only  streaks of smoke left, everyone quickly starts folding up their  blankets. My mom and dad glance around the field looking for Liam as we  fold up our blanket and I slowly start to get a sick feeling in my  stomach. I peek at my phone but only see messages from Harper.

"Well, should we stick around and wait for Liam or do you want us to  walk you back to your dorm room?" My mom asks and I take one more long  look around the field.

"Liam knows where to find me. We can walk back." My dad tucks the blanket under his arm and we slowly walk down the  illuminated path to the dorms. I fill my mom in on pledge week and she's  excited for me to go out and try. When we reach my building, I grab the  blanket from my dad and I give long hugs to both of my parents. We  decide to meet up for breakfast before they have to leave to the airport  and I give them the name of the cafe Liam and I like. I watch them walk  towards the parking lot and I glance to my phone again, but still no word from  Liam. My gut is still sour and I decide to call him to check in. I watch  students file into my building as I sit on the phone but Liam never  picks up. I leave him a quick message telling him I'm back at my dorm.  It's too cold to wait around outside, so I stubbornly make my way to my  room and glance at my phone every step of the way.