“ Merrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” I glanced up at the red numbers that we’re glaring back at me from my night stand. ”Ugh” the angry red numbers displayed the time of 5:42am. I quickly hit the snooze button on the clock and buried my head under the pillow and prayed that the numbers on the clock would roll back so I could get more sleep.
The door opened slowly and the man crept across the carpet. He paused when he reached the rod iron bed and then knelt down at the side where the girl with long chocolate brown locks was sprawled out on the bed. Her hands we’re tightly gripping the sides of her pillow as if to block out any sounds or light that might emerge from the room. The man quietly started saying the sleeping girls name.
“Katherine… Katherine?”
“mmmpphhww”
“Uh Katherine? I don’t understand pillow mumble”
Katherine knew that there would be a cocky grin on the mans face, and so to try and make him leave she reached out her hand toward the night stand and found the item she was looking for.
“Go away you twat, let me sleep!!” and then Katherine chucked the water bottle towards the sound of the man, the only problem was she still had her head underneath the pillow. The bottle flung right past the man and collided with the wall instead of it’s intended target.
“Bahahahahaha, you completely missed me sucker!” The man did a little jig in place and moved his arm in a bizarre way to celebrate his victory of avoiding the water bottle.
“Come on Katie, you need to get up, it’s time!” The man then quickly left the room and started singing a little tune as he bounced down the stairs. When he got to the bottom he took out a little black box from his pocket. He turned the little box around in his hands. He grinned and couldn’t wait for him and Katie to leave and visit her family this weekend!
Back upstairs Katherine too was grinning. She would never tell Chris that she secretly enjoyed it when he came into her room to wake her up. He had been doing that for years, or at least since they decided to get a flat together.
~Flashback~
“Chris!” Chris looked up and saw Katie walking toward him. He had just finished his lunch and was lounging on a bench in the courtyard of the school enjoying the rare rays of sunlight.
“Katie my dear!” Katie giggled and sat down on Chris’ lap and flung her arms around him in the tightest hug.
“Why hello, to you too!” Chris said with a sexy undertone as he wrapped his arms around her petite frame.
“Chris, I just got my first letter of acceptance to University! I’m going to University College London! I’m so excited! Where are you going? Do you know yet?”
Before Chris responded back to Katie he had to stop and do a double take looking at Katie. Chris and Katie had been the best of friends during school, but they were never serious with each other. They had always been the kind of friends where you climb up the tree outside of their house, and climb in their window to tell them about the awful date you had or the drama with your parents.
Chris always thought Katie was pretty, but not in a I want to date you and take you home kind of way. But lately Chris was starting to see little things about Katie that he had never seen before. Like this moment right now, Katie was smiling; she had a little dimple on the left side of her check when she smiled and Chris had never seen that before. She also smelled of cherry blossoms and peach. Oh and when she was happy like she was now she outshined the sun.
“Uh, oh um I’m going to the University College London too!” Chris grinned back at Katie.
“Oh my gosh! That’s awesome we should get a flat together, that way we wont have to climb trees anymore to get into each others dorm, haha”
“Yeah that would be brilliant! I can’t cook but I can clean! Perhaps that’s how I can contribute?”
Before Katie responded back to Chris she just had to take in his glorious face. Katie had always thought the Chris was handsome in his gawky demeanor. He was always smiling. Katie especially loved the little gap in his teeth, even though he had had braces and that gap had been fixed, Chris hated wearing his retainer and hence the little gap in the front.
“Oh that’s fantastic cause I can cook, but I hate cleaning! This is going to be perfect, oh and at night you can sing me to sleep!” Katie said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Katie, I’m a terrible singer, why would you want me to sing you to sleep? I think I would end up doing the opposite and keep you up at night, and would probably be kicked out by you in the end” Chris looked up at Katie with a crooked smile and then tickled her.
Soon the two were rolling around on the ground laughing and grinning from ear to ear at the thought of sharing a flat together. Finally the stopped and just laid next to each other enjoying the sun and each others company.
“Chris?”
“Yeah?”
“You have grass in your hair.” Katie said as she moved closer to Chris to remove the grass from his hair.
“Oh do I?” Chris asked suggestively. “Well I have news for you too!”
“Hmm and what might that be?”
“You have grass in your hair too!” And before Katie could respond Chris had swiftly pulled her into his lap and was pulling the grass out of her hair. As he did so he started humming a little song.
Katie closed her eye and let Chris move his hands through her hair to remove the grass. Katie hadn’t realized that Chris had stopped, so when she opened her eyes again, all she saw were the sultry blue eyes that were staring right back at her. She moved closer to Chris and he moved closer to Katie. Never loosing eye contact that continued to move closer until if they moved anymore their lips would touch.
Then the bell for the end of lunch rung and Chris and Katie instantly moved apart.
“Right, uh… I’ll see you later.” Chris flung his backpack on and ran in the opposite direction of Katie toward his class. When he got there he sat in the back and closed his eyes, his heart was racing and pounding in his chest, not from running to class but from Katie. The Katie he had only known as his best friend.
~End of Flashback~
Katie rolled out of bed and made her way to the shower. She stood the shower and let the hot water sting her back, it felt so relaxing and comforting almost like when Chris held her in his strong arms after a bad day. After the shower she wrapped a towel around her head and put on some comfortable clothes, then headed down stairs to find some form of caffeine to wake her up.
She walked into the flats tiny kitchen to find Chris sitting there with two cups of tea. She smiled and sat down next to him. He pushed one of the mugs toward her and then kissed her forehead.
“Good Morning beautiful!”
Chapter 2
Chris was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other was resting on his lap. The windows we’re down and a cool breeze was blowing through. Chris glanced over at Katie. She had her feet up on the dashboard, eyes were closed, and her hand was draped out the window as if she was trying to catch the wind. Her hair was swirling all around her head forming a sort of halo. Chris took a mental picture and turned up the radio and began to sing.
Katie smiled when she heard Chris singing, while he didn’t think he had a good voice she knew that he did, and was positive that one day it would be his voice that got him far in life. She and Jonny agreed on that, and would try and convince him to form a band when they got back from their trip.
It was a familiar tune that Chris was singing, reason being it was the first song that Chris sung to her when her first boyfriend cheated on her.
*** Flashback***
‘Tink…tink’
Katie looked up from her tear stained pillow toward the window. She could see the outline of man. Looking back at her alarm clock, the time showed 2:27am. She quickly stood up and crossed the room and threw open the window. Sitting out on the limb of the old willow was the familiar figure of Chris. He held a few pebbles in his hand and was about to threw another at the window.
“Hi. I err.. well I wanted to see you, I hope your not mad at me for how late it is.” Chris said dropping the remaining pebbles and scratching the back of his neck.
Katie sighed, “Chris, it’s never too late for you.”
“Oh good! So I think you should join me out here, it’s so warm and lovely and the stars are so bright and umm yellow!” Chris patted the spot next to him on the branch and motioned for Katie to step out of the window.
Katie looked back into her room to make sure that all was quiet in the house before climbing out of the window. Gracefully she slid out of the window and down onto the branch of the tree, and sat down next to Chris.
“Katie, the truth is.. I was.. well I was asleep when I had this crazy dream that you had been hurt and well I just had to make sure that you were okay.” Chris turned toward Katie and took her face into his hands and looked into her eyes. “Are you okay love? Has anybody hurt you?”
Katie was so taken back by how Chris knew something was wrong that she couldn’t speak. All she was able to do was nod her head and let the tears fall.
Chris pulled Katie into his lap, wrapped his arms around her and rocked her back forth for awhile, letting her cry and ruin his shirt with her tears. When Katie could cry no more she buried her head into Chris shoulders. She could hear Chris heart beating; it was so steady, never faltering. Katie knew that Chris would always be there for her, through everything.
“He cheated on me Chris. I caught him tonight with her under the football bleachers.”
“He was never worthy of you, he took for granted your smile, your caring heart, and your love. I’ll never hurt you Katie, I promise.”
Chris didn’t know why he felt the need to sing to Katie, but he did, he started out humming and then gradually began to sing.
“For you I’m gonna sit and patiently wait, It’s great if you’re early but if it’s fine if you’re late, For you I feel love and I just want to show it, You’re a beautiful girl and want you to know it, You’re a beautiful girl and want you to know it, You’re a beautiful girl and want you to know it”
Katie felt at peace in Chris arms and to her disbelief fell asleep in his arms. Chris noticed her steady breathing in his neck, he looked down and saw that Katie was asleep, so he kissed her forehead, lifted her up and carried her through the window and set her in her bed. He pulled the covers up around her, whispered to her. “Good night Katherine” and climbed right back out through the window.
****
Katie opened her eyes and caught Chris staring at her.
“What?” She asked as she stuck her tongue out at him.
“Haha! I was just thinking about how beautiful you looked right now. And how much I would love to kiss you!”
“Well, Mr. Martin I would love that kiss, but you are driving and I would prefer to have that kiss alive!”
“Yes that’s true.. hmm.” Chris looked quickly in his rear view mirror, pulled on the steering wheel and abruptly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“Sorry Katherine, I just can’t wait any longer.” Chris reached over, cupped his hands around the sides of Katie’s face and pulled her close to him and brushed his lips with hers. Katie gasped and Chris took the advantage and tantalizingly bit her lower lip. Katie returned the favor and began to passionately kiss Chris, and run her hands through his soft curls.
It was nearly ten minutes before the little car returned to its intended path. But it was ten more minutes of proof that Chris was hopelessly in love with his Katherine.
Chapter 3
“Katie.. Kaatie.” Chris was gently rubbing Katie’s shoulder and whispering her name to wake her up. Katie cracked one eye open and looked around. The first thing she noticed was that it was no longer sunny and that the car had stopped moving.
“Chris, what time is it?”
“Love, it’s 2 in the morning, we just arrived at your parents house. You’ve been asleep for awhile, and I think I need to get you inside in your nice warm bed.”
“Mmm, that sounds lovely, I hope that bed includes you.”
“Haha, well that depends on where your mum has me staying.”
“Oh, damn. My mum is so proper. That probably means you’re in the guest room.”
“Don’t worry dear, I might make an appearance.” Chris said with his sideways grin.
“Oh that would be nice.. I’m so tired Chris, I don’t think I will be able to make it to the door without falling asleep.”
Chris was already out of the car and opening Katie’s door as she slipped back into unconsciousness. Sliding his hands around her he gradually picked her up out of the car. He walked up to the door, which was opened by Katie’s mum. Chris whispered his hellos, and then proceeded to walk up the stairs and tuck Katie into her bed.
Like he does every night, he kissed her forehead, blew her a kiss at the door, and wished his Katherine, sweet dreams.
Walking back down the stairs Chris went and grabbed the luggage from the car boot. Katie’s mum directed Chris to his bedroom and then bid him goodnight.
Closing the door behind him, Chris looked around the guest room. He had been in almost every room in the house, except this room and Katie’s parent’s room.
The room had a big wooden bed with a fluffy white duvet and an arrangement of pillows of different sizes and shapes. Most of the walls were painted the simple eggshell white, except for one, which was the accent wall. It was painted in tiffany box blue and covered with hundreds of different picture frames. But the frames we’re not just placed on the wall in disarray but in a fashionable manner.
It wasn’t the wall color or the many frames that intrigued Chris, but the pictures that were in the frames. The wall was full of pictures of the family, Katie, her sister, her mum and dad, and surprisingly Chris. Chris just laughed and shook his head at the pictures of him and Katie.
“Geez, I was such a dork in high school! I have no idea why Katie even hung out with me in public, I had braces and stupid hair, and wore ridiculous clothes.”
Chris eyes we’re glancing over more photos when one caught his eye. It was a picture from about 4 years ago, when he and Katie first moved into their flat together. They were laughing at each other with tears rolling down their faces, due to the fact that the box Chris had been carrying. The bottom broke and all of Katie’s bras and underwear fell out. Chris was so embarrassed, but then Katie just started laughing. The thing about Katie is once she starts laughing its contagious, and you just can’t help but laugh too. Chris was just such an example of her contagious laughter and he too burst out laughing.
***Flashback***
~Flash~ “Haha you kids are going to have such a great time living together.” Mrs. O’Connell said as she wound the camera after taking the picture of Chris and Katie.
“Best of luck this term, ter’ the both of yah! I’ve got to catch me train home dears. Oh Katherine darlin’ don’t forget what I told ya! And to you Mr. Martin!” Katie’s mum grabbed Chris’ checks and said. “ You best, not let anything happen to my Katherine, yah hear?”
“Mrs. O’Connell I promise to take care of your daughter till’ the day I die!” Chris said as he quickly shot a smile in Katie’s direction.
“That a boy!” Mrs. O’Connell patted Chris checks and then gave her daughter a farewell hug and got into the taxi that was waiting to take her to the train station.
Katie and Chris waved goodbye at her taxi until it rounded the corner. Then Chris picked Katie up and tossed her over his shoulder and carried her into their flat.
“CHRIS!! Put me down you big ape.. Oh! Um Hi!” Chris spun around to see whom Katie was saying hi too.
“Oh Hey man! My name is Christopher, but you can call me Chris and this.. hehe this is Katherine!”
“Shut up Chris! I can introduce myself, if you would put me down!” Katie said as she began to hit Chris’ back with her hands.
“Alright, alright already women!” Chris said as he flipped Katie over his shoulder and put her down on the ground.
“Right, like he said I’m Katherine, but you can call me Katie!” she said as she stretched forth her hand to shake the strangers hand.
“Hi, Katie, Chris! My name is Jonathon, but it seems we all have names we prefer here hehe, well so do I! You can call me Jonny.” Jonny flashed them a smile and a wink of his stunning earth green eyes.
“Hi, Jonny! So are you our other flat mate?” Chris asked.
“I believe so! I would help you guys bring the rest of your stuff inside, but I’m off to meet my friend Will. But we will hang out later and get to know each other better!” Jonny smiled at Chris and then smiled at Katie. He did a quick head to toe eye glance of her, smiled larger and then headed out the door and down the road.
“Well, he seems nice!” Katie exclaimed!
“Hmm, I think he wants’ you.. he gave you the look.. I don’t like him! Plus he was too nice!”
“Grow up Chris! Just because he gave me the ‘I want you in my bed’ look doesn’t mean anything” Katie chuckled. “Seriously? Your not getting in my bed either, so don’t you go giving me the look.”
“Aww!” Chris said with his puppy dog eyes and pouty lip. “Well it was worth a shot.”
“Hahaha, whatever Christopher Anthony John Martin!” Katie said as she rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.
“Hmm.. and for using my full name I will now punish you by tickling you to death!” Chris said as he lunged toward Katie!
***End of flashback***
Chris smiled one more time at that photo then crawled into bed and turned off the lights. He was a lucky man to have Katherine. To see her smile was like seeing a shooting star, only a few people see it, and get to make a wish, well only a few see Katie smile and he wanted to be one of the few that made her truly smile.
He knew that one day he would have Katherine to hold and cherish for forever and he couldn’t wait, but he had an obstacle in his way. Her dad.
Chapter 4
Chris awoke early even though he had only gone to sleep 4 hours earlier. He noticed that the sun was beginning to rise, so he wrapped himself up in a blanket and crept out of his room to the back porch to watch the sun rise. He made himself comfortable on the old wooden steps with his back against the railing.
Hues of orange, yellow and the very lightest purple were painting the sky that morning. Soon the light was engulfing Chris in a warm bath and the blanket was no longer needed. Leaving the blanket on the steps Chris decided to go for a run to help clear his head and mentally prepare him for the task ahead.
-----------------------------------------
Katie heard the door squeak open and the pitter-patter of shuffled feet make their way to the side of her bed. Then the aroma of coffee filled her nostrils and she smiled. It had to be Chris that man was always so thoughtful and woke her up in the most delightful ways. She opened one eye, but instead of Chris it was her father.
“Oh! Good morning daddy!” Katie said as she sat up in bed.
“Morning Katherine.”
Katie cringed; she knew this was going to be on of those talks.
“Katherine, how serious are you with Christopher?” Katie’s father asked with clenched lips and penetrating eyes.
“You have know Chris as long as I have daddy, we grew up as the best of friends. But.. but things have changed. He has always been there, always supporting me in everything, lending his hands for mundane tasks, taking care of me with I’m ill,. Quite frankly daddy, I’m infatuated with him. To have a light so bright it blinds my eyes and finally I see, how it feels to live a dream, that’s what it’s like daddy. Chris does that to me.”
Katie’s dad sat there with his eyes closed and his fist clenched under his chin. “Katherine, I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. I know I have known him for a long time. He is practically the son I never had, but I swear Katherine if he even so much as hurts a strand of hair on your head I will kill him.”
“Hush daddy! You know that he is a perfect gentleman. I don’t know why you would even say such a thing! This little chat is over!” Katie stood up and walked out of the room making sure she slammed the door shut.
Black and yellow, that’s all the Chris saw when he looked down. The black pavement, the painted yellow lines and the flash of his shoes. It was soothing and intoxicatingly relaxing. When he was running nothing fazed him. He could tune the world around him out and sink into the depths of his mind and unravel the stray thoughts and ideas.
Katie’s dad was a fierceum sight to behold. He was a stocky man with piercing eyes that could rip your soul apart. Even though Chris had known him for years, the man still sent shivers down his spine. Chris came to the conclusion that the best approach to talking to the man was complete honesty. Tell him his intentions and desires for his and Katie’s life and share his complete and utter love and devotion for his daughter.
Katie was trying to relax by doing yoga in the front room. She was in one of those obsqure postitions where one of your feet is up and you hands are in a bizarre manor when Chris came in. He grinned and just leaned against the doorframe watching her. He decided he wanted a go at it and joined her. Trying to mimic the complicated shape that Katie was able to form with complete grace, Chris ended up falling over and taking Katie down with him as he tumbled to the ground.
“Chris! Eww you stink and your all sweaty!”
Chris just laughed at Katie’s comment, then rolled over and pinned her to the ground.
“Hmm.. I thought that you would enjoy a little err sauna time with me?”
“Tempting but I prefer my own sweat thank you!”
“Well that’s too bad.. Cause at my sauna we give out kisses to stunning girls like your self.” Chris said with a seductive look.
“ Kisses huh? Sauna du Chris does have a nice little ring to it, how much does it cost to join said Sauna?”
“The cost is you being perfect as is.” Chris said with grin.
“Then I will join this Sauna! Now where is this kiss?”
Chris leaned over Katie radiating in her glow and began to kiss her neck. He moved softly and slowly up her throat. After each kiss he would whisper sweet nothings to her and finally he made his way to her soft lips. He kissed her passionately feeling the sparks tingle and dance upon her lips. Chris thought to himself how this is what it must feel like to touch the sky, Katherine is the sweet angle that carries him there and it would be if it wasn’t for her love.
Chapter 5
Katie was taking a nap in the sitting room and was awoken by the sweet singing of her mother in the kitchen. She stood up and made her way to the kitchen looking for Chris on her way. Where is that sneaky man?
“Oh hello dear! Did I wake you?” Katie’s mom asked as she dusted off her flour-encrusted hands on her apron.
Katie grinned at the sight of her mum. She had flour on her forehead and all over the hardwood floors. It reminded her of Chris and his sorry attempts at cooking.
*** Flashback***
Chris and Katie had been living together for just about a year and half now, Jon ended up being one of their best friends after Chris realized that Jonny had a girlfriend and wasn’t out to bang his best friend. Chris finally got the courage to ask Katie if she would go on a date with him and she said yes of course. Chris decided that he would make them dinner and then take her out to the roof to gaze at the stars and make some s’mores.
Katie walked into the flat to the sound of Chris singing and the banging of pots and pans. Chris singing was normal, but the song in particular made her stop and back track to peek into the tiny kitchen.
“Yo I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, So tell me what you want, what you really really want, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really,
Really really wanna zigazig ha.” Chris was dancing around the kitchen singing into a spatula a Spice Girls song, he was wearing Katie’s ruffled apron and had some strange orange goo in his hair and every surface of the kitchen was covered in the same strange goo that resided in Chris’ curls.
Katie bit her lip to hold back the laughter and crossed her legs to prevent any accidents down south. All of the sudden Jon appeared out of nowhere in the kitchen and was wearing his bed sheets in a toga form and was singing right along with Chris into a bottle of ketchup. The two of them soon made there way to the kitchen chairs and stood up on them dancing.
Katie gave up standing and just slid down the wall, She was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down her checks and her face was quickly turning a bright shade of pink.
The boys were at it for a good ten minuets before they realized that Katie was watching them. They all sat on the floor laughing together after that. Needless to say the concoction that Chris was trying to make for dinner didn’t make it to the table that night. But a whole lot of laughter was included.”
***End of flashback***
“ No mum you didn’t” Katie lied, but it was so she didn’t hurt her moms feelings. “Have you seen Chris? This house is far to quiet and that makes me suspicious of what things Chris could be up to.”
“Your dad took him hunting about an hour ago.”
“WHAT? Daddy will shoot him or make him the ‘practice’ target!”
“Katie, it twas Chris’ idea love. He wanted ter’ be spending some err time with yer dad.”
“Oh great, I’m going to have a boyfriend with a hole or a missing arm! Wonderful!” Katie left the kitchen and went back to her room. On top of her pillow was a cut out paper heart. It looked like a 4 year made it, but it wasn’t the paper heart that made Katie swoon, but the message written on it..
‘A drop in the ocean, A change in the weather, I was praying that you and me might end up together. It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert, But I'm holding you closer than most, 'Cause you are my heaven.’ -Chris
Chapter 6
The crackle of the twig echoed through out the woods. Chris had been trying to be quite and avoid the twigs, roots, branches, and stumps but he felt it was like trying to avoid a mine in a minefield. Chris quickly looked up and saw the coal eyes bearing into his soul. Katie’s father simple shock his head, and tightened his grip on the trigger of his rifle. The man was continuously sending shivers down Chris’ back.
They continued creeping through the woods till’ Mr. O’Connell stopped; he crouched down behind a bit of shrubbery and focused his eyes on the clearing in front of him. Chris kneeled down slightly to the side of him and then focused his point of view the clearing also. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but he pretended to. In fact he had never gone hunting before nor had he held a gun in his hands before. It felt cold and heavy in his hands.
‘This is it Chris, be a man! BE A MAN! Talk to him already; tell him how you feel, and how you want to marry his daughter. You won’t get another opportunity. Jonny will tell you what a chicken you are if you return back and Katherine doesn’t have a ring on her finger. Just.. just do it dammit!’
“Uh Mr. O’Connell?” Chris paused for a response. He heard a faint grunt.
“Sir I just.. I have known Katherine for 24 years sir. We have grown up in diapers together, we have scrapped our knees on the same sidewalk and had our hearts broken in the same season. I know this sounds cliché, but I want to take care of her forever, never let her heart be broken again and be there to put the band aid oh her knees and well I wanted to.. uh.”
There was a white flash and a deer ran out into the clearing, Mr. O’Connell closed one eye and focused his gun on the deer and was about to squeeze the trigger.
“Sir I want to ask your permission to Marry your daughter.. I looov..”
Mr. O’Connell turned his gun at the last moment towards Chris after being distracted by the question and all that was heard was the reverberation of the sound of the bullet being shot.
The deer ran off into the woods unharmed, but Chris lay still on the floor of the woods. A gapping hole in his chest where the bullet had entered. His warm blood was seeping out, running down his torso staining his shirt and forming a pool by his side. His chest was slowly rising and falling. His breath was short and labored. Slowly his vision became blurred and soon all was black. The last thing he remembered seeing was the moss on the branches above his head and an eagle soaring and the eyes. The eyes that normally could make you cower in a corner, but these eyes were no longer displaying that, but they were raw and full of emotion, full of fear.
Chris still couldn’t see when he came to, but could hear. He heard the tearing of fabric and felt pressure being applied to gunshot wound. He felt himself being lifted and carried. His head rolled back and forth with the motion of Mr. O’ Connell walking as he was carried out of the woods. He heard the scream of Katie and the rushed footsteps. He heard the frantic shouts. He heard the opening and closing of the car door. He felt the vibration of the car engine. Then everything stopped. He heard no sounds and could feel nothing. All was quiet.
It was as if he was lost in time. Like his soul was gone. Like all hope was sucked dry. Nothing. There was nothing.
Chapter 7
Katie sat beside Chris in the hospital bed. She held his hand and was drawing circles on the back of his hand with her finger. She soon grew bored of circles and started writing letters. Which lead to words and she ended up writing I love you on his hand.
“I love you too.” Chris said with a cracking voice.
Katie quickly dropped his hand and stood back. “Oh my gosh! Your awake!” Katie quickly lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Chris weak frame.
“Um dear, you’re cutting of my pain meds.” Chris said as he winced a little, yet still gave one of his cheeky smiles.
“Sorry sorry! Oh Chris! I’m so sorry, I should have warned you how die hard my dad is about hunting and we shouldn’t have come and..”
“Katherine! Stop! Take a deep breath. Now I need you to do something for me. Place your hand on my heart. Do you feel it beating?”
Warm drops were falling from her Katie’s eyes but she did as Chris asked and placed her hand on his heart. She felt the steady beat. “Yes.”
“Now move your face in front of me.”
Katie slowly inched her way toward his face until she was staring directly into his eyes. She could see every color blue reflecting, cerulean, aqua, cyan, azure and the rare touches of sapphire blue. They were all used to create the unique blend of blue that only Chris had.
Chris inched his head forward until his lips meet with Katie’s. He kissed her rough but tender. Then whispered a question in her ear, “Did you feel that?”
“Yes.”
“Then there is nothing to be sorry about, I am here with you, and you still have my heart.”
“Christopher!” Katie swooned and then lay down next to him on the bed.
“I love you so much Katie!” Chris said as he kissed her neck. So what exactly is wrong with me?”
“Haha oh Chris! Well the doctor says you are very lucky the bullet missed you heart by less then a centimeter. He was able to remove it and patch you up, but you lost a great deal of blood, so you had to have a blood transfusion, So you are going to be a bit tired and sore, but you’ll be fine. The funny thing is when mum told me you were out hunting I told her you would come back with a hole in your body!”
“Well it looks like I have made that come true. But Katie if it wasn’t for you father’s quick thinking I might not be here, I remember him applying pressure to my wound.”
“Daddy is very upset with himself. He hasn’t left the hospital since he brought you here two days ago.”
“Two days! Wow I was out for awhile!”
“You have no idea! I have been an emotional wreck. I thought you would never wake up.”
Chris wrapped his arm around Katie and kissed the top of her head. “I promised you I would always be here for you and I always will.”
Katie snuggled up closer to Chris and they both dozed off.
When Chris awoke Katie was gone but sitting in a chair against the wall was her father. He looked up and saw that Chris was awake again.
“ Her mum took her home to shower and freshen up.”
Chris just nodded his head.
“Chris, I want you to know how deeply sorry I am. It was a complete accident. You took me by surprise with your question.”
“Sir, if I can interrupt you I was wondering what you answer is to that? I truly love her and well I want to be with her for the rest of my life.”
Katie’s father stood up and walk to Chris’ bedside. Tears were beginning to form in the corners of his once penetrating eyes. “You’re the only one I would allow to marry my daughter, but you must promise me this one thing. Never go to bed angry. No matter if you know you are right or whatever, just always make things right and you will have a happy relationship. You will be able to withstand whatever is thrown in your path.”
Chris too was crying “I promise.. I promise with every part of my heart! Thank you sir! Thank you.”
Chapter 8
Katie and Chris had been back from their little excursion for about 3 weeks now. Chris and Jonny were in was room in the flat fooling around with their guitars.
“Chris I think that we should form a band. You play the piano and you have a pretty good voice. I can play guitar all right and I know that Guy is willing to play bass cause of your old piano. Oh and I think we can get Will to play drums, that man could touch any instrument and turn it into magic.”
“Jon I don’t know.. I have a crap voice and well I need to ask Katie to marry me soon. I got her dads permission and..”
“Haha Chris I think you got more than her dads permission!” Jon said as he pointed toward Chris chest.
“Haha alright true, but I need to do it before he changes his mind or something. How should I do it?”
“She loves it when you sing. Maybe you should write her a song or something?”
“Yeah, and have her reject me cause of my crap voice? Great Idea Jon! Wait your not trying to sabotage me are you? Cause I know kung fu and I can kick you butt!”
“You would trip over your Velcro shoe strap before you could kick my butt! But damn Chris, your too cunning! How did you know I wanted to steal you girl?” Jonny asked as he rolled his eyes and threw his guitar pick at Chris’ head.
“I have the third sense Jon! I know everything!”
“Oh? Is that so huh? Well then you should know how to propose to your girlfriend if you know everything!”
“Crap, I forgot to pick up my refill on third sense at Tesco, seriously Jon what should I do?”
“Sing Chris. Sing. She loves your voice and so do I so let’s make the band eh?”
“Well.. I don’t know. Are you sure Will and Guy are in?” Chris was interrupted when Katie walked in.
“Hey Guys! What’s going on?”
“Oh hey Katie! I was just trying to convince Chris to form a band with me, Will, and Guy”
“Chris you should do it! You have an amazing voice!”
“See Chris! Katie thinks you voice is amazing! Now lets do it!” Jonny said with a sly smile.
“Fine , fine! We’ll try it out.”
“Yay! Oh Chris and Jonny! Your band is going to be brilliant.”
“Sweet! I’ll let will and Guy know. Oh and Chris you do know what fine stands for? Freaked out, insecure, neurotic and emotional!”
“I am not amused Jonathon Buckland. I had a bad experience!” Chris tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t. He burst out laughing and threw a pillow at Jonny’s face. Soon a pillow fight emerged and all that anyone who looked into the room would see would be three good friends and a million tiny white feathers floating in the air.
Chris had gone to bed with Katie, but couldn’t sleep he had to ask her or he was going to go crazy, so he got up and wrote. He wrote and wrote until the sun was beginning to rise. He retrieved the little black box and knelt by her side of the bed and waited for her to awake.
Katie lay in bed feeling the sun on her face. It left a warm glow and made her happy. She cracked open here eye to see Chris glowing face next to her. She smiled and reached out her hand and stroked his face.
Chris smiled and sang in the softest voice “Good morning beautiful. Last night, in the quiet, when our day was through, I listened to you sleeping and stayed awake by you. And softly, through the evening, there I spoke your name, And told you all the feelings I’ve had. I sometimes see you sitting by the window in the hall. Or laughing with your friends at the little things you saw. And lately I’ve been wondering if it’s all I can do, To hold you and to show you I do. My promise is forever with you, My promise is forever. “I do.” Chris opened the little black box. “Will you marry me Katherine?”
Chapter 9
“So mate, what did she say?” Jonny asked while he and Chris were on the treadmills at the gym.
“Well I did what you said, I wrote her a song and sang it to her and then got down and opened the box and asked her.”
“And.. what did she say?”
“No, she said that she can’t marry me.”
Jonny forgot he was running on the treadmill and fell off. “Shit! That hurt, wait what why?”
“She said she couldn’t, because she thinks my heart belongs to someone else.”
“Has she lost all her marbles? Is it that time of the month? Your like crazy for her!”
Chris mumbled a short yeah under his breath and focused on running.
“Well shit man maybe you should wait a bit and ask again?”
“Maybe..” Chris increased his speed and tightened his grip in hopes he would feel less like punching Jonny.
“You don’t think she was cheating on you and she felt guilty?”
“JONNY, just just uggg!”Chris grew angrier at this conversation and decided to go take it out on the punching bag instead of Jonny.
Jon looked over at Chris as he was mauling the bag and felt his heart go soft. He thought to himself ‘ Chris is kind of cute when he’s mad, his checks get that perfect shade of red and he squints his bottomless ocean eyes as if he is concentrating on sewing a delicate design. He bites his bottom lip then blows it out and repeats. Crap! Jon stop it! He’s a guy you’re a guy. You like girls! Girls who have breasts and and you gotta get out of here!
Jon quickly left the gym almost tripping on his way out the door. He ran home and quickly jumped in the shower in hopes to clear his head.
Chris looked up from punching the stuffing out of the bag to see Jonny watching him then suddenly turning at running out the door. How bizarre he thought, he didn’t even do free weights? He looks so muscular when he is lifting. His eyes shine with determination to try and lift heavier weights each time and then he always breaks out into an incredible smile when he succeeds. He is rather cute when that happens and OH MY GOSH! She was right!
Katie sat at her desk writing a letter when she heard a knock at the door. “It’s open.” She called out while continuing to write.
“Hey Katie, can I talk to you?”
“Hmm I don’t know Mr. Buckland, I might have to pencil you in.” Katie turned around in her chair and saw Jonny standing there with that look. The look that says help, I’m lost and confused and I don’t know what to do.
“Uh oh, what’s up Jonny? If this is about me an Chris it’s..”
“Stop. Katie Stop! It’s not about that it’s..it’s about something else.”
“Well in that case the doctor is in! Have a seat.” She gestured to her bed and then proceeded to wrap her legs around the back of her chair to face Jonny.
“I well I err suppose I have feelings for someone, but that someone is someone I shouldn’t.. what do I do?”
“Is she in a relationship with someone else? Is that why you shouldn’t have feeling for her?”
“Uh..” Jonny fiddled with his fingers and licked his lips a bit and then whispered. “it’s it’s not a she.”
Katie sat back and grinned and rubbed her hands together in excitement. “I knew it! I knew it I knew it I knew it!”
Jonny just stared back flabbergasted. How did she know? I only just kind of figured it out today. No! It couldn’t be.
“That’s that’s why you said no to Chris isn’t it?”
Katie threw back her head and laughed fairly hard causing her hair to bounce along with her frame. She then got up and a sat down next to Jonny and whispered into his ear “yup” She then quickly jumped up off the bed and ran to the door. Just before she left she turned and said “ you can close your jaw now” and giggled and left.
A million thoughts were flashing threw Jonny’s mind at an alarming speed. Yet each one consisted of Chris and what he would love to do to him. Jonny sat there soaking it all in for about 20 minuets before stumbling out of the room and down the hall and out the door. He needed to go someplace to think and the flat was not helping. He needed cheap beer and an awful atmosphere and that was where he headed.
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