Stealing Time

[Scion]

As always, ignore the pic if you don't like it.

Stealing Time

Part One:

He was nervous. Really, really, nervous. Bad things happened when he was nervous. Really, really bad things. He tried to tell himself he was being absurd, that having dinner with his girlfriend’s parents wasn’t really all that scary, but it didn’t help to calm his jangling nerves. He gripped the steering wheel with sweaty hands, wishing the night was over. He’d known Brenna since first grade, but had only met her parents once, and briefly. In fact, it didn’t count as a ‘meeting,’ since they hadn’t actually spoken to each other. She’d usually been the one to show up at his house, not the other way around.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” Brenna asked from beside him.

He put on a smile. “Nervous,” he admitted sheepishly.

She frowned. “Aw, don’t be! It’ll be fine. My dad is pretty laid back; he’ll probably try to make a bunch of jokes that aren’t funny, but you should laugh anyway, just to be polite. My mom will probably sit there smiling. She’s not quite as outgoing, but as long as you don’t comment on the rather…large…number of plants in the house, she’ll like you just fine.”

“Plants?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Sounds rather ominous. You don’t have any man-eating Venus Flytraps, do you? Those things are scary enough when they’re miniature.”

Brenna snorted. “Um, sweetie…since when do you make corny jokes a la my father?”

“Sorry. I’m weird when I’m sick. Thought you knew that?”

She leaned in toward him, let her hand drift down his cheek. “I thought it was just the sniffles. Is it worse now, Dream Boy?”

He shrugged. “A little. I blame Nico.”

She swatted his shoulder. “Don’t you dare say a bad word about Nico!”

“Hey! I didn’t! I said I blamed him, not that I wanted to kill him! God, Bren, I’m nervous enough without you biting my head off.” He turned down Oak Street, wondering if the sweat gathering at his temples was visible.

She softened. “Sorry. But you really don’t have anything to be nervous about. Cross my heart.” Biting her lip, she added, “If you’re really not feeling well, we can do this another time. My parents would understand.”

If only Brenna’s parents hadn’t decided to up and move to Massachusetts, he wouldn’t be in this situation. He’d have had years before the dreaded parental dinner. He shook his head at himself. No, what he really needed was to get this over with. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life hiding from things that made him nervous. Although, if his nose kept up this leaky faucet routine, something was going to have to be done. He sniffed so hard he felt pain slice through his head. “Tdissue, Bred?”

She looked at him, then melted. “Awwww, sweetheart, you sound so cute! I could seriously just eat you up right now, you adorable mancake.”

“Bred, firsdt off, I’b dot a badcake. I’b dot food. I’b a hubad beidg. Second, could you please pass be a tdissue?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun. But here.” She handed him a tissue, into which he inserted his dripping nose.

He kept one hand on the wheel, the other around his nose as he attempted to blow. Instead he ended up inciting a spell of gushing sneezes that nearly blinded him with their force. “Huh’ICHuh! IttCHuh! Hih…hih’HikSHIEW!” After giving his nose another squelching blow, he balled up the tissue and stuffed it in his pocket to toss out later.

Brenna, who’d been massaging his shoulder throughout the fit, said consolingly, “Bless you, sweetie. You okay?”

“Fine,” he said huskily. “Thank you.”

-------

Brenna’s parents lived in Hopkinton, an expensive speck of a town with lots of narrow, winding roads and quite a few goats--or were they sheep?

The house was on the small side, with a long, sloping driveway, and surrounded by forest on all sides. Keane pulled in behind the garage and parked. His hands were shaking and he had taken up tapping his left foot.

Brenna patted his thigh, searched his gaze. “You ready?”

“Yeah,” he lied, slapping on another false smile. He got out and opened Brenna’s door for her. She thanked him, threw her arms around him, and gave him a brutal hug, which he returned, burying his nose in her sweet, lemon scented hair.

“Here we go,” she said, and they walked hand-in-hand to the door, which she unlocked with her key.

Brenna waltzed right in, but Keane hung back, stomach cramping. “Um, Bren…maybe…maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

She turned back to him, brow furrowed in concern. “You’re really that nervous?” she asked without judgment.

“I’m just…what if I have to sneeze while we’re at the dinner table?”

Her lips quirked and she went to him, looped her arm around his waist. “Then go ahead. Just be sure to do it into a napkin. Honestly, sweetie, I doubt anyone will notice, let alone care.”

He nodded, and let her lead him into the house.

“Brenny? That you, hun?” A female voice called from not far off.

“Yeah, mom! We’re here!” Brenna tossed back, and tugged Keane with her into the stainless-steel kitchen.

The first things he noticed were the plants. They were everywhere and of all sizes. A giant fern sat in one corner, while some kind of flowery jumble with bluish leaves sat in the other, nearly dwarfing the kitchen with its size. The counters were positively blanketed by rows of various potted plants, all of which looked to be enormously healthy; Keane wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

Next he saw her parents. They were sitting at the table, looking casual, no suits or stern frowns of disapproval in sight. Keane breathed a sigh of relief. And then he caught the mother’s gaze and saw the distrustful, unwelcoming glint in her indigo eyes and his relief vanished. She hated him. Already. Great.

“Mom, Dad, this is Keane. Keane, Mom and Dad.” Brenna gave him a tiny shove.

He glared down at her as the father rose and held out his hand with a broad smile on his handsome face; it was Brenna’s smile. Keane took the hand.

“Nice to meet you, sir,” he croaked.

The man laughed, waving a hand. “Call me Andy. No need for any sirs or ma’ams here, right, Lindy?”

“Uh-huh,” the mother said. She didn’t stand.

Keane approached her like one might approach an injured lion. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” She took his offered hand--and when she did he felt it, the telltale itch at the back of his nose. He roughly tore his hand free, distantly heard the woman gasp in surprise as he spun away from her and tented his hands over his nose and mouth. “Hih’IdShhuh! Huh…hup’tsCHishih!” He felt the wet rush splash across his hands, and hadn’t a clue what to do. Then he felt a hand on his back and a tissue was thrust under his chin. Pinching his nose shut with one hand to prevent leakage, he took the tissue and put it to good use.

“Excuse be. I’b…sorry. Thadk you,” he said to Brenna, who made a sympathetic face and rubbed his back with a murmured ‘bless you.’

“Bless you, son,” Andy said, his expression mirroring his daughter’s. “I hope you aren’t under the weather!”

“Oh…idt’s dothidg,” he tried to assure the man, even as he held the soiled tissue in his cupped hand. “Jusdt a cold. I’b really sorry. I dod’t wadt ady of you do gedt sick because of be.”

“Nor do I,” the mother grumbled, then stuck her head into the oven to remove what looked like some kind of casserole.

Keane blushed. “I…” He what? What could he possibly say?

“Not to worry!” Brenna cut in, rescuing him. “Keane is very considerate. No one’s getting sick. But I do hope we’ll be eating sometime soon, because, mmm, mom, that smells so good!”

As her mom muttered something derogatory about males in general, Keane thanked Brenna with his eyes.

She smiled and mouthed, “I’m so sorry,” pressing a quick kiss to his shoulder while the mother was still occupied with her mystery casserole.

He gave a half shrug, as if carefree, while on the inside he was freaking out of his mind. Everything about this situation spelled disaster. And whenever a disaster occurred…well, it was usually his fault.

-------

Hope this is okay so far! It won't be as dark as my others, but there will still be drama, of course.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Scion

[sneezelove]

i love it!! sounds like it is going to be an adorable story!

can't wait for more!

[sillystarsmoons]

Scion- yay my fic request is here! I'm so happy I love the first chapter. I can't wait to read more yay! Thankyou for writing it!

[Aprilcot]

OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So he DOES HAVE A HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got to say as I began reading this, I did wonder if you were goign to finally just do one without a history of terror sort of thing (Not that I'm complainging about all the yummy stuffs the others having been going through... I'm so MEAN!) But it seems not!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HIS STORY IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT MOTHER IS A COW!!!!!!!

SHE NEEDS TO SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, she is looking after her daughter.... Still...

I LOVE BRENNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE KEANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I NEED MORE OF THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOSH! SCION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I f you haven't got free time, how on EARTH re you managing Stories, Drabbles, College, and Publishing your own work, AT THE SAME TIME????????!!!!!

WONDER WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

How are the sales going for your book anyway????

I hope all is going well, I'm sure it's amazing!

PLEASE CONTINUE THIS WHEN YOU HAVE SOME TIME IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW WE GET DOUBLE GOODIES FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOOPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tassielli]

AWWWWWWW! Usually his fault- SO SAD. And he's soo cute and I like pie. There's usually more plot to your stories- no offense- so I'm curious as to what's going down here. Or is it just normal? That be pinnoh too!

[Umeko]

*brainmeltdown!!!* holy *beeep beep beepp beeepelibeeep and more beeps!!* !!!! blaaaa daaa uwaaaaa!!! *drooling like an idiot and eyes buldging out* Words can't justify this piece of epic lovely nomable goodness!! I'm freaking out over here!

You had better continue this!

I haven't been this excited in a while over a fic.

Now I'm going for a icecold shower.... or hop into the freezebox *glances down at her burning pants*

[ID2006]

I love how quick you are with your stories and updates. I'm such an addict.

[Ciuty80]

hey writemaniac

wonderful start...NEED of course more!!!

i wonder where you have been all these years - so much talent!!! -

AND i´m soooo GLAD that i found this forum by coincidence and was able to meet such

a talented and wonderful fic writer!!!

SCION!! YOU´RE ARE THE BEST!!!

let your hands and mind get golden!!! or maybe make a patent on them

*fangurl bows ONLY for YOU!!!*

[Quite Contrary]

Woah...that picture looks exactly, literally exactly how I pictured Brenna in my head....weird. Keane is so cute! I love these two, such adorableness. I feel like I say that about all your couples. I probably do. But it's true. Also...."mancake"??? Great beginning, can't wait for more!

[sneezytwilight]

Oh my gosh! I didn't expect anything so soon! This story is amazing again! (I finally found your story right at the start!) *yippeeee* I love the detail and how Bren is so cute with Keane. The mother seems a bit rude though. Although my mom wasn't too fond of my first boyfriend. The dad just seem cheery. But, Brens super caringness (I don't know if thats a word, but it is now) is just super cute!! Keane is so considerate and shy, I love that about sick guys!! It just makes them that much more cute and "melt worthy"!!

[obsessed]

AH I can't wait for more.

You spoil us darling.

[Scion]

sneezelove: Aww, thank you! I'm glad you think so!

sillystarsmoons: Yep! This one's for you. There isn't much caretaking in this up date, but it IS coming! I need to build up to it hehe. Thank you and I hope you like.

Aprilcot: Lol! Wellll, he does have a history, but it's not as dark as the other ones! No serial killers or murderous parents haha! No, no, you're right. The mother IS a cow! And she gets worse. Me no like her. Glad you love them! Wellll, hmmmm. If I do this instead of homework hehehe. Well, I usually do all my crap during the day so I have time to write at night. It works pretty well. The book hasn't come out yet! In a couple weeks, though! Awww thank you! You're so nice. I hope it's good! It's hard to tell when I'm the one who wrote it!

Tassielli: Yep. Sadness! Pie? Pie is awesome. I want pie. Lol! Well, yes, there is more coming! It's not going to be AS dark/weird as the others, but...yeah. You'll see. And there will be a subplot in the third update, I think. Mmhmmm.

Umeko: Hahaha, aww, thank you! *happy dance around the room* Of course I'm gonna continue! I'm glad you're so excited about it! That makes ME excited hehe.

ickydog2006: Haha, thanks. I'm an addict, too. To writing these!

Ciuty80: Haha, thank you! Aww, me too! I'm so glad I found this place and got to "meet" so many awesome people like you! You're such a sweatheart and make me feel so special! Your comment means SO much to me, so so much! I can never thank you enough.

Quite Contrary: Haha, really!? Hmm...yeah, I thought she gave off Brenna vibes! Guess I was right! Hey, call my characters adorable all you want! Thank you! I love to 'hear' it! I'm pretty sure I call James and Kai adorable all the time, too! Mancake! Yep, that's Brenna.

sneezytwilight: I know, I'm crazy hehe. I've become obsessed with writing these! My mom doesn't like ANYONE lol! But yes, Brenna's mom...isn't very nice! Don't like her. The dad's okay, though! YES! Caringness should so be a word. Hey, I make up words in my writing all the time! Yep, shy, sweet Keane! There will be a break of sweetness in this update, because...there's going to be an OVERLOAD of it soon. Love your comment, thank you so much!

obsessed: Thank you! You all spoil me, too, with your kind comments!

Part Two:

“Here--sit, sit,” Andy exclaimed motioning Keane to the table. Brenna put her hand to his back and nudged him into a seat beside her.

“Bredda,” he whispered contritely, “I deed do blow by dose. I dod’t wadt do sound ligke this while we’re eadtidg.”

She nodded, whispered back, “The bathroom’s right down that hall, first door on the left,” and gave him a reassuring smile.

“Thadk you.” He stood and crept down the hall, locking the bathroom door behind him and sighing heavily. He mashed his hands over his face and back through his hair, pulling in a deep breath that was meant to calm him; it didn’t.

“Stopb id,” he muttered to himself. When he glanced in the mirror over the sink, he was mortified to see how awful he looked, his eyes and nose were red and puffy, his hair appearing as if it had collided with an out-of-control lawn-mower.

Annoyed, he bunched up some toilet paper and blew his nose six times. That done, he washed his hands, and was drying them off on the towel when he caught sight of the ring on the counter, just beside the soap. It was small and gold, with tiny little jewels encrusted into its surface. Brenna’s mom must have taken it off and then forgotten to put it back on.

“So what,” he said aloud. “So there’s a ring on the counter. Why should you care?” But his fingers itched to pick it up, to just snatch it and stuff it into his pocket before anyone was the wiser. It was ridiculous. He didn’t want the stupid ring. He really didn’t--and yet he found his hand reaching for it. Stop, stop, stop! his mind screamed at him--and he tried, but his fingers curled around the thing, pushed it into his jeans pocket.

He blinked, his foggy mind clearing slightly, and all of a sudden he didn’t know what he was so worried about. He left the bathroom and returned to the kitchen to find everyone sitting at the table, waiting for him.

“Oh…I’m sorry,” he told them, taking his seat. “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. We barely noticed you were gone!” Andy laughed as if he’d said something funny.

Brenna elbowed Keane, and he faked a laugh, while Lindy glared at him and began dishing out heaps of casserole.

He poked at the food with a fork, surreptitiously eyeing the fat, black beans and hunks of what he guessed to be sausage. He doubted anyone would put nutmeg in a sausage and bean casserole, so he figured he was safe.

“What are you studying, again?” Lindy asked pointedly, pinning him with muddy brown eyes.

“Oh, um, I’m studying Education,” he said in a rather croaky voice that hurt his own ears.

“I see. That’s…very interesting.” She took a bite of casserole, apparently trying to slay him with her eyes.

“Yeah, Keane’s really good with children,” Brenna put in, smiling up at him and squeezing his thigh.

“You know what grade you want to teach, son?” Andy asked through a mouthful of casserole.

Keane swallowed what was in his own mouth and nodded. “Yes, I’m thinking second or third grade.”

“Well, personally I think it would be better to teach older students,” Lindy remarked condescendingly. “It’s bad enough that you’ll be surrounded by children every day of your life working at minimum wage, so you might as well--”

“Mom!” Brenna gasped, dropping her fork to glower at her mother. “Why are you being so rude? You’ve never had a problem with teachers before! Aunt Maggie is a teacher and you love her!”

The woman nodded, and actually looked remorseful. “You’re right.” She turned her stare to Keane. “I’m sorry, Kane. I haven’t been fair to you since you arrived. But you have to understand, I’m very protective of my girls. They’ve both been hurt in the past, and I…I know I shouldn’t take that out on you. Please accept my apologies.”

“Mom, his name is KEANE!” Brenna griped exasperatedly.

Keane opened his mouth to say it was fine--but was distracted by the unexpected tickle in his nose. “Uhh…ex--excuse..me…” He scooped up a napkin, slammed his chair back, and bent low, all the while trying to bite back the inevitable. “Ah’Yitsschoo! Hih’ikshhtt-uh! Huh…ihhh…” He sniffed, heard the horrible sound it made, like slush being sucked through a straw, and winced. “Hiz’Ihhsshhu!” Eyes still closed, he stood, tripped over what he assumed to be the leg of his chair, and went crashing into something wet and soft and smelling of fresh earth.

Brenna watched in frozen horror as Keane collided with her mother’s prized fern, Ariella, and went sailing downward in a cloud of flying dirt, whacking his head against the hardwood floor. Her mother let out a shrieking gasp, shooting to her feet with a death-glare.

Brenna got to Keane first, helping him to his feet and brushing the dirt from his flushed face. “Sweetie, are you okay!?” she demanded, clinging to his arm.

He was staring down at the fern, which had come free of its pot and was lying in a puddle of dirt on the floor, smooshed into oblivion. “Oh---God. I’m so sorry! I didn’t--I’m so sorry!” he said to Brenna’s mom, who was crouched beside the plant, one hand over her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears.

“You!” she snarled, jabbing a finger at him. “Get out of my house!”

“Lindy, let’s calm down for a minute--” Brenna’s dad began.

“OH MY GOD!” Lindy shrieked, picking something up off the floor. “This is my engagement ring!” Her accusing eyes landed on Keane, who blanched.

“Mom--?” Brenna piped, confused.

“I left this in the bathroom!” she raged, standing to glower at Keane. “You actually stole my ring. I can’t believe this!”

“No!” Brenna cried. “Mom, what are you talking about!? Keane would NEVER steal from you! There must be some kind of mistake--if we--”

“I left this in the bathroom,” Lindy repeated, suddenly eerily calm. “How else would you explain its presence here?”

Brenna looked to her dad for help, but he too appeared flustered, bordering on angry. She looked to Keane; he refused to meet her gaze. “I’m really disappointed in you two,” she said coldly to her parents. Then, to Keane, “Come on, sweetie. We’re leaving. We don’t have to listen to this load of garbage.”

Keane was mute the entire walk to the car, and Brenna was growing concerned. He didn’t look well at all. His face was pale and clammy and his eyes were hazy.

“Sweetie, let me drive, okay? You just sit.”

He didn’t protest, which worried her further. In the car, she asked, “You okay, stud muffin?”

“I…” He pressed his knuckles under his nose, swiveled to face the window. “Ihts’Ngshh! Hh’nnk-euw!”

“Bless you.” She stretched an arm out to touch his thigh.

He ignored her touch but said softly, “Thank you.”

“I’m so sorry about my parents,” she said. “I don’t know what got into them. They’re never like that! I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll--”

“EhISHhieew!” Keane fumbled in the glove compartment for the packet of tissues and pulled one free just as his nostrils splayed and his head pitched forward. “Hih’ijshuhh! Heh…hehhh…IxxgShhtt-ih!”

Brenna’s concern deepened, as she’d never in her life heard Keane sneeze so much. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t sound good.”

“I’b fide,” he said curtly. Keane was never curt. What on earth was going on? Had she done something wrong, something to offend him? Or was he just mad about her parents and the awful way they’d treated him?

“I really am sorry. I had no idea that would happen and, well, my mom is kinda crazy when it comes to her plants, but…Keane, it doesn’t matter what they think, okay? I know what kind of man you are. That’s all that matters, right?”

He was silent as they pulled into the parking lot, barely seeming to breathe. “Brenna,” he murmured, fidgeting in his seat. “Listen, I…sort of…”

Alarmed, she turned to face him. “What? Keane, you’re scaring me! What’s wrong?”

“I…” He glanced away from her, rubbing at his forehead. “I…did take the ring, Bren,” he rasped.

She frowned, shook her head. She must have misheard him. “What?”

His head fell into his hands. “I said I did take the ring,” he groaned. “I took it, Brenna. Your mom was right.”

She stared at him, uncomprehending. “You…took her ring? But…why? I don’t…why would you do that?”

He lifted his head, clenched his fists on his knees. “I…don’t…know,” he gritted through his teeth. “I didn’t want to…I just…I don’t know.”

“You don’t know,” she repeated flatly. “You stole my mom’s ring and you don’t know why.”

His face went from white to purple. “God…Bren…I’m sorry.” He clasped handfuls of his hair and pulled, then shook his head. “I’m…so sorry.”

Sorry. He was sorry. She’d trusted him, and he’d… “I defended you,” she hissed. “I yelled at my parents and the whole time you--you KNEW! And you didn’t say anything!”

He flinched. “I--didn’t want you to be angry with me.”

She laughed mirthlessly. “Oh, well, you did a real good job of that, Keane! I’m totally not mad at all!” She jerked the keys free and tossed them into his lap. “I’ll ask you one more time. Why? I mean, do you even--do you care about me? I just…I don’t understand you, Keane!”

He looked like she’d stabbed him. “Bren, of course I care about you! It’s not like that!”

“Then what is it like!?”

His jaw moved from side to side, but he didn’t speak, only stared down at his knees.

“Right. Well, if you figure it out, you know where to find me.” And she got out of the car and vanished into the night.

Keane sat there, wanting to thrash himself. He didn’t cope well without Brenna, and he wanted a drink, something which he hadn’t had in over a year.

Disaster.

Yep.

That pretty much summed up his life.

-------

I'm sorry! I PROMISE this rift won't last! They'll see eye-to-eye soon.

[Quite Contrary]

Oh no....poor Keane! I love him, don't drink, Keane, don't do it! Bad, bad, bad, bad idea! I can't wait to find out what's up with him, poor guy Gah! The suspense of your stories kills me!

[sneezytwilight]

*shivers* Well Keane stealing was a bit unexpected...I hope he finds some way to explain what he did. It wasn't right! Although I think he was going to give it to Brenna as HER engagement ring..maybe? I don't know. And geesh Her mom is sooo over-protective of her plants...she didn't seem to care at all if Keane was ok.

Good job once again!!!Can't wait for Part3!

Mod note: changed spelling of fing to ring!

Edited April 15, 2011 by Vetinari

[Umeko]

EEEEE!!! Cliffhangers! omg I LOVE it! pleaaaaaase do continue and soon don't keep a woman waiting *noms on the poor poor guy*

I want to throttle her mother while I understand her but my mom is not like that

[Emily]

:procrastinationheaven: You do know that I love you to bits and pieces. I can't even do my geometry homework thanks to this. If only you didn't update everyday. If only this story didn't spell out adorable and wonderful and disastrous. If I only I hadn't turned on my computer, silly me. In any case, Keane is begging me to hug him. It's a tugging feeling that will only end in an intense embrace with my computer screen. This is depressing.

[Tassielli]

I am sad. I love this, but nit makes me sad. Okay- the odd life I made up for what Keane used to be like. He was an alcoholic? He lived on the streets before he cleaned himself up? He stole for a living and sold it? Im odd. So I cantype with two hands again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay for me!!!!!!! It was free cone day at Ben and Jerries so I did that instead of dinner. Ice cream a meal does make. But I totally missed my chance to do math work. Friggin' calculus. Okay bye,

Love,

Your favorite SQUIRREL,

Tassielli

[Sneezyhugsandkisses]

My sister has this problem with stealing I dunno if its the same with this...

AS USUAL loveeee it

and write more soon

[ID2006]

okay... I seriously need a break from the angst... you're killing me. I want mushy schmoopy lovey happily ever after slop.

[Aprilcot]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY STOMACH AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY BODY IS IN KNOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I take it somewhere in his past, he lived rough, and had to get by on stealing things, which is why there is that compulsive urge there... or something like that)

HE CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT BRENNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE PLEAS EPLEASE UPDATE SOON AND LET ME KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I KNOW IT WILL BE BUT HE CAN'T BE ALONE FOR LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sillystarsmoons]

Oh my gosh!! A cliffhanger. Scion ahhh I am already in love with this words can't describe it. I can't wait to read more soon.

[Butch]

Scion - AWWW this is awesome already! We need a little care taking story..always good.

Brenna's mother.. sounds like a bunch of mothers I've already met! I get that she's protective.. but it's almost like no one's GOOD enough for her daughter. Interesting. Can't wait to see where this story is headed.

[Ciuty80]

uuuhhhmmm this was kind of unexpected...

never thought keane would ever steal...maybe his foggy mind took him over

i really hope they talk again soon! he really needs some one who take care of him.... *waving her hand...take me* xD

update please

[Scion]

Quite Contrary: Well, I'm glad you like the suspense 'cause it seems I'm unable to avoid it! And I agree, bad, bad idea lol! I love your comments and the fact that you love my characters! Awesomeness.

sneezytwilight: Don't worry, it will all be explained! I'm sorry if that gave you the shivers lol. But he DOES have an explantion and Brenna's gonna help him, too. I know! Her mom's crazy lmao--she names her plants! Thank you!

Umeko: Haha, I promise NEVER to keep you waiting! I will always update daily! Thank you! And I want to throttle her mom, too! She's very annoying! Worse than my mom, that's for sure.

Emily: Hahaha, you make me feel like the devil! Procrastination is bad! Don't do it! Even though I do it all the time! And actually WANT you to comment, but I shouldn't say that, cause it makes me evil! If only you weren't so awesome! And I encourage you to hug your computer screen! It's totally normal! I do it all the time!

Tassielli: Aww. Ohhh, I really like that theory! It's not exactly right, but you're definitely close! Alcoholic, yep. Stealing, yep, but not to make a living, and streets...by choice sort of...it's weird...YAY!!!!!! TWO HANDS!!!!!! *jumps up and down* Mmm, ice cream! What kind did you have?

Sneezyhugsandkisses: Thank you. And hmmm, I don't know! It's possible...

ickydog2006: Sorry haha. I'm incapabale of writing total fluff. I have to have some plot. However, there will be 80% fluffage coming, starting in this part, if you decide to read on...you will be bombarded with sweet sappiness and love.

Aprilcot: Okay, okay...well, that's not exactly right, but you're no far off! (I'm sure you'll figure it all out in a matter of seconds ehehe). I'll never make you wait long! You know that! Just like you know it'll all work out in the end! I'm so predictable lol. :D

Mims: Yep, it seems people were in the mood for some fluffiness, so I'm trying my hardest to deliver. Oh my! You've met people like Brenna's mother! That's awful haha! And you're right--she doesn't think anyone's good enough for Brenna. Thank you!

Ciuty80: You said it exactly. His foggy mind took him over! It will all make sense soon! Keane's a really really good person who has a little issue he can't really control, but Brenna will help him! And I'll send him your love hehe.

Fluff is coming...toward the end here, and then to continue on...fluff with a plot, of course.

Part Three:

A Little Over a Year Ago

^*^*^

Keane was gone again. He’d been back for only one day, and he had already disappeared. Trevor sank down onto the stairs and put his head in his hands. While their mom was off saving the world, Keane was off getting smashed who knew where with God knew who.

He figured this was about the point where most people gave up hope, deemed the sorry soul a lost cause. Well, he wouldn’t do that. Not ever. Keane was his brother and he’d never ever in a million years give up on him.

But he needed help.

He took out his phone and dialed Brenna Logan’s number.

-------

PRESENT DAY

^*^*^

Keane found that the idea of going up and sitting in his room was repulsive. He wanted to be moving, to have the illusion that he was going somewhere, accomplishing something. So he switched to the driver’s seat and headed off campus with no real destination in mind. If he concentrated on the road instead of everything that had just happened, he’d be able to keep it together.

His plan didn’t work out too well. He ended up dwelling on what he’d done and whether Brenna could ever forgive him. He hadn’t wanted that freaking ring and had no idea why he’d taken it. He never knew. But he kept doing it.

He’d been driving for about an hour, not paying any attention to where he was going, when he saw a kid stumble-walking down the sidewalk, looking ready to teeter off into the street to be run over. Brow knitting, Keane pulled up next to the curb, rolled down the window, and called, “Hey--you okay?”

The boy stopped, cowered slightly beneath his hoodie. Two huge umber eyes peeped out from a milky face.

“Do you need a ride?” Keane asked quietly, trying to appear non-threatening.

The boy blinked at him--then started to topple forward, his knees going out from under him.

Keane was out of the car in an instant, kneeling beside the boy, turning him over and checking for a pulse. When he was sure the kid wasn’t dead, he allowed himself to breathe. He studied the pale face for a few seconds, and decided the boy was about thirteen or fourteen, no more then five foot six.

The umber eyes cracked open, fuzzy and confused--then widened in fear. He was up like a rocket, scuttling away from Keane and curling into himself.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Keane lulled, holding up both hands. “I’m not going to hurt you. My name’s Keane. I go to BU. What’s your name?”

The boy’s wary expression turned puzzled. He mumbled something inaudible.

“What?” Keane asked gently.

“Toby,” the boy whispered, gnawing on his knuckles in a nervous gesture.

Keane smiled. “Okay, Toby. Can I take you home? Or I can call your parents if you want?”

The boy shook his head, eyes misting. “Can’t,” he breathed to his knees.

“Why not?”

Another head-shake. “They…told me not to come back.”

Keane frowned. “Who? Your parents?”

A small nod, a tremble of the chin.

His heart a pin cushion, Keane offered, “Well, you can stay with me for a while if you want--or do you have somewhere else to go? A friend’s house, maybe?”

More head-shaking, and a fast blinking of teary eyes. “I don’t…have any friends.”

Another pin was jabbed into Keane’s wounded heart. “Then back with me, then? I should warn you--my dorm room isn’t exactly luxury living.”

The boy regarded him distrustfully, but nodded.

“O-okay…mmnuh…excuse…huh!…me…” Keane brought his shirt-collar up over his face, waited a beat. “Hk’Gshhtchuh!-NggShuu! Ihhh…Eh’Kushh-uh!” He sniffed weakly, offered the startled boy a wan smile. “Sorry. I’b kide of sigck ad the bobedt. Sdtill wadda cobe with be?”

A shy bob of the head, the big doe eyes full of questions.

“Ogkay. Cobe od, thedn.” Keane helped the boy into his car, then shut the door behind him and got in behind the wheel.

The kid muttered something, head turned away from Keane.

“Did you say something?” he asked in a low voice as not to intimidate the poor kid.

The umber eyes flicked in his direction, then away. “Bless you,” he whispered.

Surprised, Keane said, “Oh! Thadk you!”

Still more head-bobbing from his passenger.

Keane smiled a little--then remembered Brenna, and the pain came back in full force. She hadn’t dumped him, but he could tell she’d thought about it. Maybe it was a good thing she’d thought about it, and then disregarded it?

Yeah. Wishful thinking was not his strongest point.

-------

“You okay?”

Brenna looked up to find Rush staring at her with sympathetic eyes. She shook her head, and he took her in his arms and hugged her while she cried.

“You know…if you want the advice of an ex-con…”

She gave a wobbly smile. “Yes, please. Do advise me.”

Rubbing circles over her back, he said, “Keane loves you. You love him. Nothing else matters. There will always be problems. You just have to figure out a way to get past them. That’s what love is: plowing through the shit to get to the part that actually makes you happy. You should at least try to talk it through with him one more time. Or more than once.”

She nodded, more tears flooding her cheeks. “You’re right. And that was really beautiful, by the way.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I know. I’m the best. Now get outta here.” He shoved her gently away.

Before she left, she turned, met Rush’s gaze, and said, “Thank you. I mean it. You’re a really good friend, Rush.” And then she was gone.

-------

Toby was asleep in the spare bed in Keane’s room, wearing a pair of Keane’s sweats and his own washed-out hoodie that might once have been black but now appeared gray.

Keane, however, was far from tired. It was almost midnight, and Brenna was a morning person, so she usually went to bed early. He wondered if she was asleep, then, suddenly, he had to see her. He couldn’t wait another second.

She wouldn’t be far--just right down the hall with Rush and Owen. So close. He opened his door, blew out into the hall--and froze. Brenna had just popped out of a room only a few feet away; she was facing him, her beautiful face flushed a delicate rose.

“Keane,” she said, just as he called out her name.

They stood, staring, awkward and yet…not.

Brenna was conflicted. Seeing Keane, her anger and sense of betrayal resurfaced. At the same time, she was filled with joy, having missed him the scant hours they’d been apart. She wanted to curl up in his arms and fall asleep like every other night. She didn’t want to be mad at him. She wanted to love him, to understand.

He braced a hand against the wall, head sinking toward his upraised arm, his pallid face crumpling into an annoyed scowl, as if he didn’t have time for something as trivial as sneezing. His nose, however, didn’t give him much of a choice. “Hah’Iffsshhneh! Hp’tCHshiu!” A deep, frenzied inhale. “Huh! HidShhkk!-IgShhih!”

He wavered, took a halting step toward her, swayed.

“Keane!” she cried, plunging toward her and winding her arms about his waist, letting him lean on her as he caught his breath.

“Okay, sweetie?” she asked after a minute.

“Bred,” he said. “I dod’t…by face feels…stradge.”

When she looked up at him, she couldn’t stop the gasp that fled her lips. His face was…all red and swollen and…it had happened so suddenly! “Oh…sweetie, what happened!?” she moaned, her hand hovering over his cheek, wanting to touch but not daring to.

“I…dod’t…” He shook his head as if in a daze. “Bredda, I deed…I thidk I deed…dto sidt dowd.”

“Okay, come on,” she said sweetly, keeping her arms around him as they walked to his room. In her head, she was frantic, debating whether or not she should get him to a hospital. She decided if the swelling got any worse, she’d have to.

Inside the room, she helped him to the bed, where sat, leaning back against the wall with a muffled hiss. Brenna glanced briefly at the boy asleep in the spare bed, then turned all her attention to Keane.

She sat next to him and said, “Sweetie, you have to think. Is this some kind of allergic reaction? I want to help, but I have to know what’s going on first.”

He listed slightly toward her, and she let him. “Musdt be. Duddo.”

She was losing him. “Okay, what are you allergic to? And is it really serious?”

His head drooped onto her shoulder as he rasped, “Dutbeg.”

“Nutmeg?” she repeated. “Is that it?”

“Ubb, yes. Hehh…Bred…” His puffy face grew even more irritated.

She reached over to the table beside the bed, plucked a tissue from the box, and held it over his nose, her other hand finding the back of his head.

“Hch’Nxxsh!” The sneeze sounded wet, but the tissue remained unexpectedly dry. “Hehhh…Hng’CHhih! Ih’Knnch’huh!” He made a wheezing sound through his nose, coughed congestedly.

Brenna trashed the tissue and frowned, not liking what she was hearing. She rubbed Keane’s chest until he calmed, his eyes clearing a little.

“Sorry,” he whispered throatily. “Bred…aboudt before…I dod’t…I did’dt wadt to sdteal frob you. Judt…id jusdt…happeds. I kdow thadt’s dot ad exguse, budt I…I hodestdly dod’t rebeber tagkidg the ridg. I--”

“Shh, sweetie. Not now. You can explain later, when you’re feeling better. Now, I just want you to rest. Do you have any Benadryl?”

He nodded. “Desgk. Tdop righdt drawer.”

She retrieved the small white bottle, made him swallow one pill to start with, reasoning less was better than more in this case, since she could always give him another, and he couldn’t exactly un-take one.

“Lie down, Dream Boy,” she commanded. “I’ll be right back.” She scurried to the kitchen, where she stole an ice pack from the freezer, and returned to the room.

She crawled into bed with Keane. She patted her stomach. “Come on. Head here.” He did as he was told, laying his head on her belly. “That’s better.” She’d wrapped the icepack in a towel, and now held it against his poor face. “Does that feel okay, sweetie?”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Thadk you.”

She caressed his hair with her free hand. “Any time, sweetheart.”

-------

[Sneezyhugsandkisses]

Soooooooooo cute!!!!!!!

^^

soooooo cuddly...omg I almost died there ...I actually didn't want violence...wow that is the cutest chapter you must of wrote and that's going for all of them...I'm all gooey now and I really do adore this couple!