Chapter 6
Tiptoeing into the kitchen Brandon wrapped his arms around Kelly's waist pressing his lips against her neck resulting in a fit of giggles mixed with soft groans coming from her mouth. "If you don't stop this I'm going to burn them." She warned him with a faked annoyance in her voice.
"Eating...is...overrated." Brandon whispered between trailing small kisses down her neck.
"That might be true, but after last night I refuse to put out again until I'm fed properly." Kelly grinned.
"Speaking of last night, Kel. It was amazing." He mumbled.
Kelly smiled, moving the last of the pancakes from the pan on the plate and turning the burner off. "To be honest, I never expected you to pull an all-nighter. I didn't know you still had it in you, Walsh." She turned around facing him with a big grin on her face.
"Hey!" Brandon grinned. "That's not fair, especially if you're the one who fell asleep at 4 am." His arms drew her closer and his lips found hers easily, his tongue dancing on her lips.
"You've tired me out." Kelly smiled dreamily.
"But you liked it."
"No, I loved it." She giggled.
"What am I going to do with you Miss Taylor?" Brandon raised his brows shaking his head in a mocked disapproval.
"Hmm...I don't know, but after I eat something I'm willing to find out." She smiled freeing herself from his embrace.
"You better hurry up, the time's ticking." He blurted following her, watching as she placed the plate in the middle of the table set for two, that's when her shoulders slumped. "Kel..." He said softly, placing his hands on her arms.
"It's okay, Brandon. I just somehow managed to forget that in a few hours you'll be gone again." She said quietly.
"It's not forever." Brandon turned her around his eyes meeting hers.
"No, just six months with a possibility to prolong."
"Which I'm not going to do." Brandon kissed her quickly before letting go of her and sitting down on the chair.
"Yeah." Kelly looked away briefly. "I'm sorry, I don't even know why I've brought this up. It's not like we're together and I've a claim on you. You might very well stay there as long as you want or come back and decide this is not what you want."
"Kel..." Brandon catched her eyes. "Over the years we've been through too much together...no matter what happens, you'll always have a claim on me."
"Right." Her face fell and she looked away not able to hold his gaze, this was Brandon Walsh always trying to do the honorable thing and make the other person feel better.
"I do mean it." He said taking her hands into his. "I'll be back here in six months ready to do whatever is needed so there can be "us" again and there'll be nothing that will ever make me walk away, I promise."
Kelly looked up at him hopefully, maybe those were not just words, maybe he already made his mind. "I believe you."
"Good." He returned her smile, giving her hands a gentle squeeze before letting go of them. "Now, we should eat something. I don't want you to starve to death." He grinned.
Kelly rolled her eyes taking a few pancakes on her plate. Taking a few glimpses of Brandon while eating she couldn't help, but thing how nice it would be to see him like this every morning...the time was still ticking.
Hours later Brandon stood above Kelly fully dressed and ready to leave, watching her as she slept peacefully. It was another memory he wanted to keep and cherish during the long months apart. He was sad but at the same time relieved that she was asleep and he couldn't say goodbye to her properly. It was not the first time he was leaving her behind, but this time it felt somehow more difficult.
Leaning in he pressed his lips on her forehead taking in her scent and the softness of her skin. The kiss was gone too quickly and he took one last glance of her before he turned around and walked away from her bedroom, missing the tears that spilled on her cheeks almost the very same moment the door closed behind him. The past 24 hours definitely meaning a lot to both of them.
"So, this is it. You're really going to do it and leave us again?" Steve swallowed hard as they reached the departure hall at the airport. This time he was definitely not the happy witty usual self.
"I have to." Brandon uttered, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. He thought that leaving Kelly behind was going to be the toughest thing he had to do that day, it turned out leaving the rest of his friends was not much easier. "Can you do something for me?" Brandon asked him.
"Anything." Steve said immediately.
"Can you take care of Kelly for me?"
"Anything I need to know?" Steve asked raising his brow. The fact that Kelly behaved strangely around Brandon the day before and he left Madeline's party shortly after his former fiancée did not go unnoticed to him, but with their history he did not attach any importance to it, not until now.
"Not really." Brandon breathed out. "Just take care of her. The coming days are not going to be easy for her."
"Well, she's not going to make taking care of her easy for me, but I'll do my best." Steve grinned.
"Thanks, Steve. You don't know how much I appreciate that." Brandon smiled.
"I think, I do." Steve uttered. Although he promised to take Brandon to the airport, he felt uneasy about the whole thing, he hated goodbyes and this one felt even harder knowing where his friend was heading.
He'd rather get it over with quickly, at least before he'll find himself weeping in a public place. "Alright, I hate goodbyes and you know it. So you owe me once you are back in the States. Take care of yourself Brandon, don't do anything crazy...or crazier than you already did." Steve grinned. "And come back to her soon."
"Thanks, Steve. That's the plan." Brandon said as the two of them embraced.
Adjusting the bag on his shoulder again, Brandon moved forward without saying anything else, walking away from the world he knew, from his family and friends.
