Keelin Banks is looking for balance (beyondheryears) wrote in light_of_may, @ 2012-08-31 19:44:00 |
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After Sarah and Bess had returned home, both full to the brim of pepperoni pizza, brownie ice cream, and Pixar, Keelin was left to address the tick that kept clicking in the back of her mind throughout the night. She was able to enjoy watching the animated robot love story with the girls and even joked and laughed with them, making for an altogether enjoyable evening -- especially since they had been pampered while they were doing their homework (Keelin had to have earned ultimate cool points for giving them ice cream while they were working) -- but she was constantly thinking about the box in her closet. The fact that she had not cried out at the girls and could sit with them and have a good time was a testament to her will power. Still, no matter how strong her resolve, Keelin tore into her closet as soon as her door was locked so that she could take the box out and examine the contents. The shoe, the ring, the dress, and the various invitations beneath them all had to come out so she could straighten and re-straighten them properly. The dress was folded and refolded and folded for a third time before she felt easy about returning the box into the closet. Thankfully, Pugsley was silent as she went through her fit, because had he spoken he would have thrown her off, causing her to start from the beginning. He had seen her on a couple of bad days; the worst being when he found the box and kept asking her what was inside. She finally broke down and showed him everything, but after going through the routine of putting everything inside -- four times -- she still didn't feel relaxed and had to scrub the bathroom from ceiling to floor. Seeing his witch moving so fervently and not acting like her normal self startled him, and he decidedly did not ever want her to be that way again. Which was why he had apologized again before they fell asleep. He had pawed his way across the pillow, a pug's version of an army crawl, until his nose pressed against hers. 'I'm sorry, Keely. I really didn't mean to let them get in there. We were just playing and then --' I know, Pugsley. She reached up and scratched him behind the ears. It's alright. I promise. I'm sure they would have found out eventually. Just not in this way. No, because Keelin would have told Reggie. Eventually. Whenever the issue came up and she was good and ready. And after a puppy kiss to her the end of her nose, she and Pugsley were able to go to sleep. And then the morning came and Keelin was determined not to let the resurfacing memories of Brandon and his betrayal ruin her day. She went to school, passed out homework, played games with her classes and acted like nothing ever happened. She noticed how Sarah watched her during class, like she was expecting some slip up or something and Keelin suddenly wondered if the teenager had shared her and her sister's discovery with Reggie. That thought caused the dry erase marker to fly out of her hand while she was trying to write on the board, but she quickly recovered, made a joke and went on with the lesson. Keelin was curious to know how Reggie was doing; his element returned to him, he had to be feeling better. She had been willing to keep the girls over for as long as he needed, but his text to Sarah told her that they would be able to go back home before it was too late in the night. So she changed into a pair of shorts and put Pugsley on his leash so she could walk him before she popped over to visit Reggie. 'So he's not catching on fire anymore?' Pugsley asked as they headed out to the garden. No, I don't think so. I'm sure they're all happy for that. Arriving in the garden, the first thing that Keelin was noticed was a tall maple tree that was not there this morning. Her brow furrowed and she walked straight for it to get a closer look. 'Where'd that come from?' "Dunno. Think Reggie had something to do with it?" That was a pleasant thought. That he had his powers back and he was celebrating by creating more plants brought a smile to her face. 'It smells like him!' Pugsley commented as he sniffed around the roots. Keelin's free hand ran across the bark as she started to circle the tree. Her foot brushed against something, though, and she looked down and spotted a pair of jeans and a shirt. Now that was just odd. She leaned down to pick up the jeans, spreading them out between her hands. And then it clicked. The tree wasn't just created by Reggie, it was Reggie. She didn't have a chance to be embarrassed before she saw that Pugsley's hind leg had just raised. "No!" Without thinking, she jerked on his leash to pull him back before he peed on the tree version of the man she had just kissed the other day. |