Chapter 13: The Arrow of Cupid

FEBRUARY 13, 1980

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

"So, Kirst…have you and Jimmy, you know…done it yet?" Kelly asked Kirsten as the two of them were walking toward their lockers before class started.

Kirsten was taken a bit by surprise and began, "Well, um, not yet."

"What are you waiting for, girl? Jimmy and you are so great together. He really likes you a lot…I can tell," Kelly said.

"I know he does…And I really like him, too…I guess I just want to be sure, you know," Kirsten replied.

"I think he's a pretty sure thing, Kirst. Oh, I have it! Tomorrow, Valentine's Day…it would be a perfect time, don't you think!" Kelly exclaimed.

"Yeah, I guess," Kirsten said.

"What do you mean, you guess! Kirst, what's wrong?" Kelly asked.

"Nothing…you're right, it would be perfect," Kirsten agreed.

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"Come on, Coop. You gotta tell me. Have you and Kirsten had sex yet," Matt asked Jimmy.

"Well, no not yet," Jimmy admitted, looking somewhat defeated.

"What are you waiting for man…you got to close in on her," Matt urged.

"Yeah, I know…it's just that I really like her so I don't want to rush her into anything…plus with the whole Christmas party debacle, we kind of had to slow things down a little…I mean it seemed like I hardly saw her for about a month after that," Jimmy explained.

"But her dad…he's finally eased up since then, right?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Jimmy said, just as Kirsten and Kelly walked up to them.

"So, what were you two talking about?" Kirsten inquired.

Jimmy was about to open his mouth to speak, but Matt beat him to it, "Oh, you know, just each of our plans for Valentine's Day for our lovely ladies," and he put his arm around Kelly.

"Oh, really?" Kelly asked.

"Yep, but it's all a secret…so don't even bother trying to get it out of us," Matt said. As he spoke, Kelly caught Jimmy looking slightly panicked for just a moment.

"Secret, huh? Well, I look forward to it," Kirsten replied. "Anyway, I have to drop some stuff by the office for student government…I'll catch up with you guys later," she said as she kissed Jimmy on the cheek and walked away.

"I gotta jet too…my Spanish teacher is really anal if we're late," Matt said, walking in the opposite direction of Kirsten.

Kelly looked up at Jimmy and said, "You don't have anything planned, do you?"

"I'm working on it…sort of…was it that obvious?" Jimmy replied.

"Right…working on it…and no, you weren't that obvious, and I swear I'm not being sarcastic…Kirsten didn't notice," Kelly said.

"That's good."

"You better come up with something good and not disappoint her…Valentine's Day is her favorite holiday," Kelly told him and walked away from a slightly overwhelmed Jimmy, who let out a sigh as Kelly walked away.

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Kirsten came to school the next day dressed in a red sweater and jeans in spirit of the holiday. When she arrived at her locker and opened it, red and pink balloons came bursting out at her.

"Oh, my gosh!" Kirsten said to herself.

She took the bunch of balloons and tied them to her backpack. Looking back in the locker, she spotted the rest of the Valentine's Day surprises in there: a heart shaped box of chocolates and a small bouquet of red roses.

"Oh!" was all Kirsten could get out as she smiled. She felt arms come around her body and hug her from the back. She turned her head to see Jimmy and gave him a kiss.

"So I take it you like it," Jimmy said smiling.

"Of course! Jimmy, that was so sweet. Thank you!" Kirsten said.

"Well, that's not the end. I'm taking you out to dinner tonight. I'll pick you up at 6:30," Jimmy told her.

"I can't wait," Kirsten replied.

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Jimmy picked Kirsten up at her house promptly at 6:30 and took her to dinner to a fancy seafood restaurant called 21 Oceanfront. They had a wonderful Valentine's dinner together and after they were finished, Jimmy suggested that they get some Balboa bars and take a walk on the beach.

"Jimmy, thank you so much. This evening has been so great," Kirsten said, and then took another bite of her Balboa bar. "I'm having the best time!"

"Well, for the record, I had a really good time too," Jimmy stated. He hesitated for a second and then continued, "You know, the evening doesn't have to end here. My parents won't be back 'til late…"

Kirsten knew what he was hinting at. But she still wasn't quite sure if she was ready. "Jimmy, um, I don't know if-"

Before she could finish, Jimmy cut her off, "Hey, no worries. I don't want to rush you into anything, okay." He put his arm around her and pulled her in close as they continued walking on the beach. "Whenever you are ready, okay," he reassured.

Kirsten though for a moment about what Kelly had said: "What are you waiting for, girl?" What was she waiting for? Jimmy was great. She knew he loved her and she loved him too. Well, she thought she loved him anyway…she had never been in love before, but she was pretty sure that this was what it felt like.

As she was thinking, her reservations shrunk and her confidence grew. She turned her head and looked up at him, "Hey Jimmy, we better get back to your house before your parents get home."

The statement shocked Jimmy, and he turned his head and looked into her eyes, "Are you sure? Because if you aren't sure, then-"

"Jimmy, shut up," Kirsten cut him off. They stopped walking and Kirsten faced him, grabbed his arms, and said, "I am sure, okay. I want this. To be with you." She leaned up and kissed him.

"Okay, whatever you say," Jimmy said, almost grinning.

The couple started walking towards where Jimmy's car was parked and he drove back towards his house. After parking the car in the driveway, he led her through the door and as soon as it was shut the couple started kissing passionately.

"We should probably move this upstairs…to the bedroom," Jimmy said, breathlessly.

"Ah-uh," Kirsten said between kisses.

But before they could make it upstairs, the unexpected sound of the doorbell interrupted them.

"Do you have to get that?" Kirsten asked.

"Nah," Jimmy said as they slowly continued up the stairs. But then the ring of the doorbell went off again.

"Damn it," Jimmy sighed. "Just one second, okay?" he told Kirsten as he made his way to the door. When he opened the door, the last person that he expected to see at that moment was standing in front of him.

"Jimmy!" Kirsten heard a girl's voice call. This alone made her get up from the stairs and make her way to the door to see who this girl. When she reached the door, she found Jimmy in an embrace with a girl that was about their age. She was cute, tall with brown hair a little shorter than shoulder length and chocolate brown eyes, and she looked to be about Kirsten and Jimmy's age.

When they finally broke from their hug, Jimmy nervously started making introductions, "Um, Cami, this is Kirsten Nichol. Kirsten, this is Elise Cameron, from San Diego."

"I go by Cami," the girl said. "Nice to meet you," she continued as she stuck out her hand.

Kirsten took the girl's hand and shook it and replied, "Nice to meet you too."

"So, Jimmy," Cami started. "Is this your friend? Are you studying or something?"

"Um, well, she's actually, um-"

"I'm his girlfriend," Kirsten interrupted. "And today is Valentine's Day."

"Oh, right, I guess it is," Cami said, feigning ignorance.

"So, you're Jimmy's friend?" Kirsten asked. She knew this was trouble. A girl from Jimmy's past, showing up on Valentine's Day, coincidence? Kirsten didn't think so.

"Well, I guess you could call me that. Well, I mean we were practically dating…not officially, but you know. And then Jimmy had to move. But last time I checked, we were going to try to make something work," Cami stated.

Kirsten was in shock. She looked over and said, "Jimmy?"

"Kirsten, um, I can explain-"

But before he could say anything else, Kirsten interjected, her bitter tone evident, "No, you know what, I'll just go. I'm sure you two have so much to catch up on."

"Kirsten, wait…" Jimmy called desperately. But it was too late. Kirsten was already out the door.

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Kirsten was lying on her bed, wiping her eyes with a tissue, when there was a knock on her door.

"Kirsten, can I come in?" she heard her mother ask her.

"Go away…I don't want to talk," Kirsten replied.

Katherine ignored her daughter's request and came in anyway. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

"Um, yeah, I'm fine," Kirsten answered, sounding seemingly composed, but her red, puffy eyes told Katherine that she wasn't fine.

"Yeah, you really look fine," her mother replied sarcastically. She approached Kirsten and gathered her into a hug. "So you want to talk about it?"

"Jimmy's ex-girlfriend…well I guess technically she isn't really his ex…I don't even know what she is…anyway, she showed up during our date…it was obvious what her intentions were…and Jimmy just kind of sat there…didn't ask her to leave or anything…" Kirsten tried to explain.

"Well, did he explain the situation to you?" her mother asked her.

"Not really…but I guess I didn't really give him much of a chance," Kirsten admitted. "I was just so angry that she showed up in the first place that I guess I didn't really want to listen to his excuses."

"Why don't you give him a chance," Katherine said. Kirsten gave her an inquisitive look and Katherine continued, "He's downstairs. Go talk to him. You know he really cares about you, Kirsten. And I know you care about him. Give him a chance to explain."

Kirsten thought for a moment…about what her mom said…I guess I should at least give him a chance.

"You're right. Thanks, Mom!" Kirsten said as she hugged her mom once more.

Kirsten left her room and went downstairs to find Jimmy standing in the entry way. "Hey," he called to her as she came down the stairs.

"Hey, where's Cami?" Kirsten said, almost immediately regretting how that sounded. "Sorry, I mean…"

"It's okay. I told her that she should go home. That you are my girlfriend now. So she left," Jimmy said. He paused for a moment and then continued, "Cami and I were really good friends and we were thinking about dating each other around the time that I found out that I was moving. I didn't want to start anything, but she said that we could try to make it work…that Newport and San Diego weren't that far apart…but I didn't want that. I wanted a fresh start. Nothing ever happened between us. And I promise you I had no idea she was going to show up. It was all her idea…she didn't really agree with my idea of a fresh start. Kirsten, I really care about you and I don't plan on throwing that all away for something like this. You are the only one."

Kirsten smiled and said, "And you are the only one for me. I'm sorry I overreacted. I guess I just didn't want to lose you."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I guess I probably should have told you before…I guess I just thought my past was a little-"

"Jimmy," Kirsten interrupted. "Enough," and with that she kissed him firmly on the lips and it grew into a more passionate kiss.

When they broke apart, Jimmy said, "So, do you still want to…you know?"

Kirsten sighed. She had come so close, but after this little incident, she decided that she needed to take a little step back, "Um, Jimmy, I don't know now…"

"It's okay. I understand," he confirmed. Jimmy hesitated, but looked into Kirsten's eyes and continued, "And I just want you to know…you don't have to say anything, but for the record, I just want you to know…that I love you, Kirsten Nichol."

Kirsten grinned and she instantly knew. She hugged him and whispered into his ear, "I love you too, Jimmy Cooper."

Upon hearing this, Jimmy was ecstatic and pulled her in for another passionate kiss. This is why I love Valentine's Day, Kirsten thought happily.

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21 Oceanfront is an actual restaurant in Newport Beach. I do not own it.

Note: I am going on a trip tomorrow and won't be back for 10 days, so I will be unable to post. I might get some writing done, but I'm not guaranteeing anything. Thanks for reading and hopefully I will get some more posts up soon after I get back!