Sandi woke around twelve, and rolled over just as Andy walked in from the bathroom.  His hair was wet and clung to his scalp giving him a drowned rat look.  Normally she would have found that funny, but not today.  His uniform was draped over the back of the chair, pressed and ready to go.  Everything was perfect, for him at least.  She lay in bed watching him for a while then got up and went to the kitchen.  She fixed herself some tea and went to the couch.  Her first sip of the warm liquid almost made her puke.  She covered her mouth to keep from spitting tea and stomach acid all over the place.  After a moment her stomach calmed down, she sighed and massaged it.  It wouldn’t be too much longer before she started to show–and she hadn’t even told him yet.  She jumped, nearly falling off the couch as someone pounded on the front door.

            “It’s probably Steven.”  Andy’s muffled voice called from the bedroom.  Sandi rolled her eyes irritated and then walked over to the door.  She could see Steven fidgeting with one of his buttons as she peered through the peep hole.  He was the only real friend that Andy had seemed to make in the academy and they had decided to carpool to the ceremony.  She unchained the door and let him in.

            “Hi Sandi, is Andy ready to go?”  Steven said anxiously as he walked in.  He was shorter than Andy with dirty-blond hair and light blue eyes.  He was slightly stockier, but wasn’t anywhere near as strong and, unlike Andy, Steven’s eyes still showed a playful innocence and friendly glint.  Sandi had pondered on the thought of dumping Andy and dating Steven, but something about him bothered her.  He just didn’t act right.

            “Yeah, he’s in the bedroom.”  Sandi jabbed her thumb in the direction of the bedroom, not that it was difficult to find in the tiny apartment.