It’s sorta like fate
2:55
Looking out at the bleachers filled with students, praying I do well. I would pray that I don’t trip, or fall down, don’t forget a kick, or miss a step, but Mom read some child rearing book recently and says we aren’t allowed to say don’t or can’t anymore. They say when you tell someone don’t fall down, that’s what they focus on, and that’s what they do. So I’m telling myself, do the routine perfectly, kick as high as you can, have a smile on your face, don’t panic, um, I mean, be calm.
Okay, it’s time!!!!
I run out there, smile big and the audience becomes a blur AND I DID IT!!! I did the dance routine perfectly, well not completely perfectly, I was a little late on one kick, but that was because for a second I was blinded by Aiden’s smile.
We jump around with the cheerleaders. Coach, Brad and Dawson walk out to huge cheers. While Brad is speaking, Dawson looks over and winks at me.
Afterwards, I meet Aiden in the Library.
Annie texts me, and so does Brad.
Brad: Your ideas rock. I’ll go with you to talk to the dean about it. This weekend?
Me: Gonna be out of town. Monday, maybe? Also, you’re speech was awesome. Very motivational.
Brad: 🙂 thanks, your dance was awesome. A lot of the girls messed up. You didn’t.
Me: I was slow on one kick, but I don’t think anyone noticed. Kick ass tonight!!
Annie: We have a sign done. Want you to see it. Where are you?
Me: Library tutoring Aiden.
Annie: Oh la la. Be right there. (Annie so knows….)
Aiden says, “What’s up, B-Moi?”
“You know it almost sounds like you’re saying be mine.”
“I sorta am, aren’t I? Well, in a more intimate way.” (I love their banter.)
“Okay, so when we travel to France someday, I’m thrilled that you’ll be able to cuss and get laid, but we need to focus on your vocab words for this week.”
“You want to go to France with me, huh?” (OMG, you guys. This scene! This scene sets so much in motion for later books. Sort of like fate. Top of the Eiffel Tower, Sunset. Him asking her to winter formal. I also love how the library becomes a special place to them.)
“What?”
“You said when we travel to France someday.”
“I, uh, you know what I meant.”
“Yeah, I do.” He gives me a blazing smile. Like full wattage, bigger than I have yet to see. It like radiates up to the top of his blonde spikes. “We’re gonna go to France together. Maybe I’ll ask you to marry me there. Top of the Eiffel Tower, sunset?”
“I don’t even like you, why would you ask me to marry you?”
“You love me.”
I laugh out loud.
I get a couple shushes from the people sitting near us.
“Come on, Boots, you know I’m right.”
“I know nothing of the sort. And you really need to focus, or you will not be passing french, and I’m not the kind of girl that likes to fail.”
“And I’m not the kind of boy who will take no for an answer.”
I blow out a big breath of air, blow my bangs up off my face and just start french. “Okay, so chicken is what?”
“Poulet.”
“Good. How bout bread?”
“Pain.”
“Right but say it like this….pain. It’s more like pan, but the n is more nasal sounding.”
“Pain. You’re going to be a pain in the ass, I can tell.”
“Hey, I’m helping you here.”
“How do you know I’m not purposely failing, so you will tutor me?”
“Because last year you almost failed, and you didn’t know I existed.”
He ponders that for a minute. “Naw. I’m good at every class. Straight A’s, All AP classes. How do you say, fate in french?”
“Sort”
“Yeah, exactly. It’s sorta like fate.” (When writing this scene, I had no idea what the French word for fate was. When I did Google translate for it, up popped the word sort—which felt a little like fate to me. It’s always amazing to me how when you get into writing the story, things like this that you didn’t plan pop up and become such an integral part of the series.)
“Don’t you need to be getting to football, you know, so you can sit on the bench?”
“Silly, Boots. You’re looking at the starting varsity kicker, as of tonight’s game.”
“Oh. Well, congrats.”
“You’re going to be cheering for me.”
“I’m going to be dancing.”
“For me.”
“For the team, silly.”
“We need to dance again. Under my lights.”
“Say it in french.”
“Uh, danse avec moi, um, under lumieres, um tonight, um, I mean, noir?”
“Close enough. Good.”
“So is that a yes?”
“Non, I have that dance sleepover.”
“Merde.”
“See you’re learning. And you’re gonna to be late. Go.”
He looks at the clock, says, “MERDE,” again and then stops and looks at me.
“Good luck, Aiden.” I say.
But I don’t say, I love you, I adore you, my heart flip flops every time you look at me, I hold my breath watching you breathe, you even blink sexily. (Why not? Although this line got cut.)
Naw, I don’t say that.
Annie runs up to my table, “What do you think??!!” She’s very excited.
“Oh my gosh! That looks fantastic!! I love how you did the Roar part coming out of a megaphone with the cougar sticker on it. Adorable. I feel really bad if you do all this work, while I’m in New York.
“Yeah, and what’s up with New York anyways? When did you decide to go there, and why am I not invited? We could shop, shop, shop!”
“Well, I asked Dawson to go with me. He offered for us to stay at his parent’s apartment, but, well, my step dad has a loft, and we’re gonna stay there. And I’m supposed to look at some homecoming dresses my mom put on hold for me.”
“You’re totally going to do it with him, aren’t you?”
“Do you think I should? I mean, don’t you think it’s too soon?”
“Hmmm, what has it been? Two weeks?”
“Well yeah, since school started pretty much. But don’t you think I should be going out with him first?”
“Well you would be going out, if you would just tell him yes.”
“He hasn’t really asked me yet, not like seriously. I want him to ask seriously.”
“I bet he does this weekend. And then if he does, I totally think you should. At least when you do it will be romantic, you won’t be in a stupid dorm room.”
“Dorm rooms can be fun.”
“Yeah, Ace keeps trying to get me come to his.”
“Go. Just because you are in his room, doesn’t mean you have to do anything. I was just in Aiden’s room last night and nothing happened.”
“Well, I’m hoping to kiss him this weekend.”
“He has nice lips and awesome arms, I think kissing Ace would be fun.”
“You want to kiss him?”
“No! Like I think you will enjoy it.”
“Yeah, probably. I hope so. What if he doesn’t try and kiss me?”
“Kiss him?”
“Maybe.”
“So wait. You want to wait for true love, don’t you think I should wait until I’m in love with Dawson.”
“You seem like you’re in love with him. Although you still sort of obsess over Aiden. But it seems like he’s always mad at you.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know. If I was dating someone as hot as Dawson, I don’t know if I could say no. Even if I didn’t think it was love.” (And Annie proves that statement later when she loses her virginity to Jake!)
Party, celebrate, hookup.
10 pm
Go to the game, we win. I danced well, Dawson played really well. I meet him outside the locker room after, to at least give him a kiss before I go to the dance thing.
He throws one arm around me, pulls me close, while we’re walking toward his dorm with Ace, Brad and Bryce. “So what are you guys gonna do tonight without us girls around?”
“Oh, there’s gonna be plenty of girls around,” Brad tells me.
“We’re gonna party, celebrate, hookup,” Bryce yells. Bryce met Maggie at lunch, he thought she was really pretty, but there wasn’t some big love connection.
“Amen, brother,” Ace adds.
I look at Dawson, he’s grinning too, like that’s exactly what he’s planning on doing.
And that makes me a little mad. I walk faster, making his arm fall off my shoulder. “Well, y’all have fun. See ya later.”
Then I walk fast toward my dorm, not looking back. Actually I’m not walking fast. I’m marching. I probably look like Gracie does, when she screams, NO! and marches away from you, clutching whatever she doesn’t want to give you back. Usually your phone.
Here I am, thinking about spending the weekend with him, and he’s thinking about hooking up with other girls.
I guess what can I expect?
Lesson learned. Don’t sleep with someone until you are at least in a relationship, otherwise you don’t know where you stand.
And it sucks!!!!
From behind me I hear Dawson, “Keatie. Why did you just leave like that?”
“Oh, I have to get to the sleepover, and you have to get to your celebrating and hooking up.” I may have said this is in a slightly sarcastic tone.
“Yeah, I actually want to talk to you about that.”
Great. See, I was right. He didn’t want me to kiss Dallas last night, but it’s okay for him. Damn. I totally should have made out with Dallas.
“Go ahead,” I say, “Talk.”
This should be good. No wait. I’m not doing this. I’m not gonna be disappointed. I’ll let him out easy. I want to stay friends with him.
But then I look at him standing there, dark and gorgeous in front of me, and I can’t do it. I don’t want to be just friends with him. I want more.
He pulls me into his arms. I want to resist, but I can’t. He kisses me. I kiss him back. And it’s a really good kiss. Why would he want to kiss anyone else?
“Mhmmm. I love kissing you. Keatie?”
“Yeah, just say it, Dawes. Get it over with.” I roll my eyes at him.
“Get it over with? I thought girls like this shit. They want it to be all romantic and stuff?”
“Telling me your gonna hook up with another girl tonight is not romantic.”
He kisses my nose, “I don’t wanna hook up with anyone but you, Keatie. Go out with me. Be my girlfriend.” Then he takes off his class ring and holds it up to me.
I squint my eyes at him. This was not what I was expecting.
Dawson hangs his head a little. “I thought you would be excited.”
“I am! I’m sorry. I really thought you were going to tell me you were going to hook up with other girls tonight. I wasn’t expecting this.”
“So?”
I throw my arms around him. “Yes. I would love to be your girlfriend.” And seal it with a kiss, or two, or twelve.
(There’s a KEY difference between this and the published version. Get it? Key? I changed it to him giving her the “Key to his Heart” but then she won’t take it, and he wears it instead. He also gives it to her after they have visited his dorm room for a little fun.)
“Get what over with?”
“Telling me you’re gonna hook up with other girls tonight.”
He kisses my cheek. “I don’t wanna hook up with anyone but you. I wanted to tell you that I’m going to miss you. I know you think we’re not ready to be in a relationship, but I’m not interested in anyone else.”
“Really?” I smile. It’s hard not to smile about that. “That makes me happy.”
“I want to make you happy. So, um, any chance you can sneak away tonight?”
“Probably not.”
“Then come to my dorm room real quick,” he says with a grin. “I have something I want to give you.”
“Dawson,” I say, assuming what he wants to give me is currently residing in his pants. “I have to go.”
He takes my face in his hands. “Please.”
“Okay, but we have to hurry.”
We run to his room. I’m slightly out of breath when he pushes me against the door and gives me a deep kiss. My body immediately heats up.
I press my fingers into his sides guiding his hips closer to mine.
“Mhmmm, Keatie, you’re going to have to stop that or I’m going to forget why I brought you here.”
I press my lips into his neck and suck on the spot near his ear that seems to drive him wild. “I thought this was exactly why you brought me here.”
He playfully makes a big gesture of pushing me off him. “There is a little present for you somewhere in this room. It’s your job to find it.” He walks over and lies back on his bed. “Better start looking.”
“Do I get any hints as to what I’m looking for?”
“How bout I tell you if you’re warm or cold?”
“Or hot?” I say, my eyes smoldering, taking in the sexy way he’s lying across his bed. He’s freshly showered, wearing red Cougar athletic shorts and a white XXL Cougar T-shirt with the sleeves and most of the sides cut out. I can see glimpses of his buff chest and abs. He’s got his elbow bent and is leaning on his arm, which causes his bicep to flex.
“You’re already hot,” he says. “I have a hard time focusing on the game when you’re dancing. I have this little fantasy where I get to strip that gold glitter thong off your sexy little ass and do you right there on the field.”
“Dawson!” I shrill, then giggle. “What am I looking for again?”
“Small wrapped package.”
I open his closet and peek inside at a jumbled mess of clothes. I could so never marry a man that had a messy closet. I’m just saying.
“You’re cold,” he says huskily.
I close the door and walk closer to his bed and examine his chest of drawers.
“You’re getting warmer.”
I open his top drawer. He keeps condoms there, underneath his boxers. I eye an unopened box of them. I grab the box and hold them up. “Is this it?”
He laughs. “Nope.”
I shut the drawer, look in the rest and move to his desk.
“You’re getting even warmer.”
I look around his desk, in his drawers, don’t find anything, so I walk over to his bed.
“Oh, yeah, now you’re getting very warm.”
“I am.” I smile at him then strip off my shirt to reveal the leopard bra he’s been dying to see.
“Aw, damn, Keatie.” He hops off the bed quickly and stands in front of me staring at the bra. Then his eyes follow his hands as they move slowly across it. He’s touching the bra almost reverently. Like it’s a trophy.
His hands caress their way down my sides and grip my waist. I reach through the open sides of his shirt, run my hands up his back, then pull his shirt off. He undoes my bra, letting it fall to the floor. I let him kiss my chest for a few minutes. His shirt is still in my hand, so I pull it over my head, putting it on.
He stands back admiring me in the shirt he just had on. “That may be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen you in.”
Then he grabs me, throws me on the bed, and strips off our shorts.
“I am so late,” I say as I’m getting dressed. “I’m going to have to pretend I got sick or something.”
“You got something alright,” he says with a satisfied grin.
I laugh. “Were you my present?”
“Shit, no. I almost forgot.” He grabs his shorts off the floor, pulls a small wrapped box out of his pocket, and sets it in my hand. “Open it.”
I untie the distinctive robin’s egg blue ribbon, open the box, and pull out a little blue pouch. I turn the pouch upside down and out drops a necklace. A Tiffany key necklace. My mom went a little crazy with the key necklaces for me when they came out, but I don’t have one like this.
“It’s really pretty.”
He takes it out of my hand and says, “Let me put it on you.”
I hold my hair up while he fastens it around my neck.
He leans in and whispers in my ear, “I know we’re supposed to be taking it slow. I know you don’t want to be in a relationship until we’re sure, but I wanted to give you this.” He runs kisses across my face and when he gets to my lips, he murmurs, “It’s the key to my heart.”
Awww. Ohmigawd, that’s so adorable.
But no.
No. No. No.
I unfasten it and take it off.
“Dawson, I can’t accept this.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.”
“You think I’m still in love with Whitney.”
“I think you’re not ready to be giving away your heart.”
“Fine then,” he says, while fastening it around his own neck. “I’m wearing it. I want you to see it every day. When you’re ready, you take it back.”
I give him a long, sweet kiss. “You have a deal.”
He smacks my ass and says, “You’re so late.”
I roll late into the sleepover, wearing Dawson’s ring on my thumb. I don’t know why it mattered. They’re just standing around chatting, eating pizza. I’m thinking I can not wait to go to NYC and eat some healthy food. I text Tommy.
Me: Staying at the loft this weekend. How do I get in?
Tommy: I’ll have someone meet you, what time?
Me: Saturday, 10am?
Tommy: Will do. Will you have guests? I’ll have some food brought in.
Me: Healthy food, PLEASE!! And uh, me+1.
Tommy: Gorgeous?
Me: Uh….
Tommy: I think I already know you slept with him. Your freak out texts last week?
Me: Still, its kinda embarrassing.
Tommy: Naw, it’s natural. Have fun baby and make him treat you right.
Me: He asked me out tonight <3
Tommy: We wanna meet him.
Me: He said yes, so you will soon.
Tommy: Love you, baby.
Me: Give the girls a kiss for me, and tell mom I miss her. (This all got cut. And I’m so glad she didn’t just have everything completely done for her. That she had to order in food herself. That she had to hire a decorator and choose items for it. It was a more grown-up way for her to do things, and it made the loft that much more important to her.)
Then my phone buzzes with a Facebook notification. I read it.
OMG!!!!!
OHHHHH MYYYY FREAKING GOSH!!!
I’ve been away from Dawson for like three and a half minutes. And in that time he put
that he is in a relationship with me, and I have to approve it!
I quickly do. And I’m really really excited about this. The fact that he put it on his wall and so quickly!!
Doesn’t that mean he’s excited about it and wants everyone to know??!!!
Pretty soon, my phone is buzzing away.
Annie texts me: OMG!!! When did he ask you? What did he say???
Maggie comes flying over to me, giggling and hugging me. “Oh my gosh Congratulations!!! I am sooooo happy for you. He is SOOOOO DREAMY!”
“Who’s dreamy?” Peyton and another senior dancer, Robyn, ask. (We don’t know who Robyn is.)
Maggie and I don’t get a chance to respond because Katie is running at me screaming, “Keatynnnnnnn!!!!! I just saw Facebook!!!! Why didn’t you tell me? I shouldn’t have to find these things out online!!!!”
“Uh, it just happened. I mean, like that’s why I was late. And I haven’t got a chance to talk to you yet. I didn’t think he would like post it right away.”
Robyn is like, “So what happened?”
Katie says dreamily, “Dawson asked Keatyn out.”
“Oh, really?” Peyton snaps.
I hold up the ring. “Got the ring and everything.” And I can’t help but grin like a maniac.
Robyn says, “Well, that’s awkward.”
“Why is it awkward?”
“Cuz he’s Peyton’s ex.”
“Well it might be if she wasn’t going out with Jake. And they broke up like five months ago.”
And the sleepover is pretty fun. I’m feeling a little high and happy. And the relationship status is getting lots of likes and comments from his friends. Dawson texts me constantly until he finally falls asleep on me at 2:30. I can’t wait to leave to go to New York with him in the morning. We’re meeting at 7am to take the train in. He told me one thing that made me really happy. He said that he was going to wait and ask me to go out with him when we were in NY, like somewhere more romantic, but he decided we should be going out before people hear we’re spending the weekend together. And I thought that was very thoughtful. Then he was naughtily telling me all the things he wants to do to me this weekend. And well, those things actually sound more fun than shopping. Oh, I guess the other kinda weird thing that happened is that Peyton is my Dance team big sister. She’s supposed to be my mentor or something. Now if you ask me, that IS awkward. (All of this got cut, too. I swear, I cut a full book’s worth of words in most the books I write. LOL.)
Saturday, September 10th
Which way to the bedroom?
7am
(So this is where things get really different. This scene doesn’t end up happening until the very end of Kiss Me, and a lot more transpires in between. Two weeks worth of Keatyn drama, which is a lot that I added. In the end, this happens after the weekend trip that Whitney planned to get Dawson away from Keatyn backfired. But, once they do get there, much of what happens here, does happen in the published version.)
Really wishing I wasn’t up this early. I’ve tried to look sexy all week, but today, I just didn’t have the stamina for it. So I pulled my hair back into a pony, threw on a cute sweatsuit for the train ride into New York. I keep thinking if I can just get to the train, I can sleep for another hour or so. The screeching, laughing girls were up all freaking night. I have had exactly one hour and fourteen minutes of sleep. My ass is seriously dragging.
But when I walk out the dorm door and see Dawson walking up the path, my heart does a little flip, and I bounce happily down the stairs and into his arms. He gives me a big hug and says, “Let’s roll.”
We walk to his car, and he drives us to the train station, we hop a train and both sleep. We are at the loft a bit early, so we stop at the coffee shop down the block and talk about our plans for the weekend. What we want to do, what I need to do. I have a couple specific stores I need to go to, and he has a couple specific things he wants to do TO me. We agree that once we get to the loft, we’ll change quick and get my shopping done. Then we can spend the rest of the day roaming around. Maybe go to the museum, grab some dinner, and then go back and do all the things on his TO DO list.
But it doesn’t go down quite as planned. We no more than get in the loft, and he has me pinned on the sleek leather couch, kissing me, sliding my tank off my shoulders, pulling off my sweats. And there’s something so hot about the way he wants me. The way he can’t seem to wait. How his kisses are so urgent. How his hands are everywhere. How I can’t get him close enough to me, how I want him closer, how I’m guiding him towards me. How he is like the train we were just on, running quickly down the track, one single destination.
He had told me last night how he was going to go slow, kiss every part of my body, touch every square inch of me, but all of that seems forgotten now. This is like fast and furious. It’s a lot like the first time we did it. Hard, fast, primal.
He’s kissing me sweetly, grazing his lips across my cheeks, up by my hairline. “So much for our plan.” I say.
“I’m sorry, I just, I don’t know what you do to me. No one has ever made me like this. I just want you so badly, I can hardly stand it. It’s like I’m an animal.” He laughs then gets serious. “I love you, Keatie. God, this is amazing. We’re like amazing together.”
“So you wanna see the rest of the loft?”
“So long as you stay dressed like that.”
“Uh, I’m not dressed.”
“Exactly.”
“We have to go shopping today. There are dresses on hold for me to look at for homecoming, and my mom will be mad if I don’t go get one of them.”
“You gotta date I don’t know about?”
“No, I don’t have a date yet. But I’m going, and I’m gonna need a dress.”
“And I get to watch you try them on?”
“You get to see me in them, but no, you don’t get to be in the dressing room with me. But I would like a boy’s opinion. I wanna look good.”
“Dang. And I was just thinking you look really good naked.”
He pulls me up, I grab a cashmere throw off the chair, wrap it around me. He picks me up, says, “Which way to the bedroom?” and carries me giggling in there.
This time, he did all the things he threatened to do to me. Slowly kissing me, rubbing me, torturing me really, until I couldn’t wait anymore. And it was slow and amazing and tender and after we both fell asleep.
The phone next to the bed is ringing. I answer it. It’s Tommy.
“Well since you answered the phone, I guess that means you got in okay? Everything okay? There plenty of food?”
“Uh, everything’s fine. I haven’t had a chance to look in the kitchen yet.”
“Yet? Didn’t you get there at like ten? You’ve been there four hours, what have you been doing? Oh, shit, forget I asked that. Sorry.”
“Naw, it’s okay. We’ve actually been asleep. I had a dance sleepover thing last night and only got about two hours of sleep. I’m glad you called because I need to go look at those dresses Kym has been going on about.”
“Since you have a boyfriend, does that mean you have a date?”
“Oh, um, no he hasn’t asked me yet. I don’t know if he will. He had big plans of taking the girl he dated the last two years. Well except they have been broken up for months, but I don’t know. If he goes with someone else, then I’ll make Dallas go with me. He’s fun. We’d have a blast.”
“So your boyfriend might take another girl to the dance. That’s messed up.”
“Bye, Tommy.”
Dawson woke up at some point during my conversation with Tommy. I tell him, “I’m gonna shower, get ready, then we need to go, okay?”
“Yeah, we do need a shower.”
“We?”
And he just gives me a naughty grin.
While I am drying my hair, he’s checking out the loft, seeing what’s in the frig. He comes back in with an open bottle of Cristal and two flutes. “This place is sweet. And there’s tons of great food in the frig. If we didn’t have to go look at dresses, we wouldn’t have to leave.”
He sets the glasses and bottle down, grabs my robe belt and unties it. “Much better,” he says, looking down at me, basically naked again. “I think we should just be naked until we have to go back to school.” He pours us each a drink. “Here’s to my beautiful, naked girlfriend.”
“I’m not drinking to my nakedness.”
He runs his hand down my stomach. “Oh, but you should.”
“Dawson! Stop that! Dresses first, so I don’t get in trouble, and then we can come back here and get naked or whatever. This weekend was supposed to be about shopping, not sex.”
He kisses my shoulder, “Bullshit. If you really wanted it to be about shopping, you would’ve brought your girl friends, not me. And I can’t help that you’re so damn sexy, and you make me want you. All the time.” (He is right about that. And later, she does. Who can forget their Lingerie Party?)
And even though I need to go soon, the fact that he wants me all the time, makes me feel extremely sexy, so I figure, what the hell. I laugh, say, “Come on, help me get dressed,” as I slide my robe off, let it fall to the ground, and walk out of the bathroom with nothing on.
He follows me, like a dog after a bone, “Oh, you’re in trouble now.”
So eventually, we made it to the stores. Barely. I found a gorgeous dress to wear. It’s so pretty, and it looked really great on me. Kym is good, that’s for sure. All the dresses were beautiful, but one of them had Dawson all hot and bothered. It’s a Valentino one shoulder dress made of black lace. It has a banded waist with a macrame style almost sunflower patterned skirt. It’s fitted and short. The top of the dress is asymmetrical, off one shoulder, tied at the top with a small bow. It also has a nude colored backing behind the lace, so there is the slight illusion that you are naked and the lace is just there to cover certain body parts. It’s gorgeous, classy, but still very sexy. I also really loved the Louboutin double platform sandals she had picked out to go with it. The heels are so tall, and combined with the short dress, make my legs look miles long. (I love this dress!)
“Hey, do you have some more shopping you need to do?” Dawson asks me as I’m paying for the dress.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind shopping a little more before we leave.”
“Okay, good. I need to run a quick errand, and then I’ll meet you back here in say thirty minutes?”
“Uh, sure. Where are you going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Um, okay, well then, I’ll be in the shoe department.”
“I should have known that.”
He gives me a kiss and rushes off.
All I have to say is it’s amazing how many pairs of shoes and boots you can try on and buy in a measly thirty minutes. (There is a lot of me in this line from Keatyn. I can do the same thing.)
I’m laden down with packages, when gorgeous Dawson comes strolling back in, gift bag swinging in his hand. Literally every shoe shopper’s head turned when he walked by. He is that good looking. Even the old ladies couldn’t help but stare. It makes me feel very lucky. I wanna scream, Yeah, this is my boyfriend.
He walks up to me, kisses my cheek. “You leave any shoes for anyone else?” He’s eying my seven shopping bags.
“There’s not that many pairs, I swear, shoes just take up a lot of room.”
“What did you buy?” I ask, curiously.
“You’ll see later.”
Which probably means more condoms or something romantic like that.
“Hey, do you think it would be okay if we met my parent’s for brunch tomorrow? Riley told them I was in town and now they wanna meet you.”
“Gonna be kinda hard if I have to be naked.”
“I’ll probably let you get dressed for this.”
“Okay, I brought a nice dress, so that’d be cool. Did they love Peyton?”
“Well they did like her, then I don’t know, you know how parents are, when someone breaks up with their kid, they kinda stop liking them.”
“Yeah, Tommy’s ready to kill Brooklyn.”
“So back to the loft?” he winks.
“Yeah.”
Back at the loft and we’re digging through the frig trying to decide what we are going to have for dinner.
After dinner, Dawson says, “I bought dessert. That’s what’s in the bag.”
“Yum. What did you get?”
“Okay, so close your eyes.”
I close them.
I can hear him getting banging around in the kitchen, and pretty soon he’s back in front of me.
“Okay, open.”
In front of me is a sinful looking triple layer chocolate cake. On the top is written. Homecoming?
“What does that mean exactly?”
“I’m asking you to be my date for homecoming.”
I smile. How can I not? A cake? He’s so freaking adorable. And he’s hot. It’s a deadly combination.
“Oh, well yes, I’d love to go to homecoming with you.”
“That dress, I may have to hide you away all night. You looked so amazing, Keatie. I can’t wait.”
He starts to cut the cake. “Wait. Take a picture of it.”
He does, downloads it to facebook with the caption, She said yes 🙂
We eat the sinful cake. Oh my, it is so good. Seriously almost orgasmic.
Even though he threatened me with torture of some kind, I couldn’t sit at the dinner table and eat naked. I guess I’m not that confident in my body yet or something, or it seemed a little gross. I suggest we get in the hot tub, so we do, looking out at all the city lights. It’s gorgeous in an urban way.
“This is really romantic,” he tells me.
“Yeah, it’s nice.”
And then he starts kissing me again…..and we all know where that leads. (This was super cute, but not quite the same as the naked chests and the Dean shaking his ass that ended up in the final version.)
Sunday, September 11th
Meet the parents
11am (Although I did a clothing board for what she wore, this entire scene got cut.)
I’m kinda freaking out about meeting his parents.
“Did you tell them you stayed at the loft with me last night? What are they going to think? They will think I’m sleezy.”
“They are going to love you. Just chill. And I told them we were staying at your stepdad’s loft. I didn’t mention he wouldn’t be here.”
“What if they ask? Oh and they are going to ask me about my parents and my family. Shit. Do we have to go?”
And why the hell am I so nervous about this? The only other times I’ve gotten this nervous was when I’m around Aiden, or when I got to meet David Beckham. Because really, regardless of what they tell you, it’s not milk that does a body good. It’s whatever he does to work out. I don’t really know what it is, but it’s working. I should point out I really don’t get nervous meeting famous people, I know they are just people, but when I met David, he was out surfing with Tommy and I walked out there completely unprepared. (Can you even imagine the hotness of watching Tommy and David surf together? Does David even surf? In my mind, he can.)
I should have known something was up when mom was standing in the living room watching Tommy surf through the telescope. She never does that. But he walked out of the water and booyah, holy shit, yeah, you get the idea, I lost use of my tongue. Now that I think about it, he is a bit god like as well. He and Tommy and possibly Aiden may be in some secret god club. (LOL, Abby.)
We meet his parents at their house for brunch. Their house is a gorgeous upper east side row type home on a gorgeous tree lined street. Most people own like a floor of these homes, and they own the whole damn building. I guess I should of known based on the house in the Hamptons, but both Riley and Dawson are so laid back and not the least bit uppity, they’re parents did something right. I like them right away.
French Kissing Crisis
7:50 pm
Hottie God: Desperately need you.
Hottie God: For workbook help.
Me: Library 20 min?
Hottie God: My room 20 min.
Me: NO!
Hottie God: Fine. Library it is.
I’m sitting on the floor of my dorm. Our usual hangout spot, looking at all the signs they have made and feeling bad that they did all that work. There wasn’t really anything else to do during the day, they complained, so it was fun.
“And we even got Carson and Logan and some of the guys to help us, ordered chinese, it was fun.”
“Yeahhhhh and Carson and Katie KISSSSSEEDDDD!!!!!” (Poor Katie. I deleted her kissing Carson, I think.)
“Wait, what about Tyrese?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Katie tells me. “He’s fun, but he doesn’t seem to want to be serious, and I want a serious boyfriend. Carson is a cutie and Logan is a hottie, like really a hottie. And so is Dallas. I think he might have been flirting with me.”
“Well as soon as this campaign is over, I’m taking you all out for Mexican or something.”
Annie says, “So I just put this on facebook, it’s kinda mean, but I don’t care. It says, Gossiping with the girls in Keatyn’s room, hearing ALLL about her and Dawson’s weekend in NYC.”
“Tell me you didn’t tag him.”
“Oh, I did.”
Maggie asks, So, how was meeting his parents? Riley told us you met them.”
“It was good. They liked me, I think. We talked, I mean I can talk to anyone, have good manners, I wasn’t worried. Well, I was worried, I want them to like me. It was so cute when Dawson said, Mom, Dad, this is my GIRLFRIEND, Keatyn Monroe. I about died. Then his mom kept trying to figure out who I remind her of. Some one on TV she thought.”
“I know who you look like,” Annie says. “We watched Running with the Angels this weekend, and we decided you remind us of Abby Johnston. Like you sorta look like her, but it’s like your more your motions, gestures, the way you tilt your head. Her voice and mannerisms are so much like yours, it’s crazy.”
“Weird,” I say. (This is just stupid, really. The whole premise of her running to the East coast to figure out who she is. And lying about it. I would so hate her if I found out. At least in the published version, she lied with good reason. This was just… wrong.)
Now would be the perfect time to tell them. It really would, but I don’t.
Annie coos, “Sooooo, you and Dawes all alone, did you, you know, did you sleep with him?”
“Well of course I slept with him. He says I like to snuggle. He makes me feel so safe and happy, and did you see the cake and how he asked me to homecoming?”
“Yeah we saw, and sleeping isn’t what we meant.”
Maggie blurts out, “Ohmigawd, did you have sex or what?”
“Look, I don’t want to disappoint you guys, but I don’t really think it’s anyone’s business, and I don’t want it getting around school either way. So I’m gonna have to say no comment.”
Annie looks at me, trying to size me up. “That means you did it.”
“No it doesn’t. It means I don’t’ want people talking about whether we did or didn’t, so I’m saying no comment either way.”
Katie huffs, “Okay, so you did some stuff, right?”
“Yeah, I can say we did some stuff.”
Maggie starts to play along, “And was that stuff, whatever it was, good, fun?”
My eyes get all dreamy, I know, but I can’t help it.
“It was very good, very fun. He says he loves me. Says he’s never breaking up with me. I can probably also say that he looks extremely good naked. He is seriously hot. All of him.”
“Ahhhh,” Annie giggle screams.
Maggie continues, “So did he tell you those things before or after the good and very fun stuff?”
“No, that was like when he asked me out. I haven’t told him I love him yet. But’s he’s said it to me quite a bit. I just worry that he hasn’t settled things in his mind with Peyton yet. I’m afraid when he does it’s going to end badly for me.” (Ha. Maggie is tricky and trying to pry it out of her. Also, this scene did end up happening, just a little differently.)
“I don’t think that will happen,” Katie says sweetly, touching my arm. “Her and Jake are going strong, like she was making out with him.”
“Jake doesn’t seem to be very happy with how things are going. And why aren’t they in his room, doing private stuff yet? I’m not talking sex, but even just like good making out, under the clothes kind of stuff.”
“Maybe she wants to make him wait. I heard she’s pretty prude, even though her and Dawes did.”
“I got the impression that it wasn’t that great sexually between her and Dawes. I really don’t know how it couldn’t be though, he is so hot.”
“Does he make you hot?” Katie is raising her eyebrows up and down at me.
“Oh, yeah, very. Okay, so I will tell y’all one thing.” They all move in a little closer, rapt with anticipation. “At the game the other night, when I had on his big sweatshirt, he put his hands inside it and was like just sweetly rubbing my sides, my stomach and then pretty soon his hands were, uh in my underwear, rubbing me. Oh my gosh, that was like the hottest thing. Being there with all you around, and no one knows. I have to think of a way to do something like that to him.”
Annie is shocked at me, “I can’t believe you let him!!!” (Me either, but . . .)
“Weren’t you afraid someone would notice?” Katie asks.
“Did y’all notice I didn’t get up to cheer when Aiden made that great catch?”
“Oh yeah. That’s why. We thought you were boycotting Aiden’s catch.”
“Then when whoever scored, I was um, really happy about it.”
Maggie grins at me, “That is soooo bad!! I totally want someone to do that to me. I bet it felt like naughty. I wanna feel naughty. I’m sorta tired of being the good girl all the time. Well not that I’m that good.”
We laugh, “I think it’s fun to be naughty like sometimes. And speaking of that, I want to do something like that back to Dawson. Any suggestions?”
“You could do something to him at a game like under a blanket or throw a sweatshirt across his lap.” Maggie says.
“Hmmmmmm.”
My phone buzzes with a facebook update.
Dawson said, Had an amazing weekend in NYC with his amazing girl <3
I suck at Facebook status, I just decide, because I can’t ever think of anything to write.
“Okay, so I gotta go to the library, Aiden is having some french crisis.”
Annie says, “French kissing crisis??” (This is sorta funny, considering they still have not had a tongue kiss.)
“Shut up. I have a boyfriend and a date to homecoming. And he’s hot. Really, really hot. Y’all think he’s hot, right?”
“Yeah, he’s the hottest guy at school. If we didn’t love you, we would totally hate you for it.”
I threw a sweatshirt over my head, but left my shorts on to run over to the library. It’s like I just got all comfy and unpacked. I don’t care that my hair is in a ponytail, and I’m going to see the God of all Hotties.
I really don’t.
But fine. I did stop to brush my teeth.
And maybe put on a swipe of lipgloss.
I vote for letting him die.
8:14pm
He’s sitting back in a corner. Our corner, it seems, behind some stacks. One of the more private tables in the library. He told me it was so we could quietly talk without bothering anyone.
I think he’s just trying to be sneaky. Like maybe there is some time warp continuum, or a valley of the gods under a secret seal below the carpet. Maybe the table rests on it, and when he needs his aura recharged by the gods, he just sneaks down there. Or maybe he goes down there to see his mother, Aphrodite. Come to think of it, that’s probably why Aiden messes with me, he’s got that spitefulness of his mother, who thinks love is some cruel, manipulatable joke.
Whatever.
Okay. Tutor face on.
“Hey, Boots,” he says to me. “How was your weekend?”
“It was good. Really good. Dawes asked me to Homecoming, and I got to meet his parents.”
“Good for you, okay, so, I don’t get this at all.”
So we go over the workbook pages, and I think maybe he does need to go get his aura recharged or something because he doesn’t make fun of me and Dawson. He doesn’t slam me in anyway, not even when I am playing with Dawson’s class ring, which I am wearing on a long chain, in front of him.
“What’s wrong with you?” I finally ask him.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re like being nice to me. It’s kinda scary.”
“I’m always nice to you.”
I look at him, eyebrows raised, calling bullshit.
“I just thought it would be nice if we could try and be friends, so I guess, yes, I’m trying to be nice.”
“That’s cool.”
“Well it may be cool, but it sucks. I wanna hear your weekend with Dawson sucked. I wanna hear that his parent’s hated you. I want you to tutor me in my room, so we can have some privacy. I hate that you have a boyfriend, and I hate that you have a date.”
“Ha! There’s the Aiden I know and love.”
He cocks his head at me, grins, “You love me?”
“It’s a saying. It doesn’t mean anything.”
He leans a little closer toward me. Thank God there is a table separating us.“Still there’s lots of sayings out there. You picked that one. You’re just trying to tell me you love me, it’s okay. I already know.”
My phone buzzes on the table and up pops a text.
Dawson: I miss you </3. Will die if I don’t get a kiss before bed.
Aiden says, “Wow, if only it were that easy.”
“What?”
“I vote for letting him die.” (I love when he says this! It’s like the first sort of humor we see from him.)
“Oh my gosh! You are so mean! I think my work here is done anyways. See ya, Aiden.”
My heart mated with his.
9:22 pm
As I’m walking over to Dawson’s dorm for a quick good night kiss.
Hottie god: I miss you </3. Will die if you don’t meet me in my dorm room.
Me: I’ll be right there baby……..Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!
Hottie god: You’ll be sad when I’m dead.
Me: Doubtful, I’ll have more free time. Actually, I do have something I wanted to talk to you about, if you promise to be nice. 5 min at your room?
Hottie god: <3
So I go kiss Dawson, for about 6 minutes straight. Try to keep him from attacking me for the millionth time this weekend.
Not that I minded at all. This weekend was amazing. It really was. He is so sweet and soooo hot.
Then I head up to Aiden’s room. I knock. “Entrer,” he says. (obviously enter in French)
“So, I turned on the twinkle lights just for you. Just getting ready to start the ipod. I think you owe me something like ten dances.”
“I will give you your dances, if you will do something for me.”
He looks shocked. “Uh, sure, what?”
“I want you to get on the social committee, help me do some cool stuff, and help your sister stop hating on me.”
He thinks for a quick second. “Done.” Then he hits play, stands in the center of his room, draws me toward him with his eyes.”
I slide into his open arms, and we dance to slow songs. I close my eyes and breathe in his godly scent—warm musk mixed with an intoxicating bit of clove and possibly some golden glitter and fairy dust. (Has she ever described the way Dawson smells? In Stalk Me, she did talk about how Brooklyn smelled. He was a combination of salt from the ocean, weed, and Calvin Klein Eternity, if my memory serves me right.)
As was the case before, dancing with Aiden is practically other worldly. As good as sex is with Dawes, I can’t help but wonder how it would feel with Aiden, it’s as if the dance is just a preview of how amazing it could be. And as we’re standing there together, swaying slowly, I swear my heart just jumped out of my chest, mated with his and came back to me. (OMG. This makes me laugh. She makes me laugh in this scene.)
WTF!?
Did I seriously just think that? My heart MATED with his? Oh baby Jesus, it is time for me to get out of here.
Is he burning some kind of incense? Did he put some hallucinogenic mushrooms in to the gatorade he let me have a sip of? What the hell is wrong with me? (Love spell. Hottie god powers.)
I pull back just a little and break the spell.
Well, I broke the spell until he smiled at me. He had his eyes closed when he first looked toward me, then he slowly opened them, offering me just slivers of dazzling green. When he saw me looking at him, his mouth, that gods be damned for creating it mouth, curled into a sweet grin. “I love dancing with you.”
“It is nice.” I say like an idiot.
Of all the words I could use to describe the way I feel when I am dancing with him and all I can come up with is the word most overused by fourth graders?
“So how do I get on this committee, and what are you going to make me do?”
“We’ll get Miss Praline to nominate you, then we’re gonna do some really cool social things.”
He’s still holding me in his arms. And I really don’t want him to let go.
“It’s almost curfew, you better go,” is what he says, but he tightens his hold on me.
I make myself blink. It seems to help fight his powers. Breaking the spell for a moment or something.
“Yeah.” I say, a little too breathlessly. But what I’m thinking is kiss me…..please Athena, Zeus, Apollo, whoever, make him kiss me. (When you start praying to the greek gods . . .)
No, wait. I have a boyfriend. I think.
Yes. I do. (Yes, you do.)
But he must have read my mind.
He leans in and gets as close to my lips as possible, without touching them. “Too bad you have a boyfriend, or I’d be kissing you now.”
I swallow hard. Because I had momentarily stopped breathing, a pile of spit had collected in the back of my throat. It was either swallow or choke.
I say, “I do,” and as my lips move to speak the words, they just brush against Aiden’s, and the feeling is more electrifying than if I had actually kissed him.
I pull back, shocked.
“I really have to go,” I murmur, and then get the hell out of there and to my dorm.
But I’m seven minutes late.
Which is like a half a second in god years, so you wouldn’t think it would be held against me, but it is. I now have seven minutes times three of detention. Twenty one minutes of detention.
Where I am supposed to sit and think about why I am there.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
Monday, September 12th
It’d be way hot.
Ceramics
Jakes complaining. “I can’t even get her to go down on me. She used her hand. We’ve been going out for like two weeks and dating for like three.”
“Yeah, I heard she doesn’t like to do that. Thinks it’s gross.”
“She didn’t with Dawes either?”
“Um, I think only when she was like super drunk.”
“Time to get the girl super drunk, I think.”
“Can I ask you all a question?”
“Sure,” Bryce says.
“Like what is something a girl could do to you, like possibly in public that would make you really hot. Like worship her.”
Jake laughs, “So you wanna make Dawes worship you?”
I look a little embarrassed, even though I’m not. “Uh, maybe.”
“Road head. A girl does that to me, goes way up in my book.” Jake says.
Bryce says, “Yeah, but sex somewhere like risky is fun, or it could just be messing around, but somewhere that feels risky.”
“Anywhere around school that feels risky, but isn’t really that risky?”
Jake considers that for a moment, scratches the side of his face and says, “Yeah, I’ve always thought the private study rooms at the library. I tried to get girl to do stuff with me once, but we just kissed, and then she got too nervous.”
“Any other thoughts?”
“I have dirty dreams about a girl coming in the boys locker room during half time to help motivate me for the second half,” Bryce confesses. “But I think that would be impossible. What about the football field at night, the bleachers, the cave?”
“Maybe.”
“Some people go in the cars that are like parked at school. If it’s dark, no one would notice. Dawson does have his car.”
“Have y’all ever done any of that? Or anything you thought was like really hot?”
Bryce grins, “Football field, late a few times, but the best was the bathrooms by the concession stands.”
Jake looks at him, shocked, “Who was that and when???
“That Amanda chick that got kicked out and sent to rehab. It was fun, but she was kinda skanky.”
I ask, “So was the fact that she did you in the bathroom what made her skanky?”
“No, it was the fact that she did everyone in the bathroom that made her skanky.”
“So Jake, if like Peyton tried that on you, since you’re going out, would it be hot, or skanky?”
They both agree.”It’d be way hot.”
I’m never putting my hair in a bun again.
Lunch
Today I officially start campaigning for Student Council office. We got up super early today (as in we started this at 6am) and were hanging signs all over school. Then right after that I had to meet Brad and the dean at 7:30 to discuss our ideas for the Social Committee. He loved the ideas, especially about raising money for different charities, letting school clubs get involved and just kind of making it about all students and interests, not about popularity. We haven’t figured out all the details, but so far he likes it. We’re going to meet with our group tomorrow morning at 7am (groan) and figure out our first theme and weekend. And then we will start pulling together ideas for what groups can help.
Now I am walking about in the cafeteria, talking to people, freshman, specifically, since that’s who’ll have to vote for me. Really I’m not talking about campaigning, or what I plan to do in office, like some of my competition is. They have platforms or agendas or something. I have three things going for me.
One, awesome signs. Like the girls went wayyy overboard on signs. And when you don’t know the people that are running very well, vote for what you know. School spirit!
Second, I have candy, and not just any candy. I have milk duds, which is like the holy grail for those still in braces. (3/4 of the freshman class) Totally taboo, but you know they will eat them. And the Milk duds label is covered with a leopard pattern and then there are big black and red letters that say, Don’t be Cougar Poo, Vote for Keatyn Monroo…. (It’s funny that I had to create Keatyn’s campaign. Figure out what the posters would look like. The slogans.)
Which is really quite hysterical, if you ask me. Cuz Milk duds do kinda look like cougar poo.
And thirdly, if I do have a platform, it’s social events, which I would like to see more of. Since I am the only freshman on the social committee, I’m in a unique position to do that if I’m also student officer.
So basically, I’m trying to look cute, hand out candy, and introduce myself to everyone, or ask for their vote. I wore a really cute look today. I thought it looked like respectable, responsible. I look preppy, sweet, my hair is twisted up in a bun, but Dawson just told me I look like a naughty librarian and could he please meet with me in private later about some long overdue fines I need to collect.
Which considering I’m thinking about dragging him into one of the private study rooms for a little quick fun, might not be a bad thing. So even though it wasn’t planned for tonight, I’m thinking what the hell.
I walk over to Riley and Dallas, give them candy, sit down and ask, “So what’s better like in reference to sexual stuff. Getting completely surprised with it, or being surprised, but knowing a surprise is coming?”
“As long as you end up coming, what difference does it make?” Dallas quips.
“I’m serious.”
“Tell us your evil plan, mistress.” Riley says, “Hey, has anyone told you you kinda look like a hot librarian today?” (What is it with the Johnson brothers and librarians?)
“I’m never putting my hair in a bun again! Soooooo??? I’m running out of time.”
“I’d like to know the surprise is coming,” Dallas says.
“And I’d like to be completely surprised,” Riley says.
Since Dallas and Dawson are more alike personality wise, I’m gonna go that direction.
I walk over to Dawson, lean down behind him, and whisper in his ear, “We do need to talk about your fines. You’ve been very irresponsible. Meet in the library at 6 to discuss.”
After lunch, he is waiting for me outside, looks me up and down and says, “You’d totally get my vote.”
“I’m never wearing my hair in a bun again.”
“It’s sexy, Keatie, you should. So why 6? That’s usually when we’re eating dinner.”
“Exactly, and I’m hoping the library is empty.”
“Oh, really,” he grins sexily, “why’s that?”
“I already told you, you better be ready to pay up your fines, or um, offer me something in return.”
“I’m so not going to be able to concentrate in class.”
Your lips are my what?
French
I sit down in French, turn around and tell Aiden, “I have twenty-one minutes of detention today after school because of you. Which means I will miss twenty-one minutes of dance, and your sister will yell at me.”
“It was worth it.” His eyes glitter at me.
“Which part?”
“Being late.”
“How so? You didn’t get in trouble.”
“No, but I learned some some french on my own last night.” Dazzling smile.
Look away. Just look away from the light. (Another comment about his godly smile.)
“Oh really? Let’s hear it.”
“Vos lèvres sont mon bonheur.”
“I don’t know what bonheur means.” (Your lips are my bliss. Is that so sweet, or what?)
“Oh really, Miss I’m So Fluent in French?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
He smiles half a smile, “Looking forward to knowing how you feel about it. Oh and hey, I got on the committee this morning.”
“Oh, wow, that was fast.”
“Well, if it means I get to spend time with you without your boyfriend around, it can’t be all bad. I don’t suppose you missed the kiss and he died?”
“No such luck.”
Thinking back to what he said and translating it, “So your lips are my…what?”
“Not telling.”
I raise my hand.
Miss Praline says, “Yes, Keatyn?”
“What does bonhuer mean?”
“Uh, bonhuer not bonjour right?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, well I’m not sure on that.”
I turn around quick and say to Aiden, “Aiden? Is it a bad word?”
“I doubt I would say a bad word about your lips.”
“Oh wait, I’ll look on my phone.” I get it out of my bag, pull up my french translator app, start to type in the word.
Miss Praline says, “Keatyn, you know the rules, no phones during school.”
“I was looking up the french word my french teacher didn’t know. This is research.”
“Give me your phone,” she says, walking up to my desk holding out her hand.
“Merde,” I muttered not quite under my breath.
“You just cussed in French, what’s wrong with you today? Give me your phone and you have a thirty minute detention.”
And this pisses me off.
“Seal,” I say.
“What?” Miss Praline asks.
I talk louder, I’m pissed. “I said seal.”
“Why?”
“What’s the french word for seal, Miss P?”
“Phoque.”
The class laughs.
I grin at her. “Exactly what I was thinking.”
Her face looks shocked at me, her perfect little french student. “Miss Monroe!! Make that two thirty minute detentions!”
Aiden decides to get into the mix for some reason. He’s laughing, saying, “Wait, so the french word for seal is phoque? Like fuck?”
“Aiden! You’re in detention too!” (I love how they both get their phones takes away here and how Aiden stands up for her.)
He looks all innocent, but I know he’s doing this on purpose. I want to kiss him. “Why? I can’t have detention for speaking french in french class. That doesn’t make sense.”
She gives him the squintiest maddest eyes she can make and says, “Thirty minutes, Aiden. Now, does anyone else want in today?”
I seriously don’t know what is up all the teacher’s butts today. I don’t know if they got yelled at this morning, or are hungover, or what, but they are all crabby and piling on the homework all at once. We got assigned a bit group project in History. Riley is my partner and beings he copies my homework every morning, I’m thinking he’s not going to be much help. In math we have like fifty problems to do, plus a new book to read for english. I seriously do not have time for all this.
As we’re walking out of class, Aiden says, “So I guess we can do tutoring in detention?”
“Guess so.”
“See ya, Boots.”
Our phones are in jail together.
3:15 pm
Sitting in detention next to Aiden. “So did you figure it out yet?” He is dying for me to know what my lips are. (I’m dying for her to know, too! This is definitely on the swoon-worthy list!)
“Naw, I can’t get my phone back til after detention. It’s in phone jail. I’m pissed. I was using it as an educational tool. It’s ridiculous. If I get on student council that will be my first issue.
He hands me his phone, “Here, you can use mine.”
“You really want me to know what you said, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Your lips are my something, right?”
He says it again in french, and he can’t speak french worth a shit, but when he says that it sounds beautiful. (Because he’s been practicing!)
“Yeah.”
I grab his phone, start to type into google.
The detention teacher, who has been completely ignoring us up until this point, chooses this moment to look at me. “No phones during class time or detention. Give me your phone, Miss Monroe.”
“Um, first off it’s not my phone, and secondly, he was letting me borrow it to look up a french word for class.”
“I don’t care. Rules are rules. Give it to me.”
“No offense, but this is bullshit. Aren’t we supposed to be able to do our homework in here, and isn’t technology part of our world?”
“You just earned yourself another thirty minutes, Missy.”
I sigh. He takes Aiden’s phone from my hands.
Aiden grins at me. “You’re fiesty today.” Then he laughs. “Our phones are in jail together now.”
“Yeah well when you get out of here, you can go rescue them. I’ll be here til next week.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. You have to pay twenty dollars to get your phone out of jail. Twenty PER phone. So you’re gonna owe me forty bucks. But maybe we can work out a deal where you work it off with dances.”
“I owe twenty, yes. But it’s your fault your phone got sent to jail. You wanted me to know what it was so bad. Why don’t you just tell me?”
“Well you’re supposed to try and be a little sneaky when you use it in class, hide it under your desk or something, not just hold it up and show the teacher you’re using it.”
“Shut up and do some homework. Oh and write down your email for me. I want you to read what I sent to Brad about ideas for the first themed weekend, so you’ll be prepared for the meeting in the morning.”
“I already had Brad forward me your email. But, you don’t have to pretend to want me involved. I know you just wanted me on the committee so you can hang out with me without your boyfriend around.”
I roll my eyes, “Oh you’re so right. I’m dating a gorgeous senior who is crazy about me, and I’m trying to figure out ways to spend time with you.” (LOL)
Purpose of the room?
6pm
So because Aiden had shorter detention than me, he did go get my phone out of jail. When I went to pick it up, the phone jail already closed, and I was soooo pissed that I wouldn’t be able to get it out til tomorrow morning.
But when I got back to my dorm, it was there laying on my bed surrounded by a whole bunch of little purple wrapped candies. Chocolate candies with the words Hershey’s Bliss on the front. I took one out and popped it in my mouth, let the chocolate melt on my tongue. Ohhhh yummmm. (I completely lucked out that there was a candy that actually matched up with this quote.)
Then I looked at my phone, which had a bunch of texts from all day, replied to a few, then touched up my makeup, put on some perfume, grabbed my speech notecards and headed to the library.
Dawson was sitting at a table, waiting for me.
I gave him a head nod, then walked up to the librarian, asked to sign in for one of the private study rooms.
She asks me, “Purpose of the room.”
I hold up my notecards and tell her to practice my speech for student council. She asks who will be in the room with me. I point to Dawson, and she narrows her eyes at me. I can tell she is wondering.
So I say, “Hey, it’s not very busy in here, maybe when I’m done with him, you could listen to my speech too, give me some pointers. I’d really love some more feedback.”
I can tell this does not sound fun to her.
She glances at her watch. “Uh, I’d really love to,” and she’s looking up at the sky, obviously trying to come up with an excuse not to, “but I have a uh, some things to do.”
The librarian is a bad actress.
But I know that now, she will NOT want me to be finishing with Dawson quickly. And also not checking to see if we are done because she knows if she does, I will make her listen. Almost insures total privacy.
She hands me a key, says, “Room seven,” and I wave for Dawson to follow me.
We get into the room, and he pins me against the wall, kissing me. I make him stop. He’s still leaning up against me as I start reading loudly off my note cards. “HI, I’M KEATYN MONROE, AND I’M RUNNING FOR STUDENT COUNCIL AND I WOULD LOVE YOUR VOTE. SOME ISSUES I THINK THAT NEED TO BE….”
I hear a bit of movement outside the door, know she was listening, got bored and went back to her lean cuisine I could smell when we walked in.
“So I’m supposed to talk to you about some fines?” Dawson grins.
I grin back, pull the bun out of my hair, shake my long hair out, then unbutton my blouse, so he can see the leopard bra he has been going on about and has yet to see up close and personal. He leans down and is kissing all around the bra.
I pull his head up and say, “Oh no. You were bad, you didn’t return your library books and when you finally did there were pencil marks in them.”
“I’m really sorry,” he says, but he is so grinning. “What can I do about it?”
I give him a naughty grin. “Well truth is, I kinda like rebels.”
“Oh really?” he says, as I push him up against the door, kneel on my knees and unzip his shorts.
“Oh, god, I love the library,” he moans.
“Well you should, at the library we love stories with uh, happy endings.”
And then I proceed to give him a happy ending of his own. (Keatyn is naughty here. . . .)
Uh, liked is an understatement.
6:30 pm
After our fun at the library, Dawson did act like he practically worshipped me. He didn’t want to stop touching me and kept rubbing my back with his hand, gazing into my eyes during dinner, being all around sweet.
I went up to grab some more ketchup, and Riley follows me, “What did you just do with my brother?”
“What?”
“He’s all, like I don’t know, girly acting.”
“Girly?”
“Yeah, like all lovey dovey.”
“So, it’s cute. And we had a good weekend, I met your family, we’re in love, maybe.”
“You’re late to dinner, also. Dawson’s always is here right at six because he’s always starving after football.”
“He met me in the library for a few minutes. I wanted him to hear my speech for tomorrow, critique it for me.”
“Your shirt’s still unbuttoned.” (Love how Riley is so observant.)
I look down, and it’s not. It’s buttoned just fine. I look up at Riley, who grins at me, says, “Caught ya.”
“Shut up. We were at the library. Ask Dawes.”
“I just might.”
I’m still standing up there, contemplating dessert and how since I missed dance today, I really shouldn’t have any. And I have so much homework tonight, no way will I have time to go work out. Aiden strolls up behind me.
“Hey, Boots.”
“Hey, thanks for getting my phone out of jail. Oh, and for the candy. It’s really good.”
“Yeah, it is.” Then he looks puzzled at me. “So did you get it?”
“Get my phone? Yeah I just told you…”
“No. The candy. The name of the candy.”
“Uh….?”
“Did you look up the french word yet? Your lips are my……..what?”
“Oh, no, uh, not yet.”
He looks a little hurt. Sighs, says, “Oh, well, just tell me when you do, I guess.” (I feel really bad for Aiden here.)
So I decide to forgo dessert and take the ketchup over to the hungry boys. Riley did sit down next to Dawson, and he, Jake and Ace were having a conversation about me, I think. Cuz it gets quiet when I sit down.
“What are y’all talking about?”
Riley says, “Your speech. I was just asking Dawson what you say in it.” That boy is too tricky for his own good. “You told me in the library you did your speech for him. It seems he doesn’t know much about your speech.” He gives me a naughty grin.
He is such a shit.
“Add that to the fact that you look like a naughty librarian today and were asking Jake here in ceramics about doing something risky to make Dawes worship you. I don’t know, it’s just kinda adding up.”
“I did do some of the speech.” I say to Dawes.
He tries to contain his smile. “I know, but you had on that bra, and you took out your bun. I wasn’t really listening.”
“See,” I say to Riley, “He just wasn’t focused. Obviously, I need to rework my speech. I gotta go campaign over at the freshman tables.”
Dawson gets up, grabs me, whispers in my ear, “I haven’t said a word, but I cant freaking stop grinning. And he kinda tricked me on the speech thing.”
“So you liked?”
“Uh, liked is an understatement.”
“Good. Hey, just text me tonight. I really do have a ton of homework. And tell your brother to stop gossiping and get to work on our History project.” (It’s cute how she seems to always do her and Riley’s homework.)
You’ll find out tomorrow.
9 pm.
I get back to my room, Katelyn was meeting Carson to study, and I excitedly have the room to myself. I’m going to get sooo much done. I move all the candy off my bed and remember I still need to look up the word. Your lips are my something.
I grab my phone, put in the word bonheur into my translation app, and up pops the word BLISS.
Oh. my. gosh.
He thinks my lips are his BLISS?! And he left me the Hershey’s BLISS candies. That is sooooo freaking adorable. I might cry, it’s so adorable. So I text him. Also the night he quoted Keats, that was about bliss too. (It’s so adorable I want to cry. Also, I love this scene. I love what he does. How he’s wooing her even though she’s dating Dawson and how she throws it in his face.)
Me: Bliss, huh? The Keats quote. The candies? Pretty clever of you.
Hottie God: Bout time you figured it out. So?
Me: So what?
Hottie God: Are my lips YOUR bliss?
Me: I have a bf, I can’t answer that question.
Hottie God: You just did.
Me: What do you mean?
Hottie God: If his lips WERE your bliss, you would have said NO to me.
Me: Uh….
Hottie God: So I was looking over these ideas you sent Brad. They’re good. But you have to know which one I’m going for.
Me: No, which one?
Hottie God: You’ll find out tomorrow. I’m busy doing a little campaigning of my own tonight.
Me: Idk what that means exactly, but okay. 7am, bright and early :/
Hottie God: No :/ Now it’s 🙂 cuz you get to see me 🙂
Tuesday, Sept 13th
I so wish I could go to boarding school.
7 am
Brad starts out introducing Aiden to the group, starts talking right away about the ideas that I suggested. I suggested that we brainstorm for some other ideas, but they all seem to have been brainwashed. They were all like, We like the Parisian theme, so we can brainstorm for the following weeks, and we should probably make up a calendar for the rest of this semester, but lets start planning this now.
Brad says, “I think we should shoot for the weekend of October 1st. It’s a few weeks before homecoming, so it won’t interfere and will be a fun way to kick this off.”
Then he turns to Peyton and Aiden and says, “Okay, now this meeting’s yours.”
And it is. Peyton and Aiden have a bunch of French Parisian themed stuff already figured out. We are setting it all up in the student cafe area, the student lounge, and the area outside the coffee bar. They are all kind of near each other and will provide us with indoor and outdoor space. They are going to have the drama club have mimes running around, um, miming, I guess is what they do. The art club is going to have “street artists” set up inside and out, doing paintings and feeling like they are living on a Paris street. She’s having theater tech class doing some props and backdrops of Paris to hang in the cafe and outside. The circle of friends is trying to earn money for a conference they want to go to, so they are going to be bringing in french pastries from a local bakery and reselling them. The cafe ladies and the chef was super excited. They are going to make us croque monsieur’s one day, and are adding other french items to the menu that weekend. They are even going to offer a french cooking class on how to make the perfect french grilled cheese. If you have never had a croque monsieur, you are seriously missing out. It’s not just a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, it’s the bread they use, and then the béchamel sauce that goes with it. It’s almost better than dessert.
The Student Council is going to put up a big screen on the football field one night, sell tickets, and show classic old french romance movies. The French Club is going to sell picnic baskets with wine (like non alcoholic wine) and cheese and goodies to sit romantically and watch the movie.
They have totally taken my idea and run with it. And run with it in less than twenty four hours.
Seriously, how did they do all this? I’m impressed, and this is just the beginning, they still have to announce their ideas to the rest of school. They are hoping each dorm will get in the spirit and decorate. They’re thinking about offering some prize and letting people vote for whose is the best. The staff has told us we can dress “french” on Friday, instead of in our uniforms, the football coaches are going to teach the students how to play boules, which is a French form of lawn bowling. And then there will be a boules tournament.
They aren’t even done talking, and I’m texting Kym. (You’ll notice that while the idea of the themed weekends ended up in the published series, the first one was Greek with the Gods of the Olympics competition as one of the events. And it was so fitting. And when Aiden announced it, Keatyn cringed because she thought somehow he knew that’s what she called him. How his godly powers made her feel. I also cut this next scene. Because, by now, Keatyn can figure out her own damn wardrobe. But I totally agree with Kym. I want to go to Eastbrooke, too.)
Me: Need a Parisian looking outfit to wear to school on Friday, 10-1 also need something adorable and slightly french looking and romantic to wear to sit outside with a picnic and a hot boy and watch a romantic french film.
Kym: I so wish I could go to boarding school.
History
In history, we get a chance to work in our groups on our projects. We are supposed to break down our assigned time period and talk about the economic, cultural, global and religious factors. We assign each of the four of us one of the topics, and then decide to gossip. The gossip turns to Riley, who apparently had a little liaison of his own this weekend and didn’t tell me about it. I guess a bunch of people went to a movie on Saturday, and one of the people that went was a really pretty junior named Ariela. I guess they hit it off, made out at the movies, and hung out most of Sunday. He is waiting to see if she turns stalkerish before he asks her to hang out again. So far, so good. (This got cut. And I love the scene in his room when he talks about meeting her. And how he keeps saying how pretty she is.)
You Tube is where it’s at.
Lunch
Today at lunch, I sat with Annie, Katie, Carson, Maggie, Riley and Dallas. Dallas is sitting next to me, and he’s telling me that he kinda likes Katie. Which I was afraid would happen.
Is it bad that I want to keep Dallas for myself?
“We’re going to the cave tonight. I don’t care how much homework you have or how tired you are. You’re going. You, me, and Riley. Don’t invite anyone else. I mean we can’t stop people from being there, but you know, we don’t have to tell them we are going, and we don’t have to invite them. And that includes your boyfriend.”
“I don’t wanna like lie to him.”
“Don’t lie to him, just don’t tell him.You know I like Dawes, I just want to talk to you without him sucking on your face.”
“Okay, fine.”
“Tonight, baby,” Riley grins at me. (Pretty sure all this got cut, although Dallas did end up taking Katie to homecoming.)
“So how’s the campaigning going?” Dallas asks.
“It’s going great. It was a great way to meet everyone. We handed out a ton of candy, and I had three boys asked for my number.” Maggie tells us.
“So what do you think of my competition?” I ask Annie, who is probably the most informed.
“Well I’d say your only real competition is Benjamin. He wants to be President someday, he’s very serious, and he would probably do a really good job. He’s talking about all sorts of important issues, like funding and economic change.”
“It’s freaking student council people, he’s not going to affect funding or economic change here.”
“Well I don’t know, he just sounds good when he talks, and he’s kinda sexy in that nerdy kinda way.”
Great.
I silently curse Bill Gates and all the other rich internet techno whiz geeks for making nerds in vogue.
Riley’s like, “The guy’s a douche.”
Dallas interrupts, “So Riles and I have an idea that could get you more votes than the douche.”
“Really, whats that?”
“Lets shoot a video. Promoting your campaign. We can dress you all sexy, and then you can look like you’re going to undress, like those web domain commercials, and then say if you vote for Keatyn, you can get like a special access code to get on the web to see what happens next. All the guys would vote for you for sure. And most of the girls too just because they would want to see what you did.”
Riley’s like, “It’s a good plan, Kiki. You Tube is where it’s at.”
I think about this and then ask, “So basically, I could vote for Benjamin, tell you I voted for me, then you’d give me that code?”
Dallas scrunches up his nose. “Oh, yeah well, we might have to rework that.”
“And what would I do in the access code video?”
Riley says, “Well, uh, we thought maybe take your shirt off.”
“ARE YOU NUTS?!!!”
“Calm down, it was just an idea. We’re trying to help you here.”
“I’m not buying votes with nakedness. My gosh, my mother would freaking KILL me, and I’d probably get kicked out of school for that.” (Not to mention the stalker would find her.)
Riley leans over and whispers in my ears, “Wouldn’t be the first time you do something that could get you kicked out.” I punch him.
Dallas is scratching his head, “Oh, yeah, well we didn’t really think of that.”
“Hows your speech coming? Annie asks.”I think the speeches will be important.”
“My speech sucks.”
“Let me see it, I’ll work on it.”
So I give her my little cards.
Dawson comes up behind me, says, “If you’re done, lets go outside.”
And I happily do.
We sit on our bench.
He kisses me sweetly and then a little not so sweetly.
“Dawes, we can’t kiss like this out here, or we’ll get in trouble.”
Kissing is pretty much okay, but sitting around seriously making out in public is sorta against school rules.
“I can’t help it. God, you’re sexy. I’m like the luckiest guy at school. The library was amazing. Like crazy amazing.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what got into me. Well, actually I do. That was payback for what you did to me during the JV game last week.”
“When I had my hands under the sweatshirt?”
“Yeah, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
He kisses me, “MMhhhmmm, so you liked that?”
“I did, obviously.”
“So I talked to my parents last night.”
“Oh, what about?” I feel myself go into a panicked state.
“About you.”
“Oh, gosh, do they hate me?”
He kisses me sweetly, “No, they liked you. My dad especially. He told me you were hot, then Mom said, that’s not appropriate, and he said, whatever and Mom said she thought you were very well mannered, articulate, and extremely pretty. And then my dad said I seemed very happy. And I said, yeah, and then Dad said, I mean very happy. And I was like, Mom still there, and he was like, No your mother went to tell your brother to turn off his xbox and go to bed. And then he was like, Sooooo, why are you so happy? (This mostly got cut, too.)
“What did you tell him?”
“I just said you are amazing.”
“And?”
“He said I seemed like more carefree with you, happy. I was finally like Dad, Is happy supposed to be code word for are we having sex and is that what is making me happy?
And my dad was like, I’m old, I don’t get to date pretty young things, so yes, that’s what I was wondering.”
“Did you tell your dad??” My eyes get huge.
“You told your mom and stepdad.”
“Oh gosh. I’m never going to be able to look at him.”
“I just told him he was right about you making me very happy. So he knew, plus he and I talked before about how, you know, like Peyton never seemed like she wanted to with me, and I wondered if it was me, if I was doing something wrong. Well actually, I tried to have that talk with my older brother, but dad overheard us and since then, he’s been kinda anti-Peyton.” (I mean, Whitney.)
“Oh, he’s my new favorite person.”
I grab his face in my hands and plant a big kiss on him. The bell rings.
“Damn classes,” he says, “just when things were getting good. You going to the game with me tonight? Or you hanging with your friends?”
“Both?”
“Sounds good, Keatie. Actually what would sound better is if you meet me in my dorm before we walk down there. Like say 6:30?”
I look a little sad about that. I’m not sure why. I want him, just I want that not to be all it is.
He tilts his head, says, “Actually, I have a better idea. Lets go get some mexican food, then come back and watch the game. Just us.”
I smile.
Game
7 pm
Dinner with Dawson was fun, we always have such an easy going fun time with each other. Which it’s surprising how chill we can be one minute, and how the next minute all I want to do is attack him. We kissed a bit in the car. And then we could hear the whistle blowing, starting the game. I don’t wanna miss Dallas and the boys play, so we hurry up, stopping to get some skittles along the way. For some reason, like hardly anyone is here yet, so we go up to the top of the bleachers, so we can sit with our backs up against the skybox. He wraps me in his arms. And I’m secretly wishing no one shows up.
Especially now that he’s whispering in my ear.
“So I wanna go back to my room after the game and uh, make you feel good.”
“Oh, really? How ya gonna do that?”
“I have my ways, and a few new ideas as well.”
“Tell me.”
And he does, in detail.
He tells me things I probably should not repeat. They are uh, pretty intimate and quite sexy.
Whoohh!!!
I feel so suddenly warm, I have to take off my sweatshirt.
“Maybe we should just go do that now. Skip the game.”
About the second he spoke the words, and I was ready to take him up on it, a big group of our friends bounded up the bleachers towards us.
“Hmmm, damn friends, but I’m still gonna sit here and tell you all I’m going to do to you, until you can’t stand it anymore and drag me back to my dorm and beg.”
I made it til halftime. (This scene is very Keatyn and Dawson, but I’m pretty sure it got cut.)
Dawson’s dorm room
8:45 pm
We’re laying across his bed, feeling extremely happy, satisfied, dreamy. He wasn’t joking about what he was going to do to me and took extreme pleasure in making me practically beg for him. He walks me to my dorm, kisses me sweetly, smacks my butt, grins at me, and walks away. (And this.)
Especially the places you’ve been getting kissed.
1:15am
Riley, Dallas and I are laying on a blanket, having already smoked a bit and are just big chilling.
“So tell me about your new girls.”
Dallas says, “Well I kissed Beth after the game tonight.” (Who is Beth? LOL But I like this scene.)
Riley is like, “That’s cool, dude, what else did you do?”
“Just kissed.”
“Kisses are nice,” I say dreamily.
“Especially the places you’ve been getting kissed,” Riley says.
“You don’t know anything.”
“I have a really good imagination. And don’t think my brother doesn’t confide in me because he does. He and I have gotten close this year. It’s pretty cool.”
“What’s he been telling you?”
“Just that you like turn him on. I guessed about the library thing. When it was just him and I throwing at practice today, he confirmed it. He told me how tonight he wanted to try and make you feel really good. I’m assuming that as dreamy as you’re acting, and the fact you left at half, he succeeded.”
“Wait,” Dallas says. “What happened in the library?”
“Kiki was naughty in a private study room.”
“How naughty?”
“Not all the way naughty, but pretty naughty. My brother is lucky.”
Dallas rolls over toward me, close to my face. This is usually how he starts to kiss me. Then he just looks at me and says, “Yeah, he is.”
It makes me want to kiss him. I even grabbed his face and held it in my hands, just looking at him.
“So, I’m really nervous about this whole campaign speech thing tomorrow. What do y’all think I should say? Part of me wishes I wouldn’t have done it. With soccer, dance, social committee, french club, tutoring aiden, homework, and Dawson, I’m like majorly crunched for time.”
“How’s tutoring the god going?” Dallas asks.
“It’s fine. Sometimes I think we might be able to be friends. So what should I say tomorrow?”
Riley says, “I don’t think it matters what you say. Just look hot. All the guys will vote for you.”
“And what do guys find hot?”
Dallas says, “Boots. Love the boots.”
I get back in through my window and am trying to quietly get to my closet to get undressed, when I trip over a box laying in the middle of the floor.
“Keatyn, what are you doing?” Katie yells at me.
“Oh, I was just….”
“Getting back from sneaking out to see Dawson?”
“Uh, no with Riley and Dallas.”
“Take me next time. Riley is hot. I don’t think I would mind if that boy used me. And Dallas is ADORABLE, I think he’d be fun to kiss. Oh, and that box you tripped over was delivered for you today.”
I take the box into the closet, turn on the light, and open it. Inside are a pair of gorgeous cowboy boots. They are navy with a gorgeous swirly design in red, black and golden yellow leather. I look at the name on the box. It’s from the boot shop in East Texas where my grandpa has his boots custom made. His one big splurge.
Inside one of the boots is a note. From Grandpa.
Can’t let my Keatyn get all uppity out there, or turn into some damn, Yankee. Had Javier make these for you to match your uniform. And don’t be afraid to kick some ass and raise a little hell. Love you, Papa.
I get little tears in my eyes. Grandpa had cowboy boots custom made just for me? It’s way too late to call. Also inside are some goodies from Kym, three more looks to make with the boots. And Thursday, I decide I am going to kick a little ass, East Texas style.(I absolutely love that Grandpa sends her boots. I also love Grandpa’s vocabulary and how he words things. Reminds me of my grandpa!)
Wednesday, September 14th
What does that even mean?
7 pm
Sitting next to Dawson in the library. There’s no football games tonight or much going on. I’m looking at the list of homework and all the other stuff on my to do list. I don’t know how in the world I’m going to get this all done tonight, plus get packed to go to Vancouver Friday night. I’m so so excited though, and Dawson seems excited too.
Dawson is cute, grabs my long TO DO list and types his name at the top.
My phone buzzes in his hand with a text from Brooklyn. Brooklyn, who I haven’t heard a peep from in exactly 15 days.
Not that I’m counting.
Brooklyn<3: I’m sorry, okay? I miss you, I miss our talks, I was stupid, thought I was like hot shit surfer dude, I’m sorry. Really. I love you.
Dawson sits and stares at my phone, like it’s a snake coiled up, getting ready to bite him. “How come his name still has a heart by it?” (That’s a good question, Dawson. The answer, because even though she’s mad at him, part of her still loves him and doesn’t want to let go.)
“Uh, I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him since the tournament, or looked at his name. I forgot it was like that. Here I’ll change it.” And I do.
“So what are you going to say to that?”
“I’m not sure. I do miss our friendship, and he did hurt me, but it doesn’t really matter. I’m happy now with you.”
“I think you should reply to him.”
“Uh, okay.”
Shit. What am I going to say? What would I say if Dawson wasn’t sitting here next to me?
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“Tell him you have a boyfriend and to leave you the hell alone.”
“Is that what you would do if Peyton texted you?” (*Cough* Foreshadowing for when Whitney does the baby, please text.)
“Uh, ye-ah. Is that why you haven’t told me you love me? You still hung up on him?”
“No. I’m not hung up on him at all. I hate him. But I, I do love you Dawson, I’m just scared. I don’t want to feel like that again. I felt like that the night you asked me to go out with you.”
“You didn’t wanna go out with me?”
“No. It was that I thought you were going to tell me you wanted to be with other girls, and I just felt hurt instantly. And it scares me. That’s why I haven’t said it. I do love you, but I’m afraid to.”
He touches my hair. Looks into my eyes and says, “Keatie, I swear, I’m not going to hurt you. I love you, seriously.”
I get little tears in my eyes, cuz he is seriously so sweet.
He takes the phone out of my hand, says, “Here, I’ve got this.”
Me: This is Keatyn’s boyfriend. Leave her the hell alone.
Brooklyn: Tell her to take her phone back and tell me herself. (I love this little bit of fire from Brooklyn. Not something you usually see from him.)
Me: Hey, it’s me. Sorry. Um, what you did sucked. It hurt. I’m in love with someone else, I think, and he makes me really happy. Maybe we can be friends again, but probably not, I’m pretty sure you ruined that too with your lack of respect for me and my feelings.
Brooklyn: “There is not a fiercer hell than the failure in a great object.” Keats for my Keats. I’m sorry, Keats. Really sorry. (Love that he’s still quoting her Keats.)
“I’m not replying to that.”
Dawson says, “What does that even mean?”
“I think it means he’s living in hell because he failed me. Or so he’s saying.” I sigh big, run my hand through my hair. “Shit.”
“Do you miss him?”
“I miss us, like our friendship. I mean he was my best friend for almost three years before we did anything. Like we didn’t start being more than friends til last christmas and then a lot more this summer. It’s like that’s what hurt me more than anything. The dating part, him hooking up with girls, it’s not that big of a deal, I knew we weren’t going to be more, it was just such a slam to our friendship. And I thought he at least loved and cared about me as a friend enough to not do something like that to me. Be upfront with me about it, not sneak behind my back, and then expect me to stay there with him for the weekend. That’s what hurts. I hope when you break up with me, it’s like friendly. I want to stay friends with you. I love how we tell each other everything.”
“Lets get out of the library, Keatie.”
So we go to his dorm room, and he holds my face, kisses my face, tells me he loves me, kisses me on my face, my neck, sweet adorable, kisses. “I love you, Keatie. You have no idea. And I’m never going to hurt you.”
And we kissed and kissed and kissed. And he didn’t even try to do anything else. And even though I haven’t said it to him. I love him. I really think I do. (Can you say, rebounding?)
Click here if you want to keep going. Because, Keatyn is really quite fickle.