Playing With Fire

++++++++



"What..." was all that Shanna could manage at the sight of her baby sister kissing another girl who, from the looks of it, she kissed rather often.



"Um," Stephanie said, looking at the two of them confused.



"You..."



"Huh?"



Carrie's eyes remained closed as she pulled back from the short, yet sweet kiss. She hadn't meant to kiss Kelly in front of her sisters, but sometimes she'd just lose herself in those hazel eyes, and there was no getting back.



"Is this...what are you doing?" Shanna asked, her voice rising several pitches as she walked towards the two singers.



Carrie instinctively stepped in between her eldest sister and her girlfriend.



"This...this is what you wanted to talk about?" she asked, still trying to get over the initial shock of it all.



"You two," Stephanie said, confusedly. "You're together?"



"Look," Carrie quickly replied. "We didn't plan for this to happen. We didn't go looking for this. I mean, it never even crossed my mind that I might be with a girl...in that way--"



"In what way?" Shanna asked, taking another step towards them.



Carrie put her arm behind her, holding Kelly there, "And this is in no way, shape, or form her fault, so don't even go there. She didn't confuse me, or trick me, or anything. It just happened, and I..."



"You what?"



"I love her," she said, simply.



"Kelly?" Shanna said, acknowledging the Texan.



Carrie narrowed her eyes at her sister.



"I'm not gonna hurt her," Shanna frowned.



"Care," Kelly calmed, moving out from behind her.



"So you're my sister's...girlfriend?" Shanna asked, the last word coming out forced.



"Yes," Kelly nodded, wiping away any remaining tears from earlier. The last thing she wanted was to be seen as weak by Carrie's family.



"Wow," she breathed, leaning against the counter.



"I know this is a lot to take in," Carrie said, looking at her nervously.



"Stephanie?" Kelly asked, not liking the look on the middle daughter's face.



"I thought you liked guys," Stephanie addressed her sister bluntly.



"I do...I mean, I did...I mean," Carrie sighed. "It's all kinda confusing, really."



"I bet," she nodded. "So you're gay?"



"I wouldn't say that," Carrie said, her eyes falling to the ground.



"Then what would you say?" she asked harshly.



"I don't know," Carrie replied softly, feeling Kelly's hand slip into her own.



"I have to go."



"Steph--" Carrie said, her voice cracking.



Stephanie froze as she turned to leave. She turned back around, facing her younger sister. She could see the mixture of hurt and fear in her eyes. She looked to where the two singer's hands were intertwined, noticing how the way Kelly's thumb was tracing small circles on Carrie's hand, seemed to calm the youngest Underwood. Stephanie felt her stomach churn slightly.



"It's alrig--I just...I need to think about this," she said, her voice losing its edge as she turned, walking out of the kitchen.



"Shanna?" Carrie said quietly.



"You realize how big of a deal this is right?" Shanna asked, not looking up from where she was still leaning. "This isn't just some game."



"We know," Carrie nodded.



"And you know that everything is going to change now?" she said, turning to look at the two of them.



"Yes."



"And once word gets out, a lot of people will be against this, and that they will voice such. You will both lose a lot of fans. This could possibly even end your careers," she said, eyeing the both of them carefully.



"Yes."



Shanna frowned, "You know this, and you still want to go through with it?"



"I love her," Carrie said simply.



Shanna turned to Kelly.



"I've chosen your sister over my own mother," Kelly replied. "I love her with all I have."



Shanna raised an eyebrow at Carrie who nodded in reply, confirming Kelly's statement.



"Is that why you're here?"



"Yea."



Shanna nodded, reaching and taking Carrie's free hand into her own, "I'm here, for the both of you. Whatever you need, you have my support."



Kelly smiled as Carrie was pulled into a hug by her eldest sister. She could tell the country singer was trying hard not to cry from the way she was shaking.



"If you don't mind my asking," Shanna said, loosening her grip on her sister as she faced Kelly. "What's gotten you so upset?"



"My mom," she replied, suddenly remembering why they were in this situation in the first place. "She told pretty much my entire family."



"You're afraid word's going to get out?"



Kelly nodded, her gaze falling as Shanna gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.



"What about Stephanie?" Carrie asked.



"I'll go talk to her," Shanna assured. "Why don't you two finish cleaning this place up before mom and dad get back. Wait...mom and dad...do they--"



"They know," Carrie nodded.



"Ok," Shanna tried her best to give them a reassuring smile. "I'll talk to you two soon, ok?"



"Ok."



"Thanks," Kelly replied.



+++++++



"So," Carrie sighed, wrapping an arm around Kelly's shoulders.



Kelly placed a hand on Carrie's stomach as they stood there, "What now?"



"Before we do anything else, I really think you should call your sister," Carrie replied, honestly.



"Yea," she nodded, nervously.



"Come see," Carrie smiled gently, taking her by the hand and leading her into the living room where she sat down, stretching out on the sofa. She pulled Kelly down onto her lap, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist, kissing the back of her neck. "I love you," she whispered, watching as Kelly flipped her cell phone over and over in her hands.



"I love you too," Kelly replied, feeling more tears forming. Why did she have to be a crier? For once in her life, couldn't she remain dry eyed for at least twenty-four hours.



"It's gonna be ok," Carrie assured her. "No matter what, I'm here. I got you, ok?"



Kelly nodded, scrolling to her sisters name in her address book.



"This would be so much easier if she were here," she frowned.



"It'd be easier to talk to her in person? Cause I mean, we can fly out there right now if you want? But if it's hard over the phone, I don't see how face-to-face would be any easier."



"No, I just meant I could just kiss you in front of her like you did with your sisters. Kissing you is always easy," she sniffed.



Carrie felt her heart swell at the absolute cuteness of the girl in her arms, "I didn't do it to have to get out of telling them. You're just too irresistible sometimes, and I just can't help myself when I'm around you."



Kelly slipped her free hand in on of the ones that Carrie had wrapped around her.



"You want me to dial?" Carrie asked.



"Please," Kelly nodded.



Carrie found the number and hit the call button, bringing the phone up to her ear.



"It's ringing," she said, handing it back to Kelly and rewrapping her arm around her.



"Sweetie?" Kelly heard Alyssa's concerned voice on the other side, only to feel more tears falling.



"Hey," Kelly replied shakily.



"Are you ok? Where are you? I've been worried sick," Alyssa said quickly.



"I'm at Carrie's," she answered, feeling Carrie squeezing her gently as she rested her chin on Kelly's shoulder, kissing her cheek every so often to reassure her that she was there.



"And you're ok?"



"Yea."



Kelly bit her lip at the silence that followed.



"I'm so sorry," she finally apologized.



"For what?"



"For all of this," Kelly cried. Carrie felt her heart breaking as she held her tightly, nuzzling into her cheek, feeling the Texan's tears on her face. "You have to know that I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't ask for this. I couldn't help it. But I swear, if you'd meet her, you'd understand. She's just...so amazing. And I know you think this is wrong or disgusting or whatever, but you have to at least give her a chance. Please, that's all I'm asking."



"Baby," Alyssa sighed, softly. "I'm not upset about that."



"You're not?"



"No, of course not. You know I've always told you to live your life how you want to. As long as your happy, I'm happy."



"Then why all the calls?" Kelly sniffed.



"Because I was worried about you. This can't have been easy for you to go through. I wish you would've told me so I could've been there for you, Kelly. You shouldn't have to deal with all of this by yourself."



"I had Care," she replied, softly.



"Yea, but I'm your big sister. She doesn't know you on the level that I do. And Jason? You told Jason before you told me?" Alyssa smiled. "I mean, I know you see him more than me, but come on now. Jason?"



"I didn't tell him," Kelly replied.



"No?"



"He kinda found out."



"How?"



"Um, well, he kinda saw...well, he walked in on me and Carrie," Kelly blushed. "Making out."



Alyssa laughed, "Poor guy. Probably didn't handle it too well at first, I suppose?"



"He's the one that told mom," she frowned.



"I'm so sorry about that," Alyssa replied. "I never thought she'd act like this. I mean, I didn't think she'd agree with it, but I don't know, not like this. How you're handling that?"



"Ok, I guess. At least until I found out that she told the entire world."



"She only told our family."



"Which in about forty-eight hours will be the entire world," Kelly sighed, bringing Carrie's hand that she was holding up to her lips and kissing it softly. Carrie smiled, kissing her temple in reply. There was no one else in the world that she would believe it was worth it for her entire world to crash down around her just in order to hold other than the Texan in her arms.



"You're in Oklahoma right now?"



"Yea," she replied.



"You want me a Jay to fly out there to be with you?"



"What about the kids?" Kelly frowned.



"Please, I know nothing would make them happier than seeing their aunt," she smiled.



"Let me check just to make sure it's ok."



"Oh, no. She's not gonna keep me from seeing my baby sister. If she does, then you are so not allowed to date her anymore."



Kelly rolled her eyes, "Care?"



"Yes ma'am?"



"Is it ok if Alyssa and her family and Jason come over here?"



"Of course," Carrie smiled. "Why wouldn't it be? Kell, I'd never keep you from your family, you know that. I mean, we don't really have room for all of them in the house, but I can put them in the best hotel around, if that's ok?"



"She--"



"I heard," Alyssa replied. "And I like her already. Tell her a hotel would be more than fine."



"She said that's fine," Kelly informed Carrie.



"Ok, I'll get right on it," Carrie said, taking out her own phone and texting quickly.



"'Lyssa?" Kelly asked softly.



"What's up sweetie?"



"I love you."



"I love you too Kellbel," she smiled. "We'll see you soon, ok?"



"Ok."



"Ok, I got the hotel thing situated," Carrie said as Kelly hung up her phone.



"Through a text?"



"I got my manager on it," she laughed.



"Thanks," Kelly replied, leaning back into the embrace.



"You ok?"



"A lot better now," she nodded. "Soon, I'm gonna have all the people I love around me. Who cares what the world thinks, as long as I have y'all?"



"Amen," Carrie smiled, kissing her cheek once more.



++++++++



"Hey, my parents just drove up," Carrie said, walking back into the house after having thrown the trash. "Were you able to get in touch with your publicist?"



"No, maybe I should call Narvel?" Kelly said, biting her lip nervously.



"Is this something you want to tell him over the phone?" Carrie asked, walking to her. She ran her hands up and down Kelly's arms comfortingly.



"I don't think we really have much of a choice," she frowned. "They need a heads up so they can do as much damage control as possible. What about you?"



A grin spread across her face.



"What?" Kelly asked.



"Just had a thought."



"Wow. So there is a first time for everything," Kelly smiled, playfully.



"Shut it," Carrie laughed, wrapping her arms around the Texan.



"So what were you thinking about?" Kelly asked, feeling her heart dancing as she and Carrie stood there, smiling at each other. It amazed her that at even times like this, Carrie still had the ability to make her feel like she was back in high school with her first crush, only these feelings were just so much more than back then.



"Clive," Carrie smiled.



"You know most people don't smile when they think about him."



"Well, not really him," Carrie replied, pulling her closer. "More of how he'll freak when he finds out."



"Now that," Kelly nodded, feeling herself inching towards Carrie. "That is definitely something to smile about."



Carrie laughed just before their lips pressed together. She sighed into the kiss, holding Kelly close. It was remarkable at how when she kissed Kelly, she completely forgot about everything else, and the only thing she could think of was the warm body pressed against her and the soft lips moving with hers. She felt Kelly's arms wrap around her and her hands slide under the back of her shirt. She groaned softly as she felt Kelly's nails moving back and forth across her lower back.



The sound of the front door opening caused the two of them to jump apart quickly. Carrie readjusted her shirt as Kelly fixed her lip gloss.



"Hey girls," Carole greeted.



"Hey mom," Carrie replied quickly, wanting to answer before Kelly did, knowing the girl's voice--already raspier than a normal person's--had a higher tendency to crack when she was flustered.



"The place looks great," Stephen commented.



"Thanks," she smiled.



"We need to tell them," Kelly said softly.



"Tell us? Tell us what?" Carole asked, looking at the pair of them nervously.



"Are you pregnant?" Stephen asked Carrie. "I'll kill you," he said turning to Kelly.



Carrie stepped in front of the Texan protectively, "How come every time I say we need to talk, you automatically assume I'm pregnant?"



Kelly giggled from behind her.



"Besides," Carrie relaxed at the sound of Kelly's laugh. "If I was pregnant, how the heck would Kelly be the one responsible?"



Stephen sighed, glancing at Kelly over Carrie's shoulder, "Sorry. It's a dad thing."



"It's fine," Kelly smiled.



"So, what's wrong sweetie?" Carole asked.



"Everybody's about to find out about us," Carrie replied, feeling Kelly's hands link with her own from behind.



"Everybody?" Stephen asked.



"Everybody."



+++++++++++



"Here you go," Carole smiled, handing the two girls a cup of tea as they sat down in the living room.



"Ok," Stephen said. "Now tell us exactly what happened."



"Well, Care and I had turned our phones off yesterday," Kelly explained.



"Because we didn't want anyone from work interrupting family time," Carrie quickly broke in.



"Yea," Kelly smiled. "So, this morning when we checked, we both some missed calls from Jason."



"Jason?" Carole asked.



"Kelly's older brother slash assistant slash body guard," Carrie replied.



"He knows?"



"Yes ma'am," Kelly nodded. "So I returned his call, and he told me that my mom had told my entire family while they were gathered together for Christmas."



"Did he say what she told them?" Stephen asked.



"Um, he said that she told them where I was, who I was with, and why I was with her," Kelly answered.



"And you're absolutely sure?"



"Yea, my sister called. She was there. That's how she found out."



"What about you?" Carole asked, turning to Carrie.



"I told Shanna and Stephanie this morning."



"And?"



"I think it'll be fine," Carrie nodded, feeling Kelly's hand slip into hers. She squeezed it gently.



"My brother and sister are flying out here. Is that ok?" Kelly asked.



"Of course dear," Carole nodded, smiling comfortingly.



"Ok," Stephen said thoughtfully. "Have the two of you gotten in touch with your managers or anyone?"



"Yea," Carrie answered. "I told him I had something extremely urgent to tell him, so he's on his way right now."



"I haven't told Narvel yet," Kelly admitted.



"I really think you should tell him," Stephen replied. "If possible, it's probably best if you can get him to come out here as well."



"You think I should wait to tell him till he gets here?"



"Whatever you think would be best."



Kelly nodded.



Carrie kissed her temple softly, noticing her father wince out the corner of her eye, "Sorry."



"It's ok," he nodded. "It'll take a while to get used to, but I'm here for you, and besides, I think you two have bigger things to worry about."



"I'm gonna go call him," Kelly said, standing, letting Carrie's hand slip out of her own.



Carrie nodded, suddenly feeling very vulnerable without the Texan sitting beside her.



"I'm so sorry to have to put you through all of this," Carrie said, turning to her parents.



"Carrie, it's ok. You can't help it, anymore then I can that I fell for your father," Carole replied.



"Yea, but when this gets out, you realize people will be all over you two, right? Probably saying you're bad parents and stuff," she said, her eyes cast down to the floor.



"Carrie," Stephen sighed. "Care Bear, look at me."



The young singer did as she was told.



"Do you think we've been bad parents?" he asked carefully.



"No, of course not," she sniffed, noticing the tears that were starting to fall down her cheeks. "You've always been there for me, supporting me, but never pushing me. You've taught me so much. Everything good in me, I've gotten from you two."



"Ok," he nodded with the softest of smiles. "That's all that matters."



++++++++++



"Narvel?" Kelly asked as she heard someone pick up the phone.



"Kelly, is that you?" she heard a familiar country accent answer.



"Reba, hey. Um, is Narvel around? I need to speak to him," she replied shakily.



"Are you ok?" Reba asked. "You sound upset."



"I'm...is he there?"



"Yea, one second sweetie."



"Kelly?" Narvel asked.



"Hey," she sighed.



"What's wrong?"



"Um, I don't know where to begin. But I need you to come over here as soon as possible, please."



"What happened?"



"Some, um, news is about to get out...about me...and uh...it probably won't be viewed as very good news..."



"Are you hurt?"



"Narvel..." Kelly fussed.



"Alright, I'll be there right away. Where are you? Texas? North Carolina?"



"Oklahoma," she replied softly.



"Oklahoma?"



"I'll explain everything when you get here," she promised.



"Ok, we're on our way," he promised, before hanging up the phone.



"We?" Kelly questioned to herself.



++++++++++



"How'd it go?" Carrie asked, putting an arm around Kelly as she sat down.



"He said they're on their way," she replied, curling up against her.



"They?" Carrie questioned, wrapping her arm tighter as Kelly rested her head on her shoulder.



"I think Reba's coming too," she said softly. All of this was just getting a little bit out there.



"Reba McEntire?" Carole questioned. "Is coming to my house? I...I need to clean."



"Relax dear," Stephen chuckled. "I don't think she'll mind if there's a little dust on the shelves."



Kelly wrapped an arm around Carrie as she snuggled into the crook of her neck, whispering, "Baby, I'm scared."



"Me too," Carrie whispered back, kissing the top of her head. She looked up at her parents who were both respectfully looking elsewhere. She pulled the Texan onto her lap so she could hold her as close as possible. Kelly turned to face her, wrapping her arms tightly around Carrie's neck, burying her face in the warm skin there. Carrie rubbed her back soothingly, amazed at how much comfort she got from holding the shorter singer.



Carrie's ears perked up at the sound of the front door opening.



"Carrie?" she heard a familiar voice call out. "You guys still here?"



"In the living room," Stephen replied.



Carrie watched as her two older sisters walked into the living room, both trying to hide the look of shock on their faces at the sight of the two Idols in their current position.



"Is-is she ok?" Stephanie asked.



Carrie smiled at the genuine sound of worry in her voice, "She'll be fine."



"Carrie, I'm sorry--" she began.



Carrie shook her head, "You have every right to react the way you did. I shouldn't have made y'all find out like that. And even if I had told y'all differently, it's still ok. You're here now, right?"



Stephanie nodded.



"That's all that matters," Carrie smiled. She felt Kelly kiss her neck softly, and she kissed her forehead in reply.



"So, um, what's the game plan?" Shanna asked, still trying her best to digest everything that had happened.



++++++++++



Carrie felt Kelly's warm breath on her skin as she lazily traced her nails up and down the Texan's back, every now and then the softest of purrs emanated from her lips.



"You sure she's ok?" Shanna asked, joining her on the couch. "She hasn't moved in like half an hour."



"She's sleeping," Carrie smiled, fondly.



Shanna's eyes softened as she watched the girl sleeping peacefully in her sister's arms, "She's lucky she has someone like you to be there for her."



"Please," Carrie laughed. "I'm the lucky one. I'd be a mess right now if it weren't for her."



Shanna nodded as the sound of the doorbell rang throughout the house.



"I got it!" Stephanie called out from where she was helping Carole in the kitchen.



"Who are you?" they heard her asking as she opened the door.



"Is Kelly here?" Carrie recognized the voice.



"Um, excuse me, what are you doing here?"



"In here Jay," Carrie called out as loudly as possible without waking up the Texan she was holding.



"How's she doing?" Jason asked, walking to the living room. He kissed both singers on the top of their heads before kneeling right in front of them.



"She's out like a light," Carrie laughed.



"Sleeping's the best thing for her to do when she's stressed," Jason nodded, watching his sister protectively.



"Jason, this is my sister Shanna," Carrie said, nodding to the woman next to her. "That was Stephanie that let you in."



"Hi," he smiled. "I'm Kelly's brother."



"Nice to meet you," Shanna replied.



"Where's her sister? I thought she was coming with you?" Carrie asked Jason.



Jason turned to where Alyssa was standing there, watching the two girls carefully.



"Hi," Carrie smiled nervously. "I'm Carrie."



"I figured," Alyssa smiled back.



"Do you want me to wake her so you can talk?"



"No, no. She looks...peaceful right now. Let her sleep while she can."



"So...this isn't awkward at all," Stephanie said, breaking the silence that had fallen on the room.



Jason laughed as he sat on the other side of Carrie on the couch.



"Care..." she heard a soft voice mumble sleepily.



Carrie kissed her forehead, "You waking up?"



"I thought I heard Jason," she replied as Carrie helped her sit up, her strong accent making Shanna giggle.



Carrie nodded her head to the side of her where he was sitting.



"Hey butthead," he smiled.



"Hey dumbass," she smiled back, rubbing her eyes. "When'd you get here?" she asked, settling back down into Carrie, resting her cheek against the country singer's shoulder.



"Just now."



"Where's Lyssa?"



"Right here," Alyssa replied from the recliner.



Kelly jumped up, sitting up straight, causing Carrie to hold onto her tightly to make sure she didn't fall off of her lap.



"It's alright," Alyssa laughed as her sister turned to face her. "You're good."



Kelly sighed, scooting back, so that she was sitting on Carrie's lap, facing forward. Carrie wrapped her arms around her stomach, placing her chin on her shoulder.



"Where's the kids?" Kelly asked.



"At the hotel with their dad. The flight wore them out," she replied.



"It wasn't too bad, was it?"



"It was fine," she assured her. "So, um," she said, looking at Carrie who bit her lip. "You're my sister's girlfriend."



"Yes ma'am," Carrie nodded, her voice small.



"You're not really scared of me, are you?"



Carrie looked at her wide-eyed.



"Be careful," Shanna warned, eyeing the eldest Clarkson daughter.



"Excuse me?" Alyssa asked, an edge creeping into her voice.



"Lyss," Jason cautioned.



"I just want to talk to the girl," Alyssa pointed out to Shanna.



"And I'm just saying, be careful," she replied.



"Were you careful when you talked to my sister?"



"Uh oh," Stephanie sighed.



"I was nothing but nice to your sister," Shanna replied, the anger evident in her voice.



"She was," Kelly quickly replied, wanting this argument to stop here and now.



"Please Kell, a person could curse you out, and you'd never admit to them being anything but nice," Alyssa replied, narrowing her eyes at Shanna.



"True," Jason nodded.



"Not helping," Kelly frowned.



"Look, I handled it the best anybody in that situation could've, so back off," Shanna glared.



"She's right you know," Stephanie nodded. "I mean, she handled it better than I did."



"And what's that supposed to mean?" Jason asked, quickly getting defensive of his baby sister.



"It's not like you handled it all that well, either" Kelly reminded him.



"Did you hurt her?" Stephanie asked.



"Oh my God, enough!" Carrie raised her voice, making the two sets of siblings stop. Kelly smiled as Carrie kissed her shoulder apologetically.



"If Alyssa wants to talk to me, let her talk. She has every right to say what's on her mind," she said, glaring at her two sisters.



"Ditto," Kelly nodded, looking at her own siblings.



The door bell resounded throughout the house.



"Seriously?" Carrie groaned, burying her head into the back of Kelly's shoulder.



++++++++



"Carrie," a twenty-something year old male said as he entered the living room. "What's up? What's wrong?" He paused noticing all the eyes looking at him curiously. "Who in the world are all of these people, and what are they doing in your house? And why is Kelly Clarkson sitting on your lap?"



Kelly studied him carefully. His jeans were slightly faded and his fitted shirt showed the obvious efforts from working out, yet he still had traces of a beer belly. His short hair was standing on end, and he obviously hadn't shaved that morning.



"Um, seeing as we all know who we are, and what we are doing here," Kelly said. "I think the proper question would be who are you?"



"I'm, uh, Anthony. Anthony Caillert Mikaelson. Tony for short," he said, holding out his hand which she shook politely.



"That's my new manager," Carrie said in her ear. She felt Kelly stiffen in her arms, immediately going on guard. "Kell..." she warned softly as her manager went around the room, greeting everyone else. "Be nice."



"Sorry, but you haven't exactly had the best of luck with managers," Kelly whispered. "The guy looks like he's barely out of college. I don't want you having some weak manager that Clive can walk all over again. You deserve someone who can stand up for you and make sure you're doing what's best for you."



Carrie smiled, kissing the back of her neck. "It's ok," she assured her. "He knows what he's doing. Plus, John, drew up this contract that pretty much demands that he watches out for me and only me, or he'll have nothing left when we get through with him."



"You know, I really like this John, lawyer, guy," Kelly smiled.



"Tony," Stephanie said, eyeing him before turning to her sister. "What's up with you and Tonys?"



Carrie rolled her eyes.



Kelly laughed, as she turned to face her as well, "Should I be worried?"



"Never in a million years would you have to worry about something like that," Carrie assured her. Kelly looked at her with that look in her eyes that Carrie had come to know as her 'falling' look. She could literally see the girl falling for her all over again, and it chilled her to the bone every time. It took everything she had for Carrie not to kiss her right then.



"So Tony," Carrie said, after settling for merely winking at the Texan, causing her to smiled broadly. "You might want to sit down for this."



"Alright?" he eyed her curiously as he sat on a chair that Stephen had brought in from the dining room because they had run out of living room furniture for people to sit on.



"So," she said, playing with her hands that were folded on Kelly's lap.



"So."



"I've been seeing someone for several, well, nearly half a year now."



"Seeing someone? Like a therapist?"



Jason snorted in laughter, earning a swat on his arm from Kelly.



"No...like in a relationship."



"Ok...nothing terrible so for, go on..."



"But you see, we've been keeping it a secret, and unfortunately this person's family found out last night."



"And you're afraid that the family is going to tell the media?" Tony asked.



"Yea," Carrie nodded. "Well, honestly, I don't see what's got you so upset. I mean, is the guy like super ugly and you're embarrassed to be seen with him. Like does he have three heads or something?"



"Um, no, they're really...just...very...gorgeous," Carrie smiled, feeling Kelly leaning back into her in a form of a hug.



"So what's the problem with this guy?" Tony asked.



"That's the problem right there."



"The problem is in the problem?"



"No..."



"The problem is in the guy?"



"Close..."



"The problem is the guy? Well then, why are you dating him?"



Carrie sighed.



"For God's sakes man," Shanna broke in. "Are you stupid? She's not dating a guy. She's freaking dating Kelly Clarkson."



Kelly felt her cheeks go crimson as all eyes went to her once again. She locked eyes with Tony and gave him a guilty smile. Tony's jaw dropped.



"Oh shit," he breathed.