"I said that I'll not go to any more parties. Didn't I? If you have so much problem then I'll go away to the dorm to live in peace," said Victoria, looking at everyone with anger.

"Yes, that's best for you. At least you won't follow Dylan like a lost puppy," said her mom. Victoria lost her temper and stomped away towards her room. She took some medicine and lay down, covering her throbbing head with a pillow. When she would feel better, she would talk to her friend Marilyn if she could arrange a room for her too at their college dormitory. She was done staying here and being dictated around. Dylan was happy with Dana and she felt left out amongst his friends who at one point of time were her friends too. But the three years that she had been away, everyone grew distant and she couldn't relate to them any longer. As for Ryan, she was too embarrassed to meet him again. What if she had blabbering out about her feelings to him in her inebriated state? Heaven forbid! She didn't want to be pitied by Ryan.  

After a while there was a pounding on her door. "Are you bunking college, Vicky?" Yelled her mom from the other side. Victoria had just dozed off, the medicine that she'd taken was working it's magic and the pain was beginning to ebb off when she woke up with a start. 

"This girl will be the death of me! God! What have I ever done to deserve such worthless children?" Exclaimed her mom aloud for the whole neighborhood to hear. Victoria sighed. Nothing had changed at home! The last three years actually were more peaceful at her grandparents house than here. 

"What happened, Jen?" Asked her dad, ready to go to the office. While he was a Financial Consultant at a top multinational company, her mom was a Senior Banker at a leading bank in Houston. Thus they daily left no opportunity to prove how worthless Victoria and Dylan actually were. While Dylan learnt to ignore their snide remarks, Victoria heard it and cringed away, locking herself in her room. However much she studied, they were never satisfied with her grades.

"What will happen? Vicky's again bunking college while Dylan hasn't even returned home yet. It seems like college is at the lowest in their list of priorities, " said her mom. 

Her dad too muttered angrily and then left for work. After her mom went away to work, Victoria sat up and called Marilyn. She could hear Dylan coming in after their mom left. He might have been waiting for her to leave. After talking to Marilyn, she felt much better. Marilyn had promised that they would arrange for a room for her at the dormitory building where she lived. 

Satisfied, Victoria unlocked her door and walked towards the kitchen. She was ravenous after having skipped dinner last night. As she poured some coffee and made some sandwiches for herself, Dylan walked in, holding onto his head. 

"You didn't go to college?" He asked curiously. Victoria shook her head. 

"I had a headache which multiplied after the lectures I got when I returned home in the morning, " said Victoria with a shrug.

"Yeah, I received Ryan's message that he took you home with him," said Dylan. "I'm sorry, Vicky for being such a shi*ty brother to you," said Dylan with a pout.

"Don't be sorry Dy. You know that I'll always love you no matter what. By the way, I'm moving out," said Victoria, handing Dylan his coffee and sandwiches. Dylan's mouth hung open hearing her.

"What? Why are you moving out? Where will you go?" He asked.

"I'm moving to my college dorm, Dy. I'm done staying here. I can't take any more insults," she said, sitting at the dining table with her food. 

"What happened? What did mom and dad say?" Asked Dylan, looking worried. Victoria sighed and told him what happened. Dylan felt bad for his twin. 

"I'm sorry that you had to hear all that. It's all because of me," said Dylan, looking at his food with remorse.

"Then why don't you study hard and prove them wrong, Dy?" She asked her twin. Dylan nodded. 

"You're right. I need to pull up my grades and prove them wrong, " he agreed. They ate in silence. 

"I'm thinking of taking up a part time internship somewhere," said Dylan. "When I'm able to save enough, I'll move out of here," said Dylan. 

"That'll take ages, won't it? Why don't you move into the dorm like I am?" Asked Victoria. "We can take up some part time job to cover our bills," suggested Victoria. 

"Fine. I'll talk to Ben. He lives on campus and has a part time job at the cafeteria, " said Dylan. 

Having decided that, they felt much better and went to attend college for the rest of the day. Dylan drove Victoria to college as they both were studying at the same college. While Dylan was majoring in Finance, Victoria was into Communications. 

"Did you look for a place for me, Mari?" Asked Victoria. 

"No, all are full. Would you like to share a room with two?" asked Marilyn. 

Victoria grimaced. Sharing a room with one was a big headache, how could she share with two? "No, that's too many," she said. "Thanks anyway. Let's see if my brother can find some place for us," she smiled at her friend.

"In that case why don't you go for an apartment nearby?" Asked Marilyn. 

"But aren't they costly?" Asked Victoria. 

"They'll come cheaper than two dorm rooms," said Marilyn. Victoria nodded and decided to inform Dylan about this.

After college, she waited for Dylan in the parking lot. Suddenly Ryan's car came to a stop right in front of her. She gasped with surprise. What the f*ck was he doing here?

He emerged from his car with a grin on his face. "Hey Victoria! Heard that you two are moving out?" He asked with curiosity. 

"Yeah, Dylan has already informed you?" Asked Victoria, rolling her eyes. 

"Yeah, he called me. We're gonna check out an apartment together for you guys to move in at the earliest, " said Ryan.  This was news for Victoria. She hadn't spoken to Dylan since she had come to college. So she was quite surprised that Dylan had arranged for an apartment so soon. 

"Oh, I didn't get to talk to Dylan," said Victoria. 

Dylan came out with Ben and grinned seeing that Ryan had already arrived. "Hey dude! Hope you didn't have much problems coming here at such short notice," said Dylan, clapping Ryan on his back. 

"No I finished fifteen minutes early today," said Ryan. "Shall we go?" He asked excitedly. 

"Yeah, it's walking distance from here. Let's leave our cars here," said Dylan and they all started walking together towards the exit gate. Victoria felt a little excited that Ryan was so interested to see their apartment with them. 

The apartment was three buildings away from the campus and located on the third floor of a freshly painted, clean building. It was a two bedroom apartment with attached washrooms and a small balcony overlooking the campus. There was a small kitchen and a cozy living area with a four seater dining table in one corner. The rent wasn't much and it was quite affordable if they both worked part time somewhere. 

"I love it, Dy. Let's take this, please," said Victoria, standing on the balcony and looking out. She loved the place already. Dylan nodded and walked inside to check out the bedrooms  again. 

"I can see myself living here already," said Dylan. 

"Can I move in with you guys, Dylan?" Asked Ben, eyeing Victoria. Dylan smacked his arm. 

"F*ck off, Ben," he said and they all chuckled. Ryan walked out to the balcony and stood beside Victoria. 

"Why are you moving out, Victoria? Did you get a blast from your parents?" Asked Ryan curiously, looking at her with concern. Ever since she had disappeared the next morning without a word to him, he had been dying to talk to her. 

"It's okay, I'm used to it," said Victoria with a shrug.

"Were they mad because you spent the night with me?" Asked Ryan, worriedly. 

"I didn't tell them," said Victoria. Ryan nodded. 

"Why did you disappear so suddenly?" He asked, curiously. "You could have informed me before leaving. I was so worried," said Ryan. 

"You were sleeping. I didn't want to disturb you," said Victoria with a shrug. 

"You wouldn't have disturbed me at all after everything that happened, " said Ryan, his eyes boring a hole in her face. Victoria turned to gape at him. 

"What do you mean by that? What happened last night?" She asked with shock, dreading his answer. 'Please God! I hope I haven't done anything embarrassing,' she prayed in her mind. 

"You don't remember anything, do you?" He asked with a smirk, enjoying her confusion. 

"I just remember falling asleep in your car," she told him with a shrug. 

"So you don't remember what you did in your sleep?" He asked. Victoria's mouth hung open and she nodded slowly.

"What?" She asked, eyeing him with dread.

"You begged me to kiss you," said Ryan with a grin.