And, I Am Back Once Again With Part 3 Of This Fic...I Think This Is the Fastest I Have Ever Written A Fic, And By Morning, I Will be so Sluggish And Brain-Dead That I Won't Be Able To Write For A Week XD Anyways, This is For AnimeRoxx's Challenge, So I Hope She Enjoys this...
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Keith Or Natalie, Only this Idea
A Concrete Goal
Part 3
Month 2
Five months. He had five months to reach his outcome. And already he felt like a failure and a fool. He was nowhere near closer to ruining her reputation than he was finding a cure for himself. Hell, he wasn't even sure he wanted a cure for himself.
He was ready to go into the unknown. He knew his time was limited, but he had already gone through the stages. He accepted it. That doesn't mean he isn't miserable, however. He looks over at the calendar on his nightstand. February 3, Monday.
He sighs, sitting up and rolling his head to crack his neck. It was little over a week until the dreaded Valentine's Day, and he wondered what she would be doing for the event. Probably a sweet night in bed with Marquez, he tells himself. Shaking his head, he stands and goes into the bathroom to brush his teeth and comb his hair.
When he finds some clothes, he throws them on, not very anxious about the day.
He didn't understand why some people could just wake up every day of their lives with a smile on their face, loving the world. He was lucky just to be able to wake up each day. He was glad for that, but also hesitant. The longer he lived, the sooner he wouldn't be here anymore. He'd given up on living months ago. He saw no point in it. He had nothing to lose.
When he pulls up, he sees her car and allows a small smile to escape. He exits the truck and makes his way into the school. He doesn't get very far when a hand comes out and slams him into the lockers.
"What the hell?" He asks, and looks up into Rafael Marquez's face.
"Stay the hell away from my girl," he snaps at him, pressing his forearm into his neck. He stares at him steadily.
"I didn't realize you owned her," he replies and he is slammed into the lockers again. By now, there is a group of people watching. His head is throbbing from the force and he grits his teeth.
"Shut the hell up, you freak," he retorts. "If you don't, you'll regret it." And with that, he punches him in the stomach, forcing him to his knees. He holds his stomach with one hand while trying to stay conscious. The wave of nausea is so powerful, he almost loses it right there. He looks up and watches Raff walk away, laughing with his friends. People walk around him, not bothering to stop, whispering to each other.
When he manages to get up, the first bell has already rung. He walks in late, and doesn't care. The teacher knows his situation, so she doesn't say anything. And by the time he gets to Chemistry, the whispers have become full-blown conversations and wide-eyed stares.
He sees her already sitting down and sits beside her, resenting her. She is startled by him and looks up at him.
"Are you okay?" She asks. He laughs.
"Why wouldn't I be, partner? Nothing better than seeing your boyfriend in the morning." She winces and he raises an eyebrow.
"Can we do the lab?" She asks quietly and he obliges. They end up being the first ones finished and she tries to talk to him again. "About Raff..." He cuts her off.
"Don't worry about it, partner. It was a joke." He knew she could tell he was lying, but he refuses to say anything else. When the bell rings, he doesn't look back, even though she calls his name.
ooo
To say she was furious was an understatement. She blatantly forgot to meet up with Raff after school and went straight home to get ready for the tennis match. He tried calling, but she ignored it.
She lost the match. She didn't know if it was an accident or on purpose, but something inside of her felt triumphant. Something she could actually control. Of course, her parents reprimanded her, but she didn't pay attention to them.
Later that night, she decided to finally answer Raff.
"Hello?" She asks.
"What the hell, Natalie? Why didn't you answer me?" She sighs.
"I heard about what you did, Raff. Why would you do something like that?"
"Why do you care, Natalie? Is something going on between you two?"
"No, Raff. But just because I hang with him sometimes, does not mean you can go and threaten him!" He sighs irritably.
"He has a crush on you," he replies and she laughs.
"He has a crush on his truck, Raff."
"You encourage him!" He yells back.
"I do not," she says hotly.
"Everyone can see it, Natalie. You're letting that freak mess with your head." He sighs. "I'm sorry."
She rubs her forehead and sighs back.
"Whatever, Raff. I gotta go."
"Bye."
"Bye."
With a huge sigh, she lays back onto her mountain of pillows and blinks away tears. Raff is getting too possessive and Keith...Well, she didn't know what Keith was trying to do. One minute he's talking and joking around, the next he's angry and cold. Everything felt so blurred and surreal and she didn't know what to think.
By Friday, she's no closer to finding an answer. Raff comes over after school for dinner and it is a tense event. Her and Zach pass the vegetables back and forth continuously, allowing Raff to take the spotlight.
Afterwards, they are in her bedroom, looking at pictures of his uncle's cabin.
"It's ours whenever we want it," he responds and she feels a tiny tendril of giddiness rise up within her. A knocking at her door makes her stand upright and Zach opens the door, holding a box.
"Uh, some guy with a truck dropped this off." She reaches over and grabs it from him, setting it on the bed next to her. She opens it and pulls out a metal thing.
"What is this?" She asks. Raff picks up a box and reads aloud.
"Carburetor tune-up kit...'guaranteed not to lower your GPA'," she looks up at the notecard in his hands and sees a message on the back. Meet partner at 9 for non-date
"I don't know why he does this shit," she responds, taking the card from him before he can read the back.
"Thought you said nothing was going on," he answers and she looks up.
"Please don't start, Raff. I didn't ask him to drop this off, okay? So, can we just drop it?" She reaches over for a tissue to clean off her hands and he sighs.
"Whatever, are you coming?"
"Actually, I gotta take a shower. But I'll meet you there." He gives her a kiss and leaves, allowing her to let out a relieved breath.
She changes her clothes and rushes out to meet Keith at 9. She comes around the side and jumps when she sees he is wearing goggles.
"Hop in," he says with a smirk. She shakes her head.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Great, than I can come in and watch some TV with the folks," he responds and she shakes her head.
"No." The smirk doesn't leave. "No." It stays there. "No." He smiles a bit wider and she sighs and gets in the truck. They drive for a few minutes before they come to a crossroads.
"Cool...The crossroads scene."
"You know, you can't expect me to just drop everything and come play whenever you want. I need to be a part of the plan whenever you want to hang out."
"Plan? What plan? There is no plan."
"Oh please," she says irritatedly, "you've got some scenario worked out in your head."
"Is that what you think?" In fact he did, just not the kind she was thinking of. "You know what I don't understand is why Natalie Anderson is bumming it with a truck geek like me anyways. No one is making you do anything. You're free to go whenever you choose. Just leave, go...Get outta here," he mutters and he feels her eyes on him as she stares at him before getting out of the truck.
She turns to him and speaks.
"You know, I thought you were different, but you're not," she hisses. He looks over at her, swallowing. "You're just another immature little boy. I am wasting my time here," she says and walks away. His face contorts in a mixture of anger and pain before he sees her coming up on his side. "And what about you, huh? Why don't you just leave? Go on, just go." If only she knew the power those words had on him.
He starts to respond when a car pulls up beside them. Billy gets out and a momentary fear paralyzes him.
They talk for a couple of minutes before Billy and Al leave. He looks down and lets out a small breath, looking up and seeing her still standing there.
"You're such a guy," she says, but smiles. "Only it turns out you're a big softie." She gets back in the truck and his eyes close as a wave of relief floods through him. "So, how do you know them?"
"They're CIA...Can't trust 'em," he responds and she shakes her head.
"That boy, Billy? He looks up to you," she continues. He gives her a small smile that she manages to return.
They continue driving and her argument with Raff floats through her mind.
ooo
He notices she's preoccupied, and hates that he notices. It's none of his business.
He can't help but wonder what goes on in her head, how she thinks through things. Whenever he expects her to do or say something, she does the exact opposite. He never knows what to expect with her. The notion is both exciting and irritating.
"So...where we goin partner?" She asks eventually.
"The sky's the limit," he says to her and she sighs.
"Turn left," she says at one point and he slows, trying to keep his shock from his face.
"Why this road?" He asks.
"Why? Since when do we care about the 'why'? There is no why, right?" He smiles and he turns, gunning the truck around the corners, smiling as she squeals and laughs.
"Really funny," he comments.
"What is?" She laughs again.
"That you chose this road." He pulls up to the cliff and stops the truck, parking it. He gets out and walks over to the ledge, sitting against a rock. A fire is going across the lake over at The Brick and she gasps when she sits down.
"So, that's The Brick," she says softly and he nods. "I've never been over here before."
"And I've never been over there," he comments back. "So, how does Her Highness feel about not wearing her crown for an evening?" She looks at him, but his hands wrap around one of his knees as he brings it up closer to him. His other leg stretches out and she shakes her head.
"Down there...It's like, everyone is out to find the worst dirt they can on everyone there. It's all about the latest fashions, boy gossip, and getting as smashed as you can to the point that you hook up with anyone who would have you..."
"Ah, essential knowledge that is," he responds, wondering if she'd ever participated. The thought disgusted him and he had to restrain himself from scooting away from her.
"They live and die by that shit down there."
"And did the Princess ever take part?" Her shock and hurt is palpable.
"You honestly think I would do that?" He shrugs.
"Stranger things have happened," he responds.
"I suppose...But up here, it's different. And you..." She trails off and he glances at her.
"What?"
"You don't care...You're just you. It's peaceful...It's why I like you, partner." His breath catches at her words. Got you. He shrugs.
"Yeah, whatever that is, I guess."
"Don't worry...It's a good thing. A really good thing." He bites his lip, looking down and then up, before looking at her and back again.
"Yeah." She looks up at him and he can't hold himself back. He leans over and places a hand on her cheek, kissing her. The feeling is like a bolt of lightning, shocking him to the soles of his feet. It doesn't last for more than a few seconds, but when she pulls back, he wonders if he screwed up.
"We should probably leave," he comments. "We're lab partners, and this is strictly a lab partnership. Not to mention how upset Walter would be..." With that, he gets up and walks over to the truck, rubbing the spot where her lips were on his. He gets in the truck and waits for her to follow.
ooo
As soon as she had uttered the words that she liked him, she didn't know in which way, and it scared her. But then she felt his lips on hers...And everything melted away. A bolt of electricity went through her at the sensation of his lips against hers. It ended, too soon it almost seemed, but when it did, reality sunk in. She had a boyfriend, who was not Keith.
She got back in the truck, and things were tense for a couple of minutes. Then, as they were driving down a street, she looked to her left and saw, sitting beside a trash can, a blue bowling ball.
Helplessly, she bursts out laughing.
"You losin' it partner?" He asks and she shakes her head, pointing. When he sees what she was looking at, he smiles with her.
And then, things were back to normal.
All too soon, however, she was at her house and heading up the stairs to her room. First thing she did was to call Raff.
"Hey gorgeous, you ready?"
"Actually, I'm pretty beat from today. I probably should have told you before you left...I don't really feel up to going to The Brick tonight."
"But we always go to The Brick," he says, a twinge of irritation seeping through his tone. She doesn't hear it.
"I know...I'm just not feeling it tonight."
"Alright, whatever. Get some sleep, I guess," he says. They hang up and she lays back on her bed, replaying those few seconds with Keith. She bites her lip, still tasting him on her. She smiles. Tic-tacs and SlimJims. She wondered why he always had Tic-tacs on him, but shrugged the thought away.
ooo
When Monday rolls around, the entire school is in a frenzy of excitement. Friday is Valentine's Day and it was the day that the Freshmen and Sophomores delivered the Heart-o-grams to people. She walks around, seeing the halls are now decorated with pinks and reds and white.
Brooke finds her after first period.
"Okay, we have a serious problem," she tells her, grabbing her hand and leading her to the Yearbook room. Once there, she sees the chaos that ensues.
"What's the problem?" She asks Brooke. Brooke leads her to a table where a few other girls crowd around.
"Okay, you see this? This is not enough pictures to fill up three pages, Natalie. What the hell are we gonna do?" The other girls look up at her and she sighs.
"Okay, who's in charge of photos?" She asks. Two girls raise their hands.
"We are." They say in unison.
"Okay, so if we have two people covering photos, why do we only have enough for one page?" The girls look at each other.
"Because someone stole the camera with the rest of the pictures." She furrows her brow.
"What do you mean, someone stole the camera?"
"It was in my gym bag in my locker. When I got back from P.E., all my stuff was strewn about the floor, and the camera was gone. No one else knows my combination. Someone broke the lock." She sighs, irritated.
"Did you go to Sassen?" She asks and they nod. "Alright, well, in the mean time, take some pictures with your phones and we'll transfer them to the computers here. Alright?" She asks.
After another ten minutes, she finally makes her way to class. She apologizes to her teacher and he waves it off. She sits down and begins the work on the board. When she finishes, she wonders what will happen on Friday. She doesn't know what to expect.
When she gets to Chemistry, Keith is already there and waiting for her. He gives her a smile as she sits down.
"Ah, love is in the air," he says. "Quite a...Shall we say, enthusiastic, time of year."
"Got a hot date, partner?" She asks, faking a country twang.
"Well, pumpkin love, I do believe I do," he replies. Her heart drops for a moment before she recovers, hoping he didn't see the flash of disappointment on her face. She hopes he's joking.
"Oh, really? Well, what's her name?" He flashes her a smile.
"Honey bun." She gives him a confused look before she recalls what he called his truck the day they were watching Andy weld the bumper. She turns and hides her face with her hair so he doesn't see her flush of embarrassment. "And you?"
"Well, if Deddy will let me out, I think I might just have one, I think. I mean, it's been hard on him, having to raise us eleven kids." He coughs out a small laugh and they turn to the lab.
The days drag on until Friday rolls around. When she opens her eyes, nothing seems different. Her clothes are still where she left them, her computer is still on, the carburetor parts are still organized on her desk...But, something feels different.
When she gets to school, the excitement that had built all day seems to have exploded. The halls seemed fuller, louder. People were carrying flowers, cards, chocolates, and stuffed plushes. When she gets to her locker, there is a single rose taped to it. She pauses as she gazes at its intense beauty; the rose is white and the tips are blood-red. She'd never seen anything like it. She gives a small smile, picking it off and pressing the soft petals to her nose, breathing in the scent.
"Is that from Keith?" She freezes when she hears Raff's angry voice. She turns to him and he looks pissed.
"What?"
"That rose...It's from Keith isn't it?" Momentary fear grips her.
"Raff, calm down. There's no note, okay? Anyone could have done it. It's happened before," she said quickly, wincing when she sees his expression darken further.
"This is bullshit," he spits, walking away.
When the heart-o-grams are delivered, in Chemistry as her luck would have it, she gets a few from Brooke and her other friends, one from Raff, and an anonymous one. She stares at the handwriting, wondering who could have done it. She glances over at Keith's notebook, but sees that his writing is different from the one on the card.
"Ah, secret admirer?" He asks, not looking up from his writing.
"I don't know. Probably someone playing a stupid joke," she says, although the note inside makes her insides melt. Having read it three times over, the words are burned in her mind: for each petal on this rose is a moment of you that is cherished; a gorgeous flower for a gorgeous heart.
ooo
He smiles to himself. No doubt the rose he left on her locker this morning made some sort of impression on her. He sees the red and white petals sitting on top of the pile of others she'd gotten in class. But, he knew that the one from an anonymous person had definitely made an impact.
She'd never know they were both from him.
When class ends, he heads off, smiling secretly to himself. He doesn't get very far when someone grabs his shirt and pulls him back, making him fall on the ground. He looks up into Marquez's eyes. What the fuck?
"What's your problem, man?" He asks, standing up and fixing his bag.
"You're my problem, freak. I know you put that rose on her locker. I told you to stay the hell away from her!"
"Marquez, really, I'm flattered that you would think I did it, but what reason would I have for doing it? Come on man, if I was going to give her flowers, I'd make sure it was more than just one single flower, and I would do it in person, not tape it to a locker."
"Shut the hell up," he says, grabbing him by his shirt front. "One more time, freak. Stay the hell away from her. She thinks you're a creep. We have a laugh about you every time we see each other." He didn't know whether to trust him, but the words hurt in ways he never imagined. With a final shove, he walks away.
He swallows hard, looking down as the words sink into him. Everything was screwing up. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. Damn it all to hell! He punches a locker and decides to skip the rest of the day. He goes to the nurse and tells her that he's not feeling well. She takes a single look at him and gives him a pass to go home.
Maybe being a dying kid really did have its privileges.
ooo
She was nervous. The entire ride, Raff had been cold and distant. When they finally get to his house, he leads her into his bedroom and sits her down on the sofa. They drink some champagne for a few minutes before he starts kissing her.
She notices right away that the shock she felt with Keith...Isn't here. They kiss for a few minutes, before he pulls away.
"You ever done this before?" She gives him a look.
"I've kissed, yea."
"Not that..." She blushes and shakes her head.
"No. But, when I do that...I want it to be," he cuts her off.
"Don't worry. I got it all figured out. No rush," he says, and she closes her eyes, missing the dark expression that passes over his face. He presses a kiss to her forehead and she sighs.
Later, after he drops her off, she stands in her bathroom, trying to see what happened. She liked Raff, a lot, but something was missing. She didn't want to think too long about it.
Around 1:00, she heads to their secret spot, where he's waiting in his yellow truck. A smile breaks out across her face when she sees the familiar color. She climbs in and they head off to the cliff. When they get there, they lay in the truck bed with their feet dangling off the sides.
"See, there's Orion's Belt," he points out. Their cheeks touch and he pulls back. She smiles and nods.
"And there's the Big Dipper." They point out constellations for another few minutes before she turns to him. "Alright, partner. I got a scene for you."
"Shoot," he says.
"It's the scene where you tell the truth." He laughs.
"A big confession scene?"
"Mm-hmm." They lay there for a few minutes before she speaks again. "So, what are you really doing after high school?" He sighs.
"I'm going to London." Her excitement is almost unbearable.
"Really? Me too, with Raff, and Brooke..."
"Not that London," he says gently, interrupting her. "London, Ontario. There's an annual truck show there every July." She laughs, shaking her head.
"So...You really are a truck geek." He sighs, exasperated.
"See? I open up to you and you rag on me."
"No...Only because I know that you have dreams bigger than a truck show. You're selling yourself short."
"Well, the sky's the limit, right?"
"Actually, yea it is."
"You sure about that?' He asks and she detects an amount of teasing.
"Yea." She looks back up at the night sky when she feels the truck creaking. "Are...are we moving?" She sits up and feels the trucks tires turning as they slowly go towards the ledge. "Keith...We have a serious problem here."
"It's like we're in space on a secret mission..."
"Keith, come on!"
"I believe there's some sort of alien intruder on board..."
"Keith, hurry! Get up!"
"And it's taken over the body of our trusted copilot, Natalie Anderson..."
"Keith get up, come on!" Her cries are frantic.
"Keith, get up, she says," he mocks gently, appearing not to hear her.
"Keith you're gonna get yourself killed!" She's trying to stop the truck now.
She falls and watches the truck continue to crawl towards the ledge. Fear paralyzes her.
"Shit! Keith!" She yells.
ooo
He contemplates just letting the truck go over. He didn't want to do this anymore. But, hearing her terrified screams does something to him.
"Keith, please!" As soon as she says the word, his heart kicks into overdrive and he leaps up, opening the door and sliding into the truck, pressing the break right as the truck hits the ledge. He sits there, swallowing tightly as he grips the steering wheel. She comes around to the side, her face angry. "What the hell was that?" She demands. "Do you have a death wish?" If she only knew. "You could have died!"
"Not to mention what would have happened to my truck," he comments, appearing unfazed.
"Oh, oh...Just nice," she snaps, turning to pace away from the truck.
He grips the steering wheel even harder and takes a deep breath, feeling a wave of pain course through him. When she gets back in the truck, he backs away and takes her back home.
"Did you want to go over?" She asks.
"I wasn't even close," he responds.
"Yes you were! You were at the ledge."
"You don't know what 'close' is," he says, angry.
"Don't give me any stupid lines. I know what 'close' is," she hisses at him. He looks into his side mirror, giving a small smile to himself.
"Good night, partner," he says gently. She scoffs and gets out of the truck. Closing his eyes, he swallows, opening them and forcing a smile.
He drives home and goes to sleep. When he wakes up the next day, he and his father head to the hospital.
When he is admitted, they hook him up to the IV and the doctor explains the process.
"Okay, so this new strand is designed to attack the bad cells and try to replace them with good cells, alright? Now, this will take several treatments before we'll see results, so it'll be at least a week, maybe longer, before you'll be able to return home and to school, alright?" He nods, barely hearing him. He wonders where his jacket is and a slice of fear cuts him.
Natalie has his jacket...With his pills inside. His eyes close and he grips the sheet tight in his hands. No doubt, she'd be nosy. With a sigh, he relaxes against the pillows.
ooo
Monday rolls around and she heads to school, anxious to see Keith. But when she gets to Chemistry, he doesn't show. And the next day, same thing.
All week, she waits for him to come to class, but he never shows. In frustration, she goes to Mr. Miles, desperate for answers.
"Where is he? I mean, I'm trying to learn this stuff, and he's just blowing it off. I need to pass the APs," she tells him, watching as he puts bottles away.
"He's going through a tough time right now," he says. It stops her in her tracks.
"Tough how?" he sighs. "Is there anything I can do?"
"I knew this was a bad idea," he says, almost to himself.
"What?"
"Partnering you guys."
"But I thought it was random," she says, exasperated. He gives a slight shake of his head.
"He chose me?" He lifts his eyes up to her before looking down. "Keith chose me?"
"I'll make sure he gets your notes," is all he says. She scoffs and turns away.
When she gets home after losing another match, she digs out the pill bottle she'd found the last night she'd seen him. Triptopax, it said. She typed it in the search box and it popped up.
Triptopax XR: used mainly in cases of severe depression
She pauses with her hands on the keys. She feels cold and her fingers tremble. Depression. Keith was depressed? Why?
A wave of anger courses through her. He didn't tell her. Why didn't he tell her?
ooo
When Monday rolls around again, he still hasn't shown. She's kept his jacket in her locker, waiting for him to come back.
She sees Raff more, although he wants to take things further. She's not ready for that sort of thing, and he seems to understand. She's glad he does.
But, when Friday comes around again, she's in an even worse mood. She'd lost yet another match and her parents were becoming irritating.
"Want me to come in?" Raff asks as they stop at her house.
"Maybe..No...Shit, I'm not sure. I'm just really tired from the match. I think I need to sleep it off or whatever."
"Got plans with Keith?" He asks and she looks at him.
"Where did that come from?"
"Do you?" He asks again.
"As a matter of fact, I have absolutely no plans with Keith. Even if I did, what's the problem? Am I only allowed to be seen with you? I hang with a lot of people, Raff. You can't tell me who I can and can't hang out with."
"Hey, the match is over, alright? Just get some sleep."
"I'll talk to you later," she says and kisses his cheek.
"Yeah, whatever. Bye."
She makes her way into her room, ignoring her mother's demands that they talk. She lays in bed the whole weekend, feeling miserable. She didn't understand what was happening.
When Monday finally rolls around, she's shocked to see that it is March 3. It's been nearly two weeks since Keith had vanished. With a sigh, she gets up, showers, and gets dressed. She makes her way to school feeling like a zombie. Maybe today would be different. She laughs, because for two weeks she'd been telling herself the same thing over and over. And it never was.
Alright, Guys. There is The End of Part 3! I Am Already Writing Part 4 In My head And OH MY GOODNESS, is It Going To Get Heated! Hope You Enjoy!
xXxhurting-insidexXx