Everlasting

Everlasting

by: Reiko-chan

Standard Disclaimers Apply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intermission: Summer's Spring

Two weeks ago, classes had ended for all the students of California. The entire student population rejoiced at the arrival of everyone's favorite season. Pretty soon, everyone was up and about having their own gimmicks and parties. The malls were now packed with shoppers, the parks were full of children running around, and the sidewalks seem more crowded than ever.

At number 414 Aster Lane, things seemed pretty dull for the young girl living there. Kate was sitting at their living room sofa in front of the TV. Her back was slouched and her face looked extremely grim. Her chin was rested on her right hand, while the left hand held the remote. Bored. That's what she was. She was extremely, beyond doubt, absolutely bored. She tried calling her girl friends, but they were both out on a date with their boyfriends. Her cousin David was out with Lisa... She should've known that they were hiding the fact that they were going steady from her... Kate smiled, remembering how hard Lisa blushed when she saw her with David. Her own boyfriend was out in Vegas on vacation with his family. She could just imagine Kevin, sitting in a bathtub inside the Caesar's Palace Hotel, or sitting in front of a slot machine at a local pub. At least he was having fun. And here she was, surfing the channels for anything good to watch. And lucky her, there was none. She threw the remote to the far end of the sofa in frustration and started towards the stairs. At that moment she heard the doorbell ring, and quickly rushed to answer it. She was astonished to find Mikki standing before her, her face looking awfully glum.

Mikki walked inside the house without looking at her, and sat at the sofa. She slouched, rested her chin on her right hand and picked up the remote with her left hand. She began surfing the channels on TV... just like Kate had done. "What's wrong Mikki?" Kate asked, sitting beside her friend. "I thought you and Tony were going out."

"He backed out just a while ago," Mikki replied. Her tone was as sullen as her face.

"What?"

"Said that his dad bought some tickets to the NFL and he forgot to tell me that they were going today," Mikki said. She came across a live broadcasting of the NFL (National Football League) games and quickly jammed her finger on the power button of the remote. Kate swiftly seized the remote from her, just in time before Mikki hit the button.

"Hey! It's not right to vent your anger on my remote! Get a hold of yourself!" Kate exclaimed, setting it aside. "At least you got a chance to go on one... Kevin never asked me out..." Mikki forgot her anger the second she heard that last sentence of hers and turned to look at her friend.

"What do you mean? He's never asked you out?" Mikki felt like laughing. "Kate that's impossible. We all know that you two 'lovebirds' go out every time. You always go to the mall, you always go together to your fencing lessons..."

"I mean, on a date Mikki!" Kate exclaimed. "He's never asked me out. Sure we go to the malls, we go together to fencing... But there's always someone with us!"

Mikki was dumbstruck. "What?"

"Like everytime we go to the malls, we always meet one of Kevin's other friends," Kate sighed. "Sometimes Kevin invites Aaron, or David and Lisa, or anyone... You call that a date?"

"Not exactly..."

"At least you and Tony are inseparable..."

"Only because I've got him under my thumb..." The two girls stared at each other and sighed.

"Men," Mikki sighed.

"They can be so dense," Kate finished for her. Then, the doorbell rang. Kate stood up to get it. She opened the door and found Meg standing behind it, completely dressed from head to toe, with make-up and accessories. Just like Mikki did she barged in and sat on the sofa, right beside Mikki, mumbling to herself. Kate caught 'That darn Sean' and 'I hate him' and 'Damn him!' phrases, and began to guess the situation.

"Let me guess," Kate said. "Something happened and you and Sean weren't able to go out on your date." Meg looked up to her and nodded.

"That darn Sean! He told me that he was absolutely free today and that he had nothing planned! So we decided to go out today on our own! And then he received a call from home that his cousins arrived and wanted some touring around the town, so he told me if we could just bring them along..."

"But you didn't want any interruptions," Mikki finished. Meg nodded.

"I mean, it's the first time in weeks sine we're going to have a date on our own!" Meg exclaimed, her fists clenched. "I hate him!"

"Look on the bright side," Mikki said. "At least you got to go with him once. Not like Kate here..." Meg stared at Kate.

"What do you mean? You and Kevin are inseparable! You guys keep on going to the malls together! You guys are..."

"I thought that way too," Mikki interrupted, her arm leaning onto the sofa's armrest. "I just found out from her that Kevin usually meets a few friends of his at the mall and they go out with those friends of his. Sometimes it's just Aaron or David or Lisa who goes with them, and Kate feels a little more comfortable... But still, that's not a date."

"Really?" Meg asked. Kate nodded. There was a long silence. Suddenly, Meg brightened up.

"I have an idea," Meg said, and huddled her two friends to tell them her idea.

*******

Over at the Pryce residence, Meg was in her room packing her things. She opened her closet and stared at her vast wardrobe. She thought for a moment, and started removing a bathing suit, some short pants, a pedal pusher, and a few blouses. Near her bed, on the side table, the phone rang. She walked leisurely towards it, letting it ring for a few times. She finally picked it up on the sixth ring.

"Hey, what took you so long to pick up?" said the husky voice from the other side of the line. It was Sean.

"Oh, I was doing something. Why?" Meg replied, making sure that her voice sounded a bit annoyed.

"You know my cousins?" Sean replied with a question of his own. Meg gritted her teeth. "They want to meet you. Can you come over?" Her eyebrow twitched.

"I'm sorry dear," Meg replied in the most angelic voice she could muster. "The girls and I are going over to our beach house. We'll be staying there for 2 days and nights. We're leaving by 3pm and I'm already packing."

"What's the rush?" Sean asked. It was clear to Meg that he sounded as annoyed as her.

"Well if you don't like the idea then fine! Don't! All I'm saying is that I won't see you for the next two days and nights and I'm fine with it!!" She screamed, almost at the top of her lungs and slammed the phone so hard, it almost broke. The picture beside it showing her and Sean looked pretty shaken. She stared at it for a few seconds and turned it over. After she regained her composure a few minutes later, she returned to her bag and fixed her things.

*******

Mikki stood in front of her bed, a triumphant smile on her face. Finally, she was done packing. All she had to do now was to go over at Kate's place and then they'd pick up Meg. She took out a list from her pocket and started to check the items on it. After checking everything was there, she took her bag and headed out the door. At the door, she heard a small beep from her right side. She turned to see that her beeper was flashing, meaning she had a message. She took it and read it.

Tony: The NFL's great Mikki. I'll take you to see a game tomorrow. How about it? I'll just call you.

Mikki closed her eyes, pouting. She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to slam the beeper onto the display mirror on the staircase. It was after all a present from her grandfather. A second later she stuffed the beeper in its case by her side and ran down the stairs.

*******

Kate was already at the garage, packed and ready to go. She was just heating up the car's engine to prepare it for a long drive. She took a CD from her bag and put it on the CD player. It played her, Meg's and Mikki's favorite songs. She opened the garage and drove the car out, to find Mikki waving at her from behind. She stopped in front of her and let her put her things at the trunk and hop in.

"Is this your new car Kate?" Mikki asked.

"Uh huh. This new baby is going to bring us to the beach real quick," Kate replied, putting on her shades. Mikki laughed.

"You look cool Kate," Mikki laughed. "Those shades of yours match this new Montero you're driving. Although I don't think I've never seen you dress up like this before." Mikki stared at Kate's white sleeveless blouse that hung loosely just above her navel. She wore a black jacket over it. She had black slacks on with matching black sandals, and a choker adorned her neck. Her hair was down.

"What's with the black today?" Mikki asked.

"Well, I just felt like it. Even though it's summer," Kate replied, grinning. "Although I see I'm not the only one looking hip today." She surveyed Mikki from head to toe with humored eyes. Mikki was wearing a blue body fit shirt that showed her slim figure too well. Her white pedal pusher was also body fit, and she wore a silver anklet on her right ankle. Her blue sketchers were just the thing for her feet as well as that pretty blue scarf that was tied around her neck. Her hair was up in a bun with loose tendrils framing her face. The two girls laughed.

"Of course, you're not the only one who has shades," Mikki grinned, diving into her bag and pulling out the new shades her mom got her. She waved it at Kate for a bit, and then put it on.

"Let's go!" Kate laughed, putting her foot on the pedal.

******

They arrived in front of Meg's house, and Jefferson almost didn't let them in. For a moment there he didn't recognize the two girls in that black Montero. They certainly looked different now. Kate stopped for a second in front of the main house and sounded her horn twice. Meg quickly came out, looking very hip and cool indeed. Her long hair which hung loose flapped gracefully against the light breeze. She wore a white cardigan over a silver tube blouse, and her tight white pants enhanced her figure even more. She also wore shades, and nice red lipstick. Plus her sandals looked very pretty indeed. Mikki and Kate smiled, "Hop in!" Kate opened the trunk and Mikki put her bag in. Meg sat at the back of the car, admiring Kate's new Montero.

"I like your car," Meg smiled.

"I like your outfit," Kate returned, smiling.

"I like yours too," Meg replied, that smile broadening. "And Mikki, you look absolutely cool today."

"That was your strict order right?" Mikki grinned. "And we all look different today."

"Right, because today is a different day," Kate grinned, adjusting her shades. "Sand and sun, here we come!" And she stepped on the gears and drove on to Santa Barbara with Meg directing her on the roads to take.

********

Back at the Laurence residence, the phone rang. Kate's mother who had just arrived at the house answered it, and smiled when she heard Kevin's voice.

"Oh, hi Kevin. You called?" Mrs. Laurence said.

"Um, yeah, is Kate there Mrs. Laurence?" Kevin said on the other side of the phone.

"I'm afraid she isn't," she replied.

"Where could she be?"

"She told me that she's out with Mikki and Meg. They won't be coming back until after 3 days."

"What? Well, thanks anyway Mrs. Laurence. If ever she calls, please tell her that we're no longer at Vegas. We're now at Santa Barbara at the beach. But I'll beep her anyways. Thanks!"

"I'm sure to tell her," Mrs. Laurence replied. "You're welcome!" And they both hung up. Mrs. Laurence smiled. Her daughter's boyfriend was sure thoughtful.

*********

Over at Santa Barbara, the girls were already settled at the Pryce beach house, right in front of the sea. They were all in Meg's unusually big room, and were all on the floor doing their nails. They had changed into their ordinary house clothes and were having fun with Meg's polish. Meg's cellphone plus Kate's and Mikki's beepers lay on the bed, forgotten. Through all their chattering they didn't notice the two beepers sound and light up signalling a message. Meg's phone, which was put in silent mode, indicated a missed call. You may guess who might've tried to contact them in vain. Yes, their boyfriends. A little later, when their nails were dry, the three girls dressed up into their previous outfits and stuffed their things into their bags without bothering to look at them. They rode Kate's car and headed to the mall.

Luckily the mall wasn't too crowded. Most of the people were at the beach enjoying the sun and sand. The three only planned on window shopping and brought some cash only for emergencies. They went around the malls having the time of their lives. Then they went inside the Hard Rock Cafe and ate.

That was when Kate and Mikki decided to check their beepers. There were the usual reminders from mom, and some hellos from other friends. But what startled Kate and Mikki the most were the messages from their boyfriends.

Kevin: We're going to Santa Barbara instead of Vegas. Mom told me I can invite Sean and Tony so they can meet my cousins, so I did and we're already leaving. That message was sent three hours ago. There was another one though from Kevin again.

Kevin: We're already here at Santa Barbara. We're staying at an inn near the beach and we're going to the mall. Miss you. That startled Kate out of her wits as she read it out loud to her friends.

"So much for a getaway," Mikki mumbled.

*******

"Alright! Guy bonding at last!" Sean exclaimed as they stepped inside the mall. He was with Tony, Kevin and Kevin's cousins: Carl and Derek. He and Tony had liked Kevin's cousins the second they saw them. They were cool, and nice.

"I've never been here before," Carl murmured as they climbed a high escalator that led to the second floor. "I never thought malls here in California were huge."

"Bigger than those in Florida?" Tony asked.

"Bigger than any mall that I've been in," Derek replied.

"You should see the Great Mall at San Jose," Sean said. "It's even bigger."

"What?" Carl was surprised.

"Awesome," was all Derek had to say.

"Kevin, are you thinking about Kate again?" Sean grinned. "Wondering why she hadn't replied to you yet?" Kevin just frowned at him and ignored him completely. He really was wondering why she hadn't replied yet, though he wouldn't admit it aloud. If his cousins heard him, he'd be going through living hell once they teased him. He cocked his head to the side, his cross earring on his left ear glittering under the light.

They looked into some stores and outlets for one whole hour until they felt their stomachs go hungry. Then, they entered the Hard Rock Cafe and sat themselves. Once they entered the bar, some girls turned their heads and began looking at them. They seemed to admire Tony and Kevin's choice of outfits and accessories. More girls were staring at Kevin though. Partly because of his red hair and cross earring. After the waiter took their orders, they began talking about girls. Carl and Derek began sharing what kind of girl they liked and what kind of girl they disliked. Their types of girls ranged from the angelic type to the bad girl type, making everyone (even Tony) laugh aloud. The siblings began teasing Kevin about all those girls who looked at him when they entered the room. Everyone except Kevin laughed.

"For your information guys, he already has a girlfriend," Sean laughed. "And he's been worried about her ever since we came here."

"Really?" Carl asked, grinning. "I never knew this cousin of mine had an appeal to girls."

"Apparently he has more taste than you in outfits," Derek teased his brother. "See all those heads he turned?"

"I'm a heartthrob myself," Carl replied, putting on a cool pose. Everyone laughed at him.

Derek stood up and said, "Guys, I'll just go to the bar and get a drink okay?" Everyone nodded and resumed talking. Over at another table, Kate stood up and did the same thing.

Derek was first to get to the bar, and as he waited for the bartender to finish his drink, he saw a very pretty girl approach the bar and sit just a chair away from him, ordering a drink from the bartender. He saw the girl had long black hair that reached to her waist, and pretty blue eyes. She looked so...

"Beautiful..." Derek murmured. However, the girl heard her. She turned around to face him, a puzzled look on her face.

"Huh?" she said. Derek shook his head.

"Oh, no. Nothing really," Derek replied, grinning. "Hi. I'm Derek. May I know your name?" She hesitated for a moment before replying.

"Kate," the girl replied. "Nice to meet you." Just then the bartender came with both their drinks, interrupting their little conversation.

"Here on vacation?" Derek asked. Kate nodded.

"I'm here with some friends," Kate replied. "We were just hanging around here to watch the band perform." She pointed at the band behind her.

"I see. Pretty cool aren't they?" Derek replied.

"Kind of," Kate answered, smiling a bit. "I myself don't like their music too much but my friends do."

"What kind do you like?"

"Mellow, pop, and soul."

"Really? Me too. I love soul," Derek laughed. Kate smiled. And a nice conversation began.

Back at the boys table, Carl spotted Derek at the bar, talking with a very pretty girl. He laughed.

"Looks like my brother's spotted a hot chick," Carl smiled, looking at his brother. All the boys' heads turned, and they agreed that the girl looked very pretty. Although, Kevin seemed very taken with that smile of hers. He swore that he had seen that smile a million times before. Then, the girl turned to their direction, giving him a glimpse of her face. He stared in awe as he recognized his girlfriend talking to his cousin. His jaw dropped.

"Hey cuz, what's wrong?" Carl waved a hand in front of his face. Kevin blinked and stood up.

"That's Kate!" he exclaimed walking up to her.

"What?!" Tony and Sean exclaimed in unison.

"Who's Kate?" Carl asked.

"His girlfriend," Tony replied. Carl blinked.

********

Derek was very absorbed in the conversation that he didn't notice his cousin walking up to them with a bewildered look on his face, his cross earring swinging madly. Kate however seemed to notice, and when she turned to see who was walking up to them, she sat there, frozen to the spot. Her eyes bulged and her mouth formed a nice letter o. Derek turned and saw his cousin staring at Kate, the expression on his face much like Kate's. He was already right in front of her, the two of them staring at each other like dummies.

"Kevin?" Kate said.

"Y-You know him?" Derek asked, astonished. He was completely ignored.

"Kate?" Kevin said. All of a sudden the two of them smiled, and Kate leapt up to him and hugged him tight resting her face on his neck. Kevin hugged her too burying his face in her hair. They were oblivious to the bewildered look Derek had on his face and only had eyes for each other. After what seemed forever to Derek, they finally broke the hug, though they were still staring in each other's eyes.

"I missed you," Kevin smiled very tenderly.

"I missed you too," Kate returned the smile with the sweetest smile she could give. That was when Kevin turned to Derek.

"You've met my girlfriend I see," Kevin grinned at his clueless cousin. He held Kate's hand in his.

"G-Girlfriend?" Derek stammered. Both Kate and Kevin nodded. Derek felt like he would faint. At that moment, Sean, Carl and Tony arrived behind Derek, while Meg and Mikki arrived behind Kate. When the Sean and Tony saw their girlfriends, they could only blinked in surprise.

"Tony!" Mikki exclaimed, running to her boyfriend and hugging him. Tony responded with a very sweet smile and hugged her tight. He began apologizing to her about their date, but Mikki didn't seem to bother. Sean was just staring at Meg.

Finally, he said, "Well, aren't you going to greet me?" He grinned. Meg raised a brow.

"Greet you?" Meg replied. Sean felt sadness coming up over him. She was still angry. Suddenly Meg smiled. "Of course I will." And she walked up to her boyfriend and hugged him. Carl was smiling at the three couples in front of him. A while ago Sean was complaining about his girlfriend and claiming he didn't miss her. It turned out to be the opposite. He turned to look at his brother, who was still looking at Kevin and Kate, teary-eyed.

"What now Derek?" Carl sighed.

Derek put on a big sad puppy dog face and whispered, "I like Kate... I never knew her boyfriend was Kevin... of all people!" Carl shook his head and handed him some tissue, onto which Derek sobbed and blew his nose.

********

The rest of the night, everyone was partying. They were enjoying the music the band was playing, from slow, mournful tunes, to fast and upbeat tunes. The introductions were brief, and they all went along very well, though Derek didn't seem to quite recover yet from the disappointment he received after finding out Kate was his cousin's girl. He stared at Kate every once in a while, making her quite uncomfortable.

"Kevin, I'm getting the goosebumps from that cousin of yours," Kate whispered. "He's been looking at me for the longest time now." Kevin took a glance at Derek, who sure enough was looking at his girl.

"Why don't we go out?" Kevin offered. "Just the two of us. Let's leave them here."

"Just the two of us? Are you sure?" Kate asked. Kevin nodded in reply. All at once Kate beamed and nodded her head.

"Let's take my car," Kate said. "Mikki and Meg don't know how to drive, but the other boys can take them home anyway. And besides, I know the way back to Meg's beach house." Kevin nodded. He rose and Kate followed, then the two of them slipped out unnoticed.

********

Kevin had taken Kate to the beach only a few minute's distance from Meg's beach house and their inn. The two of them were walking leisurely on the sand, Kate's Montero parked a short distance away.

"Finally," Kevin smiled, holding Kate's hand.

"Finally what?" Kate asked.

"Finally, we're alone, together," Kevin replied. Kate smiled.

"It's been a long time since we were together like this," Kate whispered dreamily. "It's so romantic." Kevin saw her smile under the light of the stars. She really looked exceptionally beautiful tonight, especially with the moonlight playing on her face. He didn't wonder why Derek never kept his eyes off her.

"You're beautiful tonight," Kevin spoke, his voice low and husky. He saw her blush pink.

"Thank you," Kate replied. The two of them stopped and just stood there, a few meters from the waters. "You too. You look handsome in that white polo of yours." Kevin felt himself blush. Just a simple comment and yet...

"Thank you," Kevin replied. "But I've never seen you dress like this before." He turned to face her and take a good look at her clothes.

"I never knew that all of these were part of your wardrobe," Kevin grinned. Kate bit her lip and blushed harder.

"Well... they're new and... I thought I'd wear them now," Kate answered, looking down at her feet. She heard Kevin chuckle in front of her. She groaned silently, wondering what was funny. Then she felt Kevin's fingers on her chin, lifting her face gently. He looked into her eyes, the blue more evident than ever under the moonlight. He remembered the last time he saw her eyes like this. They were so beautiful... He felt a sudden urge to kiss her, so he leaned forward... slowly...

Kate's eyes widened. What was he doing? He was trying to... Kate closed her eyes as she felt Kevin's other arm wrap around her waist possessively. She liked it... honestly she did. She liked the way Kevin made her feel. She liked it when he pulled her closer, their lips finally touching. She felt so wonderful inside. She could feel all of his emotions in one single touch. At first it was a mere brushing against each other, a shy first contact. But then Kate leaned closer, kissing him so sweetly, that Kevin felt his insides turn into mush. Kate's hands slid upward from his chest to his neck, and wrapped her arms around him possessively, not wanting to let go. She let him teach her as he let go of her chin and hold her back. From demure, to passionate, he conveyed every emotion he felt to her, and her to him. She could feel all the love and happiness he felt as they kissed. Kevin thanked God that he was there for him always. The kiss reassured her that he would never leave her side ever. He would never let the same mistakes he made in the past be repeated. It was going to be a new life from now on... a life that they would share together.

Slowly, Kate broke off. Her face was glowing and her lips were a bit swollen, but Kevin didn't mind. She looked even more beautiful to her. A few stray tendrils fell on her face, and he tucked them behind her ear tenderly. She blinked, her eyes looking even more tantalizing, enhanced by the mysterious blue behind them. Unable to resist the urge he kissed her again. She kissed him back, with all the love and innocence in her heart.

Under the soft beams of the silver moon stood two people, wishing fervently that the momentary happiness they had would never end. Yet they knew that even if it would, they would always find comfort under the gaze of the heavens... a witness to the undying love that they both share.

Author's notes:
I made this intermission in response to a review that wanted more k&k. Well, whoever posted it, I hope you're satisfied with this little intermission. Don't worry though... I'm planning on a lime, but definitely not lemon. I think I'm in the mood right now for an angst chapter... nah. I think chapter 2 had too much angst already. I don't think I'd like to add any more to the story.
I'm really sorry if I got you guys waiting. It's just that I'm very lazy in putting up chapters. I promise I'll try to change my attitude.