The Gala was over and Miranda's summer in Tartosa was coming to an end. The turmoil in her heart, which had been quiet until last night, roared like a storm off the sea. An idea had come to her in the night, as she lay in Mariah's arms, knowing they would part again soon and desperate to never let her go... a wild, mad, impossible idea. Rising early, she had sought the calm and stillness of mediation... where maybe she'd see, like Gwen saw, the road ahead.
"You're floating," Mariah's voice burst into the stillness. "You know that, right?"
"Ahhh!" Miranda cried as she dropped to the ground.
"Oh," Mariah's wince of sympathy was somewhat undermined be her laughter. "Sorry."
"That's not as easy as it looks you know," Miranda grumbled.
"Here," Mariah grinned. "Let me kiss it and make it better."
"That's not the cheek I fell on," Miranda muttered.
"I could kiss that one too, if you want," Mariah's eyes glittered with amusement.
"I... I need to talk you," Miranda said, trying to gather her thoughts.
"Oh...," Mariah looked worried. "I... I guess... I do too..."
"Let me get this out," Miranda said, striving to sound resolute, "You know I'm suppose to leave soon... and go to University... and we'd be apart again... and I'm not doing it! I'm staying! I'm staying here, in Tartosa. I can get a job... and maybe next semester apply to university here... and..."
"Oh, wow," Mariah's eyes went wide. "Wow! I mean... yeah... you could do that. If you do, I'll... I'll write you and I'll miss you... and maybe we'll see each other on holidays..."
"What are you talking about?" Miranda demanded. "I'm staying!"
"Yeah, but I'm going to Britechester," Mariah said.
"So, I'll be here and we can be together," Miranda continued, talking over her, "and... you're doing what?!?"
"I'm going to Britechester," Mariah repeated. "I go in there... and I..."
"Why are you going to Britechester?!?," Miranda said, shocked. "I mean, they have universities here... I thought... you didn't apply there just to be with me?! Did you?"
"Hey, a minute ago you were going to throw away everything to live here, just to be with me," Mariah pointed out. "Besides, that's not why I applied there. OK, it's not the only reason I applied there."
"Really?" Miranda looked skeptical.
"They have a great psych program," Mariah pointed out, " and after all the counseling I've been doing, I think that's what I want to do... with my life.. be a counselor. OK, technically Foxbury's got a better psych program... and I did apply there 'cause I'd only be across town... but my grades weren't good enough." 
"So," she continued, "I'm going to Britechester... and if you run away and live on the beech here, I promise to write you and..."
Miranda's kiss interrupted her.
"I love you," Miranda sighed.
"I love you too," Mariah relaxed into her arms. 
"Why didn't you tell me!" Miranda snapped suddenly.
"I was worried you wouldn't be happy," Mariah admitted. "That maybe... you wouldn't want me to."
"I love you," Miranda breathed again, embracing her. She could see the road ahead now and knew they would talk it together.
