Chapter 1: Coffee

It had only been a month. One month since she had aborted her and Jimmy's baby since they both went their separate ways. Jimmy headed to USC while Kirsten headed to UC Berkeley against her fathers wishes and in spite of Jimmy's pleas . Kirsten had just finished her last class of the day and was headed back to her dorm. College was so much different than high school, but also not so different Kirsten discovered. It was different in the sense that no one knew her here and she could in turn be whoever she wanted to be without fear of ridicule she had left that world behind. However, it was the same as high school in the sense of the parties. Growing up in Newport aided Kirsten in knowing how to drink, how to hold her liquor, how to maintain composure, and how not to. She had learned from personal experience after elite extravagant parties when all her friends and her would ditch and hit up someone's parents beach house. The parties at college weren't necessarily elite or extravagant in the least however it was still the same concept drink until you pass out…or something along those lines.

Kirsten had steered clear of parties thus far, making sure that her main focus was on her studies rather than parties and socializing. She had done enough of that growing up. It seemed like every weekend there was some party, some charity event, some excuse for the adults to get together and throw money around so to speak. Being at Berkeley Kirsten felt gave her a chance to start over, a chance for her to put Newport and all her history behind her. But as she would discover you can not bury your history you can not run from it you can only take it and let it strengthen you. In her journey to her dormitory she was stopped in her tracks by a ruggedly handsome dark haired guy. He had piercing dark blue eyes, and was offering her a pamphlet highlighting the candidates of the democratic party for the upcoming election. Their eyes locked briefly as Kirsten gently declined, putting her hand in front of her politely saying no thanks.

As she did this he played it off with a joke, "What are you republican? …I hear its hereditary."

All Kirsten had to do was merely nod which confirmed his suspicion, and as she was just about to walk away he stalled her once again.

"Well then here…have a pin on me." The guy said offering her a pin, Kirsten's bright blue eyes glanced down at his hand that was extended towards her offering her the pin. Cautiously she took it from his grip their fingers brushing against one another's.

"I might wear it, but only because its stylish"

Now was his chance he thought take a risk the worst thing she could say was no.

"Well, if you're not much of a pamphlet reader I could take you to coffee tell you all about why Mondale and Ferraro are going to lose."

This statement spiked a curiosity as well as confusion in Kirsten causing her to look up her eyes meeting his holding the eye contact as she asked.

"So, sure they're going to lose then why bother?"

"I don't know.. it feels right… so coffee?"

Kirsten saw his eyes dance as he responded to her question, and as he asked her to coffee she felt herself nod and smile to the invitation. For a moment this guy eased all the thoughts circulating around her mind and gave her hope. Hope that she would maybe someday get over what she had done. He asked if she minded waiting a few minutes so he could shut down the campaign stand. Kirsten shook her head telling him it was fine. Once he had shut down the campaign stand the two began to make their way across campus.

"So, I'm Sandy…Sandy Cohen."

Kirsten smiled softly as he introduced himself.

"Its nice to meet you. I'm Kirsten."

Not daring to drop the dreaded last name, since she was trying to escape living in her fathers shadow.

"Kirsten….?"

Sandy was clearly searching for her last name which caused Kirsten to smirk and shake her head walking in front of him a little. She glanced back and caught his eye saying in a semi-playful tone.

"Why does it matter?"

This statement got a laugh out of Sandy who shrugged his shoulders in mock defeat.

"I guess it doesn't matter…"

Upon this statement the two had reached the small coffee shop. When they got to the door Sandy stepped in front of her and pulled open the door holding it open for her. Kirsten smiled in thanks and walked through the door and into the coffee shop her eyes surveying the other occupants. Reaching the conclusion that this was more of an upper classmen hangout which was probably one of the many reasons why Kirsten didn't know about it. All of a sudden a couple of guys hollered to Sandy referring to him as Cohen. Her blue eyes shifted to the table of guys who were calling out to him, and then back to Sandy who laughed and waved over to them before turning to her and saying.

"Please, ignore them"

After he had said this to her Kirsten laughed slightly and shot back in a playful tone.

"Why? Are you afraid they might embarrass you Mr. Popular?"

The way she was acting surprised her a great deal, the way she was flirting with this guy she had only just met shocked her. But she found that there was just something about him and she couldn't help herself. It had only been a month. One month since she aborted her and Jimmy's baby. One month since her and Jimmy broke up. But for the first time since she wasn't thinking about Jimmy or the life they would have led if she had kept the baby. Instead Kirsten was focused solely on the moment at hand with this guy, with Sandy Cohen. If anything Sandy could become a friend, nothing more would come of this, than a friendship right? Before she knew it she was ordering herself a regular coffee with creamers on the side. Just as Kirsten went to pull out her wallet her hand was stopped short by Sandy's much larger one. Her bright blue eyes darted up slowly to meet his eyes when she saw his smile she couldn't help but smile in return.

"Please…let me"

How could she possibly argue with that? She merely nodded and then readjusted her purse on her shoulder suggesting that she would go find them a table. There was some seating outside as well as inside, and after surveying the available seating inside or lack there of Kirsten opted to take a seat at a table in the corner of the outside patio. After he had gotten their coffee's his eyes darted around the coffee shop not spotting Kirsten anywhere caused him to begin to panic ever so slightly. A smile curled his lips once he caught sight of her blonde hair at a table outside. Not wasting anytime Sandy pushed open the door and walked directly over to the table she had stationed herself at handing her the coffee.

"I must say this is the perfect choice for a table"

Hearing the deep voice caused her to shift her eyes away from the scenery and meet his darker ones a smile exchanged between the two of them.

"Thanks, I thought it was too nice outside for us to sit inside."

As she said this he took a sip of his coffee letting the bitter liquid make its way down his throat, nodding in agreement. His eyes watched as she carefully popped the top off of her coffee cup and then opened the creamers slowly emptying the white liquid into her steaming cup of coffee. With the use of a little plastic stir stick Kirsten mixed the creamers into her coffee. While she did this her ocean blue eyes focused on the task at hand. Sandy began to speak and the hues of Kirsten's eyes shifted up securing the lid back onto her coffee cup, lifting it to her lips and taking a long sip. She let the hot liquid glide easily down her throat as the depths of her blue eyes darted across the table taking in every detail of Sandy's features as he rambled on about why Mondale and Ferraro were going to lose. The way his eyes danced as he talked gave her a subtle sense of passion he had and it caused her to smile.

He continued on with his rant and she took a long sip of her coffee nodding to what he was saying. However, as he continued on Kirsten couldn't help but laugh softly before deciding to throw him off slightly.

"Do you always talk this much?"

The moment he heard her angelic voice float through the air between them caused him to smirk slightly his blue eyes glazing over for a second. Realization washing over him that he hadn't really given Kirsten a chance to get a word in until now. It was definitely not something he did purposely because the sound of her voice was something he decided he could get used to listening too.

"And some people find it charming"

Sandy joked which he took note got a delightful laugh from the beautiful girl sitting across the table from him. The depths of his dark blue eyes studied her and as she smiled over at him he matched her smile with one of his own. As she sipped her coffee, Sandy decided enough talk about politics he wanted to get to know this girl.

"So…Where are you from?"

At this time it was his turn to re-wet his throat by taking a sip from his coffee cup while leaning back in his chair. Glancing over at her waiting for her to answer his question. Kirsten glanced over at him sitting a bit straighter in her chair a trait she had acquired growing up in Newport Beach. Her perfect white teeth bit down on her lower lip softly as she tucked a loose strand of her straight blonde hair behind her ear looking over at Sandy replying in a playful tone.

"What's it to you…Cohen?

Damn, he thought this girl was really into being mysterious. Or maybe it was merely a wall she was keeping up in order to ensure that she kept others out.

"Is it a crime to want to get to know you?"

The smile that he shot Kirsten's way caused her to shake her head in defeat and smile over at him.

"I grew up in Newport Beach…right here in California. You?"

Kirsten said before lifting her coffee cup and taking a long sip letting her eyes shift around the scenery before falling back onto Sandy as he began to speak.

"Oh, wow…I grew up in New York…the Bronx specifically."

Now it all made sense to her. The moment his voice stopped her earlier that day Kirsten knew he had an accent she just couldn't seem to place it, until now.

"Hmm…New York huh? Why would you want to leave all of that…for this?"

This question Sandy found appealing, this girl clearly had no clue what New York could be like. He shrugged slightly and then smiled.

"Well, Berkeley has lived up to its hype!"

When she heard this it intrigued her and she could not help but beam over at Sandy. It sparked curiosity in Kirsten she found herself wanting to know just why it had lived up to its 'hype' as Sandy had put it. He was an upper classman and she could probably learn a few things from him.

"Oh it has? Whys that?"

His dark blues cast over Kirsten watching her as they both took sips from their coffees. As he saw her set her coffee down on the table he noticed how she let it nuzzle securely in her palms her thumbs absentmindly tracing small circles on the cup, awaiting his response.

"Well, for one I am sitting here having coffee with probably the most beautiful girl I have ever seen…it doesn't get much better than this."

Upon hearing his response Kirsten glanced down blushing ever so softly taking another sip.

"You say that to all the girls don't you?"

Sandy could hear the playfulness in her tone and it caused him to smile. Kirsten watched him smile but quickly shook her head. He suddenly had the urge to reassure her that she was the only one he said that too.

"Not at all…just you. Only you Kirsten…"

Once he had finished his statement Sandy saw her smile softly her eyes meeting his. While the time ticked away Kirsten and Sandy continued their playful banter discussing a wide array of topics: hometowns, majors, hobbies, favorite bands, and many others. The two came to the conclusion that they had absolutely nothing in common. Even above all the differences that stood in their way Sandy truly felt there could be something between them. His mind drifted and he wondered if Kirsten had felt the same.

Later that night Sandy was cursing himself for not getting her last name. They had spent the afternoon in each others company and all he knew was her first name and that she was from Newport Beach among a few other things. But what he knew about her more than likely wasn't going to get him very far. Kirsten could not believe the way she had flirted so easily with this Jewish Law student from the Bronx, who was very politically involved and for the democratic party nonetheless. Sandy Cohen, he was everything different from what she had grown up around, he was witty, driven, a goof ball, and had the most honest pair of dark blue eyes that she ever thought she had seen. It was only her first year at Berkeley, her first semester she most definitely did not want to get attached to a upperclassmen and be one of those girls. The girls that fall for their stupid games, and then end up crushed. Shaking the thoughts from her head Kirsten's bright blue eyes cast down over her book. For the first time in a month she wasn't thinking about the fact that she aborted her and Jimmy's child. Her mind was occupied with circulating thoughts of Sandy…Sandy Cohen.