The first week of college was so tough for her. Everywhere Mandy went, she looked for Gabby. The sophomore was the only person that she knew at the school. But the campus was massive and she never saw her. It was almost as if she'd imagined her. Eventually, she did meet another freshman when she was at orientation, Aisha Scott. "Call me Scotty."

Mandy smiled at her new friend. She was about the same height, a little slimmer with a smooth dark brown skin and bouncy black hair. "Got it." The girls spent all their time together, attaching themselves to each other. Mandy was happy to have found someone because they had so much in common that she no longer felt bad about never having a true best friend before. Now she had Scotty. One day, weeks later, Mandy and Scotty were walking back to their dorm shooting the breeze. "Kevin will be here this weekend."

"Lucky," Mandy said.

"I can tell him to bring a friend. If you want," Scotty said bumping her.

Remembering her mother's words, she shook her head. "No. Thanks though."

Scotty checked her watch. "Well, let me know. I am going to sleep until the turn of the century. Bye, girl."

"Bye."

Mandy opened her door and walked inside of her room. With Scotty's help, she'd pushed the two beds together creating a King size bed. Pulling out a book, she flopped onto it. As she drifted off, she heard a knock on the door. Wiping her face, she opened it to see Gabby. "Gabby?" She asked.

Gabby nodded. "Can I come in?"

Mandy shook her head. "No, you can't. Where have you been?"

"In class and such," Gabby said pushing past Mandy. "Your room looks cozy. You've really fixed it up since the last time. I should stop by more often."

"I don't remember saying that you could come in," Mandy told her.

Gabby held up her hands and walked back to the door. She leaned in the threshold. "May I please come in, Miranda?"

A tingling hit the top of Mandy's spine, traveling downward. "Sure."

They sat on the bed. "How's freshmen life treating you?"

"Uh, it's okay. I made a friend."

"Me, right?"

Mandy rolled her eyes. "No. But classes are okay. But there are a lot of white people," she whispered.

Gabby laughed loudly, clapping and falling backward. "I totally agree. Wonder bread. Hey, at least you have me."

"And Scotty."

"Right, right. I remember her. I think I helped her move. She was cool."

Mandy crossed her legs. "Did you eat her food, too?" She giggled.

"No, but I could go for something to eat. Want to grab a bite?" Mandy raised an eyebrow. "My treat."

"That's what I was waiting for."

Leaving her room, they saw Scotty coming toward them. "Ugh, I could not sleep. What are you up to?"

"Scotty, you remember Gabby. Gabby, Scotty." They waved at each other. "We're about to get something to eat."

"Yeah, do you want to come?" Gabby asked.

"Uhh…"

"I'm buying."

"You should have led with that," Scotty replied and the three of the went on their way.

Mandy noticed how well they all seemed to get along and was happy that she had two friends at Wellesley.

A week or so later, the three of them were in her room with every intent to study, but they were really gossiping and sharing secrets. They spent the hours laughing. Scotty left claiming that she had real studying to do. With her gone, Mandy and Gabby sat on bed. "So, frosh, tell me more about yourself. What are you into?"

"You're on my bed, you go first," Mandy replied turning toward Gabby. "What exactly is your major?

The older one squinted and lay back. "I don't know. I'm really interested into engineering. But my mom won't pay for it, so I tell people it's business." Gabby looked remorseful for a second. She gritted her teeth. "But I know you're going to be a surgeon. And that is actually… hot and badass." The look on Gabby's face made Mandy began smiling.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I like to think so."

"What, um… what does your boyfriend think about you studying medicine?"

"Who said I have a boyfriend?" Mandy lay down next to Gabby. The bed was big, but the two of them were mere inches apart.

"You don't?"

"I did, but… we broke up," Mandy replied with a sigh. More than once she'd thought about Tucker, wanting to be with him. They'd been really close and she'd actually liked him. And she missed him. "What—"

Gabby shook her head. "If you're about to ask me about a boyfriend, I don't have one." She readjusted on the bed. "I, uh, don't date men."

Mandy popped up, getting flustered. Her cheeks were getting warmer by the second. "Oh."

Gabby sat up. "Does that… I mean, I'm sorry, Miranda."

She cleared her throat. "You didn't have to be. There's nothing to be sorry about. I mean, you're n-not, you know… the first lesbian I've ever met," Mandy lied. In theory, she'd probably met lesbians, but none that have ever expressly identified as such. Women liking women. While she didn't particularly care who a person chose to love, her mother would have a lot to say about that. Their religion preached love, but same sex couples, apparently, were not included.

Smiling softly, Gabby said: "I just wanted to be honest with you, Mandy. But please…"

Mandy cut her off. "I won't."

"Won't what?"

She smiled and assumed her original position. "Tell anyone." She wasn't going to lose a friend over something that had nothing to do with her. They stared at each other and Mandy saw a little bit of the tough exterior Gabby always had softened since she'd opened up. On the bed, they were so close. Mandy's hand twitched to touch one of her long braids. Or her lips. Her eyes widened at the thought. Where in the world did they come from? She didn't like girls. Had never seen one that made her want to— Maybe it was the newness of mostly being around women day in and day out. She didn't know what it was, but it shook her. Feigning a yawn, Mandy closed her eyes. Perhaps if she couldn't see Gabby, the thoughts would go away.

There was a knock on the door and Scotty marched in. "I thought you went to study."

"I did," Scotty said. "But I realized it's the weekend and we have time." She saw them laying on the bed. "…something. What's going on?"

"Uh, nothing I was just leaving," Gabby said getting up. "See y'all later. Thanks for the talk, Mandy."

The freshmen watched the sophomore go. "Did I interrupt something?"

"What do you mean?"

"You. Gabby. On your bed. Talking."

"What about it? I lay on my bed and talk to you, too."

"Yeah, but you two were really close." Mandy put her hands on her hips, waiting. "Do you like Gabby?"

Feeling herself about to explode, Mandy inhaled deeply. First her thoughts earlier and then her best friend accusing her of being a… of liking... "Scotty…"

"I mean, it's okay with me if you do."

Mandy just said: "What movie do you want to watch?" Though she hadn't come to school with a TV, someone who'd moved out of the room next door couldn't take their TV with them and she paid about forty dollars for it.

They watched "Pretty Woman" in silence. As Vivian and Edward watched "I Love Lucy," Scotty got up and paused the movie. "I'm sorry, okay?"

"About what?"

"For being intrusive."

Mandy glanced at Scotty apologetic face. "You're my best friend. I expect that you will get into my business." They smiled. "But Gabby and I are friends. Like you and I. That's it."

"Okay. Now, pass the popcorn."