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"Sandy why did you wait till now to tell me…3 weeks beforehand?" Kirsten asked defiantly, pacing back and forth around the room.

"I don't know…I just couldn't bring myself to tell you. Honestly I didn't decide until recently…its something I've been contemplating for a while…"

"For a while?"

"Since they offered me the internship in April."

"So you didn't even want to talk to me about it first?"

"How could I talk to you about it? I knew you'd be upset and I wouldn't get a fair opinion from you. I know you wouldn't want me to go…I could tell that already."

"So you do want to go?"

"Kirsten this could really add value to my resume. As much as this sounds selfish I made a promise to myself to not let any relationship come before school. Of course you got in the way of that."

"If you felt that way you should have never started dating me. I thought we would have a future together."

"We do. It's just that I don't want to have to make a choice between this-something that could help me with school-and you. I was hoping you would understand. It's only for the summer and then everything will go back to normal in the fall. Believe me, I wouldn't be doing this unless it would really help me."

"So when would I come first Sandy? After you get settled down with your career? Is that enough time? Sandy I thought I was important to you."

"You are. But it's also important for me to get ahead with my education and career."

"Let me ask you something…why did you think I wouldn't want you to go? Did you honestly think that I wouldn't want you to get ahead with your career? Because I do want you to do whatever will get you ahead. But, at the same time, you're right, I don't want you to go…my love for you is stronger than my love for you to get ahead in your career. Sandy you are smart enough to succeed without this internship. You're not smart to walk away from our relationship when it's growing so strong."

The conversation wasn't how Sandy wanted it to go. He thought Kirsten would have been supportive. It definitely put into perspective how much Kirsten cared about their relationship. He just wasn't sure how much she cared about him and what he had to do before he really started settling down.

Kirsten was extremely upset with herself. After talking with Lisa about what happened, she realized how selfish she was being. Sandy was right. He was only going to be gone for 3 months and it wasn't like he was going on vacation. He was going to intern full time directly after a tough semester to be followed by his first year of law school. She had to go make amends with him before things got out of hand. The last thing she wanted him to do was decide to not go because of her.

He was surprised to hear her knock while yelling, "Sandy, open the door, we have to talk."

Though she planned on agreeing with him doing the internship she wasn't going to let him get off easily. She began defensively with her arms crossed in front of her, "So you figured it would be better to tell me now with no warning whatsoever. Sandy you got all mad at me for not telling my parents about us but all along you've been keeping this from me? Maybe if you would have told me earlier I could have adjusted to the idea better."

"Honey I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I just couldn't. I didn't want to ruin the semester."

"Well you sure know how to ruin the end of it."

"Alright so let's figure this out…" Sandy said frustrated, sitting down with his hand on his head.

"What is there to figure out? You're going to New York for 3 months for an internship. That's it-end of story!"

"So what did you want me to do, stay here? Actually I couldn't even stay here because I don't even have an apartment. My contract is from the end of August to May. You know that Kirsten, so why are you getting so mad? It's not like you suggested something else. What did you have in mind for the summer knowing that I would have to move home for the summer anyway?"

"I was thinking that we could look for an apartment together…but forget it…whatever that was a dumb idea anyway."

"You mean live together?"

"Yeah," she said more quietly.

"Well its not like you ever mentioned your plans to me."

"Likewise."

"So…what now?"

"So you'll go to New York and I'll stay here…and wait for you to come back," she forced herself to say.

"Really? So you're okay with this?" he asked getting a little too excited for how Kirsten had said it.

"No. I'm not okay with you leaving. I am okay with you going in order to enhance your education because its important to you. And whatever's important to you is important to me. I guess if I want you I have no choice but to let you go," she said with a bit of dramatic eye roll throughout the ordeal, but showing a small smile at the end.

Mid May

Sandy's was graduating today. He was proud that he was graduating with honors and couldn't wait for his mother, who insisted on coming to gradation, see him go up there and get his diploma, proving to her that he did it. He also couldn't wait to introduce Kirsten to his mother, which he hoped would go over well. Yet it was a bittersweet graduation for while Sandy was thrilled to be graduating and starting law school in the fall he was sad to leave Kirsten for the summer.

Sandy's mother, Sophie, sat with her other son and daughter while Kirsten sat with some of Sandy and her friends. While Kirsten was proud to see Sandy graduate, nothing could hide the sadness in her eyes. She didn't want to see Sandy leave tomorrow for New York. As much as she trusted him she worried he would find someone to replace her.

Sandy's family made their way to Sandy first after the ceremony to congratulate him. Kirsten spotted Sandy and his family and watched from a distance while they conversed. She wanted to give them private time and didn't want to intrude. While she was conversing with Sandy and her friends, Sandy spotted her and told his family to come with him to meet her. She noticed him coming and felt butterflies in her stomach.

"Sandy, congratulations!" she said softly as she gave him a hug. He responded by giving her a kiss on the lips right in front of everyone, and then said, "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Before you two carry on too far, aren't you going to introduce me Sandy?" his mother asked, interrupting their sweet moment.

"Oh yeah…ma…this is Kirsten Nichol, my girlfriend. Kirsten…this is my mother…Sophie."

"Pleasure to meet you dear," said Sophie as she eyed Kirsten over.

"Likewise Mrs. Cohen. You have a wonderful son."

"He is wonderful, isn't he?" She then turned her focus towards Sandy saying, "I'm so proud of you Sanford. Wait until all of them guys at the office see how smart you are. They're really looking forward to having you there. They said that if you do a good job, which I know you will, they might offer you a job with them after law school. Isn't that great Sandy? Oh, I'm so happy you're coming home for the summer."

As Sophie said this, Kirsten awkwardly looked around. Hearing something like that reinforced her worries about Sandy going to New York this summer in the first place. Sandy, hearing such startling news and seeing that Kirsten was getting upset, quickly brushed his mother's offer off and replied, "So ma…come on, let's get going, I'm starving. Come on everyone, we're going to one of my favorite restaurants."

Sandy, Kirsten, and Sandy's family celebrated Sandy's graduation at his favorite seafood restaurant. He told Kirsten he'd be over later after he got his family settled in the hotel room they were staying in for the night. While alone with his mother, he asked her, "Mom, what was with you in there tonight? You didn't speak to Kirsten once."

"Yes I did."

"I'm not talking about asking her to hand you the cocktail sauce. I'm talking about getting to know her and making her feel welcome. Mom you embarrassed me."

"I embarrassed you? Sandy let me tell you something I came here to see you graduate and I'm very proud of you, but that doesn't mean that I approve of your friends, your lifestyle, or especially your girlfriend."

"You don't approve of her? Mom you don't even know her. You'll love her once you get to know her."

"No, I don't approve of her. Not after you told me how much money her father makes."

"That has nothing to do with her. She's not wrapped up in money like you think she is."

"Yeah? So you're telling me she doesn't want to live in a mansion once she finishes school?"

"No she doesn't, and even if she did, it doesn't matter because I don't care if you approve of her or not. I love her and she's my girlfriend. End of story." His voice had escalated pretty loud now.

Sophie was a bit surprised at how defensive Sandy was of Kirsten. She knew that he must have really been in love with the girl, but once again, she stopped herself from talking anymore. She was planning on setting Sandy up with a girl she approved of when he came home to intern this summer, he just didn't know yet.

Sandy walked into Kirsten's dorm, where he found a dark room lit only by candles and soft music playing. Kirsten came out of the bathroom wearing a sexy, black negligee.

"Kirsten?"

"Hey…I figured that since well…you know tonight is…I don't even want to say it but…you're last night here I thought I'd make it special."

"Kirsten…"

"Get over here…" she said seductively.

The next morning Kirsten woke up in Sandy's arms. She looked over at him. He was still sleeping. She put her head back down for a few minutes, thinking that this would be the last time they'd be together for a while. Tears ran down her cheeks as she silently cried. She got up and put the gift bag with the card that said "Sandy-Read this now and open your present-Kirsten" on the foot of the bed. She wanted to give him the present the night before but the two were occupied almost instantly after he came in and Sandy never noticed it. Kirsten decided to leave before Sandy woke up. It was too painful to say good-bye to him face to face, so she explained everything in the card. She kissed him on the forehead and left before he heard her sobbing loudly.

Mid July

Sandy and Kirsten were keeping in touch every day on the phone while they both worked full time, Sandy at the law firm interning, Kirsten at the restaurant.

While in New York Sandy hung out with some old friends and was introduced by his mother to her new friend's daughter, a girl who was Kirsten's age. Sophie urged her son to make the girl feel welcome as she was new in the neighborhood and didn't know many people. While Sandy never hung out with the girl alone, she constantly was clinging on to him whenever the group of friends went out. Sandy always felt like she was flirting with him but kept telling himself he was paranoid until one day he overheard his mother on the phone with this girl asking her if she made her move on him, and if she didn't, make it fast. As soon as she got off the phone Sophie was startled by Sandy.

"Asking her if she made her move on me? Mom I'm in love with Kirsten. How could you do that to me? You know that I'm in love and you tried to set me up with someone who you like? What about what I like? Mom I told you I don't care if you disapprove of Kirsten! Let me ask you something…did you purposely get me that intern so that you could try to break me and Kirsten up by setting me up with this girl? I can't believe you! Well let me tell you something, I quit. I'm done with the internship. I'm going back home to California to be with my girlfriend, Kirsten, where we will look for an apartment together. Good bye."

And with that he left, not even taking any clothes with him.

Sophie Cohen hurriedly answered the phone in hopes that her son was calling and had realized that his mother was right. Instead she heard just the person he was going to.

"Mrs. Cohen? Hi…umm…can I talk to Sandy?"

"What are you playing some kind of joke, trying to rub it in that he wants to be with you?"

"I'm sorry? What? I was just looking to talk to him. If he's busy now I'll talk to him later."

Sophie ignored Kirsten and continued, "Come on, don't tell me that you haven't influenced him. Don't play stupid with me young lady."

"I'm sorry what…um…what are you talking about?"

Realizing that she may have jumped to conclusions, Sophie said, "Maybe you're not as smart as I thought you were-or that Sandy says you are-because Sandy isn't here. He went back to California…to be with you. Where have you been?"

"What? He's not here," she said surprised.

"That's because he left about 3 hours ago. He didn't mention it to you?"

"No. I had no idea. Oh. Umm…okay…sorry to bother you. Bye."

Instead of Kirsten being surprised to see Sandy, he was surprised to see her-at the airport waiting for him! That night in her apartment that she had started renting since school ended, Sandy explained to Kirsten what his mother tried to do. Kirsten explained to Sandy that she found out he was coming home from his mother when she called to tell him that one of the few friends she actually liked in Newport who moved out to New York had found a restaurant that was hiring. Kirsten was planning on getting a job there so that Sandy and she could find an apartment together for the summer in New York.

"Kirsten you are too sweet. I had no idea you were looking for a job in New York all this time. We could still go back if you want."

"No thank you," she replied smiling while going in to kiss him.

He put his arms around her and kissed her back, gently brushing the hair from her face as he kissed her. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too. No more being apart. Okay?"

"Absolutely. No more being apart."

"So I guess we should start looking for an apartment," she said as she snuggled up to him.

"We're in your apartment Kirsten."

"Yea I know but I already gave them my notice since I thought I was going to New York. And besides, I want to find one that you helped pick out-not one that I picked out while you were miles away from me. I want to look together."

"So…we'll start looking tomorrow?"

"Sounds good."

"Because right now I'm busy making out with my love," he said smiling. She smiled back and they resumed to making out.

They began their search for an apartment while both working full time, Kirsten still at the restaurant and Sandy getting an administrative job at school. They both looked forward to the coming semester…their first semester living together…

TBC

PREVIEW for next chapter: Sandy and Kirsten get adjusted to living together while keeping busy with school and work. Sandy especially is working long hours because he is saving up…saving up for a piece of jewelry for Kirsten that when given to her and hearing and seeing her response would make him the happiest guy in the world. Could it be an engagement ring?

Please review. Your wonderful reviews give me motivation to continue!