Late

Kelsi paced the hardwood platform in front of her door for the tenth time that evening. Glancing at the clock above her head she noted Troy was officially ten minutes late. Kelsi let out a sigh as she crossed her arms over her chest. It was only there second date and he was late. He'd never been late, with all the times they had hung out as friends and then on their first date. "Troy…" Kelsi sighed out as she looked out the glass portion of the wooden door. No sign of him.

"Oh, I thought you left already." Mrs. Nielson stated interrupting Kelsi's thoughts.

Kelsi looked up at her Mom and shook her head, bouncing her curls on her shoulders. "No. He's late." She simply stated, letting the words speak for themselves.

"Oh. He'll come." Mrs. Nielson said trying to sound upbeat, but Kelsi saw through it.

"Yeah…" She agreed anyway as she looked up at the clock again. Ten minutes late now. "Troy!" She breathed out angrily spinning in a small circle around the platform.

He wasn't coming, ten minutes late, he wasn't coming. Kelsi stepped back from the door giving up and started to walk towards the living room when she heard the door open. "Sorry!" She heard Troy breath out.

She turned around with a glare on her face and propped her hands on her hips. "About time." She stated and Troy flashed her an upset look full of guilt.

"I'm really sorry…Gabby needed to talk."

Kelsi let out a sigh and rolled her eyes up towards the ceiling. "Of course Gabby." She told him and Troy frowned at her.

"Don't be like that Kels. She's been having a hard time."

Kelsi nodded her head again in Troy's direction. "Yeah, I know. And she always needs Troy to help her." She spat out more angrily then she had intended, but it hurt Troy being late because he was with Gabby. He'd been comforting Gabby since their breakup and when Kelsi started to date Troy she started to grow frustrated with it. Even though she really didn't have a reason for it.

"She does. She really doesn't have anyone else Kels. You were fine with it before we started dating." He told her and Kelsi nodded her head again.

"Yeah, that was before you were late to our dates to be with her!" She pointed out and Troy turned his gaze to the floor.

Troy sighed and steeped towards Kelsi. "I'm sorry okay?" He asked and Kelsi shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah?"

"I am. Do you still want to go?" He asked setting his hands on each of Kelsi's shoulders and Kelsi took in the touch.

"Yeah, I'm all dressed up right?" She asked looking down at her pink dress.

"Yep. And you look beautiful." He told her and Kelsi smiled.

"You don't look too bad either." She told him taking in his black tuxedo and waist length tie.

"Let's go." Troy stated pushing is hand into Kelsi's and laced their fingers together. Kelsi smiled at Troy and they walked out of the house. As they stepped across the lawn Kelsi felt herself feel more comfortable with Troy then she had before. It was good being with him and she loved and enjoyed every minute of it. Troy had become her solid ground and she loved him more then anyone else in her life.

She scooted into the passenger's seat of Troy's car and watched as he turned the engine over and put the car in drive. Kelsi smiled at him and realized she never loved anyone more. He was sweet and there for everyone, and that was what she loved about it. And she was glad that she had him for her.