Playing With Fire

++++++++++



"Hey," Kelly greeted her mom, walking out to the back porch where she was currently grilling hamburgers for supper.



"Hey," Jeanne responded in the sickening cheerful tone she had been using all day. Kelly frowned. Everybody had been walking on egg shells since her mom's arrival, and it was starting to become too much.



"Haven't seen you all day," she commented.



"Been busy cleaning," Jeanne replied. "You know you should really think about getting a maid. I mean, you're always gone, so you need someone to keep this place up."



"Mom," Kelly said gently. "Is something wrong?"



"No, of course not," she smiled, turning to her daughter. "Why would anything be wrong?"



Kelly just nodded in response. So, this is how it was gonna be from now on, or at least until she tells her mom what she already knows. She wished she could get some type of emotion out of her. Anger would even make her happy, as long as it wasn't this empty smile that she was currently wearing. Well, at least now she knew where she got it from.



"Smells good," Kelly commented, before walking back into the house.



+++++++++



"Still nothing?" Ashley asked, the concern evident on her face.



Kelly shook her head.



"What is it that you want from her exactly?"



"I don't know," Kelly sighed. "I mean, I don't expect her to welcome Carrie with open arms. I know she won't approve, but acceptance maybe?"



"And what if you don't get that?" Ashley asked.



"She's my mom," Kelly replied, doing her best to hold down the emotions that were rising in a huge lump in her throat. "She raised me. She's given me everything she could and then some. She's always been there for me. She's done so much for me."



"But?" Ashley questioned, sensing one coming.



"But it's Carrie," Kelly said, the smallest smile playing on her face at the thought of the blonde beauty whose arms she woke up in that morning. "And she's amazing. And I've already put her through so much, and she's still here. I've thrown everything at her, and she's still here."



"She sounds like a keeper," Ashley smiled.



"She told me she loves me," Kelly informed her, her small smile growing along with the sparkle in her eyes.



"Really?" Ashley asked, surprised to see her friend so happy about the confession, knowing how she felt about love.



"Yea," Kelly nodded. "And she said it was ok if I didn't say it back, that she didn't want me to say it until I was ready."



Ashley felt herself smiling again, "She really does love you."



"Yea," Kelly beamed. "So where is she anyway?"



"Oh, she asked Jason to show her the tractor and stuff. They should be out in the barn."



Kelly rolled her eyes, "Poor thing. I'm gonna go save her."



"Super Kelly to the rescue!" Ashley called out as Kelly walked out the kitchen.



++++++++



"You call this a tractor?" Kelly heard Carrie laugh as she entered the barn. She and Jason were sitting inside Jason's tractor as he showed off his baby girl. Kelly jumped onto the side railing, pulling herself up.



"Hey you," she smiled.



"Hey back," Carrie replied, bending over to give her a quick kiss before helping her in the cab and onto her lap.



"Having fun?" Kelly asked, turning to Jason.



"Isn't she beautiful?" Jason asked, running a hand over the dash.



"This isn't a tractor," Carrie replied, wrapping her arms around Kelly's waist and resting against her back.



"Yes it is," he defended, the hurt in visible his eyes.



"I hate to burst your bubble, but normal tractors don't have air conditioners," she laughed.



"So, she's above normal."



"And ipods."



Jason turned to his sister for help, confusion in his eyes. Kelly tried her best not to laugh.



"Don't listen to her Jay; it's a beautiful tractor," she smiled.



Jason smiled wide, going back to admiring his baby.



"Why are you lying to that poor boy?" Carrie whispered.



"Because it makes him happy."



"I heard what you called him in that radio interview."



Kelly's eyes lit up, "You actually stayed awake through one of my interviews."



Carrie smiled, "Yep. Proud of me?"



"Extremely."



"So what's my reward?" she asked, her eyes dancing.



"Oh, I think I can think of something," Kelly replied, turning her head to kiss her.



"Hey, hey," Jason fussed, causing the two girls to break apart. "Let's keep it pg in front of my baby."



Kelly rolled her eyes, and Carrie laughed, "You're crazy."



"It's genetic," he replied with a smile.



+++++++++



"Oh, let's take a picture," Kelly smiled, pulling her phone out of her pocket.



"Kell, I look like crap. I hardly have any makeup on. I'm wearing a baseball cap--"



"You look beautiful," Kelly replied, leaning back against Carrie. "Come on, you too," she said, pulling Jason closer, and taking a picture. Carrie turned her head, kissing Kelly's cheek in the next one. Kelly figured she'd return the favor, and turned, licking Carrie's cheek.



"Eww," Carrie giggled, wiping her face. "Oh, kiss me."



"No," Kelly fussed. "I hate kissing pictures. Besides, I don't wanna know what I look like when I'm kissing someone."



"You look amazing, trust me."



"How would you know?" Kelly laughed. "You're eyes are always closed."



"Women," Jason rolled his eyes, jumping out of the tractor.



"Where are you going?"

"See if the food's ready. I'll come get you if it is. Besides, I've never been one to watch my sister's makeout sessions."



"Thanks Jay!"



"Kiss me," Carrie instructed, taking Kelly's phone from her. "I won't take a picture, I promise."



"You swear?"



"Scouts honor," she replied, holding up two fingers.



"Were you even a girl scout?"



"Do you not want to kiss me?"



"How could I not want to kiss you? It's like my new favorite hobby."



"Well, then, come here," Carrie instructed, pulling her close. She kissed her softly, and Kelly gave in right away, melting into the kiss. The Texan readjusted herself, turning around in Carrie's lap so that she was facing her, bringing them into closer contact. Carrie ran a hand through her hair, letting it trail down her neck and arm, landing on Kelly's thigh. She shivered inwardly at the touch, and ran her tongue across Carrie's bottom lip, faltering when she heard the faintest clicking noise. She opened her eyes as she pulled away slightly. Kelly's gaze moved to the side to find Carrie's hand raised, holding her phone.



"Carrie," she exclaimed, pulling away.



"What?" she smiled innocently.



"You were taking pictures."



"So?"



"Give me my phone."



"Why? So you can delete them? At least look at them first," Carrie pleaded with a pout.



Kelly sighed, giving in. Carrie's pout was just too cute, "Oh, alright." Carrie handed her the phone, and she started to scroll through the pictures. "They're kinda cute," she smiled.



"Told you so," Carrie poked her triumphantly, making her giggle.



"Oh, that one's hot," she said, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the picture.



"I want a copy," Carrie nodded.



"Hey you two, dinner's ready," Jason said, walking back into the barn.



"Ok, thanks!" Kelly replied.



"You ready?" she asked, turning back to Carrie.



"Yea," Carrie replied, stealing a quick kiss. "I'm starved."



+++++++++



"Where you going?" Carrie asked as they entered the kitchen. Kelly had turned towards the stairs.



"I'm gonna go put my phone in my room," she replied. "With my luck the thing will fall out my pocket."



Carrie laughed, "Alright, but be quick."



"Yes ma'am," Kelly saluted, before hurrying up the stairs.



"This smells great Jeanne," Carrie smiled, walking up to Kelly's mom.



"That one's yours," she replied, pointing to the hamburger on the end.



"Thanks," Carrie said. She couldn't help but be happy that Jeanne had thought of her. She made her way to the dining room, joining Jason and Ashley around the table.



"You had fun with Jason?" Ashley asked with a teasing smile.



"Yea, I mean, it wasn't complete torture or anything," she replied, winking at Jason.



"Hey now, you enjoyed Lucy, don't lie."



"Lucy?" Carrie choked.



"Jay named the tractor," Kelly replied, sitting beside Carrie, giving her hand a gentle squeeze under the table.



"But Lucy?"



"She's red," Jason pointed out.



Carrie nodded in understanding, "Like Lucille Ball?"



"No, like St. Lucy."



Carrie looked at him, completely lost, causing the other three to laugh.



"Yes, like Lucille Ball," Jason replied.



"What's so funny?" Jeanne asked, joining the rest of them at the table with her own plate.



"Carrie's just having one of her moments," Kelly teased as Carrie made face at her. Kelly stuck her tongue out, and the two girls broke into giggles.



"Can we get through one meal with you two acting your age?" Jason asked with a laugh.



"Like you have any room to talk," Kelly replied, taking a bite out of her burger.



"I act my age," he countered.



"Jason, you pick off all the extra bread around your hamburger," Ashley pointed out, causing another round of giggles.



"I just don't see the point of bread without any meat," he frowned.



"You're wasting," Jeanne pointed out.



"It's not like I don't think it isn't good, mom. I mean, I have like three of them on my plate."



"Yea, he's right," Kelly smiled. "These are great."



Carrie nodded in agreement as she took another bite of her burger.



"Thanks y'all. I thought I would try a new recipe."



"Really?" Kelly asked.



"Yea, but it required a special cut of meat. So, I actually had to go to the meat market for it."



Kelly saw Carrie freeze out of the corner of her eye.



"Mom?"



"Yea hun?"



"When you say meat, you mean?"



"Beef."



Kelly's jaw dropped, quickly turning to look Carrie whose face was pale.



"Care?" she asked, nervously.



"I-I think I'm gonna be sick," she said, quickly standing and rushing out of the room.



"Mom!" Kelly exclaimed, quickly turning back to her mother. "How could you do that? You know she's a vegan!"



"I didn't think it would be that big of a deal," Jeanne shrugged.



"Big deal? Mom, it's her belief. What would you do if someone started trash talking God in front of you?"



"Now, quit overreacting. That is not the same thing."



"I think it is! She has never done anything to you. She has been sweet and polite, and this is how you repay her?"



"Kelly, I'm you're mother. You will not talk to me like this!"



Ashley looked at Jason nervously. He just shrugged helplessly, not knowing what to do.



"Well this is my house, and as long as you're here, you will treat my guests with respect!" Kelly replied, breathing heavily as she rose from her seat.



"I'm you're mother!" Jeanne countered, standing up.



"She's my girlfriend!" Kelly replied, hitting her fist on the table.



A deafening silence fell on the room. Kelly's mind was still too clouded by anger to realize what she had just done, but everyone else knew.



"She is not your girlfriend," Jeanne replied firmly.



Kelly suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. This was not how she wanted her mom to find out, but there was no way she was backing down now.



"Yes," she replied. "She is."



"But that would make you...and you're not...this is just some phase," her mom argued.



"A phase?" Kelly tried not to laugh. "If you had even paid the slightest amount of attention while you were here, you would see that this is not a phase. "



Jeanne just shook her head, "This is wrong."



"How? How is this wrong?"



"She's a...a..."



"A girl? Yea, she is. She's a girl that happens to make my heart race and my knees weak. She's a girl that knows what to say to make me smile and to make me laugh. I've never felt as safe as I feel when I'm in her arms, and every moment I spend away from that girl kills me."



Jeanne tensed, the hurt evident in her eyes. Betrayal was written all over her face.



"Mom?" Kelly questioned, her voice suddenly very small. "Say something."



"Y-you disgust me."



Kelly felt her stomach churn at those words. Her eyes stinging from the tears that were forming.



"Jeanne," Ashley's voice was firm.



But she just shook her head, her eyes were cold.



"Mom, she doesn't deserve that. She can't help who she likes," Jason countered.



"You agree with this?" she asked, turning to him.



"If you would see them together, if you would see how good Carrie is with her, you'd know that this isn't wrong," he argued.



"You two are wrong for agreeing with this," Jeanne said, pointing a finger at Jason and Ashley. "And you," she said turning to Kelly.



Kelly looked at her, pleadingly, the tears now rolling down her cheeks, "Mom, please. I'm falling for her."



"Don't call me mom," she shook her head as her hands shook with anger. "You're not my daughter."



"Mom!" Jason exclaimed standing up. He looked at Kelly nervously. Her face was pale, and she seemed to be struggling to breathe.



"I-I h-have to g-go," she managed before rushing out of the kitchen. They heard the front door slam, signaling that Kelly had ran out of the house.



"How could you say that?" Jason asked.



"How could you go along with her?"



"Easy," he replied. "She's my sister. It's what you do when you love someone."



"Jay," Ashley said, tugging on his arm.



"Yea?"



"We shouldn't leave Kelly like she is," she replied.



Jason nodded, turning back to his mom, "You should go."



"Jason."



"No, mom. This is Kelly's house, and I think you've outstayed your welcome."



Jeanne just shook her head.



"Could you go check on Carrie?" Jason asked, turning back to Ashley. "I'll go get Kell."



"Yea," Ashley nodded.



+++++++



"Carrie?" Ashley said gently, walking into Kelly's bathroom. She saw the blonde crumpled on the floor before the toilet. "Are you ok?"



Carrie looked up, "How's Kelly? I shouldn't have just left like that."



Ashley sat down next to her, "That can wait. What's more important is how you're doing. You don't look so hot."



Carrie's gaze fell to the floor, "Why would she do that?"



"Jeanne?"



Carrie nodded, sniffing before looking back up, "I never did anything to her. "



"I know," Ashley replied, pushing her hair out of her face. "It's not your fault. So, don't go blaming yourself for any of this. Especially the whole meat thing. I mean, I don't know how all that works, but you didn't know, ok? You couldn't have done anything."



"But she did," Carrie said. "She knew. I explained the whole thing to her last time she was here. Why would she do that?"



"I don't know," Ashley frowned. "She's just upset. I mean, you have to know that this can't be easy for a mom to find out."



"Well, fine, then yell at me, do whatever you want, but what she did was just wrong."



"Yea, but don't worry about it," Ashley smiled. "Kelly put her back in her place."



"She did?"



"Yea, she did. That girl cares about you. A lot. She'd do anything for you."



"I know, and I'd do anything for her," Carrie quickly assured her.



"I know," Ashley frowned.



"What's wrong?"



"Kelly let it slip. That you are her girlfriend, that is."



Carrie sighed, "How'd Jeanne take it?"



"Not good. Not good at all."



"Where's Kelly? Is she ok?"



Ashley shook her head, "Not really. Jeanne said some things. Some things that will be very hard to forget. Kelly took off."



"Wher--"



But Ashley cut her off, when she saw the scared look in her eyes, "It's alright. Jason's got her."



"And Jeanne?"



"Kelly asked her to leave."



Carrie felt her heart sink. She knew how much Kelly's mom meant to her. The poor girl had to be hurting, and it was her fault.



"I wanna see her."



"I know, and I'm sure she wants to see you too right now, but I think we should let her and Jason talk. I think what she needs is her big brother right now."



Carrie nodded, knowing she was right. She took a steadying breath. How could a day that started off so beautifully, end up so horribly? She could feel the tears starting to sting her eyes as everything caught up with her.



"Ashley?" she asked, her voice shaking.



"Yea?"



"I know that I'm not like one of your friends or anything. I mean, I know you just put up with me for Kelly's sake, but..."



Ashley smiled sadly, opening her arms to the country girl. Carrie welcomed the embrace, folding into her, letting her tears fall freely.



++++++++



"Kelly?" Jason asked gently, walking up to the tree.



"How's Carrie?" she asked worriedly, brushing the tears from her cheeks. "I shouldn't have left her. I should've gone after her."



"It's ok," he assured her, sitting beside her. "Ashley's checking on her."



Kelly nodded, the tears flowing once more, "She hates me doesn't she?"



"Carrie? Of course she doesn't hate you. This wasn't your fault."



"Not Carrie."



"Mom?"



The only response he got was a choked back sob.



"Kell, she doesn't hate you," Jason assured her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, allowing her to lean into him.



"She just doesn't want me as a daughter anymore."



"She's just confused right now, and upset. She didn't mean any of that."



"Yes, she did. You saw the look in her eyes."



Jason sighed, not sure what to say. "Just give her time."



"She looked at me as if she didn't even know me. S-she said I disgusted her, Jay. I don't think any amount of time will change that."



"You just gotta have faith," he replied, pulling her onto his lap as she curled into him. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt.



"Y-you don't think I'm disgusting, do you?" she asked, looking up at him. Her tear-stained cheeks breaking his heart.



"Of course not," he replied gently.



"But you think this is wrong," she said. "You told me you did."



Jason frowned, "I did say that. But I don't believe it, not anymore. Nobody that would see you and Carrie together could deny that what y'all have is real. And for someone to be able to make my baby sister that happy, it can't be wrong."



Kelly gave him a faint smile, "So do you really think she'll come around."



"Kell, she loves you. It may not seem like that now, but she does, and as soon as she realizes that this is real, then she'll come around. But I think the real question is, are you willing to forgive her."



The soft smile faded, "I don't understand how she could do that to Carrie. She doesn't even know her, and Carrie's been nothing but sweet despite my mom constantly giving her death glares."



"She didn't have any right to do what she did," Jason agreed. "Or to say what she said, but it's up to you. When she comes to her sense, will you be able to forget the pain you feel right now?"



Kelly closed her eyes as she felt her stomach churn, replaying her mother's words in her head, "I don't know," she said honestly.



++++++++++



"What was that?" Carrie asked, hearing a noise come from Kelly's room.



"I'm gonna go see," Ashley said, standing, then helping the other girl to her feet. "Why don't you freshen up a little?"



"Ok," Carrie laughed, knowing that she probably looked like crap.



Ashley walked into Kelly's room, closing the door behind her, to find Jeanne standing in front of Kelly's lap top with her hand covering her mouth. Ashley soon realized why. Kelly's phone was plugged into her computer, and a slide show of pictures was being displayed as the screen saver. The first one showed the two singers in a firm lip-lock. That one faded, and another came on. Kelly was biting Carrie's bottom lip, tugging it playfully. She couldn't help but smile at the pictures. The love flowing between the two of them was undeniable.



"They make a cute couple, huh?" Ashley asked, startling Jeanne as the pictures changed from one of Carrie kissing Kelly on the cheek, to Kelly licking the side of Carrie's face. Ashley had to hold back a giggle at the look of shock on Carrie's face.



"How can you say that?" Jeanne asked, turning to Ashley.



"How can you look at those pictures and not see how much in love and how truly happy your daughter is?" Ashley countered.



"She's just confused."



"That doesn't look like confusion to me," Ashley replied, pointing to the picture that was now on the screen. Carrie was cradling Kelly's face in her hands as they were inches apart, looking into each other's eyes. She could feel the sparks coming from the picture.



"Kell?" Carrie asked hopefully, as she walked out of the bathroom and into Kelly's room.



"No," Ashley said quickly, hoping the girl would go back before Jeanne realized who it was.



"You," Jeanne said, her voice low. Ashley closed her eyes. Too late. "You. This is your fault," she said, walking over to Carrie.



"What's my fault?" she asked, looking at Ashley fearfully.



"This," she said, pointing towards the computer. Carrie couldn't help but smile at the picture. Kelly was right. That one was hot.



"You think this is funny?" Jeanne asked, incredulously. "You-you corrupted my daughter."



"Corrupted?" Carrie said confusedly.



"Yes, corrupted. I know you may not be the smartest person out there, but I'm sure you know what corrupted means."



"Jeanne," Ashley broke in. "That was uncalled for."



"No, it's alright Ashley. She clearly has something on her mind. Let her say it," Carrie said, surprised at her own boldness. She knew if this had been a couple of months ago, she never would have been able to stand up to Jeanne. But then again, a couple months ago she didn't have Kelly giving her the strength.



"My daughter was perfectly fine before she met you," Jeanne continued.



"She was not perfectly fine," Carrie argued. "She was freaking broken when I met her."



"No, she wasn't."



"Yes, she was. Trust me, I know. I was the one that had to hold her while she broke down in my arms. That didn't seem like fine to me."



"You, you just have her all confused."



"She is not confused," Carrie replied, feeling the anger boiling inside of her.



"You're just probably doing this as some publicity stunt. You know, shock value."



"How dare you," Carrie said, standing up straighter. "I would never do that to her. I love her."



"Oh, please."



"What? Is it that hard to think that someone loves your daughter? I mean, how could I not? Everybody that comes into contact with that girl has no choice but to love her."



"You don't think I know that? She's my daughter!"



"Really? Because that's not what you said earlier," Carrie countered.



"You-you-"



"What? What are you gonna call me?"



"You whore," Jeanne said, scathingly. Kelly and Jay walked into the room, unnoticed by anybody. Kelly's jaw dropped at what she heard.



"Are you kidding me?" Carrie said in disbelief.



"No, and now you're turning my daughter into one as well."



Carrie's eyes narrowed, "Don't you dare talk about her that way. Not in front of me, not ever."



"She's my daughter!" Jeanne repeated. "I can say whatever I want about her."



"Maybe instead of questioning my love for her, you should start questioning your own."



Carrie heard the sound of skin on skin before she felt the sting on her cheek. She brought a hand up, touching the raw skin gingerly as Jeanne retracted the hand that she had just slapped her with.



"Mom!" Kelly exclaimed, rushing fully into the room.



"Kelly," she replied surprisedly as Kelly stood in between her and Carrie.



"How could you do that?" Kelly asked still in shock from the events she had just witnessed.



"You didn't hear what she said to me," Jeanne argued.



"I heard perfectly," Kelly replied, feeling a soft hand slip nervously into her own. Kelly rubbed it soothingly with her thumb without breaking eye contact with her mother. "I want you to leave."



"Kelly--"



"Now," she said with finality.



Jeanne looked at her daughter in disbelief before turning and leaving the room, heatedly. Kelly quickly turned to Carrie, cradling her face gently.



"Are you ok?" she asked, her eyes wide at the red mark on Carrie's cheek.



Carrie nodded, still trying to digest everything that had just happened.



"What about you?" Jason asked as he and Ashley joined the two of them.



"I'm...tired," she replied.



"Well yea, you've had a long day. The both of you," Ashley commented. "Why don't you take a hot shower then head to bed?"



Kelly nodded, "Sounds like a good idea."



"Here," Ashley said to Carrie. "You can use my bathroom."



Carrie nodded, "Thanks."