"Welcome back to reality," Rachel Shull heard as she dug her Psychology book out of her locker. She turned to see her best friend, Natalie Bruin, standing beside her.

"Welcome back indeed. I didn't miss lugging around this load."

Natalie laughed and adjusted the strap on her book bag. "Me either. I could have stayed there forever. Then again, I suppose it'll be reality for you soon."

"Not soon enough. Check this out," Rachel said, pulling a picture out of her book bag.

Natalie squealed with delight. "The picture! You got it printed already!"

"The pharmacy on Main Street does prints. That's your copy."

"I suppose your copy is on your bedside table?" Natalie asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Rachel smiled. "Of course."

"Who's the hippie?" a voice boomed behind them. They turned to see Joshua Miles shaking his dark brown hair out of his eyes.

"Good morning, Josh," Rachel said, looking up at him. Josh was six feet tall, a foot taller than she.

"What hippie?" Natalie asked.

"The curly haired freak with Rachel. Who's he?"

The girls' jaws dropped. "He's not a freak!" Natalie exclaimed. "He's Rachel's new boyfriend."

"He is not!" Rachel said, blushing.

"Oh, that's right," Natalie laughed. "He'll be her boyfriend when they get to the University in the fall."