"Are viruses considered to be living?" Professor Argus asks.

"No!" My teams captain calls.

"And why not?"

"They're not made of cells."

"Correct!" She adds another point for our team, and returns to her notebook. "What were the first forms of life on Earth?"

"Microorganisms," the other team responds.

"Correct! Just a few more to go. "Name two areas that biologists study."

"Human diseases and animal diseases," someone in my team says.

"One more for an extra point."

"Species habitation," I add.

"Correct! Is physics considered a natural science?"

"Yes!" My captain calls.

"How about astronomy?"

"Yes."

"Correct! Define the biosphere."

"The collection of all ecosystems, and the uhm...." the other team hesitates.

"It represents the zones of life on earth," my team adds.

"Including?" Professor Argus asks.

"Water, land, and the atmosphere," I respond.

"And we have a winner!" She cheers. "No worries, the red team can always make it up next week."

Each week, at the end of class, Professor Argus gives us a quiz. We were divided into teams in our first class, but the red team won that week. Now, it's a draw. Whichever team has won the most by the end of the semester, gets an extra 10% added to their grade.

I think it's a genius system. It actually makes me want to pay attention during the lectures.

I walk out of the biology building, leaving the air conditioning behind. It's boiling hot outside today, but I don't mind. The sun makes me so cheerful.

I spot Lena standing in the courtyard, looking down at her phone. As in on cue, my phone beeps, but I ignore it. I skip over to her, a giant smile on my face.

"Lena!" I call, surprising her from behind.

"There you are!" she laughs. "Are you ready for coffee?"

"Yep! I'm craving a muffin."

"You should probably have dinner, too right?"

"Probably," I nod. It's still a bit early, but I'm going to support group later. I decided to try the one here first. Lena was right. If I have to take the bus an hour away, I'd stop going.

Lena and I sit down at a cute little café. It's pretty busy, but it has a great view of the garden. It also doesn't smell like alcohol, and Christian doesn't work here, so it's far better than the Barrel.

"How was class?" Lena asks.

"Same old, same old," I shrug. "How was lunch with the girls?"

She doesn't have class today, but offered to drop me off since she was meeting up with her friends, anyway. She's been spending a lot of time with them. I'm glad she is.

Once the weekend was over, we spent hours in bed catching up. Turns out, Christian passed out at the sorority party, and someone drew a dick on his face. I have to admit, that did make me feel a little better, but it's not enough. I'm just happy I haven't seen him around.

I told her what happened at The Barrel, including Owen and Tylers fight, and my panic attack. I'm pretty sure the two boys have made up. At least, they've been acting normal around each other. It's not until I walk into the room, that things get awkward.

Owen is still being his charming self. He drove me home after what happened, and sat in my room until I fell asleep. I told him he didn't have to, but he insisted it would be better in case I vomited in my sleep and choked to death.

We haven't spoken about it since, but there's no reason to. Tyler is the only one who's being weird about it. He's barely home, but whenever he sees me, there's instant tension. I know it's been that way since we met, but it seems heightened. I still smile politely at him, but he never responds. He just scowls, and heads to his room.

I swear that boy has a stick up his ass.

"It was so good. I'm so glad I made friends so easily. All the girls are amazing, and we get along great," Lena gushes.

"That's so good!"

"We have mostly the same interests, but I worry that it's a superficial friendship."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we talk a lot but it's never really about the deep, personal stuff, you know? I can't talk to them like I can talk to you."

"Could it be because you're only just beginning your friendship?" I wonder. "I'm sure it'll get better with time."

"I hope so. I'm probably just overthinking it."

"That's okay, I get it. But just so you know, I'm always going to be here. Even if we drift apart and go our separate ways. I know you so well by now, you can come to me for a chat at any time."

"Sarah!" she pouts. "You're such a cutie! I love you so much!"

"I love you too, girl," I smile.

I scan my eyes over the menu, but I'm shocked by the prices. It's definitely more expensive than The Barrel. Considering I'm just getting coffee and a snack, I'm not too concerned, but I also have to get dinner at some point.

"Damn, this isn't cheap..." Lena says, reading my mind.

"Have you looked at jobs yet?" I ask her.

"Nope," she shakes her head.

"Neither have I. I really should, though, but I wouldn't know what to do."

"It's so hard to get a job! You can hand out resumes, but the chance you'll get an interview is so small."

"Exactly! I wouldn't know how to balance it with studying, either. I've only ever worked during the summer."

"You should do something where you can make your own hours," she tells me.

The only job I can think of that lets you do that is Über, and I don't even have a car, so that's not going to happen. But I don't need a car for Postmates. I gasp loudly.

"I should get a bike!"

"A bike?" she chuckles. "What for?"

"Postmates! UberEats, anything local. Plus, I can ride to campus so I don't need to depend on you and Owen anymore."

She scoffs. "You know we don't mind driving you."

"Still, I can't depend on you forever."

Ever since Tyler told me not to walk home anymore, I haven't. If it's really as dangerous as he makes it sound, I'm probably better off getting a lift. But some independence would be nice.

"Do you even know how to ride a bike?" Lena quizzes me.

"Yes! Dad taught me when I was a kid."

"Well, if that's what you want to do, you should do it."

"I think it could work out."

"Make sure you get one of those cute bikes, with a basket at the front."

"I'll have a look online," I chuckle. I want to ask her what she's planning to do for work, but before I get the chance, my phone rings.

"Who's that?" she asks.

I glance down at the screen. It's my sister. She called me this morning, too, but I was on my way too class.

"It's Quinn," I say. "Do you mind if I..."

"No, go for it! I'll order you a milkshake if the waiter comes."

I accept the call, bringing it to my ear.

"Hey sis," I say. "What's up?"

"Oh, thank god you answered!"

"Why? What's going on?"

"I have big news! I tried to call you before but you didn't answer."

"What is it?" I breathe. "Oh my god. Did you-."

"I made detective!"

"What?" I gasp.

"I just found out this morning! I'm so excited!"

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you! I'm so ready for this!"

"You deserve it! I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, Sarah. I get a new desk and everything!"

"Aw, that's so exciting!"

"I'm so happy."

"I'll have to come visit as soon as you've settled in."

"Actually..." she hesitates. "There's something else I have to tell you."

"Good news or bad news?"

"Good news. Very good news."

"Oh, thank god," I let out a sigh of relief. "What is it?"

"I'm going to propose to Stacey."

"What?!" I gasp. "No, you're not!"

"Yes, I am!"

"Quinn! That's amazing!"

"We've spoken about it before, and I told her I didn't want to get married until I made detective."

"Oh my god!"

"she doesn't know I got promoted. I'm going to surprise her."

"I love it! I'm so happy for you!"

"Well, she hasn't said yes yet."

I scoff. "Why wouldn't she?"

"I don't know, I'm worried."

"Don't be worried! You've been together forever."

"I know, I know, but still!"

Stacey is already like a sister to me. Quinn came out as a lesbian when she was 21, and has been dating Stacey ever since. They've lived together for most of their relationship, and I love them.

They have the kind of relationship I aspire to have.