Chapter 2 part B

***
The whole day Katie sat on her bed trying to type her history paper. It was around five when her phone rang, and she picked it up. She didn’t recognize the number. Fearing it might be Keith, she didn’t answer. When the phone stopped ringing, she checked the message. It wasn’t Keith; it was Allen asking her to dinner. She called right back and told him why she didn’t answer the phone. He laughed and asked if she wanted to get pizza. She agreed, so he picked her up, and took her to a nice restaurant, but not an expensive one. She had a nice time, and thought that Allen was a nice boy. She found out that his father was a CEO for an oil company, and she laughed when he said that unlike most of the young men out here, he had no political ambitions. He was getting a MBA, and was planning on working for his father after school even though he had dreams of joining the Peace Corps. Katie found herself lost in what he said, and at the end of the night he didn’t invite her back to his place, he just took her to her dorm, and asked if he could call her tomorrow. She agreed.
The next day she had to fight to keep her mind focused on her studies, but she was able to finish the paper, right before 7 p.m. when he called. They talked for two hours, and he invited her over to watch a movie with him, but she said she couldn’t, however she would meet him in a public place. He picked her up and took her to a bookstore. He wanted to get her a book, but she protested, and he didn’t insist. She found the bookstore very charming. It was just a small bookstore in a wooden building that almost looked like an old train station pick up center.
That whole week, she spent at least a couple hours with Allen after she got her studying done. Every time, he dropped her off after a date, he would try to kiss her, but she would lower her head, and he would back off.
On Friday, he asked if she wanted to go to a party. She really didn’t want to go, but she went because he wanted her to. Katie didn’t even think of Keith when she walked into the house where the party was. She looked around at the people there, by now the faces were becoming familiar, and a couple girls came up and talked to her; it was a much smaller party; there were only about 15 people there.
She felt exhausted from her week. She took Allen’s hand. “I’m going to sit down for a second,” she said.
Allen got a smirk on his face. She stared at him puzzled before she turned away. She sat on a couch and watched him until he came over.
He leaned over the arm of the couch. “Are you thirsty?”
Katie asked, “can I have a coke?”
As she watched Allen walk away from, she felt fingers slide across her cheek. She turned her head to the right and saw a form pass behind her. She turned her head to the left and saw Keith walking towards the cooler of beer. She started moving her foot back in forth; thinking he won’t give up. She watched as he walked up to a group of young men. She smiled when she saw Allen approach her, but he turned to the group of men, in fact he stood right next to Keith who said something to him.
***
Keith crossed his arms. He has heard this conversation every time he goes to a party. Everyone had an opinion on what Arthur should do in regards to Syria. He always kept his mouth shut and let them spout off, acting as he they actually knew what they were talking about, trying to impress him.
“Talking about your godfather again,” Allen said, stopping next to him.
“Yeah.” Keith looked over everyone’s head. Allen was worse then the rest. Always challenging him as if they were in competition. There was no competition as far as he was concerned.
Keith watched him drop a pill into a cup, and swish the liquid around, dissolving the pill. A smirk crossed Keith’s face. Allen always had to drug the girls to get laid. He could get away with it because Allen was almost as rich as himself.
Allen held up the cup to the group and said, “time to open the iron curtain.”
Keith laughed as Allen walked away. He was a such a fool who was going to get burned one of these days.
He let his mind drift to Katie and wondered if he should try talking to her again. She looked so pretty tonight. He remembered how silky her hair felt in his fingers “Hey Keith,” Brandon said interrupting his thoughts. He pointed behind him. Keith turned around and saw Allen sitting next to Katie with his hand in her hair. His body stiffened and he grew hot. He watched as she took a long sip of the coke. Keith glared at Allen, just buying his time, knowing full well what he was up to.
He waited until she had taken quite a few sips before he walked straight up to her and knocked the almost empty plastic cup out of her hand, sending it flying across the room and spilling the brown liquid on the floor.
The color left Katie’s face.
“What’s your problem?” Allen shouted.
Keith grabbed Katie’s arms and pulled her from the couch close to his body. He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist. “This one is off limits.”
Allen stood up. “Maybe to you.”
Keith let go of Katie and in one swift motion pounded Allen right across the chin, sending him to his knees, and letting all his anger release into Allen’s jaw. “Won’t you shut up and think of who you’re talking to.”
Katie placed her hands over her mouth as Keith grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the house.
***
The crisp chill air made Katie focus on the moment. She pulled her arm from his. “What is your problem?”
“Pour your own drinks at parties, Katie.”
“What?”
“He drugged you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I saw him do it.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re just jealous.”
“Katie.” His voice was calmer and he took her shoulders. “Let me take you to your dorm, and we’ll see if you make it awake.”
“I’m not getting alone in a car with you.” She turned from him and started to walk away. But she didn’t get far before she had to stop and place a hand on her forehead, and steady herself against a post of the house. She looked out and saw the dark forms of the trees in front of her blur in and out and mush together. Keith wasn’t lying.
“It’s already working,” he said.
She shook her head and took a couple steps, but she saw the ground coming towards her fast. She felt his hands grab her waist and pull her against himself. She then felt herself be lifted and she looked up at the stars until her eyes became too heavy to keep open.

Chapter

Later, Katie opened her heavy eyes, and the first thing she saw was the bright yellow light that protruded from the top of the car; she stared at it for several seconds trying to figure out what was going on. She looked down and noticed the black wool fabric. She began to rub it with her fingers.
“Do you believe me now?”
She looked at Keith and noticed that he was typing some notes on his laptop from a book that sat on the armrest of his car. When she saw his blue eyes concentrated on the screen, she remembered the anger in them as he knocked the cup out of her hand, and it all came back. She closed her eyes and took several small breaths, but her nerves wouldn’t settle.
“How long have I been out?”
“About an hour.” He closed the black laptop.
“Thank you.” She mumbled out.
“You’re welcome.”
She pulled the coat off and handed it to Keith right before she turned to open the door.
“Hold on.” Keith placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re probably still dizzy.”
She stayed in the car as Keith got out and walked over to the passenger side. The door opened and Keith reached for her hands. He helped her to her feet, and placed an arm firmly around her waist. Her first few steps made her head swirl, but she rested it on Keith’s chest as he walked her to the dorm. Even when she felt herself become more stable, she didn’t remove herself from his arms. It felt so good to lean up against his firm chest. He reached for the keys that she held out to him, opened the door, and they walked to her room. When she got to her room, she asked, “Would you like to come in?”
“Sure.”
She took the keys from his hand and unlocked the door. Once inside, Keith closed the door behind them. Katie turned to look at him, focusing on his blue eyes that had a soft touch to them. Maybe he wasn’t what Angel said he was. He couldn’t be. A smile crossed her face as she took a few steps towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Katie felt warm and safe as Keith held her tightly against his body. She stood on her tiptoes and rested her chin on his shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of a girl who wouldn’t give you the time of day.”
She felt Keith’s hands immerse themselves in her hair, sending strange sensations through her body. “Can I take you to dinner now?”
“Sure.” She smiled. Keith pulled her from him, but kept her still in his arms. She closed her eyes as he kissed her head. She had to take a deep breath as a tremor swept through her form. She looked up at him, and tried to find something to say, but all she could think of was her sister.
“Would you like to see some pictures of my family?”
“Yeah,” he said, but he didn’t let go of her until she moved from him.
They were about to sit on the bed when Keith’s phone rang. He flipped it open and looked at the number. “Hey,” he said and walked out the door, closing it behind him. What was going on? Katie stared at the door for a couple seconds before her curiosity got the best of her. She went to the door and pressed her ear against it.
“Just make sure your contribution gets to my godfather, and I won’t say a thing.”
Many questions filled her mind, but she couldn’t find any answers to them. She knew he was talking about her.
It was quiet for a second. “If she asks, I’ll tell her that. Bye”
She took two quick steps from the door and sat on the bed before Keith opened the door.
He looked at her. “That was Allen’s father. He wanted me to tell you he’s sorry for his son’s actions, and that he wouldn’t be bothering you anymore.”
“Why didn’t he tell me that?”
Keith shrugged. “He knows me, so I guess he just felt more comfortable talking to me.” Keith clasped his hands in front. “So, you want to show me some pictures.” Katie nodded and reached under her bed for her picture album, forgetting about what she heard outside the door as he sat next to her.
For the next hour, she sat on her bed with Keith at her side and his arm around her waist. Katie showed him pictures of her sister and parents, and explained them. She would every now and then look up at him, but she could not look at his face for long, so she would quickly turned back to the pictures and wonder if he noticed how hot her skin felt.