Broken Souls Don't Cry

Chapter 1

Sara

Three years later

"Casey!" Sara called to her roommate "do we have any milk? I wanted to make cookies tonight"

Her friend of three years turned as Sara approached her on the sidewalk just outside the administration building. "No, I used the last of it this morning with my cereal". Casey was a year and a half older than her, perfect blonde hair that hung loosely at her shoulders, and dazzling blue eyes. She was thin and had the bust that every girl dreamed of having. She could also sing amazingly well. Casey had told her once that her dream was to be on Broadway, but her parents didn't approve of that. Casey and she liked to duet, Casey on voice and Sara on the piano. They made a great team.

"Drat! I was hoping we still had some." Casey was a fast walker and Sara was trying to keep up. Sure, she wasn't large by any means, but the stress of starting college a year earlier than most of her classmates meant she had put on that dreaded freshman fifteen and now her belly wasn't as flat as it used to be. Instead, it was a bit flabby and jiggled when she ran, but only she could really tell. Sara rather liked her figure. Her long brown hair fell down her back in soft waves and her brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

"Oh well," she lamented, "guess that means I won't eat them all like last time" she chuckled to herself as Casey rolled her eyes.

"What have you been up to Casey?" she asked as they continued the walk towards their apartment.

"Oh, I was just talking to the guidance counselor" Casey fidgeted her purse, "I was thinking of changing my major again"

Sara groaned at this. Casey had already changed her major three times since she started school. However, this was her friend and knew she needed her support in whatever she decided to study. "What did you decide on?"

Casey took a minute to respond, "I think I want to change it to business management" She sighed, "My dad wants me to work at his bookstore in the spring. I need to have some schooling under my belt before I can do that."

Sara nodded in understanding. Casey had told her about her father's business, a small bookstore, and how he wanted it to stay in the family. However, Casey's brother Adam wasn't interested and was currently overseas with the military. That left Casey as she had no other siblings.

The walk to the apartment took only a few minutes and they chatted about the upcoming semester along the way. Sara was studying to be a social worker and had one year left of school. The upcoming semesters were going to be hard. There was one class she was anxious over, Philosophical Ethics. Yes, it was a general class, the last one she needed to take. However, Sara had heard horror stories from prior students, and she was not looking forward to it. Sara had been told by a prior student that Professor Larsen required a giant project by the end of the semester. If you didn't pass that project, you failed the course.

Sara knew she could handle it; she'd been dedicated to her schooling since she was a little kid. She was usually picked on by her classmates because she was the goody two shoes or a know it all as everyone put it and always had her head in a book. One of her classmates had called her Hermione once, she actually liked that supposed insult because it referenced one of her favorite characters from Harry Potter.

"Let's just hope this semester turns out well for both of us" Casey said as the apartment door closed behind them. "I really don't want to have to change my major again. I've been at school too long and need to just get out there". Sara knew her friend was frustrated, her dream was to be on Broadway, yet her parents insisted that it was a dead-end dream and told her to pursue a real career.

Sara put a smile on her face, "Don't worry Casey, it'll all turn out fine." I hope.

**

Sara pulled the last of the cookies out of the oven. She had ended up going to the store to get more milk, they needed it anyways and Sara just couldn't help herself. She really wanted cookies.

"Are you still planning on avoiding guys this semester?" Casey asks her after taking a mouthful of cookie.

"Definitely. You know I can't date. I'm too awkward and nervous. Plus, I freak out if they so much as look at me wrong" Sara sighed. She really did want to date, but ever since high school, she had never managed to say yes to anyone and always made an excuse as to why she couldn't. Pretty soon, the men just stopped asking.

"What about AJ?" Casey asked curiously.

AJ was a coworker. She was the first person of the opposite gender that she felt like she could talk to. But no. He was not someone she wanted to date. He was great, really great, but he had become more like a brother, and she could never see herself romantically involved with him.

"No. AJ is great and all, but I don't see myself being able to go on a date with him. I see him too much at work and he's always either at football practice or playing video games. He doesn't talk much outside of school."

"Shame. He's hot." Casey giggled and Sara let out a gasp.

"Do you have a crush on AJ?" Sara asked as she threw a couch pillow at her.

"No, I'm just saying. Maybe go on a friend date with him. Maybe he can help you break the ice"

"No. I wouldn't do that to AJ, he's not my babysitter. You, on the other hand, are. Please do not suggest AJ to my parents or they'll never stop hounding me about it."

"I would never!" Casey did a pretend outburst and both of them burst out laughing.

"Don't worry Casey" Sara said in a more serious tone, "I'll go on a date eventually. I just don't think it'll be this semester."