Rabbit in the Headlights

Disclaimer: I want my cat back…oh…sorry. Here we are again! Der OC gehört mir nicht aber dieser fic macht!

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This chapter is for Carlie because we haven't chatted in a while and she's had evil things like internals. Thinking of you! I had bran flakes today!

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'I gotta pee,' her roommate declared, rather too loudly for Kirsten's liking, as they began to head for the exit. She sighed and leant back against the wall to wait, her eyes soon sought out Sandy in the crowd of congratulatory people near the stage, wondering if she dared go congratulate him herself. At that moment Sandy glanced up and caught Kirsten's eye, she smiled shyly and looked away; embarrassed that he'd seen her watching him. A moment later there was a low 'Hey,' at her side and she blushed to find him standing next to her.

'Um…hi,' she stammered, kicking herself. 'Tonight was great by the way.'

'Thanks,' he said, grinning, 'glad you enjoyed it.'

'So are you majoring in Theatre Arts?'

He gave a laugh, his blue eyes twinkling, 'No, law actually. But I think they go together don't you?'

She nodded, inwardly groaning at the giggle that had just escaped her mouth.

'What about you?' he was asking, 'What's your major?'

'I…um…haven't decided yet. I'm doing Art History, World Lit, Class Civ, Business, Economics, Graphics and Art.'

'Freshman?'

'Yeah, you?'

'I'm an ancient grad student; first year of law school, working towards the Bar so I don't have to work behind it.' He laughed at his own joke, Kirsten joining it absently, her heart sinking. A grad? There was no way he'd be interested in her.

'I should…go,' she said, 'thanks for the show.'

'Wait…' he said as she turned away, 'um…I don't know your name but…'

'Kirsten,' she told him, 'Kirsten Nichol.'

'Sandy, Sandy Cohen. My name's Sanford Cohen but everyone just calls me Sandy. Ok it's kind of a girly name but it's better than Sanford; that's my full name. I just told you that...' He shut up suddenly, realising he was rambling.

'Well…Sandy, it was nice to meet you.'

'Same here. So we're um…having a party; last night of the show you know, do you fancy coming along?'

Kirsten bit her lip, 'Well, it's for the cast isn't it? I don't want to gatecrash.'

'Nah not exactly and most people will be too drunk to notice anyway. In fact, I bet you within the hour someone will have congratulated you on your performance.'

'You do, do you? And do you often gamble with strange girls?'

'Only when they're as pretty as you,' he teased and she reached out to bat him playfully. 'Sandy?' the Eponine girl yelled from across the hall, 'Where does...?' the rest was unintelligible. He turned to her, 'I'll be right back.'

Kirsten watched as he jogged through the hall towards her, a striking girl with a good singing voice. She glanced at her programme and figured out she was Rosemary Richards. Where was Hannah? The queue for the bathroom couldn't be that long! She scanned the room but couldn't see her. The crowds that had filled the small hall were dispersing out the door and the cast and stage hands were now efficiently stacking the chairs away. Sandy was still talking to the girl who had thrust a broom at him, obviously demanding he sweep the floor and stage which was littered with paper 'snowflakes'. They were both laughing when Rosemary reached up to pick a stray bit of white paper from his hair, her fingers lingering as she brushed through the dark curls. Kirsten looked away from the intimate moment, not seeing Sandy jokingly fend the girl off with his broom and hurry back towards her.

'Sorry, I'm meant to be tidying up; the joys of being an amateur director.'

Kirsten smiled, well aware of Rosemary's eyes on them, she could tell the older girl was just stopping herself casting a dirty look at her.

'I should let you get on,' she said quickly.

'But you'll come to the after-party?'

'Well I came with my roommate so I should probably check with her…'

'She's welcome too.'

'Are you sure? I mean…I don't want to cause any problems,' she glanced towards the girl who was now brushing the floor vigorously.

'How do you mean?' Sandy asked, his bushy eyebrows drawn together in confusion before realisation dawned on his face, 'You mean…?'

She'd put her foot in it now so she may as well continue, 'Well, I don't think I'd be too pleased if my boyfriend invited two random girls to a private party.'

'Oh me and Rosie, we're not…I'm not saying we haven't, well, you know. But we're not…together or anything.'

Kirsten gave a silent sigh of relief, blushing again. 'Sorry.'

'No worries. So how about you, didn't bring your boyfriend along tonight?'

She grinned at that, despite the slight pang she felt whenever she thought of Jimmy, he was so chatting her up. 'I don't have a boyfriend. I did and then he got married,' she added bitterly. Sandy was frowning again and she quickly apologised, 'Sorry, it's kind of a long story, it doesn't matter.'

'Maybe you can tell me tonight,' he said, giving her directions to the party. 'We should be done here in about twenty minutes so see you there.'

'Ok,' she agreed.

'Now I really must do some sweeping!'

He grinned at her and walked away, whistling as he pushed the brush across the floorboards. Kirsten was still stood watching him, a slightly dreamy expression in her eyes when Hannah appeared.

'Kirsten? Kirsten?'

'Wh-what?'

'Earth to Kirsten,' her roommate teased.

'Where have you been?' she asked, 'You've been gone for ages.'

'As if you'd noticed,' Hannah said laughing, 'you were too busy chatting up Sandy Cohen.'

'I was not! Anyway, what were you doing?'

'Deflection Kirsten, I see right through what you're doing; deflection and denial; you've got it bad.'

Her roommate just looked at her pointedly and Hannah relented, 'Fine, fine, well there was such a long queue for the bathroom that I snuck backstage to use the one there and when I came out who should be waiting outside but the really hot dude that played the guitar!'

'Mmmhmm,' Kirsten responded, realising she had no idea who this mystery guitarist was. In fact she wasn't sure she remembered much about the entire show, she'd been rather focussed on one member of the cast.

'Totally mmmhmm,' Hannah agreed, 'he is so tasty.

Kirsten fought the urge to tell her roommate not to say 'tasty' (it just sounded so wrong) and continued to listen to her breathless speech.

'Jason…or was it Jamie…no…it was something more exciting…I dunno, well he invited me to the cast party so we can get to know each other better.'

The innuendo was obvious and Kirsten laughed. 'Well you have fun…be safe.'

Hannah stuck out her tongue, 'You're coming with Kirsten, I'm sure J-whatever has a lot of eligible friends, if you know what I mean.'

'I think I'll pass on that one, thanks,' Kirsten said, continuing as her friend began to protest, 'but I'll come; Sandy already invited me.'

'Score!'

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Hope you're enjoying it. Don't worry – there are about another 4 chapters to go!

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