Page 12

CHAPTER 12

MARCUS, AGE 20

"How are you settling in?"

I spin around in my surprisingly spacious, private dorm room. My stepfather leans in the open doorway with a box in his hands. The door is propped open since I've been carrying boxes up from my car. There aren't many students here yet. Besides, I can't imagine any of these people would want to steal anything of mine. The dorm is full of trust fund kids, most of whom I've noticed turning their noses up at the size and quality of the rooms, like they expected to be staying in a five-star hotel.

"So far, so good. These dorms are great," I say, and I mean it. The dorms at Wake Prep were so cramped, I feel like I have a penthouse suite in comparison. There's a full-sized bed, desk, dresser, and a closet all to myself. The only thing that could make this room better is a private bathroom, but the showers and bathroom facilities are really nice. I know there are dorms in this building that are larger and have their own bathrooms, but they're a lot more expensive. Plus, a lot of the students who move into this level of the athletic dorms are planning to move into frat houses by the end of the first semester anyway, which means fewer people to share with.

"Good, good. How was the drive up the mountain?" Mom and Greg live only thirty minutes away, so it was a short but scenic drive. Cumberland Valley University sits on a high ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by the lush forest and some of the most beautiful views I've ever taken in. If I had any talent for art whatsoever, I'd be inspired to paint landscapes for the rest of my life with views like these. "Car handle okay?"

"The car is great, Greg. I'm still very thankful?—"

He cuts me off before I can thank him again. "I just want to make sure she's handling well. You're going to need a good vehicle to get around, especially when winter hits. These mountain roads are no joke in the snow. Your mother would never forgive me if I talked you into going to school so close but had to miss coming home for winter break because you're stuck up here." He gives me the most dad-like wink I've seen since my dad used to say, "Hi hungry, I'm dad."

"I know it's not much compared to the other students around here. There's a lot of excessive wealth that gets thrown around this campus. It's why neither of my kids wanted to come here. Vanessa didn't like being the odd woman out in the sorority, and Vance… Well, Vance dances to his own beat."

I can't help but crack a grin at that. Vance is studying music on the west coast and is definitely a character.

"It's perfect. And very appreciated. Not just the car, but the opportunity to be here. It means a lot, Greg. Really." There's no way that I'd have been able to come to CVU without his help. Not just because of the major discount in tuition, but because he talked me up to the coaching staff and convinced them to consider me.

"Are you kidding me? I'm freaking pumped that you're here. I finally get to utilize the perks of my tenure here and give the basketball team a leg up. NCAA Championship here we come!"

Shaking my head, I chuckle. "When was the last time CVU made it past the first round?"

"Doesn't matter. Between you and some of the other recruiting moves Coach Burke made, CVU's roster is looking damn good. We're projected to get a higher seed than we have in decades. It's very exciting, and all the surrounding towns are very involved, so there's a ton of hype."

"That's cool," I concede. "I have high hopes, but I don't know how much court time I'll get this first semester."

Greg bounces his shoulders excitedly. "You never know," he says in his most optimistic, proud dad voice. He's honestly excited to have me here.

Feeling a little choked up, I turn back to the box I was unpacking when he showed up. As soon as I look into the box, I know it was the wrong move. The very first item in the box, wrapped in one of my dad's favorite old band t-shirts, is a picture of me, my mom, and my dad from about six months before he died. It was taken just after a basketball game. My dad is wearing a Timberwolves Middle School hoodie with black streaks painted under his eyes like a baseball player. I told him it was the wrong sport, but he thought he looked cool. He's holding a sign that says, "#29 - That's My Boy!"

The lump in my throat expands. Greg takes a cautious step towards me and sits on the edge of the unmade bed. Too afraid I'll burst into tears if I speak, I sit down in the desk chair, rest my elbows on my knees, and take a deep breath.

Greg's hand lightly presses on my back. "I know it's not the same. I'm not him, and he should be the one here with you. I'm sorry he's not. But if you need me for anything… I'm here for you. I'm a good listener. Although, I realize hanging out with one of the professors isn't going to win you any cool points."

I huff a small laugh. "Luckily, I don't care about that."

"Well, in that case, how about I let you get settled in, then pick you up in about two hours for a late lunch? I'll show you where to get the best pizza and point out what gas station sells the best weed."

Startled, my head snaps up to make sure I heard him right.

"Totally kidding," he says, laughing. "I mean, I've heard rumors. But it's not legal here yet." He waggles his finger and speaks in a falsely stern voice. "And you don't want to do anything to compromise your position at this school."

I laugh out loud, thankful for the way he can always break through the tension. Not that I'm so macho I don't think men should cry. A good cry now and then is cathartic, but I'm not trying to make Greg feel bad. He's already done so much for me. I don't want him to feel like he needs to worry.

"Pizza sounds great."

"Cool. I'll text you when I'm on my way. Oh, and this is for you," he says, sliding the box into the center of the bed.

I didn't pay much attention to it, assuming it was something he was carrying into his office. It's a little bigger than a large shoe box and wrapped in the CVU school colors of black, silver, and purple. There's a stick figure drawing of a cat on the card that I'm assuming is supposed to be a cougar. I open it first.

"I think you're really going to like it here. Welcome to CVU."

There's no signature, but it's obvious it's from Greg. He and mom bought me a bunch of stuff for my dorm to celebrate graduating from Wake Prep and being accepted to CVU. Greg is really excited I chose to come here. He's close with his kids, but they both grew up and moved away, so I think having me around is comforting for him. He clearly enjoys his role as the dorky dad archetype.

Inside the box are two school t-shirts. One is heathered purple and has a basketball emblazoned with our mascot in black and silver, the cougar much fiercer than the drawing Greg did. The other is a long-sleeved white t-shirt that says, "I 'heart' CVU", but the heart is a basketball. There's also a lanyard, an insulated water bottle, a baseball hat, and two college pennants. One is purple and says, "CVU Cougars Basketball," and the other is black with a rainbow cougar and the school logo. The last thing in the box is an envelope full of gift cards for local restaurants and one for the student union, where most of the campus dining options are.

I smile to myself, feeling hopeful about my new start.