The rest of winter break went by fast. Danny and Valerie spent time with their loved ones, fought the occasional ghost, and of course spent time with each other. It was bittersweet with the two having to leave their childhood town. Driving past their former high school, seeing groups of kids hanging out without 'popular vs all' hanging over them felt good.
Danny drove the two back to their respective apartments while Valerie sat on the passenger side, staring at the wind. The sound of neo-soul played in the background softly for the couple, both waiting to go back to the grind of their college life while still feeling a small sadness about leaving their families. But then again, the rush of ghost fighting both left them feeling a little better as on their campus the ghost seemed to be non-existent.
A few hours later in the early morning, they arrived back at Valerie's apartment. It would be easier for them to unpack Valerie's stuff and then drive over to unpack his next. The couple spent another hour unpacking, sorting, watering plants, throwing out old food, and showering before they headed to Valerie's room. The soft lavender-painted room with the plush violet carpeting and the yellow star accents scattered across the ceiling welcomed the young, tired couple as they got ready for bed. Clad in their respective pajamas (Val putting on the NASA bonnet Danny had gotten her), they fell asleep in each other's arms.
And just like that, Spring classes started for the sophomores. Valerie was thrilled to get back to her creative writing class, Danny doing field work while Tucker was having the time of his life with his tech class. Sam bonded with her lab partner, Paulina became more focused with her dance classes while Kwan studied plant life and Dash learned there was more to sports and the values of the technical side.
Valerie waved goodbye to her classmates as she decided to take a leisurely walk in the quad. Her next class didn't start until later and she was glad it was an online class. In person is nice but Valerie liked working from the comfort of her own bedroom. In a way, college was easier for the ghost hunter to manage than high school. Rarely any judgments, a lot more freedom, no ghosts, and beautiful scenery surrounded the campus.
She and Sam slowly started to contact each other as they made amends, small talk topics only. Sam suggested they try to hang out by themselves to 'learn more about each other'. Valerie wasn't sure if it was her or if Danny gave the nudge but glad it happened. It reminded her of Paulina and her restarting their friendship as the two were not the same girls back in high school.
Speaking of the beauty queen, she strolled along with Valerie chatting about their winter vacation.
"Ugh, I had to clean all the dishes for Christmas! It was awful because my tias had to make this new casserole they saw online and of course, the kids had to make a mess of everything!" Paulina ranted while Valerie laughed as they made their way towards Val's apartment as it was closer and more convenient.
"Didn't you make your maid clean the Thanksgiving table and feed the dogs afterward in 8th grade?" Valerie questioned the girl, giving her a look. Paulina pouted saying it's not the same despite it being way worse.
Entering the hallway, both girls took their shoes off and made their way toward the cozy couch that awaited them.
"Speaking of you never mentioned the change of heart after high school?" Val asked, turning her body towards the Latina, giving her full attention. She was curious as there was a major difference between the shallow diva into the person she knew she could be.
Paulina looked uncertain, playing with the tips of her black curly hair. She looked at Valerie and spoke, "After junior year, Mami was tired of my act, and when my grandmother came over and saw my behavior she freaked. Papi let me get away with everything as you know." Both girls chuckled as they knew their younger selves were awful brats.
"I was still in diva mode in senior year, but Papi said I had to learn how to be a better person since I was going into the world. Grandmother told him that," Paulina's voice hitched, filled with emotion. Val put a comforting hand on her arm for support.
"That I was an embarrassment to her and soon the family. And she was right, I wish it didn't take long to realize this.' She said wryly, giving a self-pitying chuckle.
"So, before we graduated, I learned that I didn't get into anywhere even if Papi donated money. Amity U was the only acceptance letter I got, and it put things in perspective. He told me after graduating that I was pretty much cut off and they would only pay for college, housing, books, and anything related to school. I had to get a job, earn my grades, and not drop out or he would give my inheritance away. So that summer before freshmen year I had to learn to grow and how to do things for myself and especially make amends." She finished, looking at Val with a small smile which the latter returned.
"Oh man, when I saw your faces here I thought life pranking me. You tried to speak to me, and I may have told you off" Valerie sheepishly said. Paulina waived it off.
"Which I don't blame you, I was a bitch."
"Same!"
Both girls laugh as if it was true, they were headstrong which could be seen as a tad bit bitchy. Just then, Star appeared from the door seeing her best friend and old friend laughing together. She joined them on the couch next to Valerie, a curious look on her face.
"Is this an A-Lister reunion I wasn't aware of?" Star said amused, crossing her arms.
"Ugh, I can't believe we called ourselves that."
"Like who were we, Vapid Girls?" and once again the trio laughed at their teenaged antics.
They continued to talk until it was time for Valerie to start class, Paulina to check in with her sorority, and Star to go to her mathletes club meeting. The three friends felt lighter after hanging out, a reminder of what they used to do before high school became complicated.
-Meanwhile at Danny and Tucker's apartment-
The dynamic duo were hanging with Kwan and a reluctant Dash as they played various video games with one another. Dash being somewhat accepted by Danny and Tucker was a slow process as the former bully did apologize to the two. The boys both did not accept the apology but were glad to receive one. Kwan, like Star, had been a bridge to them as he and Danny spent time together without their respective girlfriends. Tucker automatically liked Kwan as they both have various things in common such as their love of the 'Mighty Mega Mutant Monsters" franchise.
Dash didn't have many friends and the guys on the football team only seemed to pity or ignore him as it took him a while to learn that no one cared about being popular in college. And the girls who did care about it seemed to be weird about his friendship with Kwan and it wasn't until he was clued in on how some of their views may not match his views.
His frat was the best on campus but even he found his frat brothers to be more annoying than most, especially as he did not drink due to being an athlete. Dash always faked drinking in high school, not wanting to risk his future or health by drinking. Now a young adult, Dash was careful especially as his scholarship was a full ride which most guys would kill for. Only a select handful got a full ride, and he didn't want to change it like other idiots messing around with drugs, drinking, or assaults.
Now Dash is currently aimlessly scrolling on a social media site while Danny, Tucker, and Kwan play some recent action-adventure game. Danny and Tucker's apartment is what he would expect from them, especially his high school self. It was tastefully nerdy, a mix of techno deco, and NASA gear, and in a monochrome type of color in the main areas in the apartment.
"Hey Dash, you sure you don't want to play?" Danny asked, giving the blonde a quick glance and then back at the screen.
"I'm good Fenton, not really my type of game," Dash spoke back, eyes only on the screen.
Tucker secretly rolled his eyes while Kwan slightly winced, he could sense some tension coming in. Danny glanced back once again and focused on the game, trying to ignore that feeling he had towards Dash. He couldn't understand why Dash would 'hang out' with them but rarely spoke to them or mainly spoke to Kwan.
The group hung out together for a few hours, cheers and jeers from the trio and a snort from Dash on his phone. It was getting dark as soon as the trio finished the main storyline, making plans to finish the extra quest and DLC in the future. Dash stood in the entrance hallway, waiting for Kwan to finish with the roommates with a bored look on his face.
Tucker saw the look on his former bully's face while talking with the other two. "Dash, hope you had fun today man." He sarcastically spoke to the blond man.
As soon as he said the words, the conversation stopped suddenly as Kwan nervously glanced at his friend, noticing his tense body language while Danny could pick up the anger from his friend.
"Well, Foley if you have something to say then say it!" retorted Dash, arms now crossed with an equally angry look on his face.
"Hey, guys-"
"No dude, he acts like he's forced to hang out with us when all he does is stay on his phone or barely talk to us! You don't have to be here!" Tucker spats back at Dash, interrupting Danny.
"Believe me, I don't want to spend any time more than I have to with you!" The male counters back at the techno-geek, fist balled at his side. Both take slight steps towards each other, both Kwan and Danny trying to keep them at a distance.
"Get out!"
"Gladly!"
"Kwan, you are always welcome here, but your friend isn't!" Tucker called out as Dash stormed out of their apartment with Kwan apologizing to Danny and going after Dash. As the door closed, Danny and Tucker were yelling at each other in regard to the events that happened.
Dash stormed out to his car with Kwan trailing behind him, a defeated look on his face. The ride to their apartment was quiet as Dash fumed over the incident, gripping the steering wheel as he drove. After the ten-minute drive, both men walked into their apartment, silence lingering between them.
Kwan watched his friend of many years slam the door to his room shut, knowing his friend was going to work off his anger with the weight sets in his room. The Asian man sighed, slinking to the worn couch they picked up in their freshmen year off the road.
'I wish they could get along but can understand Tucker's frustration. We were beyond assholes in high school and hard to forget what we had done to them.' He thought to himself, sinking onto the couch as he put up the remote, putting on some old cartoons.
Watching the old cartoon about a group of 7 teenagers working at a mall, was a good episode. A Spring Fling was the theme of the episode, Kwan chuckled at the show, reminding him of the old times of his childhood.
'Wait, Spring Break?' Kwan shot up, looking at the calendar on the wall. Their own college spring break is in 2 weeks giving the young man an idea.
Looking over at Dash's room, he quickly ran towards his room to make a phone call to someone he never thought he would contact.
Closing the door, Kwan stood in a corner of the room, afraid that Dash could hear him (despite Dash being in his room wrapped up in his thoughts). Pressing the contact, the phone rang for 3 rings until the caller picked up.
"Kwan? Why do you have my number?! How do I have your number?!" The familiar spoke on the phone, confused about the man calling them.
"Look Manson don't hang up I need to talk to someone and you're that person!" Kwan said frantically, running a hand through his dark hair.
"Now here's the plan and listen up, I've seen your schemes, and you were always a great writer, so I need you to help me with something… no nothing illegal… and nothing about the animals either! Look it's about Dash and Tucker well really all of us. Yes, I am aware you all made amends but more about that! This is what I have planned….." He spoke to the gothic girl, the girl writing down the idea he created.
(As a reminder, here are the majors)
Valerie- Journalism
Danny- Aerospace Engineering
Sam- Environmental Science
Tucker- Finance/Computer Science
Paulina- Dance Performance and Choreography
Dash- Exercise Science
Kwan- Biology
Star- Mathematics