It was another rainy night. Kenny was watching the black & white TV. There was poor reception.
"Kenny, go on the roof & act as an antenna," Kevin nudged him off the couch.
Kenny glanced nervously over at his brother. "Don't make me do that again."
Then they heard their mom yell from the back of the house, "Boys it's coming down pretty bad! Put the pots out to catch the leaks!"
Kenny & Kevin responded in unison, "Yes mom."
Just then the only phone in the house rang.
Kenny walked over to pick it up, "I'll get it. Hello?"
"Kenny? It's Erin." The tone of her voice sounded off.
"What's the matter?"
"Look out your front window."
Kenny felt an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. He peeked out.
There Erin stood on the sidewalk. The look on her face was pure shock. Kenny
still had the phone to his ear.
"That- that is you at the window!" Erin pointed at him shaking her finger.
"Uh yea... Hang up. I'm coming out."
(music in background You Should've Known Betta by Monica)
I didn't ask to go with you to Mexico. I really didn't need the shopping spree. In LA or Melrose, boy if you didn't know it well now you know. I didn't need the furs or the jewelries because material things don't mean much to me. And ever since you been gone. I have been holding us down on my own.
CHORUS:
I never ever cheated
I never ever lied
So u can stop asking me asking me why
Why I never left you, and why I kept it real
And why im still with you
You should've known better than to think I would leave
You should've known better than to doubt me
It don't matter if you are up
matter if you are down
Either way im gonna be around
You should've known that I would stay by your side
You should've known your girl was gonna ride or die
And it just don't matter if ya rich or poor
Out or in doing 5 to 10
You should've known better
What makes you think that I would forget about you? Think about it who comes to see ya. Every Saturday and Monday I was on that receiver. It's me, your girl, your life, your world. My family your friends they just don't understand. They say I should just leave you alone, but I say that they should all just leave us alone. Don't u get it?
CHORUS2x
Erin closed her umbrella & tiny droplets of water rested on parts of her dry hair shimmering like diamonds. They rested on the tip of her eyelashes too, but Kenny wasn't so sure it was from the rain. In her other hand she clutched her cell phone.
"Just-," She pointed her finger towards the dilapidated house, "tell me the truth... Do you live here?"
"Yea, yea I do- uh do you wanna come inside? It's a bit drier."
"No, I- I..."
"Are you mad?"
"Hell I'm pissed. I'm not- I'm confused," Erin chucked the umbrella down & brushed her bangs away, "I just had a tremendous fight with my mom. She told me you were- she called you white trash. I was furious! Like how dare she, you know?! I blew up at her & told her what I really thought about our stupid fucken lives! How fake my parents are- how she is the ultimate stereotype of rich people & why do I have to suffer?! Why I have to be treated like a stereotype all because of them!? Then she started crying! I've never seen my mom crying! She was all like 'we just want what's best for you blah, blah, blah' & she handed me this address! I came here not knowing what it was, what it had to do with you, then I got it. I get it, it all makes sense... And she was right..."
Kenny was speechless. He wanted to defend himself, but Erin wasn't finished.
"At first I thought you were embarrassed of me or something. Like in front of your friends, maybe you didn't want your parents to meet me... But it's not that. Like everyone else you just didn't wanna scare away the 'rich girl'. Kenny... I don't care your poor, I don't give a shit at all. I- I was naive enough to love you just for the sake of love! I opened up to you, I told you tons about me! Stuff I can't even say to my friends cause they wouldn't understand! You were suppose to understand! I mean why wouldn't you tell me? You told me I was different. I'll tell you why, cause you didn't think I'd understand. But you're suppose to trust me & if I'm not down with you being poor then dump me, but Kenny... Is that why you hide? You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are- geeze I shouldn't be talking, but at least I was upfront about things. I'm sorry, I better go... Here." Erin handed him back the emerald necklace & started to run away. Some of Erin's ramblings did made sense to Kenny.
"No! wait!" Kenny grabbed her shoulder.
(background music The Reason by Hoobastank)
I'm not a perfect person. There's many things I wish I didn't do, but I continue learning. I never meant to do those things to you. And so I have to say before I go that I just want you to know
CHORUS:
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I'm sorry that I hurt you. It's something I must live with everyday. And all the pain I put you through I wish that I could take it all away. And be the one who catches all your tears. That's why I need you to hear
CHORUS
I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you
"Kenny, let go of me!"
Kenny did, feeling bad he didn't realize his own strength. "Erin, you know I'd never hurt you. Please just hear me out. I was scared. I'm sorry, but how was I suppose to know how you'd react? You want the truth?! The truth is I've never dumped a girlfriend. They dump me soon after I'd tell them I live like this! And you are different & special to me. That's why I couldn't tell you! What we have is so good, I just didn't want to ruin it like I always do... Here this is yours," Kenny placed the necklace in the palm of her hand, "I wanted to give you something special cause you deserve it-"
Erin didn't need to hear anymore. She grabbed Kenny around the waist & kissed him. To her own surprise it wasn't hurt like Dave had made it seem. It was sweet & this warm tingling filled her up inside her. The rain vanished & she was no longer cold. Kenny held her close & kissed her back. Something he had been dying to do. It felt like an eternity where nothing could harm them ever again. They were safe from the world that crushed dreams & hopes for something better. They defied that, they felt as if they could overcome it all. Everything melted further & further away.
(background music Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional)
Breathe in for luck,
breathe in so deep,
this air is blessed,
you share with me.
This night is wild,
so calm and dull,
these hearts they race,
from self control.
Your legs are smooth,
as they graze mine,
we're doing fine,
we're doing nothing at all.
CHORUS:
My hopes are so high,
that your kiss might kill me.
So won't you kill me,
so I die happy.
My heart is yours to fill or burst,
to break or bury,
or wear as jewelry,
which ever you prefer.
The words are hushed lets not get busted;
just lay entwined here, undiscovered.
Safe in here, from all the stupid questions.
"Hey did you get some?"
Man, that is so dumb.
Stay quiet, stay near, stay close they can't hear...
so we can get some.
CHORUS
Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember,
I'll always remember the sound of the stereo,
the dim of the soft lights,
the scent of your hair that you twirled in your fingers
and the time on the clock when we realized it's so late
and this walk that we shared together.
The streets were wet
and the gate was locked so I jumped it,
and I let you in.
And you stood at your door with your hands on my waist
and you kissed me like you meant it.
And I knew that you meant it,
that you meant it,
that you meant it,
and I knew,
that you meant it,
that you meant it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: i put the 3 songs in there cause one to represent Erin's POV, then Kenny's POV, then one to bring them together. i chose these songs over the summer, i know they're kinda old now & don't match the story completely, but it's close. & i know some of u r thinking that Dashboard Confessional song is a cliché, but Kenny had been waiting for that kiss so i thought it fit:) O, & the story so ain't over yet har,har,har ur gonna read the next ch & be like how it things change so drastically in a week? PS- i've also been trying to brush up the grammar, i was unfamiliar w/the rules of quotations at the start of this story. It seems so simple compared to the great stuff i read here, but wat can i do...