"Another one bites the dust." Ellen sighs. Her date and her ended up at his place, then before they could have drinks, his ex showed up drunk. Ellen snuck out just as they started screaming at one another. Oh well, she had a essay she had to write, she was determined to have a A for the rest of the semester.

Ellen yawned. What time is it? Two am?! She had to hit the hay. She had a eight am class tomorrow. Ellen yawned and got ready for bed. After she finished her routine in the bathroom, she climbs into bed and falls in a deep sleep.

RING! RING!

Ellen groaned. What time is it? Ugh.

"Just five more minutes mom." She rolled over. When her alarm rang again, Ellen realized she was alone. "So much for the Unicorn meeting." She dreamed she was attending a meeting with Janet and the other Unicorns. They were discussing the latest Johnny Buck music video. Groaning sleepily, she gets up to have a shower.

Later in her class Ellen was busy taking notes. She raised her hand to ask a question, she wanted to know if it the subject he was talking about was relevant. Ellen, she was so different than middle school. Her twelve year old self was a major slacker, she proudly bragged about getting C's, especially her social studies class. Nowadays was serious about her schoolwork, she was determined to better her life.

Once her class ended Ellen picked up her books, she wanted to grab a quick bite before her next class. Good thing there was a coffee shop downstairs. Once she sat down, she opened up her phone to take a selfie.

'Your Gurl El is Workin' Hard on Campus!'

Ellen smiled while holding up her ice coffee for her selfie.

SNAP

After posting on her Insta, she sits down to enjoy her low fat muffin and java.

"Is this seat taken?" A male voice asked. Ellen looked up to see a cute guy wearing glasses and a holding a briefcase.

"Nope, it's all yours." The old Ellen would have flirted, but after all the disastrous dates she had these last few months, she decided to take a break. She turned back to her socials, already had a few likes.

"Nice day isn't it?" October was usually chilly in Sweet Valley, but there was a unusual warm front these days.

"Isn't it always?" Ellen didn't bother looking up, she was looking enviously at Rachel's page. Rachel was posing in her private office wearing her designer outfit.

"It is. I'm Donald."

"Ellen." She shook his hand. "Listen, I gotta go, my next class is starting in five." Ellen hurriedly eats her muffin, not caring that crumbs were falling out of mouth. "Nice meeting you." Ellen had to hurry, her next class was across campus.

Ellen was starting to regret eating that muffin, she felt sick from running. Once she sat down, she waited for her lab partner to come in.

"Jasmine!" She waved to a pretty Hispanic girl.

"Sorry I'm late." Jasmine herself was panting from exhaustion, her last class was even further than Ellen's. "Did class start yet?" It was five after.

"Nope. Professor Simkas isn't here, she's late." Ellen had no idea why she took chemistry, she hated science. But she wanted to try sometime new, according to Lila, try thinking outside the box, you may be surprised.

"She's probably on maternity leave." Their professor was currently pregnant, she told everyone a new professor will be teaching the rest of the semester.

"Maybe." Ellen hoped her new professor wasn't a hard ass, science was always her weakest subject. When she looked up, she was surprised to see the guy that was sitting with her at the coffee shop. When he smiled at Ellen, Ellen found herself blushing.

"Who's that?" Jasmine asked. "He's cute." Before Ellen could answer, she was surprised when he introduced himself to the class.

"Morning. I'm sure you all know that Professor Simkins is on maternity leave. I'll be taking over for the rest of the year. I really want to get to know each other, so I will be taking roll call."

"Sean Addams?"

"Here."

"What is this, middle school?" Jasmine whispered.

"Shh." She agreed this was silly, they were in college. Luckily the class was small.

"Jasmine Quintanilla?"

"Here."

"Ellen Riteman?"

"Present."

Once he finished rolling call, he introduced himself to the class.

"I'm Professor Zwerdling, but call me Donald. My dad is a professor at Stanford, and he prefers to go by Professor Zwerdling."

Ellen looked up sharply. That name. When it clicked, her face went hot. Sure enough, Professor Zwerdling or should she say "Stupendous Stud." Sure enough he was looking at Ellen with a knowing look.

Ellen quickly shakes herself. Sixth grade was ages ago. The last time she saw Donald was when he moved away before sixth grade ended. Neither her, or anyone cared where he went. Taking out her book, she forces herself to pay attention.

The class wasn't so bad, who would have thought that bioluminescence was so fascinating? Once class ended, her and Jasmine pick up their backpacks.

"Who would have thought high schoolers would cure a disease?" Donald was telling the class about the soldiers in the war that had glowing skin that miraculous healed dead skin. He and the rest of the class were discussing recreating it in cold temperatures like those kids.

"Beats me." To her surprise she was looking forward to tomorrow's class, he was giving everyone the chance to cure a dead tissue sample. Before she left with everyone else, Donald asked her to stay.

"Ellen, can I see you for a minute?" Donald asked.

"Sure." Ellen didn't know what he wanted, she and Jasmine worked together to discuss how it would be done. Luckily she had some free time, it was only lunch. "Is it about my project? I already submitted it to Professor Simkins." Ellen was proud of it. Was completely optional, Simkins asked everyone to create a home experiment with vinegar and baking soda. It wasn't graded, but she wanted everyone to see what kind of product they could do with it. Ellen made a rocket out of it.

"I seen it. A rocket. I never thought you could do it." He chuckled. He remembered how much Ellen slacked off back then.

"Excuse me?" Ellen immediately saw him trying to excuse himself.

"Whoa. That came out wrong. I mean..." His face went pink.

"This isn't middle school anymore." She was furious. "I understand that I may have have some trouble in the past, but I always try to work hard." She stormed out. "Asshole." She grumbled. Good thing she wasn't hungry, she lost her appetite. Luckily the library was close by, she had to study. "Stupendous Stud my ass." He had some nerve. She opens her chem book, she had to study. California Babe was no airhead, that girl no longer existed.