"Oh god, oh god, oh god..." I chewed nervously on my fingernails while pacing around my room. My thoughts were racing a mile a minute. He's actually coming on the boat? Tonight's the night I have to run the tour. I sat down on my creaky old bed with a groan. I turned on my phone and looked at the messages again. Then I took a deep breath.

Suddenly my phone pinged with a new message. I opened it up and saw it was from Keith. "Hey, Lance," it said. Another came in. "I'm sorry but I can't come to the tour tonight. Got a bad stomachache." My heart fell into my stomach. "Oh," I whispered softly."Alright." I texted back. "Hope I see you soon!" I turned the phone off and tossed it on my bed.

"Really?" I muttered. "Tonight of all nights, he really had to cancel?" I sighed loudly. A moment later, my mom poked her head into my room. "Lance?" she called. "Almost ready?"

"No, mama."

"Why?"

"I have a stomachache." she looked suspiciously at me, then closed my door quietly. Outside my door, I could hear arguing, my dad's voice getting louder and louder until he busted into my room.

"Lance!" my dad angrily ranted at me for about three minutes, then left when I refused to say anything. My mother also left, following my father. The door slammed a few minutes later, and I opened my door.

"Hello?" I called. No one answered, so I was home alone. I picked up my phone and texted Keith. "I know you're probably not feeling too well, but if you want to come over, I'm home."

Almost immediately another message came in.

"Sure, why not? I've got to ask first." Another came as quick as the first.

"Alright, see you soon."

Fifteen minutes later, he showed up at my door. "What happened to your stomachache?" I asked, a smirk beginning to spread on my face. He mumbled for a minute but I dismissed the matter with a wave of my hand. "Come on in. Want a glass of water?" Keith shook his head and kicked off his shoes while I closed the front door.

"So," he said, looking around and then back at me. "What do you want to do?" his lavender scent wound its way around me, and I was getting drawn deeper and deeper into his dark eyes. I found myself leaning in, but then quickly walked away.

"A-a movie?" I suggested nervously. He nodded, and I led Keith into the TV room. We sat down, and I started a cheesy thriller flick. Keep it together, Lance.  All of a sudden, he scooted closer as the orchestral tempo sped up and violins began to play.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I don't really like scary things..."

"That's okay," I answered cheerfully, turning it off. "Let's go to my room and play video games." I grabbed his hand and led him down the hall. He turned on the gaming system and picked the game while I tried to tidy up.

"Actually," I heard from behind, "I'd rather just talk." I turned to see Keith looking sheepish, a red tint spreading across his cheeks. I nodded, and turned back to my laundry.

"Just one second while I finish folding." 

"No." Keith grabbed me by the shoulders, and hooking his thumbs through my belt loops, led me into a kiss. I broke off and pushed him away, laughing.

"Talk?" I asked. "At least ask first." I gently closed the door with my foot and pulled him in again. Keith smiled, and then we both closed our eyes, savoring the taste of each other, of the moment. Who knows how long we stayed like that. The next thing I really remember is being led into my bed, the old springs whining under our weight.

"Lance?" Keith looked down at me, at my concerned face. "Are you alright?" I nodded, and pulled him down onto the bed, his lavender scent mixing with my deodorant, our oxygen becoming each other's, and his dark eyes luring me in-until there was no way out.

Soon it was morning, and Keith was lying naked next to me in bed. I gently traced a finger down his face. He turned and smiled sleepily at me, then kissed me softly. "Good morning, love."