So here's a chapter to pacify you after the short one. Enjoy!

oOoOoOo

Natalie's POV:

Later that night when we were getting ready for bed, I began to think about everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. The Dream still freaked me out some. Just the reminder of it made me turn to reassure myself that Keith was in fact flossing his teeth in our bathroom. Thus pacified I turned back to lotioning my legs. The truck show had been a success I think. Keith had loved to see the old trucks just as he always had. I didn't mind it much as this year brought an unexpected surprise in the form of Gary. No, Gremlin? Greg? Whatever. Him. I loved seeing Keith get jealous. Since I know that it would take just about the whole world for me to change my mind about Keith, it was very humorous that he seemed to think that an average looking guy in a baseball cap could alter our relationship. Not that I didn't sympathize. I did. Just today I had noticed the looks that he accumulated from the many admiring ladies. Ok so maybe the girl at the ticket gate had been a little too enthusiastic and some girl had smiled at him on the highway. It was still more than I really liked. Not that I ever thought he would stray. I knew he loved me. It just still got on my nerves a bit. But none of these girls had ever affected me like Jenna had. I still froze up at the sound of her name. He still teases me about it. But I know that she wanted him. How? She flat out told me.

oOoOoOo

I sat flipping through magazines that were months old mainly because I'd finished reading everything that I'd brought with me. I'd been coming with Keith to the hospital for awhile now. But I always, always, always overestimated my attention span and underestimated reading material. Shouldn't he be done by now? It was getting close to 3 pm and since it was Friday we were gonna pick up some movies to set up camp in his living room. Maybe something happened? What if he had a bad reaction? Would they even tell me if something happened? I was only the girlfriend. That didn't give me any hospital rights, right? I tried taking some deep breaths and focusing on other things like Keith had been working with me about. That plan flew out the window in about 4.2 seconds. I was near asking at the desk for him when the infamous double doors opened and revealed an intact Keith…..chatting with a leggy brunette.

Would it be fair to say that I didn't truly notice her until after I'd attempted to squeeze the breath out of Keith in happiness that he was alright? Eh, maybe….maybe not.

"Natalie, I'm fine," he patted my back. This was odd he usually engulfs me in a giant bear hug until I realize how unstable I'm acting. "I'm sorry she's a worrywart."

Who was he talking to? After a few more deep breaths I turned in his arms to find 5'6" of gorgeous girl standing there. "Oh its fine. I'm sure she's just worried about you Zett. It's really very understandable." The smile she gave me was full of sugar and mace.

"Hello?" I was still confused as to why this girl was impeding on one of my moments.

Keith moved out from behind me and took each of us by an elbow. "Natalie this is Jenna. Jenna this is my girlfriend Natalie. Jenna's in the research program with me."

Ah so she didn't technically appear. She just … appeared? What? Who was this chick?

Miss I-know-I'm-hot stuck out a perfectly manicured hand in my general direction. "Natalie," like her smile her voice was a mixture of sweet and I'll-murder-you-in-your-sleep. "I've heard so much about you! I feel like I already know you." She pivoted her attention to Keith. "You're right, I bet she does tend to overwork herself and stress out too much."

What? What was this bitch saying?

Keith grinned, "See Natalie, you've gotta start calming down otherwise your gonna hurt yourself. Jenna does yoga, maybe you should try that?"

Excuse me? I don't know, maybe I was just getting a bad vibe from this chick. But she was seriously rubbing me the wrong way. Something was off here.

"Um, ya maybe. Hey we better get going if we're gonna be able to get the movies and pick Cynthia up from school." I tugged on his jacket sleeve.

He got that look on his face. That look that said, "I don't want to follow the schedule/plan anymore and wanna do my own thing. And you have to cause I'm sick." I hated that look. I hated her.

"Actually..Jenna was telling me about this awesome band that's playing in Fulbridge tonight. She has a couple extra tickets. Do you mind if we swing by there?"

Fulbridge? That was over two hours away. How did he expect this to work? I had to pick up Cynthia and I had work at 7 am tomorrow morning. How was I supposed to get back from Fulbridge in time?

"Um..Well we already had plans Keith."

"I know but she let me listen to some of their music and I really wanna go. C'mon. It'll be ok. let's just go."

Jenna stepped up and wound her arm through Keith's. "It'll be a lot of fun Natalie. You should really come with us."

Bitch.

"I can't Keith. I have to get Cynthia and I have work tomorrow. I just can't."

I could see his face fall. I hated doing this but I didn't really have much of a choice did I?

Jenna ran her hand up and down his sleeve. "I'm sorry you can't come Natalie. It would have been a lot of fun. But Keith, you can still go can't you?"

I saw this girl's game. She was trying to take him. Wasn't she? Maybe I was imagining things.

"Is that ok?" he looked at me. "I mean ya, I don't have anything going on. Sure I'll go."

What? He didn't have anything going on? The rejection slapped me upside the head. "Um. Um. Ok, well, I've got to hurry to get Cynthia. Um. You guys have fun. Uh..I'll talk to you later Keith."

I picked up my book bag and headed for the exit doors. I turned to remind him to be careful but Jenna had already blocked his view of the door. For some reason I felt tears burn at the back of my eyes as I rushed to my car. I hoped I wasn't losing him.

oOoOoOo

Things pretty much followed this same pattern for a month or two. I'd make plans with Keith but if Jenna had something planned then we, or he, would do whatever she planned. There a few nights that I cried myself to sleep thinking about all of it. He was supposed to love me. So why was he spending more time with her than with me? I didn't really want to know the answer. I was scared of what that answer meant for me. I'd given up so much of my life for him. Willingly mind you, but regardless. I wasn't going to Duke in the fall. I was going to take care of Keith. Wasn't I? I noticed him pulling back from me. He didn't call me "Partner" anymore. Or "Babe." It was always just Natalie. That hurt maybe more than anything. I missed that connection that we'd had. I still loved him. I did.

And ya, I know some people would say to get mad or get even not be sad. But I just couldn't be mad at him. He was happy. And that's really what a wanted for him. Even if it wasn't with me. As hard as that would be.

oOoOoOo

I was working more and more in those days. I wanted to get the money to buy Keith the final parts he needed for Honeybun. Maybe I was trying to buy his affections back. I don't know. Maybe I just needed to keep busy. Thinking made me sad.

It was one day a couple of weeks after Jenna came into the picture that I got this text when I got off work. Apparently she'd gotten my cell number from Keith's phone.

Why don't you just give up Natalie?

Who is this?

You've lost. I've won.

What are you talking about?

When was the last time your boyfriend took you on a date Nats?

That's none of your business. Who are you?

You've lost him. He spends more time with me than you.

Jenna? What do you want?

Yes it's Jenna. And I want your boyfriend. Zett's mine.

My blood ran cold. I tried calling the number several times. I called Keith. Neither one answered. I texted Jenna frantically. No answer.

I drove to Keith's house. I needed him. I needed him to tell me he loved me. That everything was alright. I couldn't see him when I looked in his window. Maybe he was watching TV though. Sometimes he couldn't sleep.

I tried calling him a few more times. Still nothing. Finally I decided to just knock. I didn't know whether Mr. Zetterstrom was working the early or the night shift this week. Usually I knew the Zetterstrom men's entire schedule better than they did, but with Keith floating farther and farther away from me details weren't shared quite as frequently. I heard rustling inside. Mr. Zetterstrom opened the door, cowlicks sticking up just like Keith's.

"Natalie?"

"Um, I'm sorry to bother you Mr. Zetterstrom but is Keith here?"

He gave me a confused look even as he rubbed the sleep from one eye. "No, he went out awhile ago. Didn't say where he was going. I figured he was with you. Have you tried his cell?"

Dread was creeping up my legs, threatening to engulf me whole. "Ya, he isn't answering. It's ok. it probably died on him again. Um..when you see him can you…can you tell him…tell him to call me?"

"Of course. Is there something wrong Natalie?"

Those damned tears were starting again. "Um.. no. no I'm fine. Really I am. Thanks. Sorry to disturb you."

When I got home I threw myself on my bed and promptly cried myself into an exhausted slumber.

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing in my ear. I quickly grabbed it. He called! My hopes were utterly dashed when the screen didn't display "Keith Calling" but rather my alarm to remind me about "Keith's Chemo." Pain again ripped through me. He had a chemo appointment and he didn't call to have me take him. That hadn't happened since I started going with him to the hospital. I really had lost him.

I really had.

My pillow again was soaked with my tears.

oOoOoOo

A few days later, I still hadn't heard anything from him. I went to work, I came home, I slept, I woke up and started over. I was cleaning the counter of the tiny coffee shop that I worked at, Café Olay!, when they came in. They were laughing and joking. Both of them stopped dead when they saw me. I quickly ducked my head and scrubbed even harder at the already clean counter. I wasn't going to cry. I wasn't. I took a deep breath. Then another. If they were going to act like nothing was unusual then I could go along with it. They were just any other couple.

I tried to make my voice as dead as possible. "Hi, welcome to Café Olay! what can I get for you today?"

"Natalie? I didn't know you were working today." Keith looked so adorably confused. No he looked horribly confused. Horribly. "Isn't today your day off?"

"Can I interest you in one of our specials? Today we have a new flavor, Hawaiian Sunrise, and we're looking for feedback."

Jenna jumped in "Ooh! That sounds great! Can I get that in a Grande?"

Keith was looking at me strangely. "Natalie, what's wrong?"

"And for you, sir?" I looked just passed him right ear.

The alarm that crossed his face was great. "Partner, what's wrong?"

I simply turned around. I couldn't look at him. I couldn't. If I did then I'd surely break down in sobs. I began making their drinks. I knew what Keith would order. Veinte Hot Chocolate, no whip. I tried my hardest not to listen to them.

"Zett, what is it?"

"Something's wrong. Natalie, look at me."

"She's fine, Zett. Don't you think she'd tell you if something was wrong?"

"Babe. Babe! Partner! What's wrong Natalie?! Natalie!"

I turned at placed their drinks on the counter in front of them. "On the house." I couldn't help it if my voiced cracked at the end. I whipped around to try to get to the storage room as quickly as I could.

Btu Keith was too fast for me. He reached out and grabbed my wrist. "Partner, what's wrong? Tell me."

I couldn't help it the tears began to fall. Although to my credit my turned face hid them. I took a deep breath. "Nothing's wrong Keith."

"Then why won't you look at me?"

"Let go of me Keith."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

Jenna jumped in, "Zett, let her go. Obviously she's fine. There's nothing you can do. Let's go." She tugged at his other arm.

"No. Stop Jenn. Natalie, tell me."

I closed my eyes. "I'm fine Keith. She's right. I'm fine." The pressure on my wrist increased. I tried distance myself from the situation as much as I could. I looked him in the eye and said, "Let go Keith. I'm fine. Go drink your hot chocolate with your girlfriend. I'm gonna go now."

His mouth dropped. His hand didn't. "Natalie. Natalie. Partner, you're my girlfriend. What are you talking about? Natalie what's going on?"

"You and Jenna. I get it Keith. She told me. You don't have to. Enjoy your drinks." I finally struggled free.

He stood there muttering to himself. "Girlfriend? Jenna? No. no, no, no, no, no, no! Natalie! Natalie!"

I let the swinging door shut behind me. The tears were coming in earnest now. I could hear them arguing in the main room, but I didn't want to see if I could hear what they were arguing about. It wasn't my business anymore.

The manager, Christy, was stocking foam cups in the far corner.

"Chris? Um..do you think I could leave early today? I-I really need to get out of here."

"Natalie, what's wrong sweetie?"

"I just need to go home. I'm fine." Was that all I could say today? 'I'm fine.'

"Sure, sweetie. That's fine. Get some rest ok?"

"Sure."

I rushed out the back door. The tears made it hard to see to drive, but I could still see the yellow truck that appeared in my rear view mirror about halfway home. It only made the tears come faster.

I finally pulled into my driveway. I had just shut the door when Keith was in front of me.

"Natalie! Natalie, that was not what you thought. Natalie? Partner? C'mon babe, talk to me."

"What do you want me to say Ketih? That I'll miss you? That we should just be friends? That I'm happy for you? What? Do you want me to tell you how much it hurts? How it hurts to have the person that you love and supposedly loves you on a date with a girl who flat out told me she was gonna steal my boyfriend? Do you want me to tell you that Keith? Cause that's what happened. Now can I please go cry myself to sleep again?"

"Natalie, Natalie it's not like that. Jenna and I are just friends. Nothing more. I love you Partner. Not her. She didn't steal me. I'm right here, I'm with you!"

I dug for my cell phone. Quickly I pulled up the conversation I'd had with Jenna. I silently handed the phone to him. "Then what about this?"

He scanned the short sentences before looking up at me, stricken. "You believe this?"

"What am I supposed to believe Keith? You haven't spoken to me in two weeks. You had an appointment and didn't take me with you. I went to your house and still you never contacted me at all. Nothing. What am I supposed to think?"

"Natalie, I love you! You! Not her. Never her. I love you!"

oOoOoOo

I was startled from my reverie by Keith slamming his sock drawer. I stared in the mirror. I knew those days were long behind us but I still hated to think of them. Keith padded up behind me and wrapped me in his arms. I breathed in that unmistakable scent of him, like motor oil and vanilla. Somehow it meshed into the most comforting scent I knew.

"I love you Keith."

"I love you more Natalie."

"Partner?"

"Ya, babe?"

"Don't ever leave."

He smiled into my lips. "Not even possible, babe. Not even possible."

oOoOoOo

Was that long enough? ;)

Review!