A/N: The first four chapters of part II will take place on 9/11, from different points of view. If that day is a trigger for anyone, please feel free to skip. You can PM me and I will give you a synopsis of pertinent plot points. Most of the information shared in the different points of view come from conversations I've had with people who were in Manhattan on that fateful day.

In addition, I took some liberty with the way West Point is run and the dress code and course schedule. I had difficulty understand what was on their webpage, and not having anyone to talk to with first-hand experience, I made the school more like a regular college with some military stuff thrown in. I'll apologize in advance for the inaccuracies. If there is anyone who can help me fix this aspect, please PM. I have no problem revising the story.

Lester's Sister, Part II

Stephanie's POV – 4 years later, age 20

September 11, 2001

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly through an almost cloudless sky. The air has a feel of summer rather than the fall that's approaching in less than two weeks. I am in the third week of my junior year at West Point with my Carlos. Life has been great. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy attending West Point Military Academy, with the physical training we must endure every day, the academics, and the weapons training, but I wouldn't trade it. I am enjoying living in New York. It's a nice change from Trenton. Even though it's only a couple of hours away, it seems like I'm in a different country. The air is fresh here in the Hudson Valley of New York. I enjoy going to the area surrounding Hyde Park, looking at the eastern bank of the Hudson River from the cliffs. Carlos and I have done some hiking around Bear Mountain. Upstate New York is beautiful. Well, I know if you talk to those who live in upstate New York, this is downstate, but to this Jersey girl, I'm upstate.

I woke up at 0500, as is my routine here at school. I quickly showered, pulling my long hair back in a bun. My hair length is about mid-back. I learned that the longer it is, the easier it is to get into the required bun. I'm not even sure I remember how to wear it down anymore. I put on my fatigues, as is our usual uniform. I make sure that my dirty laundry is in the hamper and that my bed is perfectly made. One never knows where there will be a room inspection. I put on some mascara and lip gloss, ready to face the day. My roommate Jill and I head to the dining room for breakfast with our platoon. Thankfully, Carlos is in my platoon.

After breakfast, we report with our platoon for our accountability meeting. Here, we discuss whatever needs to be addressed with the platoon. Then, it's on to classes, lunch, and back to class. Then, I have soccer practice for three hours. After, I take a quick shower before dinner. After dinner, we have a study period before it's light out. It's interesting learning about different American policies and politics through the years. I can understand why certain events occurred the way they did.

When Jill and I arrive at breakfast, Carlos is already there. We are not allowed to date, officially, anyone in school. So, while we are in school, we act as friends. There's no kissing, hugging, or cuddling. We do save up all our free time for excursions we can take together, where we get to be together. We try to earn our privileges monthly, but sometimes it's difficult. On the upside, we don't need to worry much about an unplanned pregnancy since we are rarely able to be alone. Jill and I immediately get our food, then sit down together at a long table with several others in our class. Bobby Brown is sitting next to Carlos. He's a mixed-race guy from Baltimore, with an aptitude for science. He hopes to go to medical school one day, but in the meantime, he's training to become an Army medic. John Ramsey is next to Bobby. He's of Scottish ancestry, with dirty blonde hair and pale blue eyes. He is a great shooter and knows how to handle his weapons.

I guess it helps that he was an avid hunter in Washington state when he was a kid. Next to me is Calvin Wittman. He is German and French. He's from Indiana. Finally, we have Jayden Woodrow. He's from Texas. We became fast friends during our freshman year and have remained friends. There are a decent number of women here, but I tend to understand the guys better. I'm very friendly with Jill Gnecco. She is Italian, like me, and from an oppressive family. She Is majoring in Computer Science.

After breakfast, we head to our room for our first class. Just before class is about to start, another instructor enters our room, turning on the television.

"Holy shit! A plane just crashed into one of the Twin Towers!" Bobby exclaims. Cal, Jay, and I turn around in our seats to look at the tv mounted in the corner. Almost instantaneously, the room became eerily quiet as everyone took in the scene in front of us.

"I bet the pilot had some kind of medical emergency," Cal said.

Jay replied, "I didn't know that planes flew that close to downtown Manhattan. I don't think that area is in any flight plan."

I didn't know what to think. All I could concentrate on is if the people who were above the impact zone could get out. We stared at the television. We couldn't take our eyes off the screen. From what the reporters were saying, it was a small, sight-seeing plane. As we were watching, though, we saw another plane come in and hit the other tower. Holy Mother of God. Now, the tears were flowing from my eyes. I knew, in my gut, that something bad was happening. There is no way that two planes could fly into both towers on the same morning with it being coincidental. We were under attack.

"I need to call Mama."

"What's wrong, Carlos?" I ask.

"It's Mariela, she's working at a school not far from the World Trade Center. I think she's on Chambers Street. She only started there last week. Mama must be out of her mind with worry."

"Go try a landline. There's no way a cell is going to work right now." John answered.

Carlos got up and walked to the payphone, hoping to get in touch with Tia Juliana. Normally, we wouldn't be permitted to leave the room, but the protocol was out the window. If what I think is happening is happening, I doubt we'll have classes today, and I doubt our world will ever be the same.