a\n: Hey everyone, so this is my first Keith story, and my first story in like, forever, so I hope it's easy to read, enjoyable, and it keeps you hooked until the next chapter. I don't believe I have EVER written a chapter this long, so I am quite pleased. I absolutely adore this movie, and it has quickly become my favorite. This story begins with a changed middle. Right before their kiss, and then that is changed, and it continues AU from there. I hope it's not confusing, and I hope you guys enjoy. If you have any questions, PM me, and please review! I want reviews to continue, so lay em' on me. If you have any ideas for the next chapter/story in general, let me know. Without Further Ado, the opening chapter of, 'A Little Chemistry.'

God Bless-

TheGoodGirlDoll

It all started when Keith couldn't take it anymore. Couldn't take what anymore? Well, everything. Keith had always grown-up in a poor family. He was an only child, and didn't want to enter the realm of making friends. He didn't mind friends, nor did he mind talking, he just minded emotion. Keith didn't want to feel pain, anger, excitement, or even happiness- because happiness always lead to pain; pain Keith never wanted to face. Keith enjoyed only one thing, really, and that was his truck. He poured over his truck daily, giving it time, money, and love. Well, love...in a form. Keith didn't truly believe in love...he didn't want to show love, or receive it. He'd likely be gone before he could act on it anyway.

Keith struggled with his locker combination as he thought over what he needed for his next class. He hadn't done the homework, for one thing, and he knew Natalie would be furious. He smirked; speaking of the devil...

"Hey, partner." He quipped cheerfully.

"Hey, Keith. Do you have the homework from last night by any chance?"

"No. I actually had more important things to do." He shut his locker and stood.

"Like what?" She asked, curious instead of fuming like he assumed she'd be.

He smiled. "Bowling."

"Bowling?"

He nodded, still grinning. "Bowling."

"Okay, what's with you and your Bowling obsession?"

"Bowling, to me, is a general term. It's one of my favorite words, actually. It just roles off the tongue, doesn't it? Bowling. Anyway, partner, I really just had more important things to do- Don't worry your little head." He ruffled her hair and continued walking to class. She trailed behind him desperately.

"Keith, we have a test today! I at least need some information!"

"Calm down, partner. Look, I can't spoon feed you this junk. You'll do fine on the test as long as you know the formulas."

She checked over what seemed to be mental notes.

"The formulas, I can do that. I know those."

"See? You'll do fine."

She fell silent as they walked into class and took their tests from Walter's hand upon arrival.

Keith had been right; the test formulas came easy to Natalie and she had her head down, working furiously on her test the whole class period. Once she finally lifted it, in fact, and turned to smile at Keith, he was already gone.

"How does he always do that?" She mumbled to herself.

The bell rang just as she gathered all her things. She slung her book bag over her shoulder then, and walked out, glancing down both ends of the hallway looking for Keith, before Rafael came up behind her and embraced her in a tight, masculine hug.

"Hey, Raf."

"Hey, babe." He greeted, planting a kiss on her lips. "We going to The Brick tonight?"

"Not sure. I actually have tons of work to do," she saw Keith out of the corner of her eye. "which reminds me, I have to go to the office and let them look over my Duke application."

Rafael didn't have time to reply more than, 'Okay,' before Natalie had sped off in the opposite direction. He sighed and turned around- He supposed he could fill up his time with some snacks and soccer with the other exchange students.

"Hey, partner!" Keith said as Natalie approached him.

"Hey, partner, listen, thanks for telling me the formulas were definitely on the test. I went over them before-hand, and I'm pretty sure I nailed it."

"Ah, what're lap partners for?"

"How did you know they'd be on the test anyway? Aren't, well, Walter's tests usually like, I don't know, 'top-secret'?"

Keith chuckled.

"Top secret? I saw it on his desk yesterday, so I am supposing that's how I figured out, and that it also disregards his tests as being 'top-secret'. That one, anyway."

"Well, whatever they are, thanks."

"No problem- You can make it up to me when we go Bowling tonight."

"Bowling." She laughed, unconvinced.

"It's not a date." He replied, an air of desperate-ness lacing his eyes.

Natalie blushed before simply nodding, and walking away.

Natalie waited for awhile to see Keith's truck pull up, but nothing. Finally, at 1 A.M., she decided to crawl into bed. Then, is when she saw the beaming of his truck's headlights stream against her bedroom window. She couldn't help the excitement building in her heart when she saw that truck. She smiled. Natalie knew she had Raf, but she also knew Keith was mysterious...and a lot of fun. What harm could spending a couple hours with him do?

It took her no time to slip on her shoes and run out to the truck. She glanced at the time on her clock before she ran out- 1:10.

"You're late, partner."

"I didn't give you a time." He stated quickly, moving the truck into drive.

"Yes, but you did say, 'tonight,' as in, last night." She glanced at her watch. "1:13...as in, a new day; you should've been here yesterday."

He smirked and shook his head. "I need to stop rubbing off on you; your sarcastic and cynical comments are becoming un-canny to my stature."

"No, you need to stop thinking you're rubbing off on me. I am my own person, partner."

"If you say so." He shrugged, moving the car into drive.

There were only a few moments of silence before Natalie spoke.

"So, where are we going?"

He looked at her and smiled. "It's a surprise."

"Okay." She replied; letting it go.

They drove for awhile, when finally, they arrived in front of a small, run-down bakery.

"What're we doing here?"

"We aren't here for the pastries." He un-latched his seat-belt and opened the door. "I just need your help with something."

She furrowed her eyebrows, but didn't ask, and simply followed his lead. He lead her over to the alley way behind the bakery, to where she found his jacket laying on the ground in a heap- grease leaked onto it from a parked car's exhaust.

"Your jacket's going to have stains from that."

"Natalie," he glanced at her. "I work on my truck practically non-stop, and I barely own any jackets, I think I'd know how to get a grease stain at least somewhat eliminated."

"Alright, you got me there, so what're we doi-" She heard a soft meow and he removed his jacket to reveal a small, white, (dirty), kitten.

"A kitten! Keith, what in the world?"

"I saw it limping on the side of the road, so I moved it over here, therefore saving it from it's impending doom, and I figured you'd like to help me clean it up and find it a home."

"Well, why can't we keep it?" The words left her mouth without her even thinking; Keith seemed taken aback.

"Well," he started slowly. "There's that option. We'd sort of, take turns with it?"

"Yeah...What do you think?"

He nodded, and grinned. "Yeah, I think there's room enough for one more in my truck."

Natalie smiled then and rook the bundle of jacket and kitten into her arms.

"Is it a girl or a boy?"

"Not sure," he nuzzled it's little nose with his own. "we can just call it our Little Partner."

Natalie grinned as he opened the truck door for her. "Thank-you," she said softly, as she climbed in.

He shut the door then, and hopped into the driver's seat- it seemed there was no other place than there that he'd rather be. He hit the gas abruptly and Natalie held the kitten tight, staring onto the dashboard as they struck up conversation.

"So, home now?"

"Hmm..." He glanced at her. "Nahh. Let's clean up our new pet here, then grab a bite."

"A bite where?"

"24/7 diner?" He suggested.

"Sure."

He grinned. "You know, you're shaping up nicely, Miss Anderson." He stared at her gently.

She rolled her eyes. "No thanks to you."

"That hurt, you know." He replied quickly, staring at her for a long moment before turning back to the road. His expression was somber. Natalie couldn't read him so well as to know if his remark was truthful or not, so she chuckled and fixed her eyes on the open road as well, occasionally glancing at his hands gripping the steering wheel. After a long silence, he broke it with the statement of: "My favorite food is chicken."

"How nice," she laughed. "And random."

"Well, that I can be...sometimes; but not this time." He pointed to the wild chickens running around near the old farm house to their left.

"I don't eat much meat myself."

"Ahh, a Veg-Freak."

"No, not a vegetarian, but pretty close."

It wasn't long after her comment that they arrived at the diner, and Keith took the cat from her so she could open the door and step-out.

"We bringing in Little Partner?"

"Yeah, we'll get him some chow."

"Keith. What can you feed a cat at a diner?"

He looked at her as though she were foreign. "Milk, obviously."

"Alright, Zetterstrom, you never stop making me feel like you want to be better than me-why?"

"Well, partner, you hit the nail on the head. You're already better than me, so don't I deserve something to try and live up to, then fail miserably at?"

She smiled. "Yeah, I suppose everyone's entitled to at least one of those scenarios in life."

"Exactly-you're just mine."

Natalie was incredibly distracted the rest of the night; for some reason, she couldn't stop thinking about Keith's voice telling her: 'You're mine'. She knew it wasn't in the context of boyfriend and girlfriend, and she knew she already has a boyfriend, but she never got these butterflies with Raf. Why? She didn't even like Keith...Did she? She had the same 'skipping heart-beats' feeling when they role played at the office building the other day, in the elevator, and during their little 'punishment' skit. She had to stop, though. She wasn't sure if she liked him or not, but she was positive if she didn't like him, he did not feel the same about her.

When she finally had come out of her trance, she saw Keith staring at her.

Welcome back, feelings.

"You got somethin' on your mind, partner?"

She smiled. "Just wonderin' if the waitress found a good home for our winning balls."

He snickered. "I'm sure she did, Patsy." He reached across the table and rest his hand on top of hers- sparks flew for her.

"Pats, I'm sure they found a wonderful home for our balls."

"I miss playin' already. It's just about breakin' my heart, Cosmo." She playfully replied in a thick southern accent.

He forced the laughter ready to consume him, away. "It'll be okay, Patsy," he removed his hand. "Let's just order some breakfast."

She grinned.

"So, milk for our little one, some French Toast for me, and for you?"

"I'll take some scrambled eggs with cheese, and some jellied toast, thank-you."

"Man, you're cleanin' me out."

She blushed, but composed herself quickly. Why was she embarrassed? Keith was just her friend; and totally cool. "Where did you get loaded, anyway?" She asked curiously.

"Dad gives me money for gas, but my truck is great with gas, so I run my honey-bun to the last drop and save up what's left-over every month."

"Ahh, for your dates?"

"Well, I am spending my money on you, therefore you, not me, you, just called this a date."

Natalie had not time to reply due to the waitress walking over to them, and for that, she was thankful. The waitress took their orders quickly, and even said she'd bring a shallow dish for their kitten to drink out of. Keith glanced over at Natalie periodically, and when he wasn't looking at her for any length of time, he was staring out the window. Natalie didn't glance over from her staring point out the window when she saw him looking at her out of the corner of her eye; she figured Keith wouldn't like being noticed and called out for staring at her like that. Besides, he was probably too oblivious to even notice. He didn't mean to be staring at her like he wanted her. Did he?

Over the next 15 minutes they waited for their food, the silence permeated Natalie's thoughts and she was able to think over her grades, tennis, her parents, Raf, and Keith. She'd been enjoying being his friend immensely, but it was beginning to create tension between her and Rafael. How long could she continue this charade? She just didn't know what to do anymore. She didn't want to break Raf's heart, but first and foremost, she didn't want to break her own. There was just something about Keith; something about him that she wanted...something that pulled her to him. It would be a sin not to be his friend...To not find out what that emotional pull to him was.

Finally, the waitress arrived back with their food, and Natalie knew it had to be nearing 2:30 in the morning. She took her food eagerly, and wandered if they were heading right home after this. Knowing Keith, if she thought they were, they wouldn't be; he was just too spontaneous for his own good.

"It's getting pretty late." Natalie commented.

Keith smirked. "Or very early."

"Which do you prefer?"

"Late. I'm a night person. I love it. Love the night."

"Then you made your, 'very early', comment just to mess with me?"

"All I do is mess with you." He replied before returning to his food.

All I do is mess with you.

Natalie heard those words bounce against the walls of her head for the rest of the night. All he was truly doing was messing with her, and Natalie didn't want to be used. She didn't want to fall for him...But she was falling for him...She was falling fast, in fact, and he had no intentions of catching her.

The fall would be hard.

After they finished eating, Keith took Natalie to the cliff over-looking The Brick. Sitting on a large rock next to him, she was forced to wonder how different things would be if they were together.

"I love sitting out in the cold of the night," he spoke softly. "But owing to your shivering arms, I suppose you don't." He removed his jacket then and laid it over her shoulders. Did he know what he was doing, or was he that oblivious and non-caring?

"You know, partner, you never seem fearful. Are you afraid of anything?"

Natalie took a moment to process this quick change in topic, and then replied slowly. "I try not to think of fear. I just...Go with the flow."

"Me too. I like avoiding the 'fear-scene'. It makes me feel contained; locked up." He looked into her eyes. "I don't like that. I like being free. I like feeling adrenaline; the kind I got from almost rolling off the cliff last week; the kind I get when-"

"-You're about to kiss someone?" She finished before pressing her lips against his.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

He wasn't supposed to let it.

He wasn't supposed to kiss her back.

Since their unexpected kiss on the cliff, things had been awkward between the two to say the last. They hadn't spoken at all, and if they caught each other's eye, they immediately turned away. But now, it was time for Chemistry, and they had a lab to finish; they'd have to talk.

"Hey, partner." Keith said normally as he sat down next to her.

"Keith." She nodded her acknowledgement of him.

"So, finishing up this lab. Walter gave me a heads up on what chemicals to use to speed up the process, so I'm pretty psyched."

"I see."

"Look, partner, you don't have to blow me off. You're the one who kissed me, remember?"

"SHH!"

"What!" He stood violently. "Embarrassed of the freak, huh? Embarrassed to talk to him? Finally annoyed enough! Well listen, little miss Valedictorian, Tennis-playing princess, I won't embarrass you anymore!" He slid his lab book over to her, then slung his book-bag over his shoulder. "I won't come near you, Anderson."

Anderson? Not Natalie? Not...partner?

She sat in shock as he left the classroom, and was forced to do the rest of the lab missing 1/2 of the team effort.

Once Natalie arrived home that night, the first thing she did was call Keith. He had given her his number when she had lab questions he promised her he'd search online, so she dialed the number quickly and waited as it rang.

Voicemail.

Hey, you've reached Keith. If you aren't Natalie- I'll call you back. If this is Miss Anderson, go Bowling or something.

She sighed and hung up.

Why was he acting like this? It wasn't normal for him to make weird scenes like this for everyone to see\know about.

Natalie went to bed early that night. She couldn't handle this- and she didn't know why. To her, nothing made sense anymore.

Keith sat alone on the rock he had sat on with Natalie just last night. He looked down on the murky, black water.

Why had she kissed him?

Keith wanted desperately to clear his head- to void himself of all emotion, but how had he though in the first place he could toy with her, and not fall for her? How could he have figured he could easily put all of his feelings aside? She was just so easy to fall for- easy to like; comfortable to be around. He didn't feel like an outcast with Natalie: he felt human. Now, she was changing his whole perspective on life...and he didn't like it, because life was something he soon, wouldn't have.

Should he tell her? Should he have told her already? The question penetrated his thoughts more now, than ever before. She was practically handing her heart to him on a silver platter and he wasn't being honest with her about why he had chosen her as a lab partner; why he was doing everything he was for her/with her. He wasn't telling her why he finally decided to try his hand at winning her heart...why he was doing this because he didn't want to die with all the feelings he held for her inside. But he was still going to- he felt his feelings becoming more trapped now then they had been before he had begun his, 'concrete goal'. He didn't want to hurt her, but if he didn't tell her his feelings he would, and even if he did tell her, he would hurt her. He'd be leaving her soon, whether voluntarily, or involuntarily, and she had to be prepared; he had to be prepared.

Maybe his goal had already been reached. She had kissed him; she fell for him. He has his fun with her, just like Al said. Al encouraged the concrete goal, but he didn't tell Keith he had to pick up the pieces it would leave Natalie's heart shattered in. Maybe, in fact, that's what happened to everyone. Their life's big mess up is their last, and those left behind clean it up, and that leads them to their big finale- the grand mess of their life. And the circle continues. Death never stopped and it didn't discriminate; He didn't want Natalie's sympathy. He didn't have death's.

Keith watched the airplane flying overhead intently, and wondered where it was going. Maybe London, Ontario. Maybe, somewhere much more extravagant. Maybe...Positively ,somewhere Keith would never have a chance to go. He let his head fall again the flat surface of his palms. What had he done to deserve to die before he even graduated? Keith couldn't comprehend anything anymore. He didn't know why he had to die; he didn't even know if he cared. All he knew anymore, was Natalie and how she ruined his plan. His plan of not caring whether he lived or died; his plan of not letting it faze him in the slightest. But she changed it, and now, he did care. He cared that soon, he was going to die; that he didn't have as much time with her as he wanted. But there were the magic words: he wanted more time with Natalie; he wanted a lifetime with her. A lifetime, though, didn't exactly mean a long time- it just meant whatever you have. It meant he could still give her a lifetime...The lifetime with no mistake in when it's over...the lifetime, albeit short, that was his.

Maybe she wouldn't want that, though. She had never settled for anything before, so why would Natalie Anderson settle for him? For a short-lived Summer romance? Especially after how he treated her...after the things he said. He didn't think she was one of those prissy, stuck-up snobs, but he had made her appear that way in front of their whole class. He had to make it up to her. He had to show her how much he really did care. That then, he decided, could be his second concrete goal. The second goal would mean him doing something more with his life than the norm. Al had said to choose one concrete goal, and after succeeding at his first, he would set his second, and achieve it. This time, he didn't want to have fun with her-he wanted her; all of her. He wanted to stop acting like he didn't care anymore...and even though he knew in his gut it was so much easier said than done, he would do everything he could to portray his feelings for her in a way that lacked attachment...if that was possible.

Even if it had been made over a stupid Chem. class, he wouldn't let their partnership break apart. It was important; just like she was.

Natalie awoke to her phone going off on her night table. Reaching over sleepily, she answered without checking to see who it was.

"Hello?"

"I'm really glad you answered; I wanted to apologize for earlier."

"Keith?"

"Who else would call you at 3 A.M.?"

She smiled at this. "All's forgiven. Where did you go, anyway?"

"Just off to think."

"Ah, ran away again? You're always running from your problems rather than facing them, partner."

She heard him sigh and his voice adopted an anxious tone.

"Look, I can prove to you I don't always run away. I've been having, well...Never mind, the point is so what I handle my problems a little late? At least I handle them...Just like I fixed what happened between us hours ago, just now."

"Are you alright?"

"If you are, partner."

"I'm fine-you're just not acting like yourself."

"I don't really know me anymore, Natalie. Maybe you can know me one say, and tell me who I am...Who I was."

The line went dead and Natalie sat up for a long while contemplating their conversation. Finally, with the jacket he had lent her, she cuddled into sleep again.

She rested her head against his jacket pocket and jumped up abruptly. What was so hard? She rummaged through the worn pocket, careful not to tear the fraying edges, and pulled out the source of her discomfort- a pill bottle. She furrowed her eyebrows.

Why is he carrying this around? She wondered to herself, turning it over in her hand to read the label.

Zetterstrom, Keith.

Triotoxpin-20 MG

Twice daily, ever day

Dr. Cooper (555)980-1024

*May cause dizziness, nausea, and agitation.

Maybe this was the source of his high level of frustration, she assumed. She slid out of bed then, and turned on her computer. Searching for any pill description site, she chose one quickly, at random, and typed in the name. His pills were prescribed for Depression. Maybe Brooke had been right from the beginning- Maybe Keith did have problems Natalie would never be able to fix.

The next day at school, Keith was relieved to realize Natalie took no hesitation in speaking to him, and he struck up conversation with her eagerly.

"So, Lap Reports are over. We get to go back to Quizzes and Tests. We could, though, keep this friendship train going as study partners. What do ya say?"

Natalie smiled. "Sure, I-" She stopped, and her eyes lit up. "Raf." She said in soft adoration, beaming at the rose taped to her locker. Keith walked closer to her and chuckled.

"Who says that's from Mr. Marquez?"

Natalie stared at him. "Y-you? But why?"

"Just showing you my appreciation."

"In a weird way-You're not my boyfriend!"

"No, I'm not, but I am your lab partner-"

"- were. Were my lab partner." She interrupted, but he disregarded this and kept speaking.

"and your acquaintance, and the guy who you did do the whole kiss-scene with only a few nights ago."

"So that warrants a rose?"

"I've never been one to have a lot of friends, so that warrants a lot more than a rose, but I'd like to stay off the stalker train for right now. Besides, that South American of yours could just about rip me limb to limb, couldn't he?"

"Well, we will just have to see. Anyway, if I stand around any longer I'll be late for class, so I'll talk to you in Chem."

"Sure thing." He replied.

After placing the rose in her locker, and gathering her books for Trigonometry, they parted ways, and continued on with their lives until Chemistry.

That's where it always started, wasn't it?

With a little chemistry.