Fourteen: Compromise

The last couple of nights in Gastonburry, Kelsey stayed at his place. He indulged her with his best meals, his best wine, put on his go to music for a quiet romantic night with his girlfriend.

"Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?" he finally asked her.

Her eyes flickered as she sipped her wine, "Of course not ... I will miss you terribly."

He smiled, "Me too," and then he was quiet.

Kelsey went over to him and sat on his lap. She brushed his hair with her fingers, looped her arms around his neck. Something was on his mind, but he couldn't say it. She kissed him. "Are you okay?" she sensed it.

"Kelsey ..." it was right on the edge of his tongue, she waited for it. "Should I be worried?" he said it.

"About what?"

"About us ... I mean, I can't help but feel like ..." he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Neither of us have ever been in a long distance relationship, do you think we can do this?"

They looked at each other in silence. "Are you having second thoughts?" she asked.

"What? No ... I want to do this, do you?"

"Yes, I do, I want to give it a try ... it's worth the try, don't you think?"

"Absolutely."

They stared at each other again, they both felt the tension.

"We'll be fine ... we'll have visits, voice calls, video calls, sexy video calls," Kelsey said as she leaned her head against his, and rubbed his back.

He kissed her cheek, "You're right, I was just being silly," he let out a long exhale. "I should get this cleaned up," he was referring to their dinner plates.

"Those can wait," Kelsey held his hand to stop him. "Why don't we convince each other up first that everything's gonna be perfectly fine?" she tilted her head to the direction of the bedroom.

A wide smile spread across his face. He stood up with Kelsey still tangled around him. She didn't have to say anything more. He carried her all the way to the bedroom with their lips locked and closed the door behind him.

**********

He lie awake next to her naked body long after they finished. Her tan was starting to fade under the bright lights of his bedroom. Some of her hair fell over her face, she was sound asleep.

Sex with Kelsey was always hot and steamy. She knew what she wanted, how she wanted it, and she was not shy about it. The noises she made, the way she moaned his name, her whimpers, it all made him weak in the knees. Sex with Kelsey was absolutely great. He knew it was what's keeping them together. With the long distance relationship ahead of them, he was unsure.

Neither of them had said it, the 'L' word. It was too soon, of course, they had only been together for two months. She was physically irresistible, the sex was what brought them together. They never really said anything about starting the relationship, it just kinda happened. After all the sexing in Bhorma, it was assumed that they were a couple, and he followed her back to Gastonburry. And now he's leaving.

They held each other tightly at the airport, their two month rendez-vous was coming to an end. They had spent every minute of the last couple of days together, because that's what couples do when they were about to be apart.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," she said with both arms around his neck.

Their noses touched, "I'm gonna miss you so much."

They kissed.

"I'm only a phone call away," he said. Somehow it made the distance felt much closer.

She smiled and nodded, "Call me when you get there."

"I will."

They kissed again.

The boarding call was announced. They broke off their embrace and stepped back. A faint smile curved on their lips. They looked at each other for a brief moment as if to take it all in before they finally said their goodbyes. He walked through the gate and waved, and when he was out of sight, she went back to her car.

"I've boarded my plane, keep me posted with your brilliant ideas," he texted Julie.

The text was read, he waited for a reply.

"Will do, boss, I feel like I should be calling you that from now on, safe flight."

"Don't call me that, please, it's weird, and thanks."

"You're welcome, Mr. Sommers."

Nathan laughed, he rubbed his cheek, "Nathan ... just Nathan ... unless you want your first reprimand letter."

"Sad emoji"

"Kidding, gonna turn off my phone now, I'll talk to you soon."

"Smile emoji, TTYL"

He turned off his phone not realizing that he still had a wide grin on his face. He looked around and absorbed the reality that he was inside an airplane. He was about to take off to the life he left behind for the chance to know a girl that might turn his life around. He sat back on his chair, took a deep satisfied breath, he was glad he had done it. It was one of the best decisions he ever made. He was ready for the next step to the future. He was more excited than ever, because now he knew he had found what was missing before.

**********

Kelsey was not her usual self. She didn't say much after she got back from the airport. Julie caught her staring at the ceiling, wandered away in her thought. "You okay?"

She didn't reply immediately. She rolled over to her stomach. "I'm okay ... just a little weird now that he's gone."

"Don't be so dramatic, he's not gone, he'll call you in seven hours or so," Julie checked her watch to count the hours because his flight was an eight hour flight. "It's okay to be sad, though, are you sad?"

She thought about it for a moment, "Yeah ... I think I am." She couldn't decide the reason of her sadness, whether it was because their relationship was turning into a long distance relationship, or because their goodbye felt more permanent than temporary.

"Awww ... I'm so sorry, look at you ..." Julie came over to hug her. "You're finally in a serious relationship," she was happy for her best friend.

Kelsey covered her face and let out a sigh of frustration. "Urrgh ... I wish it was that ... he's such a great guy, don't you think?"

Julie raised her eyebrows, "Yeah ... he's' pretty great, I think?" she wasn't sure why Kelsey asked that question.

"Am I such a terrible person that all I want to do right now is to go out clubbing and have the fun I felt I've lost when I was with him?"

Julie sat back on her bed, as great as Nathan may be, there wasn't much compatibility between them.

"I know he doesn't like to go out to clubs, and I tried to be that person that he likes, but ... " she didn't finish her sentence.

Julie was nodding, "Did you tell him that?"

Kelsey hugged her knees, "No ... I want to be that person who can be with a guy like him, I know he's good for me, and the sex was great," she exhaled again.

"You know what they say ... a good relationship shouldn't be hard, if you're both invested in it, it'll go smoothly ... if it feels forced, maybe there's some compromising needed between the two of you, you should talk about it."

"Do you think I should compromise myself to stay in a relationship?"

Julie paused, she didn't want to give her the wrong answer. "I wouldn't compromise who I am for anyone, but there are some things I would compromise as long as the other person gives  an equal amount of effort for me."

Kelsey nodded softly. her gaze was far and hollow. It was a good answer on Julie's part, but it didn't seem to help her one bit. Kelsey stood up abruptly, "I need a drink!"

She went to her closet to find something to wear. A drink was always the solution for everything. Julie had some studying to do for a daily quiz the next day, but she can see how much Kelsey needed her that night. She went to her closet, grabbed a pair of jeans and a cute top to get ready for a night out. Compromise.