In Those Two Weeks

Chapter 2 - Once Again

Around ten years passed since that weekend in Breckenridge, and since then my family returned every year hoping to find respite from our typical crowded schedules. While our trips never coincided with the McMorris', mom nevertheless spent hours everyday mindlessly chatting with Mark's mom over the phone. Our parents grew closer, eventually vacationing together every June to my parents house in Isle of Palms, while I was away at camp. 

As I grew older, I learned to focus all my attention on soccer, losing sight of the world around me, because all that mattered was holding on the feeling I got when playing. The more I played the less I had to think about my underlying anxiety growing sharper and sharper with each minor slip-up. I desired to be the best and that would only happen if blocked out the noise and put my attention solely on soccer. On the outside, I performed perfectly not only on the field but for the ones around me, who were willing to overlook the cracks in my facade as long as I kept achieving.   

I did what I needed to and secured my spot on UCLA's women's soccer team by my junior year of high school. As I progressed into my career I took a sabbatical from school to further my position on the USWNT. My tunnel vision clouded my judgement, but at the time only soccer mattered. It was that clouded judgement that led to an injury that would change everything for me. 

On the other end of the spectrum was Charlie. He was able to make a career with surfing, fell in love with a girl, and to this day goes about life only doing things he loves. Must be nice. 

"Go Charlie! Oh, come on! He totally had priority there!" While typically reserved, nothing could control my tongue at Charlie's surf competitions. So far, he has had two good runs, and he needed a 9.4 on his last run to qualify for an international surf festival.

Charlie finally dropped in on a wave and ripped a huge aerial and landed with a slight stutter step, but that wasn't not enough to deduct more than two-tenths of a point. He rode in smoothly, and pulled a few more tricks while he climbed and dropped waves. Knowing he will end with one last trick, I turn away to grab a water from our cooler. I glanced up to the competitors' tent to figure out his final score on the board and identified a familiar face. It couldn't be...No way, why would he be here?

I couldn't tear my gaze away from him as I connected his features with those of his thirteen year-old self. Hair still curly yet cut short. Eyes still bright, and yet had gained a maturity unlike his younger self. I knew I had been staring too long, because soon he caught my gaze and before he could react, I turned back to the ongoing competition. Charlie rode in smoothly and dipped out to prevent running ashore.

"Woo! Way to go, Charlie!" I couldn't help but cheer, this was the win he needed to further his professional status as a surfer. Winning the next international festival would put his name in the same range as some of the best surfers in the world. He wadded through the water up towards the shoreline, threw his board in the sand, and ran the rest of the way in my direction, where I stood with open arms. He swept me off my feet and spun us around in celebration; he did not even need to check the judges stand to know he placed first. "I can't believe you just did that!"

Others rushed around and separate Charlie, lifted him on their shoulders and towards the winners' podium. I remained at the shoreline basking in his victory, and observed all the victorious commotion at the podium. I decided to run towards the podium to celebrate with him, and as I took a step up someone moved in my path, blocking me from Charlie.

"Excuse me!" I shouted over the commotion towards my blockade, who turned and smiled. Oh shit. It was him. Mark McMorris. "Sorry, I just have to get to my brother."

I pretended to not recognize Mark in fear of embarrassment of him potentially not remembering me. I peered into his eyes, which surprisingly held recognition and his mouth opened as if to address me, but instead I took the opportunity to slide past him and up next to my brother on the podium. Charlie, who sprayed Champagne, instantly pulled me into a bear hug and spills the liquid in the bottle all over my hair. We jumped around and proceeded to goof off while the judges presented him with a flowered lei and trophy. When we were instructed to pose for pictures I took that as my queue to go back down to our belongings on the beach.