"You know Angie...I admit that I never really thought that you would go through with it..." her voice trembled.

I sighed "Karen, I've been packing for the past three days!!"

She shook her head and put her head in her hands "I know...but watching you remove that poster..." the familiar gentle swish of her windpants filled the room. She sadly placed her face into her hands.

She was referring to the Boyz II Men poster that had found its place at the wall at the head of my bed back in September of my freshman year. Boyz II Men were by far my favorite group.

"Karen...it's not like we'll never see eachother!" I put down the poster and sat next to her on her bed. She wore a very glum expression that made my heart want to break.

"Think about ME Angie...you're going off to live your dream...while I get to stay here and remain in my studying comotose," she said sadly.

I didn't know what to tell her...I would most certainly feel the same way if I were om her shoes. "Oh..please don't cry!" I begged.

"You hypocrite!" she cried.

I laughed and wipe another tear away carefully, avoiding from smearing my makeup. "These are happy tears!" I lied. "You know--I'm NOT going to miss tripping over your field hockey equipment," I said lightly."

I didn't get a reaction. I was leaving...yes I was dropping out of school. Nick, Brian and I had formed a singing trio. We decided to call ourselves "3 Make Harmonie." It was a creative catchy name that I have to admit I didn't it like at first because my name wasn't mentioned. It was beginning to grow on me.

I looked fondly at Karen...this girl had seen me through thick and through thin. Was I being selfish for going through with this? On one hand a major door in my life was opening. On the other hand, a part of me was dying. Despite thesis assignments, and tests, and hours upon hours of studying, I enjoyed living here...at Mt. Ida College. I was moving out of my second home in a way. I wrapped Karen in a warm embrace and gently rolled up my tattered Boyz II Men poster. It had seen many walls in its time...it had looked down at many rooms too. I rolled it up and fastened it with an elastic. I grabbed my last bag and wrapped Karen in a sisterly hug. I couldn't look her in the eyes, I felt so bad. About facing, I walked out of the room and didn't look behind me.

"Man, this is nast!" Nick said with disgust.

"Well, I'm sorry there is nothing else to eat...maybe you should do some grocery shopping there buddy," I snapped. "You're lucky I made ANYTHING!" I grumbled.

"Hey, kids calm down!" Brian held his hands up, a gesture to keep order.

I looked around the tiny kitchen that the three of us could proclaim "ours." Well, as close as one can become to owning a kitchen by renting an apartment. The three of us sat at a tacky retro looking green table. It wasn't wood, but the plastick was textured to give the "effect" of wood. Man, buy a frigging wood table...it can't be THAT much more expensive, I thought. Besides, I'm sure it would look a hell of a lot better. I began to stir my Cream of Wheat, my stomach all the while performing leaps and dances at the thought of placing the attrocious concoction under my tongue. I had to agree with Nick...it looked nasty all right, but I sure as hell wasn't about to agree with him.

We ate in silence in mis-matched dinner-ware, Nick and I exchanged murderous glances. We weren't on the best of terms lately. I was taking out my hostilities on him, and he on me. Brian had started dating this really beautiful woman who was three years older than him. How could I compare to that? I was nine years younger than her. To make everything worse, Jive Records had found a more "promising" group. We weren't going to begin recording until next month. I can't even BEGIN to tell you how upset that made me, knowing that I could still be in school.

"Stop staring at me!" Nick grouched, He sounded like he was six years old.

Rolling my eyes I met his eyes again and continued to stare. If he could be immature, why couldn't I?

Exasperated Brian jumped up and grabbed a sweatshirt.

"Where are you going Bri?" Nick asked.

"To McDonald's!"

"Can I come"? Nick and I asked in unison.

"NO!!" Brian said quickly.

We sulked back into our tacky chairs and continued to dully stare at our Cream of Wheat. It was going to be a long month.