Jo opened the door to her home and shouted, “I got it!” She ran up the corridor and hugged her mum. “I got it, I got it, I got it!” She swung her mum around in a circle. “I’m going to university!”

“I'm so proud of you Joanne.” her mum said with a huge smile.

“I’m proud too Jo.” Her dad said leaning on the kitchen door frame with a coffee mug in his hand. “I talked to Rick a few times. He made me realise how damned stupid I was being. Here’s the financial stuff you need for your scholarship.” He handed Jo a stack of papers. “I'm sorry for being an arse.”

Jo looked at her mum who gave a little head shake. “Thanks dad.” She said, accepting the papers. “You know I will need these next year too?”

“Yeah. It's fine.” He said, ruffling her hair. “Now, how about we treat you to takeaways? Anything you like.”

“So, you got all your applications accepted? Did Abby?” Pete asked when Anne had calmed down enough to talk.

“Yeah, she got into the art course.” She said with a smile.

“Good, well that makes this investment worthwhile then.” He said, fishing out a real estate pamphlet.

Anne grabbed the leaflet, it looked like the same building Susan had shown her. “Is this?” she asked, hardly daring to hope.

“Mine to lend you for a few years? Yes.” He said, teasing her.

“No! Is it the same building as Susan and Jo?” she said with some urgency.

“And the same floor even.” He said and then had to cover his ears to protect from the squealing. Anne gave her dad a bone crushing hug and then did the same for her mum.

“I'm going to Abby's she called”, not waiting for a response before running to the door.

Mae called Heather’s phone, “Please tell me you got in?”

“Of course I did, did you?” she asked in return.

“Of course. Guess who also got in?” She asked cheekily before a new voice came on the line.

“I did it Heather!”

“Lucia? Oh my god! We’re all going to the same uni!” Heather said in excitement, “Oh I can’t wait to tell Susan!”

Mae was jumping up and down on her bed in excitement.

“Honey, don't jump on your bed, you’re not four years old anymore!” her mum called from downstairs. “Did you tell Heather about the flat?”

“Heather, my dad has rented us a flat, it has three bedrooms! Want to see if your parents will let you rent a room?”