And being a nursing student is already taking its toll on me

It was as if we're in the finals of America's Next Top Model. We'll be staying in a penthouse, with a large living room, kitchen, and dining room. We'll be sleeping in one big room, with four beds because we're like sisters and we don't mind sharing a room. After all, it is big. Our closet is the most amazing part of the penthouse. It is surprisingly big because our clothes fit in it. All our clothes we're able to get in the same closet. We have a car, so we can go to the campus without experiencing a single hassle. Living off-campus in your first year is a big deal for us and we're enjoying every single minute of it.

Not.

Instead, we're all crammed up in a small dorm room good for four people. I don't know how on earth this happened to me, Stephanie Marie McMahon. Maybe I really am a princess, you know, me going to Princeton, but I sure do not feel like a princess in any way now that I'm standing in the doorway of our room for the next five months of our lives.

Lilian settled herself on the bed farthest from the door. And our bed isn't that big either, it just enough for you to lie on, not to roll on. Trish was on the bed next to Lilian's, I'm beside Trish and Torrie is the one closest to the door, which happens to be closest to the bathroom too. We each have a tall but narrow cabinet; no, I won't call it a closet because I don't know how I'm going to fit all my clothes in here. Which is why we're all equipped with a compartment that we decided to place under our beds.

If I thought living in New York was bad, that was when I didn't know about what I will be facing in the dormitory.

We will just have to walk to get to our destination, specifically, our respective buildings which contained our classrooms. You guys may think that I'm used to walking because I've been living in New York for the past year but no, it's the thing that I hate about New York, walking in heels, and I love heels. So before school started, we sold all the shoes – high heeled – that we didn't like and used the money to buy new flats. Of course, we kept the fabulous ones for parties and other social gatherings that await us.

"So, tell me about the guys at school," I said, trying to ease the atmosphere because we are so not happy with our room. "Where did they get into?" My parents enrolled me in an all-girls private school so I am somewhat guaranteed a spot in one of the Ivies. But I still have to work my ass of. I joined each and every clubs that would fit in my schedule; just have to an impressive application and of course, to know some of the girls that go in my school.

"Randy got in Harvard early," Trish said. I can tell that she's proud of her boyfriend, I mean, who wouldn't be? But at the same time, sad because she's so far away from him.

"John's…" Lilian started, "let's just say that he wants to be with me." She smiled because she's right. John got into Princeton too, which is a good thing for Lilian. Right now, I really think that they're meant to be with each other forever. All those time that John spent wooing Lilian paid off. He was really patient and she was really stubborn. Lilian's lucky that John didn't give up on her. "Amy got into Harvard. John's nothing compared to her."

We all laughed at that. We all know that Amy's got some brains and now, it's not just a thought, it's a fact.

"Something weird happened to DX during our senior year," Torrie said. "I think they broke up their little gang."

I was shocked. I haven't heard from him since the day he gave me that thing. And I know that I'm the reason why that change occurred. I don't even know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I feel bad because I think I somewhat placed a wall between him and his friends. But I know Shawn changed because of Amy, I'm still somewhat updated, you know. Right now, I'm itching to ask about him but a part of me won't let me. So I decided to change the topic. "Do you think we'll be comfortable in here? All crammed up like this?"

My brother, Shane, is Mr. Congeniality so for his first year in college, he himself insisted to stay in a dormitory. He said he wanted to bond with his fellow students at Yale. Besides, he doesn't have anyone to share an apartment with. Poor him. And so Shane ended up living in dormitory which probably looks like mine and up to now, he's still staying in a dormitory. Good luck Mr. Congeniality.

"I think I will be," Trish said. "I mean, we have no choice."

I hate having no choice. I hated it last year when I didn't have any choice other than to move to New York. Just then, Torrie's eyes gleamed and I know she's just remembered a dirt that she's dying to tell us all.

"Do you know where Melina is right now?" Torrie said, adjusting herself on her bed, sitting. "She totally got into Yale."

"Oh my…" I gasped. I couldn't find the right words to say with regard to that matter. One day I punch the nose of that Melina and next thing I know, she's in Yale. Yale, the university where my brother is. I can accept the fact that my self-absorbed arrogant brother got there because somewhat, he'll be away from me but Melina? Is the world coming to an end? "What did she do?"

"She got in each and every club known to our school and joined every charity event possible," Torrie explained to us.

"Oh, not every club," Lilian defended. "I didn't let her in the Spanish club. I asked her to sing several Spanish songs and I didn't stop unless she didn't know the song that I mentioned. So technically, she didn't qualify."

"She still got into Yale," Trish said, resting her head in her pillow. "I can't believe we're actually here. This feels like a big sacrifice for our studies."

"Exactly!" I exclaimed. I know that our life here won't be easy. This is it, I wanted to be independent but now, I'm starting to regret it. I don't think I'm ready.

I hate our stupid assignment. Because of it, I'm standing in the middle of nowhere here in the library, staring at the thick hard bound books with yellow, brittle pages. It will only take seconds before I sneeze. I'm also starting to get frustrated and when I get frustrated, I tend to throw things grumpily. Which lead to the most exciting thing that happened to me so far in college.

I ended up putting back the book in the shelves a little too hard, causing the other book behind it to fall, and to fall on the head of the student assistant. I ran to that person, checking if he's alright. His long blonde hair reminding me of someone I have come to miss, and his face shocking me even more. I am not dumb not to know that Hunter doesn't have a twin, which is why I just stayed there, kneeling in my one knee, frozen.

"Hey, Steph," he said to me. If he hasn't spoken, I wouldn't have come back to my senses.

I wanted to say something. I wanted to ask him what's he's doing in Princeton. Well, of course, the obvious answer is that he was accepted. I also wanted to ask him why he's working as a student assistant in the library. The library, of all places. I had so many questions in my mind but the one thing that I was able to do was to lean forward and hug him. "I missed you so much. You didn't keep in touch."

Or not.

"Hey!" I greeted back. "I haven't seen you in ages." We both stood up and I can feel that he's really staring at me. "I didn't know you got in here. No one told me."

Hunter smiled. "Oh, your friends haven't told you yet? We all got to share where we're going for college on our last homeroom class. Maybe they forgot."

I can't believe my friends… How come they never told me that Hunter is going to Princeton too? "I haven't really asked them where everyone else got into," I lied. What I really wanted to say was, 'I haven't really asked them where you got into.' But that would sound mean and I don't need to sound mean, not now. "What about your friends? Where are they?"

"They decided not to go to college," Hunter replied, a sound of sadness obvious in his voice. "Chyna said that college isn't for her. Shawn, well Shawn… They were bankrupted and sadly, college wasn't an option anymore."

I shouldn't have asked. I'm so stupid. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure something better than college would come their way someday."

Hunter smiled. "Yeah, of course."

I suddenly remembered why I was there in the first place - because of my assignment. "I have to go now. It seems like I'm in no luck when it comes to finding books."

"I'll help you," he offered. I really don't know what to do because I really need to do my assignment but a part of me isn't ready to face him yet.

"I…" I tried to think of a valid excuse so that he won't come after me. "I have a class, in fifteen minutes… And I have to get there before it starts… Bye!"

I hurried out of the library and back to our dormitory. I was surprised to see Trish there, her face buried in a book. She snapped the book shut and looked at me desperately.

"Why did I decide to be a doctor?!" she whined at me. "Why didn't… Ugh!" she whined again after furiously flipping the pages of her notebook.

"Come on, it can't be that hard," I said, trying to encourage her. "You've nailed a lot of subjects before. Don't let a stupid subject like biology ruin your future. You're still far from your target destination."

"That's my point!" she exclaimed. "I'm taking up BS Biology right now, and then I have to go to med school and then I still have to do two years of practice and then…"

"You'll be a doctor," I encouraged. "And I saw Hunter today at the library."

Trish's eyes widened, maybe even wider than it will be the day Randy kneels in front of her, holding a velvet box with big rock in it. "You did? I mean, he's here?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Come on, as if you guys didn't know."

"But we didn't!" and then I stared her down. "Okay maybe we did but you never asked so we assumed that you didn't want to know."

I buried my face in the pillow. "What made you think that I didn't want to know?"

Next thing I know, Trish was beside me in the bed, hugging me. "You loved him, and don't you dare deny it."

"What do you want me to do now?" I murmured.

Trish's voice brightened up. "You don't have to do anything. Let us do the dirty work."

And then my jaw dropped to the floor.

Lilian looked smart in her plaid skirt and white long-sleeved blouse. She was holding a purple translucent clipboard and pretended like she was reading it.

"So, according to my research," I rolled my eyes as she started to talk, "Hunter has a scholarship here. He has to work a minimum of 20 hours and a maximum of 30 hours per week. And maybe with that information you guys have already figured out where his dorm is." Yes, I know, there's dormitory made especially for scholars. "He… well basically he's going out to dinner with us tonight."

"He's going to what?!" I gasped and exclaimed at the same time. "Why in the world did you do that?" I stared Lilian down.

She raised her hands in defense. "I didn't! It was Torrie!"

I shifted my glare towards Torrie. "Oh, come on. Would you really hate me for doing that? You know you like my idea."

"And the better idea is that it's going to be just the two of you," Trish smirked.

"Don't you have anything better to do than to terrorize me?" I said helplessly. I seriously cannot believe that they're doing this to me. I grabbed a pillow and started punching it. I wailed and wailed but my friends didn't seem to mind.

"Stop being such a baby Steph," Trish told me. "Besides, it's not our fault that we have so many things to do tonight so we just can't seem to go to the arranged dinner."

I stood up, pulled up my hair into a ponytail, and crossed my arms. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Lilian crossed her legs, "Because it's been over a year since you two last spoke to each other and you need to clear things up. In short, you two have some unfinished business," she smiled and I hated how she was right.

In fact, I hate how everyone but me is right. They were right that I have to speak to him, they were right that we have some unfinished business. And I needed to return something to him.

So tonight I'm going out for a dinner with a long lost friend/lover. I wore tube top inside a Heatherette hooded blouse, skinny jeans and flats. I totally look casual, not the usual outfit that you would wear if you go out for dinner with a possible suitor, but who cares? He's one of the few people who know that I do not like to be treated like a princess.

We met outside our dorm building. When I saw him, I couldn't even tell if he worked hours before because he looked fresh for someone who practically has to work to study in Princeton.

"Hi," he said with a smile. "Come on, I know a place that you'll love."

He didn't even take my hand; he just kept his hands in the pockets of his jacket and led the way. I could tell that he's trying to walk slowly so that I could keep up with him but I tried to walk slower, testing if he can stand walking slowly. And then he stopped.

"Are you really going to keep up that pace or would you mind if we walk faster?" he told me.

"You can go ahead if you want," I simply said. "Just tell me where the place is and I'll go there by myself."

Without warning, he grabbed my hand which caused me to of course, walk faster. "I don't have much time. I still have to do my homework after our dinner and I really don't have much spare time because I have to work. Right now, I really need to make the most of the time that I have with you. I really missed you, you know?"

Tears began to swell in my eyes. I don't know what to think but I sure know what I feel. This past year without him was empty. And now, I'm happy that I can be with him again. I removed my hand from his, "Stop dragging me," I said. "I wanted to give you this," I stretched out my arm and opened my closed hand to reveal what's in my palm. It was the locket that he gave me.

He took it from my palm and opened it to reveal a note.

You can stop waiting now. I'm here and I never going away again.

After reading it, he hugged me. So tight that I can't breathe anymore but I didn't mind. After a long time, I felt complete. I'm with my best friends, I know that my parents are living happily in New York and I get to see them every month, as well my big brother, who isn't such a dork anymore. And most of all, the man that I love is with me. Well, technically not with me, but still, we're in the same campus.