She couldn't believe her mom had been gone for two years. Kate could swear she could hear her mom's voice even now, echoing as she shouted something from the couch in the living room. The past two years had been the hardest of her life. Kate's father had spent the first year without her mother drinking. After finally hitting rock bottom, he had decided to go to rehab and was now six months sober.

Kate had spent the past two years taking care of her father. She had taken some time off her pre – law degree. She had loved California, Stanford, all of it really but she couldn't stay there anymore. Her mother's murder had haunted her, she wanted justice but no matter what she did, it was never enough.

She wasn't the same, how could she be? A vital part of her had been ripped away from her. Kate's dreams of being the first female Chief Justice were still alive but she supressed them, telling herself that her father needed her. As true as that was, she was scared, scared to start again, to go back to her life without her mother.

"Hey Katie, come here a second." Jim said.

"What's up?" Kate asked, taking a seat next to Jim at the dining table.

"I've been thinking and if you still want to, I think you should go back to college." Jim said.

"You need me, here." Kate said.

"Kate, these are your dreams and I don't want to stand in their way." Jim said.

"You aren't, I want to stay." Kate said, holding her father's hand.

"I had a feeling you would say that." Jim said, picking up a few pages from next to him.

"What is this?" Kate asked.

"NYU has a great pre – law program and you can stay home with me." Jim said.

Kate just stared at the prospectus in front of her, she wanted this but she didn't know if she could do it all over again.

"I know you're scared, Katie. I am too but your mom would want us to live our lives in the best way possible. These are your dreams, Katie and she dreamed them with you. She would want you to have whatever it is you want." Jim said.

"I really miss her." Kate said, her eyes filling up with tears.

"Me too." Jim said, hugging his daughter.

Kate missed her mother more than words could express but she knew that she was with her, always.

It had been a long few months, trying to transfer from Stanford to NYU but she had managed to make it work. She woke up the morning of her first class with a kind of excitement and nervousness, she had not felt in years. Her first class was Criminology, something that had always interested her.

Kate walked into the huge lecture theatre and sat in the empty seat in the front row. Next to her was a beautiful brunette. Kate wanted to say hi but didn't. She looked at the girl from the corner of her eye.

"Hi, I'm Laine." The girl said, with a smile.

"Kate. "Kate said with a smile.

"Are you new?" Laine asked.

"Yeah, I just transferred from Stanford." Kate said.

"Stanford, wow. Why though? California too sunny for ya?" Laine asked.

"Something like that." Kate said with a smile.

"What are you studying?" Laine asked.

"Pre – Law, you?" Kate asked.

"Pre – med. Laine said.

Their professor walked in, interrupting their conversation.

Laine and Kate were inseparable for the next few days. They spent all of their free time together. Kate hadn't told Laine about her mom but she was getting there. Finally feeling like she might be ready to let someone new in.

"So, my boyfriend is throwing a party at his apartment and you have to come." Laine said, sipping on her coffee.

"Oh, I don't know." Kate said, running her finger along the lid of her coffee.

"Oh, come on. I want you to meet Espo and all of our other friends." Laine said.

"Ummm.." Kate said.

"Come on, Kate. Live a little." Laine said.

Kate thought for a moment. It had been a while since she had gone to a party and it might be a good way to get to know some more people. Laine had been good to her and Kate didn't want to push her away.

"Fine." Kate said after a moment, rolling her eyes.

Kate spent the entire evening trying to pick what to wear. She didn't want to be too overdressed or underdressed. She hadn't done this in two years, it was like she had forgotten what it was like to be with her friends and just chill. After searching her entire wardrobe, she settled on a straight black dress. She tied her hair in a bun and smiled at herself in the mirror, feeling almost silly for worrying so much. She had done this so many times, why did this have to be any different.

Just as Kate was done getting dressed, she heard a knock on the door.

"Hey." Kate said, opening the door.

"Girl, you look amazing." Laine said, looking at Kate from top to bottom.

"Thanks." Kate said, with a small smile.

"You ready to go?" Laine asked.

"Yeah." Kate said, shutting the door behind her.

"You okay?" Laine asked, once they were in the car.

"Yeah, why?" Kate asked.

"You haven't said anything for a while." Laine said.

"I'm a little nervous." Kate said, looking at her hands.

"Why?" laine asked.

"I haven't been to a party in a while." Kate said.

"Oh, it's okay. Everyone is really nice and besides, I'll be with you the entire time." Laine said with a smile.

Kate felt reassured, she was still nervous but she knew she was going to be okay as long as Laine was around.

"Hey babe." A man said, kissing Laine.

"Hey baby." Laine said, kissing him back.

"Kate, this is my boyfriend Esposito. Espo, this is Kate." Laine said, introducing the two.

"I've heard a lot of great things about you." Kate said, shaking Espo's hand.

"Likewise." Espo said.

Kate liked Espo, he seemed really nice and he was very good to Laine. For a while, the three of them kept talking, until someone tapped Espo on the shoulder.

"Hey." The man said.

"Hey Rick." Espo said, hugging the man.

"Kate this is Rick, Rick, this is Kate." Espo said, introducing the two.

"Hey, I'm Rick." Richard said, extending his hand.

"Kate." Kate said, shaking his hand, suddenly feeling a little warm in her chest.

"So, what are you studying?" Rick asked, , once Espo and Laine had stepped away to refill their drinks.

"I'm pre – law, how about you?" Kate asked.

"English. I want to be a writer." Rick said.

"Oh cool." Kate said, trying to sound a little aloof.

"So, are you new?" Rick asked.

"Yeah, I just transferred from Stanford." Kate said.

"Yeah, I thought as much. I knew if I'd met you before, I'd remember you." Rick said with a suggestive smile.

Kate didn't really know what to say. He was cute but she wasn't ready for whatever it is, he was looking for.

"Can I get you a drink?" Rick asked.

"Nah, I don't feel like drinking tonight." Kate said.

"Okay, coffee then?" Rick asked, trying to be charming.

"It's the middle of the night..." Kate said.

"Tomorrow?" Rick asked.

Before Kate could say anything, Laine pulled her away to meet one of her other friends. Rick and Kate didn't talk much for the rest of the night. When Laine and Kate were about to leave, they came to say bye to Espo and Rick.

"Bye." Kate said.

"Are you sure I can't interest you in a cup of coffee sometime?" Rick asked.

"It was nice to meet you, Rick." Kate said.

"It's too bad, it would've been great." Rick said with a smirk.

Kate couldn't help but feel a little giddy. She didn't know what was taking over her.

"You have no idea." She said, whispering in his ear.