Author's Note: I've estimated like, 5-10 chapters left of this story. Thank you all for your continued support: it means the world to me. Enjoy this next chapter!

Blessings,

Sarah.

True to the previous night's statement, they awoke 'bright and early' the next morning, and settled all of their belongings into the truck. Of course, Keith would be driving. He insisted on beginning the journey, and driving straight through. Natalie didn't have the heart to insist she drive at least a little, for she knew better than to underestimate Keith, and she didn't want to burst his happy bubble. With a final check over the list of things they needn't forget, they were settling into the truck comfortably. It was around 5 A.M., and Natalie seated herself by cuddling with a blanket and leaning her head on Keith's arm. He gripped the steering wheel and started the engine as his Dad leaned against the window.

"All set?" He asked, smiling.

Keith grinned and nodded. "Positive you don't want to join, Dad?"

"No, son, this is a time for you two to spend together- I've had enough of ya!" He joked, ruffling his son's hair.

Keith chuckled and ran a hand to smooth out his thinning hair. It made him so self conscious.

"I'll see you in a couple days, Dad."

"Alright, Keith. Have fun, you two!"

Natalie glanced up and smiled tiredly. "We will."

With that, Henry moved from his leaning position at the window and watched as they backed up and drove out of the driveway. He heard a soft 'meow' on the ground, then, and realized that Little Partner had followed him outside.

"Why is it always you and me?"

The animal remained silent, snuggling against his feet.

O0oo0O

Keith was most at home on the road. With the window down, wind rushing through the truck, speed limit not specified, and Natalie sleeping soundly by him, Keith was happy. For the first time in a long time, he was content. Keith had always had a rough life: losing his Mom, not having much money, and then, having cancer. Nothing had ever come easy for Keith, and nothing had ever come cheap. He had done well masquerading this, pleading the 'outcast' act, and making everyone believe he was just the smart-alecky scrawny kid in the corner. But he had grown; matured, and he had tried to break free of the façade he walked around with everyday- it simply hadn't worked. Keith had never felt comfortable sharing his feelings. He didn't know whether this as due to the fact that he had too many to share, because he was a guy, or just because he was Keith…Whichever way you rolled the dice, he figured they could all be true. Keith had never opened up to anyone the same way he opened up to his Mom until Natalie. Natalie was too amazing for him, and she had completely shaken his world in ways he had been hoping to shake her. In all honesty, Keith could admit now that he had wanted Natalie to fall in love with him, deep down. He wanted to be loved and accepted, but he had decided he would never experience it…That was, until Natalie.

Keith smiled as he watched the highway ahead of him. Natalie was snoring softly next to him, her body weight falling against his arm. The feeling wasn't distracting, nor was the tingling beginning to creep up his arm. He loved the feeling of her leaning against him. He looked down at her as he came to a red stoplight. He pushed back a strand of her blonde hair, and smiled. For a moment, his gaze lingered on her, but then he snapped out of his reverie and hit the gas, lurching forward once more. He drove with her asleep for around an hour of the journey. When she finally awoke, she apologized over the moon for not being awake, but he laughed her off. He had her awake with him for another hour and a half of the drive, playing more road sign games, joking around, and just talking. He told her about all the trucks he hoped to see, he thanked her repeatedly, and he spoke briefly about the hotel they'd be staying at. He had so many questions about it that Natalie was feeling a headache coming on. But still, she answered. She answered because she couldn't help but be excited because he was excited.

Eventually, he began yawning excessively, and she offered to drive. To her surprise, he pulled alongside the road, and go out of the truck wordlessly. Natalie threw the blanket from the back of his truck bed off her and climbed in front of the steering wheel as he sat where she had been laying for the last couple of hours. He smiled at her as he got comfortable and wrapped the blanket around him, bunching up a section of it to use as a pillow. Natalie was about to open her mouth to speak, but before she could she heard his loud snoring. Unable to help herself from laughing, she stared ahead as she grinned. He was so adorable when he slept: his beautiful eyes closed peacefully, his hands and legs cuddled as close to his body as possible, and his lips pressed together tightly. He was so peaceful, so handsome…She loved watching him. Softly, she reached a hand over a ran it through his hair as gently as possible. She wondered how long he'd have it for; if he'd have it for graduation. She knew Keith wasn't looking forward to losing his hair, who would be? But she knew that deep down all he would do is make a joke of it, and let it roll off his shoulders.

What Natalie wished, though, is to be the one person he didn't have to do that with…Lie to.

She knew that all of this bothered him more than he let on, and she hoped that he would open up to him before he bottled everything inside. Praying that this weekend would give him a reason to let her comfort him through some of these inevitable trials, she continued driving. She drove the rest of the way, gripping the wheel tight as he always did, and she regretfully woke him when they arrived at the hotel.

Author's Note: I know there wasn't a lot of action/dialgogue, but from here things are only going to get funny, interesting, sad, and action/dialogue filled. I already have an idea for a little stop when they're on their way home driving, some funny scenes for the next chapter which will be of them checking in and staying in the hotel that night, and some other surprises…So, review, please! I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite its shortness, and the lack of…intensity, I suppose, lol.

God Bless,

I will update more this weekend!

Sarah