Okay, firstly I am SO sorry about not updating sooner, this chapter is long overdue! Thanks for all the reviews, I'm not going to be able to post much in the next 5 weeks, but I will be writing then, I just wont have access to the internet very often, if ever! I don't like this one as much as my newer fanfic but I'll stop rambling now and start the chapter!

He didn't know.

For the past two days, Sandy had endured the strained environment between him and Kirsten's father and he could no longer take it. There conversations had been fuelled by their obvious hate for one another but for Kirsten's sake he had made an effort, Kirsten only wished that her father would too. Caleb saw how happy he made her daughter, how much she wanted to accept him, but he knew once he did that, his ego would increase even more. By challenging him so much by the way of his manner with him and the way that Sandy rose the occasion, proved to Caleb that he was right for his daughter, not just right but perfect. So he accepted Sandy in his own unique way, by appearing to hate him. Harsh it may seem but this was Caleb Nichol, he didn't become a man by people being nice to him. He saw himself in Sandy, from a poor background with exceptional talent. The only difference was that he had a heart, and Caleb wanted to make sure that he would share it with Kirsten. If he really loved her, they would stay together, be brought closer, by Caleb's apparent hatred of Sandy.

Kirsten felt bad for putting Sandy through all the rude behaviour of her father but she knew that she wanted Sandy to be a part of her life and she couldn't lead two separate lives, not in the long run at least. Today she was going to make it up to Sandy though. She was going to make him a part of her life; she was going to introduce him to her friends, the people who in 20 years will be running this town.

"Sandy, come on, let's go out for a change!" She called out to Sandy from the hallway.

Following her voice, he ran out towards her and grabbed her hand in his.

"Sure honey. What did you have in mind?"

"Well, I was thinking that if it was okay with you, you could meet some of my friends?" She glanced up at him questioningly with an adorable puppy dog look in her eyes.

"Of course, I'd love to meet them." He bent down and whispered in her ear. "As much as I love your father, I think that we need some time apart. I'm just not getting the same vibe back" He joked, a hint of sarcasm present in his comment.

Ten minutes later, Sandy had been dragged down to the Crab Shack only to be faced with 5 girls, the spitting image of Kirsten but more fake. He tried to ignore the glares coming from all of them as he sat down, holding Kirsten's hand for security; it was now his time to need her. After settling down in his seat he glanced up to still see all five of the to-be Newpsies still glaring in shock at what Kirsten was dating.

"Hi Taryn, Becky, Hanna, Holly and Sophie! Everyone, this is Sandy!" She said beaming to this dismay of her friends.

For the whole meal, Sandy got the once, twice and thrice over, as all five of Kirsten's 'friends' made their disapproval very well known. Even though they were sitting right in front of him, they had a constant whisper of gossip flowing between them and he could catch snippets like "Does he know about Jimmy. What would happen if they met? Imagine the look on poor Jimmy's face, he would be distraught!" Just after Kirsten had finished her meal, she was pulled off to the bathroom by Taryn who quickly bombarded Kirsten.

"Ew! Is this some kind of sick joke Kirsten? I mean, he's from the Bronx. What is the lead deb of our cotillion doing with some stray from the Bronx?"

"What's so wrong with the Bronx, why are you saying it like that? What's gotten into you lately? You're turning into you mother and all the other Newpsies"

"He's not the same as you Kirsten, of all people I thought you would have realised that, being Caleb Nichol's daughter and all. I would have thought that you would understand, our people don't mix with their people. It just doesn't make sense!"

"No, what doesn't make sense is why suddenly I have to date people whose parents earn the same amount of money as mine. Right now, what makes sense is for Sandy, the man I love, and me to leave."

Taryn's mouth dropped as Kirsten said that. 'She loved him?' She thought to herself. She had been brought up with Kirsten and for all her life, Kirsten never had been in love. Kirsten had thought that she might have been in love with Jimmy but was too hesitant to ever actually say 'I love you'. Taryn then knew that no matter what she said, she would never change her friends mind about Sandy now, not when she loved him. Kirsten may have completely opposite principles compared to her father but one thing they shared in common was their stubbornness, once her mind was set on something that was it, there was no changing her mind.

"Fine, go then. Sorry about what I said, maybe later when he's settled in more could we meet again. Next time I'll try and not act like the world's biggest bitch."

"Sure, I've missed you so much! I just wanted him to feel like he's a part of my life but I suppose the girls need time to adjust, as if Holly would, she's worse then you! I'll see you soon though?"

"Yea sure Kirsten, I promise I'll be nice, maybe even accepting!"

"Sorry for putting you through that, no one should have to go through the Newpsies, they are unbelievable! I leave for a couple of years and they have turned into their parents, never let that happen to me Sandy."

"Trust me, I would never let you get like that, they were scary and I'm not usually scared by plastic women! But that was ranked up there with that movie we saw last month, the vampire one?"

"Oh yea? The one where you spent the whole time hiding behind me when I'm meant to be the one that is scared?" Kirsten playfully mocked, loving it how Sandy just let her.

"I did not hide behind you. I just wanted to be close to you, I love you so much." He said pulling her closer, holding on tight as they wandered down the pier.

There it was again, her heart melting. How could he be so damn perfect? She thought to herself. All the little things he did; facing her father, facing the Newpsies, coming to Newport in the first place… The list went on.

"I love you too… so much Sandy."

They paused for a while, sitting down on a bench and watching the waves leap upon the beach and the millions of surfers bobbing up and down with the swell. She leant her head upon his shoulder has he fingered a curl as the other one rubbed up and down her side to keep her warm against the chill of the breeze. He gently rocked her back and forth to their own rhythm as they basked in the company of one another, sharing such a sentimental moment; the silence between them was comfortable, no words were needed, their relationship much deeper than that.

Their silence was broken as Sandy enquired in a whisper.

"Kirsten, who's Jimmy?"

Okay there is your own mini cliffhanger… next time we see how Kirsten reacts. What is she going to say… Find out in the next instalment of The Young, Tough Times.

Wow that was way cheesy! Please review!