Silence. The only sound was coming from the window air conditioner. She looks at me; I look at her. Time moves, but we do not. Our eyes remain locked. Her eyes search mine for some sort of explanation. I rifle through my thoughts trying to come up with an excuse for why I had just kissed my best friend. I got confused... It's college, everyone tries it...Haven't you ever-, but before I could talk my way out of it her hands reached up to my face and she pulled me in. We locked lips. There I was, 24 years old. A straight woman in complete control of her life. Then why am I kissing my best friend?
I smiled as I left the office of the chair person for the Graduate Studies at Penn State. "I'm in," I squealed. After working hard during all four years of my undergraduate work; skipping parties, working two jobs and making the deans list every quarter, I had just been accepted to the accelerated Masters Program at Penn State for Physician's Assistants. Was it too early to tell, or was this exactly what I had always hoped it would be? I shook my head and walked quickly to my car. After dreaming of this day for months, I was about to tell my parents the good news.
At the celebration dinner that evening my large family gathered around to congratulate me on the good news. I was surrounded by my mother, father, and older sisters. Jennifer, the oldest, had her husband and newborn with her as well. With her simple string of pearls and baby pink cardigan she sat there smiling at me with an almost pitying expression. Jennifer had always been the marrying type, so the fact that I was 24 and single filled her with sorrow. She is content to be a house wife at home each day with Baby Maggie. Even with the baby, Jennifer was known for having dinner on the table each nigh by the time Michael got home from work. Next in line was Corinne. After dropping out of college, and heading out on the road to play her gothic heavy metal music, we were lucky just to be graced with her presence this evening. With her heavy black eye liner and hair as dark as night, she was far from the pretty teen I remembered playing the guitar with as I grew up. As the youngest, I was always the one destined to go to school and be exactly what Daddy wanted. Jennifer was Mom's little twin and Cory just didn't quite fit in. Daddy was counting on me to carry on the family tradition of healthcare work. Mom was a nurse and Dad was a Physician's Assistant. They met working in the Pittsburgh Medical Center in the late 70's. They had the perfect wedding and soon after started creating their own little dream team of doctors, but when Jennifer traded in her latex gloves for an engagement ring the first year of med school, and Cory hit the road to be the next gothic sensation, I was left to fill their shoes...or should I say lab coat?
From the time we drove away from the restaurant that night to the day I walked into my first grad class life was a whirlwind of finishing my job as a lab tech at PMC and preparing myself to move out of the house for the first time. To save money during my undergrad, I lived at home. This helped me to avoid the all too often detrimental temptations such as college parties and late nights with friends. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of good friends. However, a girl without discipline does not get accepted to accelerated programs. If I was going to move up to Senior PA by the time I was 30, I'd have to move quickly. Mom and I carried some boxes, as Dad and Michael carried the couch from the moving truck to my new apartment. My stomach was full of butterflies as we set down the last few boxes on the floor of my very first apartment. It was a mess, but that mess...was mine.
Before I had the chance to unpack and organize my new place, the first day of class was starting. The dreadful beep of the 7am alarm woke me from a wonderful dream. Kenny Chesney had just finished crooning as we started to kiss. His hand caressed my shoulder, and then my arm. His hand worked it's way down my arm to my hand. As he picked up my hand and pressed it to his chest he kissed me deeper. Pushing my hand down his chest along his unbelievable abs my hand stopped at the top button of his wrangler jeans. His mouth left mine and he leaned his cheek against mine. He whispered in my ear, "Samantha, I want you to," BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!....BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!....
I opened my eyes. "Damn!" I exclaimed. "Just as we were getting to the good part. Oh well. See you tonight Kenny." I said as I sat up in bed and started the morning routine that I had become so accustomed to at home. Today was different though. Today was my first day at the new place and just for that, it's time for a new routine! Today I will brush my teeth before I shower. Ok, so I'm not the most adventurous girl in town. So what! After my shower, I tried my best to put together a look that said, "Samantha Towner is sassy, yet sophisticated."
On my walk to class I started to get butterflies in my stomach. I walked into class not knowing anyone there, but I thought to myself, "ABORT ABORT ABORT!" Of course, I did not. I sat through class fervently taking notes and trying to absorb as much as I could. Before I knew it, my first four-hour grad class was over. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. So much information was thrown at us in that four hours. I was in for a rough year here at Penn State. After class I sat in my chair collecting my things and packing to go home. A voice came from next to me that was soft yet had an edge to it.
"Well that was fun!" She said sarcastically.
"I know what you mean," I told her. "I'm Samantha."
"I'm Victoria. It's nice to meet you." She said as she stuck out her hand from her petite frame.