Hey Readers :) I have yet to read the marvelous short story by Ron Carlson, so this is based purely on the movie. Starting just after the 'goodbye scene'. xx
"I am staying here until you leave. I don't care how much time we have." I grabbed his face in between my hands. "You get that you stupid Jerk!" An electric rush came over me as I pushed my lips against his, my hands entwining in his dark brown hair. I knew this wouldn't last, but even the idea of spending a single moment away from him made my heart cry. As he dropped the suitcase to the ground and circled me with his arms, I knew he was staying. At least for a while.
...
"Maybe we could go away for a week, even just a weekend?" I wasn't wearing a seatbelt, so was leaning my head against Keith's shoulder as he drove.
"I don't know. It will all depend." His voice was flat, not a good sign. I raised my head to glare at him.
"Don't give me that!" I could hear my voice raise in pitch. "I am in this with you." He shook his head, his soft hair falling into his eyes as he parked in front of my house.
"I can't let you do this Natalie. Watch me as I fade." Keith brushed a piece of hair behind my ear as he turned to face me. "You don't understand what it will be like."
"I don't care." My voice was blunt, as I clasped Keith's hand to my cheek. "No matter what you do, or how hard you try and push me away. It won't work. You're stuck with me." A small smile escaped his lips, before quickly disappearing.
"You say that now, but..."
"But no. I've never lied to you before, and I'm not gonna start now. Get used to us partner."
"Us?" His voice lowered as his head moved slowly closer to mine.
"Yes, us." A rather loud knock on the window jolted us apart. As I turned to see who had interrupted our moment, my heart stopped. It was Raff.
"So this is what you do then!" Raff was yelling at Keith. "Steal another guys girl." Keith gave a slight shrug.
"It wasn't intended. Its just...Natalie and I have chemistry." The smugness in Keith's voice did not go undetected. Raff's hands formed fists.
"Why are you here Raff? We broke up, remember." I moved myself slightly in front of Keith, fearful of any rash action Raff might take.
"I had some of your things, and I was just dropping them off." He motioned to the cardboard box at his feet. "But then you show up with him." Raff pointed at Kieth, his eyes flaring.
"So what if I did Raff? We..are..not..together...anymore! Do I have to spell it out for you?" I was yelling now. "You do not have control over who I see." Raff's eyes darted between Keith and I. To my surprise Keith was being rather silent, he just took my hand for support.
"Were you with him?" Raff stated flatly.
"What?"
"Where you with him?" Raff ran a hand through his hair "When you were with me?" The words did not form in my mouth, so I nodded. "I so knew it.."
"You don't understand..." I began, but Raff wouldn't have any of it and got into his car screeching off.
"Well that could have been a whole lot worse." Keith said as he rocked back and forth on his heels, watching the car turn at the end of the street. I raised one eye brow questionably. "I'm just saying, he looked like he was going to punch somebody." Keith ran a hand across his forehead. "Glad that didn't happen." I smiled, draping my arms around his neck.
"You know what Zetterstrom?" I asked, as he rested his forehead on mine.
"What is it Anderson?"
"I think I might.."
"Don't." The word came out quickly, before he pressed his lips softly against mine. "Just don't ok."
"Ok."
...
Finally I convinced Keith to stay for dinner. Dad and him discussed tennis and Duke. Keith marvelously fabricating a story about his desire to become a travel writer, exploring different worlds near and far; but first studying at Duke mid-semester. Oh how Dad gleamed. Despite everything that was going on, just hearing Keith laugh made my world lighter.
"Girly." Was the first comment that came out of Keith's mouth as he entered my room. I shut the door, ensuring it was locked.
"Don't make fun, I bet you still have some truck figurines from when you were younger." Keith picked up one of the stuffed animals on my shelf.
"Yes. But they are called collectables now." He said with a smile, as he chucked the stuffed butterfly at me. I sighed.
"I have something to show you." I started hesitantly, as I moved Keith into the chair in front of my computer.
"Is it porn? Because I mean we have only slept together once, not sure if porn is the next step in our physical relationship..." I scowled at his smugness.
"Just read it." I opened up a few documents that I had saved, showing studies of a new experimental treatment that had allowed a substantial number of people suffering from cancer to live longer. His eyes scanned feverishly over the documents. When he was finished he sighed leaning back into the desk chair.
"What do you think?" I asked hopeful.
"What do I think?" He was irritated. Pushing the chair out from underneath him, he rose to stand inches away from me. "Don't you think I have gone over every avenue! Don't you think I have tried everything there is to try! Nothing works." His voice was low as he spoke, in order to not alert my parents bellow us.
"Have you tried this one?" I said, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"Natalie, I have accepted my fate. There is nothing more that I can do."
"Don't lie to me Keith. I know that if there was even a single chance that this could work you would jump on it."
"I don't have that kind of money."
"Luckily for us, I do."
...
I knew that he still wasn't a hundred present sure, either was I to be honest. But if there was even a chance that a little pill could provide me with extra years with Keith, then the money I had been saving for college was being put to better use. We would never say it out loud, but we needed each other.
"Stop frowning." I was resting in Keith's arms, stroking my hands across his forehead. Trying to smooth out his furrowed lines. I had told my parents that Keith had gone home, and by parking his car in our secret spot they were, hopefully, none the wiser. My bedroom was dark, only the soft street lights shining through the curtains allowed me to see his face.
"You know my Dad won't agree to this." Keith uttered through the darkness.
"I think he would." Such intimacy was unusual for Keith, I knew this. Even to just be lying in each others arms was uncomfortable for him. He didn't like to be reliant on anyone, didn't want to form relationships, because life is not linear. There are too many bumps and bruises along the way, and for Keith he thought his squiggle of a line was coming to a crashing halt. "It's only money Keith. Now shut your face I'm tired."
"Shut my face. Did I hear you correctly partner?" I could hear the smirk in his voice, as he squeezed me tightly against his chest.
"Yes..yes..yess" I couldn't help but laugh as I spoke. Keith was placing small butterfly kisses all over my neck. The atmosphere changed as he rand his lips slowly up my jaw towards my lips. His body fully encompassed mine now, his eyes searching mine as he lowered his head to take my lips in his. The kiss quickly turned heated, my hands playing with the hem of his shirt before he pulled it over his head. Drawing his lips back to mine, Keith slowly let his tongue enter my mouth. He removed my shirt and bra with ease, tossing them to the ground. Keith's eyes roamed my chest, before lowering his head to take my right breast into his mouth. A loud moan escaped my lips, as a knock came at the door.
"Natalie," Zach called from the other side of the door.
"Yeaah." My voice was ragged as I spoke, so quickly repeated myself "What is it?" Keith wasn't stopping, he had unclasped the top of my jeans, swiftly pulling them off. Zach's voice had dropped an octave.
"Not to interrupt but, just keep in mind these walls are thin."
Hello readers :) I would love to hear what you think of this chapter. Not sure if a T rating is appropriate because there will be [most definitely] some M15+ scenes coming up shortly. But will figure this out as time goes on. I don't really like predictability, so keep this in mind if you continue to read on. xx happy reader