Irreconcilable Differences

++++++++



Kelly knocked on the door tentatively. They had been told by his secretary to go right on up, that he was waiting for them, which was never a good sign.



"Come in," the voice called from the other side.



Kelly opened the door, walking into the room, followed close by Carrie.



"Please, sit," Clive smiled, motioning to the chairs before him. The two shared a confused look, but did as they were told. Kelly could feel herself starting to relax at the smile, but she knew better than to let her guard down with him.



"It seems we have a little problem on our hands," Clive said, grabbing a stack of magazines from the counter and spreading them out on his desk in front of them. Kelly and Carrie were on every cover with similar pictures to that last article they had read. However, there were some new ones that looked a hell of a lot more incriminating. There was a couple from the bowling alley of Carrie sitting on Kelly's lap. There were even some from the hospital of when Carrie had gone after Kelly to comfort her.



Kelly frowned. This wasn't fair to either of them. It was one thing when they paired her with some guy that she didn't even know. It was another for them to do this which could do so much more damage, not just with them and their careers, but with their family as well.



"This is bull shit," Kelly said. "They have no right to do this. And since when are there so many damn paparazzi in Texas, anyway?"



"Since word got out that Carrie was staying with you," he answered, grabbing a remote. "But wait, there's more."



Kelly eyed him carefully as he turned on a flat screen t.v. that was attached to his back wall.



"And the top story tonight," the female host of the entertainment news talk show announced. "The secret affair between the two top Idols appears to be more than just every man's fantasy."



They went to a clip of Carrie on the red carpet at the Christmas event.



"Oh God," Carrie whispered.



"Help but fall in love with the girl," the Carrie on the screen gushed. "She truly is just an amazing, beautiful person, with such a talent and a huge heart."



Clive clicked off the television. Kelly turned to Carrie, raising an eyebrow.



"They had asked about the necklace," she explained bashfully.



"It was sweet," Kelly replied with a reassuring smile, only making her blush even more.



Clive cleared his throat, gaining their attention once again.



"So, why'd you call us here?" Kelly asked, turning back to him.



"I thought that much would be obvious," he replied, motioning to the magazines before him.



"Let me guess," Kelly sighed. "You now want us to stop hanging out together, so the rumors will subside. Then, they'll think we're fighting, so we'll start hanging out again. Then more rumors, so we'll stop. Look, I'm not gonna do that to her. Our friendship means way too much to me."



Clive just smiled at her.



"What?"



"Yes, that was why I called you two here...initially."



"Initially?" Carrie asked, not liking the tone of his voice.



"Yes, it means--"



"Don't treat her like she's stupid," Kelly interrupted. "She knows what it means. She meant why did you say it like that?"



Clive's smile only widened, "This is gonna work wonderfully. I mean, there you are, already defending her. It's sweet, really," he nodded, taking a sip from whatever was in his mug.



"What's gonna work?" she asked nervously.



"You two."



Kelly just raised a questioning eyebrow.



"Together," he replied. "You two together. It really has a certain quality to it."



"Together?" Kelly asked.



He motioned to the magazines before him once more.



"Uh, I'm not sure I'm following," Kelly replied.



"Me either," Carrie agreed.



"You see at first, I was worried about the serious backlash that this rumor would bring about. You'd lose fans and endorsements and money--"



"And of course money is the only thing that matters," Kelly muttered under her breath, making Carrie giggle.



"But my advisors have gotten back to me, and it seems, that this may not be a bad thing after all. Taking a look at all the blogs, and magazines, and websites, it appears, the overall response to this is overwhelmingly positive."



"So..." Carrie pressed.



"So, I take it you two have tried to dispel the rumors?"



"Yea," Kelly nodded. "But you know how they are, once they set their mind a certain way, there's no changing it."



"So then don't," Clive said.



"Huh?"



"Don't change their minds. Let them go on believing."



"Let them believe that Carrie and I are a couple?" Kelly asked. "But sir, we're not."



"So? Where's the harm in letting the reporters have their fun? Nobody's getting hurt. The only thing that changed is that y'all have a whole new audience. Well, at least Carrie does," he laughed, dryly. "Kelly always had quite the gay following."



"I'm not lying to my fans," Kelly frowned.



"Me either," Carrie said.



"Who said anything about lying? I'm just saying, just keep doing what you two are doing. Maybe, show just a touch more affection."



"And if they ask whether or not we're together? Cause if we said yes, that would be a lie," Kelly pointed out.



"Then just don't answer. Just smile that smile of yours that everybody loves, and move on to the next question."



"That would be leading them on," Carrie replied.



"And the harm in that would be?" Clive asked. "Look, I'm not asking you to do anything drastic. Just hold hands, which you already do. Hug each other, which you already do. Kiss each other, which you already do, but how about on the lips every now and then."



"I didn't even kiss my actual boyfriends in public," Kelly pointed out. "My fans would know something was up."



"And you've also said that you've never been in love," Clive reminded her. "Maybe they'll think this time is different."



"You can't make us do that," Carrie broke in, sensing Kelly's uncomfortableness rising, knowing how she felt about kissing.



"I'm not making you do anything," he replied. "I'm just suggesting it. Just like I suggested to Candie's that they renew your contract, Carrie. Or, just like I'll suggest how brilliant your next album is, Kelly."



"I'm getting really tired of you throwing that in my face as a bargaining tool," Kelly said, growing angry. "You realize this is like blackmail, right?"



"It's just a suggestion."



"This is ridiculous! I either lie to my fans or spend the next few years in hell, all over again."



"Do you think you could go through all that again?" Clive asked, curiously. "Because I remember you being pretty burnt out for a while there. Then again, those always make the best songs."



"You hated those songs," Kelly pointed out.



He just shrugged with a smirk.



Kelly could feel her blood boiling.



"Um, but what would happen if they find out?" Carrie interrupted before Kelly could do something she'd regret. "I mean, they're bound to find out, and when they do, won't the backlash be worse than the initial gain of it all?"



"How can they find out?" Clive asked. "We are the only three that know about this conversation. Besides, like I said, technically, you won't be lying."



"What about our family and friends?"



"Let them believe what they want," he shrugged.



"I'm not gonna do that to them," Kelly replied.



Clive looked at the two of them curiously. "Kelly, do you mind stepping out for a second? I would like to speak with Carrie alone."



"Yea, I mind," she replied, looking at Carrie worriedly, remembering the look on her face the last time she was asked to leave them alone.



"It's ok," Carrie broke in.



"You sure?"



"Yea," Carrie nodded.



Kelly gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before she walked out of the room.



"It's touching, really it is, how much you care for each other," Clive commented. "I mean, it's like a regular Hallmark card. She didn't want to leave because she doesn't want me to upset you or use you in any way. And you will do as I say, because you don't want her career to go down the drain."



"What are you talking about?" Carrie asked.



"You will do this. If not, well, everybody knows that the industry isn't doing too well, and we've been thinking about downsizing lately."



"You wouldn't."



"It's not like her last album was a hit."



"Ugh, yea, it was," Carrie reminded him. "It debuted at number two in this country, and number one in the world with three top ten songs. Mine didn't even do that."



"Yea, but if I say it wasn't a hit, then people will believe that it wasn't. They don't remember stats or what not."



"That would just be stupid," Carrie replied. "You know how much money you would lose? Especially since she'd get picked up by another label at the drop of a hat, and they'd let her make the albums she wants while supporting her, so she'd be right back at number one where she belongs, beating out all of your robots."



"You know, the majority of people out there don't want to work with a brat."



"She's not a brat," she pointed out.



"I know that. She's actually one of the sweetest people that work here--"



Carrie gave him a curious look.



"I realize that the only reason she is like she is with me is because she's fighting for what she believes in. I've talked to her outside of this mess, and yes, she really is a genuine person. But once again, it's my word that people listen to. And like I asked her earlier, do you think she could handle another couple of years like that, having to fight for every inch that she deserves?"



"No one will believe you. They know Kelly. They know how great of a person and a talent she is."



"Are you willing to bet her career that? How about her well being on the fickleness of this industry?" Clive asked, a twinkle in his eye.



++++++++



Kelly stood from her spot on the floor where she was leaning against the wall as Carrie exited to office room.



"What'd he say?" she asked curiously, her face falling at the look in Carrie's eyes. "What's wrong?"



"I'm sorry," Carrie said, shaking her head, her eyes swimming with tears.



"Hey, it's ok," Kelly quickly assured her. She had never been one to know how to handle tears. "Um, look, come see," she said, leading her into an empty room.



"Kell, I'm so sorry," Carrie repeated, tears now falling. "Please don't be mad at me. I don't want you to be mad at me."



"I'm not gonna be mad at you," Kelly assured her, rubbing her arms comfortingly. "Just tell me what happened."



Carrie couldn’t meet her eyes.



"Come here," Kelly said, pulling her into a hug. She could feel the warm tears that weren't her own against her cheek. "Now what's got you so upset?" she asked, pulling back some, wiping Carrie's tears away.



"I told him we’d do it. I knew you didn't want to," Carrie explained, her breathing shallow. "I knew you were gonna be pissed, but I couldn't say no."



"What did he tell you?"



"He threatened to ruin you and your career, and Kell, I couldn't let him do it. I wasn't gonna let him put you through all that again," Carrie sniffed.



Kelly laughed softly as she pulled her into another hug, "It's ok. I'm not mad at you."



"But you seemed so upset earlier."



"At Clive, not you," Kelly pointed out, brushing Carrie's hair out of her face, revealing her sparkling eyes. "I couldn't be mad at you. Especially, since I know that you were just looking out for me. I just can't believe he'd use that against you. That's pretty low, even for him."



"But you seemed like you'd rather swim with sharks than pretend to date me," Carrie said, unable to hide the hurt in her voice.



"Care," Kelly smiled sadly. "That's not it all."



Carrie's eyes fell to the ground.



"Carrie, you know I love ya to death, and that I see you as one of my closest friends," Kelly said. "I just...I hate this whole mess. It's almost as if all of this, our friendship and everything, has been based on one big lie, you know? It's all a big facade for publicity, and you know how I feel about that whole scene. I'd rather swim with sharks than turn into one of those girls and have our relationship seem like it means nothing."



"Oh," Carrie sighed. "You do know, that this isn't some big lie. You are probably my greatest friend. You know that, right?" she asked, worriedly.



"Yea, I know," Kelly smiled. "And again, I'm not mad at you. You just did what you thought was right, and you stood up for what you thought was important while risking your own career if this fails. The girl I knew a month ago would never have done that, and I am so proud of you right now."



"Even if it means we're royally screwed?" Carrie asked.



"Even if it means we're royally screwed," Kelly nodded with a laugh.



"Look, it's been a long morning," Carrie sighed. "And stressful, and tense, and aggravating, and can I have another hug?"



Kelly laughed sweetly, as she wrapped her arms around the country singer again, allowing herself to melt into the comforting embrace as they just stood there, holding each other.



++++++++



"So, I'll see you for New Years Eve?" Kelly asked as they announced the last call to board her flight back to Texas.



"Of course," Carrie smiled.



"And I was serious about bringing some of your friends," Kelly said. "They've got to be pretty cool to be hanging out with you."



"True," Carrie nodded, making her laugh. "So I'll see you in about a week."



"Definitely," Kelly replied, accepting the hug that she offered. Carrie kissed her forehead, lingering slightly, making Kelly's face flush as her heart skipped.



"Thanks for everything," Carrie said, pulling away, but keeping her in her arms. "You know, letting me stay at your house and putting up with me when I was being a crazy bitch and all that."



"It was nothing," Kelly laughed. "I'm gonna miss ya."



"You too kid," Carrie smiled, hugging her once more. "I guess we'll have to work on that kissing thing the next time I see you, huh?" Carrie whispered in her ear, making her giggle nervously.



"See ya around Clarkson," Carrie winked as Kelly picked up her bags, trying to convince her cheeks to return to their normal color.



"Bye," Kelly replied, her heavy twang coming out as it always did in that farewell.



Carrie laughed as Kelly walked away, turning back to wave cutely before going through the gate.