Chapter 18: The First Time

JULY 3, 1980

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

"So what do you think of this suit?" Kelly asked as she held up a bikini for Kirsten to look at. The two girls had been shopping all afternoon at Fashion Island and they were both trying to find new bathing suits for the Fourth of July beach party they were going to tomorrow.

"It's cute! You should go try it on," Kirsten said.

"Yeah, okay…I'm just going to keep looking some more. So how's your dad doing after that crazy scene last week?" Kelly asked.

"Well, his nose is still broken, if that's what you mean," Kirsten replied.

"I can't believe it. The one party I can't go to and then all this drama happens," Kelly complained.

"Don't get too excited. My dad got punched twice and ended up in the pool. End of story," Kirsten told her.

"Who punched him anyway?" Kelly asked.

"Some business guy. I think my dad pissed him off with some business deal," Kirsten said as she looked through a rack of bathing suits.

"Must have pissed him off pretty badly," Kelly mused.

"Yeah I guess…It is amazing, though…right now I'm on better terms with my dad than I have been in a while."

"You mean since him catching you and Jimmy with those beer bottles…which reminds me, I still can't believe that you and Jimmy didn't take full advantage of your parents being gone, if you know what I mean," Kelly said with a wink.

"Kelly! Stop it! Anyway, Hailey was home…that would have been just…wrong," Kirsten said.

"Now that's just an excuse…I mean, you did make-out with him in the pool house mid-Christmas party," Kelly told her. But when Kirsten gave her a look, she continued, "Okay, okay, I know…when you're ready…forgive me for trying to encourage something enjoyable."

"Well, I can see that things with you and Matt are going well," Kirsten responded.

"If you must know, yes, they are going REALLY well, if you know what I mean," Kelly told her. "Oh, hey, this teal suit would totally look great on you," she said, handing it to Kirsten.

"Thanks," Kirsten said, accepting the suit. "So, really good?"

"Yep, really good," Kelly confirmed.

"Okay, that's probably enough…I already have too many bad mental images floating around in my head for now without you going into detail," Kirsten said.

"Okay, fine, I won't torture you. Just remember, Jimmy loves you…and he'll wait until you're ready…just take your time," Kelly advised.

"Thanks," Kirsten responded. However, in her mind, a million thoughts were rushing around. I think I might be ready…am I? I think so…

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JULY 4, 1980

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

The word 'crazy' would have been an understatement to describe the stretches of Newport Beach during Fourth of July. Even 'insane' wouldn't do it justice. Every spare space of sand on the beach was taken and there was a wide array of people, both from Newport and its surrounding area, and from out of town, everyone from families to groups of friends. And many of these people were no less than slightly intoxicated to say the least, which made for some great crowd watching from Courtney's beach house.

"Wow! Look at that guy over there…see him, the one in the blue bathing suit?" asked Courtney.

"Oh, man, he's totally wasted," Matt commented.

"And he's actually going to attempt to ask that girl out over there," Courtney said.

"Well, alcohol usually gives people a little more self confidence," Kelly stated.

"This should be good," Karen added in.

Jimmy turned to Kirsten and asked, "Hey do you want to go in the water, Kirst? It's getting pretty hot."

"You read my mind…let's go."

A few minutes later, Kirsten and Jimmy found themselves at the edge of the water, and as a wave crashed the water rushed up and hit both of their feet, Kirsten screamed, "Oh, shit, it's cold!"

"Yeah I know…the one bad thing about the Southern California ocean…it never does get very warm," Jimmy added.

"Okay, I think this was a mistake…just the feet definitely cooled me down enough," Kirsten said, slowly stepping back from the water.

"Oh, you definitely aren't done," Jimmy said, and before Kirsten had time to think, he grabbed her by the waist and started carrying her towards the ocean.

"Jimmy!" she screeched. "Stop it!" but all he did in reply was start laughing and continue to carry her into the water.

"Don't Jimmy…it's so cold!" Kirsten yelled, but instead, he threw her into the ocean, soaking her entire body.

"You are so paying for this!" Kirsten said, laughing.

"I am, am I?" Jimmy questioned.

"Yes, you are!" Kirsten said as she started running towards him through the water and jumped on his back, laughing. A moment later, Jimmy lost his balance and the two of them fell into the water. When they came up for air, both of them were laughing uncontrollably.

"See, told you!" Kirsten said.

"Yeah, you definitely got me, I'll give you that," Jimmy laughed.

Kirsten started laughing again too, and then said, "Yeah, but as funny as this is, it really is freezing…and it's starting to get a little dark…"

"You want to go back, I take it?" Jimmy asked, to which Kirsten nodded her head. "Okay, come on, Kirst," he said and wrapped his arm around her and they walked back up to the beach house.

After drying off and changing into clothes, Kirsten and Jimmy reappeared on the porch of the beach house, and Kirsten noticed that the sky had already gotten quite a bit darker. And this meant that the fireworks would be starting sometime soon.

"Oh, good, you two are done…were going to head over near the pier so that we have a better view of the fireworks," Kelly informed them.

"Sound good," Kirsten replied and the large group of friends started walking toward the Newport Pier.

When they started getting close to the pier, Jimmy pulled Kirsten off the boardwalk and into the sand towards the ocean and an empty spot of sand. When they sat down, Jimmy put his arm around Kirsten and pulled her close to him and they just sat there, staring at the night-view of the ocean, completely content, until an announcement was made that the fireworks were about to begin.

Colors exploded into the sky signaling the anniversary of the nation's independence. Kirsten thought that she had never seen a more spectacular fire works show. She couldn't tell if it was the bright patterns of lights in the dark sky or the arm that was wrapped around her tightly− although she assumed it was probably a little of both− but an intense feeling came over her. At that moment, she knew that she was loved…she knew that Jimmy really did love her like he kept saying…and it brought an unexpected joy to Kirsten that she didn't think she had experienced before.

Even though the fireworks show lasted for 45 minutes, Kirsten felt as though they had just begun. When the 'grand finale' ended, Jimmy turned to her, gave her a kiss, and asked, "What did you think?"

Kirsten answered, almost in a whisper, "It was great…the best."

"Yeah, it was pretty cool," Jimmy added, and then the couple continued their silence of staring into the ocean, wrapped arm and arm.

And that's when Kirsten knew…she knew it was the time. She turned her head and looked up into Jimmy's face and said, "Jimmy…I wanted to tell you…I'm ready…"

A slight smile started creeping up on Jimmy's face and he asked, "Ready? As in 'ready,' ready?"

"Yeah," Kirsten said as she smiled and then kissed him.

"Well, my house is empty tonight…if you want to…" Jimmy trailed off.

"Let's go," Kirsten told him, gaining confidence with every word.

The couple disappeared from their group of friends without so much as a goodbye as they were in a hurry to get out of there before the crowds of people did. They finally made it back to Jimmy's house, though it took longer than usual due to all the traffic through Newport.

When they got there, Jimmy led Kirsten up to his bedroom, and once the door was shut, began kissing. Their kisses were rushed and heated, both anticipating what was about to come. Less than a minute later, Kirsten was trying desperately to undo the buttons on Jimmy's shirt, and when she finally succeeded, she ran her hands over his toned chest and back. Then Jimmy untied the bow of her halter top that was at the back of her neck and lifted it over her head. He continued kissing her as he then reached behind her and unclasped her bra and let it fall to the floor. Kirsten playfully pushed him onto the bed and climbed on top of him, only for him to roll them over a moment later, so he was on the top.

"Oh, God, you're beautiful!" Jimmy said. "I love you, Kirsten!"

"I love you too, Jimmy," Kirsten replied, in a hoarse voice.

He then reached for the button of her pants and slowly undid it. No turning back now, Kirsten thought.

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Kirsten woke up and for a second was confused by her surroundings. But a strong arm wrapped around her and the dull pain of her body reminded herself of what had happened earlier. She stared at the clock. It read 1:02.

"Sleep okay?" Jimmy voiced asked her, surprising her slightly.

She turned to face him and said, "Were you watching me sleep?"

"Only for a few minutes," Jimmy answered and kissed her. However, when Jimmy saw that she had a blank expression on her face, he asked, "Are you okay, Kirst?"

Kirsten put a bigger smile on her face and said, "Yeah, fine," but Jimmy could tell something was wrong.

"I hurt you, didn't I…Kirst, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…I swear," Jimmy apologized.

Kirsten smiled genuinely and said, "It's not your fault, Jimmy…I was a virgin, after all…"

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jimmy asked again.

"Yeah, I'm fine…but I should go home…since I should be there already," Kirsten told him.

"Okay. I love you," he said again and kissed her.

"Love you too," she replied and got up from the bed to dress.

"Hey, I can drive you home," Jimmy said when she was finished dressing.

"It's okay…I'll walk…I want a little fresh air," Kirsten told him.

"Okay, I'll talk to you soon," Jimmy said and kissed her again, before she left the room.

When she let herself out of the house, she felt surprisingly cool air against her skin. She shivered slightly in response, but after a moment, it felt good…almost refreshing. As she was walking, she started thinking about her and Jimmy and the dull pain that she could still feel. Wow, definitely didn't turn out exactly the way I expected, she thought. Of course, it was the first time…it should only get better right? Besides, Jimmy loves me…and I think I love him…what am I saying, of course I love him…why wouldn't I…he's a great guy…everyone must feel this way after the first time, right?

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Thanks for all the reviews…hope that you all still like the story. I apologize if some of the chapters aren't as exciting as others…I have found that certain things have turned out to be harder for me to write than others.