Berkley smiled and said, "Yeah. I'd really like that."

That put a big smile on his face and he slipped his hand into hers and they started walking back down the pier. She looked over at him as they walked and their eyes met and she smiled, before looking down at the ground. He was so hot and she couldn't believe that he really liked her. Also there was the fact that he was the one that saved her life. This all felt like a dream that she was going to wake up from.

When he dropped her back off at her dorm he got off the motorcycle and pulled her in for another hug and kissed her again but less softly this time. He pulled at her waist and brought her body against his and covered her mouth with his lips. He turned his head to the side and her lips parted, letting him in and he didn't hesitate to take advantage.

His tongue rubbed against hers and her insides fluttered as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He kissed her with so much passion that it made her entire body tingle and when he stepped back away from her, her heart was racing and she was panting.

"Good night," he said with a smile and a wink, as he pulled the helmet on and got back on his bike.

"Good night," she said with a shy smile, giving him a little wave as she turned and walked towards her dorm with the biggest smile on her face she had ever had.

When she got to her dorm room her roommate Ember was laying on her bed on her stomach with papers and books laid all around, writing in a notebook.

"Hey," she said with a cheerful smile. "How was your date?"

Berkley flopped down onto her bed and exhaled dreamily.

"It was amazing. He was so sweet and we took a walk on the beach. Oh my gosh. When he dropped me off he gave me the most amazing kiss I've ever had," she said, smiling at the memory.

"Good for you," Ember said, before going back to her work. Then she looked up and said, "Hey, I ummmm, wanted to talk to you about something."

"Oh yeah? What about?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Ummm. I know it's kind of awkward to talk about and if I'm being too nosy just tell me to butt out. I won't get my feelings hurt."

"Okay," Berkley said hesitantly, scrunching her eyebrows.

"Those nightmares that you have, they sound pretty brutal," she said quietly, looking down at her notepad. She lifted her eyes and said, "What are they about?"

Berkley hadn't expected that question and she felt a pain in her stomach as she laid there thinking about how to answer. She didn't even realize her eyes were getting watery until a tear ran down her cheek.

She blinked and wiped it away before sitting up and looking down at her hands, saying, "About six months ago I went through something really traumatic. It's really hard to talk about so I normally don't. The only ones that know all the details are Dean and my Dad and brother."

She hesitated before continuing, "I'm sorry I'm being so vague, but talking about it takes me to a dark place that it takes a long time to get out of. I'm still trying to figure out how to move on with my life and be normal. During the day I can usually block the thoughts out but at night when I'm sleeping and I'm not in control, everything comes back."

Ember took a deep breath in and let it out, looking over at her with sympathy. "I'm sorry. I've had nightmares before but nothing like that. Your nightmares sound terrifying."

"Yeah. They aren't regular nightmares. They're called night terrors, which are a lot worse. They feel so real and they're so scary. I usually have them about three times a night."

Ember gave her a sympathetic look and she looked down thinking for a second before asking, "Did something happen to your Mom? I heard you screaming Mom over and over in your sleep."

"Yeah," Berkley said, feeling her eyes fill up with tears again and she hung her head and started to sob into her hands.

Ember got up and came over and sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered as she held her tight and rubbed her back.

Berkley sniffled and cried on her shoulder for a minute before she finally sat up and wiped her tears away.

Ember looked into her watery eyes and said, "I know you may not be ready to talk about it but if you change your mind I'm here to listen or if you don't want to talk and just need a hug and a shoulder to cry on. I've got you."

"Thank you," Berkley said, giving her a small smile, wiping her tears. "I really appreciate that." She took in a deep breath and let it out and said, "I'm really glad I got you as a roommate. You're so understanding about all this but I feel really bad about waking you up in the middle of the night. I'm sorry you got stuck with me as a roommate."

"Oh no. Don't worry about me. I can just get a pair of ear plugs," she said with a smile, making Berkley smile too.

"They better be REALLY good earplugs," she laughed

"Of course. In fact I'm going to get on my phone and order some right now," she said, taking out her phone and clicking around for a minute before saying, "There, I ordered some engineered by NASA that block out all sound but you gotta make sure I wake up in the morning to my alarm," she smiled.

"I can do that," Berkley nodded. She was so relieved how cool Ember was being about all this.

"You said you usually have three a night but you only had one last night."

"Yeah, I called Dean and he came over and snuggled with me. I usually don't have them when he sleeps with me for some reason. I'm not sure why. So are you all ready for the first day of classes tomorrow?" she asked, looking across the room at all the papers spread out on Ember's bed.

"Yeah but I'm nervous. First day jitters I guess."

"Do you have your schedule? I wonder if we have any classes together?" Berkley asked, and Ember walked over back to her bed and Berkley walked over and took the schedule she held out to her.

"It looks like we have one class together. Economics. Exciting," she laughed.

They heard a knock at their door and Berkley opened it to see Dean standing there wearing his black leather jacket and a pair of dark jeans and a white t-shirt.

"Hey," she said with a smile. "What's up?"

"Nothing. Since when do I need a reason to hang out with my best friend?" he asked, walking past her and plopping down onto her bed.

"Hey no shoes on my bed caveman," she laughed, sitting down next to him and swatting his feet off onto the floor.

"Fine," he said kicking his shoes off before climbing under her covers. "So how was your date?"

"It was good," she said with a smile.

"Don't lie! It was more than good. You said it was the most amazing kiss ever!" Ember said with a laugh.

Berkley's face blushed red and she couldn't believe Ember just called her out like that.

"Oh yeah?" Dean asked, looking up at her and raising an eyebrow. He studied her face for a second and said, "Now that you mention it, someone looks awfully happy,"

She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "That's because SOMEONE just got kissed by a hot guy and he asked to take me out again sometime."

"So you really like this guy?" he asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "I think he might be the one."

"The one?" Dean asked.

"Yeah. You know, the one. You told me to find a guy to sleep with that wasn't random. Well he's the one that saved my life. You can't get any less random than that. He's the perfect choice for my first time."

"Yeah. That's great Berk," he said less than enthusiastically.

"Hey! What's your problem?" she asked, punching his arm. "You don't like hearing about my sex life? You're always hooking up with girls and telling me all about it, in very vivid detail I might add," she said laughing with a wrinkled up nose in disgust.

"I know. It's just," he said, hesitating and running a hand through his hair. "It's weird to hear about you wanting to have sex with a guy I guess. You've never done that before so I'm not used to hearing about it."

"Well get used to it pal," she smirked. "It's payback time. Now I get to gross you out with every lurid detail of how amazing the sex was and exactly what we did. Give you a taste of your own medicine."

"I'd rather you didn't. I really don't want to hear about it."

"Too bad. You've been doing that to me for years. You think I actually wanted to hear you brag about how Sylvie could suck start a Harley or how flexible Janine was? Hell no. I hated every second of it and now you will too," she laughed.

She couldn't wait to turn the tables on him and show him how it felt.

"Hey Dean?" Ember asked. "Is there any way you could do me a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well tomorrow is the first day of classes and I want to get a really good night's sleep and the earplugs I ordered haven't come in yet. Would you mind sleeping over so Berkley doesn't have nightmares tonight? She said she doesn't have them when you're around. I'll love you forever and owe you one," she pleaded. "I mean, that's if it's okay with you if he stays Berkley?"

"Of course," Berkley scoffed. "Why would it not be okay? Dean's slept in my bed a million times throughout my life. It's no big deal."

She looked over at him and said, "Just try to keep your hard on to yourself this time big boy."

He narrowed his eyes at her and picked up her pillow and smacked her with it.

She picked up a pillow and smacked him back and the next thing she knew he was on top of her tickling her stomach and making her squeal and scream.

Finally he stopped and they both laid there panting, with him on top of her for a second and gradually their smiles faded and he looked into her eyes. She felt something as she stared back into his dark blue eyes, a stirring inside and he finally looked away and sat up and said, "Well if I'm staying over tonight I need to go back to my place and get my stuff. I'll be back."

She heard the click of the door as he left and she laid there panting with her heart beating like crazy.