"Aunt Di? I'm gonna run up to the second level...there's a sale on bed sheets." Cyndi replied into the receiver of her cell phone as she walked towards the escalator, carrying a good amount of merchandise; mostly dorm room supplies, in her arms.

"Alright, I'll be up in like 15 minutes. Don't spend too much money, chica." Aunt Di replied with a chuckle before the two hung up. Aunt Di had been busy shopping in the shoe department and was likely to stay there for the rest of the day if someone didn't literally pull her out. Cyndi knew she wouldn't be seeing her in the time frame she had set up...she knew very well she would have to come down, pry whatever pair of stiletto heels her aunt was ogling at out of her greedy hands and drag her out kicking and screaming. Cyndi chuckled to herself at this and continued doing her school shopping.

Meanwhile...

Bella had made the trip to the mall the next day having overheard the girl say something about buying dorm room necessities that Sunday. College bound, huh? Bella never would've guessed that the girl Remy was with was actually intelligent. If she knew anything, it would have been not to have involved herself with such a scoundrel like Remy LeBeau in the first place. Knowing this would've saved the girl a lot of pain...fortunately, Bella wasn't too concerned with this girl's well-being.

Having tailed the petite brunette and her Aunt all afternoon, she was finally met with an opportunity to get up close and perhaps even introduce herself. She needed this girl. She was key in breaking Remy down and ultimately ruining their relationship, thus making room for a certain Assassin to pick up the pieces.

She would become this girl's friend. The plan was simply perfect.

"Omph!" Bella grunted as Remy's girlfriend bumped right into her. How rude.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there." The girl replied with an apologetic tone as she bent down to pick up her items which had dropped out of her arms due to the collision. Bella smiled and bent down to help her.

"No harm done." Bella said as she handed the girl her items. Even Bella had to admit, the girl was beautiful and she completely understood why a boy like Remy would like her. She also appeared to be very sweet...which made things a little difficult but not impossible.

"Thanks so much. Again, so sorry for walking into you." She replied with a friendly smile as she started to walk off on whatever trail she had been on previously. The groundwork had already been started. Bella smirked to herself as she walked off...she would see her later.

Later that afternoon...

"Do you want to grab a coffee at Starbucks before we go?" Aunt Di asked Cyndi as they got ready to leave.

"Yea, actually. All this shopping has me feeling faint...I need a caffeine fix." Cyndi smiled as they walked over to the food court. After getting their drinks, they decided to give their feet a rest and sit down on the coffee shops plush couch and talk. While Aunt Di had gotten up for sugar, Cyndi noticed a vaguely familiar blonde walking into the shop with a shopping bag in her hand. The two locked eyes and smiled casually at one another.

"Twice in one day. How weird?" The blonde replied with a grin as she approached Cyndi.

"I think we're meant to know each other or something." Cyndi grinned as she outstretched her hand and introduced herself.

"De name's Bella." Bella replied as she shook hands with Cyndi.

XXXXXXXX

"I met the nicest girl today." Cyndi smiled as Remy walked into her Aunt's kitchen and began stuffing his face with chips.

"Oh?" Remy said through mouthfuls.

"Yea. It's a shame I meet someone so nice right before I have to leave for New York." She replied with a giggle as Remy kept inhaling the potato chips.

Men.

"You gonna miss me or what, Cajun?" She asked as she hopped onto the kitchen counter and Remy tore himself away from the bowl of potato chips so he could stand between her legs and run his hands up and down her thighs.

"Oui. Dunno wha' I'll do wit' myself." He replied with a smile.

"I'll be back for winter break...but maybe you could come up sooner?" She asked hopefully.

"Jus' can' believe ya gon' be gone fo' so long..." He sighed as she reached up and tangled her fingers in his hair, twisting the short strands between her fingers and pulling his face down to hers so she could give him a sweet kiss.

"Do you not want me to do this? I could go to school here..." She whispered against his lips.

"Non, non, Chere. NYU will be so great for ya an' when ya graduate, people will wanna hire ya mo' coz o' where ya went...trust me. I'm so proud o' ya, I'd never take dis away from ya." He said gently. Cyndi sighed at his words. She couldn't help but feel like she was making a big mistake in doing this...but Remy was always there to at least temporarily push those thoughts aside.

"Ya never know, maybe Remy'll move up dere. He ain't doin not'in here." He said thoughtfully as her hands continued to stroke through his hair sending a rush of warmth throughout his entire body. He loved it when she played with his hair.

"I'll miss you so much, Baby..." She cooed lovingly to him as their noses nuzzled together.

"You're not talking the girl out of going to college, now are you, Remy?" Aunt Di asked, her loud voice jolting the lovers and causing them to cringe in response.

"Non, Madame." Remy groaned. She and Remy hadn't exactly been fond of each other lately. Diane had caught Remy and her niece in quite a compromising position a few days earlier and things just hadn't been the same since.

"Good. What are you telling her?" Aunt Di wondered.

"Dat she needs ta go. It'll be good fo' her." Remy assured the older woman.

"Damn right." Aunt Di replied as she took a handful of potato chips and shoved them into her mouth.

"I just don't know if I'm ready, guys." Cyndi sighed as she removed her hands from Remy's hair and reached around him to hug him, bringing his body further into hers and running her hands along his spine.

"You're saying this after you spent 500 dollars on dorm supplies?!" Aunt Di exclaimed, nearly having a heart attack.

"Now you listen ta Remy, lil girl...ya goin'." Remy said sternly, but smirking towards the end of the sentence because he was clearly uncomfortable being serious.

"I can't believe I'm saying this...but, listen to Remy. You'll be the first Giordano to go to such a prestigious school." Aunt Di grinned.

"Did you go to college?" Cyndi asked her.

"Community college..." Aunt Di groaned.

"Dere's not'in wrong wit' dat. Henri went ta community college." Remy replied, hoping to get back on Diane's good side again. He knew she liked his older brother just a little more than himself.

"He's a good boy." Aunt Di replied, casting a glare at Remy before she left.

"She just doesn't like you anymore, does she?" Cyndi giggled, having seen the look her Aunt gave him.

"Eh...Whatever." Remy shrugged.

"Come upstairs with me. I wanna show you all the stuff I bought today. I even got a couple extra pillows for when you come visit me." She smiled as she reached up to push on his chest a little. Remy moved aside and helped her down from the counter.

"I jus' hope dat ya got a room all by ya'self." Remy smirked as she led him up the stairs.

"We'd obviously have to tone things down..." Cyndi grinned.

"Non! Never! Remy doesn' know de meanin' of de word. B'sides...once we get goin'...i's kinda hard ta control de noise." Remy smirked as she giggled and tugged him into her room and locked the door behind him.