VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 6, 7, 8 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 00:47:17 03/22/06 Wed
Author: Sunny
Subject: Part IV - The rest of the story after this I'm still working on - editting and proof-reading... hopefully won't be too long before it's ready to post, but we'll see, lol
In reply to: Sunny 's message, "Part II" on 00:56:30 03/19/06 Sun

I was awoken a few hours later to a warm hand on my forehead. I opened my eyes to see Keith looking at me, obviously concerned. He had apparently decided it was safe to make use of his key and not knock, that was different of him. He moved his hand from my forehead to my cheek when he saw my eyes open.

“Hey,” I said sleepily.

“You feel ok?”

“I’m not quite awake enough to know. What time is it?”

“1AM. I was worried.”

I half smiled. “Thanks,” I said, sitting up.

“No, don’t get up.”

I gladly lay back down – moving wasn’t helping my headache that hadn’t quite disappeared.

“Head still hurt?” He asked, wrinkling his brow.

“Yeah.”

“Go back to sleep, I just wanted to check on you.”

I was suddenly feeling worse.

“Keith – could you stay?”

“Sure thing, baby.”

“Thanks.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The warm sun shining through my bedroom windows woke me the next morning. I rolled over and looked at Keith who, it seems, had decided to stay in my room. He was still dressed, all except for his belt and shoes which were lying on the floor next to the bed. I watched him as he slept, the sunlight dancing across his face and the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Keith was an incredible man and I loved and respected him more than I could ever put into words. He was intelligent, strong, loving, and the best friend anyone could ever want.

He opened his eyes, “Good morning. You feel any better?” He asked - his accent thick in his sleepy state.

“Much better, thanks.”

“Good,” he said, pulling me into a hug.

I guess I should explain – Keith is a “hugger.” He hugs everyone… his family, his friends, his fans, his road band, his road crew, the people at his record label and management company, his lawyer, random awards show presenters, other entertainers, radio DJs, CMT and GAC employees… you get the idea. People who spend significant amounts of time around him get used to it after a while, and the other guys learn that that is just how Keith is.

“So what are you doing today?” Keith asked.

“I need to do some laundry, but nothing other than that. What about you?”

“Nothing; I have a meeting with Borman tomorrow about CMA nomination announcements – it seems they want me to read them - and an interview with a radio station, but nothing today.”

“Nice.”

“I actually need to do laundry too, or else I’m going to have to do this next leg of the tour naked.”

“I’d be willing to bet some of your fans wouldn’t mind in the least,” I joked.

“Oh yeah, and I’d make Mum, Dad, and Shane real proud then,” he laughed.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, both lost in our own thoughts. It was Keith who broke the quiet.

“You really had me worried last night, you know.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just really wasn’t feeling very good.”

“I saw that once I got over here. I was kind of afraid you just didn’t want to see me.”

“What?! Keith Lionel, you know better than that.”

“Yeah, I don’t know, I was just thinking…” his voice trailed off.

“About anything you want to talk about?”

“Not really – a lot of things, I guess. Don’t worry about it.”

I gave him a sideways glance. He wasn’t telling me the truth, but I also knew I wouldn’t get it out of him if I tried. “Alright. I’m gonna go take a shower,” I got up out of bed, grabbing my robe as I went out the door to the bathroom.

I spent my shower thinking about what Keith had said. He was nuts if he thought I didn’t want to spend time with him. Had I done something to make him think that? Tone of voice, maybe? No, I didn’t think so anyway.

I kept thinking about it the rest of the day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Keith left around noon; I stayed home to do laundry and cleaning. He called at 4:00 asking if I was planning to cook or if I wanted to go out and eat somewhere. I told him if he came over I’d cook something. He didn’t get enough home-cooked meals – he was home and I was going to make sure he got a decent meal or two before he hit the road again.

Supper was salad, spaghetti, and the garlic bread that I had managed to talk Keith into making. After loading the dishes into the dish washer we sat down in the living-room to relax.

“Keith, can I ask you something?” This morning was still bothering me.

“Sure, anything.”

“This morning… something was bothering you,” I watched him as I spoke, “Is there something you want to talk about? Is everything ok?”

“Everything’s fine, I just got to thinking too much. Really, don’t worry about it.”

“Are you sure? I promise I won’t get mad – you know that. Did I say something?”

“No, I promise you, everything is ok.”

I knew he wasn’t lying now. “Ok,” I responded, settling back into the couch, still confused, but content in knowing that my friend was alright.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Hope, sweetie, wake up… Hope.”

We had fallen asleep on the couch. His voice woke me from my troubled sleep. I opened my eyes to his blue ones, full of concern, and felt tears streaming down my face. He pulled me to him and held me tight, stroking my hair and promising me that everything was OK and that he’d keep me safe. He didn’t have to ask what I’d been dreaming – he knew.

I hadn’t had a dream like that in months – I had hoped that they were over. I knew he couldn’t hurt me now - that he was out of my life for good – Keith had been an integral part of that. All that was left of him in my life was an occasional bad dream - for that I was thankful and thankful even more was I for this wonderful man who I called my best friend.

Keith’s strong arms around me brought me comfort and my crying slowed, my ever-growing consciousness making me realize it really had been just a bad dream – he was gone and I was safe.

Noticing my decreased tears, Keith pulled back and looked at me, “I thought you had stopped having those.”

“I did too,” I sighed.

“You know you’re safe – he can’t come near you, he can’t hurt you again.”

“I know, Keith, I know.” I was tearing up again. “Did I ever thank you?”

“Yeah – it wasn’t necessary then and it isn’t necessary now,” he said gently, reaching out to hug me again when he saw a tear slide down my cheek. After a few moments he spoke: “Let’s go to bed – it’s 2am and I’m not going to leave you here alone tonight.”

“I’ll be ok, you really can go home if you want.”

“If I go home I’ll worry about you for the rest of night,” he said, smiling slightly.

“Alright then.”

We walked back to the bedroom where he dug a pair of his track pants and a t-shirt out of my closet before walking back out to the bathroom to change. Somehow, in the course of our friendship, we’d ended up with significant amounts of each other’s stuff at our homes. I had my pajamas on and was in the bed before he returned. I heard him shuffle in the door and looked up.

“Would you rather I slept in the guestroom?”

Guestroom? It was practically his room.

“I think I’d feel better if you were in here.”

“I guessed you would. I’ll be right back.”

He returned a moment later with the blanket from the guest bed. I gave him a confused look. He laughed: “I’m going to be a gentleman and not sleep under the same covers as you.”

“Because we’ve never shared a bed before…” I said sarcastically, raising my eyebrows at him, “you really don’t have to do that.”

Obviously that was enough of a confirmation for him because he dropped the blanket in the chair next to my dresser before getting into the bed.

“Goodnight Keith.”

“Night Hope.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I lay there awake for a while, thinking… and remembering. I had been dating Derrick for four months the first time he hit me and it took another four months for anyone to find out. I was too afraid of him to tell anyone and too proud to admit what was happening. Looking back, I’m glad Keith found out – it probably saved my life. I was at home alone one day when he came over. I hadn’t been expecting any company had put on a t-shirt that morning. I’d never seen such a look in Keith’s eyes as he had when he saw my bare arms – a mixture of pain, compassion, and anger. After a long talk I decided to leave Derrick (who was out of town on a business trip) – right then. Keith and I spent the night moving all of my things from the apartment into the garage of the house he was renting. Once we got to bed, I slept better than I had in a long time. Keith has always been able to make me feel safe like that. He took me to the police station the next day and the cops were waiting on Derrick when he returned to Nashville. I haven’t heard from or seen him since.

I turned over in bed and, snuggling down underneath the covers, fell asleep almost instantly.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> [> Ahh to have a friend like Keith! How could she just lie there in the same bed without being tempted to jump him, I'll never understand! This just gets better and better, great job sunny. -- AussieChick, 01:14:41 03/22/06 Wed [1]


[ Edit | View ]
[> [> AussieChick's right, this is getting better, you are really talented with this stuff. -- Rodeo, 17:36:10 03/22/06 Wed [1]


[ Edit | View ]
[> [> I love sexual tension! All other tension sucks but, sexual tension, I think the world needs more sexual tension...love and sexual tension...love and sexual tension between Keith and me...love, sexual tension between Keith and me and more chocolate...I've figure out the secret of life here! LOL! -- birdinflight, 19:28:48 03/22/06 Wed [1]


[ Edit | View ]
[> [> [> bird? -- kennedypratt, 20:46:07 03/22/06 Wed [1]

Bird I think you've lost it. Are you okay? Please don't tell me that you have a new baby bump too!!


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> kennedy? -- birdinflight, 16:49:33 03/23/06 Thu [1]

Hush your mouth! Bite your tongue! LOL! Actually, I was kinda hoping to find out that I was carrying Keith's love child after those front row seats last month. But, no such luck...Do you remember you ask for my email a while back and I only had one for work? Well, I have a new email now and would love to hear from you sometime or anyone else on the board for that matter! Email me at birdofthehouse@yahoo.com.


[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> [> email? -- kennedypratt, 19:11:48 03/23/06 Thu [1]

Bird, do you talk to that many Kennedys online that you can't keep us straight? And here I thought I was the only one. You and Keith can't master that under cover behavior can you? LOL, just kidding. I don't remember asking for your email but I will be sure to add you to me address book.


[ Edit | View ]


[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-5
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.