Keith Harkin was very successful for a 'just shy of 23' year old from Derry, Ireland. He traveled, singing for multiple crowds... doing what he loved best, he was having the time of his life.
But that was 5 years ago...
Keith who was now, 28, was living in the United States of America with his Fianceé Blair Stone in Keene, New Hampshire. She was a pretty girl, but she was very shallow and Keith failed to realize that. He loved her... but she just loved his money. She said yes to marrying him just because she could, and she got a diamond ring out of it.
Keith was cleaning up after dinner one night as Blair gave herself a pedicure. The phone rang, so Keith answered it.
"Hello? ...yes. Um, Hiya.. really? ..well, I dunno... this is.. ca-can I call ya back?" Keith hung up and was a little shocked.
"Who was that?" asked Blair.
"Sharon Browne.. My old boss."
"What'd she want?"
"She wanted me to do one last show for Celtic Thunder... in Ireland..."
"You should go."
"I dunno, I'm not to sure if they are going to be happy with me if I return..."
"Why?"
"Because when I met you, I just up and left them.. not to mention I haven't talked to them in 5 years."
"I still think you should do it. Call Chel back."
"Sharon."
"Yeah."
"...Okay." Keith picked up the phone and dialed. "Hey Sharon? Um.. yeah I'll do it... okay.. mhm.. thanks Sharon, Bye."
Keith was going back...
When he got to Ireland he drove to his sisters house, he had made arrangements to stay with her. He pulled in the driveway and got out, grabbed his suitcase and started for the door, as he went to open it, out of the corner of his eye he noticed a girl in the yard next to his sister's house. She was laying in the grass listening to music with her eyes closed, but she felt like someone was watching her so she opened them. Keith and the girl looked at each other. They didn't smile... just... looked.
Keith went inside and greeted his sister then decided to go out to the pub.
He entered the pub and smiled slightly then walked straight up to the bar and sat. "Guinness." he asked the bartender.
The bartender nodded and poured him a pint.
"Thanks."
In a booth near by... Ryan Kelly, 34, Paul Byrom, 34, and George Donaldson, 46, we sitting drinking together. Ryan was the one who noticed Keith. He got up with the other lads and they went and sat next to him.
"Hey stranger! Its been a while." Said Paul smiling a little.
"Hey, guys." Keith said uneasily, "Look, I just wanna say I'm sorry.. I'm sorry for everything, I should have tried to keep in touch. I was stupid."
"Its alright, mate, just good to have ya back." Ryan replied
"What brings ya here?" asked George.
"Sharon asked me to sing with you guys one last time here in Ireland."
"Oh that should be-" Paul stopped and looked at Ryan and George. "Oh no."
"Whats oh no?" asked Keith now a little worried.
Before Paul could answer the pub door swung open, they all looked. It was Damian, 21. He was smiling until he noticed Keith sitting with his friends. His smile faded and turned into and intense glare at Keith.
"Damian is oh no.." said Paul so quietly that only he and Keith could hear.
"Hey." said Keith.
"What is he doing here?" Asked Damian, still staring at him.
"He will be singing with us." said George.
"Damian... can we ta-"
"No." Damian interupted
Keith was a little frustrated and started to walk up to Damian. "Listen to me!"
"You, stay away from me." warned Damian
"NO!"
Damian went to punch him but Paul and Ryan grabbed his arms and looked at Keith.
"We should go..." said Paul. They started for the door.
Keith just stared dumbfounded at what had just happened. Had it really come to the point where, his once best friend tried to punch him? He was ashamed that he had hurt Damian that much and he could feel tears trying to escape his eyes but he held them back as he watched Ryan, Paul, and Damian leave. George walked up next to him and put his hand on Keiths shoulder and looked outside then at Keith.
"Just give him time." George gave Keith a pat on the back then left with the others.
Keith was left there. he looked down then back at the bar then left and went home.
That night he sat on his bed in just navy pj bottoms, no shirt. He heard a rustling outside so he went to the window and looked out. The girl he saw earlier was putting out the garbage next to her house. She looked up.
This time Keith smiled slightly.
She smiled back.
"Hi." he said
"Hi." she replied
there was a pause before she started to walk back toward her house, she looked back at him once and kept walking.
Keith went to bed.
The next day went a little more smoothly from Keith, although in the back of his mind he was very guilty about Damian. But to relieve stress he decided he would surf. When he was done he went back to the house and went up into his room to change. Unfortunatly he couldn't find the shirt he wanted so he went back out to the car to see if he could find it. As he looked through the back seat he heard a voice.
"Its not there."
He turned and saw the girl from yesterday. She smiled and then looked at the front tired of the car before looking at him again. He looked where she looked and saw his shirt wedged under the tire.
"Thanks." he said and grabbed it then looked back at her.
"You're welcome." there was a paused "So she your sister?"
"Yeah. I'm staying with her for a little while." Keith noticed she had an american accent.
"Thats nice."
"Kinda. I'm a little bummed."
"How do you figure?"
"Cause... when I left it was sudden, no good byes... no warning... i just left and now I'm back... the first time seeing all my old friends in 5 years... things are as they were." He looked down.
"The way I see it, why spend your life mad at someone? Its a waste. Life is short all we can do is just simply LIVE it... we have to get over the little things... move on and dont let it hold you back cause you'll regret it later."
Keith half smiled, she was right... and seemed wise for a... "How old are you?"
"18. But... I see age as only a number.. because in reality it serves no purpose except keeping track of how long you have to make a difference on earth... although it also makes a GREAT excuse for people to use against you when they cant think of any other."
Keith chuckled lightly, she was an interesting girl.
"Thats so true." he said.
"Well.. I best be off." she said starting to walk backwards toward here house. "Gilligan's Island marathon... I have all of the seasons on VHS." she laughed a little and turned and kept walking Keith smiled and walked up to his house. When they both reached their doors they looked at eachother.
"Whats your name?" asked the girl.
"Keith... yours?"
"Lisa." She walked inside her house.
Keith stood their for a moment and said to himself quietly "...Lisa."
A few days went by after that Keith spent it mainly working on the concert with the other lads, sharon could see the cold should that Damian was giving Keith and told Ryan to do something about sense she felt he seemed like the responsible one.
That evening Keith was at home. The doorbell rang. He went and Answered it and in walked Ryan, Damian, Paul then George.
Keith was a bit confused but followed them into the living room. Ryan sat in a chair and Paul draped himself across the couch George was standing behind. Damian stood next to Ryan, he looked at Keith harshly but Keith, who was now standing at the entrance of the living room. Ryan tried to explain why they were there and get Keith and Damian to talk but Damian was still unwilling to talk it out. Keith Tried to apologize.
"Damian, I know I probably don't understand how you feel personally... but I don't want you to be made forever. Cause you mean alot to me mate and I'm sorry I hurt you but I can't go back in time and change the past. I wanna still be your friend if you're willing to let me."
Damians eyes softened a bit but he still was mad. There was a silence Ryan sighed in disapointment, maybe it just still wasn't time.
"Alright well... I guess we'll leave now. Thank you Keith for trying."
Damian was first out of the house and in the car Ryan followed and George glanced at Paul now asleep on the couch.
"I'm just... gunna leave Paul here... He's... gone..."
Keith nodded and george left.
Keith then went up to his room and changed into plaid comfy pj bottoms and no shirt. He then heard someone singing and looked out his window and saw Lisa in her room singing 'I want you to want me' and playing to guitar. He smiled and watched her. She was dancing around with her hair in a pony tail a Beatles t-shirt neon colored shorts and knee socks.
Her energy made Keith forget for a moment his problems with damian and he started singing along. Lisa noticed he was singing after a while and stopped.
"Sorry" he said
"No its fine.. I" she blushed in embarassment
he smirked "Nice outfit."
"Yeah..." she looked down then back at him. at this point they were both in their window leaning slightly out as they talked
"You teach yourself how to play guitar?"
"Naw... school.. I took it for a few years. I still have a little to learn tho"
"I could teach you. I play it too.... and write songs."
"Okay thanks." she smiled politely "Sing some of one of the songs."
"So see the leaves fall to the ground and seem them lying all around. but still I cant see you. And theres the wind that plays in the air... flying around how it does not care. But still I cant see you. and the seasons pass away... and i still sit here lonely each and every day... wondering whats gone wrong...i dont remember seasons lasting oh so long, oh so long...
and i still cant see you, and i still cant see you, and i still cant see you... Lauren and I."
she giggled a little and smiled and clapped for him "That was very good."
Keith smiled back "Its my favorite."
"Laurens a lucky girl... whoever she is..." she paused "I want someone to write a song about me sometime."
Keith got a kick out of her.
"How are things going regarding your friend Damian by the way?"
"Eh.. a we bit better but still pretty bad."
Lisa frowned and shook her head, it frustrated her how stubborn damian seemed to be
"AND I apologised to him i dont know what else to do."
"Dont apologise anymore. that wont do anything.. two words 'im sorry' that doesnt change 5 years.. he really needs to get over and look ahead not behind."
"right?"
"Right."
the two neighbors smiled at eachother for a moment noticeing how striking their eyes were.
"Well, must go.. had a late night last night." said Lisa "My friend Mariah and I love going pubbing" she giggled
"OH well by all means get some rest. Good talk."
"night Keith."
"night Lisa."
A few days later, Keith decided to go surfing. The sun was shining so he decided to take a little trip up to his favorite beach in Donegal.
Keith stepped into the water, wearing his wet suit with his board under his arm.. there was a slight breeze that felt nice. He surfed gracefully for about a half hour when he saw two women walking in the beach in the distance. He didn't know anyone else knew about this place. As they got closer and got in the water with their boards he recognised one of them, he didn't notice the smile crawling across his face as she noticed he was looking at her.
"Hey Lisa" He said.
"Keith, this is Mariah" she said introducing the other girl "Mariah, Keith." Lisa smiled.
"Nice to meet you" Mariah said
Keith smiled and nodded then looked at Lisa "So, I didn't know you surf."
"Yup, We love it. Before we moved to Derry we would take trips to the coast of Maine and surf all day."
"Would ya like to join me?"
Mariah and Lisa looked at eachother then Lisa answered "Sure."
The three of them surfed for hours before Mariah left because she was meeting Damian for a picnic.
"So your sister told me that you might need help getting read for Blair's arrival in a few days."
"Eh.. I dunno, I think I'll be okay.."
"Okay well don't hesitate to ask. But... I have to leave so I'll catch ya on the flip side." She smiled and started for shore. Keith stood there and watched her leave then continued surfing for a little longer.
The next day he worked then went out to dinner with his sister. The day after that he had to get ready for blair. He had to pick her up from the air port early in the morning so he planned to clean for the WHOLE day before. Keith was working hard and had gotten the whole upstairs done and was now working on the middle floor. He frantically scurried around and made a lot of noise.
The door bell rang. He answered it.
"What the hell are you doing in here?" asked Lisa.
"Cleaning."
"Well do you need help."
"Uh... Keith remembered tell her that he probably wouldn't... he was wrong. "I may or may not..."
Lisa smirked and walked in, Keith followed.
The two of them spent hours cleaning and blasting music and sharing some laughs.
"Okay now I have to make food to serve tomorrow.. like baked stuff." Said Keith.
"Baked stuff? Alright. Lucky you I'm Sally freakin' Fields."
Keith Laughed.
They started baking cupcakes then started a food fight... messing up the kitchen right after cleaning it.
The two of them sat against the fridge. Lisa had flour and sprinkles in he hair and keith had frosting in his and chocolate on his cheek.
"Wow." said Lisa
"What?"
"Now we have to clean this up again."
"...I'll have my sis do it. For a present for Blair."
"Hahaha. Nice."
It was a little quiet for a minute. Keith brushed off his leg and Lisa noticed a celtic ring on his finger.
"I like your ring." she said.
"Thanks" He took it off and gave it to her to look at.
She put it on her finger and they both looked at it.
"I think it looks better on me. Don't think you're getting this back." she laughed.
"No wait!" Keith laughed and reached for it. Lisa reached her whole arm behind her so he couldn't reach it. The two of them laughed as keith tried to get it back. Keith and Lisa looked at eachother, Keith realized he was now leaning over Lisa and their faces were almost touching. The smiles on their faces faded. It was then Keith realized he had started to fall for Lisa. But what about Blair? Lisa was so different for her... she was more like him and made him feel happy.. but he loved Blair... didn't he? Keith's mind was caught between a rock and a hard place.
The two of them started to lean in as if to kiss...
