As I was getting ready for school the next day, I heard the repeated honking of a car horn outside. That belonged to the car of my best friend, Stacey McGill, who was there to pick me up. I don't have a car yet but I can drive pretty well. I just had a really hard time passing the written test and it took me three tries so I just got my license a few months ago. I hope my parents will buy me a car before the end of the school year.

"Hey you," I said to my best friend when I greeted her outside.

"Hey Claud," she said back before we sped off. Stacey wasn't really a bad driver, but I actually drive a lot more carefully than she does.

School was pretty typical. It being a Monday, we had no homework to review, no tests or pop quizzes and just the same old boring stuff that I don't enjoy. I do try very hard to pay attention though and do the best I can, especially after I got held back a grade in middle school. Luckily, I got caught up and moved back into the proper grade with all of my friends. Since none of them are in any of my classes, I was looking forward to my lunch period when I can see them all again. However, I was caught off guard a bit by the conversation that awaited me.

I sat down next to my best friend, Stacey as she continued her conversation with another one of my friends named Kristy Thomas.

"It always comes down to numbers with me. I'm not sure what path that is actually going to take me down but it definitely needs to be strong in math," she said.

Kristy said, "Well, for me, it's gotta be business. I can definitely see myself running my own company someday."

"Well, it's not like you haven't run a business before. That's a perfect choice for you. Any ideas where?" asked Stacey.

Kristy answered "Well, Watson suggested Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania but I'm not sure I want to move that far away."

Stacey said "Um, Pennsylvania isn't that far away, Kristy."

"I know," she replied. "I just don't like the idea of not being near my family."

"Yeah, it's a scary thought and I understand. It would make me nervous to leave too..but it's also kind of exciting!" said Stacey.

As I sat down at the table, I asked, "What are you guys talking about?"

"Oh, were just talking about applying to college," interjected Mary Anne Spier, another one of my oldest friends.

"Oh," was all I said.

I already decided a while ago that college wasn't in the cards for me so I guess that's why the conversation startled me a bit. I didn't realize that winter was when people started applying. As they continued talking, I looked at all my friends. Stacey, my best friend with her blonde curly hair, always dressed nice. That day, she was dressed very sophisticated in a black turtleneck, dark blue jeans and silver hoop earrings. She also brought a black snow jacket with a (fake) fur collar which was laying on the seat next to her. Kristy dressed more like a tomboy and was in her usual white turtleneck and jeans and her brown hair was in a ponytail. Then there was Mary Anne Spier. She was in a dark blue button up collared shirt, some black leggings and since her brown hair was too short to put back, she just kept it down. They hadn't changed much since since our middle school days and I'm glad we all still hang out. We used to have a babysitting business called The Baby-sitters Club but as as we've gotten older, we got way too busy so we ended our club last year but now Stacey and I have real jobs. Stacey works at the mall at Steven E. and I work at the mall too, at The Sweet Factory.

As my mind drifted back to the conversation, Kristy nervously asked me, "So..how about you, Claud? Have you been giving it any thought?"

"What? To college? Oh, no not really," I told her.

"Why not?" she asked.

Just then, Stacey just looked at me sympathetically. She knew as well as I do that I couldn't get into college.

"Kristy, I can't. I mean, I'm..I don't think I'm going to college," I stammered.

"Oh, Claudia. You really should, " she said.

Obviously Kristy has never looked at my report card, otherwise she wouldn't be saying this to me. I really didn't want to get into a debate with her about it either but she continued talking.

"There's always Stoneybrook Community College," she said.

"Oh yes! They let everyone in," stated Mary Anne.

"Gee, thanks," I muttered.

"I'm sorry. That's not what I meant," she said back.

I wasn't mad at any of my friends but this really wasn't a conversation that I wanted to be a part of so I politely excused myself and went to the restroom for the rest of lunch. Sitting alone in the stall, I just tried to relax. No, I wasn't going to cry. I just needed some time to process all that information. It never really crossed my mind up until no but it finally happened. We were halfway through senior year and the possibility of all of us being separated was real.