Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters.

Chapter 7: The First Semester and another chance

After the bumbling beginnings at MBU, I decided to do what I did best: keep to myself and study.

That was how the first half quarter went. I'd go to class and do my homework, papers and whatever else the professors threw at me. Instead of getting acquainted with other students, I got acquainted with studying and burying myself in my books.

I was bound and determined to succeed at any cost. The big cost of being studious was the lack of social life. Of course, I brought that on myself and there was really nothing I could do about that.

But that all paid off when I got my grades for the first semester. I maintained a 4.0 making my father very proud.

Christmas break was a good thing for me. I got to go home and be with Dad. We got a Christmas miracle when my sister came home from wherever she was. She didn't say much about where she'd been but I think Dad and I were both just glad that she was finally home.

Chandra just said that she was missing someone and I assumed it was Jason. It very well could've been but we didn't linger on that topic either.

I returned to Mariner Bay a few weeks later. Marley had stayed behind and spent the holiday with Kelsey.

"And I thought Kimberly's mother was a bitch." She started as I walked into her room.

"Kelsey's grandmother makes Kim's mom look like the good witch."

"Why? That bad, huh?"

"Yep." Then she got quiet. She looked up at me. "Jer, when you were home, did you happen to see my brother at all?" She asked, quietly.

"No, why, Marley?"

"I-I just…I don't know. I guess I miss him, that's all."

I walked up to her and felt her head for a fever.

"M-Love, are you feelin' okay?" I asked.

She slapped my hand away.

"Yes, Jerky, I'm fine."

Dana returned about a week later in a very chipper mood. She just looked at me and smiled.

"What's with you?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing." She said with a sly grin.

"Dana."

"Okay. I was shopping with my dad." She started. "We just happened to run into a buddy of yours."

"Oh?" I asked, assuming it was Marley.

"Carter."

"Oh, Jesus Martha, Dana."

"Well, I happened to tell him that I was your roomie."

"YOU DID WHAT?"

"Oh Jeri. I think he likes you." She said, sweetly.

"Oh please."

"He was asking about you. And he asked where you were." She continued.

"Far away from him." I spat.

"Well he did ask if you were seeing someone."

"Dana…"

"I told him you weren't. I really didn't say much after that." She finished.

"Great!" I said. I flopped down in a chair and looked up at her.

"Jeri, I think you should go for it. He's really hot and you two would be so cute together."

"DANA!" I shrieked.

We sat there in an awkward silence. I had to put this all together. Carter Grayson was asking about me. ME! Little, studious Jeri Stone. What was he thinking and what was I thinking. I was not ready for this, not by a long shot.

"Dana. I'm not going to get involved with anyone. I've got my studies to worry about."
"Jer. That's all you're worried about." She said, getting disgusted. "You barely went out last semester."

"I can't succeed if I don't study."
"You also need to interact with other people. Spending time with a variety of people makes you a better doctor."
"Okay, fine. I'll work on my social life. I'll go out. But not with him.