How am I already at the end of year one? Because all I do is write this story. (Shut up, past me, the you publishing this chapter is almost done writing year two but is on a break).

The first line in the plan for this chapter was: "it's finals season again because I'm lazy." Honestly, that's pretty accurate.

Year One: To Next Year

Academy Courtyard - 17:52 PM

This final exam season is different than the one before Christmas. Before, they were passing to get into second term. Everyone understood that after winter exams, they had a short holiday before needing to return to school. Now, they still have to work for second year but they get summer break. They get to relax and make plans. They can breathe a little more before coming back to campus.

Instead of cramming for finals, everyone's sitting together and celebrating the end of first year over Chinese food. Even Ashton, Orchid, and Brody are with them. First year wouldn't have been the same without them. Hell, Xavier meeting Ashton let to the double date with Orchid which led to her lust for Brody. Orchid lived down the hall from Angela and Merida. Merida and James shared in weight class B with Ashton and Orchid. Brody was in weight class A with Angela and Xavier.

The universe (or The Academy) has weird ways or stringing events or people together. And it's only been their freshman year. Who knows who else will join them in year two? The following years?

Xavier crushes a fortune cookie in his fist. He brushes the crumbs into his empty take-out container. He pulls out the fortune and straightens it.

"'Someone you admire is watching you from afar,'" Xavier reads.

"Aw!" Angela exclaims.

"Creepy," Merida says. She reaches forwards and stabs a piece of Daniel's sesame chicken for herself. He doesn't mind.

"Don't you want Apollo and Britney watching?" James questions rhetorically, twirling his noodles with his chopsticks.

"No," Daniel responds with a small laugh.

"Because you'd prefer Emily to be watching you."

Daniel blushes a little but nods. A part of the reason he picked the earliest day to leave the Academy was because Emily's going to be home from her gap year. She will be in town for the next few months before going back to Italy and they want to spend as much time together before they have to part again.

"Emily who?" Orchid asks. "Emily from the floor above us? She's pretty cute."

"Fiancée Emily," Brody guesses. "So not that Emily."

"Emily Maria Stark," Angela says before realizing what she said. "I mean -"

"Wait, really?" Ashton questions. He looks at Daniel for verification and he sits blankly. "You're engaged to the one I've heard to be Sci-Tech's goddess?"

Daniel lost his mind when Emily's engagement was leaked mostly because of Sci-Tech's explosion. He heard that the other Academies didn't really care. Sometimes, they could ask anyone in Operations or Communications and they wouldn't even know about the news. And what's the point in not telling them? The others trust Ashton, Brody, and Orchid so he could as well. It's not like they would tell anyone.

"Yup," Daniel responds, smiling brightly. Angela still mouths an apology.

Orchid's jaw drops more at the idea of Daniel being engaged, Brody claps his shoulder which makes Daniel jump a little, and Ashton puts his food down. Daniel thinks that these are some of the most normal reactions he received. His friends and family freaked out. Then again, they don't know him well enough to scream to the heavens.

"Wait, really?" Ashton questions. Daniel nods. "Damn. Good for her."

"I think they're all watching us," Xavier states, referring to the fortune. "Or I'd like to think they are."

"I bet they have better things to do," Merida says.

"Like what?"

"Like watching each other."

-o-

Wakanda's Palace - 17:58 PM

Iqadi and Imanu are having an informal night. They're dressed casually and sitting outside in a gazebo close to each other. They have their dinner, some wine, and a beautiful sunset to watch. It's been a while. Their food is cold and the wine is warm, but they're comfortable beside each other. They're not sure how long it's been but they could go all night.

"Can you believe it's almost been a year?" Iqadi questions. "We met and got married last year."

"Huh…" Imanu says. "I'm not sure if it's felt longer or shorter."

"It's been quite the year for us but mostly you. Your entire life changed."

Imanu nods. "It really did."

"Do you regret it?"

He looks at her. "Do you?"

She narrows her eyes with a grin as if she was examining him. "I don't."

"Neither do I." He puts his empty plate down on the table. "I love you."

Iqadi smiles at him. "I love you too."

-o-

Stark Towers - 18:06 PM

The elevator doors open and Emily stops in her steps the moment she's out. The doors close behind her but she hasn't moved. Emily looks at her home in wonder. She hasn't been here in a year and nothing's changed, but it feels strange to be here. Maybe it's because she isn't the same person she was when she left. This version of Emily has lived abroad in two countries for the past year.

Regardless, she smiles. She has four months at home.

Emily takes off her heels and walks across the cold hardwood floor. She heads into her room, sees her bags being unpacked by some AIs, and sits in front of her vanity. Emily glances at her reflection, not breaking eye contact with herself as she pulls out a makeup wipe. She removes her makeup and takes off her jewelry.

Now she's at home. There's nobody to present herself to or cameras to smile and wave at. It's just her.

Sighing relieved, Emily heads takes a few steps over to her bed and lies across the middle. Oh, how she missed this bed. She takes out her phone and counts down the days until her friends come home.

-o-

Academy Courtyard - 18:16 PM

Where the hell did the year go? When they started, they were figuring out their timetables. Now they're planning their next four months before starting second year. For the most part, all their bags are packed because the moment they finish that last task, they're out of here.

First, before any extra travel plans, everyone was heading home. Families were missed and it was time to relax after the strenuous academic year. Upper years told them that it gets better so that's some motivation (unless they were being sarcastic and couldn't wait to watch them suffer, which was more likely).

"Any of you signed up for a work-study?" Brody asks.

Angela nods. "Gotta get that worldwide work experience."

"Experience?" Merida questions. "I need money." She looks at Brody. "Did you?"

"They already sent out where everyone's going," Brody says excitedly. Angela and Merida immediately take out their phones to check their school emails. "I'm going to Australia."

Xavier looks at him. "You're from Australia."

"Exactly. It's a chance back home for free with the best surfing waves and they don't have to pay for my room and board since I'll be living at home. SHIELD and I win."

Xavier can't argue with that. He would love a free vacation and work experience but he's heading back home. He misses Brooklyn and his parents. Besides, his old football coach connected him with a sweet and simple job that would look nice on any resumé as if he had to worry about one. He glances over at Angela and Merida to see where they'll be heading.

"Triskelion!" Angela exclaims. "Washington D.C., let's go!"

Everyone raises a bottle for her. They know that any upper year would be jealous that a freshie got to go to SHIELD's primary headquarters. Hell, only the best upper years get the Triskelion. And they learned from their mandatory SHIELD History class that the Triskelion is arguably the most important SHIELD facility.

"No!" Merida exclaims as she puts her phone down. "I got assigned here at the Academy!"

Without thinking, everyone laughs. Having a work-study position on campus isn't a bad thing. It's a familiar environment and the closest one to home, but when the people next to you get Australia and Washington D.C., it's shitty. Merida groans and Daniel lets her finish the rest of his food in her misery. At least she could stay in her dorm and not have to bring home a suitcase when she goes back home before her first day.

"Someone please say they'll be here," Merida begs.

"I will," Daniel responds. "Gotta defend my dissertation and I picked the first day without thinking about it."

"Yeah," James adds. "People were wondering why. On the sign-up sheet, Daniel's name is first and then nobody else is until the following week onwards. It's funny."

"I want to go home but I didn't consider the preparation time."

"You're already prepared."

"I'm not."

"I read it. You are." James sighs. "But I'll be on campus too for a bit."

Merida fakes crying. "My day keeps getting worse."

James puts an arm around her and she stabs it with a chopstick. "I have an appointment with my advisor since I didn't finish my dissertation." He looks at all the alarmed faces. "But don't worry, I'm asking for an extension. Hopefully, the bridging academies excuse will work."

"It will," Brody says. "I've heard that a lot of people are looking for extensions. You seem like the only one with a valid excuse."

James puts a hand on his heart as he looks at him. "Thanks for the support."

"Anytime, mate."

"Maybe they're regretting their choices…" Orchid mutters. "My parents think I'm in Communications since they saw it as the most feminine program without really knowing what it means. I bet they think they're just secretaries and notaries over there but they're badasses too. I regret not telling them but maybe I can say I transferred." She looks up at the others. "Any of you think you wasted a year of your life?"

Angela shakes her head. "Even if I had a choice, this is what I'd choose."

"Why?" Brody asks.

"Because it's what I'm good at. It's kind of the only thing I'm good at."

Merida glares at her. "Shut the fuck up. You have a plethora of skills."

"Wow," Daniel states. "You used the word plethora."

Merida smiles proudly. "And didn't confuse it with placenta."

"But she has a point," Xavier says, referring to what Angela said. "What else do we have going for us?"

"In my family," Ashton starts, "you either got a scholarship to an Ivey school or joined the military. As you can see, I didn't get into Ivey school."

"My brothers got those options," Orchid states. "I got milkmaid or pastor's wife."

James looks at her concerned. "What year did you come from?"

"Fifty years ago, give or take. Still, traditionalism aside, I can't wait to be back on the farm. I miss all those animals and even my siblings and neighbours. I miss my home."

Ashton nods. "Gotta make sure my family's still alive."

"That too."

"Same here," Merida says with a small laugh.

And then they talk about their plans for next year which was still out there. Everyone will be at the Academy but there's the issue with planning classes and being in sync with their different weight classes and rooming. Those plans are still far out there and they have phones to contact each other. It's not a problem. As much as they can't wait for next year, they still have to finish their current year and don't want their future vacation time to end. Out of all of life's difficulties to hit them so far, this is the worst.

"Well, then," Xavier says as he gets up. "Good luck on your finals, Ph.D. defences, work studies, being with family for the next four months, whatever. Until next year."

Oh, wow. My heart. First year is over. I had fun but I know that the upcoming years will be amazing. I'm excited. When I reread this chapter before publishing, I forgot about the warm friendship feel it had. This is probably the most uni chapter in this story.

There will be a few chapters for the intersession/summer period. It will be centred around each member of the main group and their break plans that were highlighted here.