YOU WAITED( PUBLISHED)

Chapter 4.

" Pack your things, we're leaving." He says, barging in and pushing me aside in the process.

" I don't understand." I say.

" There's nothing to understand, you are coming back to the house." He says, giving my room a once over, before turning to face me.

I turn my back to him, closing the door and almost leaning my head against it, in preparation of this conversation.

" No." I murmur against the door.

" What?" He asks.

I turn back around to face him, both hands behind my back against the door.

"No, I said no." This is really my first time speaking up and saying no to him.

"Why not?" He asks.

" I thought you'd tell me once you wanted to move on." I say, instead of answering the question.

Silence is all there is, right after I say this. I gasp when in long stride, he's right in front of me, both hands on either side of my head.

My heart slams against my chest at the close proximity. " You want to talk, fine, let's talk."

Looking at his face, all I see is his blank face with determined eyes.

" I met someone."

" I know." I say, acknowledging it with my eyes, dropping to the floor.

"But it's not the one who you saw on TV." My head picks up at that, frowning in confusion.

"But ----------"

" You must understand Akiandra, there's a difference between news and gossip." I ignore the tingles from hearing my name come out of his mouth.

"So, it's not her?" I ask for clarification.

He shakes his head no. " Then who ------------"

" Now that's been covered, shall we go?" He quirks his brow in question at me.

Moving from under his arm, I go on to sit on the bed.

" Akiandra, " he calls me, but I don't answer, totally avoiding eye contact and get into bed.

" Akiandra, I'm talking to you." He says, his voice going a bit higher.

Looking at him now, I sigh out loud." I'd like to spend a night here. I'll be back tomorrow. Not that you'd notice or care." I mumble the last part.

" I don't get what difference it would ma --------- "

"It'll mean that I can start preparing myself for......" I trail off, a lump forming in my throat.

Oh gosh, he can't see me like this.

" Excuse me." I get out of bed and hurry to the bathroom, locking myself in. Leaning against the door, I mentally start counting, taking easy breaths and doing all I can, to not cry, because once I start, I may not know how to stop.

This is harder than I thought, but it was bound to happen. I just didn't think I'd be around to witness or hear about it, I truly believed I'd be long gone by now.

With the two years, my heart opened up wide for him, and now here we are, his own has searched and may have potentially found another, where mine has been waiting in the sidelines, in hopes of capturing his.

'It was you who told him to tell you, when he found the one, remember?' My consciousness tells me, reminding me of my exact words to him.

Sighing out loud, I move away from the door and enter further into the bathroom. A splash of water on my face and a glance to the mirror later, I give myself a mental pep talk, and with that, I walk out of the bathroom.

I stop in my tracks when I see Keith by the door, in conversation with someone on the other side. Soon he finishes and turns to me, pizza in hand.

"Oh, the pizza!" I say, hurrying to get the money.

" I got it covered." He says, pausing my movements.

Turning to him with money in hand, I notice his suit jacket is off. "Oh, well thank you." I say, handing him the money I owe him.

He shakes his head, moving to place the box on the nightstand.

" I owe you, please take it."

"You don't owe me anything. Now keep the money." He says, in his end off tone.

Not wanting to argue, I put the money away and get into bed, taking the pizza in the process. As I'm about to start relaxing and  watch TV, I notice Keith moving about with the corner of my eye. Finally looking at him, I frown at him taking off his shoes , right after , about to take off his tie.

"What are you doing?" I ask wide eyed, panicking in thought of him stripping in front of me.

Ignoring me, he continues with his movements, until he's left with a shirt and pants on. He shocks me when he starts for the bed. " Um, Keith --------- "

" 10 minutes, I'll be gone. Now let me relax, will you." He says, relaxing on the covers and taking the remote control, already flickering through channels.

"Pizza." He adds, opening the box of pizza and taking a slice, before continuing with whatever he was doing.

I'm too speechless to say anymore or do anything at this point. Shaking my head a bit and finally listening to my stomach, I start to eat.

Might as well join and take his word. I mean, it'll only be for 10 minutes.........

Jolting awake, the first thing I notice is the ending of the movie, the second being Keith, who'd told me that he'd be gone in ten minutes time, is too far gone in dreamland, looking ever boyish and dreamy.

Gosh, what am I thinking.

Shaking my head, I get out of bed, packing the litter in the plastic bag and placing it in the bin by the door. Turning back and looking him over, guilt weighs on me, that he had to come all this way right after work. He must be really exhausted.

Not wanting to disturb him, I move his legs under the covers, and try make him comfortable before taking a pillow, and an extra blanket, that I found in the room, creating a nice sleeping area for myself.

Teeth brushed later and resting, I enter into dreamland, a small smile decorating my face, with the reality of us being in the same space for more than 15 minutes, more so, sharing the same room.

' Too damn stubborn,' I think I hear in my dream, as well as feel myself floating in the air, before landing on something soft. Keith's scent surrounds me and brings a sense of comfort to me, that I dive into the softness, enjoying one of the most peaceful dreams I've had in a long time.