Author's Note: I'm back. Please, please review. So far the title of this story is named Living a Little. I couldn't think of a name, so I picked something out in the first chapter. If you have any other ideas for a title please email me. Thanks to Jamie for helping me out with making sure the story sounded better.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything other than the movie. Avery, Julia, Drew, Val, Holly, Elizabeth, and whoever else I talk about that aren't from the movie are all mine. Now please go read the story.

Avery Lucas pulled her wood paneled station wagon into a vacant spot at the University of Minnesota. She hesitated for a second before turning off the ignition. It was August and the heat was terrible. She looked over at her friend, Valerie Brian, before opening her door. After getting her book bag from the backseat, she waited for Valerie before they started to walk toward campus. Deep down Avery was wishing to be back in Chicago, lying on the beach near Lake Michigan, instead of walking toward the school to start the fall semester of 1979.

Avery was getting her master's in teaching, all thanks to her grandma. She loved the subject because her grandma was a history teacher. When the families would come together for a holiday, birthday, or any kind of celebration, they would go into a corner and she would tell Avery stories about ancient times. Avery's plan is to get her PhD and from there teach at a place like the University of Michigan or Northwestern. Avery being a very determined person never thought that anything could get in the way of those plans.

"I know I'm going to regret saying this, but can we please have snow?" Avery whined.

Valerie chuckled. "Didn't you just say you wish you were back in Chicago?"

Avery shrugged. "I want both Val."

The girls kept walking, trying not to get hit by the cars that were coming into the parking lot. It was a lively place, people trying to get to class, groups talking, a small group of guys playing touch football in the quad. Avery and Val weren't paying attention to the group because they were discussing a friend's baby's baptism. The next thing Avery knew, she was on the ground, her book bag a few feet away.

"Avery, are you ok?"

Avery looked up before standing up. "Fine." She looked over at the guy who ran into her.

"I'm sorry," the guy said. "Didn't watch where I was going. Are you ok?"

Avery noticed the accent the guy had, trying to place it, but realized he asked her something. "Oh yeah. Nothing's broken. No harm no foul."

The guy nodded once and smiled. The other guys yelled for him to get back to the game and so he went. The girls looked at one another when he wasn't in earshot and chuckled. Avery picked up her book bag, and they headed off, laughing about what happened.

vvv

"Coxie!"

Ralph Cox strolled back to the group of guys and threw the football to one of them.

"Now that's running into a girl."

"Did you get her number?"

Ralph laughed but shook his head. "She was pretty though."

Rob McClanahan put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "She was a student teacher last year and from what I've heard, she's uptight."

Ralph gave him a look. "You ever talk to her?"

"Not really."

"Hey if that's the truth," Steve Janaszak said, "once you get her in bed, the wild kitten will emerge."

Jimmy Craig chuckled. "Says the guy who screws older women."

"You guys ready to play or what?" Mark Wells asked from his group of guys.

Ralph patted Rob on the back before taking his place across from Dave Christian. Deep down Ralph was hoping to see her again.

vvv

Avery walked into O'Malley's bar behind two of her friends, Julia Monroe and Drew Harper, but was laughing at something Val had said. They walked over to one of the booths, waited five minutes before a waitress came over and got their orders. It's been two days since school started and the girls wanted to have some fun before their brains became mush from studying. Drew was trying to get her bachelor's in health education, Julia was getting her degree in nursing, Avery of course masters in history, and Val was getting her bachelor's in biology.

"Get this… Professor Anderson wants us to write 5 papers, each ten pages long," Val whined. "I know I'm getting a degree in biology, but ten pages is way too long."

"You have fifteen weeks to do them," Drew argued.

"Ok… whoever starts to bitch about school, they have to drink… no… take a shot," Julia said.

"You won't hear a peep out of me," Avery replied joking.

For Drew though, she rolled her eyes because she didn't think it was funny. "Av, I love you, but seriously please take the stick out of your ass and live a little."

"That was harsh," Val replied.

"No, I'm serious. When was the last date you've had? When was the last time you got seriously drunk at a party?"

Val had enough. "She's determined."

"I know, but we all agree…"

Avery sighed. "We've gone through this over and over. I'm happy being single. I don't need to be liked by anyone to party, and seriously determined to start working in a classroom by 1982."

"Why 1982?"

"I just picked a year."

"Since we're talking about a career and graduating, you need to take a shot." Julia stood up and grabbed a shot from another table. The guy protested, but she told him she'd buy him another. She plopped it down in front of Avery and smiled at her.

Avery rolled her eyes, but took the shot anyway. Avery knows how uptight she is. The only thing to her that's worth getting is her degree. One day in the future, she hopes to be working at a college. The last boyfriend she had was two years ago, but the guy she was with, they had been together back in Chicago. She looked over at Drew and smiled. "Better?"

"It'll do."

"One of the pool tables is open."

The girls went over, racked up the balls, and started to play. Drew and Val were partners, which, of course, meant Avery and Julia were partners.

"Holly wants us to get together to discuss where her mom is throwing the bridal party," Val told the girls.

"She mentioned it to me," Julia said.

"When is the bachelorette party?"

"Ask Elizabeth."

"Nine ball, right corner pocket," Julia said while lining up the shot. She made it, of course.

After a few more games, the girls went back to the booth. Right when they did, a group of guys came in. They were a little noisy. Avery noticed the guy she ran into, he noticed her.

"Av, you're totally checking out that guy," Drew said.

Avery looked over at Drew, tucked a piece of her brunette hair behind her ear. "Shut up."

"Wait…" Val whispered. "That's the guy who ran into you."

"What's this?" Drew asked raising her eyebrows.

"The other day we were going to class and he ran into me."

Julia took a drink of her cosmo before saying, "He's pretty cute. I've always wondered what it would feel like to kiss a guy with facial hair."

"Go over."

Avery took a drink of her strawberry daiquiri, looked over at the guy with her eyes, and then told them, "I'm not interested."

"Then why are you looking over at him?"

Avery didn't have an answer, so she shrugged.

Drew stood up from the booth, shook her head. "Avery… live a little. I'm going to the bathroom, if you're still in the same spot, I'm going to hit you."

Avery gave Drew a face when she turned around. "She's… really… annoying."

"She is, but we love her."

Avery gave her two friends a lopsided smile before looking over again at the guy. Truth was, deep down she was interested. The guy wasn't from around here, he had that New England appeal. She's never known a guy from the eastern seaboard. That was when she realized that she did need to get out more. "The darts are open. Anyone want to play?"

Ralph Cox watched the girl walk over to the darts game with the friend that was with her the other day. Out of all the girls he's seen on campus and in this bar, they weren't as pretty as her. Back in June, he tried out for the USA Olympic Hockey team and got a spot. That first night in Colorado, he told a couple of his new friends that he's playing because he loves hockey and wants to get into the NHL. He jokingly stated though that he was playing for the girls. As stupid as it sounds, he was thinking that hopefully she was a hockey fan, so he could impress her.

"Your pretty girl is here, Coxie," Dave Silk said while elbowing him in the side.

Rob saw the look in his face and sighed. "Dude… stick up her ass. Why waste the time?"

Ralph looked away from the girl and gave Rob a look. "Hey! Why not? If I get turned down, then I get turned down. It doesn't mean I didn't try."

"Hey Robbie," a voice called.

Rob, Dave, and Ralph looked over at Drew. She saw him over here, so she came over. Rob and her last year had a fling. That's where he was getting his info. "What's going on Drew?" They shared a hug.

"Thought I'd come over and say hi. I haven't seen you on campus." Drew replied. She nodded at the other guys.

Rob shrugged. "I'm apart of the USA Olympic team. We've been practicing since June."

Drew made a 'oh' noise before nodding in a flirtatious way. She was impressed. "That's sweet."

Ralph turned away from the conversation and noticed yet again the girl looking over at the group. She looked like she wanted to kill someone. That's when he realized that she was staring at Drew.

"Wonderful. Avery thinks I'm doing something that involves your friend here."

Ralph looked back over at Drew. "What?"

"Avery… as much as I love her… she is very uptight. She doesn't really do much because she's determined to get her masters."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Drew didn't hold back. "She was checking you out when you came in."

Ralph smirked and looked at Rob. "Huh… really?"

"It doesn't mean she'll say yes."

"Who?" Phil Verchota asked coming up with a beer in his hand. "What's going on Drew?"

"Philly! Avery…" Drew started.

Phil raised his hands up. "Say no more."

Ralph couldn't believe how they were acting. She couldn't be that bad. The more they were acting like this, the more he wanted to talk to her. He didn't want to think of it as a challenge, just a way to get to know her, if she'll let him.

"I can't believe Drew," Avery whispered. "Let me live my life the way I want to." Avery turned back to the darts board and threw the last dart. Her brown tresses covered her face when she looked down at the ground. She couldn't believe Drew would do that.

"She's talking to Rob McClannahan," Val told her. "She wasn't shy about their love affair last year."

Avery looked back over to the group and shook her head. "I still don't believe she did that."

"I still can't believe it surprises you," Val replied while throwing her last dart. Avery was the one who got the darts. "Drew wanted him, she got him."

Avery concentrated on the darts. When Val walked over to the board, that's when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She was a little disappointed that the guy was standing there. It meant Drew… being the pain in the ass that she was… said something.

"Hi," Ralph said.

Avery smiled a little. "Hi." She looked behind him, thinking she was going to see Drew staring over at them, but she was no where in sight.

"I ran into you the other day… I'm Ralph… Cox," he nervously said. As much as he wanted to come over, what Rob and Drew said was still with him. "How are you?"

Avery chuckled. "I'm fine. I'm Avery… Lucas."

"Avery… that's different."

Avery shrugged. "It was my mom's maiden name."

"Do you wanna take my place?" Val asked coming back over with the darts. "I'm darted out."

Avery gave Val a sideways glance, while Ralph took the darts. "Sure, if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Val insisted. She gave them a smile before leaving. Mouthed 'talk to him' at Avery when Ralph turned toward the board.

"So… you go to the school?" Ralph asked.

Avery nodded watching him get ready to throw the dart. "I'm getting my masters in teaching."

"Teaching what?" Ralph walked up to the board and grabbed the darts. He walked back over and handed them to her.

"History." Avery threw her first dart and it hit the 15 mark.

"You're good at this."

"I'm all right." She threw another one.

"History teacher, eh?"

"Yeah."

"Cool."

Avery smiled when she went and got the darts. "Do you go to the school?" she asked when she handed him the darts.

"No. I'm with the USA Olympic hockey team. We're practicing in Bloomington."

"The Olympic team? I think I heard that the hockey coach for the Gophers was coaching the team."

Ralph nodded as he threw the dart. "That he is."

Avery tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Where are you from?"

"New Hampshire."

"Wow."

"Are you from around here?"

"No. Chicago."

"Home of the Blackhawks."

"Is that a hockey team?" she asked innocently.

Ralph turned to her with a look of shock. "You don't know who the 'Hawks are?"

"No. Should I?"

"Bobby Hull?"

Avery shook her head. "No. Sorry. I'm more of a Cubs fan."

Ralph was amazed. "I don't know what to say. I'm surprised."

Avery bit her bottom lip thinking how much of an idiot she was. "Sorry."

Ralph shook his head. "Why? Not all girls know about hockey." He handed her the darts.

Avery threw the darts. They ended up making small talk a little more. Avery asking about the team, while Ralph asked about school. When Avery had enough of the darts, she told him it was nice meeting him and she hoped to see him again.

"How about we go out sometime?" Ralph asked. "I mean… would you like go on a date?"

Avery wasn't sure. She was thinking about schoolwork, but Drew's voice entered her head, 'live a little'. Avery nodded at Ralph. "Sure. When?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Um… ok. Let me give you my phone number." Avery wrote her number down on a napkin and when she walked away she felt good. Val asked her what's up when she came back and when she told Julia and her, they smiled and quietly cheered her on.