Playing With Fire

+++++++++



"Girls!" Amelia yelled frustratedly. Kelly's eyes dropped like a scolded puppy, and Carrie felt her heart melt. They were at center stage, a mere foot from each other, going over the ending. "Do I have to remind you that you are supposed to hate each other? You need to be practically fighting with your words!"



"Seriously," Carrie replied, wrapping a comforting arm around Kelly. She knew the girl had a lot on her mind, but always had to be a perfectionist when it came to performing, and the fact that Amelia was being a blood hound right now was not helping. "Have you tried to hate this girl? It's freaking impossible. I mean, look at how adorable she is!"



Kelly closed her eyes in embarrassment, hoping that if she couldn't see them, then they couldn't see her.



"Look," Carrie continued. "Give us five minutes, ok?"



"Ok," Amelia replied. "But when you come back, I want fire! I want passion!"



Carrie nodded, ushering Kelly off stage. She led her into her dressing room, and they sat down on her couch.



"Kel, everything's ok right?" Carrie asked gently.



"Yea, maybe I'm just tired, you know?"



"Working hard?"



"Promoting the new album," Kelly nodded, rubbing her forehead with her hands.



"Oh my god, I love it!" Carrie replied, excitedly. Kelly slowly looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.



"I-I mean, it's a great album," Carrie corrected herself, earning a smile from Kelly. "See, there's a smile. I mean you seemed thrilled when I first showed up, but after a while, you just seemed completely down on yourself."



"You really like the album?"



"Are you going to avoid my question?"



"Like the plague."



Carrie sighed. She noticed Kelly's hands fidgeting nervously in her lap, so she took them in her own, rubbing soft circle with her thumbs, "Look, I know we may not be that good of friends, but I don't know, for some odd reason, I feel as if I can trust you, and I hope you feel the same."



"I do."



"Ok, so then you know if you ever need to talk--"



"You'll be there?" Kelly asked, looking into Carrie's eyes. Carrie felt her heart melt for the second time that morning at the look of hope in the hazel eye's staring up at her.



Carrie pulled her into a tight hug, so that Kelly was practically on her lap.



"I'll be there," Carrie promised softly, kissing the top of Kelly's head.



+++++++++++



Carrie let the girl in her arms hold on to her tight as she sighed deeply. She was used to seeing Kelly upbeat and spunky and just adorable. This side of Kelly she wasn't used to, and she was willing to do anything to make it so that she never had to see it again.



"So," she whispered, running a hand through Kelly's dark hair. "You sure you don't want to talk about it."



She felt Kelly nod against her shoulder.



"Is there anything I can do?"



Kelly straightened herself up to look Carrie in the eyes. Brown met hazel in one of the most comforting moments Kelly had ever had.



"I'm fine, really. Just a little stressed I guess. You know, the whole album thing, and then I'm trying to reorganize my tour, and now this couldn't come at the worst time."



"This?" Carrie questioned.



Kelly cursed herself as she felt a blush rising to her cheeks, "Um, this...the duet...this whole award show thing. I just have so much other stuff to do right now, but I couldn't say no. Not after all the stuff that Reba has done for me."



Carrie smiled softly, "It sounds like what you need is some sleep."



"Sleep?" Kelly questioned. "What's that?"



Carrie giggled, "Why don't you just take the rest of the day off until tonight?"



"Because we have rehearsals, and then--"



But she was quickly cut off as Carrie stood up quickly, causing her to fall to the floor. Carrie looked down at her curiously, as if wondering what she was doing on the floor.



"Well come on," she said, offering Kelly her hand.



"Where are we going?" Kelly asked, looking at Carrie's hand skeptically.



"You need a nap, and I'm going to make sure you get one."



Kelly sighed, taking Carrie's hand. She smiled at the softness of it, allowing herself to be pulled from the floor.



"You ready?" Carrie asked.



"What do I need to be ready for?"



"Well, we are kind of still in the middle of rehearsals, and do you think Amelia will be willing to let us go freely?"



Kelly shook her head.



"Exactly. So...we're going to kind of have to sneak out."



Kelly raised an eyebrow, "Wow, Carrie Underwood the rule breaker. I did not see this one coming."



"Hey you aren't the only rock star to come from American Idol," Carrie replied.



"Right, there was Bo Bice and Chris Daughtry and--"



"Come on you smart ass," Carrie rolled her eyes as she pulled Kelly out the door.