Bobby's POV

I watch as Stephanie follows Carlos to comfort him. As a matter of fact, we all follow their movements. Dating amongst cadets is prohibited, but if I didn't know any better, I'd say Carlos and Steph were dating. I know that they have known each other for a few years and that Carlos' grandmother was Stephanie's guardian. However, if my theory is true, I've never seen any proof of it. The only picture that either of them has of each other is a group picture with Carlos' cousin Lester, who Steph calls her brother. She explained the story to us shortly after we met, but I still don't get it. I know that Carlos and Steph have dated in the past, and I think they will again once we are done here, much to my disappointment. I remember the first time I laid eyes on Stephanie Plum as if it were yesterday.

Today is the first day of freshman orientation. For the next week, all incoming cadets were getting acclimated to West Point, learning the rituals and routines that make attending a military academy different from any other college. I was rooming with Calvin Wittman, who was a cool dude, though he wanted to become a SEAL. When I asked him why he was attending West Point instead of Annapolis, he replied, "it's my legacy. I had to attend."

Today was the only day that we were allowed to wear street clothes, or as we have learned to call them, civvies. I was sitting in the athletic room, waiting to hear about the different competitive and non-competitive sports here. All cadets are required to play sports, year-round. We have been split into platoons, and I'll be with this group all week. We have a little free time to get to know each other each night, but lights are out by ten, and we are up at the crack of dawn to run the track. After this, we have lunch. Today is the only day when we get to choose who to sit with and will be given time to eat leisurely. I'm not sure I'm ever going to get used to this regimentation. As I'm waiting for the Athletic Director to start his pitch, I see an attractive brunette walk in. Now, she isn't drop-dead gorgeous, and her body is average, but she exudes this aura of sex appeal. I was smitten. I watch as she cased the room, looking for a seat. She sat two rows in front of me. She had crazy, curly hair that she contained in a ponytail. She was wearing a girly t-shirt and jean shorts that were short enough to be sexy, but long enough to be decent. When she turned to look behind her, I got lost in her blue eyes. I never saw eyes so blue. She turned back forward, and I assessed the rest of her package. She had a decent chest, a little on the small side, but it was proportional to her body. She had fair skin under a light tan. Her legs seemed to go on for miles. Yeah, I had it bad.

During roll call, I made sure to pay attention to find out her name. When the AD called Stephanie Plum, and she answered, I knew that her name fit her. I spend more time gazing at her than I did listening to the AD, so I didn't actually notice that we were free to go. It was Stephanie who broke me out of my reverie.

"Hey, it's lunchtime. I don't think you want to stay here until tomorrow."

"Oh, thanks. I guess my mind was wandering a little. I'm Robert Brown, but please call me Bobby." I offered her my hand.

"I'm Stephanie Plum, but please call me Steph. Where are you from?"

"Baltimore. Based on your accent, I bet you're from New Jersey."

"Good guess. I'm from Trenton by way of Miami. I spent the last year living in Miami with family."

"Wow. Talk about a big change."

"You can say that."

"Look, I'm heading to meet with my roommate for lunch. Do you want to join us?" I ask nervously. I see her look at me and send me a flirtatious smile.

"Maybe." Steph coyly responds through her long, mascara enhanced lashes.

We start walking towards the cafeteria, and I see Calvin walking with another guy. He looks Hispanic, with long hair tied back in a ponytail. I watch as Stephanie takes sight of him and realize that I don't stand a chance now that she's seen him. I mean, he is good-looking. I'm confident enough in my sexuality to recognize a handsome guy when I see one. I bet he has lots of girls throwing themselves at him.

"Hey, Bobby. Let me introduce you to my new friend, Carlos Manoso, from Newark. Carlos, this is Robert Brown, who prefers to be called Bobby, from Baltimore."

Carlos extended his hand to shake mine. Cal then added, "who's your beautiful new friend, Bobby?"

"This is Stephanie Plum. She's a Jersey girl who lived in Miami for the last year. This is Calvin Wittman."

"Please call me Cal."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Plum."

"Please, call me Steph."

"Babe," Carlos says. She once again smiles coyly, responding, "Manoso."

"What's your intramural?"

"Swimming. That will go well between my two seasons of soccer."

"You two know each other?" I ask.

"Yeah. Steph and my cousin are close, in fact, they call each other siblings from another set of parents. She's been living in Miami with my cousin, myself, and my grandmother for the last year."

Now I understand how they know each other. "I guess it's lucky you are in the same platoon. Do you know what's after lunch?"

"Uniform distribution and the salon. The other girls have said that if we can't adequately contain our hair in a bun, we have to cut it short. I hope my bun will pass inspection."

"Abuela will be happy to see your hair cut short."

"Babe," Carlos replied.

"So, would you both like to join us for lunch?" Steph asked, looking at Cal and me.

"Sure, that sounds great, right, Cal."

"Yes, that does."

We walked towards the cafeteria together. I didn't realize then that this was the start of a lasting friendship. We were placed in the same group, and once placed in a group, you are with them for your entire tenure.

"Do you think Carlos' sister is okay?" Cal asks.

"I hope so. God, it must be awful down there."

We sat in silence, watching the images flash on the television in front of us. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this one event will change the course of all our lives. We entered West Point during a time of relative peace, but I can see that peace is shattered here and now.

A/N: I have tweaked the chapter and chapter 26. I hope that this is a more accurate portrayal of life in West Point. I know they would never be in civvies, but I really wanted the first meet to be in street clothes and couldn't think of how to accomplish that. Once again, thank you, Susan, for your critical eye, and thank you, Aruvqan and Elenimou for giving me info on WP. You Babes rock.