Low Tide

Chapter 1

I have been living by the ocean and listening to the waves crashing against the shore by my home for as long as I can remember. 

I will forever have salt laced in my hair and sand underneath by fingernails. 

Being by the ocean and listening to the calming sounds of the shores fill me with happiness and bliss and will definitely be missed as I travel across the state to attend UCLA. Sure, they have beaches in Los Angeles but nothing will beat my quaint little beach in my small hometown. 

I sit on the sand, playing with the small grains with my toes, burying them into the soft, white sand. The wind was chilly today and the waves were crashing loudly against the shore but all of it just brought a smile to my face. 

Living by the ocean definitely has it's perks. I am very tan, and my hair is light in color because of the everlasting sun. Yes, I know that being in the sun has risks but  I'm willing to take all of them just for the sake of being by the beach. 

"Kristen! It's time to go!" I heard the faint call of my dad from inside my house and I quickly ran up the sand, wiping my feet on the rug before heading back inside to grab the rest of my bags. 

For the past month my room has been cluttered with bags and cardboard boxes as I prepare to move into my new dorm. And today was the day. 

I rolled my suitcases that sat right by the door out to my white Jeep Wrangler. 

My mom and dad were packing up the back of my car and the small U-HAUL. My mom looked over the noticed me, a bright smile on her face. "Hey Sunshine! You ready?" she asked brightly. I nodded returning her a huge smile. I was trying to hold it together but I was so excited I might burst.

On top of just attending UCLA, I am also going to be a starter in their beach volleyball program! I am stoked but also nervous to be playing with some of the country's best players. My mom kept telling me that they wouldn't have chosen me if they didn't think I could handle it, which I know but the thought is still a bit nerve-wracking. 

I hopped into the passenger seat of my jeep as my dad climbed into the driver's seat pulling on his sunglasses. "Today's the day Kristen, are you ready?" He asked, facing me. I nodded "ready as I'll ever be." He turned back to the front and started to drive. "Then let's get going." 

..

After 6 hours, we finally pulled into the parking lot of Rueben Terrace Residence Hall. I jumped out, stretching out my tense back. My dad did the same, and we both worked to take my suitcases out of the back of the jeep and met my mom on the corner on the parking lot with the U-HAUL. 

They helped me pull all of my things into my dorm and I said a heartfelt goodbye to them, tears in all of our eyes. And then I stood, taking into account how little space I had in my dorm. Luckily my room-mate, whoever that was, had already filled in her space so I knew what I had to work with.

I stood there, contemplating in my mind what to do when a voice arose from behind me. 

"I know, there's like no space in here. It's a struggle."

I jumped and turned around to see a girl with a bright grin on her face. She had long wavy brown hair, brown eyes, fairly tan skin (not as dark as my tan) and was wearing a tight skirt with a white blouse. 

She waved at me "Hey! I'm Casey, are you Kristen?"

I nodded, "Are you my roommate?" I asked.

She giggled, "of course! Now obviously my stuff is put in, I got here yesterday, so all the left over space is yours."

I nodded, glancing at her side. She had a twin bed with a white comforter and colorful pillows, she had string lights on the wall and pictures hung on paper clips. There was a full length mirror in the corner, a large desk with a bin of makeup and another with school supplies and on a little table right next to it a microwave. 

"I thought we could share the desk, mirror and microwave so that there's more space in here." Casey suggested. I nodded once more, "That'd be great!" I could tell Casey would be a nice roommate. 

She offered to help me put my stuff together which I gratefully accepted and we got to work. 

She helped me put my bed in the corner, with a blue and white comforter and string lights on the wall behind, I put my picture board on the wall by my bed and other posters and such, I also had a desk for school work, and I put in a TV. Finally, we both put the UCLA pennant on the window between our beds and looked over and smiled at each other. 

By now, the sky outside was a pretty mix of colors as the sun set. She yawned. "How about I order pizza and we get to know each other?" she asked. I shook my head, I loooveedd pizza. 

I turned the TV on and flipped it to Criminal Minds.

"Oh my gosh I love that show!" Casey exclaimed. "I know it's so good! Derek Morgan is soooo cute!" I gushed. She shook her head. "No I'm more of a Spencer Reid type girl." I shrugged "Both are good choices." She agreed and we both laughed. "I ordered pepperoni is that okay?" 

"I typically go with just cheese but that's fine" I smiled.

She gasped. "Just cheese?  Are you serious?" 

"Yes?" She rolled her eyes. "Ew how could you not add pepperoni."

I shrugged, "I just don't like it." "Well", she said smiling "you're just crazy!" 

I giggled throwing a pillow at her "No I'm not." She started giggling and we both sat there giggling with each other. 

Eventually the pizza came and we sat there eating and talking about ourselves. I told her about my family, my mom is a doctor and my dad is a surfboard maker (he has his own store!). I also had an older brother Chase, who went to Seattle for college. 

She told me about how she had a sister in high school and another who's a junior in college at FSU in Florida. She said her parents are divorced but they are still friendly so the family is okay and in touch. She told me she's from Florida.

"Why'd you decide to go to UCLA?" "I got a full ride scholarship to be part of their beach volleyball program!" She exclaimed. My jaw dropped. "What are the odds? I'm part of the program too!" She gasped, "No way! How is this possible?"

I chuckled, "Roommate questionnaires are magical things." She agreed.

She took another bite of her pizza and moaned. "God this is so good, I stand by my word and say that if you don't like pepperoni pizza, you're crazy!"

I laughed and shook my head. 

So we sat, eating pizza, sharing our lives and looked out on the campus from my window. We could see the courtyard and the beach peeking out just a little from the buildings.

I knew college was going to be amazing!