Chapter 20
1828 Words
Chapter 20, Havin A Ball!
Iris POV
I had the strongest feelings for Keith. I could hardly contain them. I never felt this in love before. This was real love. I had such longing in me.
Longing to know and understand what was going on between us. I wanted to bring up our feelings for each other. But I wanted him to bring it up first. I was nervous to bring it up.
Should the girl bring it up? I was hoping he would say something first. Then I would not feel so dumb for bringing it up. What if he was not at the same place as I was? What if I scared him off? I wanted him to be where I was. But I guess the perfect moment would happen for us. And if it was meant to happen between us it would.
Most high school romance did not last. If they did then ended up in divorce like my parents had. I sighed. I was supposed to focus on my home work. Upcoming test. I soon was going to be graduating. And my dad would come visit. My cousin was going to arrive tomorrow.
I was so excited to see her.
So much was going on. Besides being on tv with Keith. I never thought I would be into acting. I loved knowing Keith on tv was in love with me. And it made me feel so special to read I was the one girl to win over Keith like this. Even Laurie had said I brought in a change in Keith. I hoped I did. He did with my heart.
♡♪♬♪♡
"Honey, we need to talk. I got your grades in the mail today" my mom tells me.
She comes in my room.
"Hi mom how did I do?" I ask. I had one more report card coming and then I was done.
I grab the letter from her hands. My heart sinks. I had a C? In math? How was that possible? My grade dropped?
"You know what I am going to say" she sighs.
"I never had a C in my life" I stammer.
"I know" she says to me. She sits on my bed.
"I am doing good in all my classes but math" I grumble. "I hate math" I tell her.
"I know. I will get you a tutor" she says.
"But I have the tv show. And shows. How can I have time for tutoring?" I stammer.
"That is what we need to talk about. Things are getting way out of hand. With your grades and Keith honey" she says in a serious tone.
"What do you mean mom?" I demand to know.
"You are getting way to serious about that Partridge boy. And I saw how he dates around. It won't end the way you want it you" she begins to say.
"Mom you don't know Keith like I do" I snap.
"But I know his type all to well dear" she tells me.
"Mom drop it" I warn her.
"Until high school is done with you need to stop dating and focus on your school work. That means giving up the band and tv for now" she demands. "I warned you school came first" she reminds me.
"What are you saying mom?" I say as shock enters me.
"I was talking to your dad and he agrees to with me" she says. "you can call and ask him"
"Ask what?" I ask.
"Ask dad he agrees. You need to take a break from Keith. Break things off for now. Then if you still feel the same he will wait on you after school is over. But for now you need to focus on school" she orders to me.
I sit there in shock.
"You are telling me I have to break up with Keith? Focus on my school work? Leave the band to?" I say with tears in my eyes.
"Yes" she says.
"Do you hate Keith or something?" I demand to know.
"No that is not it. He is a sweet boy. But you are getting to serious to fast. You need to focus on you not on him" she says to me.
"You want me to break things off with him?" I snap.
"Yes break up with Keith if he cares he will be there for you when school is over if he really cares" mom tells me. "you would have nothing to worry over" she tells me. "you need to get good grades to get into a college"
"I am not sure if I want to go to college" I whimper.
"You will. Like I did and dad did. College is important Iris" she argues. "break things off with that Partridge boy understand me?" she orders.
I could not go against my mother.
My heart sinks.
♡♪♬♪♡
"Fine..." I say with tears in my eyes.
"Good girl" says mom. "if he cares for you, he will be waiting for you" she vows. I nod as she leaves the room.
Tears come to me. She wanted me to break up with my dream man. I had his attention. Now I was going to lose him. Now I had to break up with him. Give him up. It was not fair. Not at all.
"Iris go see Keith. Now!" orders mom.
"Now?" I softly ask.
"Now. The sooner the better" says mom.
"Fine" I snap.
I head out to go over to the Partridge's. I ring the doorbell after drying my eyes from the tears. How was I going to let Keith go? I loved him so much. I was sure he would not wait on me. He would be dating other women in no time. Keith opens the door.
"Iris hey? Are you okay? You look like you have been crying" he asks me.
We go sit on the porch there.
"I have some....some bad news" I softly begin. My hands shake in my lap. He takes my hands in his. Holding them gently in his. I take a deep breath. I could do this.
"You can tell me anything" he says to me.
I nod. Then force a smile. "I have let my grades slip. I need to focus on them. I need to stop doing shows. The tv shows to for now. And....and....." I stammer.
My heart sticks in my throat as he looks shocked by my news.
"And?" he asks me.
"And I have to break things off with you" I hear myself say to Keith. My heart breaks inside.
"What? Why Iris? I thought things were going well between us" he demands to know.
"I thought so to. But I you are right. I can't handle all this" I lie. "I have to focus on me. On school" I lie.
"I see" he softly says.
"I am sorry Keith" I say.
"Me to" he says to me. "I did not see this coming"
"Me either" I tell him.
"Iris there has to be something else we can do" he argues. "we can get your grades up" he says. "we need you on the show"
The show.
Just the show needed me?
♡♪♬♪♡
"Keith I am sorry. We are over" I say.
I rush from there. Going home with tears in my eyes.
Later that week Annette my cousin was there visiting me. Off and on at school I saw Keith with other girls already. It was killing me inside. It hurt so badly to see other girls hanging all over him. I wanted to punch them. But I held back. He was no longer mine.
"It is good to see you. Want to go to the beach with my new boyfriend Kelso and his friend Donna?" offers Annette one day after school.
"Sure, that sounds fun" I sigh.
I had to get my mind off Keith.
Some goofy guy named Kelso pulls up in a van with a pretty red-haired girl named Donna. They were from Milwaukee. We hop in Kelso's van to go to the beach. His van smelled like fish. I was not sure why.
"Pleasure to meet you Iris" Donna says as she shakes hands with me.
"Happy to meet you and Kelso to. How did you all meet?" I ask them.
"At the beach" answers Kelso. "your cousin is foxy" he jokes.
"Kelso!" giggles Annette.
Kelso and my cousin were playing around on the beach. I sit with Donna on a towel looking at the water. She looked a bit sad like me. I wondered what her story was.
"You look as sad as I feel" I laugh.
"I miss my best friend" she admits.
She tells me how she dated Eric. But she was scared to go steady with him because her parents were so messed up and had gotten divorced. Then she tried to get back with Eric.
And then they did not work things out. So, she moved here to be with her mom. She missed and was in love with Eric. I told her about Keith. And how my mom thought we were too serious for one another.
♡♪♬♪♡
"Sounds like your mom has trust issues" Donna tells me.
I nod.
"She does. Now I lost my dream guy. I hurt him." I say with tears in my eyes.
"Maybe somehow they will make their way back to us" says Donna wistfully.
"I hope you are right" I say.
We head home. Then I spot Rachel his ex-hanging out with him in the yard. My heart sinks.
"What is it?" asks Donna.
"His ex" I softly say.
"I will be your lover" says Kelso.
"You pig!" snaps my cousin as she slaps him.
"Pretend to make him jealous" says Kelso. "geeze Annette" he laughs.
"Sounds perfect sure" I giggle. "I am game"
Donna laughs. I do to.
Kelso parks the van in my driveway. He opens the door for us all. Then helps me out. He kisses the top of my hand while Keith was looking curiously over at us.
"I had a blast at the beach babe" Kelso brags to me. Really loudly.
"I had fun to thanks for the date" I say.
"Night, Kelso see you later" I say.
♡♪♬♪♡
He kisses my cheek. Then we head inside. Donna and I look out the window once we got in the house. Sure, enough Keith was fuming and looking at my place.
He did not look happy.
"For someone who did not want to break up he was moving on fast" I sigh.
"Maybe girls were after him. That happens it does not mean he was after them" says Donna.
"True" I say with a nod as I close the curtains.
"What a cutie. I see why you can't get over him" mentions Annette.
"It is over with Keith" I sigh.
My heart knew it was not. I was never going to be able to let him go.
I loved him!
♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡
- Writer
