❝it was as though each of them had discovered something unexpected but infinitely desirable. they were not yet sure of each other, but they wanted to be.❞
─ cassandra clare, the red scrolls of magic

skeeter
charlie, the best best friend in the state of massachusetts

psttt

charlie
why hello skeeter

it's nice of you to text me after i find out from robert that you called in sick this morning

skeeter
awe, you're welcome! 😚

charlie
but seriously, you okay?

skeeter
yeah

charlie
so, why aren't you at work? it's not like you to be abruptly absent from this bright and sunny september day

skeeter
i REALLY am sick

charlie
i've seen you shove antibiotics down your throat just to go to work when you've had the flu so i don't really see what's the big deal here 🤔

as a nurse, i was mildly concerned when you did that

as your best friend, i was quite impressed

skeeter
thank you!!

you're not working today, right??

charlie
i got you, idiot

already ordering chicken soup and packing you a whole BOTTLE of vitamin c

skeeter
awwEEE you're the best, charlie 💘💗💗💝💖💕💖💞💞💞💗💗

and make two orders for the chicken soup please

charlie
huh? why do you need two orders?

skeeter
i'll pay you don't worry

charlie
skeeter, why do you ─ UNLESS !!!!

skeeter
huh?

charlie
UNLESS

okay i'm going to ask carefully planned questions

skeeter
go ahead

charlie
so you're sick

skeeter
didn't we already establish that FACT???

charlie
okay that's a yes

how did you get sick? 😶

skeeter
i got stuck in the rain

charlie
why did you get stuck in the rain

skeeter
because i forgot to bring an umbrella

charlie
interesting

so, when i arrive at your apartment in 20 mins, you're going to be wrapped around a blanket and obnoxiously sneezing and coughing?

skeeter
yes

charlie
still doesn't explain the two orders of chicken soup though

skeeter
okay

charlie
skeeter, did you get sick with someone else?

skeeter
yes

charlie
wow you're not even denying you might have infected someone with mono!! and that someone other than a family member or me slept over at your apartment!!! this is A+ character development 💯👏

skeeter
i'm too tired to argue with you and that's why i'm adhering to all your questions

and you dumbass it's not infectious mononucleosis 🙄

charlie
and how EXACTLY do you know it's not mono?

skeeter
because keanu and i haven't shared saliva

yet
ERASED

charlie

ERASED

ERASED

ERASED

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

i'm totally NOT freaking out rn

skeeter
that's good to know

charlie
this is okay

this is good

yay

skeeter
yay, indeed 😌

charlie
so uuuuUuh how the fuck did keanu reeves end up staying over at your place? and you two sharing saliva?? what's up with that???

skeeter
okay for the last time, we did NOT share saliva

he didn't fly to LA last night so he ended up staying over at my place

charlie
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE TO THIS STORY AND I WANNA ASK BUT I WANT YOU TO SHARE AT YOUR OWN PACE TOO BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS THING GOING ON IS SOMETHING OH SO EXCITING AND GOOD FOR YOU

skeeter
wow you're feeling a lot of things today, huh? 😂

charlie, it's okay

ask away

charlie
oKAY OKAY

did he not go back to LA because of you????

skeeter
yes

charlie
OKAY WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE WTF I'M SO EXCITED BUT I MUST STAY CALM

skeeter
okay i feel like you're about to have a heart attack but i'm too tired to tell you 🤗

just read the chapter before this thanks !!

charlie
wtf you actually want me to go back to the chapter nineteen when this one's already posted???

skeeter
yep

charlie
whAT THE FUCK THIS IS ALL TOO MUCH GIVE ME A SECOND TO BREATHE

skeeter
we changed out of our wet clothes and talked for hours and i slept and i woke up with a cold and keanu did too so we REALLY REALLY need those chicken noodle soup and vitamins 🥰🥰🥰

charlie
I'M SMILING LIKE A MANIAC IN THE MIDDLE OF A VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

sO you had a rodeo in the bedroom right after that?? that seems too fast and, skeeter, you're supposed to be a lady!!111!!

skeeter
he slept on the couch

charlie
you MADE keanu reeves sleep on your couch????

skeeter
can we PLEASE stop saying his full name? he's a real person ya know

charlie
but he's a famous actor!!!

skeeter
i've been told but come on, charlie, you've met the guy and he's so much MORE than that 🙄

charlie
i hate it when you make good points

still can't believe you made that tall man sleep on your couch 🤦🏻‍♂️

skeeter
in my DEFENSE, he insisted

wtf he's so adorable because i told him i wanted to take things slow and just 💝💝💘💗💗💞💞💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💞💞

I FEEL LIKE A THIRTEEN YEAR-OLD WHO SENT HER CRUSH A NOTE YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND

charlie
I DON'T UNDERSTAND BUT I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! FINALLY, YOU'RE DOING SOME VERY MUCH NEEDED SELF-CARE!!!!!

i'm not saying that finding a partner is the only way to self-care but i see the way you relax around him, okay?? maybe keanu could teach you a thing or two about enjoying life 😁

skeeter
i'm not sure if i'm his significant other or whatever the kids call it these days

charlie
i think the term is BAE

skeeter
ew 🤢

but,, we're just testing out the waters for now 😁 making sure that the two of us can handle the other's job and lifestyle since keanu and i know it's not good to be fully dependent on a person, you know??

charlie
aaahhh we all need a healthy and happy relationship 🥳🥳

skeeter
hmmm. . .rElAtIoNsHiP

funny how i'm less scared of that idea right now
ERASED

PLEASE tell me you're already driving over

charlie
yes, skeet, i'm getting in the car and i have found the PERFECT form of payment

skeeter
oh god 🤦🏻‍♀️

charlie
you and keanu can be our helping hands!! we only have a few more stuff left to pack 😸

skeeter
hmmMMm,, that's it?

charlie
yep!!

skeeter
we'll do it 😼

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ────── ⊰

True to their promise, Skeeter and Keanu did help with the packing of furniture. It wasn't much. Just a few more picture frames, figurines, and books. Late into the afternoon, the group of four had ordered beer and pizza which Skeeter declared as her dinner. As Alec showed the surgeon some pictures of their soon-to-be daughter, Charlie found Keanu inside their now empty living room and looking out of the window while he sipped on a beer. Charlie joined the actor in watching the cars pass by and the sky turn from blue to orange.

"Listen," He started. "I know you're supposed to be this movie legend but, if you hurt Skeeter, I'll tell the tabloids your secret to immortality."

In response, Keanu chuckled lightly and took a swing of his beer. "I don't plan on depriving Skeeter of her caffeine if that's what you mean. But, I might just try to persuade her to drink three cups in a day instead of five."

"You're going to attempt that? Good luck, buddy. That's like racing against Usain Bolt. But, really." His expression turned serious, "Don't do anything to hurt her to the point where I have to sprint from DC to Boston. I don't think I can take another Sad Skeeter period."

At this, Keanu looked at the nurse with curiosity. "What do you mean by ─ "

Charlie shook his head. "She'll tell you. As much as I want to, I know it's not right to meddle with what's going on between you two."

"Is it bad?"

"Eh." He merely shrugged which didn't help at all.

Before Keanu could ask more questions, a squeal cut through the house followed by hurried footsteps. Skeeter ran in with her mouth curled into a big smile and eyes shining like she had just won the lottery. She had some ripped jeans on, an old Harvard sweatshirt, and ─ of course ─ her Converse. Her brown hair was tied into a ponytail with some strands already falling and cheeks a tint of pink from all the packing they had done. God, she looked too cute.

She skid to a stop right between them and gave the two men a funny look. "Was I interrupting something?" She asked and Keanu could only smile at the adorable way she scrunched her nose and furrowed her brows in question. He answered her with a soft no and she let out another squeal. This may have been the first time he heard Skeeter emit such a high-pitched noise from her mouth. "I got it! Do you two know what this means?! I got it!"

"Wait. . ." Charlie replied slowly with apprehension, "Is that ─ "

"Yes! I got nominated! My research! Charlie, we're going to Switzerland!"

As the two friends shared an embrace, Keanu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as he thought of his own best friend who was taken away way to soon in the year of 1993. Skeeter turned to him after she and Charlie had been done jumping and squealing. Once she saw his downcast expression, she frowned and opened her mouth to speak (most likely to ask why he was frowning) if it hadn't been for Alec strolling in the room. The lawyer suggested they get celebratory drinks in thirty minutes.

When the married couple exited the room, Keanu moved closer to where she was standing and nudged Skeeter's side. "Hey, congratulations."

"Thank you." Surprisingly, she reciprocated the action with a soft smile. "I never thought I'd get nominated in this lifetime. I've wanted this for so long."

One thing he learned about her from the time they've spent together was that Skeeter took some time to open up and be comfortable around new people. Slowly, she was becoming more comfortable with his touch and Keanu opted to show his affection in simpler ways ─ a gentle squeeze on the shoulder or subtly leaning one's frame to the other. Everything would be in simpler ways until the two of them found their own beat.

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ────── ⊰

Skeeter felt like she was on top of the fucking world.

After two days of catching the cold (with the man she. . .liked) and the reality of her best friend moving to DC, drinks at Zion's Den was definitely the answer. There were cheers (mostly from her and Charlie), one beer for Keanu and Alec because they had donned the role of designated driver for their respective counterparts, and at least five more rounds of shots. By the end of the night, Skeeter and Charlie stumbled out of the pub ten minutes from closing time.

"I'm going to miss you so muchhh!" Skeeter bellowed to Charlie who was really just standing in front of her.

"Awe, don't say that, Skeet!" He replied, hiccuping. "We still have Switzerland! And! And! And, I told Robert to look out for you! That boy is like a Golden Retriever!" They both had stupid smiles on their faces and too much alcohol in their systems.

Sooner or later, Keanu and Alec had to pry the two off of each other. After a tearful hug and a promise of getting brunch later, Skeeter sat in the front seat of her own car, loudly singing along to a Beatles song. Her designated driver failed to keep the huge grin off his face.

"It's been a haaard day's night, and I've been working like a dog! It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log!" Skeeter turned to him, bouncing in her seat and a swell of confidence in her chest. She wiggled her eyebrows, a flash of ardor in her blue eyes. Her voice had become baritone as she slurred the lyrics more than actually sing it. "But when I get home to Keanu, I'll find the things that he do! Will make me feel alrighttt!"

Turning the ignition off after he had parked the car, Keanu chuckled and turned to her. "I think you had too much to drink, Dr. Evans."

"Oh, shut the up and give me a break!"

"Okay." As he moved to undo her seat-belt (because in her present state, Skeeter was far from doing logical things), she had grown quiet. He could feel her hand running through his hair gently and wondered why she was doing such action.

"You were a bit sad at the apartment, Chuck." Skeeter whispered as if they were sharing a secret, "Something wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Hmmmm. . .I dooon't believe you."

"I rented a place." Keanu blurted out, desperate to change the subject. He had moved back to his seat once her seat-belt was fine. He rubbed his palms against his jeans as he looked at her for a reaction. "It's an apartment. Here. In Boston."

It felt like forever until Skeeter had said or done something. Cackling, she vigorously ran her hands through her hair, making it more disheveled than it already was. "You're an idiot for doing that, Keanu. That's bull-crazy!"

"Skeeter. . ."

"It's trueee!" She pressed on, the buzzed smile still on her face. Skeeter reached over and patted his cheek, "Sweet, sweet, sweetful man. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into."

"I know I won't have to sleep on your couch anymore."

"Hey! 'Tis a comfortable couch!"

Keanu rolled his eyes playfully and retaliated. "Yeah. It's comfortable for someone with a height like yours."

"My height is reasonablest!"

"Your mind right now isn't."

Skeeter blinked at him owlishly, threw her head back, and laughed. "Trueee!"

This time he was laughing with her. Skeeter could handle a few glasses of wine and maybe one round of shots. But, beer combined with all those? Beer made her a happy and smiling and careless fool.

In one clumsy motion, Skeeter sat on her knees and tucked her feet beneath her butt to face him. "Heyyy." He looked so handsome and so divine and the moonlight did nothing but make her appreciate Keanu's rugged features more. She could feel the pool of heat in her stomach and the slight buzz floating through her mind. "I wannaaa kiss you."

Without waiting for an answer, Skeeter ungracefully leaned forward and her hands shot out to his cheeks, rubbing her fingers in his slight stubble. Closing her eyes in excitement, her lips advanced rapidly on his until she felt a gentle push on her shoulder. A pout fell on Skeeter's lips while a small smile graced Keanu's.

"You don't wanna kiss meee?"

"I do, Skeeter, but ─ "

"Then, do ittt! I wooon't remember it when I'm sober tomooorrow anyway."

"That's the point."

Skeeter narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Whaaat r'ya talking about, Chuuuck?"

"I mean," Keanu brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at her pouted lips before meeting her gaze. "I want to kiss you, Skeeter, but not like this ─ not in the state you're in. Don't you want it to be nice? Preferably not when you're slurring your words or inside a hot car."

Defeated, Skeeter loudly sighed and slumped back in the her seat. "Chuuuck, you're too good to me."

"I believe it's the opposite."

"'Kay."

AUTHOR'S NOTE
apparently, i write
long chapters to
compensate for
slacking off of
updates??