xX… well, I'm going to try again …xX

It had been almost three months since the whole "Zack" thing and Katie was finally getting settled into her dorm. Just as Winter Break was creeping closer and closer. Katie knew she wasn't going home- her parents were going on a cruise, so she sent out a card to them and studied her ass off. After getting a job bar tending at the New Century Group she was finally bringing in a steady income, and was able to pay her rent.

Kirsten was a well-intentioned floozy. A slut with a heart of gold, as Kirsten herself put it to Katie one night over take out Chinese. Sure, Zack was still seeing Kirsten and it was awkward to have him around, but Katie had become much closer with Kirsten. She hadn't talked to Toby in a while… ok, since he stood her up but still: she always justified in her mind that it wasn't her at fault or being irrational. She hung out mostly with Chris, when HE wasn't working and with Kirsten, who didn't have to work because her family is so rich.

Lawrence had re-entered her life, through a music recital at the New Century. Kirsten mother had said that Katie was guarded and didn't like anyone getting to close to her, she was afraid of intimacy. But Katie knew, or thought, that THAT was bull. She had learned from experience, plus no one had come around and swept her off her feet. Yet.

Katie starred at her textbook, sitting on the bar at the New Century, half an hour before doors were opened. What was the difference between Gothic Columns and Art Deco arches regarding the Roman Empire? She had no clue and groaned, as she leant back.

"Trouble?"

Katie shot up. It was Toby. Dressed in jeans and an NYU sweatshirt. Obviously, there was shirt underneath she laughed to herself.

"Hi…" she said, quietly.

"How ya doing?" he asked.

"…I'm. I'm ok. You look good?" the conversation sounded like a divorced couple, still hating each other, meeting after a five-year absence.

"I'm alright. I miss you though."

Katie laughed

"What?" he asked, desperately, "You think this is funny?"

"I'm not a romantic," she said, "I'm a realist."

She turned her back.

"So I guess Kirsten's mom IS right after all, I owe her fifteen bucks."

"What?"

"What she said about you… it's all true."

"IS NOT!" she shot back, filling up the pitchers of water.

"Here I come, practically on my knees, because I think we might have a chance… something, its not perfect. Hell, nothing is perfect but you take life as it comes, and if you wait for better you'll end up like you are now."

"…And what if I like how I am now?"

"You like being bitter and alone?"

She bit her lip and pretended to go back to her studying.

"I'm sorry…" he said, he walked over to a bar table, head in hands. "I'm a fucking idiot…"

Katie wiped her hands on her rag and walked over to him, she put her hand on his shoulder,

"You have to go."

And he left.

………………………………………….

She knew it wasn't safe to walk home alone using the alleyway short cut at night but she did it anyway tonight. She almost wanted to get mugged or raped or something. But, alas, she stayed injury/baby free the whole walk home, and in a worse mood than ever. She jammed her key in the lock, harder than ever. She rammed it in and suddenly she heard a crack and the grip of the key fell to the floor.

"Fuck" she muttered to herself, ringing the doorbell and trying to get the other part of the key out with her nail, "fuck fuck fuckity fuck. GAH!" she pounded on the door, practically in tears when no one answered.

"Need some help?"

She swerved around, another student popped his head out of his dorm. He came out, he hadn't shaven today and his shaggy, dark hair fell over his forehead. His CBGB shirt was stretched and lopsided over his shoulder and his sweatpants were too big, he was stepping on them. But he was cute… ok, she thought, scratch that, hot. He produced a pair of tweezers and went to her lock, his big hands manipulating the delicate tweezers. Finally, it came out and fell to the floor. She leaned down and grabbed it. They looked at each other, starring like idiots.

"I can't get in," she said, laughing.

He laughed. After all that work.

"I would invite you over but my room mate is having some guys over for porn and you're not allowed." He shrugged.

"So, you're not into porn than?" she asked. Giggling. She found herself enjoying attention, but just not Toby's. Odd the way things work out.

"I resist. Fire escape?" he said.

"What?" she asked.

"You wanna sit on the fire escape until your room mate comes back?" he said- pointing to a window, leading out to the grate fire escape.

"Yeah, cool," she smiled.

He opened the window, the freezing November air blowing in. She stepped out, her sweatshirt already on. She sat down on the stairs, leading down to the floor below her. Her stepped out, not even bothering to get something warm.

"Breck…" he said, holding out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Breck, Katie," she took his hand and shook it, all in mock politeness.

"Where you from?" he asked her.

"Indiana," she said, "you?"

"Upstate."

"Oh, cool. You a freshman?"

"No, Sophomore." He grinned, "You?"

"Freshman, what are you doing?"

"I'm not sure… I guess, if I had my way: professional Rugby player… than I wouldn't have to work!" he laughed.

"You're into that?" she asked. It felt refreshing to be hanging out with a guy who actually liked stuff that stereotypical guys were supposed to like. Nice.

"Well- they say I'm good. But I guess if that fails- restaurateur."

"A chef we have here, eh?"

"Well- I try," he laughed.

The hours passed like minutes as they talked. About anything and everything from jobs, to movies, to politics, to ketchup, to sex- which, Katie admitted, she hadn't had in a while.

Katie's watch red 4:00am when they finally heard footsteps, it was Kirsten. Home finally, Zack not in tow but Kirsten's eyes were red and puffy.

"I better go," she said to Breck. "Nice meeting you."

"Yeah- see ya Kate," he grinned sheepishly.

"Now GO IN THERE AND WATCH SOME PORN!" she commanded, laughing. The climbed back into the dorm hallway, Breck going into his.

"Kirsten, ohmygawd. What happened?" she ran to her, embracing her as Kirsten woefully unlocked the door and collapsed onto the sofa.

"Gone… Zack… Gone, left, ka put."

"What?"

"Zack left. He just up and left. He said he was going to find himself in Europe that little prick."

"Oh Kirsten, he's an ass…" it dawned on her… "I knew him in elementary school."

"Oh. Was he always this way?"

"Well…"

Her mind drifted back to when they were fourteen. Zack and Katie with Marco and Alicia were going on an official 'date' to the movies. About halfway through, Zack looked at Katie.

"I love you forever, Posh." He leaned in to kiss, she didn't fight him and they kissed, well, more like locked lips, well… ok, and they made out. For a while.

She faded back into New York, here, now.

"Kirsten, you're the strongest woman I know- he's a loser and doesn't know what he's doing, loosing you. You can do better. You deserve more, so much more."

Katie knew what to do; she opened the fridge, fished out a tub of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food and got two spoons. Within minutes, they were both, lying on the couch, watching cheesy love movies on WE. An hour or so later, both were asleep, bellies full and content.

……………………………………………..

"Hi, is Kate there?"

"Who? Oh! Katie- yeah, come on in. KATIE! VISITOR!" Kirsten led Breck into the kitchen. Now looking more dignified: he was shaven, wore a stripped polo shirt with a whale on it and jeans, he sat down at the bar and drunk a bottle of Orange Juice.

Minutes later Katie appeared. She had been obsessing for hours, what was too casual, what was too dressy. It took Kirsten to remind her that it wasn't a date, they were going to get coffee and than to a study session. None the less, Katie insisted on looking her best. She wore a fabric, light white skirt and a tight brown t shirt. With a little bag slung over her shoulder. Kirsten gave a nod of approval, her first time out with a straight man in a while. As the left, Kirsten took out another tub of Phish Food. Two weeks since Zack had left, Katie had finally found someone who satisfied her, thought Kirsten approvingly, and so what they were only friends, Chris gave his seal of approval and she agreed. Breck was very hot, charming, and rich.

Little did they know that it would be the reappearance of another SoR'er to shake things up a little…

xX… SO? Also, what are you votes for the WORST sOR fics, im collecting 'em for a C2 …xX