Moving into season 2, the town of Rawley will be left behind, along with all of the secondary charaters. In there place, four new characters will be introduced. One from Dawson's Creek, three from Daria (already established to take place in the same universe in which my stories are set). From Dawson's Creek, we have Pacey's older sister, Gretchen Witter, who has returned to College, after having dropped out the previous year. From Daria, the charaters of Tom Sloan, Charles Ruttheimer III, aka Upchuck and Andrea.
The setting will be the prestigious Bromwell University, which our characters toured in the previous season. Following on from where we left off, Bella and Scout continue to investigate their shared past, Jake is a few months into his transition, and Hamilton is still wrestling with his feelings and what it all means. While all this is happening, Will Krudski, who went though so much to get here, is beginning to wonder what the point of it all was, when a chance encounter with someone from his past changes everything for him.
For this season, the theme song will be Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, which was actually heard in the series.
Will and Scout were shovelling food onto plates in the main dining hall at Bromwell University. It was hardly glamorous, but it was work nevertheless.
"So, here we are" Will observed
"In College" Scout continued
"And working" Will replied
"Just like back in Rawley" Scout suggested
"Its almost like we never left" Will suggested, wryly
"Do I detect a hint of cynicism in your voice?" Scout asked
"Its just, after all the effort that I, that we all went through to graduate..." Will trailed off
"What about it?" Scout asked
"I'm just wondering what the point of it all was" Will stated
"Freshman blues" Scout replied "That's what they call it"
"Is that right?" Will replied "How are things with you and Bella?" Will asked, changing the subject
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Scout asked, upon realising she was standing right in front of them, holding a lunch tray
"Hey guys. How goes the food service business?" she asked
"Pretty good. How are you settling in?" Will asked
"Good, thanks to my RA here. Will, Scout, this is Gretchen..." Bella began
"Witter" Will interrupted
"I'm sorry, do we know each other?" Gretchen asked
"Hey, you're holding up the line" A voice came from behind them
"Well finish this later" Bella promised
Will glanced at the clock on the wall. Their shift would be over in about ten minutes.
"As I was saying, I'm Will Krudski"
"And how do we know each other?" Gretchen asked, now genuinely curious
"I used to be friends with your brother, Pacey. I moved away several years ago, then came back the year before last"
"Oh, now I remember" Gretchen said "Didn't you get a scholarship to some fancy boarding school?" she asked
"Yeah, and last I heard you were taking a break from college, but you were going back" Will replied
"Hey guys, I don't mean to cut this short, but Scout and I have to leave." Bella announced
"We'll catch up with you later, okay" Scout said, and then the two left
"So, as I was saying, I took some time off last year for health reasons, made it up in summer classes, graduated, and I'm now doing my PhD" Gretchen explained
"Well, I graduated by the skin of my teeth and managed to just get in here, on a scholarship" Will explained
"I bet that's a hell of a story" Gretchen suggested
"I used to have a massive crush on you" Will declared "Dawson too, I think"
"Is that right?" Gretchen asked
"Its funny, sitting here with you, after all these years, its almost like the universe is trying to tell us something" Will suggested
"And what might that something be?" Gretchen asked
"That you should go out with me" Will stated, boldly
"Really?" Gretchen thought about it for a moment, and then said "Why not"
It was orientation day at the student housing co-op. Everyone was sitting in a circle for self introductions.
"Hello everyone, I'm Kerry and I've been living here for a while, so if you have any questions, please feel free to approach me. I've been doing my masters in gender studies here for the past year. I did my undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania, and I'm originally from a small town in Baltimore called Havre DeGrace, which you probably haven't heard of. Now, usually we go around to the left…"
"Hi Everyone. I'm Tom Sloane. I'm a sophomore. I've just moved in, after moving out of a frat house last year. I never really fit in there, but I feel like I might fit in better here. I'm majoring in Business, but I'm thinking of switching to something else..."
"My name is Jake. I'm from New York, by way of Connecticut. I'm a freshman and I just started HRT. I heard this would be a good place to live while transitioning, and I guess that's it for me"
"And what are your preferred pronouns?" Kerry asked
"He, him, I guess" Jake said half-heartedly
"Okay, I guess I'm next. My name is Andrea. I'm a sophomore, studying literature, with a minor in languages. I'm originally from a town called Lawndale, Maryland"
"Hey, did you say you were from Lawndale?" Tom asked, after the self introductions were over
"Yeah, why?" Andrea replied
"Because I'm also from Lawndale" Tom explained
"Oh yeah, I think I've heard of you. Didn't you used to date Daria Morgendorffer?"
"Yep, that was me" Tom said, blushing
"And Jane Lane"
Er, yeah" Tom replied, blushing
"And there was a bit of overlap, which caused some tension between the two of them"
"How do you know Daria and Jane?" Tom asked, changing the subject
"I don't. Not really. We had some classes together in high school. But we never really hung out. I think I've always regretted that" Andrea explained
"I see" Tom interjected
"Why did you leave your frat?" Andrea asked
"Depends on who you asked. According to them, I leaked information about sexual assault allegations against my brothers to the student newsletter and was kicked out" Tom explained
"And what's your version?" Andrea asked
"I left of my own volition, due to an entrenched culture of sexism." Tom replied
"That's cool, taking a stand like that" Andrea stated
"Yeah, but it cost me a lot" Tom explained
"and what was that?" Andrea asked
"Well, my entire social circle has ostracised me, and I had to find a new place to live" Tom stated
"I'm sorry" Andrea said, sympathetically
"I'm not" Tom replied, flatly
"I'm going to introduce myself to Jake. He seems cool and I've never met anyone like him before" Andrea declared, but then Jake left before she had the chance.
Just tell her! Tom thought to himself, but said nothing
"Hey Jake, if there's anything I can do to help you to get settled in, let me know" Kerry said
"Actually, there is one thing. Since you seem to know so much about what I'm going through, could you explain it to people and answer some of their questions. Its getting exhausting" Jake replied
"Of course" Kerry said
Then Scout and Bella entered the room.
"Hey guys" Jake said "I'm sorry, I don't have time to catch up. I have an appointment with my specialist"
"At the medical clinic?" Bella asked
"At the Bromwell hospital, actually" Jake explained
"Well, in that case, let us give you a lift. We're heading that way anyway" Scout offered
Alright, but we need to go now" Jake insisted, and the three of them left together
Will noticed someone leaving Hamilton's dorm room, as he entered
"Was that your room-mate?" Will asked
"Yeah, Charles Rutthiemer III" Hamilton explained "Ladies man and insufferable misogynist, on his way to meet his girlfriend"
"Speaking of which, have you spoken to Jake since,,,?" Will trailed off
"No" Hamilton stated
"And are you any closer to figuring this out?" Will asked
"Honestly, I understand what Jake's going through. I've done a lot of reading on it over the summer" Hamilton explained
"But…?" Will asked
"I still don't know how I feel about it, about him" Hamilton stated
"Aha, you said him" Will observed
"Yeah, like I said, I understand it. I know to use the right pronouns. I trained myself on it over the summer" Hamilton said
"So, if Jake's a guy, and if the usual nomenclature applies, that would make him your..." Will teased
Hamilton said nothing
"Boyfriend" Will said
"I guess" Hamilton replied half-heartedly
"You don't sound too sure of that" Will stated
"Its the one part of this I'm not sure of" Hamilton explained
"Your relationship" Will observed
"Yeah, but I'll have to figure it out eventually" Hamilton observed
"So, Jake, how are you coping with college life?" Scout asked
Scout was driving Bella and Scout into town.
"Pretty good" Jake repliled "All things considered
"So, would you say you're transitioning well?' Bella asked cheekily
Scout and Jake cringed at Bella's attempted joke.
"I'm sorry, I had to say at least one" Bella explained
"So, I take it you've explained this to Will and Scout?" Jake replied
"As best I could" Bella replied
"And are you two any closer to the answers you're seeking?" Jake asked
"Maybe, we're on our way to meet someone about it." Bella explained
"I hope you find what you're looking for" Jake said
"So do I. Especially considering how much I'm paying" Scout said
"Charles, we've been going out for over a year. In that time, you've flirted in anything in a skirt, in front of me, more times than I can remember. Any time I've called you on it, you simply replied with feisty. Its clear to me you're not going to change. So, its over." Andrea stated. Charles looked as if he was about to cry.
"So, I'm pretty close to finding answers. I'd like to collect DNA samples from each of you" the detective explained
"How?" Bella asked
He placed two q-tips and two zip-lock bags on the table. "Rub these on the inside of your cheeks and placed them in bags provided" he explained
"How long before we get the results back?" Scout asked
"Should be only a couple of weeks" the detective explained "I'd also like your permission to collect DNA samples from your parents"
"We already said..." Bella began
"I'll be discreet. They won't know a thing"
"You want to collect DNA samples from our parents without their knowledge?" Scout asked
"Yes" he replied
"Just making sure we're on the same page. Okay, do it" Scout said, looking at Bella for any sign of dissent
"Go ahead" she replied
"How are you feeling Mr Pratt?" the doctor asked
"Pretty good. My voice has deepened and levelled off. I'm shaving regularly. It all seems to be coming together" Jake explained
"And have you had a chance to think about the procedure we discussed?" the doctor asked
"The breast reduction. I want to give it some more time. Ask me again in a few months" Jake replied
"She dumped me" Upchuck explained, holding back tears "she tore my heart out and stomped on it"
"Maybe you can take something away from this experience. Do some personal growth?" Hamilton suggested
"I'm going to get her back" Upchuck stated with determination
"And how are you going to do that?" Hamilton asked, rolling his eyes
Upchuck held up his Intro to Gender Studies text book.
"In these pages lie all the insights I need into the female mind" Upchuck explained
"This contains all the information I need to win back my beloved Andrea" he insisted
Hamilton was unimpressed
"So, your entire graduating class threatened to walk out if you didn't graduate with them?" Gretchen asked, amused but sceptical of Will's anecdote.
"It was more than a threat. They actually disrobed and walked out in the middle of the ceremony" Will explained
"Wow, that's a display of loyalty if ever I've heard one" Gretchen replied "I guess it worked, because here you are" she observed
"Indeed" Will stated, gloating "So, what's your PhD about?" he asked
"Do you know who Kurt Cobain is?" she asked
"Lead singer of Nirvana" he replied hesitantly
"And do you know how he died?" Gretchen asked
"As I recall, he was found dead, from a self inflicted gun shot wound, but there were a lot of people who didn't believe the official story, but I was about 11 at the time, so I don't remember very well" Will explained
"Well, my PhD is about the conspiracy theories and what they reveal about sexism among Generation X and the grunge subculture" Gretchen stated
"Sounds fascinating" Will replied
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom" Gretchen said, excusing herself.
A few minutes later, she emerged saying "I'm really sorry Will, but I'm going to have to cut this date short" Gretchen stated
"Is everything alright?" Will asked
"I'm not feeling very well. I just need to lie down" Gretchen stated "Again, I'm really sorry"
"Don't be. I'll take you home" Will replied
Hamilton knocked on the front door of the student housing co-op.
"Is Jake here?" he asked to the person who answered the door
"I'll check" they said. Hamilton eventually realised the person who answered the door was the same person who showed him and the others around the campus earlier in the year.
Finally Jake came to the door.
"Hi Hamilton" Jake said
"Hi Jake" Hamilton said, and tried to think of what to say next.