Thursday, October 17, 2019
CAREER PLAN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
CAREER PLAN - Essay Example I took up Business Management at Webster University because of this interest to know more on running a business, understanding what it takes to establish and develop your products, getting the whole team work towards propelling the products to market success. I have also been interested in marketing, and how advertisements work to make the client notice different brands and products. I have always had passion for business. There is something about creating your own means of livelihood and making goals for this business that catches my interest to learn more and understand the subject. These are also the very reasons why I have set an eye towards pursuing higher education tackling business management. Moreover, my interest in learning about other countries’ culture and economics prompted me to seek more knowledge on international business and trade, with the goal of someday being able to establish a career in global marketing management. For now, the goal is to get the necessar y masters degree and apply the learnings in my current job as Sales Manager at General Motors in KSA. Obtaining a Master’s Degree does not only mean having another milestone to place in my resume, but more importantly to show that there happened a knowledge enhancement that I could apply in my future endeavors. While having related work experience is important, having a good grasp on the principles of Business Management is equally important for me to be able to compete with other colleagues also vying for career development. A Master’s Degree is necessary because it is a requirement for potential promotion. More and more people obtain a post graduate degree to be more competitive, to have the edge over those who do not. This is understandably so because a Masters Program allows students to enhance skills acquired from hands on experience in their respective jobs. This decision to take up Masters Program is also timely because my journey as a student would be simultane ous to my growth as professional. The two facets of my life complement each other. Fiver years from now, I see myself still with my current company, still doing Sales and Marketing. More importantly, I see myself facing bigger tasks, probably handling more accounts and having my own team of Sales People, achieving sales forecasts and getting more accounts. General Motors sees a rise in automobile sales in 2011 (General Motors Sees 54% Surge in Saudi Car Sales 2011), and as a sales person, I see the potential despite the global economic crisis. The strength of the brand is one of its keys to success, and I believe that General Motors will continue to compete with Japanese brands. This is also why I want to be part of this company that is still evolving and reinventing itself to suit the requirements of the target market. With this vision in mind, I have to ensure that I continue to be highly aware of the latest in the industry where I am in now. I will apply all concepts and learning s from graduate school to actual situations. Market analysis will generally revolve around the auto industry, touching topics on manufacture and distribution. To see that the automobile industry still has growth potential makes me feel assured that I am in the right track and with the right company. It is also in this light that I want to become better versed in Information Technology, to use
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
European Convention on Human Rights Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
European Convention on Human Rights - Case Study Example The CPR provides under Part 35.3 that: "(1) It is the duty of an expert to help the court on the matters within his expertise. (2) This duty overrides any obligation to the person from whom he has received instructions or by whom he is paid." Moreover, Part 35.4 of the CPR likewise provides that: "(1) No party may call an expert or put in evidence an expert's report without the court's permission. (2) When a party applies for permission under this rule he must identify - (a) the field in which he wishes to rely on expert evidence, and (b) where practicable the expert in that field on whose evidence he wishes to rely. (3) If permission is granted under this rule it shall be in relation only to the expert named or the field identified under paragraph (2). (4) The court may limit the number of the expert's fees and expenses that the party who wishes to rely on the expert may recover from any other party." Hence, it is settled that under the CPR, the experts have an overriding duty to th e court and that the court has the power to restrict expert evidence. Clearly, these provisions in the CPR is geared towards the objective of satisfying Article 6 ECHR affording a party to a dispute a right to a fair trial by having his case heard before an independent and impartial tribunal that has the power to control and restrict expert evidence. The Act, on the other hand, has several provisions ensuring that a party to an arbitration proceeding is afforded his right to a fair trial as a guaranteed in Article 6 ECHR. Section 1 provides: "1. The provisions of this Part are founded on the following principles, and shall be construed accordingly-- (a) the object of arbitration is to obtain the fair resolution of disputes by an impartial tribunal without unnecessary delay or expense; (b) the parties should be free to agree how their disputes are resolved, subject only to such safeguards as are necessary for the public interest; (c) in matters governed by this Part the court should not intervene except as provided by this Part." All the provisions in the Act must be read with these words in mind. The concepts of fairness, impartiality and the avoidance of unnecessary delay or expense are not new. The importance is the emphasis given to them at the start of this overhaul of arbitration--they are the lodestone for the parties and t he arbitrator when deciding appropriate procedure in the arbitration. Next is a strong statement of party control, subject to public interest safeguards. Finally, a provision that the State will not frustrate the parties' arbitration agreement. On the contrary, it will support it by punishing a defaulting party if that becomes necessary.Â
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Marks and spencer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Marks and spencer - Essay Example One of foremost steps in creating a successful marketing strategy is that of Market Segmentation, which refers to the division of a whole market for a product into smaller segments based upon the characteristics or aspects that are shared by the groups. By conducting market segmentation, a business is able to understand and evaluate various aspects of each division, group or segment in order to target a group or several groups that are then catered to with different marketing mixes (Vieceli & Valos 1998). As buyers become more diversified and unique, market segmentation acts as a key tool in designing the marketing strategies of successful organizations who understand that the diverse characteristics of customer needs, wants and preferences make it a requirement for any business’ success that the nature of its customer’s needs and wants is precisely defined and then handled accordingly (Lamb, Hair & McDaniel 2011). Market Segmentation can be conducted on the basis of fo ur primary variables that are Geographic, Demographic, Psychographic and Behavioral and will be discussed individually based on their relevance and applicability to Marks and Spencer. Geographic Segmentation: World region or country: The primary market for the retailer is still the United Kingdom; moreover, it has also expanded into Asia, Africa and other European nations. City or metro size: The location of Marks and Spencer shops is primarily Major cities with population crossing 4 million and mainstream cities with population above 1 million. Density: Urban and suburban population. Demographic Segmentation: Age: Middle-aged. The average age of a customer can range from 35-55. Gender: The existence of product categories such as women’s clothing, lingerie, beauty, kids, home furniture, food and gifts seems to attract a largely female audience but that does not mean that men are not M&S buyers. Family life cycle: Customers are usually single, married, married couples with chi ldren, unmarried couples and older people who are family oriented. Income: ?30,000 and above per annum Psychographic Segmentation: Social Class: Usually middle class and upper middle class buyers looking for products that are of a decent quality but also economical and suitably priced at the same time. This suggests that customers of M&S seek good value for money. Personality: Customers are not generally perceived as trendy, fashionable or imaginative when it comes to choices related to clothing. Older customers are not considered to be ambitious or achievers who wish to shop at the retailer to project a sense of success and affluence (Business World). Behavioral Segmentation: Occasions: The M&S shopping experience is not limited to special occasions; buyers may shop at M&S for regular commodities and go to other high-end retailers for special occasion shopping such as Christmas. This was reflected in a drop in sales of M&S by 3.8% for general commodities during the holiday season o f 2012 (Ruddick 2013). Benefits Sought: Users seek economy and convenience when shopping at M&S as much of the commodities are affordable and not high-priced. Loyalty Status: Customer’s buying behavior for regular and basic commodities such as grocery and basic clothing is low involvement, habitual buying behavior. Therefore,
Monday, October 14, 2019
The impact Divorce has on children Essay Example for Free
The impact Divorce has on children Essay Abstract      Divorce affects children in a different way, depending on their gender, age as well as stage of development. Their world, their security and their constancy seems to fall apart when their parents get divorced. This paper discusses the universal responses that researchers have found among children of divorce, furthermore, recommendations for divorces parents have been discussed as well. The reference page appends 6 sources in APA format. Introduction Family is the place to which everyone belongs and where everyone begins life, thus it is the pillar of a society. The flourishing and prosperity of an individual and family depends upon the close relationship and belongings with other family members. But this family starts suffering when the parents reject each other by divorce or getting separated or never come close to each other.  The impact Divorce has on children Since many divorcing families include children, therefore because of this rejection, the children are the first ones who get affected. Their strength does not get developed as it must have to be resulting in weakness of their character building and which is obvious from addictions, deprivation, abuse and failure. The children thrive when there is a strong relationship between their parents but when the parents divorce or walk away from each other many children wilt and not thrive as much as when their parents were together and belonged to each other. Children whose parents get separated start feeling vulnerable since beginning of the divorce. They feel bereavement due to the disintegration of the intact family. There are some children who are not aware of the trouble going on between their parents, so they feel a great pain and feeling of powerlessness because they lose the non-custodial parents, this all results in reaction in the form of severe anger. (Clarke, 1995)            Other than grief and further traumatic events, children start noticing the impetuous beginning of transformation in their lives, and also experience the dissolving of normal and usual systems, which are distinctive to divorcing families            The divorcing parents are often worried about their children that what would be the effect on them. Although parents are more concerned about their own problems during that period, they are the most important people in the lives of their children.            Children are consistently scared and puzzled about the threats of their protection and security, whether parents get relieved or devastated from this divorce. For few parents, divorce overwhelms and hurts them so much that they possibly turn to their children for ease and comfort. Parents must explain their children the whole situation that what is going to happen to them and how they are involved so that children should not misinterpret divorce. Children might start acting in the manner that is troublesome and irritating for the beginning few years of divorce. (Amato, 1991) Most of the parents perceive divorce as their issue that the other person has done wrong and it is impossible for him or her to live with that person. By doing this they are actually ignoring their children. Their marital relationship experience inconsistency of loyalty it has extensive implications for children friends, extended families and others. Some of the points of views of children in divorcing families are discussed below. The children of a divorcing family are well aware of the disturbance and change caused by the divorce and they know that the past will not come again and nothing will be same again. All the things will get change including their time table will change and all the contacts with the other relatives will lose resulting in upheaval.            Children in a divorcing family fear that if they will lose one of their parents due to divorce, they might lose the other. So they are threatened of being left alone in the world. They also fear of losing the strong relationship they have with their relatives, siblings, friends and especially their parents to whom they are naturally attached. Being attached to all these since their birth, it is very difficult for them to adjust in the new surroundings and forget the previous ones easily. Since divorce is followed by the number of years stress and tension between the two partners, both parents want to turn their child towards them and against the other and it is a very difficult situation for that child. (Pfeffe, 1981) Why children are influenced by Divorce            Due to divorce, children whole world is changed and their lives become unstable. Divorce affect varies from children gender, age, personality, the support provided by the family and friends and their stage of development. Parents must make sure that the development of their children should not get affected and does not face any conflict, for that they have to make arrangements on childcare and parenting.            Since infants don’t know much about the situation, they only react to parents’ indifferent mood and changed energy level. While preschool children within 3 to 5 years of age mostly believe that they are the main cause of their parents’ divorce. This age children are threatened of being deserted and left alone. They might start acting like small babies and start denying the change which has come to them. They may get stubborn, disobedient, dishearten, aggressive and annoyed. It is very difficult for the school going children to adjust easily for the divorce.            It is very difficult for the school going children to adjust easily for the divorce. Although they are old enough to realize and are hurt because of their parents’ divorce, but too young to manage their pains and control their reactions. (Roman, 1978)            They feel great anger, discomfiture, resentment, grief, and divided loyalty. This age children continue hoping that their parents might recoup again. Children of elementary age feel themselves rejected by their divorced parents. Adolescent children in divorcing families also experience aloneness, stress, anger, embarrassment and anger. They are forcibly put into adulthood if they have younger siblings and they want to take their responsibility. Some adolescents take control of the family by responding to their parents’ high stress level and low energy level. They might feel doubtful of their own capabilities to handle their own married life and decide not to get married. They understand the main cause of their parents’ separation. The potential of teens to keep in mind the stress and conflict of divorce may get in the way to the potential to help the family to cope up. Boys in a divorcing family experience more difficulties than girls. In school going children girls possibly experience stress and depression, while boys prove to be more aggressive and use to quarrel on foolish things. But in adolescence, as a whole both girls and boys possibly engage in abusive activities and experience great depression. Getting involved in sexual activities is one of the habits being adopted by the adolescent girls. These types of habits can have a great influence on their entering into the workforce and completion of their school studies. On the other hand boys of this age are involved in taking abusive substances and drugs, make abusive friends and show the wrong attitude. Teen age boys are likely to become parents by getting involved in the sexual activities. This all is observed mainly when the boys are raised by the mothers and girls are raised by fathers.            The children usually feel insecure and are angry about their parents’ separations but sometimes do not express their anger. They feel themselves helpless when they realize that their parents would not come back together. They have a feeling that may be parents have no more love for them and may be they have also being divorced by their parents. While children are raised by the parents of opposite gender, that is girls being looked after their mothers and boys by their father, prove to do better than the previous ones.            Girls being looked after by their mothers prove to be more mature dependable and responsible then being raised by fathers since they are strongly attached and influenced by their mothers. While boys raised by fathers are less aggressive and help their fathers in their work.            Some children in a divorcing family prove to be exceptionally resilient individual since they have faced such kind of challenges and responsibilities due to divorce. Due to such kinds of experiences they prosper and a very strong relationship is being developed among the children and the spouse, with whom they are living. It happens mostly with the girls living with their mothers.            Many children have a belief that they are the main cause of the divorce and can bring their parents back together. For this sometimes they sacrifice their own lives. The effect in the academics is one of the most important impacts on the children in a divorcing family. Even if they are best in studies and always score good grades, during and after the period of their parents separation their grades tend to decrease and they give poorer result. This difference is obvious from the children overall performance. Parents and teachers have to analyze the main problem and help their child to cope us with it and improve his performance but mostly what happens is that they underestimate those children.            Because of this ignorance they are involved in bad habits and their behavior starts getting changed and they spend less time in school and more time with their abusive peers. This happens mostly with boys whose behavior change into more aggressiveness.            While girls are distressed from the current situation are not able to give concentration on their studies and also not giving their 100% effort. If this continues for children, it affects their lives and they never achieve any success in future.            The children usually feel rejected, insecure, torn between parents and are angry about their parents’ separations but sometimes do not express their anger. They feel themselves helpless when they realize that their parents would not come back together. They have a feeling that may be parents have no more love for them and may be they have also being divorced by their parents. They mourn and grieve since they feel that they are at a great loss and feel guilty for the whole situation. They feel that they would also do the same in their lives and they would not prove to be good parents when they will get married. This reduces their confidence and they stop taking part in activities other than academics or even academics. They think that their friends would make joke of them and their family which loses their confidence and thus cannot talk with others eye to eye. Divorce, if not handled carefully can have bad effects which cannot be controlled. Divorce requires rebuilding the family since beginning and it is in the hand of parents that hot they restructure the whole family, and if it is not maintained effectively it produces adverse effects. Parents should give special care to children especially on occasions such as their birthdays and religious holidays, if not, and then children might feel insecurity so parents should not forget their responsibility and they should not let their child feel that he is alone in this world. (William, 1998)            Step families, either step father or mother is the main threat for children, especially for young aged children. Mostly it has been observed that step father or mother do not give attention and care to their step children, in fact they sometimes start hating them. This also let the children to feel insecure. If there are any step brothers or sisters, and children try to make relationship with them or live their lives as how their step siblings are living, they fail to do so which results in aggression, stress and anger and involving in the bad habits. Recommendations for parents Speak to family regarding your concerns linked to the divorce. This will facilitate them realize what is going on. Spend regular time with your children. Maintain a familiar routine as much as possible. Keep your commitments and the promises you make to your children. If your children have pre-existing psychological, expressive or emotional troubles Look for recommendation and consultation from a qualified health care expert Perform a kind, however firm, style of discipline. Admit children’s approach of annoyance. Facilitate them find satisfactory ways of expressing this annoyance without hurting themselves, other people, animals, or belongings. Give the nurturing and love that your children require, whereas setting firm limits on fierceness and other unsuitable performance. Express that you are concerned in your childs views, however make it obvious that parents are in charge for the judgments. This can be a great support and can help you deal successfully with your kids and partner. If you cant or dont know how to make things better for your child, dont make matters worse. Build as only some changes as probable. This will aid your kid feel that, regardless of the difficulties, loved ones still care regarding them and that life can be rationally standard. It takes more than 2 years for kids to adjust to their parents’ divorce. Considerate and keeping in close contact with your children, you will assist them develop into well-adjusted and creative adults by means of love. (Hetherington, 1998) Conclusion            Divorce is the collapsing of married couple and their family. For children it is very difficult to absorb their parent’s divorce. In support of obvious reasons, divorce appears to be very stressful for children. This trauma results in long term behavioral change which is atypical unmanageable, and conceivably continual and persistent. For children, divorce is a severely traumatic experience irrespective of their development stage and age group. Most of the children are already prepared for their parents’ separation as they are well aware of the situation and thus are ready for the impending divorce And those who are not prepared, for them and their lives divorce plays a devastating role. It usually takes 2 to 3 years or more for children to get adjust to their parents’ divorce. Parents can help out their children to become well established and productive adults, by giving them love, caring, understanding and getting in touch and having close relations with their children, References            Pfeffer, C.R. (1981). Developmental issues among children of separation and divorce In: I.R. Stuart L.E. Abt (Eds.). Children of separation and divorce: Management and treatment (pp. 20-32). Atlanta: Van Nostrand Reinhold.            Roman, M., and Haddad, W. (1978). The disposable parent. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Wilson.            Amato, Paul R., Keith, Bruce. (1991). Parental divorce and the well-being of children: A metaanalysis. Psychological Bulletin, 110(1), 26-46.            Clarke, S. C. (1995). Advanced report of final marriage statistics: 1989 and 1990. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 43(12) Supplement.            Hetherington, E. Mavis; Bridges, Margaret; Insabella, Glendessa M. (1998). What matters? What does not? Five perspectives on the association between marital transitions and childrens adjustment. American Psychologist, 53(2), 167-184.            Jeynes, William H. (1998). Does divorce or remarriage have the greater negative impact on the academic achievement of children? Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 29(1-2), 79-100.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
The Pros and Cons of Teaching Sex Education in Public Schools Essay
      Picture a young couple being on the verge of exploring their sexual desires for the first time. The question is does this young couple have the proper education to make this life changing decision? They most likely were given their education from the school they attend. Hopefully the school taught them what they needed to know to make such a decision. Should sex education be taught at school by teachers or by the parents? Problems with having sex education at school There are many problems with having sex education in public schools. Religion plays an important part to the topic of sex education. Some parents feel that if the school gets to speak to their children about sex before they do, than important things about their religion will be left out of the discussion. If their religion says not to have premarital sex, then that child doesn't need to learn the proper way to put on a condom, where to go to get birth control pills, or anything about abortion. None of this information is going to be needed because the child of the family who uses religion as a guideline for everyday life. These children don't need their heads filled with what isn't important in their religion. According to the Web page SIECUS, parents are-and ought to be-the primary sexuality educators of their children. From the moment of birth, children learn about love, touch, and relationships. Infants and toddlers receive sexuality education through example when their parents ta lk to them, dress them, show affection, play with them, and teach them the names of the parts of their bodies ("Sexuality"). Another reason parents want to teach their children about sex education is that they feel it is up to them and no one else to teach their kids ... ...ks Cited Cooper, Carol. "What shall we tell the children?" The Lancet 356 (2008): 780. "Does Sex Education work?" AVERT 18 Nov. . Harris, Wendy. "Schools fail sex ed, new studies say Parents, students want more comprehensive; lessons even as scope of teaching has narrowed." Spokesman Review 27 Sep. 2007: A1. Jordan, Timothy R. "Rural parents' communication with their teen-agers about sexual issues." The Journal of School Health 70 (2008): 338-344 Schemo, Diana J. "Survey Finds Parents Favor More Detailed Sex Education." The New York Times 4 Oct. 2007: A.1 Sexuality Education is the Schools: Issues and Answers." SIECUS Report 27 (2007) Web. 19 Nov. 2008 http://www.siecus.org/pubs/fact/fact/0007.html. Ubell, E. "Sex-education programs that work-and some that don't." Parade Magazine 12 Feb. 2007: 18-20.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Rubin? Yes! Yes! Yes! Essay -- Essays Papers
The vulgar and refreshing paraphrase of a simplified hippy version of what shall be taken as topic: We are so oppressed. Maybe we are not repressed, but come on. We are so oppressed. Malcolm X knew it, Catharine MacKinnon knew it. Everyone knows it. One way we are oppressed is sexually. We might not just be repressed, while we still clearly are because there are laws and things. But, come on. Even if sexuality is socially constructed, it’s still very material, it is out there as much as anything - words are actions too. Gayle Rubin’s Thinking Sex considers the political history of sex regulation, its current form, and a bit of theory about sexuality and its discourses. At the very apex of the flow of the article towards freedom in sexual practice, she draws the line at consent, straining out bad sex from good sex on the line in the sand of what is agreed to and what is not. Rubin’s piece fails to take seriously the History of Sexuality that she relies on for her rejection of political regulations about sexuality, and thus ends up advocating the consent limitation that recapitulates all the problems and fancies she finds in sexual legislation. Rubin bemoans the oppressive laws that tell people what sexual practices are to be accepted and unaccepted, as if laws were to be obeyed - a presumption that already constitutes a particular type of subject in relation to a kind of power (the power of/in Law). Because we are so oppressed, unable to choose between sexual practices, we should give up these overrated relics of good sexuality and bad. Instead let everyone do anything, so long as they practice the vaunted ritual of consent. And while consent may be hard to locate, and does have problems, it should still b... ...it in the settled form Rubin’s partial agenda of consent relies on for its humanist restraints, as if recapitulating prevalent representations of the control of nuclear weapons - on a hair trigger, under control, mutually assured, and yet therefore also for these assurances mutually constitutive on the other side of the trigger and self-deploying in their fluxes of power and selves. Sexuality can be much more exciting for â€Å"bodies and pleasures†(Foucault 157) than this half-hearted effort lets itself argue. Why respond to a demand for bread with the offer to let them eat consent? WORKS CITED Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality: Volume One. Vintage Books: New York, 1978. Rubin, Gayle. â€Å"Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality.†in Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality. ed. Vance, Carole. Pandora: London, 1992.
Friday, October 11, 2019
The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Fifteen
As she headed for the door of her dorm room, Elena rummaged through her bag, checking off a mental list: wallet, keys, phone, lip gloss, eyeliner, hairbrush, student ID. As she swung the door open, something fluttered to the ground. A perfect white daisy had fal en to the floor. Elena reached down and picked it up. Turning it in her hand, she felt a sudden sharp ache in her chest. God, I miss Stefan. She had no doubt the daisy was from him. It was just like him to let her know he was thinking of her while stil respecting her space. The ache in her chest was slowly replaced with a sweet glowing feeling. It seemed so sil y and artificial to avoid talking to Stefan. She loved him. And, beyond that, he was one of her best friends. Elena pul ed out her phone to cal him. And then she stopped. Taking a deep breath, she put the phone back into her bag. If she talked to Stefan, she would want to see him. If she saw him, she would want to touch him. If she touched him, it would al be over. She would find herself fal ing into him, entangled in love. And then she would look up and see Damon's dark unfathomable eyes watching them and feel that pul toward him. And then the brothers would look at each other, and love and pain and fury would pass over their faces, and everything would start up again. It had felt good to walk away from them for a while, even though it was heartbreaking and awful and terribly lonely, too. But, since then, Elena had felt a calm settle over her. She wasn't happy, exactly – it was like she was covered with bruises, and if she wasn't careful, pain would flood over her as she remembered what she had done. But she also felt as if she had been holding her breath for weeks and now was able to exhale. She knew that Stefan would be waiting for her when she was ready to face him again. Wasn't that what the daisy meant? She tucked the flower inside her bag and set off down the hal , her heels clicking firmly. Elena was going to go out with her friends, she was going to have fun, and she wasn't going to think about Stefan, or Damon. Or even the disappearances, or Christopher's death. Elena sighed under the weight of it al . For days, they had been mourning, and now Elena and her friends needed to embrace life again. They deserved an evening of freedom. They needed to remember what they were fighting for. â€Å"There she is,†Elena heard Bonnie say as she entered the crowded bar. â€Å"Elena! Over here!†Bonnie, Meredith, and a girl Elena didn't know were sitting at a smal table near the dance floor. They had invited Matt to come out with them, but he'd said he had to study, his face politely closed off, and they knew he wasn't ready yet and that he needed some time alone. Meredith, graceful and relaxed, gave Elena a cool smile in greeting and introduced her friend Samantha. Samantha was lean, bright eyed, and alert. She seemed like she had energy to spare, shifting from side to side, chatting without stopping. Bonnie, too, was clearly on tonight and started talking as soon as Elena reached the table. Bonnie was brave, Elena thought. Christopher's death had shocked her, and she was as worried about Matt as any of them, but she would stick out her chin and smile and gossip and go on with life just as hard as she could, because they had decided that was what tonight would be about. â€Å"I got you a Coke,†Bonnie said. â€Å"They carded me, so I couldn't get anything else. Guess what?†She paused dramatical y. â€Å"I cal ed Zander, and he said he'd definitely try to make it here tonight. I can't wait for you guys to meet him!†Bonnie was practical y bouncing out of her seat with excitement, red curls flipping everywhere. â€Å"Who's Zander?†asked Samantha innocently. Meredith gave Elena a sly glance. â€Å"You know, I'm not sure,†she said with mock confusion. â€Å"Bonnie, tel us about him.†â€Å"Yes,†Elena added, smirking. â€Å"I don't think you've mentioned him at al , have you?†â€Å"Shut up, you guys,†Bonnie said amiably, and, leaning over the table to Samantha, started to extol al of Zander's virtues to her fresh audience. Elena let her mind wander. She'd heard it al , night after night in their dorm lately: Zander's eyes, Zander's smile, Zander's bashful charm, Zander's very hot bod (Bonnie's words). How Zander and Bonnie studied together in a tucked-away corner of the library and Zander brought Bonnie secret snacks even though it was totally against the library rules. The way they talked on the phone every night, the long velvety pauses when it seemed like Zander was on the verge of whispering something intimate, something no one but Bonnie could know, but then instead he would make a joke that made Bonnie laugh like crazy. There was something so sweet about Bonnie with a crush. Elena real y hoped this guy was worthy of her. â€Å"He hasn't kissed me yet,†Bonnie added, eyes wide. â€Å"Soon, though. I hope.†â€Å"The very first kiss,†Samantha said, and wiggled her eyebrows. â€Å"Maybe tonight?†Bonnie just giggled in response. That ache was back in Elena's chest, and she pressed her hand against her sternum. During her first kiss with Stefan, the world had fal en away and there had been just the two of them, lips and souls touching. Everything had seemed so clear then. She took a deep breath and wil ed away tears. She wasn't going to remember anything tonight; she was just going to have a good time with her friends. Having Samantha there, Elena soon realized, was going to be a huge help with that. If it had been just Elena, Meredith, and Bonnie, they would have ended up discussing Christopher's murder and the disappearances on campus, combing obsessively over the very few things they knew and theorizing about everything they didn't. But with Samantha there, they had to keep the conversation light. Somehow Bonnie got off the topic of wonderful Zander and on to palm reading. â€Å"Look,†she said to Samantha. â€Å"See the line that crosses down your palm, across the other three lines? That's a fate line, not everybody has that.†â€Å"What does it mean?†Samantha said, gazing at her own palm with great interest. â€Å"Well,†Bonnie said, her brow furrowing, â€Å"it changes direction a lot – see here? and here? – which means that your destiny is going to change because of outside forces influencing you.†â€Å"Hmm,†Samantha said. â€Å"How about love? Wil I meet somebody amazing tonight?†â€Å"No,†Bonnie said slowly, and her voice changed, taking on a flat, almost metal ic, tone. Elena glanced up quickly to see that Bonnie's pupils were dilated, her eyes looking away from Samantha's palm into the distance. â€Å"Not tonight. But there's someone waiting for you who wil change everything. You'l meet him soon.†â€Å"Bonnie,†Meredith said sharply. â€Å"Are you okay?†Bonnie blinked, and her eyes snapped back into focus. â€Å"Of course,†she said, sounding confused. â€Å"What do you mean?†Elena and Meredith exchanged a glance – had Bonnie slipped into a vision? Before they could question her, a whole group of guys was suddenly at their table, laughing, shouting, swearing. Elena frowned up at them. â€Å"Hey, gorgeous,†one said, staring down at Elena. â€Å"Wanna dance?†Elena started to shake her head, but another of the guys dropped into the seat next to Bonnie and threw his arm around her. â€Å"Hey,†he said. â€Å"Did you miss me?†â€Å"Zander!†Bonnie exclaimed, her cheeks pink with delight. So this was Zander, Elena thought, and watched him covertly as his three friends settled at the table, too, introducing themselves cheerful y, seeming to make the maximum amount of noise dragging chairs over and jockeying to sit next to the girls. Zander was cute, sure, she had to admit that. Pale blond hair and a gorgeous smile. She didn't real y like the way he was pul ing Bonnie close, turning her head toward him, his hands running restlessly over her shoulders even as he talked over her head to his friends. It seemed real y possessive for a guy who hadn't even kissed her yet. Elena looked over at Meredith to see if she was thinking the same thing. Meredith was listening, with an amused smile, to the guy next to her – Marcus, she thought his name was – Zander's friend with the shaggy brown hair, explaining his weight-lifting routine. â€Å"Shots,†another friend of Zander's said succinctly, joining them with a tray ful of shot glasses. â€Å"Let's play quarters.†Bonnie giggled. â€Å"They're not al owed to serve us here. We're underage.†The guy grinned. â€Å"S'alright. I paid for them, not you.†â€Å"Wanna dance?†Spencer, the one who had asked Elena a minute before, said again, asking Samantha this time. â€Å"Sure!†she said, and jumped to her feet. The two were quickly lost in the crowd on the dance floor. â€Å"God, I was so drunk last night,†the guy next to Elena, Jared, said, tipping his chair back on two legs and regarding her cheerful y. His friend on his other side gazed at him for a minute, then poured a shot into his lap. â€Å"Hey!†In a moment, they were on their feet and shoving each other, the guy who had poured the drink laughing, Jared red-faced and angry. â€Å"Knock it off, you guys,†Zander said. â€Å"I don't want to get kicked out of here, too.†Too? Elena raised her eyebrows. This guy and his friends were definitely too wild for innocent little Bonnie. Elena looked at Meredith again for confirmation, but she was stil lost in jock world, now giving her opinion on the best weight training for martial arts. Bonnie squealed with laughter and bounced a quarter directly into one of the shot glasses. Al the guys cheered. â€Å"Now what?†she said breathlessly, her eyes bright. â€Å"Now you choose someone to drink it,†the guy who had brought the drinks said. â€Å"Zander, of course,†Bonnie said, and Zander gave her a long, slow smile that even Elena had to admit was devastating and drank, then winked at her as she laughed again. Bonnie looked †¦ real y happy. Elena couldn't remember the last time she had seen her laughing like this. It must have been at least a year ago, before things had gone crazy in Fel ‘s Church. Elena sighed and looked around the table. These guys were rowdy – tussling and shoving at one another – but they were friendly enough. And this was the kind of thing people did at col ege, wasn't it? If it made Bonnie happy, Elena ought to at least try to get along with them. Samantha and Spencer came back to the table, both laughing, and Samantha col apsed in her seat. â€Å"No more,†she said, raising her hands to fend him off. â€Å"I need a water break. You're a madman, you know that?†â€Å"Wil you come dance with me, then?†Spencer said pleadingly to Elena, widening big brown puppy-dog eyes at her. â€Å"He'l try to pick you up,†Samantha warned. â€Å"And dip you. And spin you around. But don't worry, I'l be back out on that floor in no time.†â€Å"Pretty please?†Spencer said, making an even more pathetic face. Bonnie laughed triumphantly as she bounced another quarter into the glass. Dancing with a group of friends isn't betraying anyone, Elena thought. Besides, she was single now. Sort of, anyway. She should try to enjoy col ege, to embrace life. Wasn't that the whole point of tonight? She shrugged. â€Å"Sure, why not?â€
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