Chapter 21: The Main Event

OCTOBER 17, 1980

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

Kirsten stood off to the side of the football field and watched as the gorgeous floats made by each of the classes at Harbor High were paraded around the field and then lined up behind the podium. After the floats went around, the five Harbor High Homecoming princesses were drove in five separate vintage convertibles. She spotted Kelly in the first car; she looked gorgeous in her deep blue strapless dress. Kirsten was so excited that her best friend was one of the princesses. When Kelly got out of the car, she flashed a smile at Kirsten before her father walked her to the podium. Meanwhile, the student body vice president was talking about each of the Homecoming princesses and princes as they were escorted to the stage. Kirsten knew it was her turn when the speaker said, "And now I would like to introduce the Student Body President of Harbor High School, Kirsten Nichol."

She heard applause as she approached the stage and smiled warmly into the crowd. "Thank you so much. First, I would like to thank the Associated Student Body of Harbor High School, the class councils of each grade, and all of our advisors, without whom the Harbor Homecoming Spirit Floats Week would not be possible. Now, onto the part most of you have been waiting for…the presentation of awards. For the past few months, each of the class councils has put in timeless hours creating a float for the theme of 'Cities of the World.' And the results are now in. In fourth place, is the Sophomore class with Rome. In third place, is the Freshman class with Beijing. In second place, is the Junior class with Sydney. And in first place, is the Senior class with New York."

Kirsten paused for a second as she heard screaming erupting around the stadium…mostly seniors she assumed…that were ecstatic because of their victory. When it began to quiet down again, she continued, "And now I have the privilege to present the king and queen. This year's Harbor Homecoming King and Queen are…Matt Dominic and Kelly Connor!" Again the crowd erupted with cheers as the two were crowned and pictures of them were taken.

Kirsten finished off by saying, "Congratulations to both of them. On behalf of Harbor High, we hope you all will be joining us at the Homecoming dance tomorrow at The Balboa Bay Club and Resort. But first, let's beat Pacific! Go Pirates!"

The cheering intensified as she left the stage, and the football team ran out to signal that the second half of the game would begin shortly. Kirsten made her way over to Matt and Kelly, and said, "Congrats you two!" She embraced one and then the other.

"Thanks. Great speech, Kirst," Kelly told her. She then turned to Matt and said, "Yo, you better get back out there…and you all better shape up…we can't lose our own homecoming game."

"Don't worry…I got it covered," Matt told her, kissed her, and sprinted away.

"He better have it covered," Kelly said and Kirsten chuckled.

"Now back to cheerleading, I guess," Kirsten said.

"Well, at least we can attempt to cheer them to victory...let's go Kirst," Kelly said and the two went back to their spots…

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Kirsten sat in the corner of the large room where most of the people were dancing, sipping water from a bottle. She had been dragged to the annual post-Homecoming game party, even though she didn't really want to be there. Exhaustion from the past week of preparing for Homecoming wasn't the only reason, either. She was still somewhat at odds with herself over what she had done a month ago…the abortion...it was still plaguing her thoughts, and when she saw Jimmy, which was often, it kept it fresh in her mind, which didn't help matters…but he didn't know about it…he couldn't…

"Kirsten!" Jimmy called out when he spotted her in her corner. Kirsten could tell that he was already drunk. He walked over to her, holding two beers in his hand, and asked "What's up with you? Why are you just sitting here? Here, have a beer."

"No, thanks…I'm just going to drink some water…I guess I'm just exhausted," Kirsten said and took another sip of the water.

"Which is why you need a beer...and to get up and start dancing…I know, you're tired, but come on Kirst…just a few more hours…do you not want beer, I can get you something else," Jimmy rambled on.

"I'm fine Jimmy…you know what, I think I'm just going to go home," Kirsten said and got up from her seat.

"Are you okay? Kirsten, you never go home early from a party…ever," Jimmy said.

"Yeah, well there's a first time for everything," she said in a somewhat sarcastic tone. "Move out of my way, Jimmy…I'm going home."

"Something's wrong, Kirsten…I know you…just talk to me," Jimmy said, not moving out of the way.

"I am fine, Jimmy! Just stop bugging me, okay! Look, I'll see you tomorrow," Kirsten said and pushed Jimmy out of the way. She was suddenly feeling very closed-in by the crowds of people in the house and was relieved when she finally made her way out of the house.

After walking two blocks away from the house, Kirsten found herself at the beach. It was completely deserted, silent, and the night sky was crystal clear. She walked out onto the sand and sat herself down in a random spot. She stared at the waves crashing ahead in the ocean and after a minute, opened her purse and pulled out a flask. After staring at it for a second, she almost put it back in her bag. After all, drinking alone was never a good thing…especially when it was straight vodka. But instead, she took a long sip from the flask.

After a moment, she took another, but then screwed on the cap and set it in the sand. What am I doing? she thought. Am I trying to turn into my mom…drinking alone…drinking too much? But in the moment, it didn't seem to matter. She took a few more shots from the flask before replacing it in her purse. Even though she knew she wasn't drunk, as she stood up, dizziness passed over her from drinking the vodka too fast. She managed to steady herself and started walking toward home…

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OCTOBER 18, 1980

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

Kirsten's arms were wrapped around Jimmy as they slow danced at the Homecoming dance. She looked up to him, smiled, and kissed him on the cheek. But when her stare left his face and went to the space behind Jimmy, the smile faded. Her mind was still preoccupied with the abortion incident, as it had been for the past month, and she couldn't shake it. Being this close to Jimmy made her feel almost guilty for not telling him about it…and she felt bad for acting so weird around him for a reason that he didn't even know about…all she wanted was for the feeling to fade.

"Hey, Kirst," Jimmy whispered in her ear, breaking her train of thought.

She looked up at him and said, "Yeah?"

"Do you want to go get some fresh air…take a quick walk outside or something?"

Kirsten inwardly sighed, knowing that he was probably going to confront her about her weird behavior, but she couldn't think of any legitimate reason not to, so she answered, "Sure."

Jimmy took her hand and led her off the dance floor and through the doors, outside.

"So, Kirst…I know I asked you this yesterday night, but are you really okay? You've seemed a little off lately," he told her.

"Yeah, really, I'm fine," Kirsten lied, but smiled genuinely. "I promise, Jimmy…it was just a stressful couple of weeks with Homecoming preparations, that's all." She leaned up and kissed him to try to make her act look more believable.

"Okay…but you can always talk to me if you need to, okay?" Jimmy reassured her.

Not about this, I can't, she thought. But instead she answered, "Yeah, I know. Thanks."

Jimmy put his arm around her and pulled her closer so that he could lay a kiss on the top of her head.

"Now, there's one more thing I want to ask you…and I now it's going to seem a bit out of the blue," Jimmy said as he turned and face her. "Kirsten Nichol, I love you! Will you marry me?"

Kirsten's face turned from one of happiness to one of surprise and complete shock. Shit…did he somehow find out I was pregnant and not about the abortion…and he's trying to do the right thing…no, he couldn't know about it…nobody knows...what the hell is he thinking! "Jimmy, are you joking…I mean, you aren't serious, are you?"

"Why not, Kirsten? I mean, is it that crazy! We both love each other…and it's not like we have to get married right away or anything. We can wait," Jimmy told her.

"Jimmy, my God, we are seventeen years old! We can't get married! What are you even thinking!" Kirsten exploded and started to walk away from him.

Jimmy grabbed her arm and said, "I thought you would want this!"

"Want this! When did I ever say I wanted to get married right this second! Never! Do you even listen? Let go of me, Jimmy! I'm going home…this evening is already ruined!" Kirsten yelled.

"Let me at least drive you," Jimmy said.

"Don't bother. I'll take a cab," Kirsten said as she pulled away from his grasp and stormed toward the exit.

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Kirsten paid the cab driver and as she got out of the car, she noticed that her house looked deserted.

"Hello!" she yelled as she opened the door. Only silence answered her. The she remembered that her parents were at some party at the Cooper's house. Figures, she thought. And therefore Hailey is probably sleeping over at someone's house.

Kirsten felt so alone in the large empty house, but where else could she go? Her best friend was having fun at the dance and her boyfriend was the reason she left. She sighed as she made her way to the kitchen. Upon opening the freezer, two things caught her eye…a bottle of vodka and a tub of chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream. She chose the ice cream…

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I do not own the Balboa Bay Club, located in Newport Beach.

I know in the episode, "The Girlfriend," from season one, Jimmy said that Caleb tried to get him to propose to Kirsten when they were seventeen…I just made it so he actually did propose.

I hope that I'm not leading the readers to believe that Kirsten was a teenage alcoholic. I just wanted to show that she partied a lot as a teenager, and also that her habit of drinking too much when things are going badly in her life (on the show) is rooted in her teenage years. I never meant to portray her here drinking as much as she does at the end of season two.