Who do you love?

Gold

. S e a n .

"Bailey...it's-" I start to say but what? Says it's not what it looks like? That's just the same as admitting I'm guilty of flirting with Taylor. Bailey walks up to me, her shoulders squared and chin slightly pointed up. She gives me a sly smile that only pulls on the side of her lips before she steps close into my space. I feel her hands grip my shoulders and the pressure of her pulling herself up into my face so that she can press her lips against mine. There's also the slight tug of her pulling me away from Taylor that also pulls at my lips, and makes me smile into the kiss.

She pulls away and looks up at me with round brown eyes feigning innocence, like she didn't just do that. She's always been a little wary of Taylor and I's friendship. If she only knew that Taylor is willing to bet money that Bailey Sok will be Bailey Sok-Lew one day.

"Morning Sean," she smiles and I give her a soft laugh in return, placing kiss on her forehead. She steps back just a little bit and wraps her fingers around mine. The heat of her shoulder rolling off onto mine comfortably. It just feels so natural, like the feeling of putting the last piece into a puzzle you've been trying to complete for years.

I look at her and there's no hint of a blush on her face or even the normal shyness I would expect. She's just...there? I half expected us both to stumble through and explanation of how we started dating and be found out immediately. But there's nothing. Bailey fell into the role of my "girlfriend" like it was nothing.

"What the fuck?" Ken says drawing my attention from Bailey to our friend gathered around us now. They are staring at us wide eyed, mouths slightly open. Except Ken who's squinting at us disbelievingly and I am reminded that he's the reason that Bailey's acting so natural.

She wants him.

This puzzle piece looks like it fits, but it's simply borrowed from another puzzle for now.

My hearts drops and I feel a tightening sensation in my chest. This is all an act. HE is her reason, not me. She needs to show that's she's my girlfriend or else there would be no point to this whole charade. I feel Bailey hand tightens around mine and she looks at up at me confused. It must be showing on my face. I muster up the courage to smile at her and she returns it. Not entirely convinced. We look back towards our friends and I shrug and place a proud smirk on my face.

And they start cheering.

"I fucking KNEW IT" Ken shrieks drawing a laugh from Bailey, "Once I saw Gabe and Tati were official. I KNEW you guys were next."

Taylor nods in agreement and pulls us both into a hug.

"It's true," she continues, "It was only a matter of time." She beams at me and I return it shyly. For a moment her eyes squint and she looks carefully at me, like she trying to figure something out, but she pulls away and smiles again, this time smaller.

"PonyBoy?" She questions softly. A nickname for when she's not sure everything's okay. I open my mouth to reply 'still gold' but the bell rings, drowning out my lie, sending it burning back down my throat. She presses her lips into a tight line before turning and making her way to class

I rub the back of my head and sigh. She's going to question me the moment we get into first period. I already know. A pair of lips press against my cheek and draws my attention. Bailey gives a sweet smile before Tati pulls her away, dragging her to their next class, leaving me jogging to catch up to Taylor.

-

. T a y l o r .

I take my seat in the back of the classroom and watch Sean and he enter the room slowly. He's hiding something. Everything about before seemed so forced, as if there was something more. The Sean I know wouldn't stop showing Bailey off if they ever got together, but it was like he was waiting to follow her lead this morning.

He takes his seat next to me and stares at his open notebook, pretending to be focused.

"You getting a good education off that blank page there, buddy" I ask with an eyebrow raised, gesturing towards the perfectly clean notebook page, "or are you just trying to think of the best lie to tell me."

There's a moment a silence before Sean looks at me carefully, suddenly looking very tired. He takes his hand and runs his fingers through his hair before sighing heavily.

"Just drop Taylor," he begs and I shake my head.

"Drop it? You want me to drop it when the girl of your dreams kissed you this morning, but you still look like the world is ending?" He buries his face in his hands while shaking his head.

"Taylor," he starts and pauses while he chews the words over in his head, "If I tell you. I'm afraid of what you'll do. So...if you care about me...you'll trust me."

My jaw clenches and I look him over. That's low. If I say anything, it'll be like I don't trust him. It's like he's backing me into a corner so I don't fight back; which means, if he tells me he's afraid of what I'll do to Bailey. That's the only reason he would say something like that

"One week," I say defiantly, "One week to sort it out and then tell me everything."

He looks up at me and nods before leaning back into his chair and facing forward. His mind obviously somewhere else.

. a u t h o r s  n o t e .

Wow, I totally went AWOL but here's the next chapter and hopefully another one later today.

This ones not my best. I hard time saying what I wanted to say and make it make sense.

Next up: Believe