An unexpected gift from a secret Santa left over after the party , Sophie picked up this gift from the dining room table, I already had my secret Santa gift from one of the girls. She put it to the side for now. Sophie stood there looking out amongst the mess after her guests had left ' I'll leave it til the morning she taught to herself . Just as she was about to turn out the lights she looked over at the unexpected gift on the table , giving it a second taught , " ok I'll bring up with me to bed and have a look " . Once she was settled in her bed she grabbed the gift , sitting up in the bed with her big pillow perched up against her headrest she looked at the gift thinking it's beautifully wrapped , trying to think which one of her friends could wrap this well . She slowly opened it , thinking it was a picture going by the shape of the gift . She pulled it from the paper to see it was a picture, she turned it the right way around and she dropped it straight away , staring at the picture with her hands up to her mouth . " The lakehouse" she mumbled . She straight away started having flashbacks . It was the summer of 1985 , Sophie had just finished highschool and was looking forward to the summer holidays so she could finally go off on her own as she was old enough after all . Sophie was a free spirited girl who loved to sit out in sunshine drawing the scenery or writing poetry . She hired out accommodation on lake santeetlah north Carolina, with the idea of spending hours on end drawing and writing to her hearts content . She borrowed her dad's blue pickup truck to make the long drive from Atlanta Georgia all the way up to north Carolina . Once she arrived at the lakehouse on the lakeside she was gobsmscked at beautiful the area was , she met the owner of the guest house outside to exchange pleasentries and get the keys . Once inside the house , Sophie has a look around, straight away feeling the freshness and open space which the house had , it was all open plan with a lovley wooden staircase leading to the upper floor , it was , it was a very bright house with big windows to give a view of the lake itself. Sophie felt right at home , " I wonder do I have any neighbours, I didn't see anyone on the way here after that last village ". Sophie settled down for the night after unpacking her stuff , sitting upstairs looking out the window, reading the welcome note left by the landlord to which it read ' welcome to your summer home , I am very pleased and greatful you decided to stay here at my lakehouse, you'll find food in the presses and the fridge and enough supplies to last you your stay . Sorry about the smell of paint I just gave the decking outside a fresh coat for the summer , you might see a dog running around outside , sometimes he sneaks in , he's harmless, i call him rex , I hope you enjoy your stay and if you need anything at all just give me a bell , I'm only a couple miles back the road , yours sincerely Mr Jones . The next morning Sophie unpacked her stuff and gathered her painting utensils and set herself a spot down by the lake edge , the sun was shining brightly with a soft breeze blowing . As Sophie was painting the scene across the lake , she spotted a man fishing on he's own , she decided to add him to her drawing, she taught nothing of it at the time but she kept looking over at the fisherman standing on the lakeside on he's own , in a way hoping hed look back at her . Something was drawing her attention to him but she finished up her drawing and headed back inside and got ready to go to the local supermarket to get some things for herself . Once at the supermarket she was browsing through the cosmetics section and she overheard a man and woman chatting in the next aisle, she could hear them saying something about fishing on the lake , but that's all she could make out . She decided to be brave and walk down that aisle, she could only see a man standing on he's own , being even more brave she approached the man and began to talk to him " hey , hi , sorry I'm Sophie , nice to meet you! , excuse me but , today I was painting outside my lakehouse retreat and I seen a man fishing across the lake from me , " the man looked her in the eyes as if he really liked her " that was probably me " he replied in a husky voice ," my name is Keanu, yeah I was fishing all morning at that Spot, I do it every day " . " Was it ok if I added you into my painting? " . " Why of course " smiling at her , with her smiling in return. " You'll have to show me that painting sometime " , " yeah sure why not !" . " What you doin later , there's a nice bar across the street if you're around later for a drink " ? . Sophie pondering the question" yes, I will , I don't drive , how will get back to the lakehouse "? . Keanu smiled " well today is your lucky day Sophie, I drive myself around I could collect you and drop you back if you like " . With raised eye brows Sophie accepted Keanus proposal" will we say 8 o'clock tonight I'll pick you up at the lakehouse and we go from there " ? . Sophie smiled " yeah cool I'll be ready " , " nice , see you later than " . Sophie quickly paid for her items and headed back to the lakehouse to get ready for her totally unexpected date later that evening . Sophie fussed on what to wear , it's been so long since a guy paid any interest in her . It wasn't long before the time arrived for Keanu to collect her . The sound of the car horn echoed throughout the house so Sophie quickly grabbed her coat and sprayed some perfume on her neck . Once in the car Keanu quickly noticed how beautiful Sophie smelled " wow , you look absolutely stunning and that smell lights my senses on fire " , Sophie could feel a warm tinkle in her belly " why thank you Keanu, looking at him lustfully, this is going very fast Sophie taught , hoping Keanu was feeling the same . Arriving at the bar , Keanu was ever the gentleman opening the door to escort Sophie out of the car . " Madame" Holding out he's hand out . Sophie smiled while all the while hoping to gain hes attention to her advances . At the dinner table they couldn't keep there eyes off eachother, hardly paying attention to what was on the table . Keanu was thinking ' I really like this girl , she's really pretty with her Auburn shoulder length hair and her red lipstick and her slightly revealing top , I wonder did she wear that on purpose ' . They both spent the evening getting to know eachother more and more , by the end of the evening both Keanu and Sophie had had enough of the bar scene and decided to go for a walk along rivers side , the moon was big and bright and glowing off the water giving a beautiful backdrop . Sophie moved closer to Keanu with the intention of holding he's hand , she decided to take the plunge and clasped he's hand and said " is this ok " ? . " Yeah of course , as long as your comfortable with that I am too " , looking at eachother with a slight shy smile . Sophie was starting to feel something more than lust , " is it possible to fall for someone this fast , it's like I feel I know this guy all my life , god I hope he feels the same " . Keanu on the other hand was thinking the same exact thing . " I really like her , I hope she feels the same , maybe I'll try to kiss her and see " . Keanu stopped dead in he's tracks, unholding sophies hand ," is everything ok Keanu ? . " Everything couldn't be more better Sophie, " , putting he's hands up to her cheeks looking Sophie in the eyes , moving in closer , slowly touching her lips with he's , the kiss for both lasted forever , Sophie pulled away eventually and felt dizzy " oh , wow , am , I wasn't expecting that " . " You and me both , but it just felt right , shall I take you home , I mean not into your house but , I mean , I'll drive you home ". Sophie taught for a moment , " hey ' why don't you come in and let me show you the painting , you might aswell seeming you'll be right outside " . " Oh yeah sure , that's a good idea , come on let's go ". They both hopped into he's car and made the short journey to the lakehouse . Once inside the house Sophie poured two glasses of gin with ice , " do you like gin Keanu ? , " but I'm driving, I can't " . " You can sleep on the big sofa over there " Keanu looking over at the big couch and than at he's car outside, ' ah hell why not ' " yes ok , I'll stay tonight, now how about you show me that painting of yours" . Sophie with excitement from within her sole showed Keanu the picture, she put it on the table in front of Keanu" oh wow that's really interesting Sophie, is that me over there ? ". " Yea that's you , I know your so small , thats because your at the other side ..... Of the ....... Lake , her words coming out slowly like as if she was in a trance looking at Keanu Instead of the picture. " Eh Soph , turning to look at her , he noticed she was staring at him longingly . She grabbed he's hand and pulled him closer , " can I kiss you Keanu " , Keanu not in a million years going to decline" you don't need to ask go ahead " , the two embraced, starting off slowly, gently caressing eachothers lips before taking the next step, Sophie getting more adventurous by ravaging Keanus mouth with hers , roaming her hands up and down Keanus back , Keanu returning the favour by sliding he's hands up and down her sides before undoing her white blouse, he stopped to ask was it ok " oh please don't stop , rip my clothes off " , by now both where panting profusely in a sexual rage , Keanu ripped off Sophie's blouse before quickly pulling her pants down to the floor , Sophie kicking off her shoes and Keanu as fast as he could stripped down to he's bare body . Both stood there naked as the day they were born . " Let's do it here on the couch , I can't wait to explore your body and feel you explode in me " Keanu smiled and nodded , " your wish is granted " . The two fell down to the couch and ravaged eachother kissing eachother all over before Keanu straddled Sophie and thrusted in and out for an eternity, taking Sophie far beyond her wildest dreams and than the two collapsed in eachothers arms and laid there for hours , naked in eachothers arms . Sophie awoke the next morning to find a letter on the edge of the couch , it read ' hey Sophie , I've just got to pop home for a bit , how about coffee later in town , I'll be in touch ' . Sophie got dressed and eagerly awaited Keanus return, the morning turned into afternoon and the afternoon turned into evening and than night . Sophie started to think Keanu was just another passing ship . Sophie went to bed that night feeling deflated and went to sleep with a soft tear trickling down her cheek . The next morning Sophie got up and got dressed and headed into town to fetch some magazines from the store . At the checkout she felt a hand touch her shoulder and a familiar voice " hey there Soph" Sophie turned around quicker than she ever could " where were you yesterday I was starting to think you'd done a runner " , Keanu put he's hands up to her cheeks, " to you Sophie I would do no such thing, I know a good catch when I see one " , Sophie smiled with relief and hugged Keanu and finished the hug with a kiss . " How about that coffee" . The two found a nice little coffee shop around the corner and stayed there for ages chatting about life . After the coffee Keanu revealed to Sophie that he has to go up north to see he's aunty who is dying and that he would be back in a couple of days . " Dont miss me too much Soph " said Keanu with a rye smile. " You know I will , but it's only a couple of days , I'll survive I'm sure " . The two kissed a kiss that felt to Sophie like it was an important kiss so she kissed him for longer . " Later Keanu " , " later Sophie " Keanu drove off in he's car with Sophie standing on the kerb watching him drive away , " I love you , called out Sophie " Keanu couldn't hear her properly so he replied " what did you say " , now Keanu was further away so Sophie knew he wouldn't hear her now so she whispered " I love you Keanu" . Keanu disappeared out of sight and Sophie carried on her way .

Sophie came out of her day dream and was sat on the bed still looking at the picture of the lakehouse. ' I'll find you Keanu ' . The next morning Sophie woke with all the determination in the world to find her long lost love Keanu. She packed the car and headed straight for north Carolina to the lakehouse. Apon arriving at the lakehouse she realised the house hadn't changed a bit , it was like she had never left . She got out of the car to go and see if anyone was inside , unfortunately it was empty , she peered through a window and was gobsmacked to see what looked like her shoes and keanus tee shirt on the ground near the couch . ' have I gone back in time or something, how is this possible ' Sophie snapped out of it , ' wake up Sophie , get yourself together ' . She headed into town to the store she used to shop in to ask anyone about Keanu. Once inside she approached one of the workers " hi there , my my name is Sophie , about 20 years ago I stayed in the big lakehouse back the road, I was hoping you would be able to assist me in finding this man , she held up a picture she had in her wallet . Sophie stood there , her heart beating out of her chest , the cashier looked at Sophie " am , miss Sophie , I'm sorry to say but that man died about 20 years ago , it was said he died in a car crash just out of town , some say he was rushing back to meet someone" . Sophie was frozen on the spot " that's impossible" she ran back to the car and drove straight to the lakehouse , hoping for a miracle but to no avail, she crumbled on the ground , holding her head in her hands crying her heart out for an eternity, she looked up to take one last look around before heading home , she stopped in her tracks to see something very familiar across the lake , a man fishing . Sophie stared longingly at the fisherman, waving at him , " Keanu is that you " she shouted , rubbing tears from her eyes , she looked again but the man disappeared. " I'm sorry Keanu " Sophie said looking up at the sky " I'll always love you with every ounce of my being " . At that Sophie got back in her car and drove the long drive home .

The End .