“Year one is over, bitches!” Linna shouted and danced around the room. “And I got straight A’s.” She shook her skinny butt at us.

Mary laughed from the chair where she was gobbling black licorice. “You are so weird.”

“And you didn't get straight A’s. There is a B in art history.” Jess pointed out.

“A B in her class is an A, dick. She’s the hardest teacher on campus.”

“Just saying.” Jess shrugged.

“Well, you can ‘just saying’ all you want, that is a good mark in her punk-ass class. She’s mean as a snake and failed over half the class. I’m the shining star in there.” Linna sat down next to Mary and stole some licorice. “What time are we leaving?”

“An hour,” Jess said. “Tracy and Isaac are loading the car right now. Your shit better all be packed.”

“I loaded my own shit in the car.” Linna stuck her tongue out. “I just want to get there. I can’t believe we’re spending our summer at a townhouse in London. And I already have a job.” She batted her lashes at us. “The art history teacher sealed me a spot at the Natural History Museum.”

“How the hell did you get that?” Jess shrieked.

“Top mark in the class got a summer job.” Linna fired a finger gun and blew out the fake smoke.

“Damn.” Jess scowled. “All I got was a temp agency offering to find me something. So not fair.”

“It isn’t. You’re such a hard worker, and you still have a ninety-seven-percent average. Which is insane for first year.” I tried to make her feel better. “I got a temp job too. Law office in the financial district. Sounds like I’ll be fetching coffee all summer.” I had wanted to go to Nova Scotia, but it turned out Hattie was headed off on some travels of her own and wouldn’t be around.

“How do you know your posting already?” Mary asked. “My temp agency doesn't have an actual job for me yet, just a list for me to choose from.”

“You got a list?” Jess wrinkled her nose. “I got an email that they will be in touch. This is some shit.” She sounded exasperated.

We all laughed. Jess was the hardest worker and taking the toughest classes, and she was dealing with the world of ‘your parents have no connections.’

“I’ll take care of it.” Mary winked. “What kind of temp job are you looking for? I can make certain yours is in a field you want, at least.”

“Seriously? Thanks. I guess, something to do with health sciences. Doctors, nurses, clinics, something like that.”

“All right, ladies.” Tracy popped his head in the door. “Shall we?”

“I’ll do one more quick check around the place,” I said and got up, hurrying through the rooms to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything.

The apartment had seen a lot. Broken hearts and violent fights and crazy girls trying to figure out who they were in the world full of madness.

I did a circle and smiled, knowing we were leaving so different from how we had arrived.

My phone rang as if on cue.

“Hey,” I answered with a smile.

“Hi.” Aiden was smiling too, I could hear it in his tone. “All packed up?”

“Yeah, I’m just doing the final look around the apartment to make sure we didn't forget anything.”

“I suspect you forgot something,” he teased.

“Maybe. But we’ll be back here, so I guess whatever they find they will leave for us.” I started walking to the door.

“I’ll give you a hint about the thing I know you forgot.”

“What?” I paused. “What are you talking about?”

“There’s a secret hiding hole in the apartment, in your room. If you find it, the prize is yours.”

“Where is it?” I rushed to my room and started scanning around. I touched the walls and pushed on the bricks and tried to lift the windowsill. But nothing budged. As I was walking back across the room, the floor squeaked in the same spot it always did. I paused and gazed down. “You sneaky bastard.” I dropped to my knees and pushed on the floorboard, wiggling it until it lifted, revealing a small box in the hole.

“You found it?” he asked.

“I think so, in the floor?” I undid the clasp and lifted the lid on the box to find a sparkling diamond ring. I gasped, almost dropping the phone. It was huge and stunning, and I saw my reflection in it. “How long has that been there?” I whispered.

“A while,” he said but the call disconnected. He walked into the room, shocking me. I jumped up and hugged him.

“You’re here!”

“I’m here.” He kissed my cheek, taking a long drink of the air around me, with my hand in his. He took the ring box, slipped the engagement ring from my finger, and slid the diamond on in its place. He put the engagement ring in the box and closed it. “Just thought I might take this back, in case you ever change your mind about marrying me. I’d like to be able to ask one final time, if that’s all right with you.”

“It is.” I stepped on my tiptoes and kissed him. “But the diamond is a bit much.”

“It’s not a diamond. It’s a white sapphire and it’s just a little place holder for my heart.” He kissed me again.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.” I withheld the “but.” He hated the “buts.” He knew he didn't have to buy me things and how I felt about it when he did. But I let him have this moment. “How are you here?”

“Dad is able to resume his duties for the time being, which means he is the prince regent while I am away. Which means, I will be back here with you for my final semester of school in September.” He smiled wide, his eyes brighter than I’d seen in ages. “Dad’s gift to me. To us. He figured maybe we needed six months of normalcy.”

“I love your dad, did I ever tell you that?”

“No.” He laughed, his eyes glistening just a bit. “But he loves you too. He told me that. He said, ‘Aiden, I approve.’ Which, from my dad, is like winning the lottery.” He mocked me with my own saying.

“Whatever.” I shoved him back lightly and stared at the ring. “So me and you next semester?”

“And Linna, Mary, Jess, Bea, and Dee when she comes to visit. Should be interesting. I’ll spend the summer in Andorra, which I hope you still plan on visiting, and at the end of August, we all come back here.” It was the best news I’d ever heard.

“I will be in Andorra. Your father has given me a treasure map.” I smiled. “There is a journey I must take as part of my initiation.” I laughed.

“He gave you a map?”

“He did. It’s in my bag. Are you coming to London? I’ll show you there.” I kissed him once more.

“No. I have to go back. I only have tonight, and I have no intention of letting you leave me to go to London. Besides, your ride has already left. You and I have a date at the golf course.” His eyes sparkled with delight. “I remember your fondness of their breakfasts.” He linked an arm around my shoulders and led me from the apartment.

We left as a couple in a weird spot. A king and a girl from Spokane.

But maybe we would return to this apartment something different. A couple on the verge of greatness perhaps. Two people destined to be together.

That was my hope anyway.