Home to get ready and reminisce.

Sarah stepped out of the bathroom completely nude and still drying her hair. She felt Zack's eyes roaming over her body and basked in the attention. It was so refreshing not to hate her own image.

"Shower's all yours," she told him with a wink.

He checked his watch. "Great, she'll be here in twenty minutes. I just need to shower and shave quick."

As he walked into the bathroom, Sarah caught his wrist to stop him. She pulled him close and gave him a passionate kiss. She raised one leg and wrapped it around his, but Zack pulled back. "Babe, I gotta get ready."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked with as much seriousness as she could muster. "It's not too late to back out."

"Yeah, I definitely want to," he told her. "I think Ashley might take some convincing, though."

"Less than you'd think," Sarah said as she playfully slapped his ass. "We're really hot. Now go clean up before she gets here!"

Zack disappeared into the bathroom and Sarah went to set the table. She luxuriated in the smell of the penne alfredo they had cooked and thought of Ashley.

Ashley's knuckles were starting to hurt, but she wasn't giving up. "I know you're in there, Sarah!" she shouted as she pounded on the heavy bathroom door. "Do I need to call the RA?"

She heard a faint shuffle of movement and a click before the door opened a sliver and Sarah's bloodshot eye stared hatefully out.

"I'm fine," she said in a dull monotone. "Go away."

Ashley immediately pushed the door onward, making Sarah stumble back slightly into the shared suite bathroom she had been occupying for hours. To Sarah's left were the cheap sinks and mirrors that the four sophomores shared, and the small stalls containing a shower and a toilet were on her right. Sarah slumped against one of the sinks.

"You're not fine," Ashley rebutted. "Look at you! You're a fucking mess. Come on, Sarah. Tell me what's wrong."

Sarah was swathed in a purple blanket, her face pallid with red marks where her it had been pressed against the wall while she sobbed. "Nothing," she said hoarsely. "Don't bother with me."

Their eyes met and Ashley saw an endless pool of sorrow in those only orbs. She did the only thing she could think of; she dove in to rescue her friend.

"Bullshit," Ashley said. "You need help. You deserve help."

"No I don't!" Sarah spat back at her with startling ferocity. "I don't fucking deserve anything! I deserve to fucking die in a fucking ditch!"

Ashley didn't respond verbally. She crouched next to Sarah and put a hand on her shoulder. She slowly, theatrically took in a lungful of air and released it. When Sarah didn't respond, she repeated it.

"What are doing?" Sarah mumbled. Her eyes were downcast and her voice gravelly.

"Breathing," Ashley answered. "I'm breathing. I know it's so hard right now, Sarah, but can you do this with me?"

Sarah's eyelids fluttered, but her head moved in an almost imperceptible nod. Together they drew in a long, cleansing breath, then blew it out slowly. They repeated this four times before Sarah looked up at Ashley.

"I'm gonna get you something," Ashley said gently. "Ok? It's something that will help."

Sarah let out a choked sob. "There's no help for me. Thank you for trying, but I don't deserve it."

Ashley rose and opened the medicine cabinet, then crouched down next to Sarah again. She held out her hand, a small object sitting in the center of her palm: a bottle of Listerine. Sarah stared at it blankly.

"Your breath stinks," Ashley said gravely. To her relief, Sarah broke out in giggles despite herself. The tension was broken. "And I love you, Sarah, and a lot of people love you, and I want to talk about it. Come on, I ordered us some penne from Corelli's and it's gonna get cold."

She extended her hand and helped Sarah to her feet, and together they left the room.