"Where's Kaycee?" Gabe said
"Hey Gabe what's up bro haven't seen you in like forever" Josh greeted
"Not now Price," Gabe said, "Where's my girlfriend?"
"Well that's an excellent question but I don't know," Josh said
"Bullshit, she's not in her apartment and you three always know where she is," Gabe said
"The girls had a girl's night out so we really have no idea where they wandered off to," Julian said to help clarify
"Sean!" Gabe called out as Sean panicked in his seat
"Yeah..." Sean answered
"You're Kaycee's best friend did she at least give you a hint?" Gabe asked
"Does he not..." Julian whispered to himself about how Gabe doesn't know Sean stole his girl
"I just know they intended on going to a club and the nearest one is several miles away," Sean said
"I see..." Gabe said starting to think of the possibilities of where the girls could be
"Well good seeing you, we'll let you know when they come back," Josh said trying to close the door on Gabe only for him to step his foot in the way
"I'll just wait here with you three until she comes back," Gabe said taking a seat at the counter
"Why so antsy? I'm sure you can just come back tomorrow morning" Julian said
"Yeah but I think I've been a bad boyfriend-"
"-Fiancé" Sean corrected
"Right, so when Tahani called me about a split I realized I really need to talk to her," Gabe said "You know before she starts messing around with other guys"
Sean was literally sweating now "Well we're just messing around playing games," Julian said being hospitable "Want a beer?"
"Sure," Gabe said as Josh passed him a beer
"I'm so fucked," Sean said to himself
Club
The girls had found a small seating area close to the dance floor but it was also close to the bar
"I'm so fucked up!" Tahani shouted as she waved her alcoholic beverage in the air "Woooo!!!!"
"She's cut off," Bailey said as Tati and Kaycee nodded in agreement
"But why!" Tahani whined leaning all over Bailey
"Because you're being all touchy-feely and you hate that," Bailey said, "It's only been like two hours!"
"Does she usually get like this when she drinks?" Tati asked out loud
"Only when something's bothering her," Kaycee said
"What's bothering her?" Tati said as Kaycee ignored her "Are you mad at me?"
"Bailey make sure Tahani drinks water can't have her just consuming alcohol," Kaycee said
"Will do," Bailey said standing up lifting Tahani with her "Let's go get some water Tahani"
"Are you my sister?" Tahani said as she let Bailey take her away
"Maybe one day now let's go," Bailey said referring to her and Josh's status as she leads Tahani away
"I don't know why you're mad at me but please just talk to me I missed you, Kaycee," Tati said to the girl next to her
"You said to your friends that and I quote, "They say beauty is on the inside and for Kaycee's sake I hope it's true because outside..." That's just mean for no reason" Kaycee said
"But that's-" Tati said
"- Oh, and another "The only person who will say they love Kaycee is her mom"" Kaycee said
"Kaycee..." Tati said
"Oh, there is more," Kaycee said
Sean and Julian's apartment
"Wow Sean is good at this game" Gabe commented as they played another round of their multiplayer game with Gabe joining in
"Only one that beats him is Kaycee," Julian said
"Speaking of Kaycee" Gabe brought up as Sean muttered "oh no" "I get the impression there's another guy in the picture"
Josh started laughing hysterically at the situation
"Like I know I've been gone but to try and break up with me when I'm not even here is not like Kaycee" Gabe explained "So there must be some guy that had to have influenced her somehow"
"If influenced you mean fell in love with then yeah" Josh whispered to himself
"So, tell me you all must have seen this guy at least once before, right?" Gabe asked the three
"No," both Julian and Sean said
"Bullshit," Gabe said easily hearing the lie "That means you know who it is"
"Look we do but we don't want to say as it's more Kaycee's right than ours," Julian said
"Come on Sean give me a hint," Gabe said as to Gabe if anyone would have a good idea on Kaycee's mystery man it would be her best friend
"Uh," Sean said
"Well I think he's a great guy," Josh said covering for Sean
"Yeah?" Gabe said curious to hear more shifting his focus from Sean to Josh
"Yeah one of the best guys I know, kind, loyal, smart easy to talk with," Josh said
"He's building you up," Julian said to Sean about what Josh is doing
"Tell me more" Gabe said
"Um... Good hair" Josh said after glancing at Sean
"You're going to have to get it over with, there's a chance Kaycee and them won't get back until like 3 am," Julian said
"I know but I'm scared," Sean said
"Of what? It's Gabe!" Julian said as Gabe wasn't the most imposing figure plus they know him pretty well to know he isn't the aggressive type
"I stole his girl! He trusted me to keep an eye on her while he was gone" Sean said
"And you did a little more than kept an eye on her" Julian commented
"I just don't know how he'll react," Sean said
"First Kaycee chose you," Julian said
"Because I confessed," Sean said
"True but that was long overdue," Julian said "Like a late library book"
"Get on with it," Sean said
"She didn't have to have had Tahani call it off for her sure I'll give Gabe that but Kaycee chose you because she loves you and I'm never seen you two happier, I'm legit jealous," Julian said as on some level every one of them in their friend group wanted that life partner
"And I'm super happy I'm with Kaycee it's just I feel like the bad guy," Sean said
"You see it as the guy who stole someone else's girl but let's flip it," Julian said "You saved a princess from a man who didn't really care for her"
"...I'm Shrek," Sean said understanding the reference
"Exactly," Julian said
"Did you really think calling me and Kaycee ogres would make me feel better?" Sean said
"Yes," Julian said
"What are you two talking about?" Gabe said overhearing Sean and Julian's mumbling
"... Wanna watch Shrek?" Sean asked in a panic
Club
"...You weren't supposed to hear that" Tati said after finding out Kaycee heard her behind her back in high school
"Well, I did!" Kaycee said "You were my best friend and talked behind my back! You might as well have just stabbed me and twisted the knife!"
"Kay, friends make fun of each other all the time!" Tati said from her point of view "I'm sure you've made fun of me or Tahani or any of your friends before"
"Not in a hurtful way like you did," Kaycee said "You're just a mean bitch"
"It wasn't hurtful it was true!" Tati said in spite as Kaycee was hurt by those words
"They don't have water here so I think it's time we go to another place," Bailey said as she returned and sat down as Tahani was dancing on the dance floor
"Whatever" Kaycee getting up and heading towards Tahani
"What happened?" Bailey asked
"Kaycee's still butt hurt about what happened SEVEN YEARS AGO!" Tati said saying that last part loudly for Kaycee to hear who ignored her
"You know Tati everyone is different just because it wouldn't affect you doesn't mean it wouldn't affect someone else," Bailey said "Everyone is built differently not necessarily stronger or weaker just differently"
Sean and Julian's apartment
"I'm going over to the girl's apartment to get some more drinks," Josh said getting up from his seat as the movie was winding down
"Wait you have a key?!" Gabe said
"I mean yeah, Tahani's my sister which means I'm her emergency contact person meaning I have spare keys to stuff such as her apartment," Josh said in a matter-of-fact tone "I'll be right back"
"I'll help you out," Sean said following Josh over to the apartment across the hall
Kaycee and Tahani's apartment
"You really shouldn't be drinking, you still got to go home," Sean said
"Relax when Bailey gets back she'll drive me back," Josh said as the girls have Josh's car
"Isn't she drinking too? Kaycee's the sober one tonight" Sean said as Josh briefly paused as Sean was right
"Hey man, you mind me crashing on your couch?" Josh asked as Sean just nodded his head at his friend
"Sure," Sean said
"So, when are you going to tell him?" Josh said as he digs in the refrigerator for drinks
"Does never sound good?" Sean said
"Bro, you have to tell him," Josh said, "When is better, the wedding or your first kid with Kaycee?"
"It's not a good time! Now we're just watching a movie what should I do pass him some popcorn and say "oh yeah I'm the one dating Kaycee"" Sean said
"Sounds good to me!" Josh said not seeing the issue in a half-true half-sarcastic tone
"I hate you," Sean said not appreciating the advice
"Look bro you can say it now or when Kaycee and everyone gets back, either way, he's going to find out tonight... this morning," Josh said as it was past midnight "Would you rather have him find out when Kaycee's here or before?"
"Before but-"
"-Then you just got to go in there and do it, just like I have to do with Bailey when we-" Josh said referring to something inappropriate
"-TMI" Sean said "And you're probably right"
"Alright let's go," Josh said as they head back across the hall each holding some drinks
"You think they'll be mad that we're stealing their drinks?" Sean asked
"They'll be too tired to tell," Josh said as they laughed and entered the other apartment
Sean and Julian's apartment
"Shhhh!" Julian shushed them before they made too much noise "He's sleeping!" pointing to Gabe who was asleep on the couch
"You got to be shitting me," Sean said
Club #2
"Part of me wants to stop this but I find this hilarious" Bailey said as the three girls watched a drunk Tahani navigate the club
"It's almost as if she has never gotten drunk before," Tati said
"Yeah, I've never seen her drunk now that you mentioned it," Bailey said
"She's only been drunk once before and that was her 21st birthday," Kaycee said "And even then, Josh was being all big brother so nothing happened to her, she did blackout though when we got back home though"
"Well let me get her some water," Bailey said as she stood up but not before whispering in Tati's ear "Apologize now!"
"Fine" Tati said as she took a breath to relieve any stress "Kay-"
"Oh, before I forget I got these tickets to a Justin Bieber concert, he's apparently doing a throwback tour," Kaycee said taking the tickets out her purse "I printed them out but I don't want to go so here you go"
"Oh, my god!" Tati screamed at the sight of her celebrity crush/favorite artist tickets in her hands
"What did you do?" Tahani said coming back over and laying all over Kaycee with her having a slight giggle in between her words
"I pranked Tati" Kaycee whispered in Tahani's ear
"You're not allowed to do that without Sean," Tahani said as the whole prank thing is more of a group effort not because they can't but it's more fun plus it's nice to bounce ideas off someone else to see if it's good or not
"Maybe you're rig-"
"-Oh well!!!" Tahani yelled as she stood back up and wandered to the dance floor
"I'll keep a closer eye on her" Kaycee said out loud only for Tati to zone her out because of the tickets
Sean and Julian's apartment
2:30 am
"Bailey just texted me saying they're coming back and should be here soon," Josh said
"And Gabe is still sleeping," Julian said pointing to sleeping guy "Really going to be a day when he wakes up"
"I should have just told him immediately," Sean said hitting himself over waiting too long
"Yeah you should have," Josh said in agreement
"You make me so mad sometimes," Sean said as Josh just smiled because he already knows he's like Sean's annoying little brother
"It's getting late you want to just sleep on the couch?" Julian said to Josh
"Yeah, I'll sleep here, Bailey can sleep next door," Josh said
"So, it's countdown time you can either wake up Gabe and tell him or wait until Kaycee gets here for you?" Julian said to Sean
"How much longer Josh?" Sean asked
"Based off what Bailey sent me I guess about 20 minutes from the building and then about 3 minutes up the stairs," Josh said
"Alright I'll give him 10 minutes to wake up before I do it for him," Sean said
Josh's Car
"Remind me to thank Josh for letting us use his car," Kaycee said to Bailey who was in the backseat with an asleep Tahani resting her head in Bailey's lap
"Sure," Bailey said as she crept up to the passenger side gap to whisper to Tati "You apologize yet?"
"No... I got distracted" Tati said referring to the tickets
"Do it now!" Bailey said
"Fine" Tati said "Hey Kay"
Kaycee continued to ignore Tati
"Ok still ignoring me, I'll just talk then," Tati said as she took a deep breath "The truth is back in high school... I was jealous of you..."
"Jealous of me? Tati, you were the popular one, head cheerleader, 4.0 GPA, karate club, prom queen" Kaycee said listing off Tati's high school resume
"I know but at the end of the day that's not who I wanted people to notice me," Tati said "You and Tahani already knew me from middle school so you never considered this but you were my first friends at school along with Bailey, we were like a girl squad"
"I always hated when you used that name to call us that" Bailey commented at their old group name
"And once Bailey started dating Kenny and our group joined his and Josh's I always felt comfortable," Tati said "I did not need to put up appearances I was always so dorky around you all"
"I know," Kaycee said as she remembers how her old best friend was
"And I never told you this but I formed crushes on all the guys in our group," Tati said "At different points of course"
"Why are you telling me this?" Kaycee said trying to find her point
"You never noticed but at least at one point each of the guys liked you" Tati said as Kaycee was mildly shocked, she knew Josh might have liked her but to imply Kenneth, Will, and the others did was new "And I was so angry because none of them even looked at me in that way"
"I didn't know," Kaycee said
"Me either" Bailey decided to say as she hears everything despite not being talked directly to
"Everyone wanted to be with Tati the popular girl who looked like a model and every guy wanted to be with, not Tati the dorky dancer who actually liked playing board games with her friends" Tati said "And here you were Kaycee Miss Weirdo Rice not that popular with the guys but managed to get every single boy I liked to look at her, so out of my jealousy, anger, annoyance, pettiness, I did say to a couple of people bad things I didn't truly mean about you in hopes that eyes directed at you would look at me, I'm sorry"
The mood changed, it wasn't the tension between two girls but one girl had a weight of a secret lifted off her while the other was getting adjusted to the new weight that put on her
The rest of the ride was fairly quiet with only Tahani's snoring and the New York city ambiance being heard on the car ride
It wasn't long until they got to the apartment building
"I'll go on ahead and let one of the guys know they need to carry Tahani," Tati said as she heads upstairs to get the boys
"So, what are you thinking?" Bailey said to Kaycee as they kept sitting as Tahani was still asleep on Baileys lap
"I know what it's like to be angry and to do things without meaning it but there are consequences to those actions," Kaycee said
"Yeah but the consequence was she lost you as a friend, the boys never did fall for her and she still searching for what she wants out here," Bailey said "And now she apologize so that means it's time for you to forgive her"
"You're right," Kaycee said "You're a good friend Bailey"
Kaycee and Tahani always thought of Bailey as their close friend and a part of the squad but Bailey was always a little hesitant as she just thought they were being nice because she was Josh's girlfriend, combined that with not really having girl time with them Bailey was a little insecure about their friendship
But after babysitting Tahani and giving Kaycee advice Bailey felt more at ease
"I know!" Bailey said as Kaycee laughed
"Alright, where's the sleeping witch?" Josh said as he came downstairs and approached the car
"It's sleeping beauty, Josh," Kaycee said correcting him on the fairytale
"I know what I said," Josh said as he casually lifts Tahani
"Alright I'm going upstairs I missed my bed and Sean," Kaycee said heading up
"In that order?" Bailey said
"Nope!" Kaycee said now out of earshot
"Did she drink too much?" Josh said as the two slowly made their way upstairs
"As if the last liquid on Earth," Bailey said as Josh just shook his head at his sister's actions, "Kaycee said this happens when somethings bothering her"
"Well, what's bothering you Tahani?" Josh asked
"She's sleeping" Bailey pointed out
"No, she isn't," Josh said as nudges to Tahani's grin on her face "She just wanted to be carried"
"Yep!" Tahani said "I am drunk though definitely going to feel this tomorrow, and Bailey good job on Kaycee and Tati"
"You were awake that long" Bailey said as Tahani just winked "Unbelievable"
"So again, what's wrong?" Josh said
"I don't know I guess I feel kind of guilty of taking the Anderson name, I don't even have any intentions on finding my birth parents anymore," Tahani said
"It's whatever you choose," Josh said "You're still my sister whether by name of the fact that legally you're a part of the Price family"
"You do what makes you comfortable," Bailey said
Sean and Julian's apartment
"So, this Gabe was engaged to Kaycee?" Tati said as she views the sleeping Gabe after getting caught up by Julian and Sean about the mysterious person she never met
"Yes, and we can't wake him up," Sean said
"So, you can tell him you're with Kaycee," Tati said
"And to get him out of our apartment," Julian said "Josh is already taking the couch, and I'm assuming you're with me"
"You got it, "Tati said giving him a wink
"Yeah so, we need to wake him before Kaycee gets here," Julian said
"I got this" Tati said as she went over warmed up her hand and slapped Gabe hard on the cheek
"OW!!!!!" Gabe shrieked as he holds his cheek as Tati backs away
"All yours Lew" Tati said
"Alright here we go," Sean said as he prepares himself "Gabe-"
"Honey I'm home!" Kaycee said playfully as she runs and hugs Sean "Always wanted to say that"
"Shit" Sean said as Kaycee was close enough to see Gabe on the couch and they make eye contact
"What the fuck!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabe De Guzman
@gabedofficial
Bio: Another LA Native who didn't go to the same schools as the other. He asked Kaycee out the old school way just walked up to her and asked her out and now they're engaged... not really.
(Sorry for not posting frequently I was struggling with this chapter for a long time and I got caught up trying to upload to my YT channel more consistently :P)
(And after all that I still have to do another part which was completely unintended as I was supposed to stop TOW Girls Night Out here lol)