Turning point | Sean and Kaycee

03 - Promise you won't say anything

Usually, when we took late morning classes, Sean and I would have lunch together before heading back home.

It was kind of a tradition for us.

But this time Sean had left without a word, his face in gloom, hinting that he had no intention of eating with me.

I knew it was my fault. My words came out wrong, maybe cause I was afraid. Still, they hurt him.

But why was he hurt?

I assumed he didn't expect it, maybe I was too harsh...

I put my thoughts aside, reaching for the phone in my gym bag and looking up my sister's number.

After a few rings, Kylie picked up.
"Hey sis, is class over?"

"Yes, I'm done here..." My voice came out quite shaky, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Cool, see you after lunch or are you hanging out at Sean's?"

Of course she took for granted that I was having lunch with him, she didn't know about "the situation".
I prepared myself, trying to sound as natural and calm as I could.

"No, to be honest I called you to ask you for a ride home. Me and Sean have nothing planned for today. Can you come pick me up?"

My sister fell quite for a bit, to the point that I had to call her name once or twice. Then she finally answered.

"Oh, yeah, sure. Of course, give me 10 minutes..."

"Thanks Kylie, I'll wait in the parking lot..."

We hung up right after, so I crossed the hallway and went outside, sitting on the entrance steps of the complex.

No matter how much I tried to distract myself, all I could think about was the hurt in Sean's eyes and the tone of his voice.

Suddenly I wasn't hungry anymore.

-

"Wait, where are we going?" I asked, noticing that Kylie had taken a wrong turn.

We had been sitting in silence in my sister's car since she picked me up. I was absentmindedly looking out the window, while she glanced at me now and then to check on me.

"I thought we could grab some lunch together, since you haven't eaten yet."

"I'm not hungry..."

She shrugged, driving into the parking of a small diner and stopping the car.
"Well, I am... so, do you wanna keep me company?"

Not quite enthusiastic, I followed my sister into the place. It was a nice diner, kind of old style, but well kept. The windows offered a nice view of the busy street, and the jukebox in the corner played some soft tune that instantly reminded me of my childhood. I had to admit I liked it.

We sat at one of the tables and ordered an hamburger with fries for Kylie. I asked for some apple juice and that was about it for me.

Kylie took a bite of her huge hamburger and gave me a significant look.

"So..." she started, swallowing her food. "What's the deal with you?"

I focused my attention on the street outside, not wanting to meet her eyes, and started playing with the corners of the menu.

"What do you mean?"

"For starters, you are here with me and that is extremely rare, since you always spent after class with Sean." she pointed out.

"Not always... Sometimes I come straight home."

"Sure," she agreed, "but when you do, you don't look like a grumpy cat who had been launched into the water against his will..."