Detoured

Her fingers slowly stilled over the strings of her guitar as the sound of the sound booth door slithering open suddenly grasped her attention. Glancing up she couldn’t help but mirror the friendly smile that was beaming at her from the doorway. Carefully she lowered her guitar from her lap and gently set it up against the empty stool beside her.

“Please, don’t stop on my account.” Kelly said, motioning her hands towards the guitar.

Chuckling shyly she rose to her feet. “Oh, I was just messing around. That was nothing.” She responded dismissively, nodding towards her guitar.

“Didn’t sound that way to me.” She couldn’t help but notice Kelly’s smile turn into a somewhat crooked grin as the Texan countered teasingly.

Rolling her eyes she shoved her hands inside of her pockets. “Oh whatever, you’re totally pulling my leg.”

The slightly shorter girl gave her a gentle nudge on the shoulder. “You should learn how to take a compliment Underwood.”

“That’s what that was?” She teased.

“Something like that.” She felt herself growing nervous as Kelly cocked her head to the side and studied her. “You’re nervous.” Kelly stated.

“What? No I’m not.”

Kelly’s smile grew wider. “Yes, you totally are. You get all…I don’t know, shy? You’re not really all that shy Care; I’ve been around you long enough to know that by now at least. And,” she paused, her eyes lowering to Carrie’s hands, “You only put your hands in your pockets when you’re nervous.” She couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her mouth when Carrie slid her hands from her pockets.

“I do not. I had nothing else to do with them so I just…oh just stop picking on me already.” She stuck her tongue out at the other girl as she lowered herself back down onto the stool.

Kelly laughed again and stepped towards the stool beside Carrie. Grabbing Carrie’s guitar by the neck she carefully maneuvered it over to the wall and placed it against it before turning and lowering herself next to the country singer.

“Teasing aside…what are you nervous about?” She wondered curiously.

Carrie shook her head. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

Kelly shot her a stern look. “Carrie…” She watched the girl shake her head at her again and lifted a brow in warning. “Don’t make me tickle it out of you.” She knew that would get her attention.

“Okay no, anything but that.” Carrie laughed, cracking a smile at the girl beside her. “It’s just,” She paused and slowly turned to face her, “We’re mixing the song today and adding any last minute details that we need and then it’s done and then…and then what?” She finished quietly.

Kelly nodded in understanding and gently placed her hand upon the other girl’s knee. “You’re worried about what happens once we’re finished with the track?” She questioned, gaining a nod from the other singer.

“I guess I didn’t really think about that before.” She replied somewhat sadly, “I’ve gotten kind of used to hanging out with you at the studio and stuff.” She frowned and glanced up at Carrie.

“Yeah, me too.” Carrie admitted quietly.

“Well I mean I’ll still be in Nashville for a while since I haven’t heard any word on when my tour will start so we could definitely hang out still while I’m here.”

Carrie gnawed at her bottom lip. “I’m not so sure Kate would exactly like that.”

“Why do you say that?”

She scoffed. “You have to ask? Come on Kel, the girl hates me.” Quickly she pushed up from the stool, Kelly’s hand sliding off of her thigh.

Kelly gazed up at her from where she sat. “She doesn’t hate you. That’s a bit extreme. She just doesn’t…”

“Like me.” Carrie finished for her. “And hell, I can’t really say I blame the girl; she thinks there’s more between us than we’re letting on.” She shook her head.

Finally Kelly pushed up from the stool. “But there isn’t anything going on. As much as I have to drill that into the girl's head she knows that.”

Carrie shook her head again. “Right.” She mumbled almost inaudibly.

“What’s wrong, Care?” She asked, reaching out and touching her wrist.

She heard the low sigh from the country singer. “You don’t get it.” Carrie said in frustration.

Kelly dropped her hand from Carrie’s wrist as their eyes locked. “Get what?”

"This." Carrie managed to let out in a whisper before slowly inching her way closer to Kelly and closing the short space between them.

Before she could change her mind and before Kelly could even comprehend it, her lips were gently grazing the other girls. To her surprise Kelly hadn't shown any resistance and hearing the faint sound of the girls breath hitching she allowed her eyes to shut as she pressed her lips more firmly against the other pair. Gradually Kelly's eyes fluttered shut upon feeling the added pressure Carrie had applied against her lips and instinctively she found herself leaning in even closer and pressing back with just as much effort. Within a matter of seconds a kiss that had started out so tenderly had quickly turned into something more as both girls parted their lips and allowed themselves to begin a fiery battle.

Suddenly Carrie pulled back. "Shit, I-I'm sorry Kel. I promised myself I wouldn't do that, I'm a freaking idiot. I'm so sorry." She apologized repeatedly.

Dazed Kelly shook her head. "No..." She shook her head again while letting her breathing steady. "No, it's fine, I...it's fine."

"No it's not, I shouldn't have done that. I...you...I'm sorry." She apologized again.

Kelly opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. The sound of the studio door opening caused them both to look away from one another.

"Hey ladies, you're here early. Y'all ready to get to work?"

Turning their heads away from their current producer their eyes locked again for a brief moment before they both spoke up.

"Yeah." Carrie mumbled.

Kelly clapped her hands together and managed a smile. "Yeah, let's do this."