Disclaimer: I still own nothing :0(

(A/N: Wow thank you all for the reviews! I have actually already written many chapters to this story and I had planned to post it once I had it all finished I've hit a rough patch in the later chapter. But I hope this is the jolt of encouragement I need to get me back on track! Keep the comments coming! They mean a bunch! -TT)

And you people all know what I'm talking about
Yeah you people all know what he's talking about
Spread the love vibration
"Love Vibration" – Josh Rouse

They blinked and the month was over. Graduation came and went. The summer flew by and before you knew it, they were in Chicago.

"Explain to me again why you aren't going to move into an off-campus apartment with us," Portman asked.

Julie sighed, "I told you. My scholarship only covered half of the tuition, so my parents are paying the rest including boarding."

"Ah, the lifestyles of the cake eaters. I forgot you're one of them," Fulton teased.

Julie playfully hit his chest. "Don't be mean."

"But why can't they pay for an apartment instead of a dorm?" Dean continued.

"You want me to ask if they will pay for my rent in apartment with two guys, in a brand new city, while they're 1000 miles away? They find out I want to board with two guys instead of the girl that I'd be with in the dorms, I'm on the first plane back to Bangor, living at home and attending a college that's 5 minutes away."

"That's harsh."

"You have no idea. So you'll just have to settle with the two minute commute to see me," she smiled.

"Is your roommate gonna be cool with us hanging out at your place?"

"Don't know," she said simply, "haven't met her yet."

"How is that possible? You moved in like 2 days ago."

"She moved in before me, leaving sequined costumes and what-not everywhere I might add, and then came back when I wasn't here, cleaned up and left. She left a note saying she had a competition or something to go to and she'd be back in a couple of days, and we could meet then. I don't know how long I can room with someone who wears glitter like that before I go nuts."

"So she a theater chick? You said costumes."

"No, more like a dancer's costume or a gymnast's. I don't know; do gymnasts wear sparkly uniforms?"

Fulton and Portman looked between them, "How would we know?"

She laughed, "Right, silly me. It's probably a good thing I'm rooming with a girl instead of you two, it'll give me a girly outlet from all the testosterone," she joked.

The next few months, they made the most of college life, attending big games, cheering on their school, and of course hitting every party.

Julie was putting on her makeup when she heard a knock at the door. She glanced at her watch, "Crap, he's early," she mumbled. "Just a minute!" she yelled replacing the mascara brush in the tube.

"Don't worry; I got it," her roommate told her, making her way out of the shared bathroom.

"Thanks T," she smiled.

She opened the door, "Well hel-lo!" she said eying the man at the door.

"Uh hi," he shifted uncomfortably in front of the stranger.

"You here for Julie?"

"Yeah, she here?"

She nodded and stepped aside, letting him in.

He let out a whistle as he saw his friend primping in the mirror. She was dressed in a low-cut, loose silver top and pair of dark skinny jeans and heels. She put down the lip gloss wand and smiled at him. Dean took her hand and spun her around, "You look great."

"Thanks," she blushed slightly. Her roommate cleared her throat, "Oh T this is Portman, Portman, T."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she smiled.

"So you ready?" he asked eagerly rubbing his hands together.

"Ready?"

"Yeah there's a party in the Broadview Hall. I thought we'd go check it out."

"I can't."

He frowned, "But we always go to parties together. We agreed."

"We agreed that if we both were single and there was a party, we'd go together, hang out, look after each other, etc."

"Exactly, so let's go."

She shook her head, "I," she smiled, "have a date." She watched his face drop in disbelief making her annoyed. "Don't act so surprised."

"I'm not surprised. I'm…I'm…Why didn't I know about this?" he demanded.

"Oh come on Dean."

"Oh come on Dean what?"

"Let's face it. You've hated every guy I've dated or introduced you to."

"That's not true," he argued.

"Oh really? At Eden Hall, there was Scooter who you punched out sophomore year because you felt he was getting too- what was your word?- oh yeah, 'handsy'."

"Well he was."

"We were dancing! He had his hands on my waist, not down my pants or anything."

"Whatever."

"Then Jerry, after him, lasted a week, poor guy. You never told me what you 'talked' to him about but he wouldn't even look in my direction the rest of high school." Portman laughed at the memory as Julie put her hands on her hips, "See!"

He composed himself again, "Well Jerry was a schmuck."

"Even Banks! You liked him; you knew him but yet you still insisted on bashing him into the wall every chance you got until we broke up."

"Well I am a Bash Brother. It was my job as an enforcer."

"You gave him a concussion."

"Well," he shrugged defensively, "he's alright now isn't he?" he said more matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, he's still skittish around you though," she laughed which lightened her irritation. "Dean," she spoke softer, "I like this guy. He likes me; he treats me well too. Come here." She wrapped her arms around his torso in a hug. "I was going to introduce you guys eventually, but I wanted to hang out with him first, give him a fair shot before you scare him away, ok?"

He rested his chin on top of her head as they continued to talk, still wrapped in each other's arms, "Fine. But you have to change."

She drew back from him, "What?"

"You have to change," he said plainly. "You can't go out in that," he motioned to her clothing.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" she looked down at her outfit. "A minute ago you said I looked great."

"Yeah great when you were going to a party with me, not on a date with some tool I don't even know."

"He's not a tool! And I'm not changing," she told him stubbornly.

"Yes you are. I don't want him getting any ideas."

"Don't worry he's not gonna try anything."

"And if he does?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes, "If he does, I've got your number on speed dial. You'll be the first one I call. Happy?"

"No, he'll still gonna have those ideas," he narrowed his eyes, pointing at his temple.

"So?"

"So? What do you mean 'so'?"

"They're just ideas," she shrugged, "You're telling me you've never had 'ideas' about any girl?" she tried to trap him.

"Of course I have; I'm a guy, and as a guy I know what an outfit like that does to us."

"Well I'm sorry but I'm not changing. Plus he saw me in the blue outfit and we did nothing but talk all night."

"The blue outfit?" his eyes grew wide, "The one you wore to that party?"

"Yeah that's where I met him."

"Was he looking at your face when you talked?" she scoffed which earned him a warning look from Julie. "At the party huh? Where was I?"

"Chatting up some brunette in the corner," she told him.

He tried to remember more about that night when a knock came on the door. "That's him." She shot a look Dean's way, "Be nice!"

"Whatever," he mumbled.

She reached for the door knob, "I'm serious." She opened the door, "Hey Steven."

He placed a kiss on her lips, "Hey Jules, wow," he said looking her over, "you look great- better than great. You look wonderful."

"Thanks," she said in a flirty tone. They leaned in for another kiss but were interrupted by Dean clearing his throat. She tried her hardest not to sound annoyed as she introduced the two. "Steven this is one of my best friends, Dean; Dean this is Steven."

Steven held out his hand, "Nice to meet you Dean."

"It's actually Portman." He stared down the guy. Steven was at least half a foot shorter and a lot less built than Dean.

Noticing the tension, "Uh yeah that's right," she laughed uneasily. "Dean has everyone call him Portman. I should have introduced him as that. I call him 'Dean' because I like to think I'm more special than anyone else," she tried to joke to ease the tension. It backfired.

"You are," they both told her simultaneously which resulted in a stare down, neither enjoying sharing a common thought with their counterpart.

Julie had to think fast. She looked over her shoulder and noticed that her roommate was still there, quietly witnessing everything, "Tell you what, Dean, why don't you take T with you to the party. Show her a good time. Let her see life outside the dorm."

"Hey I resent that!" her friend broke her silence, "I know what a good time is. I'm always here working because I have to make up work I miss from my competitions. You make me sound like a recluse!" she complained. "Plus" she smiled wickedly, "I want to see how this drama pans out. I don't want to miss a thing."

Julie shot her a look as if to say "you're no help at all." She turned back to the matter at hand, "Ok it was just a suggestion. You guys do whatever. But we should get going," she tugged Steven's sleeve to get them out of the door, "Bye!" she called out.

"Bye Cat, bye…Steven," he said with distaste.

Portman got in his car and drove back to his shared apartment where Fulton was studying for his big test tomorrow. He burst through the door and slammed it after him.

"Ah gees!" Fulton complained hearing him enter. "I thought I was going to have the apartment to myself tonight. You know, so I can study," he hoped his friend picked up on the hint.

"Julie can't come. She's got a date," he shared bitterly.

"And the books are closing now," he said giving his undivided attention to the upcoming rant. "So Julie has a date?"

"Yeah and she didn't tell me." He started pacing the floor. "I can't believe she didn't tell me."

"I can," he said honestly. When Portman stopped to look at him, he shrugged, "What? You think she likes not having a normal relationship with a guy because her friend scares them away?"

"I do not scare them away," he insisted.

"Really? You're going to stick with that story? What about-"

"Please I don't need the rundown of names. Jules already covered that. Maybe she shouldn't pick such pansies then maybe they wouldn't go running for the hills when I tell them to treat her nice or else. And this one, I can already tell he's a tool."

"You met him?"

"Briefly when he came to get her."

"But you can already know he's a tool," Fulton asked skeptically.

"She met him at one of the parties we went to. Apparently, he waited 'til I was preoccupied to go get at her."

"Preoccupied? You mean you were 'getting at' a girl of your own," he said knowingly.

"Not necessarily," he tried to argue.

"Dude, I've been with you guys a couple of times before. It's the same old story every time. You guys go, dance together a couple of songs. Then you offer to get you guys some beer; you meet a girl on your way; get that girl a beer, and you dip, leaving her behind to mingle with whomever. Personally, I think it's great that she found someone she likes. She deserves to be happy. She's been working extra hours at her job to save up money. Let her go out and have some fun. So what if he met her when you weren't around. That doesn't make him a tool."

"There's more."

"Oh?"

"She was wearing one of her outfits,"

"Oo the sexy ones?"

Dean nodded, "And when he opened the door, I swear I saw him drooling. He was ogling her and I could tell exactly what was going through his mind."

Fulton laughed, "Do you remember the first time you saw her in one of those outfits? Because I seem to remember having to pick your jaw off the floor and help you form some coherent sentences. I guarantee your thoughts weren't exactly what you'd call pure."

"That's different. I've known her almost half my life. She just…surprised me, that's all, but this guy- he was looking at her like a piece of meat! Oh! And to top that all off, he called me Dean."

That revelation caused Fulton to crack up. Portman stood frowning with arms crossed as his friend doubled over in laughter. Composing himself enough to ask a question, Fulton asked, "Did you lay him out for it?"

"Nah I would've but Cat was there trying to diffuse the situation. She even tried to get me to take her roommate to that party, anything to get me away from him."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Good looking?"

"What?"

"The roommate, was she hot?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, blonde, tall, leggy, decent rack."

"Then why are you here?"

"What do you mean 'why am I here?' I'm sitting here telling you about Cat and the tool."

"You pass on a party with a hot college chick to come back here and tell me about Julie and her date?" he raised his eyebrows, "Do you got a thing for Jules? Is that why you're so upset about this? Are you jealous?"

"Whoa there 50 Question Man. First of all no, Julie's one of my best friends and secondly, I'm upset about this because I don't like this guy."

"Well it's a good thing you're not the one dating him now isn't it?"

"I'm serious. He's not good enough for her."

"Oh? And who is? You?" he smirked.

"No maybe like a king somewhere, or a prince- but not one of those that has to wait for someone to keel over kind of princes, but the ones that are given first shot at the throne or something. Someone who's going to treat her like royalty, not ogle her in front of one of her best friends." Fulton looked at his friend with skepticism. "I do not have a thing for her," he insisted. "We're just friends."

"Gee, haven't heard that one before," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked slightly annoyed.

"Nothing, it's just that back in high school I was sure the Cat had feelings for you but she said the same crap you're trying to pull now, the 'we're just friends' crap."

"Julie had a thing for me?"

"She'd never admit it but I think she did." Portman smiled as he thought about her having a crush on him, but quickly shook the thought loose.

"Well if she did, I'd say she's clearly moved on," he said cynically.

"Port, let her be happy if he makes her happy. If it doesn't work out, it will be of their own doings, not yours. Go out a get a girl of your own to preoccupy yourself."

And that's just what he did. As Julie and Steven continued to see each other, Portman ran into the 'party brunette' and asked her out. Both couples dated throughout most of freshman year until…

(A/N-2: Ok so I know the way I ended this chapter kinda sucked but I swear every other way was worse. I will try my hardest to post the next chapt. soon!)

Disclaimer2: Portman's speech there at the end (king/prince) was kinda paraphrased from an episode of Gilmore Girls. Don't sue! Again I own nothing!