Playing With Fire

++++++++++



Silence.



"So," Kelly said.



"So," Carrie repeated.



More silence.



"Awkward," Kelly sang out, making the two girls giggle.



"But seriously," Carrie smiled. "Desideratum? Is that even a word?"



"Yea. I would never cheat."



"Oh yea?" Carrie countered, turning her body to look at Kelly. "Well then, what does it mean?"



Kelly turned to where they were face to face. She had a slight smile playing on her lips, "Something greatly desired to a point where it becomes a necessity."



Carrie couldn't help herself as she leaned forward, kissing Kelly softly. Kelly jumped up, pulling away quickly.



"So, um," she laughed nervously. "What do you think of Jason?"



"He seems really great," Carrie replied, unsure of what had just happened. "Kel, is everything ok?"



"What? Yea, everything's fine. Just fine..." her voice faded as Carrie stood up as well. She was close, way too close.



"Kelly?" Carrie asked, reaching for her hand. Kelly backed away quickly.



"It's getting late. Maybe we should get to bed. You know like Jason said, nobody likes a cranky Kelly," she forced an uneasy laugh. She couldn't bare to look Carrie in the eyes, and see the hurt that was there, knowing that she was the one that had caused it.



"Is it something I did?"



"No, everything's fine," Kelly said sarcastically. "I'm just alone, in my hotel room, kissing a girl!"



Carrie cringed as Kelly raised her voice, but she didn't reply, sensing that the brunette was on the verge of hysterics.



"I mean, do you know how wrong this is?" she continued. "Do you know how many people will be affected by this? Not to mention our careers and--"



She was cut off by Carrie's lips crashing down on hers. Kelly froze in Carrie's arms, not wanting to react and kiss her back, but it seemed as if her lips had a mind of their own. Carrie's hands on her back were burning a hole through her thin tank top. Carrie pulled her closer, and she couldn't hide the moan that escaped her lips. Carrie pulled away with a smile, the both of them breathing heavy. She placed her forehead against Kelly's.



"There's only one thing that matters," she whispered.



"And what's that?"



Carrie took Kelly's hands and placed one against her heart, and the other against her own. Kelly smiled at the feeling of the two hearts racing together.



"This," Carrie said simply.



"Carrie, I--" Kelly stopped, letting her hands fall.



"What? What is it?"



"This isn't just some game to me, you know? Some experiment."



"I know--"



"And I guess, I just want to make sure that your in this...for real. Cause I don't want to get into something that's just gonna get me hurt, because honestly, you could hurt me...so bad, and that scares me to death."



"Kel," Carrie smiled gently. "I know it's going to be hard. Honestly, at times it will be hell, but none of that matters. I'd deal with anything as long as your next to me. I'm in this. I'm in it for real."



"Really?"



"Kelly," Carrie's smiled widened.



"Yea?" she asked nervously.



"Will you be my girlfriend?"



"Yes," she breathed, barely above a whisper.



"What?"



"Yes," she beamed. She stood up on her toes, kissing Carrie through a smile.



"So," Carrie smiled, pulling away. "Is it bed time yet?"



"If you mean time for sleep, then yea."



Carrie frowned, looking for her shoes.



"That doesn't mean you can't stay," Kelly grinned as she climbed into bed.



"Really?" Carrie asked hopefully.



Kelly patted the spot next to her on the bed. Carrie rushed over, sliding under the covers to join her.



++++++++



Carrie woke up the next morning freezing cold. She stretched lazily, searching for the covers but came up with nothing. She opened her eyes and turned over to find Kelly curled into a tiny ball with all the blankets and sheets wrapped around her. Carrie laughed; it was officially impossible to be mad at the Texan.



She slid over to Kelly's side of the bed, and climbed over her, settling down to straddle her waist. Carrie smiled at the sight of Kelly waking up. She arched her back in a stretch, yawning loudly. Her eyes finally fluttered open. She had the hugest grin on her face.



"Am I in heaven?" she asked, looking up at Carrie. Her voice even raspier than normal, sending shivers down the blonde's spine.



"I don't think so, why?"



"Because you are the most beautiful angel I have ever seen," Kelly replied with complete honesty.



Carrie pretended to be shocked, "Who knew Kelly Clarkson was a romantic?"



"Hey," she fussed. "I was being serious."



"I know," Carrie replied, leaning down and planting a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. "And that is why you are my girlfriend."



The huge grin returned at Carrie's words. Kelly wrapped her arms around Carrie's waist, pulling her down on top of her. She held on tight, snuggling into her.



"What time do we have to get up?" Carrie asked, laughing at Kelly's behavior.



Kelly tried to respond, but her voice was muffled against Carrie's skin as she snuggled deeper into the crook of her neck. Carrie's eyes closed involuntarily at the feeling.



"Try again," she replied, shakily.



She felt Kelly open her mouth against her neck once more. Carrie pushed herself up in order to look down at the brunette who was looking up at her innocently. She really had no idea how she affected Carrie.



"In about...now," Kelly smiled.



"What do you mean now?"



"Well," she turned to look at the clock. "It's 9 o'clock. My ride leaves at 9:30. So, Jason and Ashley should be here any minute."



"What?"



Kelly shrugged.



"Is it ok that I'm here?" Carrie asked, on the verge of panicking.



"I wouldn't be happy if you were anywhere's else."



Carrie smiled; she could definitely get used to this new side of Kelly.



"I know, but I mean, what will they say?"



Kelly shrugged once more, "Just say that you stayed to talk, and when we were through, it was too late for you to go back to your hotel by yourself."



"And where did I sleep?"



"Carrie, haven't you ever had friends stay at your house when you were younger?"



"Well, yea."



"And where did they sleep?"



"In the guest room," she replied.



"Ok, well, for those of us without those luxuries, our friends usually shared a bed with us. It's not a big deal."



"Are you sure?"



"Positive," Kelly said with a smile, leaning up. Carrie knew what she was after, and gladly gave her what she wanted. Just as Kelly's lips parted, giving Carrie better access, there was a knock at the door. The two begrudgingly pulled apart.



"One second!" Kelly yelled.



"I take it that it wasn't normal for you to be making out with your friends in your bed," Carrie smiled.



"This would definitely be a first."



"And not a last?"



"Definitely not a last," she replied, kissing her gently.



Another knock on the door.



"Damn it Jason! Hold on!"



Carrie couldn't help but laugh at how Kelly could go from being so sweet to so pissed off in a matter of seconds.



"You should probably get up," Kelly pointed out.



"Make me," Carrie raised an eyebrow.



"Now, while I would love to do that," her eyes danced giddily, "I don't think it would be appropriate with my brother standing outside the door."



"He could watch," she replied, leaning down, this time letting her entire body fall on top of Kelly's. A soft noise escaped the shorter girl's lips.



"Carrie..." she warned, her voice raspy once again.



"Fine," the blonde pouted, rolling off of her. Kelly raced through the hotel room, grabbing a pair of torn jeans and a t-shirt. She ran into the bathroom, coming out seconds later.



"And you still look beautiful," Carrie smiled, clearly impressed.



"Yea, ok," Kelly rolled her eyes, letting Carrie into the bathroom to change. She opened the door quickly.



"Hey, Jay, I'm sorry. We overslept--" she stopped in mid-sentence, realizing that it wasn't her brother Jason at the door. In fact, she didn't know the guy, although he did look vaguely familiar. The guy looked like he hadn't slept all night as he glared down at her, clearly pissed. Kelly took a step away from the door.



"Can I help you?" she asked nervously.



"Where is she?" he demanded.



"Who?" Kelly asked confusedly.



"Carrie. Where is she?" his lips were turning white from being pursed so firmly.



"Carrie!" Kelly called out uneasily.



"Yea?" she asked, walking out of the bathroom, she had borrowed a shirt and a pair of capris from Kelly--obviously pants would have been too short. Kelly couldn't hide the smile that crept up at the sight of Carrie wearing her clothes, but her thoughts were soon interrupted at the sound of the man, rapping his fingers agitatedly against the door frame.



"It's for you," she replied, pointing to the door.



Carrie walked over curiously, but froze at the sight of the man waiting for her.



"Chris," she greeted shakily.



"Let's go. Now."