Playing With Fire

+++++++++



"You awake?" Carrie asked softly.



Kelly nodded silently as Carrie kissed her forehead.



"You hungry?" she asked against Kelly's warm skin.



"A little," Kelly admitted softly, her voice hoarse from the tears she had shed.



"You want to eat here?" she asked, patiently.



"No," she shook her head. "I think I want to go out. Some fresh air sounds good right now."



"Where to, my lady?" Carrie smiled.



Kelly pulled away enough to look in her eyes, "You pick."



"Me?"



"Yea, my treat."



"Kell--"



"No, no," she smiled sadly, tracing the fingers of her right hand along Carrie's jaw. "You've been so good to me. Please, let me do this for you. Anywhere you want to go, we're there."



"Well, I heard about this new vegan restaurant opening up..."



"In Texas?"



"I didn't say it was good, but I kinda wanted to try it," she admitted, looking up at her hopefully.



"We're there," Kelly repeated, kissing her softly.



"Just let me go change, ok?"



"But then we'd have to get up," she realized, sadly.



"Five more minutes?" Carrie asked, gently.



"Five more minutes," Kelly nodded, leaning back into her warm embrace.



++++++++



"Have I told you that you look beautiful?" Kelly asked as they met in front of the car after pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant.



"Kell..." Carrie blushed as they linked arms in a friendly manner.



"No," she smiled. "It's been forever since we've actually been out on a date, let me enjoy this."



She took a step back, admiring the amazing girl before her. Carrie could feel her cheeks turning crimson.



"I was wrong," Kelly shook her head. "Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe you."



Carrie grinned, pulling her closer and wrapping an arm around her waist.



+++++++



"So?" Carrie urged.



"It smells good," Kelly replied, looking down at the plate of food before her.



Carrie laughed as she watched the Texan bring her fork to her mouth fearfully.



"Mm," Kelly managed as she tried to choke down the food.



"You don't like it?" Carrie asked, disappointedly.



"No, it just," Kelly struggled for the right word. "has a very unique flavor."



"That's ok," she shrugged. "I guess it's not for everyone."



"Sorry."



Carrie took a bite of her own food, immediately scrunching up her face.



"What's wrong?" Kelly asked, worrriedly.



"That's gross," Carrie said after swallowing.



Kelly sighed, relieved, "I thought it was just me."



"Why didn't you say something?" she laughed.



"I didn't want to hurt your feelings."



"I swear," Carrie said, shaking her head, placing enough money on the table to cover the two meals. "You wanna go some place else?"



"I was supposed to pay."



"How about dessert?" Carrie smiled.



Kelly frowned, "You're good."



+++++++



"What are you thinking about?" Carrie asked as they walked through the empty park, hand in hand, each with an ice cream cone.



Kelly's eyes glanced up at the night sky that was scattered with stars, "How perfect this moment is."



Carrie gave her hand a gentle squeeze as she turned to kiss her temple.



"I love you," she whispered in her ear.



"I love you too," Kelly replied softly.



Carrie pulled back to find a tear falling down the Texan's cheek. She could see the sadness in her eyes, and knew her thoughts were no longer on the beautiful night that surrounded them.



"You wanna talk about it?"



Kelly looked at her thoughtfully, "You're my family now."



"You still have Jason and Ashley," Carrie reminded her. "Don't forget that."



She nodded, looking down at the ground.



"You ok?"



"Just tired."



"It's been a long day," Carrie agreed. "You ready to go back?"



"You'll stay with me tonight, right?"



"Of course," Carrie replied as she embraced her. She looked so small and vulnerable at that moment that Carrie began to wonder if she had done the right thing after all. "Let's get you home."



++++++++++



"Where's Kelly?" Jason asked, worriedly as Carrie walked into the kitchen the next morning.



"In the shower," she replied, fixing her something to eat.



"How is she?"



"Honestly," Carrie sighed. "I think she's still trying to figure out that one herself."



Jason nodded, going back to the paper.



"What about you?" Carrie asked.



"What about me?"



"Jeanne's your mom too. Kelly's your baby sister. This can't be easy on you either."



Jason shrugged, "If I wake up to find that this was all just some dream, I wouldn't be surprised."



"I know the feeling," Carrie smiled as Kelly walked into the kitchen, looking adorable in a pair of jeans and a hoodie. "Cold?"



"Is the heater on?" Kelly pouted, sitting next to Carrie at the table.



"Yea," Jason replied. "But it's kind of the middle of December."



"I don't like the winter," she grumbled, placing her head on the table.



"Do you want something to eat?" Carrie asked.



"No," she shook her head, standing up. "I think I'm gonna go work on some stuff."



Carrie frowned as she watched her walk out of the room.



"So?" Jason looked at her expectantly.



"So what?"



"How do we take that?"



"How am I supposed to know?"



"Well, you know her better than anyone else," Jason pointed out.



"Which isn't saying much," she sighed. "Besides, you've known her longer than anybody else."



"We suck at this," Jason admitted.



"Yea," Carrie agreed, pulling out her phone to read a text she had just received, a thoughtful smile growing.



"We suck at life."



"Speak for yourself," Carrie said, standing.



"Huh?"



"We may not know how upset she is, but I know a way to make her happy again, at least for now."



"Eww," Jason covered his ears. "Don't want to hear it."



"Not that," Carrie rolled her eyes, then paused. "Well, that's not a bad idea, actually, but that's not what I was talking about."



"Well, just don't interrupt her if she's writing!" Jason called after her as she made her way up to Kelly's room. "That's an easy way to get hurt!"



+++++++++



"Kell?" Carrie asked as she let herself into the room. Kelly was sitting at her desk, busy doing something on her computer.



"Hey," she said, not looking up, and Carrie took this as an ok to enter.



She sat on the side of Kelly's bed, watching her rearranging her schedule, "I have something I want to talk to you about."



"Everything ok?" Kelly asked, not turning to face her.



Carrie sighed, reaching out and grabbing the chair that Kelly was on and pulling it to her. She spun it around so that they were facing each other.



"Sorry," Kelly frowned, but Carrie just shook her head, linking their hands together.



"I know this may be to soon for you," Carrie explained. "I mean, your mom just left yesterday, but I just heard back from my parents."



Kelly looked up at her curiously.



"I'm supposed to be going back in a couple days and spend Christmas there, and they said they'd love it if I brought one of my friends. I don't really get to bring a lot of people home. They're starting to think I'm a bit of a recluse," she laughed softly.



"You want me to meet your parents?" Kelly asked, her expression impossible to read.



"Yea," she nodded. "And like I said, I know it's too soon, so I'll understand if you say no, but I'd love for you to come with me. And I think a change of scenery might do you some good."



Kelly bit her bottom lip, lost in thought.



"So what do you say?" Carrie asked, nervously.



"I'd love to," she finally smiled.



"Really?"



"Yea," Kelly nodded, allowing Carrie to pull her from the chair and onto her lap.



"It's gonna be great, I promise."



"I know," Kelly replied, kissing her softly. "Thanks for inviting me."



"It's about time, don't you think?"



"Only if you're ready," she shrugged.



Carrie smiled, kissing her forehead, "You're amazing."



"Now, that's up for opinion."



Carrie looked at her sadly, knowing where her mind was drifting to.



"Don't worry," Kelly said, gently touching her cheek. "Your's is the only opinion that matters now, anyway."



"Good," Carrie smiled, kissing her once more.