Keith

Its not a date

By Chemistry the next day Keith was still thinking about the 'picnic' and the new level of his relationship with Natalie that it had brought him. Natalie could barely keep his eyes opened She probably spend the night partying with Raff and all of her other friends from The Brick. He reached for the test tube full of carefully measured water and poured a little onto there lab table making it look like an accident.

"Oh, god" Keith groaned at the sight of the spill.

"Be more careful, would you?" she said moving the test tube to the middle of the table.

"Am I gonna get in trouble for that?" Keith askedin mock seriousness. "Are you gonna punish me for this?" He whispered, hunching his shoulders as if preparing for a harsh punishment.

"I may have to," Natalie also said in mock seriousness. Keith smirked mentally. Natalie was catching onto his games.

"Cause you know how i feel about all that stuff," he says in a whisper.

"Look, partner, you know the deal."

"But... those spikey heels really hurt me," he breathed huskily.

"Keith" Natalie said as she stroked his cheek with the tip of her pencil which sent shivers down Keiths spine "you've been a bad boy....and now you're gonna have to pay the price." She poked him gently with the pencil as Keith let out a soft groan as if finding sensual pleasure from her actions.

both of them could feel the shocked stares of there tablemates Natalie looked up and said "Do you mind??" the two staring girls quickly looked down at their notes while keith and natalie smiled at eachother.

After class Keith walked out of the classroom with her "So we're on for five p.m.?"

"for what?"

"a bowling scene."

"Bowling? Are you serious? I'm going out."

"Tomorrow then."

"Keith I can't."

He stopped walking sensing what he felt that she must think he was implying and clarified "It's not a date"

"Keith maybe some other time," Natalie began walking to her class.

"Friday!" He called out beginning to reach desperation She smiled at him when she reached the stairs "Ill just schedule it with your assistant then!" he added.

"Okay you do that!" and she turned away and walked down the steps.

After school that day Keith had to think of a way to make natalie go bowling with him especially since it wasn't the bowling that she was thinking of. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He would call her.

He waited to call her until after dinner, he was scared stiff into calling Natalie even though he knew exactly what to say he was still nervous he wasn't sure how she would react. Would she hang up on him? Would she think he was a stalker? Keith knew he had to do it eventually and besides it wasn't like it was some weird girl he barely knew. He knew alot about her.

Taking a deep breath he snatched up ahd cordless phone and picked up the phonebook and then he began to call everyone with the last name of Anderson listed.

Finally ten times later he struck gold.

"Hello?" asked a mans voice.

"Hi is Natalie there?" Keith said.

"Yes, who is this?"

"Keith Zetterstrom.. I'm her chem partner."

"Alright hang on a sec."

"Thanks"

He waiting for ten seconds until Natalies voice asked"Hello?"

"It would not be a date," he said instantly.

"Who is this?" She asked, but he was pretty certain that she knew exactly who it was.

"It's only bowling. C'mon what are you so afraid of?" He asked.

"Keith....hi."

"Look, Ill pick you up at 5pm after school," he said.

"Did you do the homework?" she asked suddenly.

"Homework? what homework?" he asked trying to remember what the homework was.

"It's your turn to write up the notes, your screwin' with my grade here."

"Yeah and you're changing the subject!" he snapped.

"I told you I have plans."

"Look you'll be back by nine and there'll be plenty of time afterwards for a date."

"I'll see you in school!" she said cheerfully, hinting the conversation was done.

"Wh---" he faltered at her abrupt exit. "Maybe"

"With the lab notes" she added quickly but he hung up on her before she could finish. He sighed Placing the phone back on the dock.