CHAPTER 23- Night from hell

Kate POV

As I was walking up the path to Craig's garage with his surprise, I saw a flickering light in the window. Curious I opened the door to the garage. Craig was sitting on the couch, surrounded by dozens of light candles. He jumped up and ruffled his hair.

"Um, I know it's not romantic, but," he said.

"It is." I said.

I put down his surprise and leaned in for a kiss.

"So. Craig, I don't have any more candles but I've got-" Joey said.

He looked up from his CD's and saw us.

"Um, sorry." He said.

"Joey!" Craig said.

"Okay, I'm leaving," Joey replied.

He closed the door quietly behind him and Craig pulled me closer to him. He leaned in, but I pushed him away.

"Let me give you your surprise first." I said.

He stepped back as I got his gift. I handed it to him, beaming. Craig smiled, and opened it. He took out the keys with a confused look on his face.

"Look outside." I said.

He went over to the window and looked. He saw the car and stared at it in shock.

"Oh my god, Kate! Do you have any idea that this is my dream car!" he shouted.

He jumped up and down and kissed me hard on the mouth. He ran out and got into the car. I followed him out, laughing.

"Craig! It's on loan. The guy I borrowed it from is letting us use it only for tonight." I said.

"Well, let me make tonight count." He said.

He put the keys in and drove off. After coasting around for an hour, Craig pulled over by the dot. He put his arm around me.

"Thanks. This was really great." He said.

"You're welcome. This was just a way to make up for not getting you a gift on your birthday." I replied.

"Well, now I have to come up with something for you." He said.

"My birthday is in a week, so you better think fast." I replied.

"I will." Craig promised.

He leaned me back as he kissed my neck. He put his hand under my shirt and tried to unbutton my pants at the same time.

"Craig, as romantic as this is, I think that we shouldn't be getting it on in a parking lot." I said.

I sat up and sighed. Craig, pissed off, restarted the engine. He started to drive towards my house.

"Craig, why are you mad about this?" I asked.

"Because. Tonight was supposed to be really great, and then you dis me in my dream car..." He yelled.

"Craig, I got you this dream car. I hardly dissed you." I shouted back.

"I just got hyped up about this stupid car. I wanted you. What's wrong with that?" He said.

"What's wrong is that you were asking me to do it in someone else's car, in public!" I yelled.

I opened the door and jumped out. I started running away, when Craig shouted after me.

"Kate! Come back!" he yelled.

I turned around as Craig ran towards me.

"Kate. I'm sorry. Please, just come back to the car. I'll take you home." He said.

"Craig. I said I had a problem with making out in public. We could go make out somewhere else..." I said.

Craig raised his eyebrows and grinned. We hurried back to the car and drove to a quiet street a couple blocks away. Craig parked the car and we had a frenzied make-out session. I shivered and he rubbed my arms.

"Craig, I love you." I panted.

"I love you too." He breathed.

LATER...

Craig was driving me home with a cute little smile on his face. I kissed him on the cheek.

"Get that smirk off your face or my mom will be sure something was going on." I said.

Craig tried to keep a straight face, but laughed instead.

"I'm sorry! I can't, I'm just too happy." He said.

I kissed him again as he pulled over in front of my house. I started to get out until Craig held out his arm to stop me. He went around to my side and opened the door.

"Milady." He said sweetly.

I got out and held his hand.

"Kate. Um, you have make-out hair." He said.

I smoothed down my hair as I walked up to my front porch. Craig leaned back on his car, watching me. It was then when I saw a figure on my porch. As I got closer, it became apparent who it was. I would recognize his sandy blond hair anywhere.

"I've been waiting for you for hours. Kate, you look so beautiful. I've been waiting for this moment for so long, that I don't know what to say. But... I came here for a reason. I love you, Kate. Come home. My dad has moved out, I have the place to myself, we can live alone, like we always wanted." Ben said.

I turned around, frozen. Craig was coming up behind me, clearly angry and realizing who it was.

"Get out." Craig said.

"This your new little boyfriend, isn't it?" Ben asked.

I nodded and Craig put his arm around me. Ben smiled.

"Please...Craig, is it? There are matters that I have to speak with Kate about. Go play a board game or something." Ben said.

"Go away. Kate doesn't want you. Just go." Craig said.

"Kate doesn't know what she wants. We loved each other in ways you can't even imagine." Ben said.

I looked at both of them. I couldn't handle this. I had to leave. I let out a strangled sob and ran inside my house. I lay down on the couch and cried until I heard my front door slam. I turned around and saw the person I truly wanted to see. I wiped my eyes and sniffed.

"Come and sit." I said.

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