Alison finished unpacking her books. Today was her first day in her dorm at Rafferty College. She was really nervous, and a little scared, but she didn't want anyone to know that. Especially since her parents were hesitant enough about leaving her there. Alison felt like Stevie noticed her anxiety, though, but thankfully she kept the suspicions to herself.

Her mom and dad were actually very calm throughout the move. Alison assumed that they'd be flustered parents like in every dorm move-in story she'd heard at orientation. They were very cool and accepting of Ali's needs, and let her take the lead. That made her feel much better. Stevie and Jason were being huge helps, too. She didn't realize how much stuff she'd packed until they were unloading it all.

"Where do you want this lamp?" Elizabeth asked. "That one goes on the desk," Alison replied. "Thanks, mom."

Jason whined. "Can we go now? Please? I'm hungry and practically everything is unpacked anyways!"

"Jason, stop that right now! Alison's setting the pace here. When she says we're done here, then that's that." Henry asserted.

"It's okay, Jase. I promise that we'll be done soon!" Alison insisted. "Scout's Honor!"

"Fine." Jason responded with a slight smile, refocusing on the box he was unpacking.

"Noodle, are you sure that you want to do this?" Henry started, jokingly. "There's always…"

"Dad, I swear if you finish that sentence, I'm going to throw this pillow at your face!" Alison sassed as she picked up her Hello Kitty accent pillow.

At this point, her roommate walked in carrying a large REI duffle bag.

"Nice Ghostbusters poster!" She grinned like an idiot. "I'm Jessie! You must be Alison. I saw your name on the list outside… Nice to meet you!" They shook hands. "So who's your favorite?" she asked, glancing again at Ali's Ghostbusters poster.

Ali blushed. "Patty! Holtzman comes in at a close second, though. But Abby and Erin have qualities that I adore, too. They're all great in their own ways."

Jessie nodded and grinned, quickly scanning Ali's side of the room. "I like you. You're smart." She then tossed her duffle bag onto her bed and swaggered out of the room, all the while awkwardly staring at Alison and her family. Ali wasn't completely sure, but it looked like Jessie winked at her too.

Alison was stunned, and felt something that she didn't feel that often. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Not at that moment, anyways.

"Ali, you're staring into space…" Elizabeth murmured.

"Earth to Ali!" Stevie joked.

"Alison, do you read me? This is your captain speaking!" Henry giggled.

Jason waved his hand in front of her face, tapped her forehead and quipped, "Hello! Hello in there! Is anyone home?"

Alison snapped out of her trance and swatted his hand away. She laughed along with the rest of her family, slightly embarrassed at her reaction to her roommate.

After they all stopped laughing they went on unpacking, each quietly singing along to the music they had playing in the background.

A few minutes later, Stevie blurted out "Hey Ali, can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure!" Alison smiled.

They walked out of her room and down the hall far enough to be out of earshot.

Alison could barely get a "What's up?" out before Stevie gave her a huge hug and told her "I'm really going to miss having you around, ya'know. I know we don't have the best relationship in the world, but you're my sister and I love you. I value you."

They both started tearing up. "I'm going to miss you too." Alison told her sister, and her hug got a little tighter.

When they finally let go, Stevie quietly said "If you need anything, anything at all, I'm only a phone call away, okay?"

"Okay." Alison sniffled.

Jessie then walked by, carrying several small boxes, humming a song they didn't immediately recognize. She nodded at Ali and raised her eyebrows in a mildly flirtatious way.

Alison blushed. Big time.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Stevie coaxed.

"Um…" Ali started.

Elizabeth popped her head into the hallway and shouted, "Hey! This unpacking isn't going to do itself!"

Stevie and Alison both mindlessly yelled back "Coming!"

"To be continued!" Alison sputtered quickly as she started to walk back to her room.

Stevie grinned and shrugged.