A month passed, both fast and slow at the same time. An infinity in four weeks of bliss.
A month of quiet breakfasts, her making his coffee and him always sliding more food on to her plate. A month of Saturday night dinners with the girls (Tahani yelled a lot when she found out that Sean finally came home). A month of double dates with Ken and Bailey. A month of stealing his sweaters and uselessly him trying to get them back. A month of stolen kisses between homework, and cuddling close while watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
A month of "mine" and "yours" and "I love you"s to make up for the lost time.
That morning, just like every morning, at the sight of Sean in the kitchen - with his tousled hair, over-sized tee, and plaid boxers - Kaycee felt the need to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
Quietly, she padded into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Sean's waist, pressing herself against his warm broad back. He gave a low throaty hum when she tiptoed to press a kiss at the back of his neck.
"Morning." She murmured against his skin. He placed his hand over hers and caressed her knuckles in greeting.
Over his shoulder, she spied the makings of a mushroom omelet and french toast.
As was their morning routine, she started the coffee maker and jumped in the shower while he finished cooking. Once she was dressed, she joined him at the dining table to have breakfast together.
"You're going out today, right?" Kaycee asked, sliding over the "S" mug with freshly made coffee over to him.
"Yeah, I'm workshopping with Tre and Melvin today." Sean answered in between mouthfuls of food. Tre and Melvin were in town for a dance conference and invited Sean to assist in the class.
"What about you?" He asked, placing another slice of french toast on her plate. "What are you up to today?"
"I wanna try finishing the bit of choreo I've been working on." She smiled, accepting the food.
"It's a partner piece, isn't it?" Sean furrowed his brow at her. "Are you ever gonna show it to me?"
"Yeah, but when it's done." Kaycee muttered, keeping her eyes to her plate. "I want it to be perfect first."
"We can work on it together, you know." Sean offered, placing a comforting hand over hers.
"I know." She shrugged, squeezing his hand before letting go. "But I want to do it myself first. If I'm absolutely stuck, then I'll let you know."
Since agreeing to take things slow, Sean and Kaycee have so far been able to keep their promise to keep their hands to themselves.
But more than that, knowing that the heightened intensity of their budding relation could easily spill over to the other aspects of their lives, they also did their best to remain self-aware and independent of each other. They didn't want to be the kind of couple that alienated people because they were too lost in each other, so the pair made an effort to spend time with friends separately, made sure neither of them forgot to do homework, and still continued to take short-term jobs as a duet.
Between their projects as "Sean & Kaycee" and actually living together, they already spent a lot of time together as it was; they knew that co-dependency was a dangerous drug for a long-term relationship.
Sean left a little after breakfast, leaving Kaycee alone to her own devices. She finished washing the dishes and proceeded to clean up a bit. Thankfully, the pair were relatively neat, partly due to the fact that they were hardly ever home, so there wasn't really much to clean. Just a few misplaced items and laundry that needed to be sorted.
Once everything was back in their rightful places, Kaycee pushed the couch back and rolled the coffee table away to create space in the living room. Then, she connected her phone to the Bluetooth speaker and pressed play.
Kaycee had long decided that if she was ever going to choreograph a partner piece for them, it would have it matter. It wouldn't just a be a sweet "awwwe"-worthy piece; it had to be would be something that tugged at her own heart and begged to created. It had to be everything she wanted to say, everything she needed Sean to know.
And this was it. When she heard the song a few weeks back, she felt like it was written for them - the story of hurting the one you love most because you couldn't say the things that matter most.
The opening riffs of James TW's "You and Me" flowed through the apartment. Kaycee closed her eyes and rolled her neck, feeling the music seep into her bones and course into her veins. As the song progressed, telling the tale of a love that conquers all, she conjured images of Sean in her heart.
As long as I've got you and me
Moving through this world as two-man team
I'll always have everything I need
There they were, in her mind's eye, standing on the World of Dance stage, their arms around each other as the music died down. Filming music videos and doing photo shoots on the beach. Cradling each other through tears of frustration and pain. Yelling at each other over dumb arguments forgotten within hours. Missing each other when they were apart for too long.
You don't even realize what you mean
No one can fall for you quite like me
There she was, creating a million different intros for their behind-the-scenes videos simply because it amused him. Countless lunches and dinners discreetly stealing photos of him on her phone when he's too busy judging the menu. Memorizing the moles sprinkled on his face and neck, and the way his eyes dilated when he looked at her.
No one can get me so perfectly
You don't even realize you're all that I need
'Cause I want you and me
Kaycee flowed with the music, allowing it to take over her. She moved through the steps she had locked in, then filled the gaps with steps that felt instinctive to her. The song looped over and over as she tweaked the choreography, cutting moves that didn't feel right or elevating the ones she was already sure of. The piece still wasn't a 100% done, and it wouldn't be until she had Sean complete it, but it was finally at a point that she was happy with it.
The hours ticked by without her noticing. The sun had moved across the sky and the shadows were now stretching across the room. Playing the song one more time, she lost herself in the movement, not hearing the key slot into the door.
When the music died down and Kaycee slowly came back to her full senses, she felt another presence in the room. Opening her eyes, she was met by an astounded Sean Lew, hair disheveled and jaw wide open, backpack already discarded by the foot of the misplaced couch.
"Please let me that one is ours because I'll be so mad if you don't let me dance that." He rambled, eyes slightly glossed over as if he was still replaying the memory of her dancing in his mind.
Kaycee laughed and slowly walked over to him, savoring every moment that he was looking at her as if she was a mirage. When she finally stood before him, Sean reached out to caress her cheek, so gentle as if she would crumble beneath his fingers.
"I was hoping you'd complete it with me." She smiled, tiptoeing to capture his lips in a quick kiss. He sighed under her mouth, pushing a warm breath on her face.
Without waiting for a response, she gently tugged him to the open space and walked him through the movements. Sean being a fast learner coupled with years of partner work, they pieced the dance together pretty quickly.
Just as the sun began to set, the remnants of the daylight casting a light glow through the apartment windows, Kaycee replayed the song and the pair got lost in a universe of their own making. This is what they do best - connecting with one another, moving together as a single unit, with hearts beating in time with the music and each other.
The whole world could fall apart and the apocalypse could rain fire from the heavens but they wouldn't even know it.
When the song ended, she held him close, begging him to understand the meaning of the piece. But one look at him told her that he already knew.
---
"Nice to see you again, Mr. Lew." Alicia Graf Mack greeted Kaycee's partner-turned-boyfriend as she entered the rehearsal hall. The director's voice carried across the room, gaining the attention of Kaycee, who was already warming up with the rest of her troupe mates.
"Back to 'Mr. Lew', are we? I thought we got along well enough for 'Sean', Ms. Graf Mack." Sean charmingly teased, earning an amused smile from the director.
"Well, it's been a while since we last saw you around here." She commented.
"Yeah, well, circumstances have changed so I didn't need to come down here as often anymore." He replied.
"I trust you and Kaycee are doing well?" She asked, even though Kaycee was sure she knew the answer to that was yes. "I saw the latest concept video. You two were very good."
"Thanks," Sean smiled, pride shining through his face. Kaycee could it bright as day, even from her spot all the way across the huge rehearsal hall. "It was Kaycee's choreography and I'm so..."
Their voices kept getting softer and softer, lowering to a normal conversation level so they couldn't be heard anymore. But judging by Alicia's laughter and Sean's popping dimples, they were having a nice chat.
"I'm pretty sure it's the dimples," Tahani hissed close to Kaycee's ear, making her jump. "That's why he's so damn likable."
"If I remember correctly, you were drooling over him the first time you saw him, T." Kaycee teased, easing out of her lunge.
"I have every right to appreciate art, honey." Tahani rolled her eyes, harboring no guilt whatsoever. "I consider it my civic duty."
Once Sean was done hypnotizing the director with his charming smile and his ridiculous jokes, rehearsals were finally underway. The intercollegiate competition was looming in the coming months, and with the holiday break coming up, each practice was grueling and merciless.
As they ran through the first section one more time, Kaycee breathed a silent apology to Tessandra for being such a petulant student back in the day. If she thought Tess pushed her back then, it was nothing compared to what Alicia's routine. Julliard's Director of Dance pushed them past every line, broke down every barrier, and challenged their bodies in ways that Kaycee will forever hate yet be grateful for.
But despite how rehearsals felt infinite, they actually only lasted for 4 hours. When their time was up, they broke into applause as the director dismissed them for the weekend.
Having attended most practices the previous year, Sean was comfortable in the rehearsal hall. So much so that after they were officially dismissed, he made his way up the stage to fetch his partner.
"Hi, gorgeous." Tahani greeted, alerting Kaycee to his presence. The petite brunette rolled her eyes at her ever-flirtatious friend as she shouldered her duffel bag. Sean approached and let himself be engulfed in Tahani's tight hug, earning a few laughs from Charlize and Chloe.
"I've got my eye on you, T." Kaycee retorted jokingly. Tahani stuck her tongue out at her and made a show of burying her face in Sean's chest.
"I'm just going to get some water." She groaned, pulling her water bottle out. "You girls better be done with him when I get back."
"No, don't-" Sean began to protest, but he was pulled back by Chloe.
"We'll take good care of him!" Charlize called out as Kaycee began walking away, waving her water bottle as she went.
Since freshman year, through countless post-rehearsal dinners and the occasional party, Sean had formed a close-knit bond with the three girls, and considered them his friends as well. They always were supportive and encouraging, and were happy to find out that Sean and Kaycee finally got together. There was a lot of screaming and hugging, with a few slaps on the arm from Tahani for sending her that text and never replying. But they didn't meddle much in their business, for which the private pair was grateful for.
After a few minutes, the rehearsal hall was emptying out fast yet Kaycee still hadn't returned.
"You guys can go on ahead." Sean assured their friends, nudging them towards the entrance. "I'll just go find Kaycee."
He found her behind the stage, next to the drinking fountain, her head thrown back in laughter. Her hair was kept away from her face in a high ponytail, so Sean could see the way her eyes crinkled and her cheeks puffed. But she wasn't alone.
With her was a tall blonde guy, his own water bottle in hand, laughing too. Sean couldn't hear what they were talking about, but he must have cracked another joke because Kaycee burst into another fit of giggles. At the sound, Sean instinctively smiled. After all these years, he still saw rainbows whenever she laughed.
The guy saw him before Kaycee did, and his laughter quickly died in his chest. He cleared his throat to call Kaycee's attention and she immediately turned to see what changed her friend's demeanor. Finally seeing him, she visibly stiffened and shot a look at her friend.
Sean frowned at their strange reaction to him but tried not to make much of it at that moment.
When he reached the pair, he wrapped an easy arm around Kaycee's waist but felt her tense up against him. Trying not to let his discomfort and suspicion show, Sean turned to her friend.
The guy looked familiar, so he was sure that he was in the troupe with Kaycee, but Sean was sure that they never met before. His blue eyes seemed to survey Sean carefully, and his sharp features were poorly schooled into a friendly, nonchalant smile. This guy was obviously wary of his presence but was working so hard not to let it show.
"Hey, man," Sean decided he had to be the first one to break the ice. "I don't think we've met. I'm Sean."
Something flashed in the guy's eyes and he averted his gaze to Kaycee for a split second, as if crying out for help. The girl next to him stiffened even more, which caused him to look even more panicked.
Sean was about to snap and demand what the hell was going on when the guy took a deep breath and spoke up.
"I'm Dylan."
~~~
Author's Note: I'm sorry this took so long, but I hope it was worth your time and that you still liked it. Let me know your thoughts!