Playing With Fire

+++++++



"How long does it take for you to come down?" Carrie asked as she stretched her neck to see Kelly diving under her bed down the hall, looking for the scrabble board.



"A few hours," Ashley answered for her.



"Found it!" Kelly sang out, coming out of her room, holding the box that contained the board game.



"I thought you hid it," Jill whispered, looking at Kate.



She shrugged, "I thought I did too."



Carrie laughed as Kelly made her scoot over so she could join them.



"Does it have to be scrabble again?" Kate asked.



"Yea," Kelly smiled. "Besides, I've never played with Carrie before."



"Yes you did," Ashley replied.



"Yea, don't you remember?" Carrie asked. "After the duet thing when I went meet you at your hotel. Me, you, Ashley, and Jason played like four games, and you kicked our butts all four times."



"Oh yea," Kelly laughedd. "How could I forget that?"



"If I remember right, you were a little distracted that night," Ashley teased, making Carrie smile.



"That was a good night," Kelly beamed as Carrie gave her knee a light squeeze.



"So does this mean we can play something else?" Jill asked hopefully.



"Maybe Guitar Hero?" Kate suggested.



Kelly's eyes lit up, "Ooo, yea!"



The other four girls laughed as Kelly hurried them into the back bedroom that Kelly had converted into a game room.



"So who's ready to lose?" Kelly asked, grinning from ear to ear.



+++++++



"So, are you finally ready for some sleep?" Carrie asked as Kelly walked into the back bedroom freshly showered.



"Yea," she smiled tiredly.



"That's a shame," Carrie smiled back, pulling her down onto her lap.



"And why's that?" Kelly asked her curiously.



"Well, this is gonna be the last night we spend together for a while."



"That is true," she nodded as Carrie pulled her closer.



"And I'm gonna miss you," Carrie pouted.



"I'm gonna miss you too," Kelly replied, kissing her softly.



"Well, I wanted to show you just how much I'm gonna miss you," Carrie said, her voice low.



"And while, I am looking forward to that," Kelly smiled. "You need a shower."



"Wow," Carrie sighed. "Way to hurt a girl's ego."



"Well, you're still all hot and sweaty from the concert and then playing the game," Kelly pointed out.



"Listen to you and you're germaphobe self. We're just gonna get all hot and sweaty again anyway," Carrie countered.



"Yes, but I wanna be the one to make you that way," Kelly replied with a mischievous smirk.



"I kinda like the sound of that," Carrie grinned as Kelly leaned towards her.



"I thought you would," Kelly replied before their lips melted together.



Carrie giggled as they broke apart, "Alright. I'll take a shower."



"Good, now hurry up. Cause you're looking really good right now," Kelly laughed.



"Woman, make up your mind."



"You. Shower. Now. Us. Sex. After."



+++++++



Carrie quickly dried off, slipping on her pajama bottoms and a tank, not really caring how it looked, knowing that it wouldn't be on for long anyway. She walked out of the miniature bathroom with a broad smile and opened the door to the backroom, closing it before turning around.



The sight she was met with made her heart melt. Kelly was out cold on the foot of the bed just where Carrie had left her. She was curled up in a tiny ball, sleeping soundly.



Carrie shook her head with a slight laugh, "You are so lucky you're adorable Clarkson, otherwise I'd so kick your butt right now."



She walked over to the bed and knelt before her, "Kell?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on the Texans cheek. "Kell, wake up for a second."



Kelly's eyes slowly opened as a lazy smile stretched across her face, "Mornin'."



"It's not morning yet," Carrie smiled. "How bout you help me get you under the covers, ok?"



Kelly nodded, scooting back on the bed as Carrie pulled the covers out from under her. She went turn off the lights before climbing into the bed behind the shorter singer and pulled the blankets up around them.



"Night," she whispered in Kelly's ear as she wrapped an arm around her. She couldn't help but smile as all she got in response was Kelly's soft, even breathing as she drifted back off to sleep.



++++++++



Carrie giggled as Kelly jumped back in bed, "What are you doing?"



"Getting comfortable," she smiled back, patting the spot next to her.



Carrie rolled her eyes, climbing back into bed as well, "Ok, so we already woke up."



"Yea."



"Ate breakfast."



"Yea."



"Brushed our teeth."



"Yea."



"So why are we getting back in bed?"



"Cause I want you to hold me," Kelly replied, smiling up at her sweetly.



"Well, I think I can manage that," Carrie smiled back as she wrapped an arm around the Texan, pulling her close. "So to what do I owe this pleasure?"



"I don't want you to go," her voice was mumbled as she snuggled into the crook of Carrie's neck.



"So, you're trying to bribe me?"



"How am I doing?"



"Very well, but I have to go. You know that."



"Yea, I know," Kelly sighed. "I just wanted to make sure you knew I didn't want you to."



"I know," Carrie laughed softly, trailing her fingers up and down Kelly's arm. Kelly placed a soft kiss on her neck and Carrie sighed in content. "You know that I don't want to go, right?"



"Yea, I know."



"Good," Carrie nodded, lying down completely so Kelly could move closer.



"Sorry bout last night," Kelly smiled shyly.



"Last night?"



"I kinda fell asleep."



"Oh yea," Carrie giggled. "That's ok. Just next time I see you, you owe me."



"That sounds fair," Kelly nodded, leaning up to kiss her lips, sighing deeply as they pulled apart. "Why do you have to be so perfect?" she groaned, burying her face in Carrie's shoulder.



She laughed, "Look who's talking."



"It just makes it harder. How about we get in a fight? Maybe that'll help."



"I'm not gonna fight with you," Carrie smiled, placing a hand under her chin and making her look her in the eye. "Everything's gonna be fine."



"You said that last time," she frowned.



"But this is different than last time."



"Why cause we had sex?"



"No," Carrie shook her head. "Because I know that you love me and that this means as much to you as it does to me. That makes it worth fighting for. Not that it wasn't before. But now, I wouldn't just be hurting myself, I'd be hurting you, and I would never do that."



"I love you," Kelly smiled before bringing their lips together once more.



A slow smile crept onto Carrie's face, "I'll never get tired of hearing that."



"Good. Because you'll be hearing it for a long time."



"You know? I think I'm ok with that," she laughed as Kelly kissed her once more.



++++++++



"You have everything?" Kelly asked from where she sat on the edge of the bed as Carrie looked around the room.



"I think so," she nodded.



"You're forgetting something."



"Really?" Carrie asked, searching the room once more. "What?"



"Me," Kelly smiled, standing up and pulling the country singer to her.



"Now, I could never forget you," Carrie smiled back, getting lost in the hazel eyes staring up at her.



"Promise?"



"Pinky swear."



"Oo, so you must be serious," Kelly giggled.



"Cross my heart," Carrie replied.



"It's gonna be different this time," Kelly nodded, more assuring herself than Carrie.



"Like completely. Like a 180 difference."



"Look at you and your math skills," Kelly teased. "I always knew I had me a smart one."



Carrie smiled, cradling Kelly's face in her hands.



"You know I love you."



"I know," she smiled. "And you know I love you."



"I know," Carrie nodded. "I'm gonna miss you."



"Me too. I mean, I'm gonna miss you. I'm not gonna miss me, obviously. How could I miss me?"



Carrie laughed softly, shaking her head, "And I'm gonna miss your rambling."



"Don't worry. It'll still be in full force the next time I see you."



"I don't doubt it," she smiled, moving a curl out of Kelly's eyes. "So how bout one for the road?"



"Um, Care. I don't think we have time. Your cab's waiting," Kelly pointed out. "But I am always up for a challenge."



"I meant a kiss you nerd," she rolled her eyes.



"Oh," Kelly blushed slightly. "Well, I always have time for those."



"Thought so," Carrie laughed, tilting her head as Kelly pushed up on her toes, their lips meeting softly. Kelly wrapped her arms around Carrie's neck, sighing into the kiss. This was definitely one of those moments that should be pictured next to the word 'perfect' in the dictionary. They eventually pulled apart, a smile gracing both of their faces.



"Love you," Kelly grinned.



"Love you too. And take care of yourself, you hear me? I don't want you coming back to me all sick and tired and stuff, cause remember...you owe me."



"And I am so looking forward to it."



"Good," Carrie smiled, kissing her forehead. "I'll call you as soon as I get in Nashville. And about a million times after that."



"I'll see you soon," Kelly nodded.



"You better," she laughed, giving her one more quick kiss. "Bye."



"Bye," Kelly smiled, watching as she walked out of the back bedroom and off the bus to where her cab was waiting to take her to the airport. She sighed as she fell back onto her bed, a wide smile still on her face. This love thing wasn't so bad after all.