Disclaimer: I don't own LWD or any of its characters.

Author's Note: This is NOT a sequel to any of my stories. This is completely different and I'm quite excited to write this. I'm thinking it'll be a more long-term story than the previous two I've written. It's all about college, and hey, I'm going back to college in two weeks, so maybe I'll get inspired haha. As for "Everybody Has Something to Hide" and "Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater", I am planning (at some point in the far future) to make it a trilogy. But that won't be for a while. Right now, I am very interested in writing this story. Hope you like it :)

*****************************************************************************************************************************

EMILY

"Are you nervous?"

Emily sighed, "That's like the tenth time you've asked me that Mom."

"But are you?" her mother insisted, fluttering anxiously around the kitchen.

"It's college. Everyone will be nervous," Emily pointed out.

"Yes, but it's your first time away from home!" her mother fretted.

Emily heaved another sigh. Her mother meant well, but all these talks about being nervous were simply not helping.

"Mom, I'll be fine," Emily said in a soothing voice.

"It's just, you don't know anyone that's going there with you…sometimes I wish you'd had more friends in high school…"

Emily winced. It was a sore subject. "Just because I didn't have a lot of friends in high school doesn't mean it'll be the same way in college."

Her mother peered at her, "Well, yes, that's true I suppose. College is the time to reinvent yourself."

"That's right," Emily said, nodding encouragingly. In truth, she didn't know how different her college life was going to be from high school. Her mother thought that she only had a few friends…in reality, she hadn't had anyone. Everyone just felt like…an acquaintance. Sure, she talked to them about homework, classes, teachers…but there hadn't been anyone she could truly call a friend. No one to talk about boys, no one to go shopping with…

"…maybe even get a boyfriend this year," her mother was saying hopefully. She gave her daughter a stern look, "Because, it really is time you got over that Venturi boy."

[----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]

DEREK

Derek stared at his room, which lay in shambles. Boxes were strewn all over his bed and an open suitcase lay at his feet. The only thing in it was a pair of socks.

"Whoa, looks like an earthquake hit your room."

"Thanks, Ed," Derek said sarcastically, without turning around.

"Have you actually packed anything yet?"

"No," Derek snapped. "Maybe if someone would HELP…"

"Hey, you know us Venturi men are no good at packing…or working," Edwin said, grinning. "Why don't you ask Marti?"

"She's still not speaking to me," Derek said, rolling his eyes. Honestly, couldn't she understand that he had to go to college? It wasn't like he was never coming back…he would visit. Occasionally.

"…should probably talk to her. You don't want to leave with her mad at you,"

Derek sighed, "Okay, okay. I'll go and talk to her. It's not like I'm getting anything done here anyway."

Edwin followed him down the stairs and into the kitchen, where their father was making a pot of coffee.

"Ah, Derek! All done packing?"

Edwin snorted and Derek threw him a glare. "I'm working on it, dad."

George paused in the act of pouring coffee. "Derek, need I remind you that you are leaving in two days?"

"No reminder necessary," Derek muttered, feeling his stomach sinking- as it often did when he thought about leaving.

"Speaking of which," his father said suddenly, "there are a few things I need to speak to you about."

Great. The Talk. "I'm actually really busy, dad," Derek lied swiftly. "I was just looking for Marti—"

"She's at a friend's house," George interrupted. "But this can't wait. Edwin why don't you go watch TV or something?"

Edwin took the subtle hint to leave. "Sure thing," he said, winking at Derek as he hurriedly left the room.

Derek groaned and braced himself for the inevitable. No doubt his dad was going to sit there and reminisce about his own crazy days at college like some overly nostalgic parent from the 70s.

George slid a cup of coffee over to Derek before taking a seat across from him. "So, Derek…how are you feeling?"

"What?"

"Nervous? Excited?"

Derek shifted uncomfortably. He didn't do heart-to-hearts. It was just way too awkward. "I dunno, dad. I haven't really thought about it…"

"Oh, come on! It's college! You've got to be feeling something," George insisted.

"A little nervous I guess," Derek finally admitted.

"Nothing wrong with that," George said heartily. "Everyone's a bit nervous about leaving home for the first time."

"That's not it," Derek said quickly. "It's just…"

"Worried about being small fish in a big pond?" George said, an understanding look crossing his face.

Derek felt his face heat up. Venturis didn't do weakness. "No, that's not it either," Derek replied hastily.

"It's okay, Derek," his father continued, the same understanding look on his face. "Hey, at least you won't be all alone!"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Sam will be there, won't he?"

"Yeah," Derek agreed, not feeling relieved at all. He hadn't told his father that two of them had stopped being friends a while ago. "He'll be there."

[----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]

SAM

"The parties are killer," Rosalie said, grinning mischievously.

"Just don't get in over your head," Carla warned. "A lot of the kids there are much crazier than anyone from your high school."

"Yeah," Rosalie giggled. "You're gonna have a blast!"

Sam stared at his two sisters in dismay. Rosalie made no secret of the fact that she had spent her four years of college partying the nights away- and had still managed an impressive GPA. She was currently working at one of the best business firms in Canada. Carla, on the other hand, was the more serious one. Sam usually considered her advice over Rosalie's. But in this particular matter, neither of them were helping.

"If he listens to you, he'll be a drop out within the year!" Carla said, rolling her eyes at her sister.

"And if he listens to you, he'll have zero social life," Rosalie retorted.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Carla said indignantly.

"You know I love you sis, but you didn't have any fun in college!"

"That's because I was a law student, Rosie," Carla snapped. "We weren't supposed to have fun!"

"What, because being a business major is all fun and games?"

"No, but I doubt you ever picked a book."

Rosalie frowned, "I'll have you know that I spent all day studying!" Then she grinned, "And all night boozing it up."

"I believe that," Sam muttered, wondering if they had forgotten that he was sitting there.

Carla's head snapped around to look at him in surprise. "You're giving him terrible advice, Rosie," she chided.

"No, I'm giving him useful advice," Rosalie corrected. "When you go out to party, always go out with a group of friends. If you're driving, make sure someone is the designated driver." She suddenly looked serious, "I've seen those idiots try to drive home drunk. NOT a good idea."

"That your useful advice?" Carla snapped.

Rosalie tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "Always take a cell phone with you, and DON'T go wandering around in the dark by yourself. Carla's right about one thing, people are much crazier in college."

"Oh," Sam replied, trying- and failing- to look excited.

Rosalie stared at him for a few seconds before her face relaxed into a smile. "College is the best four years of your life, Sammy. Promise me you won't spend it locked up in your room?"

"I promise," Sam agreed, rolling his eyes.

"You'll be fine," Carla said, grinning at him. "You've always been smart. Just don't let that Derek talk you into doing anything you don't want to do."

"Derek isn't that bad," Sam protested.

"Not from what I've heard," Rosalie and Carla said in unison.

"He likes people to think he's badass," Sam conceded, "but he's really not."

"If you say so," Rosalie replied. "What about that other boy you used to hang out with? Rob?"

"It's Ralph," Sam corrected. "Yeah, I think he's going there too."

"You think?" Carla asked, looking surprised.

"We don't really talk much anymore," Sam admitted. "Not since Ralph got a girlfriend."

"That's too bad," Rosalie said, smiling sympathetically. "You guys all used to be really close."

"Yeah," Sam said quietly. "We were."

[----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]

RALPH

"I love you more."

"No, I love you more," Amanda giggled, flicking a piece of popcorn at him.

He opened his mouth and caught it with his teeth. "Score!" he said happily.

"Oh, I didn't know you were looking to score tonight," Amanda said seductively, leaning over to kiss him.

Ralph grinned. Amanda had a knack for turning any discussion into sex. And seeing as how they only had two days left together…

Abruptly Amanda sat up, "We're gonna make this work, right?"

"What?"

"This long distance thing," Amanda said, pouting. "You wouldn't cheat on me would you?"

Ralph looked up at her, shocked. "Amanda, you know me better than that!"

"It's just that, I know your friends are going to the same college as you…and we all know what Derek is like…"

"A chick magnet," Ralph said immediately.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want you to, like, go out with them to some strip club or something."

Ralph reached up to hold her face in his hands. "You have nothing to worry about, sweetie," he said comfortingly. "I barely hang out with those guys anymore anyway."

"Sam's alright," Amanda said reluctantly. "But it's Derek I'm worried about. He's probably gonna make you guys have some kind of score chart called 'how many girls I can hook up with in college.'"

Ralph laughed, because yeah, it sounded like something Derek would do. "I won't be any part of it," he promised Amanda, kissing her the tip of her nose. She giggled and swatted him away.

"He's such a womanizer," she said absentmindedly. "Wouldn't it be funny if he actually fell in love with some girl in college?"

Ralph rolled his eyes, "That'll be the day."

[----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]

CASEY

"Just breathe Casey," Nora said worriedly. "You need to relax…"

"How can I relax!? Casey cried. "College starts in two days, Mom! And I'm not even close to being ready yet!"

"Honey, you've been packed for two weeks now," Nora said soothingly. "We printed that 10 page checklist online and bought everything from it. You couldn't be more prepared than that!"

"But what if I forgot something!? Oh no, my toothbrush!" Casey said, looking frantically around her room.

"Your toothbrush is in that box labeled 'shower supplies', sweetie."

"Oh yeah…"

"You'll be fine, Casey. You need to relax."

"Mom's right, you know," Lizzie said, poking her head into the room. "I don't think anyone will be more prepared than you—"

"I should have memorized the campus map!" Casey said suddenly. "What if I get lost!?"

"Casey, you're a freshman in college. It's expected that you get lost."

"But—"

"Enough," Nora said abruptly. "There's only two days left, and we are going to spend as much of it together as possible. How about lunch and then the movies?"

"Sounds great, Mom," Lizzie said excitedly, running to her room to get her coat. '

"But who'll be her big sister when I'm gone?" Casey fretted the minute Lizzie left.

"You'll always be her big sister," Nora said, smiling kindly at her daughter. "You're not going to be too far away, honey. You can visit all the time and we can talk on the phone…"

"I'll visit every weekend," Casey promised earnestly.

Nora laughed, "You say that now because you're nervous. But once you get there, we'll have to beg you to come visit on the holidays."

"Ugh," Casey shuddered. "I doubt I'll ever love school that much."

"You'd be surprised," Nora replied. "A lot of people end up loving the college life. Much more than their homes."

Casey sighed, "Well that won't happen to me."

Nora smiled understandingly, "You'll be fine, sweetheart. You'll meet lots of new people, make new friends…maybe even meet a nice boy."

"Mom," Casey complained.

"What?" her mother said innocently. "A lot of girls meet the love of their life during college. It could happen to you."

"Maybe," Casey said, unconvinced.

"There'll be lots of cute guys," Nora said, grinning. Then she paused suddenly and eyed her daughter sternly, "Just make sure you pick a nice boy. I remember what college is like, all the girls always flocked to the bad boy type."

Casey laughed, "Well, you don't have to worry about that, Mom. The bad-boy type is definitely NOT my type."

"Good," her mother replied, looking satisfied.

"I just hope I get along with my roommate," Casey said, feeling nervous again.

"I'm sure you will, sweetie. What's her name again?"

"Some girl named Emily Davis," Casey said promptly, having memorized the name the second she'd gotten her housing assignment.

"Well, you get along with pretty much everyone," Nora said dismissively. "I'm sure you two will end up being great friends."

"Hopefully," Casey replied. "I'll get along with her as long as she isn't one of those insecure, boy crazy, gossip-y girls. I couldn't stand them in high school."

"It'll be fine," her mother repeated with a smile. "I'm sure Emily isn't one of those girls."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

*part 2 coming up soon. what do you think so far?