Bad Memories // a.u.

chapter 8: complications

keaton's pov

A couple days have passed since Noelle told me about her parents. It was a lot to take in at the time and to be honest, I don't think it's really sunk in yet. When she told me that I took the bad memories away, I didn't know what to think. I was happy at first because I was making her better, but then in a way I got the feeling of being burdened. Did I want the task of "fixing" her? And I knew I should be happy. She was finally opening up to me and sharing her past. I didn't want to break up with her because I was falling for her. I liked her more than I've liked anyone. I guess I would just have to see where things went from here. 

I layed back in my bed, these thoughts swirling around in my mind. It was late afternoon and I had to get ready for work in a minute. I found the motivation to get up, so I wouldn't be late. My boss would have my neck if I didn't show up on time. I pulled on my shorts and cafe t-shirt and ran downstairs. Wes was in the living room watching TV. 

"Work?" he questioned. 

"Why else would I wear my uniform?" I pointed out.

"Right," he nodded. "Have fun." He went back to his show. 

I shook my head and went out the door. I grabbed my skateboard, propped up on the edge of the house. I loved the feeling I got when skating. The wind blowing in my face and having to keep my balance as I rode on the board. My mind was clear by the time I got to work and I was glad. I couldn't be distracted during work. 

"Hey, Keats," I heard an all too familiar voice say behind me. 

I refrained from throwing my head back in frustration. Sam has had a crush on me for the longest time and I've tried to let her down easy, but she hasn't gotten the hint. She was a year younger than me and worked at the cafe, but was gone visiting her mom in a different state for a couple months. I forgot she was getting back today. 

"How was it?" I asked politely as I grabbed my apron from the rack. 

"Horrible. I'm so happy to be back in Cali and to see you of course." Her voice was too happy and bubbly for me. 

"Great. Well, I gotta start my shift. See ya later, Sam." I pulled out my notepad and started to walk off into the main restaurant. 

"Wait a sec!" I turned around but didn't walk back any closer to her. "I was thinking we could hang out later maybe? Go out for milkshakes?" 

"I don't know, Sam. Maybe." I turned around and got to work. I heard her sigh behind me, but she didn't say anything else.

My shift went by quickly, but I was exhausted when I was done. I hung up my apron on the rack and grabbed my skateboard from the backroom. I started my skate home and I zoned out, tuning out the world. 

"Milkshakes?" Sam's voice came out of nowhere, causing me to lose my balance and fall on my ass. "Oh my god, Keats! Are you alright?" She rushed over to me and kneeled beside me. 

"I'm fine," I groaned. I was embarassed more than anything. I stood up slowly with her helping me. 

"I'm so sorry," her cheeks were bright red. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's ok, Sam. I know you didn't." I rubbed off the dirt on my clothes and noticed that I had scraped my arm but nothing was bleeding. 

"Let me buy you a milkshake to make up for it?"

"Ok," I finally gave in. A milkshake did sound really good right now. 

"Great," she smiled at me. She rushed over to grab my skateboard that had rolled pretty far away from me in the fall. "I'll carry this for you."

noelle's pov

"Are you really spending the day with me?"

"Don't sound so shocked," I told Skylar, throwing a decrorative pillow at her. 

"Hey!" she threw it back at me. "You're the one that's spending all your time with loverboy, which I was completely right about."

I rolled my eyes. "I know you were and you never forget to tell me about it, but he has to work tonight and he wanted to sleep in. So today is for us and even if he didn't have to do that I haven't spent a day with you in a long time."

"Right. So what should we do?"

We spent the majority of the day hanging out at the beach because it was such a gorgeous day. The sun high over the sand. We watched the surfers and talked as we tanned, dipped our feet in the ocean, and sipped lemonades. 

"You know what sounds really good?" 

"A milkshake?" I mused.

"This is why we're best friends, Noelle. Best friend telepathy. Come on. Let's get changed and go to that place we saw over by Keaton's cafe."

I laughed. "The only reason?"

"Well no, you dummy. But seriously. Milkshakes, let's go." I shook my head at her and stood up to walk back to our house. 

Forty-five minutes later we walked into the little milkshake shop and found a corner booth. 

"Isn't that Keaton?" Skylar whispered. She pointed over to the counter. The boy's back to us and he was with a girl I didn't recognize, but it was clearly him and the skateboard that was against the counter was definitely his as well. 

I nodded, not able to find my voice. The girl was laughing at something he said and placed her hand on his arm. He didn't pull away like I expected him too and I felt tears prick my eyes. I pushed my milkshake away from me, suddenly loosing my appetite. I felt sick. I needed to get out of there. I stood up and rushed out of the shop causing the bell above the door to make an unpleasant ding. I didn't know where I was going, but I just walked hastily down the sidewalk with no direction.

"Noelle!" Keaton called after me. I didn't look behind me to see how close he was. I hadn't been aware that he had seen me in the milkshake shop at all. I didn't know where to go and I felt lost. I collapsed onto a park bench, Keaton sitting down a minute later. He tried to place his hand on my knee, but I flinched away. "Let me explain," his voice was desperate.

"Isn't that what they all say?" I asked.

"You don't get it-"

"So now you're calling me stupid?" I stood up and started to walk away from him. I couldn't take this. He was out with some random girl and now he wanted to try and tell me it was nothing.

He grabbed for my wrist, spinning me back to face him. "Noelle, please. You know I wouldn't cheat on you. Sam has a crush on me yes, but I would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship. She works at the cafe and she just got back into to town from her visiting her mom. She made me fall off my skateboard and wanted to buy me a milkshake. I didn't want to let her down." While he was talking, I noticed the scrapes on his arms and I felt a little bad for accusing him of cheating.

"Are you alright?" I grabbed his arm, inspecting the minor wound.

He laughed. "I think I'll make it, but thanks for being worried. I should've told her about you upfront and I'm sorry, but I think Skylar took care of it for us."

"I heard my name," Skylar said, walking up behind us.

"I was telling Noelle that you were talking to Sam when I ran after her," he explained.

"Oh, yeah. She was not happy at all. You should've seen the look on her face. Definitely has a major crush on you, loverboy."

I laughed and said, "Well, thanks. I'm glad I don't have to worry about anyone trying to steal you away from me." I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. 

"I'm not so sure she's going to give up so easily, Noelle," Skylar added. 

I wanted to update since I have to write an 8 page paper this weekend and I don't know how much time I'll have to write. please vote/comment, it means a lot to me (: xx zoe

p.s. what do you think of sam and do you think she'll come between noelle and keaton?