"Honey, are you sure you have everything," Abbey Bartlet asked, looking around her daughter's dorm room once more.
"Abbey, for God's sake. What else could she need," Jed asked, sitting down on her bed.
Alex bit back a smile and looked at the scene before her. She wondered what the American public would think about the President and First Lady leaving the capital to move her in. But then again, both of her parents had insisted. While they hadn't done much moving, Abbey and Alex had been shopping for weeks for everything she would need and members of Secret Service had helped her move in.
"Mom, I'll be fine," Alex said, exasperated, "Besides, I do know where Target is." She crossed her arms and blew a strand of dark brown hair out of her eyes.
"You have your books and everything," Abbey asked. Alex nodded and pointed to the book shelf full of the books she needed for her first year of college.
Jed watched, half amused by his wife and youngest daughter. He knew Abbey was torn, just like he was, to send their daughter, Alexandria off to college. He watched as Abbey looked around the room again, making sure she had everything, while Alex tried her hardest to convince her mother that she was fine.
She had grown up much over the past six months, from the timid teenager to a young woman. Across the hall, Emma, Alex's Secret Service agent set up her own room. Although the woman was five years older than Alex, she looked young enough to be in college. She dressed like the students, even carried a backpack. Although she stood at only 5'7", Jed knew the girl could take any man down. He had seen her do it in a demonstration. Alex had been mortified when she had seen it.
"Sir, we need to leave in five," Charlie said, stepping into the room.
"Alright," Jed standing up. "Abbey?"
"Honey, I can stay here for a night, if you want me to," Abbey said, turning to her youngest daughter.
"I'll be fine," Alex said again, "Besides, I'll be home in a couple of weeks for the State dinner."
"I know," Abbey said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Alex's eyes. "Just…enjoy yourself and call if you need anything."
"I will," Alex said, reaching out to hug her mother. "Call me when you get back to D.C."
"Alright," Abbey said. She kissed Alex gently, then left the room before Alex would see her tears.
"Take care of Mom," Alex said, hugging her father.
"I will," he said, "Don't worry about her, though. Just take care of yourself."
"Okay," she said, "Call me when you get back."
"We will," he said, "Call if you need anything." Alex nodded, kissing him gently on the cheek before watching him leave.
Alex flopped down on her bed, looking at the room. It was smaller than her room at the White House, with white tile that had been covered by a deep purple carpet. She had chosen lavender and white for her room colors. For weeks, she and her mother had been shopping for her college needs. Her bedspread was lavender with white flowers sown into it. The room was smaller than her room at home, but it was still large, with hard wood floors. They had purchased a carpet to help her keep from getting cold. Around her, she could hear the familiar sounds of people moving in and talking. Classes started the next day and her parents had bought everything she needed that day.
She glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly five. Dinner was at five, down in the main dining hall. She slipped on a different sweater and met Emma out in the hall. "Are you ready for dinner," Emma asked. Alex nodded, wrapping her arms around herself and following the crowds of other students downstairs.
She got a tray and waited in line, picking up the chicken and pasta dish, along with some fruit. Emma followed behind, blending in with the crowd, but her sharp green eyes scanned the crowd for anyone who would want to hurt the youngest Bartlet.
They sat down at a table and while Alex was grateful that she had someone to eat with, but she couldn't wait to make friends of her own. "May I sit here," a voice asked, startling her out of her thoughts.
Alex looked up and saw a girl with curly red hair and blue eyes standing with her tray. "Sure," Alex said, moving her things over.
"Thanks," the girl said, "This is my semester here and I don't really know anyone."
"Me too," Alex said, brightening up, "My name's Alexandria."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Anneliese," she said, holding out her hand. "And you are?"
"Emma," the agent said, smiling softly.
"Nice to meet you too," Anneliese said. "So, what's your major?"
"Pre-law," Alex replied. "Yours?"
"Same thing," Anneliese said. "Which room?"
"305. You?"
"207," Anneliese replied.
"Cool," Alex said, smiling. The two girls talked through dinner, learning about each other and their studies. By the end of dinner, the girls had discovered that they had two classes in common and both enjoyed shopping.
As dinner ended, the girls waved goodbye and returned to their own rooms. Alex closed her door with a smile. She was exhausted, but happy. She had finally made a friend.
Alex groaned as her alarm went off the next day, waking her up at 9:00am. She slammed it off and grabbed her robe before going into the bathroom. There weren't many rooms in the hall with their own bathrooms, but being the President's daughter allowed for a few privileges.
She finished showering and dried her hair before pulling the top half back. She wore a pair of corduroy pants, boots and t-shirt with a thick zip-up over it. Snow still fell softly outside her window. Putting on some makeup and her peacoat, she checked her backpack and shouldered as there was a knock on her door. She opened it and saw Emma standing on the other side, waiting for her. "You ready for class," Emma asked.
"Yeah,"Alex said, shouldering her backpack.
Alex stepped into the large classroom, her eyes growing large at the amount of people in the classroom. The room was full, with at least 150 people sitting in seats or milling around. She looked around and spotted Anneliese towards the bottom. She walked down the steps, catching the eyes of everyone in the room. She smiled at Annelise and sat down, beginning to pull out her notebook.
"Hey," Anneliese said, looking over at her, "How as your night?"
"Good," Alex said, pulling out her notebook. "So, I have a break after this. You wanna go get some coffee?"
"Yeah," Anneliese said, "I'm taking my time in waking up today." Alex laughed and turned her head as the professor took their place in front of the classroom.
After class, Alex and Anneliese walked through the snow, overwhelmed by the syllabus they had been given. "I can't believe we have ten papers due in a semester," Anneliese said. "That's one a week!"
"The ten page paper's what I'm worried about," Alex said. Anneliese laughed, then looked over at Emma, whose eyes were continuously scanning the crowds of students as they walked.
"So, does she follow you everywhere," Anneliese asked, motioning to the agent.
"Yeah," Alex said, "She's my…agent."
"I do know who you are," Anneliese admitted. "She Secret Service?"
"Yeah," Alex said, "Why didn't you say that you knew who I was?"
"I dunno. I thought that you might be tired of people liking you for what you are, instead of who you are. I know that sounds cheesy, but…," she trailed off as Alex looked at her with a smile.
"I know what you mean," Alex said, stepping into the coffee shop. She pulled the hat she had worn off and shook the snow off of it.
"So, how were your classes," Alex asked, flopping down on her bed.
"Great," Zoey said, "My film class will be really good."
"How's mom and dad?"
"Fine," Zoey said, "You need to call them, though. They're starting to get worried."
"I've been busy," Alex explained. "But, I'll call them after I hang up with you."
"Did you get your dress for the dinner," Zoey asked.
"Yeah," Alex said, her eyes flicking to the beige a-symmetrical dress that hung on her closet door. "I get in Friday night, just before the dinner."
"I'll see you at the dinner then," Zoey said. "Meet any cute boys yet?" Alex rolled her eyes and grinned before telling her twin about her first week of classes.
