Bridget had been waiting for this moment her whole life: college. She wasn't the best student of her class; she considered some of her classes to be irrelevant, so she didn't bother in studying hard. Yet, there was one subject that she had loved her whole life and excelled in it: English. Her love for books had started when her father read Dr. Seuss to her every night before going to bed, and before she knew it, she was reading books from great authors, her favourite being "Wuthering Heights" which she read every Christmas.

She remembers the day that she got that big envelope which determined her future as if it was yesterday. Bridget arrived home after school and saw her mother, Pam Jones, holding the brown paper rectangle, smiling. Her face turned white with mixed emotions: she was nervous, anxious, scared, happy. With shaky hands, she took the envelope from her mother's hands, took a deep breath and opened it. Her eyes were wide-open once she saw her fate: she got into Bangor University. Bridget and her mother started crying with joy, hugging each other and jumping up and down. Once her father, Colin Jones, was informed about the good news, he left work and rushed home immediately.

The very next day, family members and friends gathered around for a celebratory party at Bridget's home. "Oh, Bridget! What a joy! Now, let's see if you catch a man at Bangor, eh?" her Auntie Una Alconbury said. She and her Mum were determined in finding Bridget a husband ever since she was 12 when she introduced to them her first boyfriend. All she could do was just laugh at her comment. She wasn't going to let her Mum's closest friend ruin her night.

Her best friends – Tom, Jude and Shazzer – finally arrived and took her outside to rest from all the congratulations she was receiving. Shazzer even managed to steal a small bottle of vodka from her parent's cabinet and they drank the liquid with gusto. The alcohol burned her throat, but after a few shots, she didn't feel anything. Bridget removed a packet of cigarettes from her dark blue jeans and smoked two.

She was well into her third one when she heard her mother calling out to her. "Yoo-hoo, Bridget! There's someone here that wants to speak to yooooouuuuuuu." Her mother exclaimed. Bridget threw her cigarette to the ground and put a Cool Mint Listerine in her mouth to cover the alcohol and nicotine smell.

"Yes, mother?"

"Elaine and Malcolm Darcy are here! Such a shame they couldn't bring Mark. He's in Cambridge, you know? Studying Law." Pam gushed.

"Bridget. Congratulations on getting into Bangor. Wales is such a long way from home, but it's so nice to see you pursue your dream." Elaine Darcy was actually a sweet lady, and Admiral Darcy was serious, but pleasant. He also congratulated her, shaking her hand. "Well done, young lady." He said in a firm tone of voice. She smiled and thanked them.

"Pam, I just had a fantastic idea!" Auntie Una ran to her Mum, "we should introduce Bridget to Mark! Such a lovely, fellow. I think you'd like him very much, Bridge."

"Oh, Una! That's such a fantastic idea! How haven't I thought about it before!" The Darcy's left the scene as soon as they saw Una approaching, knowing the nonsense she was going to say. Una and Pam got lost into their fantasy and were already planning Bridget and Mark's wedding when her father approached her.

"I've always dreaded these things." He said, holding a glass of whiskey in a hand and a cigarette on the other. Bridget had the urge of grabbing it off his fingers, but stopped midway; no one knew her little secret.

"Well, you know Mum. She always loved showing off and finding an excuse to have a party. I always think the annual Turkey Curry Buffet is enough, but clearly I'm wrong." She chuckled and her father gave her the same response.

"There she is! My little Bridget!" Her Uncle Geoffrey, Una's husband, danced towards her, completely pissed. He always grabbed her arse and insisted on being called Uncle, which was pretty gross and perverted, and asked the dreaded question everyone ask her: "Oh, Bridget, 18 years-old and still single? Tsk, tsk, tsk." "Bridget, how can that be! By the time I was 18 I already had three boyfriends!"

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder which startled her. "Bridge, come outside with us." Tom said, completely plastered. She followed him to the same spot where they did their shameful smoking and drinking.

By midnight, everybody had left except Tom, who insisted in staying when Shazzer and Jude left to go to a bar and keep drinking, and was now sleeping on the couch. She covered him with a comfy white blanket and gave him a peck on the cheek. Tom stirred and said, sleepily and drunk "Bridge, don't try to get me turned on. You know I play for the other team."

Colin appeared from behind and told her, "Bridget, let him spend the night her, he's obviously out like a light." Bridget laughed and stood up. She headed towards the stairs when she heard her father say, "Puppet, I'm so proud of you."

Bridget smiled and ran up her stairs, exhausted. She laid on her bed and smiled. Her dreams were finally coming true, and, who know, maybe she will find her knight in shining armour. All she could do was hope.