As if in the blink of an eye, it's time for me and Quilene to head on back home to our apartment. I can't believe how pleasant Quilene's whole family is. Edena and Leilani, in particular, seem like pretty bright girls who genuinely want to make the world a better place. Professor Hillenburg, Patrick, Edward, Aunt Sandy, and Mindy all seem like good parents. (Well, as good as you can be when you're raising several children between you, but who am I to judge?)

On the drive home, Quilene and I talk for a moment about Jonah and how we'll try to put off her having sex with Jonah. I have no idea what could happen if Jonah were to find out, but I don't want to think about that right now. I want to focus on ending this semester on a high note. I want to focus on this story I have to write for Professor Hillenburg... this story about aliens who take on a feminine humanoid appearance with gems for hearts, raise their leader's son, and work to radically change an oppressive government. I'm still not sure this story could work, but Quilene and Professor Hillenburg and even Professor Read seem wholly confident that it will.

"So how do you like my family, Hope?" Quilene asks me while keeping her eyes on the road.

"They're all very nice," I reply happily. "Your parents seem like pretty good people... or at least, pretty decent people."

Quilene chuckles. "Thanks. I'm glad you're not judgy about the fact I have five parents."

"Well, I grew up with a whole bunch of parental figures, so I'm not really in a position to judge you. Besides, we're basically family already."

"We might be even more family if Jonah sticks around after the first time..."

"Uh, why don't we change the subject? How have you been doing in your studies?"

"Pretty good, I must say. I've actually managed to excel in my Introduction to Human Evolution class. Ever since Professor Hohenheim had the class switch to online, I've been able to multitask by typing down notes and working on assignments from other classes while he gives lectures from his hospital room. His girlfriend's also there to help him with grading papers and stuff."

My face lights up like a Christmas light. "Oh yeah, I think Aunt Maya told me about that. I can still remember the other day when we were talking over the phone, and she was venting to me about this one paper she had to help Van grade where someone had managed to plagiarize nearly half of their content. I think the paper was supposed to be on how certain genes and mutations have helped humans adapt to their environment."

"Oh yeah, I think I pulled a few all-nighters on my paper. Had to put aside Pinterest and everything. I got a B on it for my troubles."

"That's very cool, Quilene."

It takes us a little bit of time to make the drive from Possumtown to Rutgers. Before we know it, we've already arrived in the Nichols Apartments parking lot. Quilene and I get out of the car and start unpacking our things. Staying overnight at Beach City certainly helped awaken those feelings of nostalgia and wonder. I really missed my family, especially when where I stood at Rutgers seemed uncertain at times. I still miss them. There are times where I wish I could just drop everything and be with them again. This whole 'being on my own' thing scares me to bits. Then again, I've wanted to be on my own more than anything for years now. I want to at least get a feel for it here before I'm supposed to graduate in 2050 and then start a new life with April.

"I'm glad we're roommates, Quilene," I tell her while helping to bring our luggage into the apartment and unpack. "I appreciate everything you've done for me."

Quilene nodded. "Ditto. I'm actually a little sad that the year is almost over. I don't want this semester to end."

"Me neither. At least we're already enrolled for next semester. I can't wait to see what the spring will bring us."

Today is Thursday, November 29th. Thanksgiving recess has come to an end. It's back to business with our classes, only we also have to worry about studying for exams on top of that. I'm not sure how I can handle all that stress, especially when Quilene seems to be dealing with it just fine. Even when I was a little kid and sick with COVID-19, I wasn't as stressed out or anxious. Okay, Hope, take a deep breath. You got this. If you could graduate as valedictorian from William Dewey High, then you could almost certainly pass this semester at Rutgers and make it to your graduation date of 2050. You can do this.

I wake up early in the morning, and I head on over to the desk. I want to go over the homework Professor Read and Professor Hillenburg assigned before Thanksgiving recess just one more time. I know this stuff isn't due until Monday, but I want to be absolutely sure everything is right. Of course, I'm mostly doing this to kill time before my Introduction to Philosophy class, but I still need to be absolutely sure Professor Read and Professor Hillenburg will be happy with my work. Meanwhile, Quilene is sitting down at the kitchen table, talking on the phone with Jonah while going over notes for a class she has at night. She's blushing so intensely that it looks as though the blood vessels in her cheeks are about to burst. I can't fully hear what they're talking about, but it sounds like they're talking about having sex. I don't know how much longer we can keep this charade up. Eventually, Jonah will want to find out why she 's a virgin. It's only a matter of when, not if.

After some time, I finish up on my Introduction to Greek Civilization and Introduction to Creative Writing homework. With that out of the way, I decide to go grab some lunch before I'm supposed to head off to my Introduction to Philosophy class. I don't want to have to get to class on an empty stomach. I stop by the kitchen table to tell Quilene I'll be leaving for lunch.

"Quilene, I'm gonna go get some lunch at Woody's Cafe over by the Kessler Teaching Building," I announce. "Don't wait up for me."

"Okay," Quilene replies, not even bothering to look up from her notes. "Just make sure you try to eat healthy."

"Will do. Hopefully, I'll see you later."

"Ditto."

With that, I'm off to Woody's Cafe to go get some lunch. Hopefully, this will provide me enough time to go over my textbooks again. I've been highlighting the first two sentences of every paragraph, and I want to make sure I've got them memorized until my classes start. I also need to make sure to put aside time for studying for exams. I want this semester to end on a high note.