Playing With Fire

"Where have you been?" Ashley asked desperately as Kelly entered her dressing room.



"Sleeping?" Kelly offered guiltily.



Ashley couldn't help but laugh, "Well, I guess you've earned that."



Kelly smiled, walking into the room fully, closing the door behind her.



"So, let's see. We have an hour and a half to get you ready, and you still haven't picked out what you're going to wear."



"I know. I just fell asleep, and I lost track of time."



"You could have called," Ashley replied, pushing her into 'the chair' that Kelly hated so much and started on her hair. "Maybe if we're lucky, they'll be running behind schedule. Remind me why we didn't have to do the red carpet."



"Because I'm not supposed to be here," Kelly said, frowning as Ashley took out cans of hairspray. "It's a surprise for Reba, and if by some chance she sees me and asks what I'm doing here--"



"Yea, yea, we all know you can't lie your way out of a paper bag," Ashley smirked.



"Am I the only one who never understood that phrase?"



Ashley laughed, "Look, just next time, give some warning that you'll be warning late. Or here's an idea, how about next time you sleep in your hotel room? You know, that's what they're there for. Where were you anyway?"



"Oh, um, I," Kelly struggled.



"No time. We need to get you a dress," Ashley replied.



Kelly sighed in relief.



"I heard that!" Ashley called from somewhere inside the dress rack. "This conversation isn't finished yet. Don't think I didn't catch your rambling!"



Kelly laughed, shaking her head at her best friend.



++++++++++



"You sit," the heavily-accented man demanded as Carrie walked into the room. Carrie frowned as she did as she was told. She found that she had been doing that a lot lately: doing exactly as she was told, no questions asked.



She looked in the mirror and couldn't help the smile that kept creeping up. She knew whatever was going on with her and Kelly wasn't exactly normal, nor where the feelings she felt for the girl, but she whatever was going on, she was happy. And someone had told her once, actually--her smile grew--Kelly had told her during one of their previous conversations that being happy is the most important thing.



She heard the door to her dressing room open and then slam shut. She winced at the sound, knowing that she was going to get it.



"Where the hell have you been?!" Chris erupted. Carrie frowned as she heard the stylist giggle.



"I-"



"No, I don't care what you have to say because there's no way in hell that's a good enough excuse."



Carrie sighed. Normally, Chris was a really good guy. She even considered him her friend at times. But then there were times that he went into full business mode, and it was never good.



"Do you realize that you missed the red carpet?" he asked.



"Yes, and I'm sorry-"



"Sorry?" he squeaked. "Sorry? Tell that to Valentino when he wonders why he didn't see his dress all over t.v.! Tell that to the record execs when they ask why you weren't all over television plugging your new album!"



Carrie had to bite her lip to keep from smiling cause she knew if Kelly were there with her that the brunette would be making fun of the way Chris was hopping around the room with the veins in his neck bulging as his face turned a bright red.



"Why the hell are you laughing? You think this is funny? Do you have any idea how much trouble we are going to be in? What were you thinking?!"



"I was just being a rock star," she replied, this time unable to hide her smile, knowing that Kelly would have been rolling at that comment.



"Well, I'm glad you think this is funny, cause by this time next week when neither of us have jobs, I hope your still laughing then!"



And with that he stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut.



++++++++++



Carrie took a nervous shaky breath as she walked up the stairs to the stage. Her gold dress was tight fighting with a slit up her right let, but still very sophisticated. Kelly was supposed to be the whore of the song after all. Her legs wobbled in her gold heels and she silently cursed herself for choosing them. A smile came across her face as she thought of Kelly, knowing that she would be performing barefoot. Add in Carrie's heels, and she would be towering over the smaller girl.



Chris's words were still ringing in her ears. She said a silent prayer, hoping beyond everything that she would still have a job come next week. A stage hand handed her a microphone, and she carefully walked to her mark.



"You!" a voice shrieked.



Carrie cringed, knowing that the entire audience had probably heard her. She turned to find Amelia storming towards her.



"Ugh-oh," Carrie sighed. "Not good."



"Where the f*** did you go this morning?! 5 Minutes! I gave you 5 minutes to get that girl back to normal! And what do you do?! You drop of the effin planet!"



Carrie bit her lip, knowing that the audience had definitely heard that.



"Amelia, lower your voice," she begged. "They can hear you."



"You owe me a lot of explanations. Like for starters where did you go?" Amelia asked, dropping her voice but not losing her aggressive tone.



"Look, just trust me everything will be fine."



"Fine? I don't want fine! I want passion and aggression and tension!"



Carrie felt her cheeks grow red, "Amelia please. Are you forgetting that this is a surprise?"



Amelia sighed deeply, "I--"



"Look," Carrie said, her voice steadying. "It's going to be perfect. Ok?"



"Oh really?"



"Yes."



"Then tell me," Amelia began, as the voice in front of the curtain was beginning to announce the duet as Amelia slowly backed off the stage. "Where is she?"



Carries' eyes widened at the question. She felt her fears creeping up again. So, not only was she going to lose her job, but she was about to make a complete fool of herself on national television. This was definitely not a good day. And where the hell was Kelly?



+++++++++



"Where is he?" Kelly asked Ashley as she went along all the backstage crewmembers, pumping fists with them.



"Why are you nervous?" Ashley asked, watching her best friend pacing back and forth. "You never get nervous before performing, like ever."



"I'm not nervous about singing," Kelly admitted. She looked up at the dark stage to where she knew Carrie was standing. She could see herself doing something completely stupid like tripping on stage right in front of her and making a complete fool out of herself. Kelly sighed deeply. What the hell was wrong with her? She never cared about making a fool out of herself before, why should now be any different?



She heard the presenter announce the duet, and she cursed aloud.



"Kel," Jason said, rushing up to her, out of breath.



"Where have you been?" Kelly asked. "You know I can't go on before I fist everybody."



"Sorry, but I ran into Tony Parker. Apparently, he and Eva are presenting tonight. So, I had to ask him how things were going with he and Eva, cause I have this sister..."



Kelly gave him a look that silenced him immediately and held out her fist. He hit his against hers, and she couldn't help but laugh at her brother. He would never change.



++++++++++



Carrie sighed, struggling to keep her voice from shaking,



"I've known about you, for a while now.

When he leaves me, he wears a smile now.

As soon as he's away from me,

In your arms, is where he wants to be."



Her head turned to the left, knowing that the camera would follow her gaze, praying that Kelly would be there. The spotlight came on, and there was Kelly walking across the stage, mic in hand. Kelly had chosen to where the black mid-thigh dress that was in the style she had grown to love over the past few months. She had on bright red, knee-high boots because she knew Carrie would be in heels. Extensions were put in her hair and were swept back into a long ponytail while a red beaded necklace traced the low v of the front of the dress. Carrie couldn't help but beam at the vision before her.



"But your the one he rushes home to," Kelly's voice came out warm and full, and Carrie had to fight not to close her eyes in bliss.



"You're the one he gave his name to.

I've never seen his face

In the early morning light.

You have his mornings, his daytimes,

And sometimes I have his nights."



Carrie shook her head slightly, realizing that now wasn't exactly the proper time to be oogling over Kelly Clarkson. A smirk came across her face as she turned to face the shorter girl, finally bringing herself to come into character. Kelly felt her breath catch in her throat as she turned to face Carrie for the chorus like was choreographed. The girl was drop-dead, heart-stopping, make you wanna jump her then and there gorgeous, and the mischievous smirk she was wearing was not helping matters. Kelly's eyes lit up wonderfully as if accepting the challenge that Carrie was offering.



"But does he love you?

Does he love you?

Like he loves me?

Like he loves me?

Does he think of you?

Does he think of you?

When he's hooolding me?

And does he whisper--

Does he whisper all his fantasies?

Does he love you?

Does he love you?

Like he's been loving me?"



The crowd was cheering loudly, but neither could hear them. They could barely hear the music over the sound of their hearts beating in their ears. Kelly took a few steps towards Carrie, licking her bottom lip carefully.



"But when he's with me,

He says he needs me.

That he wants me.

That he believes in me."



Carrie took a few steps towards her, shaking her head slightly.



"And when I'm in his arms,

Oh, he swears there's no one else.

He is deceiving me?

Or am I deceiving myself?"



"Am I deceiving mysee-elf?!" Kelly sang along, sending chills down Carries back.



"But does he love you?

Does he love you?

Like he loves me?

Like he loves me?

Does he think of you?

Does he think of you?

When he's hooolding me?

And does he whisper-

Does he whisper all his fantasies?

Does he love you?

Does he love you?

Like he's been loving me?"



The two of them closed the remaining space between them, fire coming from both of their eyes. The crowd was on their feet, realizing that this was a once and a lifetime performance. They were less than half a foot away, and breathing heavy.



"Oh, I should not lose my temper,"



"Oh, I should not be ashamed,"



"Cause I have everything to lose,"



"And I--I have nothing to gain----"



Carrie watched in awe as the girl before her sang with such emotion so effortlessly. She felt her heart stop and wondered if she had finally reached heaven because if so, this was far greater than she could have ever

imagined it would be.



"But does he love you?

Does he love you?

Like he loves me?

Like he loves me?"



Carrie tried not to smile as the southern girl's rocker growl came out. She could see Kelly's eyes dancing, and knew that the brunette was going through the same struggle of self-control that she was.



"Does he think of you?

Does he think of you?

When he's hooolding me?

And does he whisper-

Does he whisper all his fantasies?

Does he love you?

Does he love you?

Like he's been loving me?"



The music softened, but the crowd only loudened, and Carrie struggled not to reach out and touch Kelly, resisting the craving for contact that was burning inside of her.



"Oh--

Does he love you?" she sang softly, smiling sweetly at the girl before her. Kelly couldn't help but grin ear to ear as the song faded, and she looked up into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen.