Sorry its been so long since the last update, life was crazy but now its settling down...so I hope you enjoy...and Merry Christmas.
"COMMON KATIE, THEY'RE HERE!" Jack yells upstairs.
"COMING!" She yells back down. For some reason she was so nervous to spend time with him, she hasn't seen him much in the last two months. She finally decided on what to wear and went downstairs to join her friends.
The five head out to the truck and hop in. Kate gets shotgun. And in the back Charlie is behind Jack, Shannon's in the middle, and Sayid is behind Kate. Shannon and Sayid had been going out since about the seventh grade and they still were crazy about each other. So they were sitting in the back cuddling next to a somewhat uncomfortable Charlie, even though he really should be use to it.
They decided to just drive, with no destination. They ended up in a small forest with no one really around. So they just drove and hung out. They brought a picnic basket and a blanket and ate a late dinner. They had the truck doors open and the radio blasting so they had music and the headlights on low so they had a little more light.
Shannon and Sayid were feeding each other as Charlie, Jack, and Kate watched a little weirded out.
"I'll never fall in love." Jack says as he runs his fingers through his hair.
Kate just laughs lightly...really praying that isn't true.
"Yeah man, I bloody know what you mean. I never want to have to look like that in front of people."
Sayid hears them but just ignores them. He's too into what he's doing.
Suddenly 'it's your love' by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw comes on the radio.
"Man this song is bloody horrid, it's too romantic for me, how can any man be this cheesy when he falls in love?"
"Yeah, she probably wrote it and told him they'd get a divorce if he didn't sing it."
Kate bows her head and smiles knowing Jack really loves this song but just not wanting to show his sensitive side.
"Bloody women."
Jack snuck a glance towards Kate because he knew she knew he loves this song. But all Kate did was smile and then gestured like she was zipping her mouth shut and throwing away the key. He gave her a thankful smile.
She leans over and whispers in his ear. "I wouldn't want to be the one to ruin your reputation."
He leans back and somewhat frowns.
"So Kate, I really hope Tom asks you to prom."
"Shan, we just met. Not like he'd going to."
"Who's Tom?" Jack asks.
"He's that really cute junior who came over and flirted with Kate at lunch today."
"Oh the art geek?" Jack asks.
Everyone looks at him mad that he would say that.
"I mean..." He tries to save himself.
"Save it Jack...Yes the art geek." Kate says coldly.
Jack has a hurt expression on his face.
Everyone can feel the tension.
"So Jack, I hear you're going to prom this year." Charlie says trying to change the subject.
"Yeah...yeah with Chloe."
Kate looks down.
Bad move Charlie.
"The Senior?" Shannon asks.
"Yeah." Jack says and shrugs it off.
There's a dead silence.
"We'll I better be getting home, I have to get up really early." Charlie says.
"Okay."
"Yeah, us too, were going on a trip and have to leave early." Sayid says and nods towards Shannon.
"Alright." Jack says as he gets up and starts to clean up everything. Everyone soon helps.
He takes everyone home and then it's just he and Kate in the car. They haven't really talked at all since the talk they all had at dinner. Even before that they didn't talk much. It pained them both so much to be like this. Jack turns the truck around.
"Where are we going Jack?" Kate asks seeing as there house was back the other way.
He doesn't answer. He just keeps driving until they reached where Jack was headed. It took a while to get there but it was one of Kate's favorite spots alone along the Deerfield River.
He gets out and goes around opening her door.
"Why are we here?"
"Just common Katie." He says holding out his hand to help her down. She doesn't take it. She gets out of the truck herself. He looks down sadly.
"Why are we here Jack?" She asks again.
"Memories." Jack simply replies.
Kate looks at him curiously, wondering what he's up too. He extends his hand out towards her one more time in attempt to win back her friendship. This time she's hesitant, but then she accepts. Jack smiles widely at this and Kate can't help but smile at his large smile.
They make there way down to the sidewalk next to the river. Still hand in hand, both realizing how much they have missed each other so far this school year. They start to walk.
"So...do you really like this guy?" Jack asks slowly looking over towards Kate.
"I don't know, I mean I just met him, but so far so good." Kate replies. "Do you like Chloe?"
"As a friend yeah."
"What about Sarah?"
"What about her?"
"Do you like her?"
"She's been trying to get with me since the beginning of freshman year, and she still won't give up...but..."
"But she's growing on you." Kate finished his sentence.
"Yeah, I guess."
Kate nods and looks down.
Suddenly Jack lifts her up and puts her over his shoulders.
"JACK!" She says through laughter and shock. "DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT JACK!" Kate yells as he is jogging towards the small pier they use to jump off into the river as children.
Jack does his evil laugh that he always does whenever he doesn't listen to you begging for your...dry clothes.
But suddenly both of them are drenched in water.
"Jack I can't believe you did that!" She pauses. "Actually, to be perfectly honest I can." She says.
Jack is cracking up and cannot get a word in edgewise. Kate tackles him back into the water.
After lots of much needed laughter they head back to the car, soaked from head to toe. Kate is standing by the side of the door waiting for him to unlock it so she can get in, but some time passes before she notices he's in the bed of the truck.
"And you weren't planning on telling me we weren't going in, so I get to stand out there waiting for someone who isn't really there to unlock the doors, looking like a fool the whole time." She says trying to act mad, but can't hold in the laughter much to make her anger look real.
"Aw but you're a cute fool Katie." Jack says smiling widely at her.
"Ha Ha very funny." She says as she climbs over the side of the truck. "You have pillows back here?" Kate asks somewhat amused.
"Yeah, most times I leave parties or whatever early and just come here to relax and work off any alcohol before I go home."
Jack hands Kate a dry shirt of his that was in the back. Kate turns around and changes into it. She lies back on the pillow.
"Jack."
"Yes Katie?"
"Why do you drink? Is it peer-pressure, cause' I swear if they are making you..."
He silences her raving by giving her a light peck on the lips. "You're cute when you care, do you know that?"
She giggles slightly. "Now I do...why though Jack?"
"I don't know, peer-pressure is part of it, because if I'm not at a party they will come wherever I am and kidnap me and bring me there, and then there is other things factoring in on it too."
"Like what?"
"Never mind."
Kate looks at him curiously, knowing whatever it is, is a big part of the drinking thing. But she lets it go for now. There's a somewhat large pause. They are both looking up at the stars.
"Jack."
"Uh-huh?"
"I miss you."
"I miss you too Katie." He says as he leans over and plants a kiss on her forehead.
After they are dried off a bit they hop in the car and make the somewhat lengthy trip back to their house. When they pull up Kate looks towards the backyard.
"Hey Jack?"
"Yeah Katie?"
"Look." She says pointing to the backyard.
"Whoa. There are hundreds more than usual."
Kate smiles.
"Do you want to go chase a few, for old time's sake?"
Kate smiles. "I would love to Jack."
They both hop out of the car and run towards the field that is completely covered in fireflies.
After chasing them for a while they both are out of breath. Jack goes over to Kate and extends his hand. "May I have this dance Miss Austen?" He says bowing down.
"Of course you may Mr. Shephard." She says curtseying and then taking his hand.
They start to slow dance under the moon to the sound of each others breath and the crickets chirping.
