The weeks seemed to fly by as they were given more and more assignments to complete and tests to take. Sandy and Kirsten began to spend more and more time with each other. First working on the project but lately they always seemed to bump into each other in the library or on campus and end up going for a quick coffee break that would end up lasting hours. They would discuss everything and anything from their ambitions to their favourite flavour ice-cream. Sandy made her laugh, always putting a smile on her face when he saw that she was getting stressed out or when she was tired. She couldn't understand how much she had initially misjudged him. Yes he was arrogant and self-righteous but that was only because he wanted to make a difference in the world. She loved spending time with someone who wasn't totally obsessed with generating a big pay package in years to come. He would tell her all the plans he had for the future - helping those less fortunate, defending those who couldn't defend themselves. He was so passionate about what he believed. She kept telling herself that he was just becoming a close friend nothing more but everyone around them could see the absolute adoration they had for each other. What was so amazing was that even though had next to nothing in common they never ran out of things to talk about. When they went out at night with their individual friends and ended up at the same party or bar they inevitably spent the night talking and debating together, sometimes arguing over the stupidest of topics. What Sandy loved about her most was her ability to challenge him. He had always found that Rebecca had agreed with everything he said, they were always on the same page. Kirsten was on a different chapter let alone page sometimes and would refute something without a moment's thought. Looking at them from the outside people would presume they were a couple.

Although they both felt the remarkable connection and tension between them, they were both afraid to act on it. What if things didn't work out? They both had insecurities. For Sandy although she never spoke of her family, he still believed she would return to Newport after college and resume her wealthy lifestyle and he knew he wasn't a part of that. He had nothing to offer her but his heart. It was this realisation one day that had got him. He had sworn to himself after the Rebecca fiasco that he wouldn't get involved with anyone on a long-term basis. Yet he knew that Kirstin couldn't be a fling, he hated to admit it but she was too important to him. It was as if from their first conversation which had taken place in class she had known more about him then he knew about himself. And it scared him. He wasn't ready to take that risk with her yet … maybe someday. His heart skipped a beat every time he saw her, every time she scrunched up her cute button nose after he made a sarcastic remark, all those little things attracted him too her more and more. Maybe she was right, just because Rebecca had left didn't mean she would. The more his feelings grew for Kirstin the more he realised that what he had with Rebecca wasn't love.

'Hey Jen is Kirstin around I was just passing through and I wanted to see if she wanted to take a break from the books for a bit cos she has a test tomorrow and you know how she gets'

'Oh she kinda left in a hurry, her dad rang so she tends to need some space after their conversations. That guy really needs to give her a break he's at her all the time. You could check the beach though she often goes there to think'

'Thanks I'II do that. I'm sure I'II be seeing you at the ball on Saturday right?'

'U bet'

Sandy knew Kirstin's father was some rich business tycoon from Newport but other then that Kirstin never talked about him. She seemed to tense up when the conversation headed in that direction. He walked down the beach and sure enough there she was gazing out to the horizon more beautiful then ever. The iridescent moonlight shone down on her and the light breeze blew her hair out of her face. She turned when she heard someone approach and on seeing that it was Sandy she hastily wiped away the tears hoping that all the emotions she was feeling right then weren't etched on her face.

'Kirsten' he stepped in front of her and lifted her chin so that she would make eye contact with him.

'Don't look at me I'm such a mess'

'Kirsten believe me you couldn't look a mess even if you tried'

With that she couldn't hold herself up any longer, she need him like she had never needed anyone before. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and she dissolved into floods of tears. He guided her down towards the sand still holding her as he placed her between his legs with her back against his chest. Even though he had no idea what was wrong all he wanted to do was protect her from the pain she was feeling. About ten minutes passed where neither said anything, both beginning to revel in the others closeness.

'So you wanna talk about it?'

'You'II probably think I'm over reacting and think that I'm being selfish and stupid'

'Well I know you're those things already so no harm in trying me anyway.' At least he'd got a bit of a smirk from that comment.

'Its my dad nothing ever do is good enough for him…' she waited for him to respond but he didn't which encouraged her to explain more.

'I've spent my whole life trying to please him. Getting the best grades, excelling in everything I do, being social chair, interning at his company the list goes on but its never been good enough. Ever since I gave up my place at Princeton and dumped Jimmy he has been down my neck telling me that I'm going to fail and eventually come crawling back to him.' She took a deep breath in, she had never really told anybody all of this, only Jen had got a watered down version.

'Eh two questions you got into Princeton and who the hell is Jimmy?' she really was full of surprises. How could anyone make this perfect creature feel so bad about herself. How dare they.

She could hear the over protectiveness in his voice and could feel the tightening of his arms. 'I choose to come here instead because I just wanted to be around normal people who didn't really now who I was. I spent all my life back home wondering if people were nice to me just because I was Caleb Nichols daughter or because I was me. I love my life here, I get to major in what I want. I don't have to put up a front, follow a particular image. Unfortunately my father doesn't see it like that. As for the Jimmy thing, we dated all through high school – the perfect couple destined to be together. But I wasn't in love with him so I broke it off last summer much to my father's disappointment. They got on great, of course because he was from the right family. Anyway my father just rang to tell me that Jimmy is engaged and that this would be my last chance to get him back. And basically if I didn't I would end up a failure married to a nobody. But you know what I'd prefer to be in the deepest of love with the poorest soul on the planet then be married to pretentious ass like Jimmy Cooper. You know the more I think about it the more I think your right. It's stupid to believe that there is such a thing as perfect happiness. I just don't know what to believe anymore. All I know is I don't want to go back there, Berkeley is ticket out so I can follow my dreams.'

'Wow you are quite the talker tonight aren't you?' Sandy remarked trying to lighten the mood.

'Sorry I tend to ramble when I'm upset, you probably have better things to doing then listening about my family problems'

'Sure what are friends for' He longed to turn her round and kiss her but he knew that she was vulnerable at the moment and he didn't want to take advantage of that.

'I know' Kirsten thought but she found herself longing for them to be so much more. She really had never felt like this before. She'd never experienced longing for a person to this degree both physically and mentally. Sandy was thinking exactly the same thing when he noticed her beginning to shiver.

'Here we should head back I don't want you to be sick for test tomorrow and our presentation on Friday. I need that twenty five percent remember.'

He helped her up, getting that tingling sensation again when he held her hand and headed back towards her dorm.

'Sandy you didn't have to walk me all the way up here you know'

'I did kinda, wouldn't want anything to happen to you before our presentation on Friday'

'Ah so you had an another motive then'

'Always' he said with a wink he continued on 'Kirstin don't worry about that father of yours he's probably afraid that your growing up to fast or something. He'II get over it pr I'II sort him out. I'm kinda good at the whole knight in shining armour role I think.'

'Sandy I'II be fine but thanks anyway. It's nice to have someone to talk too.'

'And by the way I'm sure you'II find that perfect person you're looking for. Never give up on a miracle right.'

'That's coming from someone who doesn't believe in destiny right'

'I never said I absolutely disagreed with you but it's a nice fantasy I suppose to find one person that makes you happier then anyone else. Anyway you need to sleep so good night' and he leaned in and kissed her gentle on the cheek. 'Sweet dreams'

As he turned and headed down the corridor Kirstin thought to herself 'Do know how badly I want that perfect person to be you Sandy Cohen. You make me happier then anyone else'