It had been two weeks since my first rejection letter and unfortunately, I got a second rejection from New York. That devastated me more tha anything because now I knew I couldn't be with Stacey. At least SHE had reason to celebrate. She had gotten into NYU, as predicted and actually got into UCLA too. Obviously she chose NYU so she could be closer to all of us and live with her dad. My only hope now was Boston. That would still give me the ability to hop on the train to visit both Stacey in New York and my friends and family in Stoneybrook. I did my best to distract myself from all of this stress by focusing on my schoolwork, my job and trying my best to have fun with my friends.

The two weeks turned to three and it was practically every day I was hearing "I got accepted!" from another classmate, although it was quite interesting to hear where everyone was headed. Abby Stevenson, a former member of our club was going to NYU along with Stacey. Tess Swinhart, a friend of Stacey's was going to school in PARIS of all places! Robert Brewster, Stacey's ex boyfriend was going to college in Colorado. I frantically checked my mailbox the second I got home every day and today, I finally got some hope. An envelope from MCAD had finally arrived and unlike the other two, this wasn't a thin envelope but a nice thick paper sized envelope and I began shaking as walked into my house. I closed the door behind me, opened the top of the envelope and pulled out the top page. The first and only word I saw was:

"Congratulations!"

My knees buckled and then I lost my balance and fell right on the floor. I realized I couldn't breathe either.

I GOT ACCEPTED!

"Yes! I shouted out loud and then screamed, "Mom! Dad!" before realizing they weren't home yet. I ran upstairs to Janine's room but she wasn't there either. I didn't care. I ran through the hallways just like Macauley Culkin in Home Alone, screaming, "I got in! I got in! Ahhhhhh!"

I couldn't wait for my parents to get home so I could tell them. In the meantime, I called all my friends.

My mom hugged me and held me tight when I told her the good news. After she whispered "I'm proud of you," I began crying tears of joy. As she pulled back, I looked at my father and asked, "Dad?" He looked at me and said, "congratulations, honey. I wished you could have gone to a traditional college but I guess as long as you go..then it's..ok."

I know my dad meant well so I accepted his backhanded comments and just brushed it off as my dad just being my dad. They could have told me anything and I really wouldn't have cared. I, Claudia Kishi, former middle school dropout, was going to college!

Since it was Wednesday, I'd have to wait two more days to celebrate with Stacey, who offered to treat me to a "best-friend only" dinner at Pizza Express.

As we shared a small pepperoni pizza, Stacey really didnt seem herself. I mean, she just got into to college. Shoot, I got into college and I was busting at the seams with happiness but she just didnt seem as excited as I was and clearly, something was bothering her.

"Well I brought you here because I needed to talk to you," she said.

This didn't sound good. I said, "Um, ok."

"Well, I've been feeling very torn about what to do," she said. The look on Stacey's face was concerning me.

"What to do? About what?" I asked.

"About college."

"What do you mean? You got accepted," I said as I took a bite of pizza.

"I'm going to go to UCLA," she blurted out.

A big ball of dough got caught in my throat and I couldnt breathe.

"Claudia!" she shouted. "Calm down. Here, take this," as she shoved a drink in my direction. I grabbed it and forced it down, trying to catch my breath. Once I did, she said, "I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?" I shouted. "You said you were going to NYU!"

"I know I did. I don't want to leave but I have to. Their math program is better and i just..I need to get away from my mom. She's too overprotective, she still doesn't trust me to take care of my diabetes, she treats me like a baby and I'm sick of it. I talked to my dad already and since I'd still be on his insurance plan, I can find a doctor out there and finally get an insulin pump. My mom still wont let me get one but it would make my life so much easier.

Great. I got the best news of my life and now the worst. My best friend was leaving me. I worked harder than I ever had in my life, getting all those applications and portfolios in and had already pictured what my new life in Boston would be like. The only reason I even applied to college was because of Stacey but I didn't see much of a point of going now if we couldn't be near each other. My life is now ruined.

..and I'd never forgive her for it either.