It was 4 days since Sandy's run in with Kirsten and her friends at The Black Oak. That was the name of the bar they always were at on Fridays. It had the best beer specials. Sandy thought for a split second how Kirsten made him feel. It wasn't feelings of anything positive. She made him feel bad about himself and his behavior. Good thing that didn't last long! Good thing she walked out when she did. He didn't need another person in his life judging him. He dealt with that for 3 years while dating Rebecca. He adjusted his whole personality to fit her lifestyle just to make her happy.
We were happy, he thought to himself. And then she ripped his heart out of his chest without one look back. He had not heard from her in an entire year. The only lesson he learned was not to get involved in anything like that again. So far so good! He was having a blast. Living his senior year of college wild and reckless like he should be, his only concern was waiting for his acceptance letter to Berkeley Law School. The tough part was over for him as he waited for his future to be decided for him.
Kirsten was the complete opposite. She was still trying to mold her future into something she could be proud of without the help of her father. She was an Art History major trying to figure out what she was going to do with that degree. Her diligent manner was something she must have inherited from her father because she was often mocked for living in the library.
"Well how can I study here? With the music blasting, the parade of people coming in and out, and the alcohol flow going around?" She would ask her friends who lived in her dorm, now staring at her blankly. They never understood why she worried so much about her future when she could have fun now and a free ride later. Every single one of them would have hopped on that magic carpet ride. Kirsten had no intention of doing that.
In high school, she never figured she would be such a book worm as they deemed her to be. She used to always do well in school, but it never took much effort. She knew she was smart, but that was only defined in the realms of Harbor High. She took pride in her grades, but took more pride in defying her father even if he never knew anything about it. She spent her entire junior year hanging out with her friends, drinking, smoking and having sex with Jimmy Cooper. It had been a blast and felt those would always be the best times of her life.
Then graduation came and the summer of their love confessions as she dubbed it. The both said those words and as fun as it was to say, it sounded superficial, to her anyway. She loved him and probably always will, but she never felt that weak-in-the-knees in-love feeling that you heard about in the movies. The tried doing the long distance thing from the time she left for Berkeley in August until Christmas break, something they were both looking forward to. New Years Eve they had sex for what they thought would be the last time. At that point, they both knew it wasn't going to work. It just didn't feel right and even more than that, it wasn't as much fun. Maybe because she knew it pleased her father that her and Jimmy were still together, maybe because winter and spring breaks just weren't enough for two eighteen year-olds, but she knew it was really because he wasn't the one for her. And as hard as it was, she was okay. They still spoke often and were friends, which surprised her. The summer before her sophomore year, she spent the summer with Jimmy and his friends and it went surprising well. Hanging out on the beach with old friends, having innocent fun. But when alcohol was involved, things never ended up innocently. Unless you consider waking up on Jimmy's boat, naked, with a terrible hangover innocent fun.
Back at school, Kirsten had to concentrate on something more grounded. Hence, the book worm label which was fine with her. She rather be considered that at Berkeley than what she was probably considered at Jimmy's college. With all the stories he probably told his friends, she was probably in the same category as one of Sandy's girls. Maybe that is why it pissed her off so much!
Kirsten was sitting in the quad, leaning up against a tree, with her books displayed in front of her. This was her favorite part of campus. So much traffic crossed through the area and Northern California weather was always perfect. She had an hour break between classes and knew better than to go back to her dorm room. Every time she did that, she never went to her next class. Emily would convince her that there was something "they had to go do". And she would fall for it every time.
Sandy was walking with some girl who she didn't recognize across the quad. She kept her head down but lifted her eyes so she could follow where he was going. She took in what he was wearing and she knew, as she eyed him up and down, that he was doing the "walk of shame". That is what they called it at Berkeley anyway. He was still in his clothes from the night before which meant he obviously spent the night on campus. Kirsten knew he lived off campus with the bunch of hooligans from the bar. These same hooligans were also the future lawyers of the great state of California. All of the guys were nice guys, but unlike the rest of the girls, she knew that they were players. She looked at the girl Sandy was with. She looked to be a freshman and her heart went out to her. Did she have a clue that Sandy was not the type of guy to call the next day? He was enough of a gentleman to walk her to class, but Kirsten smirked as she knew that would be it.
Sandy was walking Melissa to class, but he really needed to go home and shower. He had an hour to turn in a paper he wrote. Thankfully he had his priorities somewhat straight. He knew to write the paper before he went out, this way he could have a stress free night. That's when he saw her following him with her eyes. He smiled to himself and kept on walking. He walked Melissa to her destination and headed back to the quad. There was no way he was going to let Kirsten off the hook that easy. He realized he probably took too much pride in teasing her, but it was so much fun.
She saw him pass back and immediately moved her eyes back to her books. She didn't need this right now. Thank God she only had 15 minutes until her next class, a perfect reason to excuse herself. She didn't dare look up, even went she felt his presence standing over her.
"You're blocking my light", she said eyes still focused on something she was not even paying attention to, but she needed to look busy.
"Here, I thought you weren't talking to me", said Sandy as he planted his butt on the grass next to her, leaning up against the same tree.
"I'm not, not talking to you." She paused and looked up at him and took in the sight of him before continuing. "You stink! You actually smell like alcohol and boy mixed together."
He cracked smile. This girl was tough as nails and spoke her mind. This was perfect because everyone knew he loved to argue. That was what was going to make him a great lawyer.
"Well, it's the price you pay for having a good time. Plus, I am glad a smell like "boy" as you put it. You make me feel more like a man, Kirsten."
"Oh God! Do you take joy in sounding like a complete ass all the time, or is it just around me?" She said, so fast it came out full of emotion.
"You know what I think?"
"Well I am sure you are going to tell me since it is no secret that you love to hear yourself talk." She smiled as she was happy with herself that she could hit him where she knows he would be a little bit self-conscious.
The smile withdrew from his face and he paused for a second. He knew he rambled and it was something he was working on. But the more he waited the more mad he got.
"I think you spend way to much time pretending to be angry with me for no reason at all. It must be exhausting huh?"
" I never said I was angry with you." Now she felt bad that he recognized her coldness, even if that was her intention. Her upbringing taught her to, at all times, at least be polite.
"I said pretending to be angry. I really don't think you carry angst feelings deep down inside for me. Quite the opposite exactly." He started to get up and brush off his khakis with his hands.
"Well, the opposite of being angry is being happy, and if you think that is how I feel about our precious time spent together, you are sadly mistaken." She gave him her best fake smile and once again feigned interest in her books.
"Well maybe happy is the wrong emotion, but the right one might be jealousy." And with that he Sandy started walking away. There was no way he was going to get the last word in this time. She threw her books off her lap and got up and started to follow him.
She was fired up now. " Jealous of what? How you spend your time or the class of Betty Boops you spend you time with?"
"There it is again, jealous." Deep down he didn't believe it to be true, but he just loved how worked up she was getting.
"Sandy! For your information, I would never want to be one of those girls you choose to be with. It makes me mad that there are girls out there for fall for your smile, and your one-liners. That is why I get mad and since you are the source, I have no choice but to take it out on you."
He laughed out loud now which only raised the heated redness to her cheeks. "Kirsten, I never said I wanted YOU to be any of those girls either, so lets call it even." He felt bad after he said it. Kirsten was a good and honest girl and he didn't mean to hurt her feelings by saying something that would bruise her ego, although he felt she needed to be knocked down off her high horse.
"Well thats good because I'm not that stupid!"
"Good. Well, I have to run home and shower. I have to hand in a paper in less than an hour. I guess I will attempt to smell a little bit...better"
Kirsten made her way back over to where she was sitting, but again, had to get the last word in.
"Make sure you walk back to campus. Writing on the bus, only results in sloppy handwriting."
He didn't dare turn his head back. He just shook his head and kept walking in the opposite direction. She really didn't know him at all. She didn't know that he had the potential to be one of the best as his law professor once told him. She didn't know that he was probably the most honest person that went to that school. She definitely didn't know how good he was in bed, although the thought has crossed her mind.
"He has to be great in the sack, otherwise, girls would never want to keep sleeping with him." Emily once said to a drunk Kirsten who thought about it for a second and replied,
"Yeah, well I am sure he has had enough practice, not that I am not intrigued." That was her admission to her curiousity about Sandy Cohen. Although a drunken admission, Emily never forgot it. That is why Emily suggested Kirsten be the one to play his game and give him what he deserves. Kirsten was strong enough not to fall into his trap and Kirsten needed to have some fun.
It bothered Sandy that she thought less of him and had no problem expressing her opinions. He knew there had to be a side to her that liked to let loose, but he didn't think it was worth his time to bring it out in her. It was far too aggravating!