August 1980

Jan Brady felt optimistic as her older sister, Marcia, pulled the Toyota into a parking space in the college parking lot and they both got out and walked to their new classes. Jan was eighteen and had graduated high school the previous May. Tired of living in Marcia's shadow, she was determined that this year she'd make a fresh start, a name for herself, that she'd make her own mark in the world.

Jan's first class was computer science with Mr. Cole. Next came algebra with Mrs. Mack, then English composition with Mrs. Windham.

"You're Marcia Brady's sister, aren't you?" Mrs. Windham asked her after class was over. Jan nodded.

"Marcia was brilliant!" Mrs. Windham gushed. "Always on time, always paying attention. I could always count on her to have the right answer. If only all my students were like her, teaching would be a breeze!"

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, Jan thought glumly as she headed to the student center for lunch. Everybody just loves her to death. What about me?

Jan was at the register paying for her lunch when she noticed that her student ID wasn't in her wallet where she'd left it. That's odd, she thought. Quickly she glanced through her purse, her panic mounting when she realized that it was nowhere to be found.

"Excuse me," the person in line behind Jan said pointedly.

"Sorry," Jan mumbled. With a heavy sigh, she decided she'd simply have to go back to registration after lunch and pay for a replacement ID.

"Excuse me." A young male voice caught Jan's attention. She turned to see a tall young man with short brown hair and brown eyes holding something out to her. She realized that it was her student ID. "Is this yours?"

"Yes! Thank you!" Jan exclaimed, taking her ID and hurriedly stuffing it back into her wallet.

"I saw you drop it," the boy said. "I was afraid you'd disappear into the crowd before I could get it back to you."

"I appreciate that." Jan smiled. "I'm Jan Brady, but I guess you already know that." She giggled nervously.

The young man smiled. Jan noticed that he had a very nice smile. "Is wonderful to meet you, Jan Brady. I am Ilya Risovich."

"It's nice to meet you, too," Jan said politely, shaking Ilya's hand.

"Is this your first year of college?" asked Ilya.

"Yes. I'm majoring in architecture. Is this your first year as well?"

Ilya nodded.

"What's your major?"

"Engineering."

They found an empty table and sat down. "It sure is a big school, isn't it?" Jan said, trying to make conversation. She thought that Ilya was very good looking, and she felt a bit awkward and shy around him.

"It is not too bad." Ilya grinned and began spreading ketchup on his fries. "There are a lot of people here, but I have seen worse crowds."

"It sure is bigger than high school," Jan commented.

"Did you grow up here in this city?" asked Ilya.

"Yes," said Jan. "I've got an older sister and a younger sister. My biological dad died when I was too young to remember. My mom remarried a guy with three sons, so now I have three brothers as well."

"You have very large family." Ilya smiled. "I have only my father and my mother and two younger sisters."

"How old are your sisters?"

"Kristina is sixteen, and Veronika is fourteen."

"It's tough being in the middle," Jan said softly. "Sometimes you feel kind of lost."

"But at least you have each other. You are not alone."

"Sometimes it seems like too much of a good thing." Jan laughed, and Ilya joined in.

"You are nice girl, Jan," said Ilya. "Maybe we could do something together sometime. Go to movie, perhaps?"

"Sure, I'd like that!" Jan hoped she didn't sound too eager.

"What kind of movies you like, Jan?"

"Oh, it doesn't matter. Comedy, romance..."

Ilya and Jan talked until it was time for her next class. As he walked her to class, Jan felt as if she were on top of the world.

A/N: Ilya was a character in one episode of the TV show 'White Shadow', so I suppose this story could be considered a crossover with that show.