Author's Note: So what I'm going to do is flashbacks will be in first person to really tell the difference. The italics are the journal entries and the third person is just the regular parts that are outside of the flashbacks. Each person will get their own chapter and I'm starting out with Mary-Anne

Mary Anne and Stacey had gone to pick up Charlotte so she could try on her wedding dress. Knocking on the door she heard the dog bark and someone shout coming.

"Hi Charlotte, ready to pick up your wedding dress?" she asked seeing the young woman once the door opened. Charlotte had a striped sweater in pink, white, and gray and a pair of dark wash blue jeans. At least she was ready to go at least.

"Yes! I'm still really mad about Margo doing that," said Charlotte and turned to Byron. "I'll be back by dinner."

She had smiled at him endearingly before softly kissing his lips. Aww, Mary Anne could remember being young and in love like that. They were at it kissing a little deeper before she was waving to distract them. As sweet as that was, she needed to show her the dress.

"I'll make the mac and cheese last I know you like it hot and fresh," he said.

"Thanks," she said before heading to the car turning a little pink for kissing in front of Mary Anne. "Byron really likes to cook, and he makes the best three cheese mac and cheese we also have brisket."

With that they were off and heading to the bridal shop. Mary Anne had pulled out her phone to start writing about an experience. She was used to writing during car rides to pass the time and she wanted to get something ready for the wedding journal.

A wedding journal, it's not like we haven't done this before, but its different this time. Instead of a family friend or a family member, it's a former sitting charge. Which honestly is kind of special because well none of us expected that. Kristy thought it would be fun to share our experiences and maybe tell a story about what happened to us since we've last seen each other.

My name is Mary Anne Faulkner (nee Spier) and this is my story of when I decided my future.

There was scribbling on the paper as Dr. Reese just smiled warmly at me. Our meeting about halfway over. The office filled with shelves with different books, two framed degrees on the wall, and a nice comfy light gray couch. Windows flooding in natural light. Since I was comfortable, I had slipped off my shoes and laid on the couch upside down. My now shoulder length hair grazing a plush carpet.

"So, Mary Anne congratulations on the SAT a 1400 is a great score," said Dr. Reese watching me. "Have you thought about what colleges you'll go to yet? Or do you plan on going with Kristy to Stoneybrook University?"

I hadn't really thought about it. "I don't know. I mean part of me really wants to get out and try a bunch of new things. The other part is telling me to stay here warm and safe in my little bubble."

"Do you feel as if there's something strongly keeping you here?" she asked gently. My eyes going to look at her diplomas on the wall. Harvard University and the University of Cincinnati were next to the door. Part of me wondered what those schools were like.

Thinking about there was a lot of reasons to stay.

"Friends and family and a life that's comforting," I said flipping up and head spinning. "I don't know if that's particularly strong though. It's not like I can't leave and then come back. If you couldn't do that, I wouldn't have Sharon."

"You have a good reason not to go somewhere," she pointed out. "And there's nothing wrong with that. How about this, do you feel as if you might regret not leaving out of state if you don't?"

Oh, that was a good question as I thought about it. Then slowly found myself nodding. In way I really would. There's so much of the world out there that I wanted to see. Plus, who knows what I'm really missing out on being out and by myself.

"I mean I feel like I'd be missing out on something wonderful. What if my true calling is something like dog sledding in Alaska? Or my future husband is just right there in Georgia or something."

Geez, thinking about a future husband made my stomach flutter. I had dated Pete Black last year and of course Logan right now though I was single. I'd like to find someone special one day.

"Perhaps you could find a college familiar. There are lots of great schools that are suburban like in all parts of the country," she said. "What kind of school are you looking for?"

Now that's a question my guidance counselor hadn't really asked me but never had a full answer anyway. "I don't know. My dad wants me to go an ivy league school, he thinks it'd be a great education opportunity for me. That feels kind of out of reach for me though."

"Why not? I bet you'd do great."

"Just lots of pressure and I'd like some place well known but not so daunting. A private college just seems so…" Taking a breath I sighed heavily, I didn't have many thoughts on that subject before. "I don't want to feel really pressured."

Dr. Reese pulled up a website on her computer. "What about a little Ivy School? Or a public Ivy? Ivy's aren't your only options either any college would be lucky to have you. Maybe think of the environment you'd like to be in."

Their session was up as there was somethings to think about. I had already decided to get my degree in psychology and eventually go onto child psychiatry. Psychology interested me since late eighth grade and I could see children in my future job.

Getting home, I dropped my stuff off in my room and found Tigger to play with. A big thick book about different colleges in my hands and waited for the tea to be made on the stove. Crossing out immediately those on the other coast. There's something about the idea of going across the country by myself terrified me. Undergrad and grad school could be different, I thought.

Something about New York felt familiar and started to search for colleges in Boston for other options.

So somewhere along the coast perhaps. A city would be nice, I thought, and tapped the pencil on the open page. Location was easy to decide it was everything else was kind of hard. There were a lot of schools up and along this coast. Go to school in New York or New Jersey like most would have expected from me?

"Mary Anne," called my dad from across the hall. I looked up and waved to him a pizza in his hands for dinner. "Are you busy with homework?"

Shaking my head no, dad had sat the pizza down on the counter, and sat down next to me. In his hands the mail. A lot with my name on it. Oh great, normally I like getting the mail but there were so many brochures from different universities.

"If it helps I think I might have a place in mind that I think you might like," he said. "That is if you want to spend your spring break with your family on a vacation."

"Of course, can I know the school?"

"I think it'll be a good surprise."

So, I packed throughout the week wondering where my dad was taking us. I had decided to not push it and let him surprise me. It was a college visit it wasn't like I was being taken by complete surprise. Dad had ordered the plane tickets and we were off. After a short plane ride and a rent a car place were we off.

Glancing around I could see that we weren't in the middle of nowhere but just on the outskirts of a small city (at least compared to New York). In a way it reminded me of Stoneybrook, and it was comforting in a way despite being so far away. Sharon had pulled out a guidebook and I looked at the cover trying to get a hint before dad pulled me away. Shoot.

We walked down a path taking in the greenery and a clean-cut yard with a large building in front of me. Wow, this was beautiful taking in the campus. A few students were tossing a frisbee around and others just talking.

I snapped my fingers knowing where I was and read the name on the sign. The College of William and Mary.

"I never really thought of here," I said looking at my dad.

"You know it?"

"Yea William and Mary is the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States, right behind Harvard. The college is known as a public Ivy which makes it cheaper. Glenn Close graduated from here along with the first ten presidents and a bunch of others. It's mostly known for its law program."

"I did not graduate from here but a friend of mine has from the office. His son is a freshman and he really loves it so I thought we'd try it out. I even made plans to go to DC for the week."

Now I had out my camera and started snapping pictures excited about the impromptu trip. Across the lawn a boy about my age with dark red hair and in a polo shirt smiled at me before tossing his frisbee. To think so many famous people from across history has walked across this very lawn.

Sharon had passed me a guidebook so I can flip through so I could find neat buildings to check out. Dad had found his friend where they had set up to start the tour. I didn't even notice while I just took in the scenery. I could see myself at a school like this. They did have a great psychology program and their student life was one of the best in the country.

Snapping to attention we started the tour drinking in what there was to see. It was far more enlightening then I had thought. DC was about a two-hour drive north from here and the beach not too far either (depending on the part). The tour was great and even got to meet a psychology professor.

"And this my son," said my dad's friend. A boy about my age with brown hair and green eyes waved. "Brandon."

"Nice to meet you," he said shaking my hand. "This is my friend Ryan Faulkner."

"Hello," he said shaking his hand too and I flushed finding myself staring at him. It the redhead from earlier that had smiled at me.

"Hi, is that an Irish accent?" I asked still a little pink. Both boys were attractive, but I found myself staring at Ryan and he just grinned at me. He was taller than me and pale skin. "Sorry I didn't mean…"

"It's okay it's actually Scottish, it's been changing since I moved here a few years ago. My dad's a diplomat and we move around a lot."

Wow that was impressive before we had gone off promising to meet up with Sharon, my dad, and Brandon's dad for lunch in the main big hall. They were really nice and started to show me what the dorms looked like and other stuff that, as a guest, I normally wouldn't have access to.

I didn't realize then that I would have met my would-be husband. I ended up choosing that school because I wanted to take a chance and try something new and different. My grad school ended up being Georgetown and we settled down in DC. That's my story and my advice is to trust yourselves and each other. Take a risk because it just might surprise you.

They had gone into the shop together that Stacey had parked out in front of. They looked up at it and then grinned a little sheepishly at each other. Wow, Mary Anne's string pulling was working out in her favor, being able to skip over two other brides.

Getting out of the car Charlotte looked at them wondering they could really get her dress. After her appointment had be canceled it was hard to get another one so soon. She had been holding off because of how busy things have been at work.

"I'm just happy to get my gown," said Charlotte and the tingle above the door alerted anyone near the door. "Are you sure that they might be able to fix it?"

"Don't worry I know the owner," said Mary Anne winking at her. Stacey looked just as surprised. The woman at the desk looked up at them a little surprised to see them. "Grace! It's good to see you again. How's the kids? Logan?"

Stacey had stared for a second to recognize her as Grace Blume from their old high school. She looked fabulous with her blond hair in a high smooth ponytail. She didn't wear any make up but her all black outfit made her look good. She had forgotten that she was actually pretty nice and got along with them when Cokie wasn't involved. The bake off was the most memorable thing they had done together.

"Hi Grace, I didn't realize you married Logan."

"Yea we were 23 and we have three kids now. This is actually my bridal shop," she said looking over at the three them. Then brightened up when she saw Charlotte. "Are you ready to pick up your dress? I know work can be super stressful."

"And I wanted to make sure that it still fit and show Stacey and Mary Anne."

With that she had whisked her off to help her get dressed. It had to get taken out a little with just a few adjustments were they ready. While they waited Stacey had picked out something blue for her. Mary Anne looking for something that would be nice to add. Then she finally walked out.

Stacey and I went to help with the dress. It's gorgeous Charlotte's gorgeous guys. I think Byron might might cry; I know I nearly did. It's off the shoulder, fitted on the top, and ballgown style with lace and applique designs on the tulle embroidered on the skirt oh and… it's just lovely. Stacey and I even had an idea of how do her hair.

I hope everyone had just as much fun as we did, even if it was just picking up a dress.