Lark POV

Her father FaceTimed her and she was nervous. She had so much going on with school, MAX, step show BSU, working at the theater box office, and now her big decision about graduate school. She talked to her mother often, but her father never initiated a call since Winter Break. She figured it was her father's way, letting her handle her own finances, and have her mother check if she was doing okay.

"How are you doing?" Her father looked good, he was calm and did not seem upset.

"Good Dad. Everything is good."

"Grades? Staying on top of things for graduation?"

"Yes. All As this semester." A first for her and a good way to end her undergraduate studies.

A little pause before he went on. "Lark, I'm just going to cut to the point...your mother and I are proud of you. You've handled this...well, this semester of school, with me not financially helping out well. And you're doing better in school than you have ever done in the last three years."

True. She made the honor roll last semester with a 3.8 and now she would get her first 4.0. It seemed the more things she had on her plate, the better she did in school. The challenge of balancing everything and doing great at it was refreshing.

"I want to say, I was wrong about you joining a sorority." Her father let out a sigh. "It was not for me to say."

Wow! This from her father? She was shocked.

"As you know, your little sisters have been on me about how I have treated you. Imagine being schooled by some seventeen-year-olds." He chuckled at that. "Anyway, I want to reimburse you for whatever money you came up with to pay for school. I told you I would pay for your college, and that's what I should have done."

"Dad I..." She was speechless. She received a short-term loan from Emergency Student Financial Office with Zavrina helping her, and paid back most of the loan Kenyon gave her. She would pay for the rest, by herself, with her job.

"And I'm sorry about how I reacted to you and Ross breaking up. Although I think he's a nice guy, it's not my decision to make."

"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate you saying that." She was always close with her father, but in the last few months, she knew they had drifted apart. She did not know if they would ever repair their relationship, but for now, he was still her father and she loved him. "I don't need the money dad, I have the rest of the semester covered."

"Oh..." Her father seemed sad by that.

She smiled. "But I wouldn't say no to a nice monetary graduation gift."

"Of course my sweet girl. Your mother and I are so proud of you! I can't wait to see you walk across that stage. And the offer to come work side by side with me still stands."

"About that..." Now was a good time to tell him about graduate school. "Dad, I'm not coming home. I'm staying here. I'm going to graduate school...I mean, I hope to."

"Really?"

"Yes. I think it can help me, and I want to build the foundation of my business while I am here. My own independence. I have some ideas for a consulting firm so that I can help others start new businesses."

"I love it! I knew you could do it."

"Really dad? You believe in me?" The idea came to her in a class project, but the more she fleshed it out, the more she wanted to actually start a consulting firm.

"Of course I do. You won't let me or anyone else stand in your way. And I like that you will still be there, you know your sisters are suddenly impressed with ISU, they may see you there."

She figured that much.

After she got off the phone with her father, she headed downstairs to check her mail before heading off to the Black Student Union meeting. She grabbed the only letter in her box, saw it was from the admissions department of the graduate program, and nervously smiled.

This could be it. If she was accepted, she decided she would stay. If not, she would apply to other graduate programs, because now she wanted it.

She ripped the letter open as she headed to the Student Union. She read it as she walked.

She got in!

Not that it was super competitive, but there still was a chance she wouldn't be accepted. She tucked the letter away as she made it to the Student Union. She headed up to their meeting area when she bumped into her Vice President, Daysha Waller.

"Girl, tell me why your man is so fly?"

"And what did I tell you about eying my man?"

"He just fine! I appreciate pretty people."

She laughed at Daysha, with her bright green afro puff. She was a character for sure, but she knew how to handle business. They were having elections tonight and she was running for President.

There were several students already sitting in the meeting room, including Frankie with some of his friends. It wasn't shocking that he was there, he sporadically came to the meetings even before they dated. He tried to make them whenever he could, and now that basketball season was over, he came more often.

He stopped talking to his friends when he saw her and came over to hug her.

"Hey, babe."

"Nice seeing you here, that must be why Daysha is drooling."

"Huh? That's my girl. Guess what I told her? I want to run for Vice President of BSU."

She dropped the phone she held and it hit the table. Frankie never told her he was interested in anything like that. Where was this coming from?

"Since when?"

He shrugged. "I have some good ideas I think we should do, especially helping some of the athletes on campus. We're often overlooked."

"Yes but, when will you have time during basketball season? If you're not having practice, you have games."

"I can work it out somehow, bet. What do you think?"

She smiled and showed him the graduate school acceptance letter. "Pretty cool, especially since I will be here to help you."

"Oh, babe! Congrats girl!" He pulled her back into a hug. "That's what's up. Hey! Everybody, my girl just got into graduate school. Aye!"

A few of the students cheered and clapped for her. She had not even told her sorors she was going to be here for graduate school yet, but she knew they would be happy too.

There was nothing else too shocking about the BSU elections. Daysha, running opposed for President won. Frankie ran against the current Secretary, so to be fair, they each gave speeches. She worried Frankie would not get the vote because he had not been in BSU as much. He gave an awesome speech, and maybe it was because of his popularity, but he easily won.

She group texted her sorors that she received her acceptance letter for graduate school and they all wanted to celebrate at the house. She texted them that Frankie won Vice President of BSU and Zavrina suggested he come along to the house to celebrate with them.

"You want to come to the MAX house with me?"

"That might be fun. I heard y'all get lit there."

"You heard what? Boy, no we don't."

Although, last time at Jill's party, things got crazy with the drinking. She texted Zavrina to invite Kenyon, and Sherry to invite Taj. She would have asked Jill to invite her friend Ivan, but she did not know what was going on with those two. It was getting close to the end of the school year, Jill needed to decide what she was going to do.

By the time Frankie and she made it to the MAX house, Kenyon and Taj were already there.

"Congratulations!" they all screamed to them, but she had to laugh because it was funny to her.

"Girl we knew you could do it!" Zavrina put an arm around her. "And, let it be known, I was the first to put the idea in her head."

"And yay!" Jill hugged her. "You will be here with me next year so I won't be all alone. You are staying in the house, right?"

"Sure, I guess." She had not thought that far ahead.

"My man," Kenyon gave Frankie a dap. "There hasn't been a male President of BSU in the years I have been here, and a baller at that."

"Hold on man, I'm just VP."

"Same," Zavrina said. "I think it's cool."

"Yo, I will be attending those meetings, I know you will bring great things," added Taj.

"Me too!" Jill said, then slapped her forehead. "I mean if I have a moment to breathe. I will be the President slash Vice President slash Secretary slash Treasurer as the only undergrad MAX."

That was true. As an Alumnae, once she graduated, she was not allowed to hold any office, although she could help with intake if she received permission from the Regional Director. Of course, she would help Jill in any way she could. It would be exciting to pledge new girls from the other side.

As everyone looked for snacks and drinks to start the celebration, she stepped away to text her parents and sisters that she would be staying at ISU for graduate school. Her sisters shocked her, officially telling her they both would be attending ISU next year.

Next year was going to be exciting for sure.

A/N: Lark in the next book? Yes, but she will not get a POV, she will be an extra. The twins next year? Hmmmm...