Playing With Fire

++++++++++



Carrie shifted side to side as she watched Kelly and Reba perform. She knew that no one else would recognize the nervous glance the short Texan kept throwing at her mentor, but then again, nobody else had studied her face so closely as she had the past few months, trying to memorize every freckle and every smile and every frown. She knew Kelly hadn't had a chance to talk to Reba before the show. She had to admit, she wasn't sure why Kelly was so nervous. Reba seemed to be unbothered by it. Well, at least as unbothered as one can be after walking in on someone.



"Dang it," Carrie cursed. She had to pee. She walked around backstage, completely lost. She saw the arrows that Kelly always had, directing her way from her dressing room to the stage so she wouldn't get lost. She had to smile. Unfortunately, there weren't any bathrooms in the dressing rooms over here. Carrie made her way through a door that opened up into one of the main halls of the arena.



She had made it up to the second floor before she found signs directing her to the nearest restroom.



++++++++++



Carrie couldn't help but hum along as she washed her hands. The small speakers in the bathroom, playing the audio from the concert which she thought was a nice touch. She always hated it when she had to go to the bathroom while watching a concert cause then you had to wait in line forever and miss half the show, but this was pretty cool. At least you weren't completely missing everything.



She used the hand dryer to dry her hands, frowning as she wiped them on her jeans. Stupid things never really dried your hands all the way. She walked out the bathroom, the swinging door closing behind her.



"Oh my God," she heard a girl say in awe.



Carrie turned to find a group of teenagers staring at her.



"You're Carrie Underwood, aren't you?" the girl asked, raising an eyebrow.



"Y-yea," Carrie replied nervously. One, she was always kind of shy around people she didn't know. Two, she had no idea what they're reactions were to her and Kelly.



+++++++++++



"Hey," Carrie grinned playfully, climbing onto the bed, and crawling on top of Kelly. She leaned down, kissing her sweetly.



"Hey back," Kelly smiled as they broke the kiss. She lay back on the pillow on the bed in the back of the bus. They were going to sleep there that night in order to get a decent rest, and fly back to Tennessee in the morning. Naturally everybody else was staying in the hotel, but she had always preferred staying on the bus. It made the whole going on tour and living her dream thing actually seem real.



"So, guess what I learned tonight," Carrie said, sitting on the Texan's legs, leaning forward on her arms, hovering over her.



"What did you learn?" Kelly asked, reaching up to tuck a curl behind the other girl's ear.



"I'm a kezbo," Carrie beamed.



Kelly snorted with laughter, "You're a what?"



"I'm a kezbo," she nodded.



"Um, sweetie, do you even know what that is?"



"Duh," Carrie smiled. "You see, I had to pee, right?"



"Right," Kelly nodded.



"So, I had to go off in search of the bathroom. Which naturally took forever which kind of upset me because it meant I was missing the show."



Kelly couldn't help but laugh softly.



"What?"



"Nothing," Kelly shook her head, rubbing a hand up and down one of Carrie's arms. "Just thinking about how when we first started dating, you couldn't make it through one of my interviews or performances to save your life."



"Not funny," Carrie fussed. "That used to upset me so much because it hurt you."



"It didn't hurt me," Kelly replied. "If anything, the fact that you tried so hard, and got so upset, only made me care about you even more."



"Whatever," Carrie rolled her eyes. "Back to the story."



"Ok."



"So, when I walked out of the bathroom, I ran into this group of teenagers, right? Mostly girls, and they came talk to me. I was nervous as hell, no clue what they were gonna say. But your fans, are so cool, Kell. I mean seriously. They asked for my picture and autograph. They said how they were glad that you found someone that you loved. And then one girl, said that she was a bit conflicted. So I was like why? And she said, on the one hand she was happy that you liked girls because it meant that she had a chance, on the other hand you were taken. And then another girl laughed, declaring me the hero of the kezbos."



Kelly laughed, watching as her eyes danced animatedly while she told the story.



Carrie took a breath before continuing, "So naturally, I had no clue what that was, so I asked. And she said that a kezbo was a girl who was straight, but would turn for you... I'm a kezbo."



Kelly smiled, draping her hands over Carrie's shoulders, caressing the back of her neck softly, "Well, you're right. Looks like you are."



"First off, do you realize how hot you have to be to have an entire legion of straight fans willing to turn for you?"



Kelly just laughed shaking her head.



"Well, I mean, obviously I know how hot you are," Carrie smirked, turning her head to kiss to the soft skin on the underside of the shorter girl's arm. "So, you talked to Reba yet?"



"Not really," Kelly shook her head. "She said she wanted to have breakfast tomorrow morning...with the both of us."



"Uh-oh," Carrie frowned.



"Don't worry," Kelly smiled, although that was exactly what she was doing. "She probably just wants to make sure we know what we're doing."



Carrie raised an eyebrow, "I'm pretty sure we know what we're doing, but I mean, if she has any tips..."



"What? Ew," Kelly scrunched her nose. "Gross, Care."



Carrie laughed.



"You know what I meant."



"Yea," Carrie nodded, pushing herself up so that she was sitting up straight, on top of her. Now that had to be the most amazing vision ever: Kelly laying beneath her, her hair falling messily on the pillow, her pink lips graced with the softest of smiles. Yep, she was totally a kezbo.



+++++++++



Carrie ran a hand across Kelly's stomach, smoothing over the t-shirt. She loved the fact that she was wearing it. Well, not so much that she was clothed, because she definitely preferred it when she wasn't. It was more the fact of that what she was wearing it at that moment represented.



She put it on after she had showered. She walked around the bus with it on. She wore it in the bedroom till the very moment when they were both in there, ready to go to bed. Then, and never a moment before, was when she took it off. Carrie smiled, running her hands up and down Kelly's sides.



What it meant was that she was the only one that Kelly let see without it. She trusted her enough for that. It was so hard in the world they lived in where all of the fans and media knew every single thing about them to have something to yourself. But this...she knew she was the only one Kelly let have her like this. And it wasn't just the sex, and it wasn't just the fans either. She knew the Texan told her things that she never even told her closest friends and family. She asked her questions that Carrie knew she could care less about if the answer were coming from anyone else. She was trying to let her as far in as possible, and Carrie knew that was something she had never done before. It was something she had never even wanted to do before. That was something else Kelly had told her.



"What are you thinking about?" Kelly asked curiously, rubbing her hands over the sides of Carrie's legs.



"You," Carrie replied softly.



"Oh yea? What about?"



"How much you amaze me," she smiled. "How much I love you."



Kelly's head rested against the pillow as she lay in complete ease, smiling back at the girl that was gazing at her adoringly, "I love you too."



"You know, I used to think that there was no such thing as a perfect moment," Carrie commented. "There was always something wrong. Wrong song. Wrong shoes. Wrong smell. Wrong person."



"But?" Kelly asked, sensing one coming.



"But I've had so many perfect moments with you, I think I'm starting lose count," she finished.



Kelly's smile grew, as she teared up slightly.



Carrie smiled wiping them away, "How about we get some sleep? We're gonna have to get up early if Reba wants to have breakfast before our flight."



"Yea," Kelly nodded, covering her mouth as she yawned. She reached out, taking Carrie's arms in her hands. Carrie allowed her to pull her down on top of her.



Carrie smiled, brushing their noses together before kissing her softly. She reached down, tugging the Texan's shirt off for her, before discarding her own. She lowered herself back down on top of her, immediately relaxing at the feeling of skin against skin. She felt Kelly kiss her neck as she turned them over so she could hold her better. She always slept better that way, knowing that Kelly was safe and in her arms.



"I love you," Kelly mumbled with a smile as she snuggled into her.



"Love you too," Carrie replied, kissing the top of her head.



++++++++++



"How do I look?" Carrie asked. "I mean, do I look ok? How are you supposed to look when you're going to get your butt chewed out?"



Kelly couldn't help but laugh as she wrapped her arms around the other singer. "First off, you look beautiful," she said honestly before reaching up for a quick kiss, making Carrie smile. "And second, she's not gonna chew us out. That's not Reba's style."



"Then what's her style?"



"If anything, it's more this disappointing look she gives," Kelly admitted.



"No," Carrie groaned. "I don't do well with disappointing looks. Those are worse than the chewing outs."



"Yea," Kelly nodded. "But I don't think that's what this is. I think she just wants to talk. Maybe she just wants to set ground rules."



"Like what? No sex before a show? Cause I can't promise that."



Kelly laughed again, "Well, there's only one way to find out what she wants, so let's go."



Carrie took the hand that she was offering, allowing her to guide her off of the bus and to the small little cafe that Reba had picked out. Kelly took a deep breath before entering. A young waitress immediately walked over to them.



"Kelly and Carrie?" she asked.



"Yea," Kelly nodded.



"Come with me, please," the waitress requested.



Carrie swallowed hard, holding onto Kelly's hand tightly as they followed the young girl to a private back room. "Is Reba like in the mafia or something?" Carrie whispered.



"Not that I know of," Kelly replied, looking up to find Reba seated by herself at a small table for four.



"Mornin'," Reba smiled, hugging each of them before they sat down. "Y'all slept ok?"



"Yes ma'am," Carrie quickly replied. "And just slept, I promise."



Kelly did all she could not to groan.



Reba chuckled, "So, I guess we should get this over with before you freak out anymore, huh?"



The two girls nodded.



"So, I just wanted...I mean...I don't even know where to begin," Reba admitted. "My husband's the one that had the talk with Shelby. Um, are y'all being safe? Cause, I know that's important."



Both singers blushed.



"Well, um," Kelly struggled. "That doesn't really apply...we don't have to really worry about that."



Reba frowned, "I guess not, huh? Well, I just want to make sure that the both of you are ok. Sex is a big deal."



Carrie smiled, "Um, we're both in our mid-twenties. We've...I mean, this isn't our first--"



Reba held up a hand, "I do not want to know the end of that sentence."



Kelly laughed softly.



"Can the two of you at least do me a favor?" Reba asked.



Kelly nodded.



"Lock the doors from now on?"



"You have no idea how many times we've told ourselves that," Carrie admitted.



"It's just...what if it wasn't me that walked in on the two of you..."



"We weren't doing that," Kelly quickly cut in.



Reba raised an eyebrow.



"Yet," she added with another blush.



Reba nodded knowingly, "Like I said, if it had been someone else, you know the story would be all over the magazines."



They both nodded, their heads hanging like scolded children.



"Good, now that that's over with," Reba smiled. "Is it ok if I have a little talk with Carrie...alone?"



Kelly caught the other blonde's eye as she looked back at her fearfully.



"I'll be nice, I promise," Reba assured the Texan. "I just want to talk with her."



"Alright," Kelly nodded, standing. "I'm going to go get some tea."



Carrie watched her walk out of the small back room before turning back to the music legend nervously.



"So..." Reba nodded.



"Is this like the boyfriend talk that my dad used to give to the guys I brought home when he told them he was gonna shoot them if their hands went anywhere they shouldn't?"



Reba laughed, "Partially."



"O-ok," she nodded.



"Carrie, look. I wasn't too sure about you at first, I'll admit that, but Kelly was right--you're a sweet girl," Reba began. "I just...Kelly means a lot to me. Our relationship is a bit odd. At times I feel like she's my student, others like she's one of my closest girl friends that I grew up with, yet I can't help but feel motherly towards her and want to protect her."



Carrie nodded, "I know the feeling. I mean, not the motherly part, just the protective part."



"She's been through a lot," Reba said thoughtfully. "Way more than she deserves. Heck, way more than a lesser person deserves. And I guess, I mean, I knew y'all were for real if she was willing to risk everything for the two of you, but, it didn't hit me as to just how into this the both of you are until yesterday. I mean, I guess I figured y'all would be...it's only natural for two people your age who have been together for as long as you have to want to...further your relationship. I just didn't want to think about that part of it."



Carrie frowned, trying not to get defensive, "If you have a problem with--"



"No, that's not it," Reba quickly cut in. "I just...what are your intentions with Kelly?"



Carrie couldn't help but laugh softly.



"I don't know how else to word it," Reba admitted.



"I love her," Carrie shrugged. "There's no other way for me to describe my feelings for her better than those three little words. I mean, I honestly love her with everything that I have. She's my world. And my intentions? I intend to spend every possible second with her that I can for the rest of my life or as for as long as she'll have me. Honestly, I want to start a family with her some day. Not any time soon. I'd never ask her to give up music, I swear to you. But one day, yea, I'd love to just settle down with her. Grow old together.

And to just take every opportunity she gives for me to show her how amazing she truly is. "



Reba studied her, "You know, sometimes people, they fall out of love."



Carrie shook her head, "I don't believe that. Not for one second. Life's hard. Crappy things happen. People don't fall out of love, they give up. Or, they were just never in love in the first place, not really. That's something Kelly taught me. Love isn't just something you feel when you've been dating someone for a few weeks and you feel all giddy inside. That's where people make the mistake. They confuse it with infatuation or even lust. But love...love is what you feel when the first thing in the morning, the first name from your lips is theirs even when they're half-way across the world. It's this incredible urge you have to protect them from anything and everything that could ever do something to take that beautiful smile from their face. It's this need you have to know every single thing about them, what they're doing every second, but this trust you have that allows you to relax when you don't. It's this want you have to see them happy, no matter what, even if it means putting yourself and your dreams second. And then, this pride you have when you watch their dreams come true, even if yours didn't. It's never the desire to say that I could've done this or that if it weren't for you because honestly, no award or honor you could've won would ever make your heart swell more than watching them win theirs. It's this drive you have to be the best possible person you can be just so maybe...maybe one day you'll be a good enough person to deserve to be with them. It's just...I don't know how to describe it."



Reba smiled, "Sounds like you did a pretty good job."



Carrie shook her head, "That doesn't even begin to cover how I feel for her."



"I have to say, it's rather a mature relationship the two of you are in for someone y'alls age, especially in the industry we work in."



Carrie nodded, "I know. I mean, thinking to mere weeks before I started hanging out with her, I was just in such a different mindset. She's just caused me to grow so much as a person."



"Can I ask you something else?"



"Of course."



"Now, I know, you're going to want to tell me that I should be asking Kelly this, but you and I both know that she'll never be completely honest with me."



"Her mom?"



"Yea," Reba nodded. "What's going on with that?"



Carrie shook her head, "You really should ask her about that."



Reba sighed, smiling slightly, "I know, just figured I'd try; although, after hearing you talk, I should've known you wouldn't say anything."



"Why don't you just...how about you wait until this weekend coming up?" Carrie offered. "I think right now, we're both still kinda freaked about yesterday, but give us a few days? I think, maybe if I'm with her when you talk to her she might be willing to open up more."



Reba nodded, "Alright...well, we probably should be going. Don't want to miss the flight."



"Yea," Carrie agreed, standing and following her out the room.



They walked over to Kelly who was seated in a small booth. She stood up with a smile. Carrie knew what that smile meant, and she leaned forward, giving her a quick kiss.



"I got you your favorite cappuccino," Kelly said, motioning to the cup on the table.



"Aw, thanks," Carrie smiled. "Sympathy coffee?"



"In case Reba gave you a hard time," she nodded.



"Hey, I was perfectly nice," Reba cut in.



Kelly turned to Carrie who nodded, "She was."



"Good," Kelly replied, watching as Carrie went to grab the to-go coffee cup. "Wait!"



Carrie froze, "What?"



"It's probably hot," Kelly replied, grabbing one of the cardboard rings at the nearby sugar station to put around it. "Didn't want you to burn yourself."



Carrie smiled again, wrapping an arm around her waist as she held the coffee in her free hand. She kissed her temple firmly. Kelly beamed, wrapping her arm around the other girl as well as they walked out the coffee shop, Reba right behind them, smiling as she watched them interact.