Half A Heart {Trilogy in the Guskenna Series)

1

M

"I'm so proud of you, dear. You're at your dream college and you're rooming with your cousin." My mother says as she fixes the sheets on my bed. She catches me staring off in the distance at a photo of Gus and I. "Honey, I get it. You're gonna miss him, but you shouldn't let that get you down. Think of all the things you're going to be doing here. There's FaceTime, Facebook, Snapchat, and Skype. You guys are never truly going to be apart."

My fears aren't as easily hidden since last summer, "Mother, I don't think you understand. I'm terrified-"

"Terrified the same thing that happened when he left last year?" Savannah asks holding Remus in her arms. "Makenna, you have that promise ring for a reason. There's no reason that he'd ever leave you for someone else and if he did, he's making a mistake."

"You have nothing to worry about, kiddo." Rocky came to help me unpack, upon my request. "And if he does anything stupid, I'll punch his teeth down his throat. As simple as that." Savannah smacks his arm.

"Be nice."

"Hey, I'm only saying the truth."

"Still, this is Makenna's boyfriend and your cousin. You shouldn't threaten things like that." My mother says handing me my bag that contained all of my college things.

---

After bittersweet "goodbyes", the group I brought with me, leaves. I walk to my dorm room and I can't help but feel some sort of relief. I don't have to worry about any of the younger De St Jeor drama, or anything like that. Only Elana, Becca, and myself ended up leaving for college. Everyone else still had a year left, so when we all got accepted in colleges across the country, we knew things were gonna change.

As I unlock my door, I don't expect to see anyone. Once inside, I see my cousin. I hadn't seen Hailegh in years, but I was glad she was attending Seattle with me. As she turned around, I noticed the third person in the room. He was about a year older than me with a pair of striking blue eyes. When his eyes met mine, he smiled. I realized that I was staring and I quickly blinked.

"Hey, Mack! You're probably wondering why there's a boy in our room on the first day." She laughs, softly. "He's my boyfriend. It's his second year at Seattle and he's probably gonna hang out here with us a couple days a week."

I couldn't find my words. I had a boyfriend, but something about this boy in front of me, had me wanting to know more about him. Gus is pushed to the back of my mind as the boy hold his hand out. I meet his hand in the middle and he gives me a firm shake.

"Chandler, and you?" He asks.

"Makenna. Most people call me Mack or M."

"M? Interesting." He smiles as pulls his hand back. "Well, nice to meet you."

Makenna, you can't feel this way. You have a boyfriend. Tell the butterflies and these others to go away. You have to stay loyal to Gus.

Gus

"Are you sure you're all settled in? Do you have everything?" Rydel was really starting to get worried.

"Yes, I have everything I need. I'm 100% sure, Rydel."

"I just don't want you to be missing something you really need." Rydel states as she glances around my bedroom. "Make sure you call Mack later tonight. She wants to make sure you made it okay."