Hey Guys, I'm Back. This Is The Fastest Fic I Have Ever Written, And No ONe Has Reviewed Or Even Read It. Almost Breaks My Heart A Bit, Especially Since It's Gonna Be Over Soon...Oh Well
Disclaimer: I Own Nothing Except This Idea
A Concrete Goal
Part 7
End of Month 5
To say he was nervous would to have been an understatement. He was overjoyed that she knew his darkest secret, and was okay with it, but was terrified of her seeing just how it was.
When he picked her up the next day, he could tell she was nervous. He gives her a smile and she returns it, reaching out to hold his hand. He smiles to himself at how tightly she clings to his hand, allowing him a glimpse of her emotions.
They drive to his house where his father waits for them with his car. When they get out of the truck, his father gives her a warm smile and a hug. She returns it.
"How are you this morning, Henry?" She asks.
"I'm doing alright, and how are you?" He returns.
"Nervous," she laughs, easing the tension.
They all pile into the car, Natalie sitting in back, and make the long drive up to the hospital. Occasionally, he feels her hand stroke the back of his neck in a comforting gesture. And each time, his eyes close briefly.
When they get there, his anxiety returns full force. He doesn't want her to see this. He gets out of the car and, when he turns to her, she gives him a smile as if to say it's okay, everything is gonna be okay. He takes her hand and they walk up towards the entrance.
"You know, I could go and see if I could find a candy striper costume and come surprise you," she says. He laughs and shakes his head. His father stops and turns to look at them.
"You...You made him laugh," his father says with amazement. She blushes and he tightens his hold. "Welcome to the family," he tells her and her eyes widen.
"W-What?" He smiles and shakes his head, turning to walk inside. He smiles to himself for a moment before the reality of what she is about to see hits him. "Hey," she says, grabbing his chin and making him look at her. "I'm not leaving." He swallows and nods.
They get inside and automatically, like always, they put him in a wheelchair. Her eyes take on a mischievous glint and she looks at the nurse.
"May I?" She asks. The nurse looks at her.
"And who are you? I've never seen you here before."
"Oh...I, uh...I'm..." She hesitates and bites her lip, suddenly looking embarrassed.
"She's my girlfriend," he answers for her. He can feel her shock and joy, but looks at the nurse. "It's alright." The nurse smiles.
"Uh huh, so I see someone finally tamed the beast," the nurse chuckles, the lines around her eyes crinkling with age.
"Yea, but he doesn't know about it, so let's just keep it a secret, okay?" Natalie whispers loudly to her, pretending a serious expression. With a sigh, he starts to wheel himself to the room.
"Hey, where do you think you're going, mister?" The nurse says, grabbing him and stopping him.
"Running away?" He asks back and she shakes her head, smiling.
"Alright, you can take him. It's the third door on the right," she says and Natalie smiles at her before taking the handles and pushing him.
"You know, partner," he says smiling to himself, "having you as an indentured servant sounds pretty cool right about now. You know, I've got this horrible crick in the side of my neck...Hey!" He says when she mock hits his shoulder. She laughs and shakes her head.
When they enter the room he can feel her uplifted mood plummet. He turns to look at her over his shoulder and she forces a smile for him. A nurse comes by and wheels him away from her.
As he is hooked up to the IV, he watches as his father comes and wraps an arm around her shoulders. She looks up at him and forces a smile. He leans close and whispers something to her. She bites her lip and nods. He wonders what he told her and his heart races when he sees her turn and walk away. His father nods at him and follows her.
ooo
She didn't know what part of her had remained ignorant but, when she saw him get hooked up to the IV, it was like a cold slap in the face. Everything suddenly became real. She felt an arm come around her shoulders and looked up into Henry's face.
She forces a smile for him and he leans towards her, speaking into her ear.
"I know this is probably really hard for you to watch, and I'm sorry. They'll bring him to Room 126 if you want to go and wait." She bites her lip and nods. "I'll be right behind you," he continues and she turns and walks away. After a couple of minutes, he is beside her.
When they get to the room, she sits down in a chair beside the window. He stands opposite her and crosses his arms.
"Can I ask..." she begins, not sure where to starts.
"What is it, sweetheart?" He responds. She meets his eyes.
"What happened to his mother?" She bites her lip. His eyes become sad and wistful.
"She got really sick about six or seven years ago. I was at work and Keith was at a friend's house, so she decided to drive herself to the hospital. It was dark out and she could barely see." Her heart beats wildly as she prepares herself. "A drunk was driving and didn't see her. He sideswiped her...She died on impact," he finishes, his eyes misting over. She gets up and hugs him around the waist.
"It must be hard for you, living without her," she tells him. They stand like that for a few minutes before she pulls away. "So," she begins with a smile, "tell me about Keith when he was younger."
ooo
When he is finally allowed back in the room and hour later, it is to the sight of her flushed and smiling face and the sound of his father's laughter. She wipes away tears from her eyes as she still chuckles. When she sees him, her face lights up. He manages a smile for her and stands up gently, moving to lie in the bed. She props up the pillow for him and bites back a hurtful comment.
He grits his teeth and closes his eyes. He didn't want to hurt her, but having her see him like this wounded his pride. And, fifteen minutes later, when he leans over and vomits into the bedpan, he almost hates her.
"Having fun yet?" He asks her when he finishes. She looks up at him and opens her mouth to speak when he cuts her off. "Now you have something funny to tell your friends. How you watched the sick kid puke his guts out and look like death. Bet you'll be invited to all the parties real quick, Miss Popularity," he snaps and her face pales.
"Keith..." she begins but he cuts her off.
"Bet you're probably just biding your time until you can make a quick getaway. Why don't I make it easy for you? Why don't you just go?" He closes his eyes as a wave of pain hits him and barely notices her hurt gasp and the scraping of the chair as she gets up and runs out of the room. He waits another minute before looking up at the ceiling, letting a tear fall from his eye. He swallows and his father comes by him. "I'm sorry," he whispers.
"I won't tell you that was very harsh and wrong of you, because I know you already see that. Just try to remember that this is painful for her as well. You didn't see the look on her face when she came by the house that day and you refused to see her," he says. "That girl is in love with you, son, and I know you care strongly for her."
"And how do you know it's not just pity or sympathy, huh?" He demands of his father. "How do I know that she's not just sticking around because she feels obligated to?" A movement out of the corner of his eye catches his attention. His heart breaks when he sees her.
Her eyes are red-rimmed and puffy and her nose is red from crying. But in her hands she hold SlimJims and Twinkies, and a thing of Tic-tacs. She takes a few hesitant steps forward and places the items on the bedside table. She does all this without looking at him, despite him staring at her. She meets his father's eyes and gives him a small smile.
"I told you twice and I will tell you again," she finally looks at him. "I am staying with you. I don't do the whole pity thing, partner, and I never have. I'm sorry if you feel that way, but I don't feel pity for you, just the situation. You're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. If you truly want me to go home right now than I'll have my parents pick me up, or I'll get a cab. But, I'm staying with you until you leave." He grips the blanket in his hand, noticing belatedly that his father had stepped out of the room to give them a few minutes. He meets her eyes and reaches forward, ignoring the stab of pain and nausea, taking her wrist in his hand and pulling her towards him. He wraps his arms around her and holds her to him.
He strokes her hair, even as he feels her shaking with silent sobs.
"I don't want to put you through this," he forces between his clenched jaw. She sniffles and raises her head. Even with her face tear-stained, she is still beautiful to him. He gives her a sad smile and wipes away her tears.
"I survived the past five months, I can survive anything with you," she returns.
"You don't know that," he says, every doubt clouding his mind.
"I do, partner," she says. "Now, stiff upper lip. 'Cause we got an audience," she whispers conspiratorial. He glances over and sees a couple of nurses staring into the room from the nurses' station. She giggles and pulls back.
ooo
After another hour or so, the doctor comes in, looking somber. He straightens and sees her stiffen. His father had come back and was smiling at the two of them.
When he sees Natalie, he raises an eyebrow.
"And who is this young woman?" He asks and she smiles.
"I'm Natalie," she tells him. He nods.
"Well, Keith," he says, looking through sheets in the chart. He goes to continue when his eyes fall on her. "I'm sorry, would you mind stepping out for a moment?" She goes to get up but he grabs her wrist and holds her.
"She can stay," he tells the doctor. His eyes plead with him and, after a moment, he nods.
"Very well," the doctor says. She sits back down and takes his hand in hers, rubbing his knuckles. "I've got some good and bad news," he continues.
"What sort of bad news?" His father asks.
"Well, I will start by telling you that the new treatment we started you on has effectively destroyed a decent amount of the cancerous cells in your body," he says and his heart gives a squeeze.
"But?" The doctor sighs.
"But, because you have had increased pain over the past six months or so, we believe that it has begun to spread into your bones. And, looking at your new blood work analysis and test results..." His voice trails off and he fears the worst. When the doctor meets his eyes, they are sad. "I'm sorry," he says gently. The world comes crashing down around him.
"How long?" He faintly hears his father ask.
"A month...Five weeks on the upside." His eyes close tightly and he feels Natalie's head on his shoulder, kissing him and stroking his hair. He barely feels her touch, everything coming into focus.
This was it. He knew it was going to happen. He just didn't think it'd be so soon.
"We can keep trying and we will see what happens, but I need him here at least once a week for the treatments." He looks at the doctor and sees the genuine pain he is feeling for him. He looks down and places his fingers under her chin, bringing her eyes up to his. Her eyes are sad, but determined and he gives her a smile.
"I'm not going anywhere, partner," she tells him. She kisses him and his eyes close at the feeling. When she pulls back, her face is red and he is smiling.
ooo
When they are almost home, she leans forward and wraps her arms around his front side. She rests her chin on the seat and sees him smiling at her. He rests a hand on one of hers and strokes it gently.
"Natalie," his father says to her quietly. She turns to him. "If you would like to stay with us, you are more than welcome." She smiles and looks over at Keith. He nods.
"That's very kind of you," she says. "I would have to run home and grab some things, but I would love to, if it wouldn't be too much trouble." He laughs, despite the tension about the day's events.
"You hear the manners in her voice? You could take some lessons from her, son," he says and Keith gives a laugh.
"Manners? Me? My God, the world would come to an end." They all laugh.
When they get to his house, she gives him a quick kiss before jogging over to her car.
"I'll only be a few minutes," she calls. They nod and his father helps him into the house.
Soon, she is pulling up into her driveway. Her mother meets her in the hall and she takes one look before bursting into tears. She feels the strawberry and honey perfume her mother wears and wraps her arms around her.
"Shh, honey, it's alright," she says, stroking her hair. "I already packed you a bag," she says and Natalie pulls back.
"Why are you okay with this?" She asks sadly, the tears still falling. Her mother smiles.
"You've been in love with that boy for so long," she comments and her brow furrows. "When you were in that play, you kept talking about the loud boy who was always stepping on your dress. I knew what you didn't...That you were infatuated."
"Russian Soldier Number three," they say at the same time. Her mother smiles.
"I know we've been hard on you this past year, Natalie. We only wanted what was best for you. I guess we should have focused more on what you needed than what we wanted. I've already talked to your father about this, as well," she says. "If you don't want to play tennis anymore, we understand. We just want you to be happy. And, if in the fall, you still want to go to college, I already talked to the Dean of the three other schools you wanted to apply to. They understand and will be willing to reconsider your application with them." Her jaw drops.
"You'd do that...For me?" She asks and her mother nods.
"We love you, dear."
"I love you too," she whispers, hugging her mother tighter.
"And if he ever wants to stay here, he's more than welcome. I don't need to tell you no hanky panky, since I can tell it's a little late for that," she jokes and she blushes. "It's alright dear. Just be careful. And Natalie," she says as she pulls away and reaches for the bag. She turns and looks at her mother. "Don't be afraid of the things you don't understand." She nods and grabs her bag and her book bag, heading out the door.
When she reaches Keith's house, she sits in her car for a few minutes, just thinking. When she decides to get out, she grabs her bags and walks to the front door, knocking gently.
Henry opens it and smiles down at her.
"Ya know, when I welcomed you to the family, that kinda means you don't have to knock," he says, teasing her gently. She smiles at him and goes inside, taking off her shoes. "I'm making supper," he says and she looks towards the kitchen where she sees a few pots on the stove.
"Thank you," she tells him, everything she needs to say in those two words. He nods, understanding.
When she gets to Keith's room, the door is closed. She knocks, but there is no answer. Quietly, she opens the door, finding the room empty. The smell of gasoline and Tic-tacs brings a smile to her face. She picks up a shirt from the floor and sees it's the shirt he wore when they first kissed. She blushes but presses it against her nose, breathing in his scent.
"You know, you have got some pretty creepy tendencies," she gasps and drops the shirt, turning to see Keith smiling at her. She flushes and bites her lip, looking away as she sees his hair is wet and he is in nothing but a towel. She clears her throat.
"Um...I'll let you, uh, g-get dressed," she says and goes to walk around him. He holds out an arm and stops her. She turns and he places another arm on the other side of her head, trapping her. He steps closer and she swallows nervously.
"You okay, partner?" He asks her in a whisper. She bites her lip and nods. "You sure?" His minty breath washes over her face and the heat from his body makes her insides turn liquid. Her legs shake and she has to close her eyes to calm her heart. With a mischievous smile, she opens them and looks up at him, stepping closer so that they are only an inch apart.
"What else do you expect when you come in here half clothed? In fact," she whispers, leaning even closer, "I think a cold shower might be in order." And, as he leans in to kiss her, she ducks beneath his arm, laughing breathlessly. He swallows and looks over at her.
"Okay," he says. "You win this round." And with a shake of his head, he closes the door.
She makes her way to the kitchen, deciding to help Henry. When she gets there, she sees him staring at a package of chicken, looking at some recipe with confusion.
"Need help?" She asks and he jumps.
"I don't understand," he confides and she smiles at him.
"Here, let me." She takes the recipe from his hands and reads it over. "Okay, can you get me the flour, salt, pepper, garlic, a can of green beans, butter, two eggs, and three potatoes?" She asks him, having seen a bag of potatoes on the counter. He nods and gathers the ingredients. She smiles. "I see you have stuff for a salad, too," she says and he nods.
"It's about the only thing I can make," he admits and she laughs.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you."
He watches as she cuts open the package and takes out the chicken breasts, boneless of course, and cuts them in half. She grabs two of the pots from the stove and places them on the counter before searching for a skillet. When she finds it, she butters it and places it on the stove, turning the heat on medium. She places the salt, pepper, flour, garlic, and other seasonings in a bowl, beating the two eggs in another.
When she finishes with that, she shows him how to dip the chicken breasts in the egg wash, coating both sides in a thin layer, before moving it to the dry mixture. Once it is coated, she brings it over to the skillet that is now hot. It sizzles and she tells him to try. He has some difficulty holding the wet breast, but she laughs and cheers when he gets it in the skillet. He smiles and they high-five each other.
She gets out a small pot and places the green beans inside with some butter, turning it on low. He starts cutting things for the salad and she flips the breasts before reaching for the potatoes and rinsing them off. She melts some butter in the microwave and brushes some of it on each potato. She finds the aluminum foil and wraps each potato in it, sticking them in the microwave as well. After ten minutes, the salad is ready and the chicken is almost done.
She puts the potatoes that are in the microwave on for three minutes. By the time they finish, the chicken is ready. He places three plates on the counter and she places one breast on each, divides up the green beans between them, and grabs a baked potato for each of them. She knew Keith probably wouldn't eat much, but she'd fix him a plate anyways. Henry scoops some salad into three bowls and takes the plates to the table in the living room.
"I'll get Keith," he says and she nods. She goes to work on putting things away. She dumps the rest of the dry mixture and puts the rest of the egg into the trash. Then, she takes the skillet, still hot, and rinsing it until it cools before squirting some soap onto its surface. She begins to scrub at the bottom of it, cleaning it with ease. She cleans the other pot and two bowls. "You didn't have to do that," she jumps at Henry's voice. She shakes her head.
"I don't mind," she responds. Keith is standing behind him and he gives her a smile.
"Starting on the servitude already? Nice," he comments and she flicks a towel at him. He catches it and smiles.
"Go on and eat," she tells them. They shake their heads and go into the living room. But, after a few minutes, Keith comes back in and wraps his arms around her.
"You shouldn't be cleaning, or cooking. You're not a slave," he tells her and sounds bothered. She turns and looks at him.
"I don't mind doing either. I'm indebted to your dad for letting me stay. It's the least I could do." He sighs and she smiles, kissing his jaw. "Now, go, so I can finish." He shakes his head and walks back into the living room.
When she finishes, she wipes away a bead of sweat and finds three glasses in the cupboard, going over to the fridge to grab drinks. She finds all sorts of drinks and smiles. Hoping they won't mind, she pours herself some Mellow Yellow.
"What do you guys want to drink?" She calls out.
"Dr. Pepper!" She hears both call back. She laughs.
She pours them their drinks and grabs all three cups, carrying them to the living room. They look up when they see her and Keith gets up and take two of the cups from her hands.
"I could manage," she says, bristling a bit. He gives her a smile and they sit down.
ooo
Having her in his house, sitting next to him, was like a dream. He kept glancing over to make sure she was still there.
He didn't eat much and was disappointed that he couldn't. She was a wonderful cook.
Afterwards, she cleared the table. When she comes back, she is carrying three small plates and forks with something delicious-smelling on them.
"When did you make this?" He asks in surprise. She smiles secretively.
"Wouldn't you like to know? It's cinnamon roll bread," she continues. He cuts into it and lets out a small moan of enjoyment.
"This is really good, Natalie," his father comments and she smiles.
"I'm glad you like it. There's more on the counter if you would like more later. And I wrapped up the rest of your plate and put it in the fridge," she tells him, giving him a smile. He shakes his head in wonder.
When they all finish, she grabs the plates and heads back into the kitchen. He grabs the cups and follows her. He hears his father putting the tv on and smiles to himself. She turns the water on and starts to wash the plates. He comes up on her right and holds out a hand. Curious, she hands him the soapy plate and watches as he rinses and dries it, placing it in the cupboard.
"You don't have to help," she says quietly, washing another plate. He shrugs.
"I don't mind."
They continue in a companionable silence. When they finish, their hands are pruny from the water. She dries the counter and sink and wraps the bread in aluminum foil, placing it in the microwave to stay fresh. He holds out a hand and she places hers in it. He gives her a smile and brushes a lock of her hair behind her ear.
ooo
Her heart hammers in her chest and she wonders if he can tell. Her eyes lock onto his and the world melts away. She gets lost in his blue-hazel eyes, the warmth and teasing in them. They lean towards each other ever so slowly. When their lips are a hair away, her eyes flutter closed...
"Whoo! That's what I'm talking about, baby!"
They jump apart and she blushes. He gives her a smile and they walk into the living room where Henry is watching a football game. He looks up at them and clears his throat. She can't help it. She doubles over, laughing. When she is composed enough, she wipes the moisture away from her eyes.
"You alright, partner?" Keith asks. She nods.
"You know, you kids don't have to sit here with me," Henry says, but she knows that they both can see how badly he wants them to. So, they sit down on the loveseat while he sits in the recliner. He explains to rules to her because the purpose had always eluded her and, by halftime, she was cheering along with him.
When the game ends, he turns off the tv and turns to them.
"I'm going to bed. Goodnight," he tells them.
"Goodnight," they respond. He smiles and goes into his room, closing the door. She turns to Keith and his head is resting against the back of the loveseat, his eyes closed. She nudges him gently.
"Hey, partner," she says and his eyes open. He gives her a smile and she stands, pulling him into a standing position. They walk into his room and he lies on the bed, watching her while she opens up her bag and pulls out pajamas. "I'll be back," she says and he nods.
When she returns, self-conscious, he is sitting up, in nothing else but a pair of sweats. Heat rises in her face and she bites her lip. He stands and smiles at her before walking into the bathroom. She hears the faucet running and the sound of pills. She swallows and sits on the bed, waiting for him. When he comes back, his face is paler and he gives her a tight smile before sitting on the bed and laying back, letting out a painful breath. Unsure, she bites her lip again waits for him to speak.
"What? You afraid, partner?" He teases and she gives a smile before nodding. His brow furrows. "What are you afraid of?" She takes a deep breath and picks at a seam on the bed cover.
"Hurting you, or making the pain worse...Saying the wrong thing..." Her voice trails off and she looks down. She feels movement, then his hand cupping her cheek, bringing her face up to his. He rests his forehead on hers and she shivers.
"I shouldn't have said what I did earlier," he tells her.
"I-I know why you said it."
"I still shouldn't have. Natalie, you're giving up your life, don't you see that? You're giving up your popularity, your friends, probably even your future...For me. I mean, I knew you'd come around sooner or later..." He stops when she pinches his arm.
"I forgive you," she tells him. "And, it wasn't much of a life to give up. Honestly? You're so much more important than any of that," she whispers, feeling embarrassed at having admitted so much. Way to go, Dirt for brains! He only likes you, he doesn't have any other feelings than that! And you don't even know if he likes you...
He sighs and leans back. She feels cold and wraps her arms around herself. The warm feeling inside her slowly disappears. She moves to stand up and he grabs her wrist.
"Where you goin', partner?" He asks and she can't meet his eyes.
"I was...I was gonna go and..."
"Stay." She looks up and his eyes are pleading. She swallows. She lays down beside him and he turns towards her. She faces him and he lifts her head so that he can lay his arm underneath it. "What are you thinking?" She shrugs and shakes her head. He raises an eyebrow. I'm falling in love with you...
"It's so weird being in a guy's bed," she says instead. He smiles.
"Of course that's what you're thinking," he replies.
"So, this is your room," she begins, turning to lay on her back. She looks around, seeing the little things that make it his.
"Yep," he replies. She sees a jar of bottle caps and lifts her eyebrow. With a smirk, she gets up and walks around, looking at the little artifacts and odds and ends around his room. "Whatcha doing?" He inquires, sounding nervous. She peeks over her shoulder at him and smiles.
"Oh, nothing. Just...Scoping things out," she giggles. She gasps and picks up an old truck magazine. "So, now you really have shown you're a truck geek," she teases and she turns to flip through it. He comes up behind her and moves her hair from one shoulder, leaning down to rest his chin on it, resting his hands on her waist. Her heart jumps into her throat and she struggles to breathe normally. "Keith," she says, letting out a breath.
"Yes, dear?" He asks and she smiles helplessly. She places the magazine on the desk and turns around, looking up at him. She swallows nervously and takes a deep breath. "What is it?"
"What you said earlier...To the nurse..." Her throat closes up and she can't speak.
"Wondering if I meant it?" He teases and tears cloud her vision. She nods. He leans close and whispers in her ear. "Don't tell honeybun, but I meant it with all my heart." She closes her eyes as the tears fall. When she opens them he is looking at her. "Why are you crying?" He asks quietly, wiping her tears away.
The words she longs to say fill her head. She can taste them on her tongue, ready to burst out. She wants, no, needs to say them.
"Don't dump on me," she says and he nods. "But...I think..."
"What?"
"I think I'm falling in love with you," she whispers. His hands fall from her waist and he takes a step back. After a minute or so, he sits on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor. "Say something," she begs after the silence drags on. When he doesn't she bites her lip and nods. "Okay," she whispers to him. She walks towards the door and opens it, walking out and closing it behind her.
She walks outside and lays in the bed of his truck, staring up at the stars. She finds constellations they've gone over and slowly starts to feel better. As the night gets later, the temperature drops and with it comes the rain. A light drizzle that slowly soaks her clothes. Something touches her cheek and she gasps. And there he stands, soaking wet, looking more miserable than she'd ever seen him.
"How...How long have you been standing there?" She asks him. His eyes are sad.
"Come back inside...Please." She sits up and shivers, not realizing how cold she was. She looks up at him and shuffles to the edge of the truck, sliding off and standing. She looks the long way up to his face and gasps.
"Ohmigod! You shouldn't be outside in this weather! Get back inside," she says loudly.
ooo
The look on her face would have amused if he weren't so upset. He didn't care if he got a little cold. It wouldn't matter in the long run anyways. Still, he allows her to take him inside and wrap a towel around him.
"Don't move," she demands and walks into the kitchen. He hears her moving around and when she comes back a few minutes later, she has a mug of steaming hot chocolate. He sniffs it and raises an eyebrow. "It's mint hot chocolate," she tells him. He nods and takes a sip, his mouth exploding with the flavor. It was different, but so good. She waits until he drinks his full before she walks back into his room, looking for something.
When she finds a shirt, she motions for him to take the one he put on, off. He gives her a small smile and obliges. She tosses him the dry shirt and he puts it on. She points at his sweats and he smirks.
"You sure you want to be around for that?" he teases softly. Her blush goes nuclear. "Don't forget, partner, you gotta change too." She looks down, just realizing she is soaking wet.
"Don't look," she whispers and he turns around. He hears her taking off the clothes and the wet splash of them hitting the floor. He hears her ruffling through her bag, her teeth chattering. She mutters something under her breath. He smirks.
"Something wrong?" He asks her.
"I can't find any shorts..." she trails off and he feels her eyes on him. Still smirking, and still turned around, he walks over to his closet and opens it, holding up a few pairs of her shorts.
"You mean these shorts?" He asks and she gasps.
"You didn't," she says and he nods.
"Yep. Whatcha gonna do about it?" He asks. She huffs.
"Tell on you," she replies.
"Oh? And, uh, how are you going to get there with no bottoms?" He swears he can hear the steam coming out of her ears.
"No worries...I work best in the nude," she comments. He hears her walking and he turns. The words die in his throat as he sees her in nothing but a wife beater top and underwear. He clears his throat and looks at the wall. He wordlessly hands her the shorts. She takes them from him and puts a pair on.
"Sorry."
"No biggie...I'm kinda tired," she says and he looks up, seeing her rubbing one of her arms. "So, where can I sleep?" She asks hesitantly.
"You want to sleep with me again?" He replies and she bites her lip.
"Can I?" Her unease melts his heart and he goes to her, picking her up and swinging her into his arms. "What are you doing?" She asks breathlessly. He places her on the bed and stands back, wincing as another pain goes through him. He swallows and clenches his hands into fists until it goes away. He sees the concern on her face and gives her a smile.
"It's alright," he tells her. He climbs in next to her and drapes the blanket around both of them. She lies on her side, facing him. He turns the lamp off and faces her, their hands finding each other in the darkness.
"I'm sorry for what I said before," she whispers after a few minutes. "I know it was the wrong thing to say...And now I've ruined things." How could she possibly think she ruined anything?
"You've ruined nothing," he whispers back. "I promise." He finds her face in the dark and lifts her chin up, bringing his lips down onto hers. He feels her instantly give in to his kiss and he moves her so she's on her back. He props himself up on his elbows and keeps kissing her. Hesitantly, he feels her arms snake around his neck, pulling him closer.
After a few minutes, he forces himself to pull back. Her breath comes just as fast as his and he smiles. He kisses her forehead and pulls her close to him.
"Good night, partner," he whispers to her.
"Good night, partner."
ooo
To say that school was an interesting thing the following Tuesday was an understatement. It was May 20th and they had skipped the day before, wanting to just have a day to themselves, to feel rebellious.
Keith had given her a ride in his truck since she was going back to his house afterwards. People stared. She was horribly nervous and looked it. But when she felt his hand cradle hers, all her worries melted away.
Looking up into his eyes, she feels peaceful. People could say what they wished. She holds her head high and they stroll into the building, their hands entwined for the world to see.
They part ways for first period, but he gives her a smile that stays with her until Chemistry. When she sees him sitting at their lab table, her heart jumps. He senses her and looks up, his own smile dazzling. She sits beside him and he leans in, kissing her cheek.
"Natalie, Keith, so nice of you two to join us," Miles says. She turns and he is smiling at her. He gives her a nod and he hands out the review. With a content sigh, they begin the work.
She should have known, however, that word would get around. And get around it did.
When the bell rang for last period to end, she went to her locker to put her books away.
"So, where have you been?" Her back stiffens at the voice and she forces herself to relax as she puts her book in and closes her locker.
"Raff," she says, gripping her bag and turning to meet his eyes. She swallows and looks around nervously.
"I said," he says, stepping closer, "where have you been?"
"That's none of your business," she tells him. He laughs.
"How isn't it? You're my girl, remember?" He says and he tries to put an arm around her.
"No, Raff. I'm not your anything, not anymore. Or didn't you understand that when you took a swim in the fountain?" He grabs her by the arm and yanks her back around.
"I let you get away with that shit because you were upset. Don't you ever turn your back on me, again."
"Let go of me," she hisses. His grip tightens.
"What were you thinking? Huh? Oh, of course, you're gonna give it up to that little shit, you stupid wh..." His words are cut off by her slap. She wrenches herself out of his grip and rubs her arm, already feeling a bruise forming.
"Don't ever talk to me, again," she says. "What Keith and I do is none of your business!" And with that she turns and runs down the hall. When she gets outside, she sees Keith waiting by the truck, pacing. She runs to him. He stops when he sees her and his gaze darkens when he sees how upset she is.
She runs into his arms and he holds her tight against him. He holds her for a couple of minutes before he pulls back.
"What happened?" He asks and she opens her mouth to speak when she hears his voice again.
"Natalie!" She groans and turns around, not caring that people are around.
"What do you want, Raff? How many times do I have to tell you that it is over?! I want nothing to do with you!" People are staring and the tears in her eyes threaten to spill over. He comes near and Keith stands behind her, his hands on her waist. Just his touch helps her calm down and she breathes in shakily.
"Get off her, you little fucking psycho," Raff spits at Keith. She stiffens.
"Don't talk to him like that," she threatens softly. He glares down at her.
"And what are you going to do about it, huh? What? One guy isn't enough for you, so you gotta have two?" Her face pales and, before she realizes what she's doing, she swings her right hand out and punches him in the jaw. He staggers backwards and looks at her, shocked.
"You tried to rape me!" She yells. "You told everyone here that I came on to you but that you rejected me. You said I was the one who started everything...But when I go and find my little piece of happiness you have to try and ruin that too? I'm not yours...I never was. Why can't you understand that?" She asks. She reaches back and feels Keith's hand slip into her own. He squeezes it in comfort, letting her know he's there if she needs him. She looks at him over her shoulder and he smiles at her.
"It's over, Raff."
"Worst mistake of your life," he spits at her but she shakes her head.
"No...I made that when I let you kiss me at The Brick." He looks around and sees people openly staring and recording. He curses at her in Spanish before storming off. She lets out a relieved breath and turns to Keith.
"You okay, partner?" He asks and she smiles, reaching up to kiss his cheek.
"I am now," she responds.
ooo
They're pulling up to the house when he sees the bruise.
"Where did you get that?" He asks her. "Did he do that to you?" she can only nod.
"It's not a first...But it is a last. I'm fine, I promise," she tells him. He tightens his grip on the steering wheel, wanting to punch something. "Keith?" She asks. He looks at her. She kisses him. "I love you. I don't care if you don't, or if you won't say it back...Just know that I do, okay?" She asks and he smiles, his anger dissipating.
"Okay, pumpkin love," he says and she blushes.
ooo
Later, when she is asleep, he lays awake. She'd said she loved him. His own father said she loved him. So why did it take her saying it for him to realize it? He'd thought she was in it because she felt sorry for him. Until today, when she'd stood up for him, for them.
He looks over at her, where her head is cradled on his shoulder, and a delicious warmth spreads through him. His eyes close on a wave of emotion. He'd pushed her away because, well...He loved her too. More than anything. He wanted to live for her...But now he knew his time really was limited. Still, he was going to make the most of it.
He kisses her forehead and whispers in the night.
"I love you so much, Natalie Anderson." Saying it to himself he feels everything lock into place. And with a smile, he pulls her closer and closes his eyes, falling asleep to her even breathing.
Well, It's almost Over..Just Two Or Three More Chapters After This And It's Over...
xXxhurting-insidexXx