Author's Note:

I hope everyone realizes that this symbol: // -means that the character is speaking to themselves.  They can be speaking in first person or in third person, as if having a two-way conversation with ones self.  Did I just make that even more confusing?

Whatever.  Let's get on to the story.

~~~Back to Present~~~

//I'll be fine…I can do this…I studied, I'm ready//

Julie tried to convince herself that she had studied enough for finals. 

Dean could see the anxiety mounting up in Julie.  He leaned over and said, "Don't worry Duchess, you got this."

She smiled, while she didn't really feel she had anything except a stomachache, she appreciated Dean's confidence in her.  He always seemed to have confidence in her, that anything she wanted to do she could do.  His confidence in her boosted her confidence in herself.  With determination she picked up her pencil, and when Ms. Hemperly said it was time to start, she was determined to do her best.  (Not that she didn't always give it her all; today she was going to make sure she did well.)

She aced it.  Like she did all of her finals.

After class ended she asked Dean how he did.

He said, "Actually, I knew everything on the test, and I think I did okay."  He said being modest.  He aced it too.

*******

The team sat around the table as freshmen for the last time.

"So what are you guys going to do for the summer?"  Charlie asked.

"Lay around."  Said Fulton

"Go home to Chicago." Portman said.

"Home" said Julie and the rest of the team started talking amongst themselves about their summer plans.

"I would really like to go on vacation somewhere, I don't know where yet."  Said Charlie.

"Well you are welcome to come visit me."  Said Julie.

"What about us?!"  Said Fulton

"You can come too." 

"Hey I want to come too!"  Said Connie.

"Hold on I will be right back."

Julie got on her cellie and made a call then came back to the table.

"Okay how bout this.  Ah hem.  Everyone…Hello people I am talking here!"

"HEY!"  Shouted Portman, "The lady has something to say."

"Hey quiet cha'all!" said Duane.

Silence fell at the table.

"Woooow, thanks you guys.  Okay, here is the deal; every one needs a vacation right?  So how about you all come visit me?  In Maine at my…em…house."

"Will we all fit Jules?"  Asked Guy.

"Yeah, there is plenty of room for you all.  You are welcome to stay as long as you like.  And here is the best part.  You don't even have to buy an airline ticket."  Jules announced.

"REALLY?"  Said Russ.  "Shoot, I am all over that!"

"Why not?"  Said Adam.

"Because my father is going to send the jet to come pick me up, and you all can come with me.  When you are ready to go, it will take you home or back here or wherever you want to go."

"Dang girl, I didn't know you had it like that!"  Russ commented.

They all started talking among themselves about what the summer would be like at Julie's.  Julie got up from the table to throw her trash away.

"So," Connie said, "how big is your house anyway?"

"Well it isn't really a house." 

"Is it a MANSION?"  Connie asked greedily.

"Well…yeah kinda.  You will just have to see and then you can tell me."

"Oh my gawd Julie, why didn't you ever tell me you family was that rich." 

"Well it isn't like a topic of conversation or anything.  It is just home."

"Oh my gawd, we are so going to have to go shopping."

"Yeah sure sounds great!"  Said Julie with a laugh in her voice.

"Okay guys, um, let me know when you all want to leave, and I will call my dad and let him know when we will be ready."

"How bout this weekend!"  Averman said.

"Really, you guys want to leave on say Saturday morning?"

Every one agreed that would be awesome.

"Okay, then I will let you know what time we need to be ready."

As she was leaving she turned and said, "Oh and when I mean ready, I mean ready here…the limo is going to be picking us up."

She exited to the sounds of excited chitter chatter, and the squeals of Connie.  Then everyone started chanting, "Go, Go, Go, Go, Go Julie, it's your birthday, we're gonna party like it's your birthday, we're gonna sip Bacardi like it's your birthday, and you know we don't give a – cause it's your birthday!"