Playing With Fire

++++++++



"Kelly."



"Narvel," she replied on the phone, mocking his seriousness, making him laugh.



"Can we talk?"



"It's five in the morning."



"I thought it was eight over there," he replied confusedly.



"I'm in L.A." she laughed.



"For what?"



"Promo."



"Oh," he laughed. "I knew that. So can we talk?"



"Do I have a choice?"



"About the party."



"The Narvel is the coolest manager in the world party?" Kelly asked innocently.



"Nice try," he smiled, "but no. Carrie's party."



"Yea, I figured," she frowned.



"I think you should go."



"But you know the only reason he sent me an inv-"



"I know, but I think you should. It's a red carpet event, so the press wouldn't hurt your album. Not to mention, maybe if you show your face, they'll back off for a little while. Plus, I thought you and Carrie were friends? You should be there for her. I mean, this is a big deal, and you know how important it is to be surrounded by real friends for stuff like this."



Kelly took a deep breath, "Narvel, I trust you, you know that, right?"



"Yes."



"So, if you really think this is something I should do..."



"I really think it is," he replied.



"Then I'll go."



"Are you sure? Because if you really don't want--"



"No," she said firmly. "I'll go. I should go."



"Good. Well, I got to get going. I'm supposed to be at the office right now."



"Ok, I'll talk to you soon."



"Bye."



"Bye."



+++++++++



Carrie looked in the mirror nervously. Mammoth butterflies were waging a war in her stomach. So many things could go wrong that she was starting to regret her decision of sending Kelly that invitation. For one, she could just not show up which would mean that what Carrie spent the past few nights crying herself to sleep over was true--they really were over. Or, she could show up and Clive would raise hell, wondering what she was doing there, because Carrie hadn't cleared it with anyone before she sent Kelly the invitation. Or Kelly could show up, only because she felt obligated, and completely ignore her all night, which Carrie thought would probably be worse than her not going at all.



She stood from the make-shift make up chair in her hotel room, eyeing her reflection. Her black dress was short, her heels high, her v-neck low. Carrie silently wondered when she had started to allow herself to dress like this because the girl she used to be would probably look at her in disgust right now, but apparently, it's what sells. Her hair was pulled back messily with an escaped curl framing her face.



Then, of course, there was always the chance-the one in a billion chance-that things could go amazingly right, and by the end of the evening, she would be back in the southern girl's arms once more, where she knew she belonged. Tears sprang to her eyes at the thought of the warmth that surrounded her when she held Kelly next to her. She wiped them away quickly at the knock on the door.



"Carrie?" Chris asked, poking his head in.



"Yea?" she asked, turning around, frowning as his eyes took her body in.



"Your date's here."



"Date? I don't have a date," she said, confusedly.



"Well, we thought, that since this whole shindig is for you, that you should have a little arm candy. Someone to share the evening with, you know?"



"And did nobody stop to think that that decision should be made by me? I mean, who's running my life now because I seemed to have lost that privilege a long time ago."



"Look, it's no big deal Care--"



"You don't get to call me that," she said quickly, her eyes fierce.



"Sorry," he apologized, eyeing her carefully. "But it's no big deal. You walk the carpet with him. You dance with him. No big."



"Who?"



"Who?" Chris asked, nervously, trying to stall.



"Is there an echo?"



"So you're in one of those moods..."



"Answer the question Chris," she demanded. "Who's slave am I tonight?"



"Tony."



++++++++



"I don't think--" Kelly began.



"No," Ashley frowned. "You are not second guessing yourself now. Besides, I did not get all dressed up tonight just to sit in this hotel room."



"But-"



"No."



"What-"



"No."



"She-"



"No."



Kelly folded her arms in a pout, making Ashley laugh as she applied the finishing touches to Kelly's hair.



"Sometimes I amaze myself," Ashley smiled.



"Nah, I always knew you were good," Kelly replied, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "Besides, if you start to suck, I could just fire you," she smiled.



Ashley scoffed, taking a swipe at Kelly, but missed as the blonde quickly jumped from the chair.



+++++++++



Carrie wrung her hands nervously as the limo door opened, and an all to familiar hand reached in for her. She took the hand, allowing Tony to help her out onto the red carpet where they were met with hundreds of flashing bulbs going off left and right. The reporters were going crazy with questions about the couple. Carrie didn't hear one of them ask about the album.



She gave one last fake smile before Tony ushered her into the building where the party was being held.





++++++++



Kelly smiled nervously as the flashes went off around her. She answered the questions, not remembering a single one that was asked her. She gave Ashley the nod that was the single that she was ready, and she was escorted inside the building.



++++++++



"Let's dance," Tony smiled, offering his hand.



"Look, I don't know what they told you, but I'm not interested," Carrie said, frowning at the outstretched hand.



"Not interested?" Tony smiled. "Please. You can't resist."



He took her hand in his and led her into the room that was designated for dancing. A familiar song began to play over the speakers, but Carrie couldn't quite put her finger on it as she let herself fall into a rhythm with Tony. The voice complimenting the music surrounded the room, and Carrie froze.



"This is my song?" she asked in disbelief.



"Well, yea," Tony smiled. "This is your party."



"But it's supposed to be a ballad," she replied.



"Don't worry about it," he said, placing his hands on her hips to make her start moving again. "They probably just did a remix to make it danceable for tonight."



"Yea," Carrie nodded. "Probably so."



++++++++++



"Have any whiskey?" Kelly asked the bartender, her nerves still on warp speed.



"Chivas?" he offered with a laugh, realizing who she was.



"Ah, smooth one," she couldn't help but smile back. "That would be perfect."



"And hey," he said, handing her the glass. "If you write a song tonight, make sure to thank me in the liner notes, alright?" he winked.



"Alright," she nodded, trying not to giggle.



"Starting early?" Ashley laughed, looking at the drink in Kelly's hand.



"No, I just need to relax a bit," she admitted.



"Kell, you look great. Anybody would be crazy to turn you down, ok? Everything's going to be fine."



"Who's to say I even run into her?" Kelly asked. "With our luck, we probably won't even see each other tonight."



"Um, hello," Ashley said, knocking on Kelly's head, making her laugh. "Did you look in the mirror? You look hot Kell, thanks to me of course, but still. How can she not see you?"



"Um," Kelly looked around, waving her arms for emphasis, "Crowd of tall people," she brought her hand to the top of her head, "Short Kelly."



Ashley laughed, "Well look, short Kelly, why don't you go in there and warm up the dance floor for me while I go grab a drink from that hot bartender that was just flirting with you, k?"



"He wasn't flirting," Kelly replied.



Ashley shook her head, smiling, "And the fact that you can't see that is probably the reason you have managed to stay single for so long."



Kelly wrinkled her brow confusedly as her friend walked away, but turned to make her way into the next room.



+++++++++



Tony wrapped his arms around Carrie pulling her closer.



"Tony, please--" she said, trying to push away, but it was useless. He was way too strong for her.



"Come on Carrie," he smiled that smile of his. "You know you missed me."



"No," she shook her head. "I didn't."



Kelly walked into the room reserved for dancing, her eyes searching the dance floor. They fell on a couple that was dancing closely. She found herself struggling to breathe as she watched, noticing how perfect they seemed together, and how happy the blonde appeared to be.



"Tony, come on," Carrie said, trying to wiggle out of his grasp carefully, not wanting to make a scene.



"What?" he asked, innocently, leaning down to kiss her neck. It left her skin burning, but not in the same way that Kelly's kisses did. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, much like the one that had happened back in that French airport. She looked around quickly.



"Carrie," Tony frowned, growing annoyed by the lack of attention.



"What?" she asked sharply, turning to face him, but her voice was drowned out by his lips being pressed against hers.



Kelly felt time stop as the glass in her hand fell to the ground, shattering into a million pieces, much like her heart was doing at that moment, the sound of the impact drowned out by Carrie's voice echoing from the speakers.



+++++++++++



Kelly turned around quickly and ran into something.



"Kel?" Ashley asked worriedly.



"Move," she said quietly, trying to push past her. Ashley took a hold of her shoulders and held her where she was.



"What's wrong?" she asked, searching her friend's face.



"Please," Kelly begged, looking up at her, tears in her eyes. "Let me go."



Ashley released her, and Kelly rushed past her. Ashley looked up to find Carrie in a firm liplock with some guy, and she could feel her blood begin to boil. If it weren't for the fact that Kelly was probably dying to get out of there, she would have kicked the shit out of Carrie right then and there. Ashley turned around, racing after her best friend.



+++++++++



"Get off me," Carrie said, pushing Tony away.



"Excuse me?" he asked roughly, leaning in again.



Carrie slapped him, backing away. Now she remembered why she had ended things--he could be such a jackass, especially when he was drinking.



"You really don't want to do that," he glared.



"No," she corrected. "What I really don't want to do is be with you, so go."



"Go?"



"Yes, go. This is my party, and I'll be damned if I have to spend it with someone as insufferable as you, so go," she said, her eye blazing.



"Fine," he smirked. "It's not like I can't get better than you, anyway."



"Please," she laughed. "You call that whore you keep running back to better? If she was better, than why do you always leave her for me at the drop of a hat?"



Carrie didn't wait for an answer as she turned on her heel, walking away and leaving Tony alone on the dance floor.



++++++++++



Ashley found Kelly sunken against the wall of the back exit--the one that was hidden from the papparazzi.



"Take me home?" she asked, through her tears.



"Is the apartment ok?" Ashley asked, pulling Kelly off the ground.



"Anywhere but here."



"Ok," Ashley sighed, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back, helping her out the exit.



Ashley handed the valet a tip as Kelly got into the back of the car. Ashley frowned as she hopped in the driver's seat. Kelly was never one to ride in the back. She always had to be in the passenger seat, if not driving, so she could have control of the radio.



Ashley looked in the rearview mirror to find Kelly huddled in a little ball, leaning against the window, her body shaking.



+++++++++



"Give me the strongest you have Jake," Carrie said, sitting at the bar.



"Hey you," he smiled. "Nice party. Congrats on the CD."



"Thanks," she said, smiling some. Jake was a common bartender at the parties that Carrie attended, and had become a pretty decent friend as well. Jake handed her a light blue drink, knowing that what Carrie thought of as strong, and what other people thought of as strong were two completely different things. He smiled, thinking of how Kelly had taken a shot of whiskey and was completely unphased.



"Meet any new people?" she asked, sipping on the drink.



"Um, yea, actually," he replied. "Kelly Clarkson. She's a real sweetheart, you know? Completely down to earth, just like she seems."



Carrie nearly spilled her drink, "Kelly was here?"



"Yea," he nodded. "You two friends?"



"Um...I...we...are you sure it was her?"



"Yea, pretty sure. Short, curvy--"



Carrie could hear her heart in her ears.



"--southern drawl, likes Chivas--"



She was really finding it hard to breathe.



"--short blonde hair."



"Blonde?" she asked, her heart slowing down some.



"Yea, not like your blonde, more of a honey, dirty blonde."



"That's not Kelly," she said. "She's brunette."



"You sure? Because I could have sworn it was her."



"I'm sure," she nodded, able to breathe steady once again.



"So what's the story?" Jake asked, handing a couple of beers to a guy that had just walked up.



"Story?" Carrie questioned.



"Between you and Kelly. There has to be some sort of story. I mean, you should have seen your face when I said her name. "



++++++++++



Ashley was having trouble concentrating on the road as she listened to her friend's heart breaking all over again, behind her. She was really starting to regret not going back and kicking Carrie's ass.



She pulled up to the back of the building, planning on going up the back stairs. The last thing Kelly needed was to go through the lobby and have people see her like this. The sobbing had died down considerably as Ashley put the car in park. She turned around in her seat and felt a lump rise in her throat.



Kelly had some how fallen asleep, curled against the window, but the tears were still streaming down her cheeks as she softly whimpered in her sleep. Ashley reluctantly opened her phone as she stepped out of the vehicle.



"Jason," she sighed, hearing the other line pick up. "I need you to come down to the back."



"Where have y'all been?" he asked, slipping on his shoes. Even though he and Kelly weren't exactly talking, she had still brought him along, knowing that he was great at what he did, plus, he was still her brother.



"Just hurry. She's sleeping and I can't leave the car here to carry her up."



"Tell me y'all did not go to that party," he said, trying to keep his temper under control.



"Not now," Ashley sighed.



"I thought she said she didn't want to go."



"She lied, and Narvel thought is was a good idea as well, so don't go fussing at me."



"I need to know these things, Ash. I've had people calling me all night confirming dates and stuff, and Kelly was nowhere to be found."



"I know, and I'm sorry. She didn't want you to know," Ashley explained. "She thought you'd get pissed."



"Well, I am," he said, coming out of the back door. They both hung up their phones, staring at each other.



"Where is she?"



"In the car," Ashley replied. "She's sound asleep."



"Passed out?"



"You know her better than that," she frowned.



"Yea, I thought I did," he replied, frowning.



He opened the car door, and his features immediately softened as his eyes fell on Kelly. She looked so small and broken at that moment, that all his anger at her just melted away. He climbed in the back, undoing her seat belt. He carefully lifted her in his arms, pulling her out of the car.



"You got her?"



"Yea," Jason nodded, kissing his sister's forehead.



"I'll see you upstairs."



Jason didn't respond as he turned, walking back into the building, and carefully made his way up to Kelly's crash pad.



++++++++



Jason tucked his sister in, bending down to kiss her forehead once more, moving her blonde hair from her eyes. He had just left her in he clothes, taking off her heels. He turned off the light, closing the door to her room, hearing the front door open. He made his way to the living room.



"So what happened?" he asked, sitting on the couch.



"We went to the party."



"And?"



"And, it started off fine. She seemed good, a little nervous--"



"About what?"



Ashley rolled her eyes, but continued, "Then I told her to go to the dancing room, I'd grab a drink and meet her there. When I get there, she's running out in tears."



"Why?"



"Carrie was kissing some guy," Ashley frowned.



"That wh***!" Jason exclaimed, jumping from the couch. "I'm gonna...I'm gonna."



"Do nothing," Ashley said, tugging him back down. "It's not like Carrie's some guy that you can just kick his ass."



"Well why didn't you kick her ass?" he asked, still fuming. "You're a girl."



"Because I had to take care of Kelly," she pointed out.



Jason sighed, leaning back against the couch, "So now what do we do? I mean after that guy cheat--I just don't think she can go through that again."



Ashley shrugged, "There's nothing we can do. Not now, anyway. We'll just have to wait and see how she responds to it."



"Respond? Did you not see her?"



"Of course I saw her. I had to listen to her bawling the whole way home, remember?"



"Sorry," Jason replied. "I'm just afraid, you know?"



Ashley sighed deeply, "Me too."