A/N: Chapter revised and edited. Some things have changed. I looked back on this and decided to change it slightly, so you should give it a glance over. Hope you like!

1. Old Times

The blank paper annoyed her. She tapped her pencil on her cheek nervously, frustrated at her own writer's block. Reaching over the bed and towards the ground, she picked up her juice and took another swig.

It always seemed when you wanted to write something totally meaningful and heartfelt, the words never came. Perhaps they were so strong, and had been so incredibly embedded in your thoughts for so long, you couldn't express them?

Not another thought-provoking dribble Ginger, thought the young woman, biting at the eraser, this isn't your diary.

Now, words, please.

Again, the paper stayed blank, ignoring her plea. Ginger grunted and rolled over, letting the pencil lazily fall from her hand. She heard as it hit the floor. The room was empty and quiet except her. With the constant partying nights the past week, she welcomed the silence, even if it did prompt her to write a very uncomfortable letter.

Through the corner of her eye, she could see the other empty bed. Orange Light slithered its way from the window in the middle of the room, separating Ginger's side of the area, decorated with paintings of horses and pictures from down memory lane, from her roommate's. Ginger always found her roommate rather enjoyable, and liked to look at the many drawings and random decorations that graced her wall.

She closed her eyes. Maybe if she slept, she could write something. Maybe if she just let her mind wander, she could get out what she needed to say. But, like always, sleep didn't come easy to her. It'd been like that ever since she came here. Already in her second year of college, she was excited about her promising career as a writer. Coming to a community college was good, she told herself repeatedly. It got her away from Shady Shrubs, away from the dullness, and away from painful memories, that now, more than ever, were dotting her cranium.

Since most of high school, she'd been dating Orion, after taking the plunge to ask him out at her mom's wedding to Dave. He accepted, saying he had hoped she'd felt that way, and even went so far to give her a promise ring right on the spot. It was romantic and cute at the time, but now, it felt like too much to deal with. Ginger rolled back on her stomach, sighing with confused and agitated feelings. She thought after she left home things would be so much easier, even if Orion was left behind, and she was once again, forced to deal with a long distance relationship. She thought it'd be easy to plan out her life. But now, it just felt like more wild and out-of-control than ever, and she realized, that what she wanted, or who, to be exact, had her thinking.

She'd kept in touch with Dodie and Macie over the two years, but hadn't seen Darren since her departure. At first, she didn't want to see him. But even after her decided comments about not being close to him, she always felt a void knowing he wasn't around. Why am I thinking of him now? Ginger thought miserably. Why am I thinking 'what if' when it's too late?

Her eyes wandered casually to the brand new diary poking out from underneath her pillow. She hadn't the heart to put anything in it, feeling so scattered within herself. It didn't feel right to start her logging just yet. It had been nearly a week since her last, old entry, and she was becoming even more skeptical at having nothing to write in it.

"What am I going to say?" She asked herself aloud with anger. She jumped, however, when the door opened.

"Why is it, whenever I come in, you're battling your demons?" Susan asked with a playful smile. Waving to some friends before entering, Susan closed the door and flopped down on her bed. "No more finals," she sighed with a small laugh. Ginger sat up, positioned cross-legged, and cradled a pillow to her chest. Susan took note of this and sat up too. Her eyes mirrored concern. "What's on your mind Red," she asked, using her usual nickname for the girl.

"Well," Ginger started, having developed a strong friendship with Susan since her arrival, "It's…about the upcoming break." Susan leaned forward, intertwining her fingers in one another, after grabbing her reading glasses from a shelf above her bed. These she situated on her nose before she nodded for a continuation. Somehow, it reminded Ginger of Macie.

"I see…"

"I-I just don't know what to do."

"Wait, we're still going right? You're not cancelling are you?" Susan's eyes widened.

"I don't know."

At this reply, Susan restrained a depressing sigh. Ginger looked to her, trying to read her mind, but as always, when in deep thought, Suzy had that 'far off, thousand mile' stare. She always fixed her gaze on one object while she was deep in contemplation, and now, Ginger saw to her relief, she was staring at the far carpet of the room near her bed.

Susan Anderson was a light-hearted, dreamy, and thoughtful young woman. The same age as Ginger, she had the makings of a great artist. Often times, when Ginger looked at Susan— or Su for short— the young girl reminded her of Courtney Gripling. With shoulder-length blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, the girl was almost a spitting image. But contrary to Courtney, Susan's personality was more open-minded and understanding. She was full of depth. Ginger couldn't help but constantly be reminded of her mother when she spoke with Susan, and now, she was about to get an insight.

"Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed if you decide to stay here." Susan answered finally, looking at Ginger with a somber expression. "But you were so excited last week to meet Orion and everyone, and I'm itching to meet 'the gang' you talk about every-waking-hour. What brought the change Ginger?" Ginger stared down to her blankets and situated uncomfortably.

"It's…"

The timing couldn't have been worse. Just as Ginger was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. Susan growled and hurried to answer it, flinging the door open with a jerk. Ginger could clearly see a group of girls in the hall.

"C'mon Su, come with us," whined one girl with a devilish smile. Susan paused and glanced to Ginger with a roll of her eyes.

"I got plans. Ginger and I are going out for sodas soon." After many apologies and voices of sorrow, Susan closed the door and sat back down on her bed. She looked to the redhead again before beaming. "Go on," she spoke softly.

"Well," Ginger inhaled nervously, "I'm - I'm just thinking back to old times." Susan stared for a minute. She'd heard all about Ginger's ups and downs through her younger days. Days that always intrigued her.

"So, are we still going? I wanna meet everyone. I really wanna meet your mom, she sounds awesome." Ginger couldn't hold back a laugh. Even though much wasn't said, she felt better.

"Yeah, we'll still go." Susan nodded optimistically.

"Alrighty then, want a soda? I'll treat. We poor people gotta stick together." Ginger nodded and stood up.

Susan hopped to the door and stepped into the hall. Ginger hesitated and looked back on her empty, wordless white paper.

"Hey, you comin' Red?"

Ginger's voiced carried as she replied, "Yeah, give me a minute," hurriedly picking up her dropped pencil, the young woman scribbled something on the white sheet, before grabbing a sweater and scurrying out the door, closing it behind her.

Once more the room was quiet and this time, void of human life. Everything was neat and tidy, and different from before, there was a heading on the paper.

Dear Darren,

I'm coming to visit soon.