UNIVERSITY LIFE:

Days and weeks passed quickly. Jess and Jules decided that it passed quickly because they were so busy. They never knew if they'd have enough time to get all their coursework completed and manage to impress their coach. However, they did both. Both received good marks by the time midterms rolled around.

However, Jess was a true scholar. All of her professors (and teaching assistants) were in love with this student. She excelled in every course she took. And by the time midterms did roll around, she had definitely decided on a degree in sports medicine. Her father, surprisingly approved. Jess attributed that to it being a career in the medical field. While, she was no longer going to be a solicitor, this was going to be a worthy career. Mr. Bhamra smiled at the thought of his daughter taking a course of study that will always keep her involved in sports.

Jules was a cheery, popular student. However, that popularity did not effect her studies. Her freshman English class was a creative writing course, in which she excelled. One day, her professor held her after class, to ask if her if she had made any decisions on her major. Jules told her favorite professor, that she was considering journalism, centering her writing around sports. Her English professor knew many of the journalism professors both professionally and personally. She told her bright student, that she was going to put a good word in for her, to see if maybe they can fast track her journalism career.

It took longer for the girls to excel at football. At first, the girls didn't get a lot of playing time, mostly because they were the youngest members on the team. And what time they got, they were rarely on the same line. This frustrated them to no end, but they couldn't question their coach. One day though, their coach learned a lesson. It was mid October, and they were tied 1-1 against archrival UCLA. Nothing seemed to be working. All throughout the 2nd period, Coach Jennings continued to shuffle the lines. When the 3rd period started, the coach got terribly nervous. This was a game they could not lose, nor could they swallow losing. Still, nothing worked. Out of frustration the Coach Jennings barked,

"Bhamra, Paxton, get out there!"

The girls were shocked, as they had had little playing time in this game. But they were ready. They looked at each other and knew exactly that they had to do. Their goalie got the ball to their defenders, and got the ball into the offensive end. From there, Jess and Jules took over. They drove the net hard, passing back and forth to each other in order to avoid UCLA's defenders. Jules passed the ball to Jess, and Jess saw her opportunity. UCLA's goalie went low….Jess went high. SCORE! Their teammates and their coach couldn't believe what they had just seen. The two girls played together like seasoned pros, and because of that, it was determined that these two would never be on separate lines. With 5 minutes left to go, the team did what they needed to do to maintain their lead.

After that game, the team went out to celebrate their victory, and even more to celebrate their luck at getting these two players. They filled up on junk food and had a great time. One of the girls presented Jess with a copy of the game tape, that she had asked for shortly after the game was over. She was thankful, and all she could think of was the person she planned on sharing this tape with. Joe.

Jess needed to get back to her room. She had school work to do, and she was supposed to talk to Joe online that night. Besides, she needed to go to the post office before classes in the morning. She had some letters to send to her family, including a very important one to her father as well needing to send the tape to Joe.

As soon as she sat at her desk, an IM window showed up. Jess smiled at its words:

"I see congratulations are in order."

"I take it that you've been sitting online waiting for me. I would have been here sooner, but they took us out to celebrate. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry love, I just logged on about 45 minutes ago, which gave me chance to check on your game and look at some other things online as well. But hey, I'm impressed that MY girl is making things happen on her team."

"Coach Jennings told us that he's decided to keep Jules and I together from now on. We had been wanting to ask him to put us together forever, but we were afraid to ask. I told him that, and Coach said he wished I had."

"So, how did you midterms go?"

"Good. I received top grades in all my classes. I'm just glad midterms are over. Because that means I'm halfway done with this semester, and that I can come home. I don't know why, but all of the sudden I'm starting to feel homesick Joe."

"It won't be much longer love. About a month and a half until your final exams, take your tests, and then you can get on the plane and come home to me."

"Joe I can't wait for you to hold me again. I suppose that is what is making me homesick. That knowing I will be home soon, but afraid that it will take forever for the day to come."

"It will come….don't worry. I was wondering if you would like to spend a few days with my family in Ireland. I'm going home for Christmas for the first time in four years, and I would feel better if I had you there with me. Please say you'll come…"

"I don't know Joe. I would love to, but I'll have to ask my parents. And we still have to have "the talk" with them you know."

"I think your father and I have had that talk many times over. I don't think you will get much resistance from him if you were to ask him."

"How long would we be in Ireland? Because I really need to spend time with my family too."

"Well I still have to run the pub, so I'm only planning on going up the day before Christmas Eve and coming back two days after Christmas Day. That's not too long, is it?"

"No, I think I can get away for that time, as long as you promise to spend as much time with my parents."

"That's not hard…..with your mom's cooking and your dad's conversation, they'll have to kick me out of your house."

"Have you ever been to Ireland?"

"No."

"Well you're in for a treat. Christmas in Ireland, especially County Cork is magical, but then I might be a bit biased."

"Uh, Joe……does your family know about me?"

"Of course they do."

"No, I mean do they know that I'm not white."

"Yes, love. I've told them. At first they were a bit shocked, but they'll love you……especially since it's because of you that I'm actually going home. My Nana is going to spoil you…..you're going to have to go on a strict diet after she's gotten a hold of you."

"Joe, I can't wait. I hate to say this, but I have to go. I still have homework to do and get to bed at a decent time….it's 9pm here. And I have a letter to write to my dad. Besides, if you let me go now, you will be rewarded by a gift in the mail."

"I like presents. And because of that, I will let you go for now. I love you, and don't you ever forget that."

"I won't. I love you Joe. Good night, and dream of me."

"I always do. Good night sweetheart."

Jess wrote a very important, heart felt letter to her dad. However she did not address it to her house. She put it in a larger envelope to her sister Pinky. She included some very important instructions for her sister about getting this letter to their dad. Then she packed up the video tape for Joe, attaching a quick note reminding him that he would have to get it converted in order to watch it, and of course to tell him she loves him.

Luckily for her, she just had a little bit of homework to do. Just as she was getting started, Jules walked in. She got to work on hers as well. Within an hour, they were both done, and ready to get some sleep. Just before they turned out the lights, Jess told her friend about her Christmas plans.

"Jules, it looks like I'm going to Ireland for Christmas. Have you ever been there?"

"You lucky devil. Ireland is gorgeous. I've only been there on summer holiday though with my family, I can only imagine what it will look like with all the snow. So I take it Joe asked you to go home with him?" asked Jules.

"Yes. I've never been there. I'm a bit nervous, because I don't believe his parents and relatives are fully prepared for him to be bringing home an Indian." said Jess.

"Don't worry Jess, you'll be with Joe and that's all that matters, right?

"Yeah, but I'm still scared."

"Have you thought about what I said about going to campus health one of these days?" asked Jules.

"Yeah. I shouldn't, but you're right. It's better to be prepared, and especially since I'm heading out of town with him I might as well take care of that issue. My parents will flip if they find out that I'm on the Pill. But then I highly doubt that Joe's Irish Catholic parents would be too happy either." Jess responded.

"Well, we might as well both of us get that out of the way. I'm calling tomorrow to make an appointment for myself, and I hope you do as well." stated Jules.

"Well, I'm ready for bed." stated a tired Jess. "What about you?"

"Yeah. Good night Jess…….you lucky girl."

"Good night Jules."