In a flurry of study and life weeks and months passed and a new deadline for nerves came calling. The end of may was when conditional offers were handed out by the universities and then almost straight after they had exams. Everyone in the study group was convinced they would get better results in the real exams, even Anne swore that her top marks would be far higher. The boys had gone from scraping past in most of their classes to actually getting decent grades, and they were trying to stop smoking. They were mainly failing to stop but they had weeks where they would avoid smoking a single cigarette and overall they had cut down hugely. Jo was exceedingly proud of them.

"So, are we going to celebrate if we get offers? Or, I guess commiserate?" Heather asked. "By that time I will be eighteen, I can get us some wine or something."

"I don't drink." Jo said, "It plays hell with the training. Also, I like to feel in control."

"Okay, a big no from the only other legal drinker. What about the others?" She looked around.

"I'm staying sober if Jo is, I don't want to make a fool of myself." Susan decided.

Abby looked at Anne who shrugged, "We can't get too drunk, I assume we're doing this at movie night round Anne's house?" There was a nod of agreement. "Well, we have to sneak it in and we can't make a racket or anything." Again Heather agreed. "Well, maybe a glass or two. I think bubbles would be appropriate?"

Jenny was up for some alcohol and Heather assured them that Mae loved to drink so they gave Heather some money in advance. "We had better not get caught!"

The next two weeks flew past, the teachers were trying to cram so much knowledge into their students' heads that it was a wonder they didn't crack open. The Friday that the acceptances went online also marked a week long optional study leave and the group had planned to use the mornings to come into school and utilise the teachers time for targeted revision and then meet up with their study group at people's houses for a group study.

First however, was the acceptances, then movie night.

The girls all checked their acceptances before breakfast on the Friday, nothing had been posted. They then checked between classes the whole morning, nothing.

"Arg! Why! Why can't they just say they will post them at midday, or three or something. This waiting game sucks!" Heather fumed.

"I got one." Jenny said quietly. "Still waiting for the others but… I got into engineering down south."

"That's great!" Heather said, "Congratulations!" She went back onto the site and refreshed the page. Nothing.

By the end of the lunch break however, Susan, Abby and Heather had at least one conditional offer, though not for their preferred local university.

"Grr!" Heather pantomimed throwing her phone. "Bloody stupid university! They better be more organized than this when it comes to our courses!"

The nerves were high going back to class after lunch, especially when all the other students were excitedly discussing their offers. The girls doggedly stuck to the revision, trying to ignore the situation. Trying to pretend they cared about titration or Russia under Lenin and Stalin and in Jo’s case, the biomechanics of the knee joint.

Anne in particular was concentrating more on the coloured pens she was using to make her study notes than the content. She had placed all her eggs in one basket and now was panicking, Abby had been accepted at a different university. What if she wanted to go there? What if one of them didn’t even get an offer from their preferred choice. She assumed she would get an offer. She had applied for five different courses at the same university, she had good grades and an unblemished school record. She was a model student. There was no reason for them not to want her. But what if they didn't want Abby? Her art was awesome, and her grades were… okay. Surely she would get in, but then, she only applied for one course. What if there was a huge contention for that course? What if the other applicants had better grades?

The what ifs went around and around in her head. So much so that she was called out for being distracted, she looked down and realised that she had been drawing spirals and trees on her notes. “Sorry Sir, I'm a little distracted with the acceptance postings.”

“Okay, come here, I want to have a chat with you.” She nervously got out of her seat and followed him out of the classroom.

“Anne, you’re my best student, bar none. Have you had a rejection? I may be able to help, give a recommendation or something?” He asked seriously.

“No! No, nothing like that. Just… haven't heard yet.” she trailed off.

“Really? Not from any of the universities?” He asked in disbelief.

“I only applied for one.” she said in a voice so quiet he could hardly hear.

“Okay, that's fine, you had your heart set on a specific institution. People do that. I’m sure you will be fine.” He said, but stopped, seeing a look on her face. “It's not that is it?”

“No.” she said sullenly.

“Okay, what then? Come on, I can't help if you don't tell me.” He coaxed.

“I’m worried Abby might not come with me.” She said quietly.

“Abby Rosenberg? Surely she’s applying for art courses, not engineering or sciences? I would have expected you to be going to very different universities.” He said, bewildered.

“I was hoping we would both go here.” She admitted in the same quiet voice. “My parents said I had to stay local if I wanted to go this year but I didn't want to stay for sixth year. All my friends are leaving.”

“Is this because you're younger than your friends?” she nodded. “And your parents don't think you are mature enough to live on your own in another part of the country?” again she nodded.

“Okay, and your friend got accepted elsewhere I’m assuming?” The nods were getting annoying but it was the only answer he was getting.

“You know, people often drift apart after highschool. It's a fact of life. If she feels that she would be better off at a different university, perhaps you need to let her. She may resent you if you try to hold her back.” He said gently. “And if she’s a good friend then she will keep in touch. You can see her during the holidays and talk over the internet.”

Anne sniffed. “S’not fair.” she mumbled. “I don’t want to lose her.”

The teacher was at a loss, having expected a talk about grades and university applications. He was a bit out of his depth now that it had devolved to tears.

“Tell you what, check the postings just now.” she did and the offerers were up.

“I got all my offers.” she said, tearfully.

He sighed. “Okay, wait here.”

He went back into the class and retrieved her belongings. “Okay class, revise quietly for a bit, I just have to go to the office for a minute or two.”

He came back out and led Anne down the stairs. “Okay, do you know where Miss Rosenberg is just now?”

She nodded, “English Literature with Mrs Boyde.”

“Okay, let's go have a chat.” They walked in silence across the empty school. Stopping down the corridor from the English classroom. “Wait here a minute.”

He strode to the door and knocked. “Mrs Boyde, may I speak with young Miss Rosenberg for a few minutes?” There was an audible chorus of “Oooo!” from the students before the teacher hushed them.

“What’s wrong?” Abby asked as she left the class.

“Nothing Miss Rosenberg, I just wanted to sit down for a few minutes with yourself and my student over there and discuss some things rationally.” Abby noticed Anne standing down the hall for the first time and went pale.

“Is this about us going out?” she asked, sheepishly.

“No… though that does explain a few things. Come on, let's find a quiet place to talk.” He led them up the stairs to the administration offices. “Helen, I’m just borrowing a meeting room for a few minutes.” he called to the woman in the office, she waved him in.

“Now, first thing I guess Miss Rosenberg, would you like to check the offer postings? I believe you may find there is an offer waiting.” he waited as Abby took out her phone and refreshed the page.

She sighed, “I got in.”

“Now, we need to speak about why you are each going to this university, Miss Rosenberg, if I am correct you are a fairly prodigious artist?” He asked.

“I don't know if i would say prodigious! But yeah, I'm an artist.” She said puzzled.

“And Anne here is a very intelligent scientist. Or, soon to be.”

Abby closed her eyes, “And you think I shouldn't hold Anne back by making her go to the backwater local university?”

“Hmm, interesting.” He said with a frown, “I had actually been thinking the opposite. There are a good many Universities with very highly coveted art courses.”

“Yeah, but I never really wanted to go far. I always just sort of liked the idea of staying local.” She looked at him seriously, “I’m more worried that Anne is staying here just to be with me.”

“Well. I think this is actually much ado about nothing as Mrs Boyde might say.” he chuckled, “As it turns out, Anne’s parents have dictated the school she is to go to due to her tender age, unless of course Anne is willing to wait until her majority. Which it appears she does not want to do!”

Abby looked up at Anne, “Really?” When she received a nod in response Abby got out of her seat and tackled Anne in a hug. “Oh my god, I have been so worried ever since the mid-year results came out. I thought I was holding you back!”

The teacher smiled, “You may not be but her parents certainly are. That said, I think perhaps it may work out well. You can always do a postgraduate degree somewhere else.” He stood up, “Now, I think perhaps you both may be able to study a little better so let's get back to class.”