Disclaimer: Bonjour, tout le monde! Hello all! This story is mine, but Lurlene McDaniel, the author of the angels trilogy served as my muse.

Opening the door to her dorm, Leah sighed (a/n: sorry I didn't mention this earlier- I totally forgot to include Leah dorming- please forgive me!). It was only four o'clock, but she was exhausted.

Looking at the assignments that were on her desk made her feel queasy.

"There's no use in delaying it- I'll have to do it someday," Leah said to herself.

Walking into her room- her jaw dropped open. She hadn't organized a thing!

"I guess I better get started!" she said- "I'll get to the homework later."

Changing into a T-shirt and a light pink peasant skirt, Leah got to work. She began to sing songs from the movie "Moulin Rouge!"- which happened to be one of her favorite movies.

She began to sort out her clothes, makeup and everything else that needed to be organized. Folding and hanging up her clothes gave a warm sensation. Her room was cleaner.

Sometimes, a clean room can have a great impact upon a person, thought Leah.

"…And there's no mountain too high, no river too wide… sing out this song and I'll be there by your side… storm clouds may gath-" Leah was interrupted by an abrupt knocking at her door.

"Hold on!" she shouted.

Leah skipped over several things strewn across the floor and got to the door. Opening it, she realized that it was… Sherry.

"Hi!" Leah said, and smiled.

"Hi Leah," Sherry answered. "I've got a friend who needs help."

Sherry moved to the side to reveal Nathan.

"Hi, Nathan," Leah said, and blushed.

"Nice singing, Leah." Nathan replied. "Seriously."

"Oh, thanks. I like to gloat my horrible voice." Leah smiled and looked at Nathan.

Nathan chuckled and smiled. "Okay, to business. I wanted you to know that we are lab partners. I don't know if you received the news."

"I didn't know- thanks for telling me…how did you find out? I mean, we didn't have chemistry today!"

"I kind of went to the head office and took a peek. No, I'm kidding. I met our chemistry professor and he enlightened me."

"Oh. Okay. Well, I think we have chemistry tomorrow, so, I'll see you then!" Leah said.

"Okay."

"How's Aurora doing?" Leah asked.

"First day of school and she's doing good."

"Okay. Tell her I say hi, ok? Good night!" Leah closed the door behind her and continued organizing her possessions.

Leah yawned, bent over and looked at her clock. Tweleve o'clock already! She thought. I never knew organizing one's things takes so much time… or maybe it's just me.

Deciding that enough was enough, she made her way to bed. After changing into her cotton pajamas and brushing her teeth, she flopped onto her bed and snuggled under the covers.

I need to go on an adventure, find a romance- forget about Ethan…she thought.

As slumber began to envelop her mind, Ethan's image floated before her.

Ethan…..she thought. Suddenly, a ton of memories came crashing down upon her.

Meeting him for the first time…kissing him… observing the glee radiate upon his face when he slid down the snow while staying at her house… Ethan holding her at the campout after the carnival two summers ago… "Good night, my Leah," he said.

Suddenly, Nathan's image replaced Ethans. She saw herself smiling, laughing, kissing him. She was very happy; quite content. And with that, Leah fell asleep.

"Let me describe the grading system in my classroom," Mr. Alden, the chemistry professor, said. "30 procedure in the lab, 20 class participation and class assignments, 40 examinations- or anything else in that category, and 10 attendance."

The students nodded in understanding.

Leah quickly copied this down and looked up and gave Mr. Alden her full attention.

The reset of the period was spent reviewing the basics of chemistry.

"Quick question," Mr. Alden said. "Give me the name of the family of unsaturated hydrocarbons that contains a triple bond."

I know I learned this… Leah thought. Alk… alke…

Leah raised her hand.

"Eh… Miss Lewis- Hall?"

"The alkyne family," she answered.

"Excellent!" Mr. Alden exclaimed.

Brrrrrrrrrring!

"Class dismissed! Homework: describe the 3 families of hydrocarbons, and give several examples- all of which you must name. To be due on Friday- that's 3 days! Do not forget. Have a good day!" Mr. Alden said.

Leah piled up her things and made her way out the door, along with everybody else.

"Excellent! You will get an 100 on your final, Miss Lewis- Hall. Hey, Leah- great job!" Sherry said as she caught up with Leah.

"Hey Sherry!" Leah said.

"I think you are officially the teacher's pet." Sherry laughed.

"Yeah, well, at least I'll be the one to graduate." Leah teased.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'll see you later!" Sherry waved goodbye and headed in another direction.

Leah continued straight down the hall.

"Hey, Leah!"

Leah turned around and smiled. It was Jordan. Jordan was one of her classmates, who she recently befriended. He was 5'11 (which compared to Ethan's 6'1 was "short"), with blonde hair and blue eyes.

They met over the summer, at a traveling program (they were touring Switzerland). He didn't begin the term until yesterday (a family crisis kept him from school the first couple of days).

All the other girls in the grade (excluding Aurora and herself) "want him soooooo bad", but she considered him as a friend- not anything closer.

Sure, he was handsome, but she couldn't think of him than more of a brother. He was an interesting person, filled with ideas and beliefs truly unique.

He was quite intelligent- -in his own way. For example, he didn't need books to prove his ingenuity; for at times, he could say things that truly astounded Leah- in a positive way. Other times, being in a classroom with him made Leah feel like an idiot going to college. He was a genius- inside

and outside of the books. He was also quite athletic- being part of the track team and soccer. But all together- he was a "remarkable" guy.

"Hi Jordan!" Leah replied.

Quite a few girls that were standing in the halls turned their heads at the sound of Jordan's name.

"Leah- I need to ask you something…"

"Shoot." Leah said.

"Well, as you know, we have that English assignment due soon, you know? The one on Macbeth?"

"Yea, I remember… are you done with it?" Leah asked.

"No. I really need help with it." Jordan said.

"Okay, sure. It's not the end of the world… everybody has their strengths and weaknesses."

"So will you help me?" Jordan asked, hoping that Leah would agree.

"Of course! Just come over anytime- I'll be glad to help."

"Thanks, Leah! I really appreciate it!" Jordan smiled and began walking the opposite direction.

"Chem lab was hilarious- wasn't it, Leah?" Nathan asked her as they left the laboratory the next day.

"If you call dissecting a mouse and examining its organs hilarious, then sure, it was hilarious… but personally, I have no desire to rip open a mouse's body and stare at what's inside."

Nathan laughed. "Yea, I guess you're right."

"Where's Aurora? I thought you guys were inseparable…" Leah teased.

"Inseparable, yes," Nathan answered; "But she has a totally different schedule. She wants to major in psychology… and I, in chemistry. We tend to have different interests, but that only confirms the idea that opposites attract… right?"

"That's true. Are you going to Caitlin's party this weekend?" Leah asked.

He's sooooooooooooooo nice, Leah thought, Aurora is so lucky to have such a special guy by her side.

"Yea… Aurora made sure that there were no plans to interfere with us going to the party this weekend."

Nathan and Leah continued their conversation as they headed outside.

"Why don't you join me and my friends for lunch today?" Nathan asked.

"Um…. Okay," Leah answered hesitantly.

Leah and Nathan purchased their lunch and headed over to an empty table.

They talked as they waited for Nathan's friends to arrive. After waiting 10 minutes, Nathan decided that they shouldn't wait- and that they should begin eating.

It was one of the best lunch breaks of Leah's life. Nathan would crack jokes and send Leah laughing to tears, and they both traded stories.

"Yea, so, my mom left my dad," Nathan said somewhat sadly as he was telling Leah some of his life story.

"It's quite amazing, you know," Nathan continued; "the effect it has on a child. Being raised by one parent from your childhood- it's truly a unique experience- but one is missing out on the other half. It was a blow. A harsh blow not only upon me, but especially my father. He loved her so much- it was heart breaking for him to see her gone."

"I know what it feels like," Leah told him.

"My parents got divorced when I was very young. My mother was always working, never at home. She married again 4 times- all of which she divorced except for the last one. His name was Neil. He was an amazing husband to my mother; and a truly outstanding father. He died around… um this is now September… so he died around four months ago. It was a difficult time for both me and my mom. About my dad, well he died later when I was eight or nine."

"I can't begin to imagine how difficult it was for you and your mom." Nathan said.

"Thank G-d, we are okay now." Leah said.

I just said "thank G-d". I do believe! Leah gleefully.

Leah and Nathan continued to converse.

"At first, I didn't want to move from my home, but then- " Leah was interrupted by several voices.

"You two make a great couple, you know!" some students, who just past by their table just stated.

Leah blushed, and Nathan smiled.

"Ignore them," he said.

Just then, Leah noticed how close their faces were.

Of course our faces were close- we were having a private conversation! She thought.

Leah tried to force other "possibilities" away from her mind.

"Hey!"

Both Nathan and Leah turned around. Aurora walked over to their table.

"Hey, baby…" Aurora said. She began to kiss Nathan.

Leah felt very uncomfortable. Nathan, whose eyes closed for a moment opened them and broke the kiss.

Aurora looked at Nathan and asked, "Is something wrong, Nathan?"

She looked around and suddenly saw Leah. She blushed.

"Oh my god! Excuse me, Leah! I'm sorry. How are you?"

"Fine. What about you?"

"I'm fine." Aurora responded.

"Nathan- I had to stay after class to ask Professor Roberts about something. Sorry I'm late. Where are the rest of the guys?"

"I don't know." Nathan answered.

"Actually, we're all here."

Leah, Aurora, and Nathan turned around to see a whole group of guys. Nathan introduced them all to Leah.

"Leah, this is Justin, Danielle, David, Erin, Micheal, Ryan, Leo, and Halle."

"Hey," they answered simultaneously.

"Why didn't I see you all earlier?" Nathan asked.

"We came outside around 1:20, and saw you conversing with Leah," Erin explained.

"We didn't want to interrupt your conversation…" Michael added, winking at Nathan.

Nathan looked confused. Leah understood where they were headed.

I better leave before they say anything else- legitimate or not! Leah thought.

"Sorry, Nathan, Aurora- I have to go. I have a class in 2 minutes," Leah said.

"Okay, we'll see you later!" Aurora said.

"Bye, guys!" Leah said.

As she entered the building, Leah sighed.

Thank god they didn't say or hint to anything else! Leah thought.

But what do I feel so guilty about? Another part of her mind asked.

What could've happened, the latter part answered.

Making her way through the crowd in the halls, she pondered the occurrence. She felt something inside of her rejuvenate when she was talking to Nathan. Something that had been extinguished after Ethan broke up with her.

It wasn't only that… she saw a very similar reaction in his eyes, and upon his face, she concluded.

I cannot afford to have that happen again.

Leah understood the possible result and the consequences.

A/N: hello everybody! I commend my ever faithful reviewers for their time and patience, and of course… their reviews!

I hope you forgive me for delaying this chapter for soooooo long. Summer homework (I mean serious summer homework) as well as working in a camp forced me to do so. Tell me what you think of how I portray Leah, Nathan and Jordan's character.

Well, I have one thing left to say…. and that is… my readers- you have a lot in store within the next few chapters.

Soooooo….. keep reading, and please, reviewing!

I really appreciate it!

BTW: when you review, tell me who YOU think should end up together… I need your opinions!

Merci beaucoup, et au revior!

rabbitTsukino, Anywien, Kiro, Karabella, Amirha, Brit, wolfgirl, queenofdiamonds1, and ronsiesinbloom (I love ya, my sister!)-

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR REVIEWING MY STORY!