DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything.

After a rather wild evening in the Range Rover, Sandy and Kirsten spent the next day touring Berkeley and going to the alumni dinner that night.

Back in a designer suit with a matching purse and shoes, Kirsten linked her arm to Sandy's as they made their way around the ball room catching up with their fellow classmates and friends.

"I can't believe how many people changed. I mean I never thought that Joe would start his own business? The kid couldn't hold a job for more than a week," Sandy said to Kirsten.

"Well, you'd be surprised. Some people change, others are still thinking about what they wanted back when they were in college," Kirsten replied, talking more to herself than to Sandy. She just didn't feel like the same person anymore. She wasn't sure if it was the old atmosphere of being with her friends from college, from painting the mural last night, or due to the fact that she and Sandy were away from Newport Beach, but Kirsten didn't feel like the person she was yesterday morning when they left Newport Beach. As she told her friends what she'd been doing with her life for the last 18 years, they responded with impressed looks and said congratulations on becoming so successful. Kirsten just nodded. Many times since becoming such a successful real estate developer Kirsten thought about how proud she was to get where she was in her career, but now she didn't care about her career at all. She did anything but brag at the alumni reception. Instead, she felt like the girl she was 18 years ago, the girl who wanted to paint pictures and teach art. She felt like she'd been in a complete circle and was back at the beginning.

While they were getting some drinks at the bar, Sandy said, "You okay? You seem a little quiet."

"I'm fine," Kirsten replied, though her facial expression told Sandy there was a bigger explanation to be said.

"Are you sure?" Sandy asked her again.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Its just weird being here acting like it's the eighties again. We haven't seen these people in years and it all makes you really remember the good times."

"Yeah…and?"

"Nothing, I just…miss those fun times. That's all."

"I do too baby, but we still have our fun now," Sandy said as he took a sip of his martini.

"Are you being sarcastic?" Kirsten asked smiling.

"Not at all…how could you say that we don't have fun…umm…last Valentine's Day for example? How could I forget the fun we had that night…chocolates and you. What a good combination."

Kirsten just nodded and laughed. "See I told you that you would enjoy coming here and reliving the past for a day," Sandy said.

"You might be right," she replied, nodding her head. "Let me ask in you something, do you think there's anyone here who is still trying to find out who they are?"

"That's a pretty deep question for a Saturday night full of martinis and heavy rock music. I would think most people have found themselves. They should. It's been 18 years."

"Sometimes it takes years to find yourself. Maybe the person forgot who they wanted to become," Kirsten replied defensively.

"True. But why are we talking about this? We've found ourselves, honey."

"Sandy Cohen and Kirsten Nichol?" With that the Cohens' were interrupted by another friend. Sandy still sensed that something was bothering Kirsten but wasn't quite sure what it was.

The next morning Sandy and Kirsten headed back to Newport Beach. Kirsten kept thinking about how similar she felt now to how she did back in college…she felt like becoming an art teacher. She started to think about acting on her ideas. What if she did make this a reality? What would Sandy think of it? Worst yet, Caleb? She stopped herself from over-thinking as she wasn't even sure that she'd still have these strong feelings once they got back to Newport Beach. Her thinking was interrupted by Sandy saying, "You okay? You seemed a little far out last night."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know…you just seemed lost, for lack of a better word."

Kirsten felt butterflies in her stomach. Now would be the perfect time to tell Sandy what she was thinking about…it wasn't like she was going to change careers tomorrow…just think about it. "Sandy?"

"Yeah?"

She felt her mouth go dry. "I…I….I had fun this weekend," she managed to blurt out, making a frustrated face to herself for not having enough courage to tell Sandy what she was really thinking.

"I did too."

Kirsten didn't change her mind once they got to Newport Beach. In fact, just the opposite occurred; Kirsten felt even more strongly toward her feelings. On Monday morning she went in to work early to do some research without anyone in the Newport Group finding out what she was doing. Caleb especially couldn't find out. Not yet at least.

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For Chrismukkah Kirsten got the tennis bracelet she wanted last year plus the designer suit she wanted this year. It was a little over 2 weeks since Kirsten had her epiphany. The only difference was now she had acted upon it. Little did Sandy know there was something else she wanted a lot more than those materialistic things. It was something she would have in less than a year.

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It was now January 10th. Kirsten was running late from a meeting at work. Sandy was the first one home. He grabbed the mail and quickly went through the envelopes. He stopped when he came across an envelope from USC. Thoughts raced through his mind, "Did Seth or Ryan get a scholarship to USC?" Then he realized that the envelope was addressed to Kirsten.

"Sorry I'm late guys," Kirsten said as she walked into the kitchen and put her briefcase on the island chair and quickly grabbed a plate of food, "I'm so hungry!"

Sandy didn't want to bring up the letter at dinner with Seth and Ryan there. While he thought it might have just been an invitation to an art event as Kirsten sometimes got invitations to art events in the area, he wasn't really sure. He thought back to when they were in Berkeley last month and Kirsten started asking him questions about one finding out who they really are. He rejected the second idea, but nonetheless waited until they were in their bedroom later that night, and then said, "Hey Kirsten, you got some mail today. This was addressed to you." Kirsten finished putting on her pajamas and took the envelope from Sandy. Her cheeks turned red as she read the front of it and realized who it was from.

"Oh," was all she was able to muster, still thinking about what to say.

"Planning on taking classes at USC?" Sandy said half joking.

Kirsten looked up at Sandy and took a deep breath, "Actually, yes…"

Sandy looked at Kirsten with a surprised look on his face. Never did he think his wife would actually go back to school. Well, he thought it but never thought that she would really do it. "Take classes? For what? Was Kirsten talking about herself when she was talking about one finding out who they really are?" he thought as he continued to stare at her and wait for an explanation.

One of my more deep thinking chapters. That's what philosophy class does to you. Let me know what you think! Next chapter will feature Kirsten telling her family. How will they react?