John and I were still dating as the semester was coming to a close; but I was sure that we would be parting company early in the next semester. I felt that the sex between us was pleasant enough; but I had had better and was sure that I would have better in the future. John and I did not have any classes together the next semester. Without common classes to bring us together, I was sure that we would begin to drift apart.
The last week of the semester was upon us and final examinations had begun. As our exams were finishing, we would start leaving for home. Most of us would stay home until the middle of January when the next semester was due to start. Mia thought that she would probably return shortly after the start of the New Year. Ann was the first of the group to finish her exams. She was through on Wednesday; but she was staying in Barstoll until Friday. Jason spent Wednesday evening with Ann and he had his last exam around noon on Thursday. That night Jason and Ann tried to get in a month's worth of sex, hoping that it would satisfy them until they started the second semester. They enjoyed trying to fool themselves into believing that.
Mia and Donnie finished their exams on Thursday and Mia left for home that night. Donnie remained until Friday because he was riding home with Valerie. Valerie and I had the same final that began at noon on Friday. Valerie packed for the return trip on Thursday and then checked out of her dorm room. She spent the night with Donnie. Donnie was waiting for us to finish our exam and we left as soon as we finished.
We would have a week to goof off before leaving to visit our aunt, uncle and cousins. Our flight was scheduled to leave the Sunday before Christmas and we would return the following Sunday. Mom, Ann and I were sitting around trying to catch up on everything that had happened since we had been home the last time. Mom said, "You girls are going to have to get all of your Christmas shopping done by the Friday before Christmas."
Ann said, "It might be easier to wait until we get there and do our shopping there. I'm sure that they have malls there. That way we wouldn't have to carry so much on the plane."
Mom explained, "For two weeks, I have been shipping Christmas presents to myself at Uncle Bill's office. I'll be making the last shipment on the Friday before we leave. You have it bought and wrapped and I'll get it shipped."
I laughed, "I was thinking that I'd just buy Jim and Andy a couple of boxes of rubbers a piece."
Mom queried, "Would that be your present to them or to yourself?"
I smiled, "Both. That's why it would be two boxes a piece."
That week was very relaxing. Ann and I had a chance to spend a lot of time in bed together and we did a lot of shopping. During the week, we each had some opportunity to enjoy each of our parents in bed.
When we returned from helping mom ship the last of the Christmas presents, we saw that our grades had arrived in the mail that day. I was confident that I would do well in every course except Biology. That grade would depend upon my final exam grade. An almost perfect exam could earn me an A in the course; but I expected to get a B. It was possible that a poor final exam grade could drop the grade all of the way to a C.
I was apprehensive and excited at the same time. I ripped the envelope open and began to scream. I had done what I had set out to do, as difficult as it had been. I had earned a four-point-oh for my first semester in college.
Ann opened her envelope and a frown crossed her face. She was disappointed that she had received a B in her statistics course. She cursed and threw the grade report on the table. Mom looked at the grades and a broad smile crossed her face. She hugged Ann and said, "Honey, you got five A's; you shouldn't be disappointed."
"Mom, Jenny got six A's and I worked so damn hard on that class."
"Ann, you have never been a straight A student and we have never expected you to be. We just expected you to get the best grades possible. A lot of straight A students fall from those ranks when they take statistics; you shouldn't be disappointed with in a B in that course."
It wasn't long before Donnie was on the telephone trying to learn what grades I had earned. He revealed that he had matched my grades and Valerie had gotten one B. The rest were A's. Later in the day, Mia had called to talk with Ann about her grades. Mia had also earned one B and five A's.
I called Valerie and said, "When you get ready to start talking to your parents about living in our house next year, we have another good argument for you to give them. You tell them to find another group of five students who are as close as we are that can pull a three-point-nine grade point average. I know that you won't use this part with your parents; but we have proven something this semester. As long as you keep your priorities straight, you can have an active social and sex life and still excel in school. Valerie, I really want you to move in with us next year."
Valerie replied, "I really want to live there too; but selling my parents is going to be tough. If I lived there, I wouldn't have sex any more often; but I wouldn't be as rushed as I am some times. The other day, my mother came right out and asked me if I was having sex with Donnie."
"Whoa, what did you tell her?"
"I didn't actually lie to her; but I did try to tap dance around the subject. I told her that although I loved her and respected her, I was nineteen years old. I said that it would be my choice about who I would have sex with and when. Then I got sappy and told her that she had raised me right and I would be a responsible individual. I don't know what she thinks; but she agreed with what I had told her. I plan to drop some more hints about living with you guys over break; but I will probably wait a few months before pushing for an answer."
"Don't wait too long. We want you to move in; but we don't want to have to take someone that we're not that comfortable with at the last minute."