Romance on the Dance Floor - Ch. 16

I was the kitchen making myself a sandwich when Sean came in. He didn’t say a word, not even ‘hi’ or anything. He always greeted me, no matter what and now he just totally ignored me, like I didn’t even exist. It made me wonder if there wasn’t more to it then just our fight.
Kate came in.
"Hi, K…" before I even finished my sentence I realized that she wasn’t listening to me.
"Where were you?" Kate said with one hand resting on her side. She looked furiously at Sean that didn't answer her.
"Are you going to answer me or what?"
"I was here. At home" he said dryly
"I just received a phone call from your school saying you haven't been there for 2 days. What's up with that?" she was right, I haven’t seen Sean either but I thought he just didn’t have classes.
"I didn't feel like going" he answered.
"That's not up to you to decide. Unless you're feeling ill, you go to school whether you want to or not"
"What's the big deal? It’s not like I missed something. I know what I'm doing" he said with a firm and slightly louder voice.
"You clearly don't!" she yelled.

She paused trying to cool down.
"I know you're going through a tough time and I understand that, but it can't be like this every year, Sean"
Tough time? What were they talking about? My curiosity rose.
"No you DON'T mum, you DON'T understand!"
"Oh, you think I'm not having a hard time right now? I know exactly what you're going through. I just wished you could talk to me instead of skipping school like that."
"I don't want to talk okay" Sean said and he then left upstairs.

Kate plumbed down the chair next to me and started crying.
"Kate, are you okay?" I said while putting my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. I didn’t understanding what was going on.
"Yeah, I'm fine, it's nothing" she quickly wiped her tears away.
"Are you sure?"
"It's just, today is exactly 2years since Sean's dad died. It's just hard on the both of us."
"Oh Kate I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, it's okay. I'm just going to lie down in my bed for a while. I need some rest"

And that's how it has been that day and the day after that. They both stayed in their room. There was this sad atmosphere hanging in the house.
I felt so sorry for them because I knew all about sadness and loneliness. I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing, so I decided to try to make an end to it.
I knocked on Sean’s bedroom door.
"Come in" he said.

Sean's POV:

"Hi" she said with an enthusiastic voice. She walked towards my bed were I had been lying and pondering for days.
Layla had a big smile on her face. A rare expression that made my heart melt every time I saw it.
"Hi" I answered briefly. Yet her smile couldn’t make the dark cloud I had above my head disappear.
"So, what are you doing?" she asked. She was acting like we were best friends and that whatever happened between us never really happened. I quickly understood what she was trying to do. Making me feel better. But it wasn’t going to work.
"Nothing special. Why?" I was annoyed by her unsuccessful attempts to make me feel better.
"Well, we haven't worked on our routines for a while, and since I really feel like dancing today, I thought we should work on the final touch of our dance."
"I don't feel like dancing" I replied. How could I go to that studio while everything about it reminded me of my father? About the good times we had together and the nice talks we had while building it. I couldn't, it was too hard for me.

"Sean, the Sean Miles, doesn't feel like dancing? I don't buy that for a second" I loved it when she called my name.
"I don't, okay. If you want to dance feel free to use the studio" I know I was being rude but I just needed my time alone.
"Is there anything else?" I continued
She sighed and clearly gave up the whole fake enthusiasm. She took a seat on my bed. I looked at her. God, she's beautiful. I just never seemed to take my eyes off her beautiful eyes, her gracious body, her puffy lips that reminded me of our kiss and so on… I could go on and on about every part of her body.

"Okay. Here's the deal" she said while looking at me straight in the eye. Her gaze made me feel all warm inside.
"I need you to help me with something"
"Is there something wrong?" I asked
"You will help me if you let me help you." I didn't understand where she was going and she quickly understood my confusing glance.
"Look, before I came to live here, in this house, I thought I could handle the whole world, that I didn't need any help from anyone..." she lowered her eyes to her hands that she was playing with. She clearly wasn't used to open up like that. She managed to get my full attention.
"that I was used of being alone and that I would handle everything alone. I can't tell you how difficult it was for me to acknowledge that I needed a helping hand. You of all people should know that" she looked at me. Everything she went through reflected in her eyes. Eyes that she always kept dry no matter what. And I did remember how she didn't let me help her.
"Where are you getting at, Layla?" I asked curious about what she wanted me to help her with.
"I decided to go visit my mother, and I know I said we weren't friends and all, but I really can't do it alone and I have no one else to ask to" knowing Layla, it must be damn difficult for her to say all that.
"I'll go with you" I said without any hesitation.
"If you let me help you" Layla said.
"And how are you going to do that?"
She got up from my bed and pulled out 3 tickets out of the back pocket of her jeans.
"I've got three tickets for Raymond's show of tonight" she said exited.
Raymond was one of the best stand up comedians.
"I don't know Layla" I replied.
"Oh c'mon it'll be fun. Besides you're not the only one who needs a good laugh, your mother is devastated too. Do it at least for her".

How could I resist those asking eyes? I don’t know how she did it but she had that power over me that made it difficult for me to say no. Was it her beauty, her smile, or her strong personality, I don't know? All I know is that she confused me.
"Okay. I'll go" I said.
She yelled out of excitement.
"Now get up and get dressed, while I go convince your mother" she said while she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my bed. The soft touch of her hand made the dark cloud above my head slowly disappear.

Layla’s POV:

I went to Kate’s room to convince her to go with us. She looked awful, with her eyes all red like she had been crying all night and day.
She wouldn’t give in at first but when I told her that Sean was going too and that he needed her support right now, she just couldn’t refuse.
So the three of us went to the comedy show and laughed our longs out. It was fun, really fun. I guess they weren’t the only one that needed a time out. It made me forget about my problems too.

After the show we decided to grab those famous chocolate cakes Sean was so crazy about and started talking and laughing about the jokes of the show.
After a while I went to the ladies room and on my way back I paused to look at Kate and Sean having a ‘mother and son’ moment. They looked happy. I was proud of myself for helping them get out of their depression.
They suddenly started laughing making me hope that I would have that kind of relationship with my son or daughter when I grow up. The kind of relationship I never had with my mother.

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Sean’s POV:

"I would love to see the dance. What you’ve got so far" mum suggested when we got home.
I looked at Layla that seemed worried. She was always afraid that my mother would think that there was something going on between us. It was kind of cute.

"It’s not finished yet" Layla said, hoping she will give up.
"It’s okay, show me what you have so far. I really want to see it"
So we made our way to the dance studio. I looked around the studio as if it was the first time being there. All the memories with my father came back to me. I remembered how he gave me relationships advice. He was my best friend and I could talk to him about anything.
"Are you okay?" my mother whispered to me. She knew what was going on in my head.
"Actually, I am" I was surprised to see that I was okay. I wasn’t sad anymore. On the contrary I was happy, happy for the time I got to spend with my father. For the things he taught me, the good times we had and the memories he left me.
My mother noticed the change in me and hugged me.
"He would be very proud of you" she whispered in my ear. It made me regret how I acted yesterday. She didn’t deserve that. She was everything to me and I loved her to death. "Now go dance for me" she continued.

So Layla and I did the dance while my mother was watching and taking pictures. She always loved to take pictures of great moments.

"Wow, its amazing" she said when we finished it.
"You think? We still need to work on a few things." Layla replied
"Yes, I really like the moves. But I do have one comment though" we both looked at her.
"I never thought I would ever say it, but there’s…too much space between you two. I miss the passion a little bit. But other then that, it’s perfect"
We both looked surprised at her. Was she saying that we had to dance closer to each other?
"What? I’m talking as the manager of this event. Sometimes I need to be objective you know"
"We will follow your advice, but if we end up in bed together it’ll be your fault" I said in jest. I loved to tease my mother with this, but have to admit that I liked the thought of it.
Layla punched me in the stomach "stop teasing her" she said.
"Ha Ha, very funny Sean. Now I’m going to the office to deal with some things and you two can work on the dance because you don’t have a lot of time left."

Layla’s POV:

As soon as Kate left, Sean and I looked at each other. He smiled at me which made me feel uncomfortable, so I looked away.
"I really appreciate what you have done for me and my mother today, Layla"
"It’s no big deal"
"Yes it is. You brought the sunshine back into our home."
"Well, anytime" it was quiet for a few seconds.
"Look, I hope we are okay. I mean I know I really made you mad the other day by comparing you with Ty. You’re nothing like him. Plus I shouldn’t have interfered between you and Tanya. It’s really none of my business"
"It’s okay, I kind of overreacted a little bit. And I understand you want to stand up for your friend. I’ll probably do the same thing"

There was an awkward silence again. Every time we seemed to have a serious conversation we had those awkward silences.
"So how is she doing?" Sean asked. I felt like someone was stabbing me in the heart.
"Tanya?" I asked to be sure. He nodded. I took a deep breath. This was the chance to put in a good word for her. For a second I thought the hell with her, but I knew it wasn't fair to her.

"Well she's okay, but she really feels terrible about how things had ended between you. I really think she regrets what happened" I said. He shook his head.
"Don't you think you should at least hear her out, give her a second chance maybe?" I continued
"Why do you want us to get back together so badly?" he asked while looking at me.
"I don't... I mean... I just think that every person deserves a second chance. If you don’t want to do it for her then do it at least for yourself" he looked at me with a confusing glance.
"You obviously still have feelings for her" I explained. He looked at me surprised.
"What makes you think that?" he replied.
"If you really didn’t care about her then why are you still so mad at her? You should really think about that question."

He didn’t say a word. Most importantly he didn’t deny it.
"So what you’re saying is, I should go out with her to talk things through?" he had a weird look on his face. I couldn’t read it. He looked…annoyed maybe?
I wanted to say no, that he shouldn’t ask her out, he should ask me out. But I couldn’t.
"That’s up to you" I answered.
"You know, she’s lucky to have you as a friend, even though I’ve never imagined you two being friends" he said
"Meaning?"
"You guys are so different from each other, like day and night."
"We’re not that different"
"Are you kidding? She’s like the opposite of you. She’s more the sensitive, reserved type a girl while you’re more the tough and self confident one"
I felt offended. He might as well say that I was cold and arrogant. Again it proved that I wasn’t his type.
I was going to react to it, say that I can be sensitive, that being sensitive doesn’t only mean shedding tears, but then I thought it didn’t matter.

"So tell me, when do you want to go visit your mother?" he changed the subject.
"When the time is right" I answered

The next morning after I took a shower I went to the kitchen where I found Sean having breakfast.
"Good morning" I said
"Good morning" he replied.
It was nice to be able to act normal around him again.
I opened the backdoor and to my surprise Tanya was standing there ready to knock on the door.

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