Day 25: Halloween dance (Seth & Kate, pre- season 2)

This is the idea I originally had for day 23; one of the reasons I gave it up so easily was because I had it half in mind for this prompt anyway!

Takes place between season 1 and 2; I've heard that s2 takes place roughly six months after, which would cover this particular 'occasion'. Obviously, I'm filling this mostly as 'dance'.

Soundtrack: 'All I want' by Toad the Wet Sprocket. Just because it's one of my favourites, and I think it sets the mood I'm trying for.

Kate sat on the sea-wall, looking out at the sunset. On what was probably a whim, she and Seth had ended up in a little seaside town… probably more of a resort that had gone out of business, and accidentally been repurposed as a village. But for the first time in months, Kate had felt the heavy invisible weight on her chest lift a little.

At least until she'd looked at the paper this morning.

She felt, rather than saw, Seth take a seat beside her.

"I got you a Coke."

Kate kept looking out at the sunset, but accepted the bottle with a brief smile of thanks.

The pink streaks faded a little, and the sun sank a little deeper, but Kate didn't move, and neither did Seth.

As sun disappeared over the horizon, Seth sighed explosively. "Alright, Princess. Spill it."

"Spill what?" Kate asked.

"Whatever's got you in this pissy mood. Since we hit this beach, you've actually been smiling a little, but you've been in a mood all day. I know it's the wrong time of month for PMS, so will you just give it up and tell me what the fuck's wrong already?"

Kate looked at him in astonishment, and a little queasiness. "You keep track of my cycle?"

Seth rolled his eyes. "I used to be married, remember? One of the prime rules for sharing space with a woman. Always know when her hormones are driving her nuts, and if chocolate helps. Don't tell me that your Dad and your brother didn't know yours and your Mom's."

Kate thought for a minute. "Huh. Scott didn't. Pretty sure Daddy did, both Momma and me."

"So now we've settled that… what is it?"

Kate sighed. "It's stupid."

"Tell me anyway."

"I've lost track of the days, being here. It's almost like the Crucifixion… everything is dated from the day we walked into the Twister. I forgot what the calendar said."

Seth looked at her knowingly. "Let me guess… you looked at the paper this morning, and got a look at the date. What is it – Scott's birthday? Oh Jesus Kate, don't tell me it's yours and you thought I wouldn't care?"

"No, it's not my birthday. Won't be for another few months, yet."

"Phew," Seth mock-sighed. "Make sure you tell me, and I'll get you something decent. Only turn eighteen once, right?"

Kate smiled a little, appreciatively. For a completely selfish jerkass criminal, Seth could be pretty nice, sometimes. "Like I said… it's stupid. But – my school, back in Bethel. It's Homecoming, tonight. I had so many plans for my senior year; I was even going to try to get on the Homecoming court."

Seth grinned. "Hey, I could totally see you as the Queen."

Kate snickered. "Texas, Seth. You don't get the crown without dating a star football player. But I was hoping for a nomination, anyway. I had my eye on a dress at Betty's – one that Daddy would make all sorts of noise about being too low-cut -"

"What, it actually showed that you had tits?" Seth snorted.

Kate shoved her shoulder against his, hard enough to actually make him lean. "Shut up. I was going to wear my highest heels, and dance until I got blisters. And if Kyle actually tried to feel me up, I'd let him."

Seth's lips were pressed together tightly, though the corners twitched, and his eyes danced with laughter.

"Yeah, go ahead and laugh. I'm sure yours was a total Bacchanalia."

Seth broke out into a rich chuckle, one that sent shivers up her spine. "Actually, it was more Hangover meets John Hughes. Maybe National Lampoon?"

He jumped off the sea-wall into the sand, then turned to face her. "C'mon."

Kate frowned at him.

"Can't you hear the music? That pair of sorority dropouts turned on their radio again? Dunno how they manage to get the Top 40 down here."

Kate stammered, "Y-yeah, I can hear the music, but…"

Seth grinned. "Come on. There's no gym or stupid streamers, but I can give you a dance, anyway."

Kate grinned back. For a completely selfish jerkass criminal, Seth Gecko could be downright sweet.

As Seth put his hand on her lower back, Kate ignored the way her skin came alive under his touch. That way lay madness – or at least, a supremely bad idea.

But she let herself relax as Seth skilfully danced her along the sand, and laughed at his tales of his own Homecoming, when his date had gotten wasted and puked down his shirtfront, and how he somehow got a lot more attention from the ladies when he'd stripped down to his undershirt (Kate could at least admit to relating to that), and how Richie had somehow manage to rig the Homecoming court voting so that Miss Piggy was voted in as Queen.

Seth danced with her along the beach and back down again, until the moon rose high in the sky, and made her laugh all the way back to their room.

Kate fell asleep that night smiling.