Keep Calm and Carrie On

Chapter 14 - Dance with Me.

Sebastian slowly moved Carrie's curls away from her neck. He unclasped the necklace and put it around her neck. The pendant graced her neck with it's smooth, flat surface. Four sliver clasps held the spectacular ruby crystal in place. It was sparkling. 

Carrie turned to face Sebastian. They were so close to each other that Carrie could feel Sebastian breathing.

"I don't think I can accept this." she said, and touched the crystal. It felt cold against the tip of her finger. 

His face dropped. "Why not? You don't like it?" 

Carrie's eyes widened. "No, no. It's not that. I love it. But I know that this necklace means a lot to you, and like your mother wanted, I think it is best to give this to your special someone."

He tipped Carrie's face upward. "Don't you see it, Carrie? You ARE my special someone." 

Carrie felt her ears heat up and her cheeks redden. "Maybe you should have thought this through first, Sebastian." 

"Why can't you accept it, Bradley? I dig you, okay?" he blurted. 

Carrie let out a laugh. "You 'dig' me? Does anyone still use that word?" 

Sebastian chuckled. "What do you want me to say? Oh, let's try this : I'm afraid I feel some esteem for you, Bradley."

Carrie laughed even harder this time. "Oh, Seb." 

He was smirking. 

"Dear Lord, don't flash that smirk."

"Can't resist me, huh?" he asked, wrapped his arounds around Carrie's waist. "Dance with me."

He took out his Iphone and played a song.

Carrie blinked for a minute, wishing she could be as graceful as some of the girls she knew. As she imagined how it must feel to have the world spin around her while she twirled, or how it felt to fly through the air in a leap, or even how to just have a general rhythm to the movement of her feet, she found herself drifting onto the center of her room. She wasn't even conscious of it.

Sebastian wrapped his arms once again around her waist and she slung his arms over his shoulders. Before she knew what was happening, she was swirling around the room with him, gliding around on the floor as if they'd always belonged on it. Carrie saw Sebastian glowing with joy as they danced across the floor. 

They waddled together while slowly rotating, looking into each other's eyes. 

"I love you." he breathed.

Carrie stood there, shocked for a moment. His statement caught her offguard. "I l-"

Before she could even finish what she was about to say, his strong arms wrapped around her, holding Carrie as close as possible while he bent down to kiss her gently. The soft gentle kiss gradually turned into a deep, passionate kiss. 

All of a sudden he stopped and pulled away. Alarmed, Carrie looked up to him. "Whats wrong?" 

"Uh...Nothing." he turned away, his hand scratching the back of his head nervously. 

"Seriously. Tell me." Carrie insisted.

"I remembered you have a boyfriend. I'm sorry. I couldn't stop myself."

Carrie bit her bottom lip. She realized that it's been weeks since Sebastian last kissed her. He stopped doing so after he had heard Carrie talk to Nathan on the phone, thinking that they were a thing. Carrie realized that she ached to kiss him after all this time.

"He's not my boyfriend." Yet. she thought to herself.

Sebastian put his hands behind his head. Carrie noticed that he was blushing. Carrie couldn't imagine someone like Sebastian to blush. He seems too manly to blush. 

 "I think I should leave." he murmured, and went for the door. 

"Sebastian," Carrie said firmly, stopping him in his tracks, "I love you, too."

He turned around and rushed towards her. Grasping her waist, he lifted her up and twirled her around, leaving Carrie giggling. Slowly, he brought her down. Carrie looked deeply into his eyes and traced his jawline with her index finger. Slowly, she closed her eyes and kissed him. 

Sebastian stiffened, then wrapped his arms around her neck. Carrie ran her hands through his gelled, blonde hair.

"I wish you hadn't kissed me a while ago. I'll miss you even more." Sebastian said while driving to the airport. He took her small hand and entwined it with his. Carrie loved Sebastian doing that. She thinks that holding hands is one of the purest form of affection that exists. 

"But you'll visit London again, right?" Carrie asked him.

He shook his head. "I'm not sure." 

Carrie's stomach dropped. "So this might be the last time we're seeing each other again?" 

His grip tightened. "Don't say that."

Sebastian helped her with the luggage. He walked with her, hands still gripped together, until they've reached the inspection area. "Well, this is me now." Carrie told him. 

"I wish you didn't have to leave." he turned to face her and kissed her forehead.

"Don't make me feel bad about doing this, Sebastian." Carrie said, and wrapped her arms around him. He smelled of soap and leather. She rested her head on his chest. She found the rhythm of  the steady beat of his heart comforting. He caressed her hair gently. 

Then, they heard the announcement of Carrie's flight. The plane was about to leave in half an hour. "Go, Bradley. Go and live a great life there." 

Carrie felt tears stinging her eyes. "How can I live a great life without you?" she whined.

"You'll be all right. That's for sure. Just promise me one thing : Treasure this necklace. It means a lot to me, and so do you." he told her, and brushed his thumb over her cheek to wipe her tears. 

"I promise." Carrie said. 

He kissed her once last time before slowly letting go. He watched her figure decrease in size as she walked away from him.

Carrie touched the ruby crystal that was nestled on her neck for reassurance, and ran to the boarding gate.