Plum

"Is all you do draw in that stupid notebook?"
"Yes, Kate, you know that."
She looks back down at her history notebook with an uneasy look.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"Not really," she says with her eyes beginning to tear.
Oh no, I think, please don't cry. Whenever Kate cries, my heart aches. It's like watching your dreams die or a puppy getting put down or... or like watching your very best friend in the world cry.
"Kate, Kate what's wrong?" I say more alarmed now, getting up from the bed to approach her on the adjacent one.
"I don't know. I think... I think I just miss Dean," she says with a sigh as the tears stream down her rosy cheeks.
"Kate, you don't need him, you know that. He's a jackass, and he doesn't deserve you after what he did."
"I know," she replies, "it's just hard to think that he could do that to me."
"I know," I comfort as I kneel in front of her, "but you're strong enough to move on from this. I know it's hard and I know you were together for a long time, but it will be okay."
She cracks a small smile which causes me to crack a big one. I stand up, "Now, finish your history paper so we can get to the party on time." I wink at her and return to her roommate's bed to sketch in my book. As I rest onto the mattress, my mind begins to wander.

"Craig, Dean cheated on me."
"What?"
"He's been sleeping with that bitch Jade for months now," she choked out in between breaths,"how! How could he do it!?"
I was breathless. What could I say? What could I do? So I didn't say anything. I just stared at her. I was mentally paralyzed and it killed me that I couldn't help her.
"Three years, Craig. Three. And he cheated and left. He didn't even give me the time of day to ask..."
I finally answered.
"I love you."
"What?"
What... what the fuck did I just say. Holy shit. Fix it. Fix it!
"I just... you're my best friend. And you know I love you. And I'm sorry I can't help you or change this."
"Oh, well, I love you too. I didn't know if that's what you meant..."
"Yeah, sorry."
That's not what I meant.

"Craig, are you dead?"
"What?" I am sharply pulled from my reverie.
"I said I'm done and let's go, put your stupid doodles down and get up."
I can't help but smile when Kate tries to be rude to me. As she puts on her jacket she puts one hand underneath all of her hair at the back of her neck and pulls it out of her coat. It falls delicately all the way down to the small of her back in smooth, sleek tendrils. Even in the dim lighting of her dorm room, it has a rich, golden glow to it which almost illuminates her beautiful face.
"CRAIG."
Shit, I'm staring.
"Sorry, let's go."

"Kate, Craig, I'm so happy you're here, I need you guys."
"Of course we're here, Lea, we wouldn't miss your rehearsal dinner. You're like a sister to me!"
Lea laughs, "Thanks, Craig. Kate, my real sister, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure," she shoots me a small smile which ignites her eyes with beauty and sends a shiver down my spine. I stand awkwardly by the door just thinking about Kate. I can't wait until she takes her jacket off, I think, knowing she's wearing a beautiful dress underneath that will make her elegant charm stand out even more than it already does.
"Hey," she says as she appears next to me.
"Hey, you."
Her face floods with a shade of red and she looks down at her shoes.
"You look really nice in a tux, Craig," she says from under her long eyelashes. I think my heart skips a beat.
"Thank you, Kaitlyn." She shoves my arm teasingly acknowledging the fact that I used her full name which she hates.
"Let's go sit," she demands, and I happily comply.

"I just want to thank you all for coming tonight. We're excited to see you all again tomorrow! Right now, we're gonna skip over the boring stuff and just eat," everyone breaks out into short laughter. "Then you can enjoy the rest of the night on the dance floor or with more food! Thanks again, everybody." Everyone claps for Lea and the entrees begin to be served by multiple waiters in matching penguin suits.
"Aren't you going to take your coat off?" I ask anxiously but nonchalantly. With a fork full of steak, she replies, "It's cold in here." She looks so silly eating a steak with a heavy winter coat on.
"Kate, take my jacket, you don't need to be wearing that snow suit while you eat."
She giggles and smiles and pushes her chair back to take off her jacket. I stand up and unbutton mine, sliding it off my shoulders but never taking my eyes off of her. She pulls the thick coat off her shoulders and stands up to put it on the back of her chair. She's wearing a deep, plum colored dress that cinches at the waist. It's one-shouldered with a jeweled detailing on the top and hugs her natural curves in all the right ways and places. It comes down just above her knees and matches perfectly with the plum colored pumps she's wearing on her feet. The silver necklace that rests on her collarbone is the one I gave her for Christmas last year with a small diamond pendant. Her hair falls back into place around her shoulders and down her back with a stray tendril falling onto her face. I instinctively reach out and brush it behind her ear. I feel her face inflame with heat under my hand. I want to brush her cheek with my hand and feel her smooth, soft skin on mine but stop myself. Unfortunately, I can't stop my mouth.
"Kate, you look radiant."
Her eyes shoot up to meet mine with her lips parted. What is that expression? Is she surprised, angry, repelled? What?
"I could say the same to you, sir."
I choke out a small laugh and feel my own face blush. Oh god, I gotta sit down. I hand her the coat and sit. Stop looking at her. 
I effectively stop my mouth from speaking and eyes from averting back to her and am left to eat my dinner as my mind screams at me.

After dinner is finished, Kate and I sit at the empty table and watch Lea and her fiance embracing each other on the dance floor. 
"Do you like him?" She asks me.
"Dave? Yes, very much. Don't you?"
"Yes, I just needed some reassurance," she breathes as she speaks and sits back in her chair. "They look beautiful together." I look down at her and forget who she's talking about for a moment.
"Yes, they do." Oh, not us. 
"Do you wanna dance?" She asks, and I'm almost giddy that she does.
"Sure would, madam."
She smiles up at me and stands from her chair. I do the same and bravely hold my hand out for hers. She grabs it and I swear my heart stops.
As we step out onto the dance floor, Kate's heel clips the side of a chair and she stumbles losing her balance. I turn just in time to see her falling and throw out my arms to grab her. She falls into them with her head on my chest, breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?" I breathe into her ear, my heart racing.
"Yes," she whispers but still not moving from my grasp. I get down onto my knees still cradling her in my arms and move her hair out of her face. Finally, I see her big brown eyes blazing in the dull lighting and my body wakes up.
"You're so clumsy Kate Thompson." She giggles and begins to get up which makes my blood run cold. Lost your chance, idiot.
"You sure you're okay?" I ask.
"Yes, dad, I'm fine." She says jokingly and grabs my hand to lead my to the dance floor.
I turn and put my hands on her hips and purposefully pull her a little closer than needed. She looks so indescribably beautiful, it's almost painful.
"Craig?"
"Yes, Kate?"
"I can't stop thinking about Dean."
Ouch, not what I was expecting. What? It feels like a knife to my heart. For some reason, I don't feel bad for her right now, I don't feel like I should comfort her. I'm angry. I'm hurt and betrayed and offended. Why doesn't she want me? Why? I'm right here! Why?
"You know what, Kate," I drop my hands from her hips and a puzzled look spreads across her face. "I clearly can't help you." I don't know what happens, but I walk away from her. Further and further from her lonely disposition on the dance floor and out of the main hall into the entry way.
What are you doing? My mind screams at me. She's in there lonely and vulnerable and you're going to leave her? Then the other half of my mind chimes in making my head hurt. She clearly doesn't want you. If she did, you'd know it and she wouldn't be talking about Dean. Move on. God, it hurts. All of it. My head, my heart, ah! I can't stand it. I can't do it.
"Craig," she halts my racing thoughts and all the pain slips away. I turn to face her, knowing she's behind me waiting for me to explain.
I turn, exhausted and defeated and look into her eyes. They're not ignited with beauty as usual. They're mirroring mine; exhaust and defeat overtaking them.
"Listen, Kate, I can't listen to it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have walked out on you, but I just can't."
"Can't what? What do you mean?"
I sigh, I have to do it. 
"I can't listen to you talk about Dean. You shouldn't miss him. You don't need him. You... you have me. You need me."
"I know I do."
"And he hurt you so bad, why would you miss him? I would never do that to you. I would... what?"
A smile spreads across her face and it's as if an electric shock has struck me. What did she say?
"I love you too, Craig."
I can't help but think about two weeks ago.

"I love you."
"What?"
What... what the fuck did I just say. Holy shit. Fix it. Fix it!
"I just... you're my best friend. And you know I love you. And I'm sorry I can't help you or change this."
No more lying. No. Not now. Time to put it all on the line.
"Kate, I've loved you for a long time and --"
"Craig," she interrupts me.
"What?" I almost snap.
And just like that, she's kissing me. She leans up on her toes, even in heels she can't reach me, and finds my mouth with hers. It's like every moment of my life runs through my head in a flash the moment she connects her lips with mine. It's as though I'm awakened and I've been sleeping this whole time. I realize that this may be the one and only time this could happen, and it forces me to return the kiss wholeheartedly and passionately. I grab her waist with my left hand and pull her forcefully into me while grabbing her soft, glossy hair with my right. Her hands are on my neck and in my hair and our kiss is radiating with fervor and need. God, this feels so good. The kiss is so passionate I think I momentarily forget where I am and melt completely into Kate.
"Oh, Craig, I've wanted this for so long," she breathes against my mouth and I anxiously connect my lips with hers yet again, not ready to stop.
Eventually, we do, and we rest our foreheads against one another breathing heavily.
"God, Kate, you amaze me."
She pulls away from me and I look at the same Kate I saw before; radiating with beauty and charm.
She smiles at me and places a soft kiss on my lips, causing my body to go numb, and my brain as well, apparently.
"Marry me," I spit out. What the hell? Why did I say that? Because you meant it.
She looks shocked, I scared her away. Oh god, what is she going to do? Run? Leave? Not talk to me anymore? Thankfully, she pulls me from my thoughts with a word before I die from anxiety.
"Okay," she mutters.
My tense muscles all relax at the same time and I feel the corners of my mouth twitch into a smile. Finally.