Hey, here is another chapter. A big thank you to all the reviews, they made me feel so good! It's a little bit longer but still not that long, I've only just realised how much you have to write! This may be a little confusing but it's still full of emotions. It's nearly just about Kirsten with a little bit of Sandy. Enjoy!

He was her brick wall

Kirsten had packed her life into her 2 suitcases and as she gave one last glance at her dorm, she swiftly lifted them up and closed the door behind her. The memories she was leaving behind rushed through her mind, a continuous video replaying the happy, sad, emotional, passionate and amazing moments that had occurred in the dorm behind her. As she walked towards the yellow taxi, awaiting her, she said goodbye to all the possibilities she was walking away from. A voice in her head said "You could have had Sandy. He loved you. Did you love him?" but she knew the answer all too well. Before she had time to back away from her decision, she placed her luggage in the boot and clambered into the back seat, the crisp air-conditioning cooling down her already red face.

"The Airport, please." She almost whispered to the driver, unable to comprehend what she was actually doing.

She had come to Berkeley to escape the fakeness of Newport, to go out into the real world and find herself. While Newport had always been comfortable, she never felt real. Days would pass by and the same things would happen day after day. The gossip mill keeping everyone up to date with the latest on who had gone under the knife and whose marriage was on the rocks. Harbour school, one of the top high schools in the country, was a constant dog and pony show where fashion was scrutinised and your social status was worth more than you intelligence. Her family was the epitome of Newport, wealthy, beautiful and perfect in every way. Why she chose Berkeley, only Kirsten would ever know, but it was well known that the lead debutante and model student and daughter had her pick of the Ivy League's. She had left without an understandable explanation and had baffled her parents and peers.

When she had arrived in Berkeley she had the biggest shock of her life. People were living off their last $5 with no trust fund to run to if it fell down a drain, people were walking around in gasp culottes (?) and the most shocking, people were actually being themselves. If living in such a backstabbing community had taught Kirsten anything, it was to guard yourself and because of this she had constructed a brick wall which no one could pass. It had succeeded in getting her through her first 22 years of her life but behind that wall was a young child who wished she could show the world her true self. But that was not possible in Newport, those who actually were themselves were destined to be brought down, they would never survive. For Kirsten though, just a change of scenery was not enough to let her bring down that brick wall. In the past year before leaving, her solid boyfriend of 5 years, James Cooper, had cheated on her and gotten the girl pregnant. And, of course being the perfect spoiled Newport brat, he had done the right thing and proposed to her. Her life was unravelling fast right before her eyes and so she had left. She had done the most cowardly thing and run away from her problems. For once, she didn't want to be the responsible, sensible Kirsten Nichol. She didn't want to be the perfect, social chair Kirsten Nichol. She just wanted to be herself. But before she could, she had to find herself.

When she first arrived in Berkeley Kirsten realised how much she had been separated from the real world. She had been brought up in a community where money and status were the most important things in life, happiness and love were added bonuses if you found them. She found herself wanting to be different, wanting to break away from this tag that had become accustomed to her name; Kirsten Nichol perfect Newport princess. She enrolled in classes her parents definitely wouldn't approve of like art history and architecture. She found a dorm to share with her friend on campus and with the money she had earned waitressing she had bought herself a new, relaxed wardrobe to help her fit in. But even with the same clothes, living conditions, money and housing, Kirsten Nichol was still a perfect Newport princess. The way she carried herself and presented herself in her refined manner kept the true Kirsten hidden. That was what attracted Sandy to her.

Sandy Cohen was a law student. On a scholarship he had travelled across from the Bronx leaving his mother with his younger siblings and setting off into a new life. He had never had feelings for anyone since Rebecca Bloom, the love of his life, had burned down a nuclear plant and fled without a goodbye. He himself had put up a brick wall, to hide the hurt he felt from the absence. He wanted closure, some way to know whether in the long run things really would have worked out or their fiery relationship would have fizzled out.

They both recognised each other's walls. They both knew that they had ones of their own. They both wanted to bring them down.

Once they had begun dating, Kirsten had finally found someone who she could expose her real self to and Sandy had finally found someone who he could talk to. They were polar opposites and that is what brought them closer together. While their interests were different and their upbringing completely, they found common land on determination to succeed and prove wrong. Kirsten wanted to prove her parents wrong and Sandy wanted to prove his parents wrong. Together they helped each other demolish their brick walls and expose their real personalities. She felt that she could be herself around him, she felt so safe with him that she could do anything. He felt that she was kidding herself staying with him. He had nothing to offer him apart from his love, and he knew that wealthy girls from rich white beaches expected a lot more than love. What Sandy didn't realise was that Kirsten was far from any normal rich girl. She was much more complex, much more real, and she was in love with him as well. But nothing can stay perfect for ever.

"Excuse me miss, we are here. Have a good flight." The driver said, gently awakening her from her daydreams. Her eyes glistened with the prospect of tears but she regained her composure and blinked them away, 'not in public' she thought to herself. 'Save that for when you're alone'. She boarded her Dad's private jet he had sent for her and sooner than expected she touched down and was driven up into the familiar driveway she had driven up so many times before. She bustled through the door, her appearance far from what it was a year ago when she left, and ran towards her father, embracing him before collapsing in his arms.

"I love you Dad. I've missed you so much. Where is Mom?"

"I love you too Kiki, you know that. She's right upstairs lying in bed. Watch out okay? Just tread carefully."

But Kirsten was already bounding up the stairs, eager to see her mother, the woman she had missed so much. She opened the door to see a frail version of the lady who was usually so full of life. Lying on the bed, her head propped up against a pillow, she seemed so much older and weathered then Kirsten had left her a year ago. Falling into her mother's arms, she finally let the build up of tears escape her eyes and the communication between the two were beyond words. While the brick wall had been taken away by Sandy, she had left him and was left as a small vulnerable child. Her mother began to weep as their tears mingled as one as they comforted each other, without speaking, but saying so much.

Okay, you know the deal. Please read and review. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!