What a Girl Wants

Chapter One

Miranda Bailey's mother, Elena, stared at the acceptance letter turning it over in his hands. "Wellesley?" She asked.

"Yes, mom," the eighteen-year-old beamed. "It's my dream school!"

Her mother had the most bewildered look on her face. "It's six and a half hours away, Mandy. You couldn't... you know, find something closer?"

The teen thought about getting angry, but her excitement wouldn't let her. "It's a full scholarship, mama! Blue pride, baby!" She screamed on the porch.

"Congratulations, honey," her father, William, said with a smile.

"Are you sure it's your first choice?" Her mother asked.

Mandy rattled off the names of her favorite alumni. "I'm going to a school of the greats."

"Then I guess..." Elena took a deep sigh and held out her arms. "Blue pride," she said hugging her daughter. Mandy pushed her glasses up on her nose and exhaled in her mother's arms. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," Mandy smiled. For once, her mother was letting her go and being happy for her. It felt so good.

The day she was set to leave, her father had wanted to follow behind her toward Wellesley, but Mandy put her foot down. "I can't have my daddy dropping me off like I'm in the 2nd grade," she said whining the tiniest bit. "Please." Mandy tilted her head a little. "Stay home. I can do it."

"Fine," William relented. "But you call us as soon as—" He caught her eyes. "And I mean as soon as you get on campus or your mother and I will be there before you can even unpack, understand?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir. Understood." Her smile betrayed her and he squinted. "I'm just really... enthusiastic, that's all."

Elena came out of the house and handed her a big cooler. "I'm not going on a cross-country trip, mom," Mandy laughed.

"Hush! Now, there are sandwiches and chicken and drinks and chips." The woman's eyes were teary. "And I forgot the napkins!" She started to go back into the house.

"I'll get them," William said.

Her heart suddenly felt so heavy as Elena began talking, telling her things she knew and things she'd already reminded her about. But Mandy listened. She was going to miss this voice. "And remember, focus on your studies. Not those little boys. Especially if you and Tucker happen to reconnect."

Mandy shook her head. "That's over." Tucker had been her boyfriend for the last two years. He was the only guy that she ever had any real interest in. And he was the only one she'd ever been intimate with, physically or emotionally. With her going away to college, they'd broken up, wanting to be able to start fresh. While her mother had been distraught, Mandy had taken it in stride. He wasn't her forever. "It's a women's college, mama."

"Well, I just don't understand how you're supposed to find a husband at an all-girl's school."

"That's not why I'm going to school, mom."

Elena tossed up a hand, putting it on her chin. "You're a beautiful girl and while finding someone shouldn't be at the top of your list, maybe you should just keep it in the back of your mind." Ever the sarcastic daughter, she wanted to say: Maybe I'll find a wife, but she stayed quiet as her mother mused. "But we all know that boys will find their way anywhere. And definitely on a campus that is full of intelligent women." Looking around, Elena reached into her pocket and pulled out a box of condoms. Mandy's hands began to sweat. "Just take them. Use them. Be safe."

"Thank you?" Mandy said opening her car door and tossing them to the passenger side floor just as her father came out of the house, giving her napkins. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

Elena wiped her eyes. "No, not goodbye. 'See you later'."

"Right," she said hugging her parents before getting into her four-door. "See you later."