Make Up Your Mind ? Sean & Kaycee

2. Arrival

“Thanks.” Kaycee said, fixing her hair into place. Sean just quirked an eyebrow back at her.

Kaycee caught Bailey’s eye, and there it was again! A knowing look, as she was biting down her smile. Now, Bailey was amazing at facial expressions. It came with the territory of being a hip-hop dancer. But she absolutely cannot mask her feelings.

What is up?!

Kaycee was tempted to ask her straight out right then and there, but thought the better of it. They were in an enclosed space surrounded by strangers. It could wait.

The crew dragged their feet out of the airplane. It seemed like despite not really getting any sleep, Alex was the only one with the energy to be a regular human being. The rest of them were still walking zombies, trudging on behind him.

Kaycee was walking arm-in-arm with Bailey and Delaney when she spotted Sean, several steps away with Josh and Ken, typing away on his phone. She then remembered she needed to take her phone off of Airplane Mode.

After a quick text to her mom that they had landed safely in Boston, she got a text from Sean. It was a screenshot of his conversation with her mom, reminding him to look out for her.

“Doesn't Laura know how much trouble you cause? I'm a full time dance partner, part time babysitter..” His next text said.

Kaycee chuckled quietly at her phone, then sought Sean's gaze. She rolled her eyes at him, which he responded to with a shrug. They both burst out laughing, and Sean returned his attention to his phone.

Ken, who was next to Sean, seemed to have caught their little interaction. Kaycee noticed him shoot a look to Bailey - a knowing smirk.

That's it.

Kaycee couldn't let it pass anymore.

“Bailey, what's going on?” She asked, turning to the girl next to her. Bailey appeared taken aback that she caught on.

“What do you mean, Kayc?” Replied her friend, biting back a laugh.

“I meeeeean,” Kaycee said lightly, gesturing from Bailey to Kenneth. “What’s with the looks? You, Alex, Jade, Ken. You guys have been sharing looks since this morning, and I wanna know what’s up.”

Bailey tried to keep her laughter bottled in, but ended up sputtering in a fit of giggles anyway. Delaney burst out laughing too. Kaycee looked around, and saw that Jade, who was not too far off, was smirking at her as well.

Is everyone in on the joke?

“What’s so funny?” She asked, totally confused at this point. “Seriously, what’s going on?”

“Kayc,” Delaney started, putting a hand on Kaycee’s shoulder. “You guys are really oblivious.”

“Who is? Oblivious to what?”

“You and Sean, dude.” Bailey chimed in.

“What about me and Sean?” This was not making sense to her at all.

“Look, sweetie. You and Sean have been such a couple for the longest time. So we just find it so funny that you guys think you’re still just friends at this point.” Jade said, keeping her voice low enough to keep it just between the girls.

“Ugh! Seriously, guys? This again?” Kaycee said, shrugging Bailey’s arm off her shoulders. “But we are just friends!”

“You guys dote on each other like crazy!” Bailey said, tugging her back. “You’re like extensions of each other! You can’t be separated.”

“We’re best friends.” She hissed back.

“Uh huh.” Bailey countered, while Delaney and Jade simultaneously groaned. “Then I guess the whole world needs to re-evaluate the definition of ‘best friends’ because NEWS FLASH - to most people, this isn’t it.”

Kaycee clamped her mouth shut, and refused to talk about it anymore. They’ve been having this debate with their friends for years. They used to just tease them about each other, but now, they were convinced that Sean and Kaycee were actually together. There seemed to be no changing their minds.

But if Kaycee was being honest with herself, she knew theirs wasn't a regular friendship. Not like the type she had with Bailey or Ken. There were too many gray area moments that made her think twice.

Moments when they looked at each other too long. When she’d catch herself watching him cook. When he’d hold on to her a beat longer than necessary. When he’d insist on paying for her food. When they’d share a water bottle in class. When he’d hold the door open for her, or lend her his jacket when she’s cold. When she’d miss him if they didn’t see each other for longer than a few days, even if they constantly messaged each other.

But those little moments were often brushed off by both of them, forgotten as quickly as they happened.

So, no, they were not a couple. They were still just best friends. Nothing to see here, folks!

But now that she knows their friends are watching, Kaycee became hyper-aware of Sean and the way they interacted. She tried to keep her distance as they walked, sticking to Bailey and Delaney. She knows he sent her another text, but didn’t read it in case the others see.

After waiting for several minutes by the luggage carousel, their bags started showing up one by one. Everyone reached for their own bags, but Kaycee knew (she just knew!) that Sean would come over and help her with her bag when it arrives.

So when it did finally come around, Kaycee immediately reached for it. But Sean was closer and got to it first. He looked at her, confused, and easily lifted it from the carousel. For a second, they stood face to face, with Sean taken aback by her.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes asked her.

No! We can't have another eye-conversation right now!

Even without looking behind her, she could feel their friends exchanging “the look”. The thought made her body heat up, and blood rush to her face.

“Stop doting, Sean. You’re not my boyfriend!” Kaycee said, half joking and half embarrassed. The words slipped out even before she could think twice about it. Hastily, she took the bag from him, and watched his face fall.

It was like watching a car crash in slow motion, and being too helpless to stop it.

She watched her words crash land on his ears, and hit his heart. She saw a light sputter off behind his eyes. Sean had shut down right in front of her eyes.

No no no no no!

“I’m just trying to help.” He mumbled and walked away. She immediately knew that she did the wrong thing.