Hi Mum!

Exams start exactly one week from today. I'm terrified, but optimistic. I know once it's all over I'll feel so much better. Well, for all of five minutes before I start worrying about results and going to Royal Welsh. However, I'm learning to enjoy the here and now of it all.

Things between me and Leo are as great as always (I know you want to ask but are too afraid I'll tell you off!) and Skye and Grant have actually got a deposit together on the building in California they're renting to open their music store! It's all getting very real; we'll have to go and visit them one day when we've both got some time free.

Every so often I've been getting these terrible thoughts about losing contact with everyone. I know things will never be the same again but what if we're all underestimating just how much will change? It's a scary thought. I wish I could just savour every last moment, and though I try too, I fear it's too late to enjoy these final few weeks; there is a gloomy atmosphere surrounding everyone as we all know goodbyes are coming.

Well, I better get back to practicing! I'll update you when I can. Love you, and send love to dad!

Jemma x

Jemma sent the email off with a smile as Fitz burst into the room and landed face down onto his bed, groaning into the pillow. Jemma swivelled her chair to face him.

"Leo, what's wrong?"

Fitz sat up, a look of frustration on his face and anger in his eyes.

"Just a stressful day making finishing touches to the set. Loads of volunteers came to help out; Trip, Lincoln, even Pietro Maximoff- good grief, that guy can work fast- and then…ugh." Fitz sighed.

"What happened?"

"…You know that kid, Gordon? Always wears the same clothes?" Fitz asked. Jemma nodded.

"Yeah, he's a second year, right? I've seen him around." Jemma stated.

"Yeah, him. He helped out, which is great, except…all he did was cause trouble. And I don't mean intentionally, he did try his best, but…he's clumsier than me, and I can't put a number on the amount of glass doors I've ran head first into. He knocked set pieces over, painted things the wrong colour, and just as we'd finished setting everything up perfectly he didn't look where he was going, ran into a huge piece of wood for the backdrop we hadn't screwed into place yet and the whole thing came tumbling down like giant dominoes. I swear, the guy's blind as a bat." Fitz explained, the exhaustion and antagonism clear in his voice.

"Oh, no! Did it all work out okay?" Jemma asked.

"We got everything back to how it was, but we finished nearly an hour after we were supposed to and missed lunch. The ladies in the café made food especially for us all but I had a lesson to go to so couldn't have anything. I am STARVING." Fitz complained.

"Well, I guess I'll have to treat you to a meal out, won't I?" Jemma said and Fitz smiled, rushing across the room to kiss her.

"I love you, I love you, I love you!" Fitz exclaimed, making Jemma chuckle lightly. Fitz's face suddenly lit up as he reached into his pocket and handed Jemma a slip of paper.

"Almost forgot, I ran into Maria Hill and she asked me to deliver this to you. Pretty important, I think." Fitz explained as Jemma folded out the paper and read what it said.

'Jemma Simmons, Candidate Number 5033

Please attend a very important meeting in G10 at 9.00am tomorrow morning.'

"I wonder what that's about. I have to go to a meeting tomorrow in G10…that's Melinda May's office!" Jemma revealed.

"Interesting…" Fitz noted.

…

In Skye's room, she and Grant were lying on the floor on their fronts, a huge sheet of paper in front of them covered in marker pen scribbles in various colours.

"So, we've got the location sorted for the store, and we've narrowed down the potential names for it." Skye said, looking over the paper. Grant did the same and sighed.

"Skye, there's still 25 names on here. That's not exactly narrowed down."

"I'm good with names, remember! Plus, 25 is narrowed down A LOT from the 82 I originally had but you made me take out of the running." Skye moaned.

"That's because all of those names were rude or offensive…or rude AND offensive." Grant stated.

"And that would've been part of the charm!"

"Skye, we need to take this seriously. This is actually our future, not some fantasy or dream world. This is happening, and very soon. It's too late to back out." Grant said.

"I don't want to back out. Why, do you?" Skye asked worriedly.

"No, no, of course not. I just wouldn't feel confident starting a business and calling it 'All The Right Junk In All The Right Places'." Grant said.

"That isn't one of my favourites anyway. You're right, I'm sorry. I'll start acting my age." Skye said.

"Is 'Reach For The Skye' a serious suggestion?" Grant asked. Skye answered by smiling and drawing a line through it on the sheet.

"…Sorry." Skye said timidly. Grant put an arm around her and kissed her hair.

"Hey, it's okay. We'll get there." Grant said encouragingly, gaining a genuine smile from Skye before the two returned to work, serious expressions on their faces.

"You've got 'All About That Bass' stuck in your head now, right?" Skye asked.

"It's just so catchy!"

…

The next morning, Jemma and Fitz were sat on Jemma's bed sharing a bowl of cereal (they'd nearly ran out but wouldn't have time to get more for another two days).

"You and your mum were on Skye for ages last night." Jemma commented.

"Yeah, we've got to that place again where we can just ramble on about anything. Sorry if we kept you up." Fitz replied.

"No, it's a good thing! I'm glad things are working out with you two." Jemma smiled as Fitz kissed her on the cheek.

"That reminds me!" Jemma said, getting up and bringing her laptop back with her onto the bed before quickly checking her emails. Sure enough, her mum had replied.

Jem,

You have nothing to be worried about; your father and I know you'll do just brilliantly (he sends his love too, by the way!). And make sure you take longer than five minutes to relax after exams! Enjoy the time you have left there; before you know it it'll all be over and it'll be too late to get that time back.

You know me too well, don't you? I'm glad you and Leo are still going strong. Speaking of which, when are we going to meet the lucky fellow in person? Video chats just won't do! Maybe we can get together over Christmas or New Year? After all he's been through I'd like him to know that he still had a whole family with us and all your relatives.

Don't worry about the future too much, just take it as it comes, sweetie. Things change, but that's life. And I know you and Skye would die before losing touch, so stop panicking! Go out there and smash it!

I'll leave you to your rehearsals, and we'll see you at the end of year showcase (yes, we're coming again this year and no, you can't stop us! Maybe we'll have time to meet Leo then!). Good luck! Send Leo, Skye and Grant our love!

Mum xx

Jemma smiled as she closed her laptop and put it to her side.

"Your mum and dad okay?" Fitz asked.

"Yep. Still eager to meet you in person, though. If not at the end of year showcase, they'll find a way." Jemma smiled.

"I'm excited to meet them too! And I used to be petrified of meeting new people." Fitz admitted.

"I just hope they don't scare you off." Jemma said with a chuckle.

"They'd have to be psychopathic murderers to do that." Fitz stated.

"You better not meet Skye's parents then." Jemma joked as she got her things together to head to Melinda May's office for her meeting.

"I'm sure she just wants to sing your praises again." Fitz said, picking up on Jemma's nerves.

"…Hopefully. That would be a welcome addition to my day." Jemma nodded.

"It'll be fine, whatever it is. Just wish me luck Gordon isn't helping with the set again today." Fitz sighed.

"I'm sure it'll be okay."

"I hope so. It's weird, isn't it? All the final pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Then everything changes. I'm apprehensive if I'm honest. I just…I don't want things to change."

"Oh, Leo, it's too late for that." Jemma said, kissing Fitz before walking out, anticipating what the meeting would bring.

…

Jemma reached Melinda May's office with exactly six minutes to spare. As she approached the door she heard the distinct voices of May and Coulson inside. She'd heard many discussions between the two of them over the years, and found them all highly entertaining; they clearly knew each other well and had a good dynamic, enjoying winding each other up.

"Phil, you don't need to be here for this." May said calmly.

"I know, but I want to be here to see Jemma's face; it's just so exciting! Plus, if this meeting went how you'd like it to no one would say a thing. It'd be an uncomfortable silence like most staff meetings." Coulson chuckled.

"Shall we check and see if she's here yet?" Came a third voice that from inside the room that Jemma didn't recognise. Suddenly, the door opened and Coulson smiled at Jemma.

"Ah, Jemma! Early as always. Come on in."

Jemma did as Coulson said and tentatively walked into the office, where May greeted her with a smile as Coulson shut the door and stood next to her. In the corner of the room stood the unrecognised man. He was older but dressed smartly in a black suit, carrying a cane of some description. Jemma sat in the chair in front of May's desk and looked around nervously.

"Jemma, this is Mr Gonzales." May said, as the older man approached Jemma and shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you." Jemma smiled.

"And you, Jemma. I've been a fan of your work at the school for quite some time. I even came to watch you in a few showcases over the years." Gonzales said with a smile.

"Mr Gonzales would like to discuss a very exciting opportunity with you." Coulson stated excitedly. Jemma looked intrigued.

"Yes. Jemma, I've been working in Arts Education for a very long time now, and I work with schools much like this one every day to monitor performing arts across the state. My colleagues and I have spent quite some time now developing a programme that, for lack of a better term, could be classed as extra credit. But it is also a full-time, paid job." Gonzales began.

"Okay…" Jemma said.

"I'm putting together a programme called The Gifted and Talented Association, gathering the most successful and prominent students from all performing arts schools in the state together to form a group that would tour all over the world, doing workshops in some schools but mostly to perform in professional venues. A travelling theatre company, if you will." Gonzales said.

"Wait…and you want me to be in it?" Jemma asked.

"Very much so. You'd be a wonderful addition to the group. You'd spend the next year after graduation seeing the world and getting paid to do what you love. You'd have to defer your place at wherever you wish to further your studies for a year, but that can be easily arranged. This would look very impressive for future employers. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. You'd be fed and taken everywhere you'd need to go. It would be hard work and a gruelling process, but fun and enjoyable all the same, an early taste at a life doing what you love." Gonzales said enthusiastically, which radiated into Jemma and made her excited also.

"It sounds incredible. Like a dream." Jemma said.

"You still have a week to decide, but Mr Gonzales would need to know if you'd like to accept his offer before exams start so he has time to make all the preparations. You would be busy most of the time, either performing on stage or travelling somewhere else, but it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it could be the making of you, Jemma." May explained.

"I know. It'd be a dream come true." Jemma agreed.

"This sounds encouraging!" Gonzales smiled.

"So, if it is as busy a schedule as you say…what about keeping in contact with my family and friends?" Jemma asked.

"There would be some time for that, the occasional week or so off throughout the year, but not much." Gonzales answered.

"And, if I were to have a boyfriend?" Jemma asked, concerned.

"Well," Gonzales sighed, "taking this opportunity may mean you wouldn't have much of a relationship with him. It would probably be better to spend the year focusing on yourself, your career and your dreams."

So, I'd spend a year living the dream life, but I'd have to break up with Leo.

"So, what do you think?" Coulson asked, a huge grin on his face.

…

Jemma opened her room door to see Fitz sat at his desk. He turned to face her and smiled.

"Hey, you've been gone a while! How did it go? What did she say?" Fitz asked.

"We, uh…we need to talk, Leo." Jemma said sadly, tears in her eyes.