When Franklin had announced that the theme of the Halloween Bash was Under the Sea Kelly had been unreasonably excited.

Firstly, the Little Mermaid was her favourite movie, so she always had a soft spot for anything ocean or mermaid themed. Secondly, she hadn't actually gotten to go to any of her high school dances when she was younger, don't even talk about her prom, so she sort of felt like this was her chance to experience something like that. Thirdly, she was kind of hoping that she could spend more time with Franklin, in a less-than-official capacity.

Maybe they'd even get to dance a bit.

The decorations, themselves, had been made by Elsa, except for the back-drops. These were big pieces of board that had been drawn and painted and then shaved down. She had no idea who did them, they had just appeared one day and no one would tell her where they came from.

But they all smiled at her like they had some big secret they were keeping her out of, which was super annoying.

The decoration committee consisted of Elsa, Franklin, Elouise and Cooper. Elsa and Franklin conceptualized, Elouise and Cooper put everything together.

Kelly, in Franklin's absence, was to ensure that everything was going up at the right pace and in the right place.

Today they were working on draping the translucent sheets of seaweed from the ceiling. Yesterday they had draped all the glass spun bubbles, you know to create an underwater atmosphere.

Franklin had gone for lunch an hour ago, but had been very clear that he was going to be back as soon as possible. Which was odd, you'd think he'd want to have a long lunch with his girlfriend, but honestly he had been brushing Selena off for the last few weeks.

Kelly kept trying to urge him to go lest she start blaming her for why he wasn't going to lunch with her anymore. So while he was off having lunch, Kelly was in the grand ballroom helping to get everything up and done.

She was in there with Cooper, Elouise was too busy to help that day, and it was mostly just Cooper going up on the ladder with the piece of iridescent fabric, and Kelly holding the ladder straight.

"So..." Cooper started as he climbed his way up the ladder for the millionth time that hour. "You going to the dance?"

"Yes," Kelly answered. "The way Franklin talks about it you'd think it's mandatory to go."

"Yeah well... the whole town shows up, we all get to have a party, it's a big deal," Cooper said and Kelly found herself nodding. Yeah, she kept hearing about how big a deal this dance was.

"You going with anyone?"

Kelly glanced up to Cooper and found that his eyes were pointed at the ceiling. She could tell though, by the pinkness of his neck though, that he was blushing. So he was avoiding looking at her, probably because of the question.

"Nope," she said. "Is that something you guys do? Go with dates?"

"Well... kinda. Tinker sometimes goes with Anna, or my mom, Franklin goes with his girlfriend of the season, I think Elsa's going with Chris..."

"Who?"

"Dr. Vaneer. You didn't know his name was Christopher?"

No, Kelly had not known that. She just called him Dr. Vaneer.

"The Callum's go together every year..."

"So that just leaves me and you I guess," she said to him.

"Yeah," he said as he hopped down from ladder. This time he held her gaze when he asked: "You wanna go with me?"

It was kinda clear that he didn't have any other options other than her, but she tried not to take that personally.

"Sure," she said.

"Great it's a date!" Cooper cried. Oh, she hadn't realized that was what she was agreeing too. She thought this was more of a friends situation, since he clearly had no other options. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go have my lunch."

Then he just walked around her. Kelly turned to watch him go and found that Franklin was coming into the ballroom, his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Cooper as he walked past. The two men nodded at one another before Franklin walked towards her.

"It's looking good," he said and then offered her a little container with a cupcake in it. Her favourite kind no doubt. She tired to say thank you but he just forged on forward. "Just gotta get the lights working and we're done." She nodded at him and Franklin cleared his throat. "Uh... what had him all excited?"

"I unno if I would say excited..."

"I know him. He was excited."

Huh. Weird. Kelly wasn't sure how she felt about that. She liked Cooper but not in a romantic capacity. Nothing against him, she just... apparently only had eyes for Franklin. Maybe this would be good for her, get her mind off of the mayor who she shouldn't be interested in at all.

"He only asked me to the dance," she said with a shrug.

She didn't miss the nervous smile fade right off of Franklin's face. "Did he?" he murmured. "And you said yes?"

He was staring right at her, his eyes boring into her. She wasn't sure why he would be upset about that.

"I did," she said. "He made it clear that everyone pairs off... no one else would be available..." she mused her eyes staying on Franklin and all the emotions that seemed to be playing on his face. If only she knew what they were. "Why? Does it matter?"

"No," he said quickly. "Was just wondering."

He finally tore his eyes away from her, seemingly more interested in the ballroom now. "Uh... I'm going to have you up in my office, I want you to organize some of my paperwork, specifically purchase orders. And uh... I have something to deal with at the Silk Road."

"Oh! Speaking of, could you pick up my costume?" she asked. "I was supposed to go today, but honest, by the time I'm done here I'll be too tired."

It was a lie, honestly, but she just wanted him to look at her again, and with that request he finally did.

"Uh... sure..."

"I mean... since you're already going... if you don't want to that's fine, maybe we can go together..."

"No," he said altogether too quickly. Okay, so he didn't want her going with him, she was trying not to let that sting. "I uh... I really need that paperwork sorted... and I don't mind picking up your costumes."

"Right, well thanks," she said as they both made their way to the ballroom. "Do you want them organized by date?"

"Yes," he said stiffly. "I'll be back soon... you can have your lunch then."

She thanked him and then headed up to his office as he headed back to the door. It wasn't until she got into the office that she realized that he had just been out for lunch. Why had he come back to the mansion instead of going straight to the Silk Road? He must have walked right past it to get back here.

But it was too late to ask him.