Playing With Fire

++++++++++



Kelly woke up, stretching to the smell of something absolutely delicious.



Carrie smiled as she walked into the back room, struggling to close the door behind her as she balanced a tray.



"What time is it?" Kelly asked, yawning.



"Nearly eleven," Carrie replied, handing her the tray as she joined her on the bed.



"And what is this?" she questioned, gazing down at the eggs, biscuits, and bacon that filled the plate on the tray, along with a couple glasses of orange juice and coffee.



"A delicious vegetarian breakfast," Carrie answered. "I figured I owed you after last night."



"Aw, you didn't have to do this," Kelly turned, kissing her.



"Yea, I did."



"Um, Care, bacon?"



"It's not really bacon, but trust me, it tastes just as good, and is probably just as unhealthy for you," she grinned.



Kelly laughed, kissing her once more before handing her one of the forks on the tray.



++++++++++



Kelly ducked her head, tugging her baseball cap low as Jason continued to fuss under his breath about her driving all night as they walked into the theater for a quick rehearsal after she had eaten breakfast.



"Jay, it's not a big deal," Kelly repeated for what felt like the hundredth time.



"You were driving all night, Kelly, that's not exactly safe."



"We made it here just fine."



"And you have a show tonight. When are you supposed to sleep?"



"I had plenty of sleep this morning."



"You don't look like it."



"I never look like it."



"True," he nodded.



"Shut up," she laughed, pushing him playfully, glad to have him relax about it.



"You look great," Carrie assured her, squeezing her hand before letting it go, allowing her to walk onto the stage.



"You realize if she gets sick it's your fault, right?" Jason questioned, standing beside Carrie.



"You've got to stop worrying about her so much."



"Says the girl who had her drive eight hours because she didn't want her to fly."



"Yea, well, I love her."



"Me too," Jason reminded.



"I know," Carrie smiled. "Thanks."



"You too," he nodded, patting her shoulder before walking to the back to help some of the guys set up.



++++++++++++



"So, I heard you had a little late night road trip," Reba grinned as she took off her mic pack after rehearsal, nodding towards Carrie who was seated in the front row as she always was during rehearsals.



"She was scared of flying," Kelly shrugged. "I don't see what the big deal is."



"The big deal? The big deal is that, Kelly, you've got to have the hugest heart out of anyone I've ever met, and you are completely head over heals for that girl."



But Kelly shook her head, "It was nothing. If it had been a role reversal, and I had wanted to fly instead of drive, she probably would've offered to by me my own jet."



Reba laughed, "Well if anybody deserves someone like that, it's definitely you."



"You're just as crazy as her if you believe that," Kelly replied, walking to the edge of the stage where Carrie had stood. She carefully lowered herself down, Carrie catching her.



"Y'all finished?"



"Yep."



"See you later, Reba," Carrie waved.



"What time are you leaving?" Reba asked.



"Um, around three," she replied as Kelly took her hand.



"Alright, well you have a safe trip, and have great shows this weekend."



"Y'all too," Carrie smiled, allowing Kelly to drag her backstage to her dressing room. "What?" she laughed as the door closed behind them.



"Preshow ritual," Kelly grinned, bouncing on her toes.



"I would call you five, but I've never met a horny five year old."



Kelly laughed, kissing her.



"You know," Carrie pulled back, guiding them to the couch. "These preshow rituals keep get earlier and earlier."



"And tomorrow we won't even have one," Kelly pouted, sitting on her lap, straddling her.



"I guess we're just gonna have to make up for it right now, then, huh?" Carrie's eyes sparkled as she pressed her lips firmly against the short singer's.



"And Saturday," Kelly replied breathlessly as she pulled back a hair. "Don't forget about Saturday."



"I won't," Carrie swore, kissing her once again.



+++++++++



Kelly let out a shaky breath as her head tilted back on the sofa's arm rest. Carrie was laying on top of, leaving one slow kiss on her neck after another. Kelly wrapped both her arms tightly around Carrie's lower back, holding her close, loving the feeling of her skin against her own. Both of their shirts had been tossed aside. She shivered at the feeling of Carrie's teeth grazing her skin.



"Ashley'll kill you if you leave mark," her voice raspy.



"I won't be here," Carrie reminded, pushing herself up to kiss her on the lips. She sighed into it, running a hand over Kelly's shoulder and down her arm.



There was a knock on the door, but both chose to ignore it. Carrie kissed her way back down Kelly's jaw line and neck, making her way across her collar bone.



"Kelly, are you and Carrie in there?" Jason knocked again.



Carrie grinned as the groan escaping Kelly's lips turned into a low moan as she found the sweet spot at the base of her neck.



"Kelly," Jason continued to knock.



"Go away Jay!" Kelly yelled back as Carrie's lips made their way further down, tracing along the edges of her bra. She ran a hand through the country singer's thick blonde curls, biting her lip as she felt her tongue against her skin.



"Kelly!"



"Damn it Jason!" Kelly cursed, reaching over the edge of the sofa, grabbing a nearby shoe and chucking it at the door. "Not now!"



Carrie looked up at her, amusement in her eyes.



"Come here," Kelly smiled, pulling her back up so they were eye level. Their lips fell together once more, Carrie quickly obliging at the feeling of Kelly's tongue against her lower lip.



"Carrie, if you're in there, it's time to leave for the airport," Jason called out one last time.



"Ugh," Kelly groaned, her head falling back once more.



"Kell," Carrie laughed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes.



"I was just getting warmed up."



"We've been going at it for nearly an hour," she pointed out.



"Ok, so I was getting very warmed up."



Carrie leaned down, giving her a quick kiss before sitting up, looking for her shirt. It was clear across the room. It always amazed her how that happened. "Walk me to the cab?"



"Of course," Kelly nodded, standing as well.



"With a shirt on."



"Where's the fun in that?"



"Kell," she laughed again.



"Alright," Kelly rolled her eyes, playfully, finding her shirt and tugging it on. She walked up next to Carrie, taking her hand in her own, going to open the door.



Carrie pulled her back, spinning her to her, their lips immediately picking up where they had left off. She finally pulled back, knowing full well that Kelly would pass out from lack of oxygen before pulling away.



"That was nice," Kelly nodded, wearing a goofy smile.



"Couldn't forget about Saturday," she shrugged with a wink as she opened the door.



++++++++++



Kelly could feel her cheeks burning a deep crimson as she looked anywhere but at her best friend.



"Kelly," Ashley glared.



Kelly squirmed in 'the chair'.



"Kelly...what is that?"



"What is what?" she asked, innocently.



Ashley took her chin in her hand, tilting it up, causing the redish purple mark on her neck to show up brightly in the mirror before them. "That, Kelly, what is that?"



"Um, well, that, you see...that's a...that's a..."



"Hickey, that's a hickey Kelly," Ashley let go of her, folding her arms over her chest. "She already left, didn't she?"



Kelly shrugged helplessly.



"I'm so kicking her ass when she gets back," Ashley shook her head as she started to pull out the assortment of make-up she would be using.



"Sorry?" Kelly offered.



"Sorry? Kelly, do you know how hard it is going to be to have to cover that up, then make it blend in with the rest of you?"



"Really hard?"



"You know what, I'm not even gonna fuss," Ashley replied.



"Really?" Kelly looked at her hopefully.



"Yea, I figure the fact that you're gonna have to be in this chair over twice as long as normal is sufficient torture for you."



"Shit," Kelly cursed under her breath, sinking down in the chair.



Ashley laughed, "She called to say she made it ok?"



"Yea," Kelly nodded, unable to hide the small smile that had formed at her best friend checking up on her girlfriend.



++++++++++



Ashley froze as she stopped in front of the magazine stand she had been searching for along with Jill and Kate who had flown in to spend the next couple of days with them to hang out. All three had been going through gossip withdrawals.



"What?" Kate asked curiously.



"Oh my God," Ashley's jaw dropped as she reached out for a magazine.



"Wow," Jill agreed.



"They look like they're having fun," Kate nodded as they all gazed at the close up picture of Kelly and Carrie in a very firm lip lock.



"This is not good," Ashley shook her head, immediately recognizing the picture. She opened up the magazine flipping through to the article.



"Why not?" Jill asked. "It's just a picture."



"How'd they get that good of a picture?" Kate questioned. "They're normally not that open in like public, public. And rarely around us."



"That's not a paparazzi photo," Ashley shook her head as she looked down at the spread in the magazine. It had a picture of Carrie kissing Kelly's cheek. Another of Kelly licking Carrie's face, surprising her.



"How can you tell?" Jill looked at the pictures.



"Because they're looking straight at the camera in some of them," Kate pointed out.



"Because Carrie took them," Ashley frowned. "On Kelly's phone."



"What? Then those are private? Kelly's gonna freak."



"I think she'd freak whether they were private or not," Jill replied.



"But how'd the magazines get these?"



"I think I know," Ashley felt her stomach churn, knowing how much this was going to hurt her best friend. She took out her phone, dialing a number.



"Who are you calling?" Kate asked, curiously.



"Carrie?" Ashley questioned, hearing someone pick up.



"Hey," Carrie replied. "Everything ok?"



"Um, I didn't interrupt you or anything, did I? Are you busy right now?"



"Nope, I was just putting my shoes on and was about to go check out the venue for the show tonight. Why? What's up?"



"I need you to think back for a second."



"Ok?"



"Ok, do you remember the last time Jeanne showed up at Kelly's house...when she got back from tour?"



"Yea, sure," Carrie nodded, struggling to lace up her shoes and hold the phone at the same time.



"Ok, so the day when Kelly kicked her out for good, you found her in Kelly's room that morning, right?" Ashley asked, closing the magazine. Something about those pictures just seemed too personal for them to be looking at.



"Yea," Carrie replied, her voice holding a slight edge.



"Ok, now, I need you to tell me exactly where she was in the room, and exactly what she was doing."



"Um, she was at Kelly's desk," Carrie said thoughtfully. "The drawers were open, but she wasn't looking through them when I got there. Kelly's laptop was right there, and it was on. I think maybe her phone was charging."



"Her phone? Are you sure?"



"Um...yea, her phone was right there because before we started watching the movie I ran back and grabbed it for her so she wouldn't miss any calls. Why?"



"This is not good," she groaned.



"Ashley, what's going on?" Carrie asked, starting worry.



"Do you remember those pictures you had taken before the tour had started when you were out in the barn with Kelly? The ones you took on her phone?"



"Yea," Carrie couldn't help but smile.



"Well, I am looking at them right now."



"What do you mean? You have Kell's phone or something?"



"No, Jill and Kate and I were gossip magazine shopping--"



"Oh my God," Carrie took a shaky breath.



"Front page," Ashley nodded. "I'm so sorry Carrie."



"You think Jeanne sent them?"



"Who else has had access to those photos?"



"Dang it," Carrie cursed, rubbing her eyes. "This is not good."



"Are you ok?" Ashley asked.



"I don't know. I mean, no one was supposed to see those pictures. They're private, you know?"



"I know. And again, I'm really sorry."



"It's not your fault," Carrie sighed. "This is gonna crush her, you know?"



"I know."



"I mean, she'd have been completely torn up if it were just the pictures, but add Jeanne in to it? I just..."



"Do you think I should tell her?"



"Honestly? This may be completely selfish, but I think you should wait...at least until after the shows this weekend."



"Yea, that's what I was thinking too," Ashley replied. "Alright, well, I guess I'll see you Sunday, right?"



"Yea, and thanks for the heads up Ash."



"No problem. Bye."



"Bye. Oh, wait..."



"What?"



"I um, I ordered some flowers for Kelly to be delivered tonight. Can you make sure they get to her dressing room?" Carrie asked.



"Sure."



"And also, my mom had mentioned something about wanting to go to the show since y'all are in Oklahoma. If you by some chance run into her, tell her I said hey, for me?"



"Of course."



"Ok, bye."



"Bye," Ashley hung up the phone, looking at Jill and Kate who were eyeing her nervously.



"You think Kelly's mom did this?" Jill asked, shocked.



"Afraid so."



Kate frowned, turning to the magazine stand. She scooped up all the magazines in her arms with the cover story, "We'll take all of these."



The magazine stand man eyed at her wearily as she walked over to a nearby trashcan, throwing all the magazines away before walking back and paying for them.



"That was sweet Kate," Ashley patted her shoulder. "But you know that's not gonna make a difference."



"I had to do something," she shrugged. "You really think we should wait to tell her until after the show tomorrow night? I mean, what if she finds out before then?"



"She won't find out. You know she lives in her own little bubble."



"I seriously don't know how she puts up with the stuff she goes through," Jill shook her head. "I know I sure as hell couldn't."



"Carrie's really helped her out with that. That's also another reason why I think we should wait. She'll handle it better if Carrie's with her," Ashley nodded.



++++++++++



"So, good day so far?" Ashley asked as Kelly sat still in 'the chair'. Or at least as still as she could.



"Yea," she nodded, squirming.



"Kelly."



"Sorry," she struggled to sit properly. "I do wish Carrie could've stayed an extra day. I'm sure she would've loved to be in Oklahoma for a bit."



"Have you talked to her yet today?"



"Wouldn't the proper question be how many times have I talked to her today?" Kelly laughed.



"True," Ashley nodded.



"Three. Last time she was doing her make-up and stuff. That was about an hour ago. She sounded so excited for the show."



"Good, I'm glad."



"You decent?" they heard Jason's voice call from the other side of the dressing room door as he knocked.



"Yea, come on in Jay," Kelly replied.



"Hey, I got a couple people here to see you," Jason explained, walking into the dressing room.



Kelly looked up, a smile growing on her face, "Hey!"



"Hey sweetie," Carole smiled as she and her husband walked into the dressing room behind Jason.



"I'm so glad y'all could make it," Kelly grinned, standing up to hug each of them.



"And miss a chance to watch Reba?" Stephen raised an eyebrow.



"He has a crush," Carole nodded.



Kelly laughed.



"So, how's everything going?" Carole asked, studying her carefully much like Jeanne used to do.



"Everything's good. They're treating me well. I'm eating right, I promise."



"Good," Carole nodded.



"Have you talked to Carrie lately?" Stephen asked curiously as they all took a seat around the dressing room.



"Um, yea about an hour ago. She was getting ready for her show."



"Oh, she said to tell y'all she said hi," Ashley commented.



"You talked to her today?" Kelly asked her curiously.



"Oh, um, yea, she just called to say her parents might be coming to look out for them."



Kelly nodded before turning back to her girlfriend's mom and dad, "So, how's everything been? You know, since everything came out so to speak."



"It's good, don't you worry," Carole assured her.



"You wouldn't tell me if people were giving y'all a hard time anyway, would you?"



"Never," Stephen agreed.



Kelly shook her head, "I don't want y'all to have to suffer because of us, and I know Carrie feels the same way."



"Kelly," Stephen looked at her seriously. "Our daughter is the happiest we've ever seen her. We aren't suffering. We are very, very far from it."



Kelly nodded with a small smile, "So how are y'alls seats? I can easily get you guys in the front row if you want."



"We're fine, don't worry. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea for him to be too close to Reba," Carole added, lowering her voice playfully.



"Right," Kelly laughed softly.



"So, we're not gonna keep you," Carole said, as she and Stephen stood. "We know you've got to be getting ready. We just wanted to wish you luck for the show, and check up in on you."



"Aw, well thank you," Kelly replied, standing as well and walking them to the door. "It was great to see y'all, and I really hope you guys enjoy the show."



"I'm sure we will," Carole hugged her.



"You enjoy yourself too," Stephen added, giving her a quick, half hug as well.



Kelly smiled; he reminded her of her dad. He had never been good at the whole affectionate thing either.



+++++++++++



Carrie walked onto her bus, stretching after having changed from after the concert. She froze at the sight of vases full of roses all over the front of the bus.



"What the?" she questioned before answering her phone as it rang. "Hello?"



"So how much do great minds think alike?" Kelly laughed as she looked around her dressing room at all the sunflowers that had been delivered.



"This was you? Aw, Kell, thanks."



"Who you thought it was?" Kelly laughed, her fingers tracing around a petal on one of the sunflowers.



"Some flower fairy or something. I don't know. So, what's the occasion?"



"To make up for the lack of a pre-show ritual."



"Great minds do think alike," Carrie laughed. "Kell, they're absolutely beautiful."



"So, you like roses, right?" Kelly asked. "I couldn't remember if you had ever told me your favorite flower or not, and Tony was being absolutely no help at all--"



"Kelly, I love them, I promise. How'd you get them on my bus?"



"Tony...well, I guess he was a little help after all. You?"



"Ashley."



"Oh, so that's why she called you earlier today. I was wondering."



"She said she called?"



"Well, your parents stopped by before the show to say hey, and she told them that you said to say hi," Kelly explained.



"Aw, so they did go? Good, I'm glad."



"So, hey, I've still got a bunch of stuff to do over here to finish up for tonight before we go. Call you back once I'm on the bus?"



"Sure," Carrie smiled, leaning down to smell a rose.