"Ugh...feed me," Hanna gasped, flopping down into the diner booth dramatically, laying her head down on her backpack atop the table. Paige chuckled as she slid into the side opposite her friend, immediately reaching to pull two menus from the holder by the window.

It was a few weeks into the new school year, and this was the first Paige had seen Hanna since they'd dropped Emily off at school. Hanna had been slammed with classes, and picking up shifts whenever she could at Dontana's for extra money. Paige on the other hand had been working so hard on the final touches at the restaurant, she could barely remember the last time she'd eaten a proper meal. It was a no brainer when Hanna had called her up, begging her to meet for lunch at Becky's diner between classes.

"School kicking your butt already?" Paige smiled.

"You have no idea. I doubled up on electives this semester so I could really work on my portfolio next year. Turns out Intro to Music isn't as fun as I thought it would be. I have a ten page paper on Mozart due next week. Mozart, Paige. All I wanted to do was break into groups and talk about why Tearin' Up My Heart is the greatest love song ever written, but no," she groaned, and Paige barked a laugh.

"Your version does sound better," she said, "electives suck anyhow. Before I got into the Culinary Institute, I was looking at the culinary program at the community college, you know, to save my parents some money? They already put all the boys through college and even though my dad had always wanted me to go to the Institute, I knew paying for it would stress him out. But no matter what you major in at the community college, you had to take a public speaking class. I knew there was no way in hell. Still to this day I get nervous speaking in front of crowds. My palms get sweaty and my heart races…"

"You always did just fine talking in front of all of us when you'd do your pre-service," Hanna shrugged, "you never seemed nervous or panicky at all,"

"Cause I knew you guys," Paige laughed, "and I love talking about food. I could talk about food all day, everyday,"

"Speaking of…" Hanna shoved her bag to the side and picked up her menu, "what are you having?"

"Hey now, that's my line," their waitress chuckled as she approached the table, pulling a pad and pen from her apron and smiling at Paige.

"Hi...can I have the breakfast belly buster? With blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage and scrambled eggs? Oh and, fried onions in the home fries. And uh...coffee and a glass of chocolate milk?" Paige rambled off.

"You got it," the waitress replied as she struggled to keep up, though her friendly smile never waivered.

"I will never understand how you are so skinny," Hanna replied, "uh, yeah I'll do the same. Only instead of pancakes, make it a turkey melt. And instead of all the other stuff she said, I'll have curly fries. And a chocolate shake with whipped cream,"

Paige shook her head with a laugh as she watched their waitress do the same.

"Coming right up," she winked at Paige, scooping their menus up from the table and heading back to the kitchen. Hanna eyed Paige from across the table as Paige sipped at the free ice water that had been provided for them when they sat down.

"What?" Paige asked, crunching an ice cube.

"What is it with you and waitresses? That girl had a huge rock on her finger and was still all winking, and hot and bothered by you,"

"You're over anaylzing it, and you sound like my mom," Paige rolled her eyes.

"Uh, your mom is fucking awesome so don't think I'm insulted by that," Hanna laughed back, "I know the business, Paige, I get that the girl's gotta eat and she's hoping one of us slaps a big wad of cash down on the table on our way out of here, but all I'm saying is she wasn't winking at me,"

"It's a chef thing, I don't know," Paige shrugged, "or maybe she's lonely with really good gaydar,"

"Well, I grew up with Emily as a best friend, so I happen to have the best gaydar in eastern Pennsylvania…" Hanna announced, and reached across the table, poking Paige on the nose for emphasis, "ding, ding, ding,"

Paige laughed at this, swatting her friend's hand away.

"What are you trying to say, you knew I was gay when you met me?" Paige wondered.

"I knew you were gay before I got out of my car,"

"Right," Paige rolled her eyes, grinning.

"No, really. You were in the car making out with Kelsey in the car in the spot next to mine," Hanna shrugged.

"Oh…yeah, I guess that'd do it," Paige replied, taking a swig of her ice water.

"It doesn't matter, Paigey. You know I wouldn't have you any other way. You're funny and smart and an awesome boss. You have the coolest family I know, and you love my best friend. You make good steak. You're exactly who you're supposed to be," Hanna told her.

"Thanks Han," Paige grinned, "so tell me more about school. Aside from Mozart 101, how's your classes? Any cute guys?"

"Unfortunately every guy I see worth a damn has a freakin cheerleader on his arm," she rolled her eyes, "I mean seriously, what kind of community college even needs cheerleaders?"

"One with a football team?" Paige shrugged.

"Whatever. I'm not worried though. You and I are going down to NC for that bitchin Halloween party in Emily's dorm, I'll meet somebody there,"

"Fair enough. By the way, Angie is coming too, and maybe Courtney,"

"Courtney wants to come? Cool, she can be designated driver so the rest of us can drink our faces off. Ooo, I'll bet she'll come up with the best preggy costume. I can't wait. School's stressing me out so much, I need to party," Hanna sighed, and stirred a few sugar packs into her ice water, causing Paige to shake her head and laugh.

"I think she wants to have a little fun before the baby comes. Even if it's eating crappy appetizers at a college party," Paige laughed.

"Who says the appetizers gotta be crappy? We're gonna have two world class chefs in the house,"

"True…but the whole point is for both of us to get a break and have a good time. I really need to spend time with Em. I'm going nuts without her and it's barely been a month," Paige explained.

"Aww, Paigey. You guys are doing fine. Em misses you just as much. But she's staying busy. Working out all the damn time. Which I really need to start doing," Hanna rolled her eyes, "the freshman 15 is no joke,"

"But…you're a sophomore," Paige laughed.

"So it caught me a year late, damn," Hanna scoffed, "point is I ain't gonna be no basketball star like Em anytime soon, but I really should get my ass to the gym once in a while,"

"I never really had an issue with the freshman 15," Paige shrugged, "actually every time my mom would come visit she'd be force feeding me, saying I was skinnier than the last time she saw me. But you know how Val is,"

"Yeah, yeah, queen metabolism over here, can eat a whole stuffed crust pizza and lose weight. Meanwhile I get croutons on my damn garden salad and I need to buy new pants," Hanna rolled her eyes.

"Han," Paige chuckled, "you're in great shape. Don't change a thing. Food is one of life's greatest pleasures. I can't stand hearing people talk about denying themselves of it just to look more desirable to other people,"

"Okay, reel it in Dr. Phil," Hanna laughed, "you know I ain't about to lay off the junk food any time soon. School's a bitch, my best friend is 100 light years away, plus you're about to open a restaurant, AND the holidays are right around the corner. Catch me on a night I'm not elbow deep in a bag of BBQ Fritos, binging Grey's Anatomy like my ass is permanently glued to the couch, that's when you should be worried," she rambled, and reached into her purse before pulling her phone up to her lips, "Siri, remind me to buy BBQ Fritos,"

"Well that's good, Han. As long as you're happy that's all I care about. But just so you know, my menu is gonna have a 'lighter fare' section. Just so people don't feel so limited, you know," Paige explained.

"Paige, please. Act like I ain't hittin those garlic hot wings and chili fries like a semi truck with no brakes,"

"Fair enough. I am pretty proud of those chili fries. Courtney's been living on them for weeks,"

"They're probably amaze-balls. Even that little baby in her belly knows you're the shit in all south Philly. Fuck it, north, east, west too," Hanna told her, and Paige couldn't help but grin.

At that, their waitress came over, their food expertly balanced on her arms, and began laying each plate down one at a time.

"Okay, breakfast belly buster with blueberry pancakes, scrambled, bacon and sausage, home fries with fried onions. And over here, one turkey melt, extra curly fries. Your chocolate shake is coming right out. Anything else I can get you ladies right now?"

"All the ketchup you got," Hanna piped up, "and you know what? I'm gonna be up all night writing this damn Mozart paper. Let me get a pizza burger and two pieces of apple pie to go,"

"You got it sweetie," she replied, heading off to the kitchen as she scribbled it down on her pad.

"Sweetie, huh?" Paige teased, "See, she's just doing her job,"

"Mmmhmm, whatever you say Paige. But those ten strips of bacon on your plate that should only have 3 tells me everything I need to know,"

Emily was hunched over her laptop at her desk, a textbook draped over her lap as she struggled to stay awake long enough to actually do some homework. She had a huge test coming up in her economics class, and with basketball practice, double workouts and other classes, this was the first she'd had a chance to even try to study. Unfortunately, she was so tired, even though she'd been staring at the first page of chapter 3 for the better part of an hour, she wasn't sure she'd absorbed one word.

"Jenkins with the rock, 3 seconds left, it's up…" Emily's head snapped up at the sound of her roommate's voice, in time to see her lining up a "shot" with a wadded up piece of paper before firing it right at Emily's head.

"It's good!" she continued, "New Hampshire legend Holly Jenkins does it again with the buzzer beater! Ahhhh,"

Emily picked up the paper and fired it back at her roommate, feigning annoyance though she couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh good, so you are awake. I was worried I was gonna have to put you to bed,"

"No such luck," Emily yawned, "I still haven't even begun to understand this chapter. Why did I take this econ class again?"

"Because econ is the easiest of the math pre-reqs. Trust me," Holly explained, and held up her massive calculus textbook for emphasis, "you wanna take this puppy for a spin?"

"God no," Emily laughed, "seeing you do calculus gives me a headache. It might actually kill me to do it,"

"Fair enough. How about some study snacks? Half price app night at Charlie's. My mom just wired me some cash, so I got you,"

"You sure? That would be awesome. Get me a veggie wrap and a vanilla latte,"

"One BLT and a rootbeer float comin up," she winked, crawling off the bed and moving to put on her sneakers.

"Holly, I want what I said," Emily laughed, "It's already enough calories I'm gonna have to run off in the morning. But I need brain fuel,"

"That's what I was saying,"

"Veggie wrap and coffee," Emily pinned her with a look.

"Alright, fine. When I get back I can help you with that econ if you want. I had perfect marks in that class last year," Holly offered.

"Yeah, well you have a math brain. For the rest of us it's a little more difficult," Emily laughed, "but yeah that'd be cool. Translate this crap into English for me and I'll help you with your running hook shot tomorrow when I get back from History," Emily countered.

"My running hook shot is smooth as hot butter," Holly scoffed, and crossed her arms, "torched you the first time we played one-on-one,"

"That's true, but I'm no Stephanie Clark from Duke who is gonna be fly-papered to you at the scrimmage next weekend. She is a nightmare on defense,"

"So I'll beat her outside," Holly argued, and mimicked the motion of taking a three point shot, "she might be all over me in the paint but by the time I pull up for the long ball, both her ankles will be shattered and she'll be laying at my feet sobbing for mercy,"

"She scored 36 points in their last playoff game last year. With the flu," Emily arched an eyebrow, "she's not human,"

"I scored 33 at the homecoming game my senior year with a broken pinky, and the early stages of mono, thanks to Brandon Davis,"

"Your sordid dating history aside, I think we should both practice. The entire point of this scrimmage is for coach to see how we've grown, to decide whose going to fill the two starting spots when Kate and Lauren graduate,"

"Alright, alright, we'll practice. But you better bring your damn A- game cause I've been sinking that hook shot since I could walk," she winked, and kissed the top of her roommate's head.

"Noted," Emily laughed, "hurry back with the food okay? Don't get hung up flirting with Jack at Charlie's, or swing by Cody's room to 'talk',"

"Yeah…I'll do whatever I want," Holly smirked, and headed out the door, causing Emily to shake her head in laughter again. She reached into her mini fridge that was a convenient arm's length away from her desk, pulling out a frosted water bottle, drinking down about half in three gulps. After screwing the cap back on and placing it next to her mousepad, she set to work stretching out her back and arms so she could get comfortable and get back in the zone. She sighed at the weight of the text book still in her lap. There were about a million things she wished she was doing other than learning economics, not the least of which being spending time helping Paige getting her new restaurant ready. She longed for it in that moment, the sight of Paige in paint covered clothes, her sweaty hair tied up in a bun as she set up everything just the way she wanted in her kitchen, laughing as her and Courtney took dance breaks when Bruce Springsteen or the Backstreet Boys would come on the radio. It was a daydream she found getting her through her toughest longest days at school.

She wasn't back into the groove of studying long before her phone rang, a Facetime call from Paige. She could barely hold back the grin on her face as she answered.

"Hey baby," she smiled as Paige's face came into view. Emily could tell she was wearing her favorite pajamas, an old Phillies shirt and shorts, from where she was propped up in bed.

"Hey," Paige smiled back, "what are you doing?"

"Just studying," Emily groaned, "waiting for Holly to bring back food. What about you?"

"Getting ready for bed," Paige shrugged.

"I see that. You're at your parents? It doesn't look like your room,"

"Yeah. I hung out with Hanna this morning before her classes at the diner, swung by the restaurant to do some last minute things and mom wanted me and Court to come up for dinner. We're crashing here cause it's pouring down rain, and Courtney said her back hurt too much to get in the car again,"

"That sounds nice," Emily smiled, "what did your mom make for dinner?"

"Barbecued chicken. Potatoes, veggies from the garden, salad, you know, all the Val specials. What are you and Holly getting?"

"Just some food from the coffee shop. A veggie wrap. God knows what she's getting. Probably a double bacon burger and mozzarella sticks," Emily rolled her eyes.

"That sounds bangin," Paige shrugged.

"I'm trying to be good. You spoiled me all summer, and if I don't make the starting team for next year I don't know what I'd do,"

"You'd be fine. You'd still have a spot on the team, you'd still have swimming and your classes and your friends and me,"

"Says the girl who sacrificed damn near everything to be the starting pitcher of her high school softball team," Emily laughed.

"True. That's how I know I can tell you that you'll be fine no matter what happens. You're talented enough to make the starting team. But if for whatever reason you don't, take it for what it is. Still have fun with the game and be yourself. Owen broke two knuckles sophomore year and couldn't play. At first he was so mad, but then he started learning the coaching side of things. He learned to love a whole new level of the game and look at him now. Happy as can be, coaching college baseball. Not a star pitcher for the Phils, but still loving life,"

"I know you're right. This is just something I really want. I want to actually be on the court playing when you come to one of my games, not sitting on the bench,"

"Well, no matter what, I'll be there rocking your jersey, my face painted blue with pride. I promise," Paige told her, "and for what its worth so will Hanna, Angie and Courtney. And probably all the boys and their wives and kids. You got a pretty big fan club up here in PA,"

"Sounds good. I can't wait to see it,"

Emily could hear a door open and close in the background and the next thing she knew, Courtney was climbing up next to Paige on the bed, a bag of Doritos in her hand.

"Hey Courtney," Emily greeted with a smile, "how you feeling?"

"Oh hey Emily! I'm so sorry for interrupting. I'm okay I guess. My feet are twice their normal size and I can't sleep, but what the hell, right? How's school? She asked, and crunched on a chip.

"It's craziness. I've been up since four this morning and I still have a long night ahead,"

"Take it easy on yourself, honey. Don't wanna burn out before you even hit midterms. Give yourself a break," Courtney warned.

"Yeah I know. Honestly staying busy is the best thing for me. If I didn't have so much going on I probably would've cracked and run back home already," she admitted.

"You made it through freshman year, it doesn't get much harder than that,"

"I didn't leave half my heart in Philly last year. I missed Hanna and my parents and everything, but it was exciting to be somewhere else. Now I'm torn between my relationship, and all the things I've wanted since before it even started," Emily explained.

"Let me tell you Em, as a self-proclaimed master of long distance relationships. It may seem hard right now. And it isn't something that's going to get progressively easier with time. You might have a great day this week where it seems easy. And then you may wake up six months from now thinking it's impossible. God knows there's days I miss Seth so much, even breathing hurts. But I know it's only temporary. So I can deal with it, as long as I know he's somewhere feeling the same things. Besides, we're having this baby soon, and at the end of the day, he's doing what he needs to do so that when she comes, we can be a family. Just like I'm doing here. So I saver his days home, because I know in a few months I'll get a ton more days. Right now I just have to let him do his thing, do mine and everything will work out. You know?"

"Yeah I get it. Thanks Court. By the way…she, huh?" Emily smiled.

"Oh yeah, spoiler alert, it's a girl," Courtney winked, getting a little closer to the camera on Paige's phone, "I like Brooke, but Seth likes Vanessa. What do you say?"

"Oh they're both great names," Emily started, before being swiftly cut off by Courtney.

"No, no. Your girlfriend tried that same crap on me. Pick a side,"

"Oh, Courtney, I don't know…I haven't slept, and I think there's a lot to be said for waiting until you see what she looks like…"

"Right. Brooke it is," she grinned, and sat back against the pillows, crunching another chip in victory.

"Easy enough," Emily laughed, "remind me to hide from Seth the next time I'm home,"

"He's having a baby girl, he's gonna have to get used to not having his way," Courtney rolled her eyes.

"That's true," Paige chimed in, all smiles at the exchange between Emily and Courtney, "my mom says my dad totally melted to Jello when I came along,"

"Yeah, no kidding," Emily laughed, "you've still got him wrapped around your finger,"

"Yeah, yeah," Paige blushed, and sunk under the covers, hiding her face under the pillow playfully.

"Well, as fun as it is to talk to my girlfriend when she's in bed with her business partner, I should really get back to work," Emily laughed.

"Don't worry Em, we're just gonna watch Turner and Hooch on cable and then I'm gonna crash in the other room,"

"No worries. You guys have a fun night. I'll call you tomorrow Paige,"

"Okay babe. I know you're studying your butt off but try to sleep," she peeked her head out from under the pillow.

"I will. Love you,"

"Love you too. Night," Paige said and the phone went black. She sighed and looked up at her friend.

"I know you know what you're talkin about, and what you said to Em makes a ton of sense, but from where I'm sittin, long distance sucks," Paige sighed.

"I'm sitting right there with you, Paige. I'm lucky and my long distance relationship is about to get much easier. Seth will be done in New York and we'll be together with our child and everything will be perfect. And I'll be able to tell her one day how independent her parents were, that her daddy went and lived his dream cooking in New York City, and I did my thing here and we made it work. Teach her that she doesn't need a guy or girl to define her. I can't wait for that. It makes it worth it. You and Emily…I mean, gosh, you spend five minutes around you two and it's obvious you're meant to be. If you're going through tough times now just try to remember you have the best times ahead. And if that doesn't feel like enough, remember that we're gonna be down there for Halloween in a few weeks. It'll be here before you know it,"

"Yeah. You're right. Alright, pass me those Doritos, preggo. Movie time,"