My eyes are shut but my brain is still switched on. The crickets are chirping through our open window and I hear Zoe wheeze as she breathes in her sleep. My phone is connected to the charger but is sitting right next to my right ear. Out of courtesy for Zoe, I put the volume on vibrate but I'm afraid if I drift off to sleep I'll miss Liam's call. In all the time I have known Liam, he has never forgotten to call to tell me goodnight. I am officially worried but I don't know what else I can do but wait by the phone.

My parents are still driving my car until tomorrow, so I have no way down to Liam's house and I don't have the slightest clue as to where Topher lives. I tilt my head to the side to glance at my phone just to reaffirm what I already know- no missed calls or texts. I pull my covers tighter and roll onto my side so I face the wall. My brain is feeding me endless scenarios of where Liam could be and the most terrifying one is that Topher captured him and snuck off to Virginia with him. I pop my eyes open and stare at the white wall in front of me until my eyes start to burn.

I wish I could talk to someone about this and I realize I might have to fill Harper in on what's been happening here. Liam specifically told me not to, but I am going crazy keeping all of this madness inside of me. She's the only one that knows our secret so she's the only one that can help me process everything that's going on.

As I am over analyzing everything with Liam, I realize this could be my last weekend in this dorm room. If I make it into Kappa Delta, my move in date would be next Sunday. I roll onto my other side and my eyes glide over all of Zoe's golden trinkets adorning her desk. I glance to the tapestry and know even if I move, that tapestry will forever be burned into my mind.

I'm not sure when it happened, but while I was staring at the bright sun on the middle of her wall, my eyes decide to betray me and I somehow manage to fall fast asleep.

************

My eyes shoot open after my loud door startles me awake when it's slammed shut by a fleeing Zoe. The sun is already flooding into our room and I immediately flip over to my phone. The only message I have is from my mom, telling me that she'll meet me down at the diner in twenty minutes- that was fifteen minutes ago. I spring off my bed and gather my clothes quickly to change. I fly down to the bathroom and shower in record time. My stomach is still queasy when I check my phone before leaving my dorm and see nothing new from Liam. I was going to have him pick me up on the way to the diner but I now have no ride. The diner is less than ten minutes from campus so I ask Mischa if I can borrow her bike to meet my parents. She meets me in front of the doors to unlock her bike lock for me.

"Hey Ellie, did you have a good parents weekend?"She asks as I follow her over to the bike rack. She quickly releases her bike from the chains as I answer.

"Yeah I did! I'm meeting my parents now before they have to leave and Liam wasn't able to pick me up. Thank you so much for letting me borrow your bike. I'll call you when I'm back."

I swing my leg over the pink beach rider and it takes me a second to steady myself on the pedals. I haven't ridden a bike since I got my drivers license so I fumble along the bike path for a few seconds. Once I get into a groove, it only takes a few minutes before I am pulling up to the diner. I lock up the bike with the chain Mischa gave me and I see my parents in a booth by the front door.

"Hey mom and dad. Sorry I'm late. Liam wasn't able to come after all so I borrowed my friends bike," I quickly say as I slide into the squishy booth across from them.

"Aww, well we are sorry we aren't able to say goodbye to him then," my mom says but he's the one that's going to be sorry when I find him. I notice my mom is already rocking her orange Pepperdine shirt and I realize I need to shake my worried thoughts about Liam away and enjoy the little time I have left with my parents.

"So, it looks like your fall break is in November for Thanksgiving. Are you going to want to come home for that?" My dad asks and I nod my head as I take a sip of my coffee.

"Okay, well give us the dates and we'll book your plane tickets. Is Harper coming home for break too?" My mom asks as she sips her latte.

"Yeah, I think so. I miss her and Lily already." I fill her in on what's been going on in Harper and Lily's life until our food arrives. I decide I want to call Harper after I say goodbye to my parents because I need to spill my guts to someone.

After my parent's finish eating and arguing with me about taking an Uber to the airport, I sit defeated as my mom sets up the ride.

"Dad, I can drive down to LAX, it's not that big of a deal," I say one last time but my mom already has someone on the way.

"Your mother and I don't really want you on the highways. It's fine. You probably have homework to be doing anyway," My dad says and I slowly nod my head. They pay the tab and I follow them outside as a mini van pulls up to the curb. My dad quickly gathers their suitcases from the trunk of my car and transfers them over to the trunk. My dad gives me a rib crushing hug and I see my mom bat tears away.

"Mom I'll be home in two months. Those months are going to fly by!" I reassure her and I leave my dads arms and move into hers.

"I know, I just miss you so much. Maybe I'll come out for a long weekend in September?" I nod my head as I feel a frog get stuck in my throat. Saying goodbye to my parents is so much harder than I expected. My mom kisses my forehead and tucks my new car keys into my hand. I watch her and my dad slide into the van and I wave as I watch it pull out of the parking lot. I pull my phone out from my small purse and see no new messages from Liam. I trot over to my car and climb inside the new space. I quickly pop the top off and sit in the parking lot wondering where to drive to, knowing I don't want to go back to my dorm yet. I look to my left and see three surfers walking with their gear toward the beach. I start the car and turn right out of the parking lot, already loving the wind on my face.

It only takes ten minutes to drive down to the beach and find a decent parking space. The sun is high above my head, making the leather seats sting my skin. I close the top to my car and grab my purse from the passenger seat.

When my feet hit the sand I slide my sandals off and stumble across the hot surface. After I get closer to the water I find a cozy spot away from the other loud beach goers and drop to the sand. I'm mesmerized by the blue waves crashing and tumbling over each other and get quickly lost in my scattered thoughts.

I'm completely in a daze when I hear a soft jingle in my purse. My attention snaps to my phone and I fumble through my bag until my fingers grip my phone. I see Harper calling and I immediately accept her call.

"Harper! I have never been so happy to see you calling! I have so much to tell you!"