Educated Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Five                 

(A week before the end of school.)

Mimi was alone in her room, nose stuck in a notebook filled with Chemistry notes. Her neck and back were aching, but she wanted to make sure that she aced all of her final exams. It had been one of the best academic years of her life, scoring straight A's in all of her classes for the first time since the 8th grade. It wasn't that Mimi had been a bad student in high school; she was basically just a 'B' student.

The phone on her table rang, startling her out of her studying. She scooted up the bed and picked it up, answering it with a yawn.

"Helloooo..."

"Meems... Are you sleeping?"

Mimi laughed and shook her head. "No, Belle... I'm studying, which is like sleeping only MUCH harder."

Belle groaned in sympathy. "I know the feeling... But, I got some great news today. Wanna guess what it is?"

"Shawn got admitted for transfer to Columbia, so you'll be together next year."

"Heyyyyyy... How did you know?"

Mimi chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Just a lucky guess. I knew you guys would NOT be able to spend another year apart. And, yes, that really is *great* news. I can't even imagine what I would do if Jason lived all the way in California."

"You would go absolutely crazy. Trust me, I know. You're so lucky that he just lives right across the hall."

Mimi smiled happily and paused to consider her words. "I am lucky. And the funny thing is, when I first knew he was going to be living across the hall -- I thought it'd be my worst nightmare."

Belle sighed softly, her tone admiring Mimi and Jason's love story. "But, it was your dream come true instead. Wow, Meems... That's so romantic... I am SO happy for you. You do know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I know. And thank you, for being supportive and for being my best friend even though you're really far away."

"I know... It sucks, Meems. I miss you so much, but we'll be together most of the summer right?"

"Well, yeah... I mean, I'm not going anywhere..."

"Okay good... Listen, I gotta run... I'm on my way to class. I'll call you later, okay?"

Mimi smiled and nodded. "Alright. Bye!"

Belle said her goodbye and Mimi hung the phone up. She looked at the Chemistry book and then slammed it shut with a sigh. She needed a break before her head exploded with all of the knowledge she was cramming into it. Mimi got up and stretched her sore muscles before heading down the hallway. She knew Jason was still at class, but Rory and Nick were supposed to be there studying for the one class they shared together.

The door was wide open, but they weren't studying. Rory was lying flat on her back on Nick's bed, and Nick was lying on his side beside her, his hand lying on her stomach. Mimi stood in the doorway and shook her head in the shame.

"You two don't LOOK like you're studying."

Rory lifted her head from the pillow long enough to smile at Mimi, then laid it back down. "We're not. We're taking a break so Nick can tell me many wonderful things about myself."

Nick was smiling at her and he twirled a piece of her hair around his index finger. "Like the way the light hits the red highlights in your hair... And the way you grin when you're planning something evil... And, I love how you tilt your head to listen whenever you hear a good song on the radio."

Mimi wrinkled her nose in disgust. "And, I'm really interrupting something private, aren't I? Cause you two... are so cute it scares me."

Nick put his head on Rory's shoulder and she giggled softly. "No, you're not interrupting. Nick was just being a girl..."

Nick threw his arm over her and pulled her close. "I'm NOT a girl."

Rory laughed and ran her hand through his soft wavy brown hair. "Yes, yes, you are. I'm the boss in this relationship, the aggressive one. And you're the sappy one who is always like, 'I love you, you're so pretty, blah blah blah...'"

Mimi crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. "She's got a point. It's kind of like a role reversal... But, in a good way."

Nick looked up at Rory and pouted. "Are you saying I'm not macho?"

Rory grinned and gave him a brief kiss on the lips. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. But, I wouldn't have you any other way."

Mimi turned to see Jason in the doorway grinning. "Don't worry, Nick... Rory's macho enough for you both."

Rory lifted her head from the pillow and actually growled at him. Jason just shrugged and nodded in agreement before continuing. "See what I mean?"

Mimi stared at her boyfriend in surprise. "Jase... You're back early..."

"I know... I wanted to show you something. Come out in the hallway for a second."

"Uhm... okay."

Jason grabbed her hand and dragged her out into the hallway. She stood face to face with him and looked at him curiously. "Well... What did you want to show me?"

Jason grinned and leaned in to kiss her passionately, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him. The kiss continued for a while until Mimi broke off for some air.

"So, that's what you wanted to show me?"

"That... And..." Jason dug in his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "This... I wanted you to see it first."

He let go of her to hand her the paper, and Mimi stared at it with wide green eyes. She looked up at him and began jumping up and down excitedly. "OH MY GOD! YOU DID IT! You totally ACED your History final. Oh Jason, this is so awesome!"

She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight hug before letting go, and spinning happily in a circle.

Jason smiled proudly and crossed his arms over his chest. "I know... And that was the one I was most worried about. See, I'm not as stupid as I thought I was."

Mimi stopped dancing and frowned at him. "Jason... Nobody ever thought you were stupid. Especially not me. You are very smart, and you worked SO hard for this. I am so proud of you."

"I couldn't have done it without you, Mimi... There's a lot I couldn't have done without you this year."

Mimi smiled but shook her head. "Not true. You can do anything, and you don't need me to do it."

Jason grinned and wrapped one arm around her waist to pull her close again. "Okay then, you're just an extra added bonus that I happen to not want to live without."

"Hmmmm... I second thta.. It's strange... I feel like I found myself this year, but I also found you. It's a really great feeling... I can't even describe it."

"You don't have to, because I feel it too. We found each other." Jason smiled and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. "And... I decided what I want to do with the rest of my life."

"Have I mentioned how cool, and how surprising it is that you're going to be a teacher?"

Jason nodded and smiled bashfully. "Well, I figured after wasting thirteen years by slacking off in public schools, I should give something back to the system. Plus, I can coach football, and be involved in sports too. Maybe I'll even get a job at our old high school. Wouldn't that be interesting?"

Mimi laughed and nodded in agreement. "Can you imagine the look on Mr. Woods' face when you walk in the door for your first day of work? He won't even recognize you."

"I can't wait..."

Mimi smiled and they walked back into his dorm room hand in hand. Rory and Nick were now sitting up on the bed talking excitedly about something. Nick put his hands in her hair and gave Rory a quick kiss on the forehead before turning to talk to Mimi and Jason.

"Hey... Guess what?"

Mimi's eyes widened anxiously. "Oh no, I don't know if I can handle this much 'great news' in one day."

"Okay, no guessing... We'll just tell. I'm going home to Chicago for a few weeks, and then after that..."

Rory wouldn't let him finish, as usual, and she hastily interrupted him. "NICK'S COMING TO SAN DIEGO!!"

Jason looked at them both in surprise. "For the rest of the summer?"

"For the rest of summer, he's going to be with me in San Diego. Which makes me SO much happier about going home for three months."

Nick nodded in agreement. "My parents are going on some bohemian artist RV Trip around the country this summer anyway, so it's better this way. I get to spend the rest of my summer on the beach with my girlfriend. Can't complain about that..."

"And you two... You should PLEASE try to come out. I would love to show you San Diego. Sea World and the Wild Animal Park, and the Zoo... You'd love it. I know that rest of the Salem gang are going to be back in town this summer, but heck, bring them too if you want. It would be so much fun..."

Jason nodded in agreement and smiled. "Doesn't sound like such a bad idea at all..."

Nick looked at Mimi curiously, remembering her early statement. "So, Mimi... What was that about 'great news'? You have other great news?"

Mimi nodded and grinned slightly. "Yeah, I do... Belle called earlier, and Shawn is transferring to Columbia in the fall."

Rory rolled her eyes and laughed. "Somehow that doesn't come as a huge shock to me. It's downright predictable. Now, give me something better."

Mimi looked at Jason who grinned proudly at his friends. "I aced my History final. The one that I was the most worried about."

"Still, not that surprising."

Nick looked at Rory scoldingly. "Rory... Show some enthusiasm, even if you have to fake it. I, for one, happen to be very impressed. I know how hard you worked in that class... Congratulations Jason."

Jason nodded his head and smiled in appreciation. "Thank you, Nick."

Rory smiled sincerely and interjected. "I am proud of you too, Jason. And even though it didn't surprise me at all that you did so well... Congratulations."

"Thank you very much."

Mimi scanned all of the perfect faces around her; the ones that she had come to love like family over the past school year. Her heart was literally full with love for all of them, and she just didn't think it could be any better than this.

"You know... This is just the perfect ending to a perfect school year."

Jason put his arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. "It's not over yet..."

Mimi nodded and rested her head against his chest. "I know... But, it really has been the greatest nine months I've ever had. And all of you are responsible for it..."

Nick paused thoughtfully to consider her words. "So, was it luck or fate?"

"Was WHAT luck or fate?"

"This... Us all being here. Think about it, Mimi. Even though you and Jason knew each other for most of your lives, you didn't really truly know each other until you came here, somehow ending up in all the right places at the right time together."

Rory nodded in agreement and continued Nick's thought for him. "He's right... It was either by coincidence or just meant to be that you ended up with the two of US for roommates. I mean, I wasn't even supposed to come to this school, but here I am. And, I know why I ended up here now. To be friends with all of you, and to find this pain in the ass next to me."

Nick grinned and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. "Thanks, baby..."

Mimi sighed in understanding and looked up into Jason's green eyes. He smiled sweetly at her, an unspoken understanding between them. She looked back at Rory and Nick and nodded.

"It was fate... It was definitely fate..."

She had never believed in fate until this year, but that was the only explanation for the life she had been given this year. It couldn't have just been a series of happy accidents, it was definitely something else all guiding them to where they were, and where they were always meant to be.

~*~Go to the Epilogue for the OFFICIAL end!~*~

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