Hello, Hello! I can't believe I haven't updated since November! I was planning to post two chapters over Christmas break but of course I ended up catching the flu and didn't get any writing or editing done. I wrote in my last update that I've finished the story but was still editing it. I ended up adding another chapter to make everything easier to understand. You can probably expect two or three more chapters. If you have any suggestions for more stories I could write just let me know… Also I wrote a short story on Mandie and Joe before the Mandie books begin… Also do you like how this story is going so far? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how to improve it? I feel like there isn't enough excitement, but let me know what you think. And finally, would you possibly be interested in seeing a sequel? Please let me know what you think:)

Erin-Elizabeth: Don't worry, I have some "lovey dovey" planned in the next couple of chapters;)

CantDecideOnAUsername: Thank you so much for your review! Thanks for your ideas. I would personally love to see the Mandie: Her College Days rewritten, I personally didn't enjoy the book very much and would love to see your take on it. But it might also be really nice to have a story about the Europe trip, I've considered possibly writing a story about it but I don't think I'll get around to it now:)

SmallNotesConcerningMyMind: I have 2-3 more chapters left, I just have to find time to finish editing them. I'm not giving any spoilers for the ending, so you'll just have to wait and see!

Guest: Awww thank you so much! I occasionally feel as though Joe is out of character so thank you sooo much!

guest: I'm so so sorry about how long it's taken to update! I really hope you enjoy this chapter:)

Mandie was sleeping peacefully when a pillow smashed down on her face. Mandie abruptly sat up as she heard giggling. She looked around in alarm and saw that it was Sallie and Celia. She groaned and covered her head in a blanket.

"Get up sleepyhead! Breakfast is waiting." Celia said.

"Today is the dance!" Sallie said excitedly. "I can't wait to wear my new dress."

Mandie rolled out of bed and went to the closet to grab a dress and quickly went to the bathroom to change. She had slept late because she had talked with Celia and Sallie late into the night.

"Let's go to breakfast." Mandie said coming out of the bathroom. In the dining room everyone was already seated and eating.

"You're late girls." Grandmother said.

"It's my fault Grandmother, I slept late." Mandie said. She spotted an empty chair beside a certain someone and went to sit.

"I hope y'all are excited for the dance tonight." Mandie said after she had coffee.

"I certainly am." Mary Lou said smiling at George.

"Yes I'm sure we'll have a splendid time." George said.

"I can't wait to dance with a special someone." Joe said smiling down at Mandie causing her to blush and look away.

The young people finished breakfast and were left to do whatever they wish. Mandie, Sallie, and Celia went to the kitchen to ask if they needed any help but Aunt Lou shooed them out.

"Well what should we do now?" Celia asked.

"Hmmm. I'm not sure." Mandie said walking down the hall. "I think I'll go for a walk."

Mandie was bundling into her coat when her mother came to her and said. "Amanda dear, I've been looking for you."

"Why Mother?"

"The adults will be going to be going to town for lunch. I just thought I'd let you know."

"Oh thank you for telling me Mother."

"Are you excited for the ball this evening?" Mother asked.

"Of course Mother. Thank you so much for inviting all my friends."

"Oh you're welcome dear. I'll let you go to wherever it is you're going." she said to Mandie kissing her on the forehead.

Mandie went into the side yard and twirled around. The snow was so beautiful. Mandie couldn't wait for the ball. Mandie walked around the yard and saw the adults climbing into the sleigh. She decided to go inside. Mandie met Joe who was sitting on the veranda.

"Mandie come and sit with me for a moment." He said to her. Mandie went and sat down beside him. "How's college going? I haven't had many chances to talk to you."

"College is fine. I'm really excited about graduating in the spring."

"Yes I heard you're graduating in the spring. I'll be graduating in the spring too."

"You've been in college for so long. How many years?"

"Five when I've finished this year. It's a lot of work becoming a lawyer. But I know that once I graduate I'll really enjoy being a lawyer and maybe raising a family." Joe said his dark eyes looking deeply into Mandie's blue eyes.

Celia burst out the door. "Mandie it's almost lunch time. Oh, I'm sorry if I interrupted anything." Seeing Mandie and Joe.

"No that's fine Celia, we're coming." Mandie said blushing because Celia had interrupted her moment with Joe.

The young people all sat around the table discussing the ball that evening. Mandie remained silent, lost in thought. Did Joe love her or Polly? Polly didn't seem to talk to Joe at all when she had visited. It must not have been Joe talking to Polly in the hall. Her heart soared but she wondered who it had really been.

"Mandie when should we start getting ready for the ball." Celia asked but Mandie was so deep in thought she didn't hear her. "Mandie... Mandie." Celia said trying to get her attention.

"What?" Mandie said surprised as she was pulled out of thought.

"When should we start getting ready for the ball?"

"Ummm I don't know. Maybe around three? I think I'll take a rest after lunch though."

"Do you girls really need that much time to get ready?" Jonathan said from across the table.

"Yes we do Jonathan. Girls care about how they look."

"Jonathan cares about how he looks. Every morning at college Jonathan would comb his curls for at least 10 minutes until they looked "just perfect"." Joe said smirking.

"Hey now I had a lady to impress." Jonathan said, grinning down at Alice.

Soon after they had finished eating all the adults had arrived home and Mandie went up to her room to rest for a couple hours. She woke to Celia rushing into the room.

"Mandie it's after three o'clock you must get up." She said. Mandie stretched and sat up. Sallie walked into the room and said. "Mandie you're finally awake. The girls are all getting ready."

Mandie got out of bed and told Sallie and Celia she was taking a bath. She went into the bathroom, shut the door and turned on the bath tap. The water was so warm Mandie didn't want to leave it. She wiped herself off with a towel and slid into a simple dress she could wear while doing her hair. In her room Celia was helping Sallie twist her hair into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck. Celia's auburn hair was already stacked upon her head.

"There." Celia said as she put the last pin in Sallie's hair.

"Oh Celia, thank you so much!" Sallie said as she looked in the mirror.

"Sallie your hair is beautiful!" Mandie said as she laid her blue and gold dress out on the bed.

"Mandie do you want me to help with your hair?" Celia asked.

"I think I'll just leave it down, I hardly ever do."

"Well then, I'll go put on my dress."

The girls talked about how excited they were for the coming evening and Celia said that she was going to go to the other girls room across the hall to see how they were doing. Sallie volunteered to go with her. Mandie decided to stay in there room. The two girls left and Mandie went to sit by the window. She was thinking about the mysterious card Polly had, the note she had found in the bureau, and the two people in the hall, when Mandie looked out in the side yard and saw two people tight in embrace. Mandie took a closer look and saw that it was Polly and a man, maybe Joe? Mandie's heart pounded. No that wasn't Joe, it was Tommy. The the two let go of eachother.

Mandie went and sat on her bed. She began to laugh at herself. The suspicious card must have been from Tommy and the man Polly was with in the hall must have been Tommy. Mandie suddenly couldn't believe that she had thought Joe and Polly were in a secret relationship. She would have to tell Joe that she loved him whether or not he loved her in return. But she still had to figure out what the note from Joe to Celia in the bureau meant.

I really hope you enjoyed! Sorry that this chapter was very slow-paced hopefully the next couple chapters move faster. Please let me know your opinions on what I wrote about before the chapter. I'll try to finish editing the next couple chapters soon:)

~MandieFan