Alrighty. Chapter five. A little longer.
Chapter 5 - Life - A Complicated Mess?
We sat talking for a while, just like we did every night. About anything. About nothing. About everything. I started to yawn, covering my mouth.
"Sleepy?" he asked, smiling down at me.
"A little," I said, nodding.
"You should go to bed then," he said.
"I don't want to get up," I said, comfortable, leaning slightly against Nick.
He laughed softly. "Too bad, 'cause I will," he said, and moved a little, making me fall back against the house.
"Heyy, that wasn't very nice," I said, rubbing the back of my head.
"Aww, I'm sorry. How can I make it better?" he asked, smirking slightly.
"Whatever. I'm going to bed," I said, rolling my eyes and then yawning again.
"Alright. Night. I'll see you in the morning," he said, giving me a quick hug before standing up and making his way back across the tree to his house. I watched him go, then stood up myself and climbed back through my window. 11:46, my clock's green light shone out. I dropped down onto my bed, pulling the covers over me and drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Joe's Point of View
"Nick! Wake up. Let's go see what Keiko's up to," I said, jumping on Nick's bed.
"Go away, Joe. She's probably sleeping like normal people are supposed to be doing right now," he said, throwing a pillow at me, which I dodged with my insane skills and fast reflexes.
"Fine then, maybe I'll go without you," I said, standing up. Nick jumped up, well, with as much jump as someone who's still partially asleep can jump, out of bed.
"Alright. I'm up. Let me get dressed. Five seconds," he said, starting to grab some clothes. I walked out of his room.
"Hurry up, Nick!" I yelled from the bottom of the stairs. "Huh, I guess he'll come eventually. I might as well go on ahead." I thought, and walked out the door over to Keiko's, house. I got the key from it's hiding spot and opened the door, leaving it unlocked for Nick. I ran up to her room, where, as Nick had predicted, she was in her bed sleeping. "Wow she's pretty when she sleeps. Well, she's always pretty...oh shoot. What am I thinking? I don't like her...or do I?" I tried to shake the thought out of my head. I went over to her bed and shook her gently. She shifted slightly, but stayed asleep. Without thinking, I lifted the covers and jumped onto the bed. "Kai. Wake up," I whispered from behind her, as her back was too me. She sighed, waking up a little, and turned around, facing me, her eyes half open. Our faces were only inches apart and before I knew what I was doing, I leaned in closer and kissed her.
Nick's Point of View
I was sleeping peacefully dreaming of...who else?, Keiko. She's just so amazing, she's my best friend, and I have no idea what I'd do without her. And, I might, you know, be completely in love with her.
So anyway, Joe came into my room and started jumping on my bed. I hate it when he does that. It's so annoying. But then he said something about Keiko and I woke up a little more, thinking about her. He said something about going over to her house, so I got up and started to get dressed. I grabbed my favorite pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and put them on. I heard Joe yell to me telling me to hurry. I ran to the bathroom to make sure my hair looked okay and then ran downstairs. I couldn't find Joe though. I went into the kitchen to see if he was there, but just found my mom making pancakes. "Oh well. Maybe he already went over there." I thought, and walked out the door over to her house. The door was already unlocked, so I went on in. I climbed the stairs and walked over to her room, where her door was open. I stopped suddenly, seeing Joe in her bed. "What the heck is he doing in her bed? ...Oh man. No," I thought. Then saw him kiss her. My heart broke into what felt like a million pieces. I turned around quickly , accidentally hitting my foot on the wall. "Ouch. Stupid wall. Stupid Joe. Stupid me..." and I ran to the bathroom down the hall, shutting the door and sinking down to the floor, with my head in my hands. "Why did Joe do that? Does he like her? Maybe she likes him too and they haven't told anyone...but she's my best friend. We tell each other everything. Well, I kind of didn't tell her about me being totally in love with her, but I think you can understand why. Arg. This is all so confusing," I thought. I sat there a while longer, thinking. So many emotions were running through my head. I was angry at Joe for kissing her, jealous even. Confused because I didn't know he liked her like that. Frustrated with myself for possibly losing the chance of her ever liking me the same way I liked her. Then I heard a door swing open and then click closed. I heard footsteps going down the hall and stairs. I opened the bathroom door and looked out, just catching a glimpse of Joe's messy brown hair. I ran over to Keiko's room and knocked softly on the door. There was no answer, so I twisted the knob slowly and opened the door. Keiko sat on her bed with a dazed look on her face. She looked up at me when I came in. I sat down beside her on her bed, waiting to see if she'd talk.
Keiko's Point of View
I can't believe it. I'm in shock. Did that really just happen? It couldn't have...but it did.
My eyes shot completely open when I felt Joe's lips touch mine. It was a short kiss, no longer than a second. Then I heard a thud. I sat straight up, looking towards my door, but saw no one. Then I looked at Joe. He had a sort of shocked expression on his face too, but a small smile played on his lips.
"What was that?" I asked him. He just lay there, his head on my pillow, staring up. Then he shook his head slightly and sat up, looking at me.
"Honestly? I don't know," he said his eyes drifting off to some object behind me.
"What do you mean you don't know?" I demanded.
"Well. I kissed you. I know that," he said, looking at me again. "Look. It was unexpected. I don't know why I did it."
"You don't know why you did it? Joe, how can you not know why?" I asked, my voice rising slightly.
"I don't know! I wasn't thinking. Well, I was thinking, but not about kissing you...exactly," he said.
"What does he mean? Why'd he do that? Man, I'm so confused." I thought. "Joe, tell me. What did it mean? Was it an accident or not?" I asked, trying to figure it out.
"It was...it was an accident. I-I didn't mean to. Forget it happened," he said, looking down with a small frown on his face.
"Is that what you want? To pretend it never happened?" I asked, making sure.
"Yea, I guess," he said, his voice dropping just above a whisper.
"Okay. Forgotten," I said. "We're still cool?" I asked him.
"Yeah. We're cool. I...I guess I'll go now?," he said. He got up, gave me a quick hug, and left my room. I sat, staring at the wall, trying to figure everything out. "Okay. He kissed me. He says it was an accident. So I'm forgetting about it?" I thought. I heard a soft knock on my door, but couldn't make myself get up to answer it or tell whomever it was to come in. The knob slowly twisted and Nick looked inside. I looked up at him as he walked over and sat beside me, silent.
"How much did you see?" I asked him, my voice barely audible.
"Uh-" his voice cracked, "just the kiss. ...The first one at least..." he said, his voice fading out.
"It was only one," I wanted to assure him. He nodded, not looking at me.
"So..." he said, lifting his eyes to mine.
"It was nothing," I said. "He said it was an accident. To forget it..." I repeated, still confused myself. Nick nodded again and he looked a little better.
"Kai?" he started.
"Yes?"
"Uhh, never mind. It was nothing," he said. He started to open his mouth again, but closed it. It was definitely not nothing.
"What is it? Tell me," I said.
'No, really. It's not important," he insisted.
"Yes it is. I know you, Nick. Tell me,"
"I-I can't," he stuttered.
"Nick..." I said, looking into his eyes. They quickly darted away from mine, avoiding my gaze. He swallowed nervously, looking everywhere but at me. I sat back, a hurt expression on my face, he looked at me, and his face softened.
"Keiko...don't do that to me," he groaned. I continued to look at him, and he finally gave in. "Okay, okay. Fine. Just don't look like that," he said. "I'm...I'm jealous of Joe. He got something that I've wanted for...a long time. I-I really like you, Keiko. I just...I never said anything because I didn't want it to change our friendship. I value that way too much; more than anything. You're my best friend, and I don't want anything to ever come between us," he paused, looking me in the eyes. "I...I guess I was just really surprised when I saw Joe kiss you. And then I guess I got kind of...I don't know, jealous," he admitted. "Not that I'm saying you can't kiss other guys....it's just..." he drifted off starting to get confused at his rambling.
"Nick, it's okay. I understand," I said. He looked at me with a relieved expression on his face. "I...I guess I haven't really given much thought into all this. I mean, as far as...you know, liking people," I said, trying to explain. He nodded, I couldn't read the expression on his face. "And I don't really know where I want to go with all of this," I continued, trying to be as honest and clear as I could be.
"I understand," he said. "I'm willing to wait. I know this has all been kind of sudden..." I nodded, thinking back over everything that had happened in such a short time...and even before that. To the day before, "So I guess Nick putting his arm around me wasn't an accident after all. And Joes always wanting to spend time with me? Ahh. This is all too confusing."
"Thanks, Nick," I said. Just then my phone started vibrating from on my dresser. I jumped up to get it, "1 New txt msg." it read. I pressed OK and the message popped up. "hey. mom says 2 invite u for breakfast if u want. -Kev" I quickly texted back, "Thanks, be right there. - Kai" I flipped my phone shut, and turned to Nick. "Kevin says your mom said I can come for breakfast. That okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, sure. Fine by me," he said. We both stood, and he grabbed my hand as we walked out of my room and to his house.
JB~JB~JB~JB
What you were expecting?
Comments/questions/suggestions?
♥,
Keiko
