This is a dream I legit had last night in which I was Caleb. This is what went down. I was just as confused as Caleb.
This is not important for plot purposes at all, I just wanted to write it.
Caleb was at a party. He wasn't sure whose party it was or why he was there but he was. It was dark and it seemed like he was in a bar. There were people drinking at the bar and the sound of happy laughter filled his ears. Caleb wandered around looking for something to do.
A short but curvy woman grabbed him by the shoulder and embraced him quickly.
"Come on," she said in a cheery voice. "Did you get anything to eat yet?"
Caleb shook his head no. He had just arrived. He didn't even know they were serving food. Not that he would have eaten anything anyway. He let himself be dragged down a long hallway past a kitchen and into a room with a long table full of food. The woman patted Caleb's back and left him alone with the tables.
He just stated at the them, the tables. There were chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, salad and an array of sauces. None which looked appetizing to Caleb. He stared just a little longer and then turned on his heel to leave.
Caleb wandered around the party mingling here an there with people he didn't recognize. Eventually he tired of all the talking and really all the nothing he was doing. He excused himself to go to the bathroom. He found his way to the men's room: a large, high ceiling-ed white room with tiled floors and walls. The there was a special room for waiting or something that was blocked off from the sinks and toilets by a wall with an archway in the center of it. Caleb looked around slightly confused and went into a stall.
He stood inside the stall for quite some time before he did anything. He was just breathing and taking in this odd situation he was in. He wasn't aware of the other people entering and exiting the bathroom as he stood in the stall. He was also unaware of the pair of un-moving shoes just visible from underneath the door to the stall. Finally when Caleb was able to breathe again he went on with his business. He jumped slightly when the toilet flushed itself. He took one last deep breathe before exiting the stall.
Standing before him was Seth. Caleb gasped and it felt like everything around him stopped. Caleb was pretty sure his heart skipped a beat. Seth just stared at him with a sad and longing look. Caleb made eye contact and it felt like they looked at each other for hours. Caleb must have looked surprised: his mouth frozen open in a breath that caught in his throat along with wide eyes. In reality the exchange lasted mere seconds before Caleb was saying a sheepish hello, and excusing himself to wash his hands.
"Hi," Caleb said, his voice soft in the loud echoing room. "Just give me a second." Caleb lifted his hands and gestured them in the directions of the sinks. Caleb made the few steps to the sink and washed his hands quickly. Caleb looked back to see Seth just looking at him. Caleb smiled before turning back to finish washing his hands. Caleb dried them on his pants and began to walk out of the bathroom letting Seth follow him out.
When they were outside the bathroom and away from the door Caleb ans Seth just stared at each other again. Caleb smiled almost giddily at Set before saying, "How have you been?" What he really meant was I miss you and I'm sorry.
Seth opened his mouth to speak when Caleb's father politely asserted his self into their conversation.
"Excuse me, Caleb. I'm so sorry; I don't mean to interrupt." Caleb's father placed on hand on Caleb's shoulder and the other on Seth's. Caleb felt him squeeze down and smiled weakly at Seth in apology. "But can I just borrow Caleb for a moment it won't be long. I promise."
Danny let his hands fall from the boys' shoulders and smiled with a slight bow as he left. Caleb followed him for a few steps but turned back to Seth who was turning away to sit at a nearby table. Caleb grabbed his elbow before he could get to far.
"Seth!" Caleb said to get Seth's attention, as if his hand, firm, on the other's elbow wasn't enough. "I'm sorry. I've got to- I'm sorry. It shouldn't be long," Caleb tried to explain although he wasn't even sure what he was going to do.
"Go," came Seth's reply. It was firm and shakily confident like Seth was disappointed in Caleb. Caleb was disappointed in his self.
"Thank you," Caleb said with a relieved face. "I'll be right back." Caleb paused to squeeze Seth's elbow. "Promise." Seth nodded like he understood.
Caleb went off to find his father who was at the bar talking to a man in a suit. Caleb smiled as he waved down his father. Caleb went on with his father to do whatever it was he had to do. Caleb tried to hurry it along but he couldn't escape his father no matter what he said. Finally after much protest, Caleb escaped and made his way back to the table that Seth had sat down at. Seth wasn't there. At first Caleb was worried; he didn't think he had been gone all that long. Then Caleb thought that maybe Seth got up to go the bathroom or get a drink or maybe Seth saw someone he knew and went to talk to them.
Caleb made his way through the party once, twice, three times and still no Seth. Caleb went back to the table where he had last seen Seth and sat down with a sigh. He guessed he wouldn't get a chance to talk to Seth after all. Caleb was kicking himself inside for not telling his father that he was busy talking to Seth and catching up but there was nothing he could do now. Caleb put his head into his hands and closed his eyes.
When Caleb woke up he rubbed at his eyes and looked around his room confused. He replayed his dream over in his head and felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had dreamt about Seth. Even in his dreams, Caleb couldn't escape. He flopped back down on his bed and shut his eyes tight trying to forget the odd interactions he had witnessed in his dream.
