Stella pulled her hair out of the pony tail she'd had it in for basketball practice as she walked into the brick dorm building. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she checked her mail box. A grin spread across her face as she pulled out the large, white envelope; the very same letter that every college bound senior wanted. She flipped it over in her hands, finger stuck just under the lip of the envelope.

Stella took her finger away, and tucked the letter under her arm. She checked Howie's mail box, and pulled out his own large white envelope. She looked around the common room, right next to the mail room. Jenny, another senior, was diligently working away. "Jenny!" Stella shouted as she walked in.

The other girl jumped at the sudden intrusion. "What is it, Stella?" she asked, deadpanned.

Stella ignored the other girl; it wasn't time for their beef today. "You seen Howie anywhere? I just got back from practice."

Jenny rolled her eyes and went back to her text book.

Stella huffed in response. She glared at the other girl, briefly, before taking off for her room.

"Howie?" she asked, as she dropped her school bag on her bed. Receiving no response, she opened the curtain that separated their room. Stella's eyebrow twitched reflexively as she took in his mess. Still no Howie, Stella took off out of their room, both envelopes tucked safely under her arm.

She raced down the familiar hall, and ran into Chris. "Chris! My man, have you seen Howie anywhere?" she asked, bouncing with pent up energy.

"Isn't it Wednesday?" the other senior asked.

"It is! He's at the library! Thanks, Chris!" she shouted as she took off down the hallway, missing the boy's blush.

She ran outside, skirting around other students returning from their extra curricular activities. Stella paused for a second, and looked towards the library. Well, Montgomery, you can run a mile in less than five. Let's see how long it takes to run about two. She started the timer on the digital watch the Changs had gotten her for her last birthday and took off.

The grin on her face grew rider as she ran. Stella felt light, as if her feet never touched the ground. The cold December air whipped around her, and she breathed it in gratefully. Today, she felt as if she could do anything. She dodged around other students and a few teachers in her path, barely slowing down. Stella didn't hear the teachers warn her to slow down, to save her speed for the track. She ducked under Mr. Dewson's arm as he tried to catch her. The precious envelopes she was carrying were the only thing preventing her from giving him the middle finger.

She finally halted in front of the school library, one of the original stone buildings. Stella stopped the timer, with a grin of satisfaction. Nine minutes, seven seconds. Not bad, not bad at all for an uphill run, she thought with a self-assured smirk on her face. If only this had been a race, bet I would have placed. Stella scurried up the well worn stone steps, and pushed the heavy wood doors open.

"Montgomery," greeted Ms. Lace, the librarian from behind the circulation desk.

"Ms. Lace! Where's Howie?" Stella demanded to know as she started bouncing on the balls of her feet again.

"Only if you tell me what has you acting like some hooligan in my library," the librarian responded, looking at Stella accusingly over the top of her glasses.

Stella held up both envelopes in response. The librarian looked at the logos on both envelopes and rewarded Stella with a rare smile. "Congratulations, Montgomery. Chang is on the third floor; tell him he has the rest of the night off for you two to celebrate."

"Thanks, Ms. Lace!" Stella called as she started running up the stairs. She was deaf to Ms. Lace's cry to not run in the library.

"Howie! Howie! Howie!" she shouted as she burst through the door.

A few students, who had been studying, lifted their heads to glare at her. Stella offered up a sheepish smile, and started looking down the aisles to find her friend.

"I'm over here," he said as he stuck his head out from a row. "What's so important you have to shout?"

Stella bounced over to him, and handed over his large white envelope. She watched as his mouth opened in shock, and ripped open the envelope.

"Dear Mr. Chang," he started.

Stella couldn't help but to notice Howie flinch at his name being used so formally.

"We are pleased to accept you to the City University of New York's graduating class of 2011!" 

Howie dropped his letter and swept Stella up into a hug. "Oh, my god, Stell. I'm going to CUNY in the fall!" He spun her around as she giggled. "What about you? Did you hear from UPenn?" he asked as he set her back down.

Stella held up the other large white envelope in response, squealing in delight.

Howie seized her in another hug. "Oh, my god, Stell. We both got into our top schools! Oh, my god."

She buried her head into his shoulder, squealing all the while. "Ms. Lace said you can have the rest of the night off, by the way. I'm pretty sure she thinks that you're going to be useless the rest of the night."

"Yeah, ok, cool. Let me return the cart," he gestured to the cart currently filled with science books, "and we'll go to our usual spot."

Stella nodded in agreement, still holding the unopened UPenn letter in her hand.

*****

Stella sat on a boulder by the creek she and Howie liked to hang out at. She leaned her head on Howie's shoulder once he settled in next to her. "Read your letter. I want to know what it says."

Stella rolled her eyes and watched a dead leaf float down the partially frozen river. "Impatient, much?" she asked as she carefully tore it open.

"Oh, my god, Stell. It's just he envelope, you don't have to treat it like a baby."

"Hey, I want to save it, thank you very much. I don't get what I want to often." The envelope shook in her hands as she tried to avoid destroying it. "I mean, seriously, Stella Lee Montgomery, foster kid extraordinaire, attending an Ivy League school. Who'd have guessed?" Sh couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at the thought. Finally, all of her years of striving to be the best were finally paying off.

Howie slung an arm around her, squeezing tightly as she finished opening her letter. She scanned the letter, quickly, before starting to read out loud. "Dear Ms. Montgomery," Stella paused, "that should be future Dr. Montgomery, thank you very much admissions person. "The University of Pennsylvania Admissions Team is delighted to accept you for our 2007-2008 school year!

"Eek! I did it, Howie! I really did it! And I have a scholarship, too! And they're going to send a scout for my track meets this spring. I'm going to get an athletic scholarship, too! Oh, my god! I can really go to college!" Stella felt a weight lift that she had never realized was there. She leaned into Howie's one-armed hug, and buried her face against him as she let out a few relieved sobs. "I can actually become a doctor."

"See, that ninety-seven you got last month didn't destroy your chances," he teased.

Stella felt her face flush. "Shut up. That's still my lowest grade to date."

"Yeah, yeah. Ms. Perfectionist."

"Hey, this perfectionist helped your sorry ass get into CUNY."

"And I will forever love you for it." A moment of silence passed between them. "Do you think my parents are going to be happy?" he asked, as he leaned against Stella.

Stella felt herself stiffen. Her heart always went out to him when it came to dealing with his family. "Yeah, I think they will," she agreed. "But, maybe we should keep UPenn from them. Until spring break."

Howie nodded his head against her. "It sucks that we have to play this game with them."

"You're their kid. They should celebrate your achievement first, anyways." She wrapped an arm around his waist when he didn't respond. "But, let's worry about them later. You and I have two days left here before they come get us for break."

"Yeah, you're right," he sighed in agreement. "Hey, do you think Mike got in to CUNY, too?"

"I dunno. Let's go see if he's at the cafeteria."

Howie slid off the boulder, followed shortly by Stella. They walked together, each celebrating their own achievement.