All right, here's another update! Definitely much faster than the usual three month wait.

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Chapter 7 - Love's To Blame

"Do you have to go?" Natalie asked for what seemed like the millionth time. She already knew the answer, but maybe, just maybe, it would magically change.

"You know I have to," he replied slowly.

"I know," she sighed, making a disgruntled face. "I just…wish we had more time."

"So do I, partner," he said with a matching sigh. "But let's just make the best of what we have, okay?" He ruffled her hair, and she ducked away, swatting at his arm.

"Keith!" she protested. "Stop it."

"Yep, you're still the same girl I knew three years ago." The smile faded from her face, and her eyes burned. Keith didn't notice at first, and was about to make another comment, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

"No, I'm not the same girl. Life's changed a lot since high school."

"I know that, but you still have the same spirit I fell for back then."

"I guess so," she said dejectedly.

"Hey, partner, it shouldn't be too long," he tried to console her. "The trial won't take forever. They've told me that much, at least. We'll be together soon. Then we can finally make that trip to London. Think of it, we'll be able to go anywhere with no cares in the world."

"I just don't get it!" she burst out. "It's like losing you all over again."

"You haven't lost me, Natalie. It's because of you I found a way to live again. That's something I can never thank you enough for. I'd rather stay here with you…but if I do, then you might be in danger. I can't live with that. You mean everything to me."

"Keith…."

"Hold on, just a little bit longer. Please. For me? 'Cause if you don't, I don't know what I'll do. There's no use living without you."

"Keith, I promise," she told him, hugging him fiercely. "I'd wait forever for you." His only answer was a kiss. He stepped back, a painful expression covering his features.

"I can't put it off any longer. They're waiting for me." Silence filled the air as they walked back to his truck. The drive was quiet, with both of them saying few words. He stopped the truck with a lurch by her car. Natalie couldn't look at him for fear of breaking down. So, she studied the dashboard, the breeze blowing through the trees, anything to avoid staring into his newly blue eyes. The door squeaked as she pushed it open and stepped onto the ground.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later," she said as nonchalantly as possible.

"Look at me, partner." She ignored him. He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. "I'll be back soon. Say you believe me."

"I believe you," she repeated woodenly.

"Think about it. A couple days ago, I was dead to you, and now look."

"I still can't believe it sometimes. I only just found you, and I have to say good-bye again."

"Don't think of it as a good-bye. Think of it as an extended vacation. And technically, I found you," he grinned crookedly at her. "Good-bye doesn't always mean forever."

"I love you," she managed to say, entwining her fingers through his now-auburn hair.

"I…love you too." He kissed her again, gently wiping away her tears with his hand. She got in the car and started the engine. Her first thought was to jump out of her car and go with him, but the logical part of her brain took over. He had to go, and this time she couldn't follow him. As she pulled away, her eyes were glued to the rearview mirror, watching him slowly walk into the trees, his shoulders shaking slightly. Was he crying? It was almost her undoing, but she pulled herself together until he was out of sight, and she could let the tears flow. Why she cried, she didn't know. For him. For her. Because her heart felt like it was splitting into a thousand pieces. Was there such thing as too much heartache? Natalie wanted to scream, laugh, punch the nearest tree, anything to take her mind off of the pain. But she did none of those. As the car approached the crossroads, she chose to go back the way she came. Back to college with all its craziness. And every mile taking her farther from the one person she cared most for in the world.

Going home would be too painful, with every part of the entire town filled with memories of Keith. There was no way she wanted to spend the next two days with her family pretending everything was okay. At least at college, she would be able to avoid people. She slipped back into the dorms, with only a quick hello to the night desk worker. The strain of the day had thoroughly exhausted her. Her things were tossed on the floor, and she threw herself onto her bed. Within minutes, sleep had claimed her.

Early the next morning, Natalie felt slightly better. The sun peeked through the window and shone on her face. She lay in bed for a few more minutes, trying not to think about Keith and instead focusing on what could take her mind off of him. The entire weekend could be spent holed up in her room studying for something, anything. Armed with that positive thought, she quickly dressed and headed down to the dining hall. Unfortunately, her philosophy lasted for exactly ten minutes after she sat down at an empty table with a bowl of cereal and a cup of hot tea. "Hey," a familiar voice called to her. To her dismay, she saw Garrett approaching her. How in the world had he figured out where she was? It was 9 am, and the entire college campus was deserted.

"Hey," was her half-hearted greeting. She continued to eat and tried not to look very interested.

"How was last night?"

"Last night?" she repeated, confused.

"You know, with whatever you did last night. I asked you to hang out, but you said something had come up," he explained to her.

"Oh, yeah, right," she managed to recover. "I got to see an…an old friend. We had a good time together."

"Sounds fun," his tone of voice showed his displeasure. "Anyways, I was wondering, if you aren't too busy…if you'd like to go out tonight." He looked at her hopefully.

"Garrett." What she needed to tell him was not part of her plan.

"Yeah?" he perked up.

"I just don't think this is going to work out," she spilled out quickly.

"What?" Garrett looked incredulous. He blinked rapidly.

"I'm sorry, Garrett. I thought it might work out," she laughed nervously. "I even wanted it to. Crystal tried her hardest to get us together too. But, I can't make myself feel something that's not there."

"Are you sure?" he radiated disappointment.

"I've tried, I just don't think it's going to work."

"But why? Is there someone else?" Natalie refrained from answering right away. Lying was an option, but it didn't feel right.

"My old boyfriend. I still love him. It's not fair to you. He's still in my heart, and I can't hide how I feel about him," she tried to explain. Garrett's mood suddenly switched from lighthearted to something much darker.

"Oh, you're still in love with your dead boyfriend?" he said coldly.

"Garrett, that's not fair."

"Tell me what is. I like you, but this is the lamest excuse I've ever heard. You could just tell me the truth."

"That is the truth," Natalie stared at him. Maybe lying would have been easier.

"Yeah, sure. It's been three years, Natalie. Don't look at me like that. Crystal told me all about him. It's really noble, what you did, dating a dead guy and all. But it's been long enough. You need to move on. He's gone, Natalie. And I'm tired of waiting." With that, he turned and stalked away, leaving Natalie stunned. His words hurt. They were partially true, had Keith not come back. Doubts began to crowd her mind. After all, Keith was going to be gone for who knows how long. She shook her head. What was she thinking? Shame colored her face. She'd promised Keith, and in a few short minutes, she had almost thrown it away. And on top of it all, she had just hurt a friend. She sat there for a long time, until her cereal was soggy and her tea cold. And, just to make things worse, she saw Crystal marching over to her, a stern look on her face. Inwardly, she winced. This was not going to be pretty.

"What were you thinking?" Crystal practically yelled. "I thought you liked, and then you tell him that you still like Keith?" Natalie could feel the heat rising in her face. She took a few deep breaths to keep herself from launching across the table at her friend's throat.

"Do I have to explain myself to you?" was her reply.

"Well, no. But I'd like some sort of an explanation."

"For starters, I have a few questions myself. I can't believe he went and told you. What kind of a guy does that?" She stared hard at Crystal. This entire situation was making her blood boil.

"A guy who wants the best friend of the girl he likes to convince said girl to not make a stupid mistake," Crystal said. Natalie struggled to make sense of her jumbled sentence.

"It's none of your business," Natalie told her. "And, he shouldn't be telling you things that I should be hearing."

"So what? You'd still say no."

"If I did, then it would still be my decision. Won't you respect that?" she pleaded.

"Yeah," Crystal said. "I just want him to be happy."

"Crystal!" Natalie finally exploded. "What about me, your friend? I've been trying to tell you for so long. I am happy without dating Garrett. He's a great guy, but he's not for me. There's only one guy for me, and you can't tell me who I should like. It doesn't work like that." Crystal stared at her, open-mouthed. Natalie continued. "If you think he's such a great guy, then why don't you date him yourself?"

"I…I don't think of him like that," she stammered.

"Then why do you think he and I would make such a good match? Honestly, Crystal, I can't handle all this drama. I've got enough stuff going on right now, I don't need this too." And with that, she grabbed her tray, set it on the conveyor belt, and swept out of the dining hall, leaving a dumbfounded Crystal sitting at the table. She stalked back to her room and changed. A quick run around the campus would hopefully help her calm down. She returned thirty minutes later, sweaty and breathless, but her anger rapidly dissipating. It was, however, being replaced with a feeling of remorse. Now, on top of making Garrett angry, she had also alienated Crystal, one of her few friends at college. Overall, she was doing a great job of ending up alone. Her head began to ache, and she dug through her purse looking for a bottle of aspirin. A folded piece of paper caught her eye. It was Keith's letter. The aspirin was forgotten as she threw herself across the bed and slowly unfolded the page.

Dear Natalie,

I wish it didn't have to be like this. I wish we could just run away together and live our lives, with no reservations. But, it seems like life always finds a way to separate us. I'm sorry that I have to leave you after only just finding you.

The day we met, what seems like only yesterday, my world changed forever. You were the most perfect person I knew, full of life and lucky in every way. I thought that if I messed with you, then I would feel better about my pitiful existence. But the plan backfired. I fell you for, much to my dismay. And one day, that changed. I didn't care what happened to me anymore. You, and only you, became my life. You saved my life back then. Saved me from wallowing in a sea of my own misery. Every day, when I wake up, my thoughts are on you. You are the constant in my uncertainty. I wish that you could be with me, although I know that it's best that you are safe far away from me. Don't worry, Partner, we will be together again, I promise.

"Do not cry, because we are destiny,

because we are everything that can be above this world.

And now, the angel of my life,

please let me fly so that I can fulfill the vanity of this world,

of this dream, of this nightmare that eternally took you from me.

I didn't think you will come now at this age and time of this Illusion of Life,

but between these bars I tell you how much I love you and do not ever doubt me.

I will be yours in every moment of this life, which I give to you."

I don't know what's going to happen next, but know that life is not the same without you. My heart is with you.

I love you, my dearest friend.

Keith

She could barely read the words through the blur of tears that stung her eyes. The letter was a healing balm for her soul. Although the ache was still present, the hurt was less. There was a postscript on the bottom.

P.S. There's something else on the back.

Natalie turned the page and opened the small envelope taped to the back. There didn't appear to be anything inside. A thought hit her, and she eagerly shook the envelope out into her palm. In her palm, lay a small, copper penny. A small smile spread across her face. Maybe angels did exist after all.

Thanks for reading! Just as a side note: The poem in the letter is by Sorin Cerin.