Never The Same Love Twice

by Charity Rose

  Since that horrible day, the day Keith’s dad came after me, we’ve all been closer as a family, so I don’t know what he’s going to think about Keith being part of my life again. He hasn’t brought it up. I have a feeling they both knew about it already and were just waiting to say something until he showed up. I wonder if they had told Bradley.

  My parents drop me off at 7:30pm at the party and let me know that they’ll be back to pick me up by 11:00pm. The student council was able to rent the town lodge for the night. It’s nicely decorated but, the big attraction is the DJ and the colossal chocolate fountain surrounded by a display of pretzels for dipping. It’s the last party for our graduated class, might as well go all out. I’m getting a plate with pretzels and chocolate when my phone buzzes and I check to see if it’s Keith. Of course, it is,

  Keith: Are you there already? I’m running late. Had to take care of some things first. Mom says hi.

  Vee: Yeah, I’m here. I’ll be inside, call me when you get here. Tell her I said Hi back, I hope I can see her again soon?

  Keith: Will do, and of course! 

  As soon as I get inside, I quickly spot Kathy at one of the tables near the DJ booth. She sees me, and I rush over to her.

  “You made it!” she cheers.

  “I told you I was coming,” I give her a smile and take a seat next to her. We both start talking with a bunch of our other classmates who I really never have spoken to before all that much. I wish I wouldn’t be so shy, then I could have made more friends. We’re still talking when a couple of the girls suddenly pipe up with their appreciation of some newly arrived guy,

  “Damn, a year of college did him good,” I hear a girl say loud enough for everyone near our table to listen to her. “He’s even hotter now than he was in Highschool,” the other girl finishes. Who is she talking about?

  “I agree,” says another girl.

  I turn to look at the direction their staring towards and realise that they’re talking about Keith; which kind of makes me a tiny bit jealous. He made it. I’m guessing those girls used to study with him back before he left. Too bad, he’s mine now.

  I stand up from my chair and walk up to him. Watch and learn ladies. I pull Keith by his jacket to bring him closer to me and press my lips to his. Keith brings our bodies forward, pressing a firm hand on my lower back. I can practically feel the piercing eyes of those girls behind me.

  “What was that?” Keith says immediately after ending our kiss.

  “Nothing,” I lie and shy away from his stare and tug on his arm to get us moving to our table. Passing by the girls' table, I shoot them a look. Damn look at me being savage!

  “Guys,” I say to everyone at our table. “This is Keith, my boyfriend.” Kathy shoots me a look that says you better explain yourself to me later. Keith looks at me with surprise.

  We dance for about a few hours, and then I decide that the party is getting a bit too noisy for me and too many people, “We should leave,” I say to Keith, reaching up to whisper in his ear.

  “Yeah sure, I’ll take you home.”

  “No, not home just yet. We’ve got 45 minutes left before the time my parents pick me up. I’ll just text them and say that I’ll have someone drop me off.”

  “So where to,” he asks.

  “The Newly Brew is open till eleven,” I hint.

  He laughs, “Done, let’s go.” I say goodbye to Kathy who complains that I’m leaving too early, but once she sees with who I’m leaving with she gives me a little side wink. I show her the middle finger to mess with her as we exit the party, and I can hear her laughter following me out the door over the din.

  We’re parked right outside the Newly Brew Coffee Shop, but at the moment we’re too busy to care for coffee or pastries. I’m straddling Keith on the driver’s seat. Our lips meet and cover each other kisses. I feel Keith hesitate, pulling away from me his eyes look up into mine, “You know if we go any further, we’re not going to stop,” Keith warns. But I don’t want him to stop. I want to continue doing this for as long as possible. I smile, “Keith. I don’t ever want this to stop. And I’m not talking about sex. I’m talking about everything, I want everything about us to last forever,” I say as I press my mouth to his. Keith moans, and I feel his body begin to grind against mine, his hands are roving over my body. Touching me in all the right places.

  I feel something vibrate. It’s a phone. Keith’s phone starts to vibrate on the seat next to us, he ignores it, and we continue to make out. The phone begins to vibrate again. I glance over at it. He continues to ignore it, his kisses trailing down my neck and over my collarbone.

  The phone vibrates again. Whoever it is, they are desperate to reach. I look over at the phone and pick it up, the name on the screen seems familiar.

  Athena. Why is that name so familiar?

  Keith grabs the phone from my hand and looks at it, “Shit,” he says. He looks at me and motions for me to move over. I lift my leg so that he can slide out of the seat as he opens the door and watch as he paces back and forth next to the car. He seems upset. I narrow my eyes and watch him from the passengers’ seat as I slide back into it. He’s speaking loud enough I can hear most of what he’s saying.

  “Hello?” he answers. “Wait, what?” he asks whoever’s on the other line. “I don’t believe this. I mean, why?” He sounds angry. “No, no way. I can’t leave I just got here, haven’t I proved myself enough? This is insane,” Keith’s trying his best to stay calm, I could tell. “Okay. Tell them I’ll be there tomorrow. Stall them for as long as you can. I’m on my way,” he hangs up and turns to me, opening the door he climbs back into the car.

  “Everything alright,” I ask. “Who was that?” I’m concerned. Whoever that was clearly had it out for Keith. Keith shakes his head, “Don’t worry about it. It’s not your business,” he says and starts the car, “I’m taking you home.”

  I frown, “It’s not my business? Really? We get back together for one day and now your leaving, and it’s not my business?” I say. Keith turns his head and looks at me, eyeing me up and down, “I could hear everything, Keith,” I say. He frowns and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, I’ve got a few more things I need to take care of before I can really focus on us. On anything really, but I can’t tell you right now. All you need to know is that I have to leave. You just have to trust me, ok?”

  Chapter 28

  After Keith dropped me off, I ran upstairs to my room. I’m sure my parents saw the tears, but they chose not to get involved. He finally came back into my life, and the drama is starting all over again. I don’t know why I even bothered to get so excited to see him, I practically have made a fool of myself. I left Brad and threw myself at Keith all over again. Why am I so stupid?

  It’s been five days since I last saw Keith. He hasn’t answered his phone at all, or respond to my texts. I went by their old house, and no one was there. He and his mom must be staying somewhere else, I wake up and decide to go for a run before breakfast. I plug in my earphones; turn on the music and start running. Letting the music guide my pace, I make my way around the block and back. I can see my house up ahead, and upon reaching my driveway, I notice Keith instantaneously. He’s sitting on the steps to our doorway. He didn’t see me right away, but when he does, he stands up. I somehow feel the impulse to back away. Then I take in the sight of this face. His eyes are bloodshot; his face is all splotchy, like if he cried all night.

  “What are you doing here?” My tone comes out cold as I pull my earphones out and step around him towards our door.

  “Just hear me out.” He says raising his arms almost in surrender.

  “It’s been almost a week since I last heard from you. What could you possibly have to say to me, Keith?” If he’s going to go on about how he’s sorry and blab about how this is all to protect me, I swear I’ll slap him again and this time it wouldn’t be for fun.

  “That phone call I got that night,” he starts. “It was Athena’s mom,” I nodded, I remembered
seeing the name. It was familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. And then it hit me, wait his ex-Athena? Oh, my God! He continues,

  “I have some things to take care of, that’s why I’m leaving right now. My mom’s waiting for me. To take me to the airport,” he says. None of this is making any sense. Is he going back to her? Has he been with her this entire time?

  “What do you mean goodbye?” I’m over it by now. “I don’t understand anything that is happening. “Keith, you said you wouldn’t leave me again. You promised me,” god damn it why am I always crying, “You can’t do this again. Just talk to me, please. Make me understand. You were gone for a year, and I still don’t know what went on during that time, I need answers—”

  “I know you do,” he holds on to my shoulders. “I know you do, and I promise I’ll tell you everything. But now is just not the time—”

  “Then, when Keith, it’s never the right time for anything when it comes to you.”

  “I’m sorry, I love you. Don’t ever forget that.” He plants a tender kiss on my forehead. And just like that, he walks. That’s when I notice his mother’s car parked on the other side of the street.

  “I hate you,” I yell at him.

  “I know,” he answers. “But I’ll come back for you and the next time you see me, it’ll be for good,”

  I watch as he hops into his car and like that he’s gone with the wind.

  This cannot be happening again. Not again. Not like this. I think I’ve cried myself out. Because the tears have stopped, so I go inside to change. Once I’m comfortable I linger around my bookshelf in need of a good book. I stumble upon the first edition of The Great Gatsby that Keith bought me for Christmas. I stare at it for way too long before pulling it off the shelf flipping through the pages. They smell old and beautiful and I place it gently back where I had it, a permanent reminder of Keith.

  It’s been two weeks since Keith left to go wherever it is, he felt he needed to go. Two weeks of feeling like a fool. I already had to explain to Bradley and Kathy and even July, who found out that Keith had returned via the other two, and while Bradley has been understanding I can see that he is feeling both equal parts annoyed and equal parts hopeful that I’ll give up on Keith and return to him. I can’t say I hadn’t thought of it at least a few times. Bradley is sweet and stable while Keith is wild and unpredictable and utterly fascinating. My heart beats faster whenever I think of Keith. I just can’t help it.

  Over the summer I had taken on a part-time job since my grades were good, my parents allowed it so that I could start making my own savings and have some extra cash for fun with my friends. I was sitting in the mall food court, sipping on a soda while reading a book between my shifts at the jewellery store. The plot is getting intense, and I can’t seem to stop reading.

  “I’m guessing it’s a good book?” I almost jump out of my seat when a familiar woman’s voice breaks me from my thoughts.

  When I look up its Jude, Keith’s grandmother. “Sorry,” she says apologetically, “I didn’t mean to scare you, dear. How have you been?” she asks. I smile, and motion for her to take a seat with me. Closing my book, I put it back into my bag.

  “Okay, I guess.” I’m not entirely lying, but I'm not truthful either. “It’s been hard.” I say and reach over to grasp her hands in mine, squeezing them gently, “How are you?” I ask I hadn't seen her since Christmas last year.

  “I would be doing better if Keith wouldn’t have pushed you away from his life,” she says suddenly. It takes me by surprise, and my jaw falls open. I close my mouth, blushing slightly as I look away. Jude ignores it and continues to speak, “Did he ever tell you what happened? During the year he was gone?” she asks. That catches my attention. I’m desperate to know what went on. How his father was captured, how Keith managed to make it to college, how he met Athena all over again, all of it. Any of it. I’d listen.

  “No, he didn’t tell me anything. Just that he would be back, that he had some business with Athena,” I look away, wondering if I was about to be told things I didn’t want to hear. Had he moved on from me? He said Athena was his everything when he was younger, maybe he realised she still was?

  “Yes, that much is true,” she admits, and my face sinks.

  “Dear,” she takes my hands. “Do you want me to tell you what happened?” I glance away. Maybe Keith would instead try to tell me himself but, I so badly want to know. No, I need to know. I nod, “All this time, Keith has been helping to get his father put behind bars for a very long time,”

  “Did he do it?” I ask not quite believing it. I did see the reports that he had been taken in but that the court case had taken a long time to get settled. There were so many pieces to the puzzle that were missing or didn’t fit the spots.

  “He did, but it wasn’t easy. Keith found out that it was his father who drugged him at his fifteenth birthday party, the drug wasn’t intended for him. It was supposed to go to Athena so that he could…” Jude trailed off, but the implication was clear. He was going to attempt to assault Athena and failed. Instead, Keith had taken the drug and his friends, not knowing the condition he was in, went along with a silly party game and left him in there with an already drunk young lady.

  “Vidya, I know you may be angry with my grandson, but believe me when I say this. Keith has been getting better. He’s been going to therapy ever since his father was arrested. He’s been doing so for you,” the thought of Keith recovering for me makes my heart swell, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that a few weeks ago he left yet again without a single explanation.

  “Jude, I appreciate you for telling me all this. But it still doesn’t change the fact that Keith left again not so long ago—”

  “Vidya, that boy is going to need you more now than ever. Especially with what he’s been dealing with the past few months. The rest is his story to tell. It wouldn’t be right for me to explain everything but know that he will be back and that he might be asking a lot of you very soon,” Jude sounds defeated, like in a way she doesn’t want to lose hope for her grandson, but that at the same time she has lost a bit of it too. She stands up and hugs me good-bye. What did she mean by that? What will he be asking of me?

  “The thing is I don’t know if I could do that when I’m certain he doesn’t want me to interfere in his life,” I say once she’s gone.

  Its been an entire month and two weeks since Keith left and mom is driving me crazy with the whole packing for the college process. I watch her as she disapproves of all my choices, “Vidya, you can’t take all these books with you to Norway.”

  “Mom I’m not saying I’m taking all of them, just a healthy amount of them. I don’t want to get bored while I’m over there.”

  “Honey, trust me, you won’t even have time to breathe while you’re over there. You’re going to have plenty of classes, plus you’re doing an internship, and on top of that you’re writing a novel,”

  “Ugh, the way you say it makes it sound like hell,” I tease and roll my eyes.

  “I am so going to miss that humour of yours.” She says, reeling me in for a hug. I can feel the tightness in her body as I hug her back, the tears waiting to break free. Two days later, I was on the aeroplane to Norway, my life as a college student was just about to begin. I still haven’t heard from Keith. Nor his mother or grandmother.

  Chapter 29

  The Chancellor’s speech took almost an hour, but I didn’t mind. I was in awe of it all. Maybe it’s the fact that I still can’t believe I’m actually here at this University. After that we proceeded with the Seminar, it’s basically a little insight and brief explanation of how the classes are going to be and how the internships will work, and so forth. The event is over by lunch, and I’m starving considering I skipped breakfast this morning, so I follow everyone out to the dining hall.

  I get in line make my way down the buffet, stopping by to pick up all the food that looks good. Once my plate is full, I hand the woman at the register, my student ID and dining car
d, which allows you to get your three daily meals, anything else that you may want to eat during the day has to be paid from your own wallet. No food or beverage can be taken out of the hall, and everything must be consumed here. We aren’t allowed to have any household appliances such as microwaves, a fridge, a toaster, none of that. So, besides my desk, I have a small box filled with snacks. I take a seat at one of the closest tables and the students who are all there greet me.

  A lot of the people I met today are also in the Creative Writing Program. There is a total of seven programs at the University: Elementary Studies, Middle School Studies, High School Studies, College Studies, Creative Writing, Literature, and English Second Language.

  We all exchanged phone numbers, so we could all find each other before classes start next week.

  Classes start today, and I’m already inside the classroom with seven minutes to spare. I’m happy to find a girl I had met during our introductory seminar sitting at one of the chairs. “Hey, Nancy, right?” I say taking a seat next to her.

  “Hey, yeah! Alright,” she says enthusiastic. “Someone I know. I hope we get more classes together. What else are you taking this semester?”

  We both dig our schedules out from our bags and compare them.

  At exactly 8:00am a blonde woman, I’d say around her late thirties enters the classroom. The room goes silent, as she begins to speak, “Good morning, every one, my name is Professor Jones, and I will be your literary studies professor for the semester. My greatest hope is for all of you to leave this classroom by the end of the semester with a clearer mind on what are the aspects that build great literature,” Just by listening to her words I can tell she’s passionate about her work.

  “Now, today we will not start directly with our class, tomorrow we shall discuss the class syllabus. For today I’d like to take some time getting to know each of you. For the next four years, if you continue to take my line of classes, we will become very well acquainted. To get us started, I have a second-year student of mine who is here to share with you all his experiences while taking this course last year.” I hear the doors to the classroom open, but I don’t look up, I’m busy filling out the class introductory note sheet that had been passed around, trying to formulate the words on how and why I wanted to take this course. “Everyone I leave you with my star pupil, Keith Masters,” my eyes shoot up and my heart stops, “Mr Masters, the class is yours, please share with us some of your latest works,”