Playing With Fire

+++++++++

"Y'all can't be serious," Jason's voice came from the inside of Kelly's bathroom. The girl's giggled as they all sat on Kelly's bed in anticipation.

"Dead serious," Kate responded.

"But why do we have to wear this?" Chris asked. "It's not like he's going to be able to see us."

"Yea, but we will," Kelly pointed out. "Now I'm counting to three, and I'm coming in there."

"Kell," Jason fussed.

"One."

"Two."

The bathroom door knob turned, and the door opened. The girl's immediately burst into laughter at the scene before them. The guys were standing there, looking completely ridiculous as they wore these awful dresses with their faces covered in make up.

"This is so wrong," Aben frowned as Kelly raised her drink, toasting them.

"Part one down," Ashley laughed. "You guys ready for part two?"

"Let's get this over with," Chris said.

Carrie grabbed Kelly's phone, taking a picture of the guys.

"Hey, not fair," Jason protested.

"I don't know," Einar laughed, hiking up his dress, showing some leg. "I think I look good."

"You've had enough to drink for tonight," Cory laughed, patting him on the back.

"Ok, enough chit chat," Kelly smiled. "Down to business."

"How are we supposed to get in touch with him anyway?"

"Figure it out," Ashley said.

"I have his cell," Jason, her musical director, said.

"You have his cell number?" Kelly asked in disbelief.

"I have connections," he shrugged.

"Well, then, won't he know it's you?"

"Star 67."

"Then let's have it."

The guys all looked at each other and nodded somberly, making the girls erupt in giggles. He dialed the number on his phone, putting it on speaker. It rang three times before the familiar slick voice answered.

Carrie lifted Kelly's phone again, video recording the whole thing.

"Clive Davis," the voice said firmly.

Kelly's brother cleared his throat, talking in a girl's voice, "Hey Clivie."

"Who's this?" Clive demanded.

"Oh, you remember," Cory replied, trying his best not to burst into laughter. "From the other night."

"Ugh, I don't know--"

"Of course you do, sweetums," Chris said. Kelly had to bite her lip to keep from laughing too loud. This was priceless. "You remember. You were so lonely."

"I-I"

"But we helped you out, didn't we?" Aben smiled.

"Look, I don't know how you got this number," Clive said, his voice laced with worry. "But whatever you want, I'll do it. You want money?"

Everybody looked at each other confusedly.

"Just tell me what I have to do to make this go away," Clive continued. "It-it was just a one night thing. I don't normally--"

Jason hung up his phone, tossing it away from them.

"Ewww," Kelly said, her face pale. "That was just wrong."

"You're telling us," Cory frowned, looking like he was about to be sick. "We're gonna go change."

"Yea," she nodded.

The girl's looked at each other as the guys went back into the bathroom. Despite the gross out factor, they couldn't help but laugh. Of course, it didn't hurt that by that point of the night they were all three sheets to the wind.

++++++

Carrie woke up as she rolled off the sofa onto the floor. The jolt sending shockwaves through her brain. She slowly sat up, giving the room time to stand still. She stood up with the help of the sofa and made her way over to the kitchen where she could here voices coming from.

"Hey," Kelly greeted tiredly. She moved to hug her, but stopped. "Here," she said, handing Carrie the bottle of mouthwash that was sitting on the kitchen counter. Carrie nodded thankfully, rinsing the sour taste from her mouth before joining some of the others at the snack bar.

"Where'd you end up?" Kelly asked, handing her a glass of some orangish liquid, pulling up a stool along side of her.

"What is that?" Carrie grumbled.

"Don't ask," Ashley laughed. "Just drink."


Carrie took a sip, almost immediately spitting it back out, "That's disgusting."

"It'll make you feel better," Kelly assured her.

Carrie frowned, quickly choking the drink down.

"I woke up on the couch," she finally answered Kelly's question.

"Not bad," Cory laughed. "I was on the table."

"Wait till Chris comes in," Kelly laughed.

"Why?" Carrie asked, but her question was answered as Chris walked in, wearing nothing but a deep red curtain.

He smiled thankfully at Kelly as she got up to fix him a drink.

"What happened to you?" Ashley laughed.

"I have no idea. I woke up on the pool table, wearing this," he yawned, quickly downing the drink.

"Jay, you care to explain this one?" Aben laughed, turning to Kelly's brother.

"You don't remember Chris?" Jason asked.

"No."

"Well, you insisted that we have a toga party, but no one else wanted to, so you stormed off," Jason informed him.

"Yea, when we found you in the den you were wearing that, holding a pool stick, and reciting lines from Julius Caesar," Kelly laughed.

"Et tu, Brute?" Jason impersonated, making the others roll with laughter.

Kelly shared a smile with Carrie as she sat back down, placing a hand on her knee.

"So what happened to you?" Carrie asked as the others shared stories of the night before.

"Well, I was sharing the sofa with this really cute blonde," Kelly replied. "Until I was kicked to the floor."

Carrie's eyes widened as she tried to stifle her laughter, "I am so sorry."

"It's ok. I just stole the blanket from you and slept on the floor."

"So that's why I was so cold," Carrie nodded.

"I don't know," Kelly smiled mischievously. "From the way you were talking in your sleep when you kicked me off, I'd say you were pretty hot."

Carrie's cheeks turned bright red as she remembered what she had been dreaming about the night before.

"So tell me," Kelly said, taking a sip of her coffee. "Am I really that good or are you always that loud?"

"I wouldn't know," Carrie replied sarcastically.

"Touche," Kelly sighed, removing her hand.

"Kell," Carrie winced, realizing what she had just said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean--"

"It's fine," Kelly interrupted, standing up.

"Where are you going?" Carrie asked worriedly.

"I'm gonna go take a shower."

"Kell," Carrie whispered, grabbing her hand.

"Carrie, it's fine," Kelly replied, tensing in the other girl's touch. "You should try eating something."

Carrie frowned, letting her go and watching her walk out the kitchen.

"Everything ok?" Ashley asked, walking over to her.

"Just me and my big mouth," Carrie sighed. "Care if I use your shower?"

"Nah, go ahead," Ashley nodded.

++++++++

"Kell," Ashley sighed as the two of them were playing cards on her bed.

"Yea?" she asked not looking up from the game.

"You're leaving for the tour tomorrow," Ashley pointed out.

"So?"

"Don't you think you should talk to her? I mean, you're going on tour, and she's going back to Nashville. It's gonna be a while before you see each other again."

"It's not like I'm ignoring her," Kelly said.

"No, it's worse. Ever since yesterday morning, you've been short with her. You give her like one and two word answers. You're not all over her like normal. Even Jason's noticed something's up."

"So?"

"Kelly, come on. I get it, you're mad at her. But the only person you're hurting is yourself right now. You're gonna go on tour, and at first you're gonna carry this anger with you. Then, eventually, you'll realize how much of a butt head you're being, and you're gonna regret all of this."

Kelly didn't reply as she frowned down at her cards.

Ashley scoffed at her best friend, tossing her cards down and standing up, "You know, you told me before that she's still here. You've thrown everything at her, and she's still here. Well, I'm starting to wonder how much longer she'll still be here. How much more of this can she take? But also, I'm wondering if you really care about her like you claim you do."

"Of course I do," Kelly replied defensively.

"Then why would you throw everything you have at her just to push her away? Can't you see how much it kills her when you do this?"

Kelly could feel the tears burning her eyes, but she brushed them away frustratedly, "Of course I see that."

"Then why do you do it."

"Because," Kelly bit her lip, swallowing the lump rising in her throat. "I'm going on tour, and she's going to Nashville."

Ashley smiled at her sadly, "You're worried about being away from her?"

"Well, yea. I mean, I did this whole thing before, remember?"

"But didn't you say that this would be different because she was the right person. That you'd find time for her?"

"Yea, I mean, I want to, but how am I supposed to do that when I'm traveling across the freaking country?"

"You'll find a way," Ashley assured her. "That's one thing I've learned about you. You always find a way to get what you want."

Kelly sniffed back more tears as she watched Ashley walking out. She could hear her talking with someone on the other side of the door and looked up to find Carrie walking in.

"Hey," Kelly greeted weakly.

"Hey," she smiled softly, joining her on the bed.

"How much of that did you hear?"

"All of it," Carrie replied, scooting back against the headboard and pulling Kelly onto her lap.

"Are you mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Carrie asked, turning Kelly to make her face her.

"Because," Kelly sighed.

Carrie smiled, running a hand through Kelly's hair.

"I'm not mad," she assured her. "I do wish you would have told me how you felt, though."

"I just didn't want you to think I was having doubts or anything."

"It's ok to be scared," Carrie replied. "I mean, I know how much it's gonna hurt being away from you. It's not gonna be easy, but I'm going to call you everyday. And as soon as I get a chance, I'm gonna come out and meet you."

"Twice a day?" Kelly asked, looking up at her.

"Twice a day what?"

"You'll call twice a day?"

Carrie pulled her closer, kissing her sweetly, "I'll call you so many times that you'll get sick of talking to me."

"Impossible," Kelly smiled.

"Good," Carrie smiled back. "So, it's your last night here. What's the big plans?"

"Well, I kinda just wanted to be alone," she admitted.

"Oh," Carrie frowned.

"No," Kelly shook her head quickly. "I meant, up and me alone. I just wanted to lay here with you if that's ok. I don't really wanna go out or anything. I just want to spend time with you."

"Oh," Carrie replied, her smile reemerging. "I think I can swing that."

"Really?" Kelly giggled softly.

"Yea," Carrie nodded. "How about you take a hot shower, and I'll meet you back here in half an hour?"

"Sounds like a plan," Kelly replied, kissing her before climbing off her lap.

+++++++

"So, is this what you had in mind?" Carrie asked softly as they lay on their sides facing each other. She ran a hand down Kelly's arm, slipping it into the shorter girl's hand as their legs brushed together, virtually no space between the two bodies.

"This is so much better," Kelly replied. She leaned up, grazing her lips with Carrie's, closing her eyes at the emotions that stirred from the slightest touch.

"I love you so much," Carrie whispered, their noses brushing together in an eskimo kiss.

"You know," Kelly whispered back. "There was a time not too long ago, when I would have said that it was impossible to be this happy."

"Really? What happened?"

"Well, I met this certain country singer that completely turned my world upside down," she explained.

"Reba?" Carrie asked with a laugh.

"No, not Reba," Kelly rolled her eyes.

"Then who?" she asked, playfully.

"Well," Kelly smiled. "She's blonde," she said, running a hand through Carrie's hair. "And she had the most beautiful eyes," she said, kissing each of her eye lids. "And the cutest nose," she smiled, kissing the tip of Carrie's nose. "And the softest skin," she kissed her cheek as Carrie could feel herself starting blush. "And," Kelly said, smiling at her, "she has the most amazing lips I've ever kissed."

"Oh really?"

"Yea," Kelly nodded, pushing into her as Carrie captured her lips in her own. Carrie sighed into the kiss, gently cradling Kelly's face as they pulled away.

"That's some girl you got there," Carrie smiled.

"I'm the luckiest person on the planet," Kelly agreed, smiling as Carrie's lips found her own once more.

"So," Carrie said, brushing Kelly's hair out of her eyes. "I hate to bring down the mood from this wonderful high we're at right now, but have you heard from your mom yet?"

"No, not so much as an email," she replied, thankful for Carrie as she wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm sorry," Carrie offered.

"It's not your fault."

"That's not entirely true, but still, I'm sorry that you're having to go through this."

"Thanks," Kelly sighed in content as Carrie placed a lingering kiss on her forehead.

+++++++

"You should really get some sleep," Carrie giggled as Kelly playfully bit her bottom lip. The sun was starting to creep it's way through the night sky. They had stayed up the entire night, relishing in each other's company.

"It's kind of too late now," Kelly pointed out, staring up at her adoringly.

Carrie felt her breath catch in her throat. She would never get tired of the way that girl looked at her.

"Besides," she smiled. "I can sleep on the flight there."

"You're flying?" Carrie asked nervously.

"Yea," Kelly laughed. "We're gonna fly to New York. The bus is up there, waiting. But don't worry," she insisted, "we're gonna be fine. I've flown there tons of times before. Nothing's happened."

"You better get there in one piece," Carrie said firmly.

"Shouldn't you be warning the pilot, not me?" Kelly asked with a smile.

"I'll be having a talk with him as well," Carrie informed her, making her laugh again.

+++++++

"I think it's time to get up," Carrie managed in between kisses as she kissed her way down Kelly's neck. She could feel Kelly's toes curl against her legs which only encouraged her.

"Yea," Kelly replied hoarsely, not sure what she was agreeing to, but at that point, she'd agree to anything the country singer said.

"It's ten," Carrie commented, making her way back up to Kelly's lips.

"Yea."

"Hungry?" Carrie managed to get out before she found her sweet heaven once more.

"Not...hungry," Kelly replied in between kisses. Her stomach growled loudly in obvious protest.

Carrie pulled away, giggling, "Liar."

"But I'd rather be kissing you," Kelly pouted.

"We can kiss later. You need to eat."

"No we can't."

"Can't what?"

"We can't kiss later," Kelly pointed out, her voice soft. "I'm leaving later."

Carrie swallowed the lump she felt rising, as she looked at the girl lying before her, her eyes heart-breakingly open. She fought back the tears as she brought a hand up to Kelly's cheek, her thumb gently tracing her lips.

"I'm gonna miss you," she said, her eyes watery.

Kelly could only nod, knowing her voice would crack if she tried to speak. Carrie leaned forward, pushing her onto her back as their lips met forcefully. Kelly's heart was slowly crumbling at the thought of how much she was gonna miss the girl that was lying on top of her. She could feel Carrie's tears falling onto her cheeks, mixing with her own as they kissed desperately. Carrie's hand were holding onto Kelly's hips as Kelly clung to Carrie's shirt, neither wanting to let go of that moment or each other.

The finally broke apart, gasping greedily for air. Carrie wiped the tears off of Kelly's face as Kelly still clutched her shirt afraid to let go.

"We've got to get up," Carrie said breathlessly.

"I know," Kelly nodded.

"I love you so much," Carrie managed.

"I know," Kelly nodded, her voice cracking as the tears started to fall again.

Carrie closed her eyes as she leaned down, trying to kiss the tears away, hoping that if she could, then none of this would be real. However, the feeling of Carrie's lips against her face, only made Kelly cry harder. Carrie pushed herself away, sitting up, pulling Kelly with her.

"We've gotta get up," Kelly whispered through the tears; it was almost more of a question than a statement.

"Yea," Carrie nodded, smiling sadly. "How about I cook you breakfast?"

"You can cook?"

Carrie smiled, "You're in for a treat."

Kelly returned the watery smile, basking in the warmth that being this close to Carrie spread through her.

"Ok, you stay here and get dressed, get any last minute packing done, and I'll go cook up the best breakfast you've ever eaten."

"I think that's one of your most brilliant plans," Kelly replied, allowing Carrie to wipe away the remaining tears from her face.