THIS IS NOT A CROSSOVER
Just had to get that out of my system. ;D

A/N: Okay, I don't know why I have such a urge to write about Wesley, of all people, but I can't help myself. I plan on making this a long series (this is the prologue) about Wesley at the Academy, so I have a disclaimer: I'm only about half-way through the fourth season of TNG. If I update this series faster that I can watch Star Trek (highly unlikely), then some discrepancies might occur. PLEASE message me if this happens, I want to know. And I know that I'm going to get some flames, just because it's Wesley, but, hey, if you're willing to review... Just try to enjoy it. =D

The party was noisy, to say the least. Wesley never felt comfortable at parties, especially when they were for him. Oh, it was flattering, yes; but he didn't need a thousand-some people slapping him on the back, or forcing awkward conversations.

You see, Ensign Wesley Crusher was leaving the USS Enterprise-D for Starfleet Academy. Finally, after what seemed like a hundred times of failing, getting in but not getting there, or missing the exam, he was finally going to Starfleet Academy. So, it was his going away party at Ten Forward. And it was him that everyone was focused on. So, naturally, it was him that was trying to avoid the awkward conversations with people he'd never met. But maybe it was better then having an awkward conversation with his mom.

"Wesley!" First Officer William Riker appeared out of nowhere, slapping him on the back. "The good ole' Academy, I remember my first day…"

"It's not my first day, Commander. I'm leaving tomorrow after accompanying Captain Picard to Pentarus III."

"But I won't be there to tell you then! So you'll just have to make do with right now."

"Leave him alone Riker! He doesn't want to listen to you ramble about your Academy days," Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge cut in. He then turned to Wesey, "So, are you really going this time? Or are they just pulling your leg about the whole open-spot thing?"

"I'm pretty sure it's real this time," Wesley stammered, afraid that he might jinx it.

"Pulling your leg, Geordi?" Second Officer Data questioned with a perplexed look on his face. "I fail to see—"

"I'll explain it later," Geordi hurriedly cut him off. He wasn't in the mood for a long-winded explanation of old Earth metaphors.

"Nervous, Wes?" Counselor Deanna Troi asked, sensing his emotions.

"Just about, you know, getting along with my class mates," Wesley admitted. He had been around the same people for over three years, his making-friends ability hadn't been exercised in quite a while; he wasn't sure he could.

"Wesley, that's the last thing you need to worry about! You're going to be the Harry Potter of Starfleet! Served as an Ensign on the Federation flagship before you got accepted at the Academy! People will be lining up to do your homework!" Riker claimed, a little over excitedly.

"I fail to see the connection between Ensign Crusher and a fictional character from the early twenty-first century," Data said, once again confused.

"Teachers will love you," Riker went on, completely ignoring Data's question. "There'll be a thousand cadets looking up to you, a million tests waiting to be aced—"

"We get the picture, Commander," Geordi cut in on Riker's speech.

"Really, Wes, it'll be fine. There are tons of people at the Academy, and one of them is just waiting to be your friend. You might even enjoy it more than the Enterprise," Troi explained, sensing Wesley's skepticism on the matter. "Everyone's nervous on their first day at a new school."

"Uh, yeah, right," Wesley once again stammered, he was trying to find a loophole in this conversation where he could slip out.

Like clockwork, Counselor Troi distracted the other members of the senior staff, turning to wink at Wesley when it was safe to run. He tried to escape as inconspicuously as possible, knowing he couldn't be at peace in Ten Forward.

After exiting onto deck ten, Wesley let out a sigh of relief he didn't know he'd been holding in. He could return to the party later; right now, he just needed to be alone. Musing on what the others would do when they noticed he was gone, he let himself tour the ship, no destination in mind.

This ship… god, was she beautiful. He was leaving her. Why was he doing that? He was already a fully ranked ensign. He suddenly understood why Commander Riker kept turning down all those offers of command. Sure, it'd be great to run your own ship, but they could never come close to the Enterprise. On the Enterprise, he felt at home. On the Enterprise, he had a family: the kind he never had before. The kind he probably would never find again. And what was he leaving her for? The Academy? Leaving a position on a Starship to learn how to have a position on a Starship? It was ridiculous. It was the kind of ironic ridiculous that Data would make mincemeat out of, trying to explain. Why did he need to go to the Academy? Couldn't he just stay here? Wesley turned a corner.

But, no, he couldn't. He couldn't stay here just because it was his home. All around the galaxy, people, people just like him, were leaving their homes to join Starfleet; to go to the Academy. He was a lucky one, already having served on a Starship, and he was cheating the rules by doing so before even seeing the Academy, much less graduating. Serving on the Enterprise wasn't what he was meant to do. Leaving was what he had to do. Leaving was just his beginning; the beginning that scares everyone half to death. But it was happening, he was leaving, so he had better just keep a stiff upper lip and deal with it, because nothing was going to stop it. The Enterprise would live on without him; and he, without it.

Wesley turned the corner to come face-to-face to the doors to Ten Forward. He released a sigh he didn't know he'd been holding and walked through them. Walking to the spot he'd been standing in before, he grinned to see Counselor Troi, still distracting the senior staff. Evidently, what she was saying was very interesting.

"You've got a point, Deanna, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Wesley will do just fine," Commander Riker said, slinging an arm across Wesley's shoulders.

"Yes, I think you're right, Will. He'll be just fine."

A/N: So, what do you think? This is going to be my first long-running story, so I hope it started out well. I know Wesley isn't exactly your favorite character, but I promise I'll try to keep this story interesting. Review and tell me how I did!