Hey fanficers Cindy'sboy93 here and I wanted to make a prequel to an ff I'm making just so people understood the characters in the ff more. I've been getting great reviews for A Day In A Life Of A Foutley and truthfully I wanted Ginger in College for this ff but my imagination never brought her there until recently. I know some people may love reading this while others may like A Day In A Life Of A Foutley but fanfiction to me isn't a popularity contest people write where their imaginations take them. I'm glad to be writing this because it'll show how John met Ginger, how they fell in love, Ginger having fun at College parties, and loads of 90's music and references seeing this fanfic takes place in the 90's. If you have any questions or would like to be included in my ff in any way PM or review and I'll be sure to answer them or include you ASAP. So without further ado here's Learning To Fly I hope you like it.

Ginger Foutley excitedly looked out her window tree after tree passing by her mom's minivan piled high with boxes, duffle bags, and her brother Carl.

"I still don't see why she has to stay in Massachusetts I mean most people leave town after high school" Carl mumbled as Ginger hastily brushed her hair.

"Because Mass. Is where I grew up it's where my family is, where my friends are, and where my soul will eventually settle in" Ginger said her Discman blaring Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

"Kurt Cobain has got to be the best singer out there mom. I mean he doesn't hold back like some singers do".

"Right and we haven't heard that comment once or twice or like a million and one times. Come on sis find something else to talk about".

"Carl I know in your weird little brother way you're going to miss me while I'm gone. I mean who will talk about Nirvana non- stop while I'm gone?"

"I definitely won't miss the Nirvana talks I mean I must know more than anybody else about them with the walking, talking, Nirvana fan club always cramming my head with useless information".

"Hey just be glad you're alive when Nirvana started now that's something to tell your kids about down the line little bro".

Ginger's mom's van came to a halt as DR. Dave and Louise Foutley started helping Ginger unpack her bags and boxes.

"I'll take the guitar case seeing its contents are fragile and mean more to me than life itself guys. I mean I've had Geoffrey since as long as I can remember" Ginger said slinging a guitar case over her shoulder.

"Ok everyone including Carl let's get this stuff to your sister's dorm and then we can have our tearful, heartfelt goodbyes after" Louise said walking up to a desk to find a young girl behind it.

"Hello and welcome to Boston College home of the bulldogs and today is orientation. My name's Stacy and how may I help you?" The girl asked seeing Ginger's family lugging boxes.

"Hi I'm Ginger Foutley checking in and as you can see we need to find my dorm and soon before my family collapse' on this tile floor".

"Foutley, Foutley, Foutley, Fout-ley, Foutley, ahh here you are dorm 108 Miranda Kilgallen will be your RA so after moving in check in with her too".

The Foutley's breathed a sigh of relief moving boxes and bags to one side of dorm 108 Ginger hating the fact that she still had to deal with Miranda.

"Ginge you start unpacking we're going to get more boxes and duffels. Maybe we can unpack in two trips we'll see what happens" Louise said leading the family back outside.

"OK mom it shouldn't take me long to unpack and maybe Katie my roommate will make an appearance soon I hope".

The family left as Ginger sat on an unmade cot and started going through a box labeled linens knowing her bedsheets, blanket, and pillow were in there.

"Ugh another year at BC I swear you'd think my parents learned by now that I'm not the College going type but hey what can you do?" A girl in jet black hair, black clothes, black fingernails, and black makeup muttered pulling a trunk into the dorm.

"Hi I'm Ginger and you must be Katie Walsh my new roommate. So cool clothes and I love how you accessorize the uhh black combat boots with the rest of you apparel".

"Ahh yes the best part of College meeting my roommate so yea pleased to meet you I guess and be happy I'm, talking to you my last roommate died of boredom" Katie said making her bed.

Ginger slid the linen box in the corner and pulled out a boom box playing Snail by The Smashing Pumpkins which impressed Katie.

"Great song Red but I never pegged you as a Billy Corgan fan which I guess goes to show you never judge a book by its cover".

"Well Katie here's the last of your stuff so you know have a good year and we'll see you for Thanksgiving break" Katie's mom said kissing her and she noticed Ginger.

"Well hello Miss I'm Katie's mom Mrs. Roberts and I'm sure Katie's glad to have someone else here that shares her taste in music".

"Yea Katie's pretty cool I just hope she likes to study because studying is kind of my thing Mrs. Roberts. If she doesn't well there's always the library".

Mrs. Roberts placed a Tupperware container of brownies on Katie's bed, kissed Katie's cheek, then walked off leaving Ginger and Katie alone.

"I hope that studying remark was bullshit because if not then Red you're not in Kansas anymore Beautiful" Katie said munching a brownie.

"Oh please I'm sure I'm not the only smart kid here. I mean I'm here on an academic scholarship so I want to show the Dean she's not making a mistake" Ginger said putting school books on an empty desk.

"Red them giving you an academic scholarship just gives you a reason to slack off. I mean Boston College isn't exactly the cream of the crop kid".

Ginger put her empty box of books in the corner of the dorm and Katie spied the guitar case Ginger named Geoffrey"

"Red don't tell me you play and if you do is it electric or acoustic? Because I've been known to play a little myself".

Ginger unzipped the guitar case and gently lifted an acoustic guitar out with Geoffrey written on the front in black sharpie ink and placed it on her side of the dorm.

"My dad got me into it a couple years ago because he teaches it and he was looking to bond with me somehow".

"Cool so just how much do you play? Because a pizza parlor's looking for a musical act and I'm not allowed there anymore for reasons you don't need to know".

Ginger's family unloaded the last of Ginger's stuff as Carl noticed Katie before anyone else.

"Hey Vamp so what is it the end of the world or what? I mean smile it's not gonna kill ya Gothy" Carl said as Ginger gasped and Katie smirked getting eye to eye with him.

"You know Kid Brother you're right it's not the end of the world if I smile but let's for armageddon's sake say I do smile and the world goes to shit who's to blame?" Katie asked munching another brownie.

"Well aren't we a ray of sunshine this one's a keeper Ginge be sure to run around with her maybe you'll catch what makes her Gothic".

"Carl wait in the hall while I say bye to Dave and mom. I mean can't you go one day without putting somebody down?" Ginger asked ushering Carl out.

"Hey if she didn't want me to put her down then she should dress normal. I mean she has got to be the outcast to end all outcast' at College".

"Actually in this College this would be considered normal attire. I mean what would you prefer me to dress in baggy jeans with holes on the knees, a dirty white T, and a plaid shirt like every other grunge dresser out there?"

"Hey it would look better than wearing black all your life. I mean who would even want to date a vamp like you?"

"I'll have you know that I have a few boys interested in me and one has already proposed so you know maybe my clothes isn't the problem boyfriend wise".

"Well that's the last of it Ginger so I guess I'll see you for Thanksgiving and Winter break. You be good and try to ease up here sweetie" Louise said choking up as Ginger hugged her tears streaming down her face.

"Don't worry mom November's two months away and I'll have so much to talk about when I visit home for the holidays" Ginger said slowly breaking from Louise.

"My turn Ginge and let me say I may not be Jonas but I'm sure he'll be as proud of you as I am right now if he were here" Dr. Dave said hugging Ginger and walking off with Ginger.

"Ginger you're a great sister so you know don't change too much with Gothy here and remember all your old papers are now at my disposal" Carl said as Ginger pecked his cheek and watched her family leave all of them bawling.

"Yea first year is always the hardest Red but trust me it'll get easier at least it did for me" Katie said walking off and Ginger heard an ever so familiar evil laugh from in front of her door.

"Well, well, well what have we here I mean doth my eyes deceive me? If not I'd say that looks exactly like Ginger Foutley the girl who stole my prom date" Miranda Kilgallen said her devious smile spreading across her face.

"Oh hey Miranda I had a feeling you would come around sooner or later I was hoping for later but hey you win some you lose some".

"Personally Foutley I'm surprised you came here when Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, and Brown came calling".

"Yes well I came here so I can gloat to you that I got in on pure talent and not for sleeping with the Dean's son" Ginger said making her bed.

Miranda snickered walking up to Ginger's bed and finding Geoffrey her eyes like hot coals looking to get even with Ginger for a while.

"Sorry Miranda but Geoffrey is off limits to people who hate me and you are first on that list. Anyhow you work on your insults and I'll work on unpacking and settling in".

"Yes well just remember you break it you brought it and if you need any help please do hesitate to ask because I'm not a student advisor I'm a residential advisor".

"Yea whatever just take your witches grin, your witches cackle, and your witches looks and go tempt the Dean's son why don't ya?"

"Using words that aren't real words Foutley you're a class act a real class act, a lady among girls, a woman among ladies. Foutley aren't you majoring in English?" Miranda asked seeing Ginger's face get as red as her hair.

"Yes I am now get the hell out and bother somebody else I mean damn there has got to be another person in this college for you to torture?" Ginger asked putting the last box under her bed.

"Foutley the way I get under your skin just confirms that you and I are going to be mortal enemies for as long as your pathetic ass studies here".

Ginger having enough of Miranda stalked off shoving Miranda out of the way and locking her dorm door.

"Foutley where are you off to? I mean why not find a study buddy and have a cram session of the nerds? I mean that's what you did in High School".

Ginger had a plan up her sleeve as she went to the Dean's office and Miranda gulped finally understanding Ginger's plan.

"Foutley tattletales went out with three year olds and seeing you aren't one I think tattling wouldn't do you any good".

"Who's tattling I just think the Dean should know who the girl on the side in her sons life is. Good luck talking or in your case cackling your way out of this one".

Ginger walked into the Deans office a secretary smiling down at her and a boy with blonde hair spied Miranda.

"Hey Randy Bear I thought I told you never to come here. I mean what's so important that it couldn't wait till tonight?" the boy asked with Ginger snickering at Miranda's nickname.

"Well Skye sweetie I came because the red head over there knows about us and soon so will your whole family, our friends, and the faculty of Boston College" Miranda said as Ginger was called into the Dean's office.

"Mrs. Foutley so nice to finally meet you your school records say it all and I'm intrigued to see how you can top these grades" Dean Grippling said as Ginger sat down in a chair in front of her desk seeing a lot of Courtney in her mother.

"Well Dean Grippling I would love to entertain you with stories of my youth I'm here today to tell you that your son Skylark is dating the one and only residential advisor Miranda Kilgallen".

Dean Grippling gasped at hearing this as Skylark and Miranda barged into Dean Grippling's office not knowing the trouble they were in.

"Mrs. Foutley thank you for looking out for my son's wellbeing but I can take it from here. Stop by later so we can as you said entertain me with stories of your youth".

Ginger skipped off happy to be in College as she closed the door hearing screaming on the other end and she knew Miranda was getting what she deserved.

"Now to go get me a job as a guitarist in a pizza parlor living off pizza slices and grape soda for as long as I live" Ginger said slinging Geoffrey's case over her shoulder.

Once Ginger got to Luciano's she saw that she wasn't the only one auditioning for the pizza parlor gig with the line stretched across the block.

"Hey Red nice of you to make it and don't worry about a thing I know how to make this line move. See Luciano the chef needs a waitress as well as a guitarist so here he comes now and watch the line thin out" Katie said standing behind Ginger.

"Hello everybody I appreciate the nice turnout but funds are not in our budget for a guitarist right now I'm incredibly sorry" An Italian man said as the crowd excluding Ginger moaned and walked off.

"Time for Mr. Luciano to meet my persistence and when he learns I'll work for food I'll be his first and only choice".

Ginger walked into Luciano's to find a boy mobbed by girls and he was enjoying every minute of it all the girls gleefully screaming as he signed pieces of paper.

"Ugh what do they see in him? I mean he's just like every other big man on campus out there too big for his own good".

"May I help you young one? I mean you're here for a little slice of Heaven am I right? That's why everybody comes here their own little slice of Heaven" Mr. Luciano said his voice thick with Italian accent.

"Actually I'm here to do something for you Mr. Luciano and I'll do it for pennies on the dollar and free food and drink which means no pay just food and drink" Ginger said seeing a dilapidated stage.

"Is that where the musician is supposed to play? If so can I maybe spruce it up to be your regular musician?"

"Look I told everybody that I can't pay them Mrs. Whatever Your Name Is and since I can't pay you then you'll have no reason to play here".

Ginger grabbed a saw taking some of the excess wood from the broken stage beginning to repair it a thing she learned from her father Jonas.

"There half the stage is finished you'll get the other half when and only when you hear me out and consider my proposal Mr. Luciano".

"Fine you have fifteen minutes before I get my hired hand to build the rest of the stage and kick your butt out of here".

"Good the names Ginger Lisa Foutley or you may call me Red the nickname given to me by my roommate. I'm a musician and will literally work for food and drink so no cash is needed".

Mr. Luciano scratched his chin in thought as Ginger had an ace up her sleeve playing the opening chords to Tom Petty's Learning To Fly.

"Well I started out on a dirty road

Started out all alone

And the sun went down

As I crossed the hill

And the town lit up

The world got still" Ginger began a small crowd including big man on campus crowding the stage.

"I'm learning to fly

But I aint got wings

Coming down is the hardest thing".

Everybody cheered and Mr. Luciano thoroughly impressed knew he found his fresh new musician in Red as he was going to start calling her.

"Well the good ol days

May not return

And the rocks might melt

And the sea may burn".

The big man on campus put a jar on a stool by Ginger and the crowd reached in their pockets tipping Ginger with all they had.

"I'm learning to fly oooooooooohhhhh

But I aint got wings Yeaaaaaaaaaa

Coming down is the hardest thing".

John Ward the big man on campus found himself mesmerized by Ginger's voice and captivated by her beauty.

"Well some say life

Will beat you down

Break your heart

Steal your crown

So I've started out

For God knows where

I guess I'll know

When I get there".

"Wow she is intoxicating I mean I can bottle her essence and drink it for days" John said seeing Ginger flip her hair a signature move Ginger had when she was on stage.

"I'm learning to fly oooooooooohhhhh

But I aint got wings Yeaaaaaaaaaa

Coming down is the hardest thing

Yea I'm learning to fly oooooooooohhhhh

But I aint got wings Yeaaaaaaaaaa

Coming down is the hardest thing

Yeaaaa I'm learning to fly" Ginger finished the crowd chanting Red led by Katie who for the first time had a genuine smile on her face.

"You've got the job Red, keep the tips, you eat and drink here for free, and when I get money be sure you'll be the first employee I pay" Mr. Luciano said ruffling Ginger's hair a quirk she would grow to love working at Luciano's all through College.

"Great I'm starved so get me an Italian sub toasted with a large order of fries and a large grape soda if you don't mind" Ginger said this being her regular at Luciano's so much he named it The Big Red on the menu.

"So sweetie you got some real pipes and I was wondering if you were looking for some management my love" John said as Ginger sighed and yawned sleepily not at all interested in John.

"I'll take that as a maybe so is there anyone sitting with you Red as the goth likes to call you? Or would you like it if I sat next to you?"

"Sorry big man on campus but I don't converse with the likes of you now run along and go find some overly peppy girl to help you forget about me".

John shrugged walking off but in the back of his mind he was making Ginger his personal mission in life not knowing how hard it was to impress her.

Well that's it for now so R&R and Deidra I'm glad you love my ff's and I'll add you in the next chapter of this ff and A Day In A Life Of A Foutley again thanks a lot for your reviews and I'm glad to have found another person with special needs R&R fans Cindy'sboy93