'Sorry I'm late. Just give me ten minutes to jump in the shower and then we can get out of here'. Kirstin couldn't believe the time, she had spent the last three hours working on the project with Sandy not even noticing time passing. Sandy… she thought as she hopped in the shower. She didn't know what to think of him, yes he seemed to have a large ego but every question or suggestion she made he had contemplated and told her his opinion a lot more respectfully then she thought he would have. He even on occasion remarked on certain things that made her laugh. Yes he had quite the sense of humour. What she couldn't get over was the intensity she felt between them, it was hard to ignore, like a surge of energy passed between them whenever their eyes met. Yet they were both afraid to hold the gaze longer then a few seconds. She really needed to snap out of this, she was probably just attracted to him because for the first time in her life she had meet someone who had no interest in her background and also had no problem disagreeing with her. She spent her life wondering if people liked her because of who she was not what she was. Anyway, it wasn't exactly a good idea to get involved with someone who didn't believe in love, it left you open to get hurt and she didn't need that. 'You always want what you can't have Kirstin' she said to herself 'so let it drop'.

They headed to the local bar to enjoy the birthday celebrations of one of their friends.

'So what made you so late anyway?' Jen Kirstin's best friend uttered.

'Oh I was working on a project with this guy'

'Really who?'

'Sandy Cohen'

'No way he's hot. The girls in pre-med were talking about him today actually. I'd get in there if I were you before someone else does. Me in fact that guy certainly floats my boat'

Kirstin felt herself tense up when she heard this but she kept her cool.

'Oh we're just I suppose friends in the most distance sense of the word who were forced to work with each other'

'Well all I'm saying is you need a guy and he certainly needs a girl after that whole thing with what was her name… Rebecca. Actually the more I think about it you'd be perfect together!'

'Rebecca?' Kirstin's curiosity was eating at her. 'Yeah right your not into him' Jen thought.

'Oh they were going out for ages and she gets into some demonstration thing, burns a building and then takes of with out a goodbye. Heard it hit him pretty bad, swore of long-term relationships forever or something. Anyway that's beside the point, if you can't break him no one can'. Jen didn't even wait for an answer and she entered the bar shouting 'The party has begun'.

She grabbed a drink for herself and joined the large group of people that had gathered in the middle of the floor. She didn't notice that one of those people was Sandy Cohen who had just happened to glance over in her direction. He had allows thought her to be beautiful, one of those girls that didn't even need to try. But when he saw her tonight she was radiant, breathtakingly stunning. He also noticed that nearly every guy in the room was looking at her, some even getting up offering there seat so she could sit. Yet to all of this she seemed oblivious. She probably was just so used to it all the time he thought that she finds it amusing.

A while later he noticed a tall tanned blonde your typical water polo player approach Kirsten. He felt a surge of jealous go right through him, which he found surprising. 'Its not like you have any claim over her' he thought to himself 'your just project partners. That guy can probably bring her out to expensive restaurants and treat her the way she's used to'. However, he couldn't help noticing that the body language Kirstin was emitting was very uncomfortable. The guy kept getting all touchy feely with her and she kept trying to pull back. She almost looked like she was looking for an escape route. He moved closer to hear what they were talking about.

'Look I'm really sorry I'd to go with you to the Christmas ball but I..I' Kirstin was desperately trying to come up with a plausible excuse.

'She's going with me' Sandy decided to step in this guy was almost harassing her. Kirstin had never been more thankful to see anyone in her entire life then she was to see Sandy at that moment.

'Sorry you have already asked Kirstin to the Christmas Ball that's a month away? You're joking right?' he asked in a tone of disbelief.

'Nope sorry. Great minds think a like right but I must have the greater considering I got in there first. She promised she'd go with me didn't you Kirstin?' He looked at her waiting for a response. Kirstin almost had to hold back her laughter at his response. Brad was just standing there with a quizzical look on his face.

'Eh yeah sorry Brad he did kinda ask me first' She'd do anything to get away from this sleazy guy that was clearly in love with himself. She didn't care if she had just bruised his ego, he'd get over it.

'Nice to meet you Brad. Kirstin wanna go get a drink' and with out waiting for her to answer he guided her towards the bar is hand on the small of her back. Kirstin could have taking him in her arms at this point and kissed him she was so relieved.

'There never say I didn't act like your knight in shining armour'

'Thanks you'd think the guy would get the message. No amount of bribery will ever get me to go out with him. I just hate guys who think just because the come from where I come from I'II want to be with them. Don't they get the reason I came here was to escape it all' Sandy heard the sadness in her voice as she spoke the last sentence. It was the first time she had uttered anything about where she came from but he decided to drop it for the time being.

'Well I suppose you can't blame a guy for trying. But wow he really is getting ahead of himself that ball isn't like for like a month' He saw her lighten up a bit at this remark. 'Oh no will I have to were a tux then so I don't show you up?' the look on his face was priceless.

'What you seriously want to go with me to a ball? I thought you were just helping me out. You don't have to bring me I'd understand if there was someone else'. This girl he thought is so insecure for someone who came from the background she did. He really had never met anyone like her, so oblivious to her own bewitching power.

'Well the point was when I asked u to come to the ball Cinderella that you'd come not offer your invitation to someone else'. The bar was getting busier so there bodies were being pushed together. They had to move in closer to hear one another because the music and chatter was so loud.

'I just thought you were being the man of the moment to help me out.'

'Well you don't have to go with me if you don't want to. I can perfectly understand if I'm not your type.'

'Eh what does that mean?' She looked so cute when she got defensive.

'I'm not your typical date a poor kid from the Bronx. I get that'

'Oh here we go' as she rolled her eyes to heaven laughing slightly at his sarcasm 'I wanna go with you Sandy not because of your background but because to be frankly honest I think you're an interesting individual who might look acceptable in a tux. I'm not taking pity on you for Christ sake, I'm not that shallow you really have no faith in me' By this point they're faces were only centimetres apart. He was staring into her eyes, pools of crystal blue just longing to kiss her. She was doing the same. They were both longing for the other to make the first move. Sandy reached up to pull a piece of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes out of her face. Kirsten had never felt this way before, all tingle on the inside dying for his lips to meet hers. They both began to close the minuscule distance between them when Jen stumbled over evidently drunk ruining the moment completely.

'Kirstin your phone was ringing it was your dad he wants you to ring him immediately' and with that all the walls that had begun to come down shot back up higher then ever. Sandy noticed this immediately and gave her a questioning look. 'U ok?' she clearly wasn't. What kind of father would have an affect like that on his daughter.

Kirstin just wanted to get out of there, make a quick exit ' Eh Sandy I'II see you tomorrow I better bring Jen home before she collapses'. He grabbed her hand which although tense at first softened under his touch.

'Wait do you wanna talk?'

'No I'm fine honestly. I'm just getting tired now and I have an early class. Thanks again though'

'No worries, just make sure you practice your dance moves I don't want you showing me up at this ball thing' as he said this he wiggled his eyebrows in an effort to make her laugh. Lucky for him he got a giggle.

'Sandy don't you worry I could dance circles round you any day' and with that she turned and left, glancing back once. His heart just melted when she sent him a genuine smile, this wasn't the usual smile that she used everyday - the front she put up to make people believe she was happy. She truly was the most fascinating person he had ever meet and for the first time in a long time his thoughts were consumed by a girl other then Rebecca- Kirstin Nichol to be precise. Thoughts and feelings he had realised soon enough that were more power and intense then they had ever been for Rebecca Bloom. Wow he thought she really was something. Just shows you never judge a book by its cover.