White Rose
Chapter 3
Aura Thundera
See part 1 for copyright information.
    Keith strolled in through the front door.  His siblings had scattered immediately after their return from school.    Danny had vanished, most likely up in his room doing homework.    Laurie was sitting primly in the living room reading a book for her English class and waiting for him.  Chris and Tracy were on the floor playing with toys.

    Laurie looked up at him.  "So how did things go, Romeo?"

    Keith tossed his hair and grinned.  "Great.  Kim wants me to come back tonight with my guitar.   She wants to hear me sing."

    Laurie sighed.  Her brother could certainly charm the ladies when he tried.  "Are you sure that's a good idea,  Keith?  Her father seemed like he didn't like you too much."

    "I couldn't tell Kim no,"  Keith said.  "She was almost begging me to stay, Laurie!  She must be getting so lonely, cooped up in that house all of the time."

    "Just be careful, Keith,"  Laurie said with a shake of her head.  "When are you going to be ready to rehearse?"

    "Let me put on some more comfortable clothes, and I'll be ready.  Why don't you get Mom and Chris and Tracy, and head out to the garage?  I'll be right out as soon as I find my other shirt and round up Danny."

    Laurie nodded and began to talk to Chris and  Tracy.

    Keith headed upstairs.  He quickly shed his white shirt and gray trousers in favor of jeans and a blue zip-front shirt.  He fluffed up his dark hair into a rich mane before grabbing Danny out of his room and heading back downstairs.

    By the time Keith and Danny reached the garage, the rest of the family had already gathered in the garage.  Keith picked up his guitar and strummed once to check the tuning.  Shirley had been filled in by Laurie as to Keith's plans for the evening.  She shook her head as she looked at her eldest son.  An architect like John Hamill wouldn't want his daughter dating a musician like Keith.  Certainly not after all the tumult of the last few years.

    Keith took his spot in the center of the band.  "Why don't we start with  'I'll Meet You Halfway',"  Keith said.  "We were a little off in the harmony the last time we performed it."

    Laurie grumbled a bit.  "I thought we were just fine last time."

    Keith scowled.  "We need to run it through.  We need to make sure that we are doing the best possible job on the songs for our set that we're doing in Vegas next weekend."

    Chris rolled his eyes.  "We'll be in here all night!"

    Keith turned around to glare at Chris.  "We need to do our best when we perform, and to do our best, we have to rehearse."

    Laurie gave in and slowly began to play the intro to 'I'll Meet You Halfway' and the rehearsal began.  However, it quickly became apparent that the part that needed work was not the harmony, but the lead.

    "Keith, you're not paying attention!"  Laurie cried out as Keith missed his cue to begin the vocal on 'I Can Feel Your Heartbeat'.

    Keith sat down heavily.  "I'm sorry.  My mind was wandering."

    "Come on, honey.  Rehearsal may just not be going well for you today, but let's get 'Heartbeat' down and then you can go back to your homework,"  Shirley said, placing a hand on Keith's shoulder.

    Keith picked up his guitar and gave the count again.  Slowly, 'Heartbeat' came together, and they left the garage.  Keith headed upstairs.  His books were spread out across his desk where he had left them.

    Keith had just finished his homework when Shirley called up to him that dinner was ready.  Keith and several of his siblings headed downstairs for the dinner table.  He drifted through dinner, daydreaming about seeing Kim again.

    Right after he finished eating, Keith abandoned the dinner table.  He grabbed the case that held his acoustic guitar and ran out the door.  He trotted eagerly down the sidewalk of Sycamore Lane in the warm twilight of a May evening.

    The door of the Hamills' house was pulled open almost before Keith could knock.  Megan stood in the doorway, looking mildly harried.

    "Oh, Keith, you're here,"  She said.   "Kim was getting worried that you had too much homework to do and you wouldn't be able to come back tonight."

    Keith smiled.  "I'm here.  And I remembered to bring my guitar along too."

    "Good,"  Megan said.  "Kim has been eager to hear you play."

    Keith sat down on the couch and pulled the guitar out of its case.  He slowly began to play the intro to a slower song.  Kim looked dreamily up at him from the other end of the couch.  Keith began to sing along with his playing, softly serenading Kim.

    Kim sighed.  "I wish I could play like that."

    Keith's young body inched closer to KIm, and he handed the guitar to her.  "Why don't you give it a try?"  he asked.

    Kim looked up at him, her eyes shining.  "Really?"

    "Really.  I'll try to teach you a simple chord or two,"  Keith said.  He gently put his arm around her and handing her a guitar pick before guiding her hands into the proper position to play the guitar.

    Kim laughed.  "It's wonderful!"  Her face lit up with happiness as she looked up into Keith's face.  He was so handsome, none of the boys that she had ever met before could compare.  His hair was long and glossy, cascading down to just brush his shoulders.  His greeny-gold hazel eyes looked deep into her eyes, and Kim felt as though she could sink into them and drown.

    Keith gazed down at her, resisting the urge to bend down and kiss her lips.  Megan was sitting in a chair near the window, knitting.  Keith knew if he succumbed to the temptation, both he and Kim would be in deep trouble.

    Kim snuggled up against him as she fitted her fingers into the positions that Keith had shown her.  She played her first chord on her own, not only to her delight but Keith's as well.  So absorbed were Keith and Kim in the guitar that they failed to notice the return of Kim's father.

    Jacob Hamill entered through the front door and was immediately greeted by his wife.  However, he pushed Megan aside and headed for his daughter.

    Kim looked up to see her father standing before her with his hands on his hips.  "Is there some reason why you couldn't be bothered to greet your father?"

    Kim stammered a bit and appeared to shrink away from her father, sinking in on herself.    "I was busy with Keith."

    "That's not a valid excuse,"  Jacob said.  "We'll discuss this later.  Right now I'm going to have a chat with Keith.  Outside."  Jacob gestured at the door in a way that Keith was not about to ignore.

    Keith walked out onto the stairs in front of the porch.  He was followed by Jacob, who slammed the door behind himself.  He just stood and glared at Keith for a time.  Keith began to fidget.

    "I thought you got the idea that I didn't want you near my daughter,"  Jacob said flatly.

    "Kim invited me.  She wanted to hear me play,"  Keith said, slightly confused as to what had brought on Jacob's wrath.

    "I don't want KIm associating with your sort of trash,"  Jacob said, getting up into Keith's face.  "I've raised her to do better than associating with and marrying a lowlife musician.  She's going to marry a doctor or lawyer, not trash like you."

    Keith backed away, hurt to the core of his being.  He had never before been called lowlife or trash to his face, just because he was a musician.  Kim appeared at the door, carrying Keith's guitar in its case.

    "What is wrong with Keith?"  Kim demanded, making it clear that she had been eavesdropping.  "Why does my life have to always go the way you want it to?  Maybe I don't want your lawyer.  Maybe I want Keith."

    "Go back inside, Kim,"  Jacob growled.  "This doesn't concern you."

    "Of course it concerns me!"  Kim snapped.  "You're chasing away the one friend I've managed to make here just because you think he isn't good enough to marry me.  All you want is for me to marry a rich man!"

    "Inside!" Jacob barked, as he jerked the guitar case out of KIm's hands.  "We will discuss your mouth later!  For now, I'm going to deal with him!"  Jacob shoved the guitar into Keith's arms, knocking him backward.   "I don't want to see you hanging around here again.  Take your guitar and get yourself home.  I don't want you corrupting my daughter."

    Tears stung Keith's eyes as he stared at Joseph.  The summary banishment from the Hamill house came as a total shock.

    "Go!"  Jacob ordered, pointing toward the street.  His face was turning red from anger.

    Keith quickly fled down the steps, fleeing the porch.  He never noticed Kim watching from the upstairs window.  Tears trickled down her cheeks as she watched her father drive Keith away.

    Keith was crying too as he slowly walked home.  At first he tried to hide it and choke back his tears, but he was unable to stop the tears.  He walked slowly up the front stairs of his home.