Best Days Of Our Lives

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"Dad!" Kelly called out as they entered the apartment.

"Kitchen!" a voice called back.

Kelly motioned for Carrie to follow her as she walked to the kitchen, "Smells good."

"Did you doubt me?" he smiled, giving her a hug. "Good day?"

"Yea," she nodded. "This is Carrie. She's gonna have dinner with us, ok?"

"The more the merrier," he replied, going back to stirring.

"Ok, we'll be in my room," Kelly said, guiding Carrie to the back of the apartment. She tossed her booksack down as she entered her room, collapsing onto her bed.

Carrie laughed, setting her books down as well and bending down to pick up the small puppy that had just walked in, "Tired?"

"This is the first time in two weeks that I've been home from school before ten," Kelly replied, scooting over to give Carrie room to join her. "I'm in heaven right now."

Carrie smiled, sitting beside her, "Your stepdad seems real nice. I mean, you two seem to get along well. That's not always the case, you know?"

"Yea," she nodded. "It was kinda hard at first, but my mom and I really lucked out. He's pretty great."

"Is that yours?" Carrie asked, noticing the keyboard that was leaning against the wall.

"Yea," Kelly smiled, sitting up and reaching over to grab it. She sat back, leaning against the wall behind her, resting the keyboard on her lap. "I got it for Christmas when I was in the fourth grade," she explained, playing a couple of notes.

"You play any other instruments?"

"Violin," Kelly admitted. "And yes, I realize how much of a nerd that makes me."

"Not a nerd. Just talented," Carrie corrected. "You take lessons?"

"Um, I used to when I was real little," she nodded. "But you know, stuff happens, so I just kinda taught myself after that."

"I wish I had that sort of drive," Carrie commented, leaning back next to her.

Kelly smiled as Carrie hit a key on the keyboard, "You do. You just have to learn how to focus it."

Carrie smiled back as Kelly took her hand, guiding her fingers up eight notes and back down.

"See," Kelly grinned. "You just played a scale. Check you out."

Carrie laughed, "Teach me something?"

"Sure. Here. Place one finger here. And then here. And the third here."

"B flat chord?" she questioned, recognizing the harmonious sound.

"Yea," Kelly beamed. "See? You're already a pro."

"Show me something else," Carrie said giddily.

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"So, Carrie," Jimmy smiled as the three of them sat around the table. "Are you from around here?"

"Dad," Kelly grumbled.

"What?" he asked innocently. "I've read that it's important to know who your children are hanging out with because y'all are highly influential at this age."

Kelly rolled her eyes, taking a bite of spaghetti.

"I'm from Oklahoma," Carrie said. "We just moved here this past weekend."

"Oh, wow. How's school and everything? Kind of overwhelming, I bet," he commented.

"Not as bad as I thought it would be, actually."

"So, you moved here..."

"My dad's job," Carrie replied, looking down at her plate.

Kelly's ears perked up. They had talked about her family some, but never about the blonde's sitting across from her.

"What's he do?" she asked.

Carrie continued to stare down at her plate, "He was, um, he's in the paper industry."

"Sounds interesting," Jimmy smiled.

Kelly watched her carefully, noting the sadness that crossed her eyes.

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"Carrie, is everything alright?" Kelly asked as they sat in her room working on their English homework.

"Fine, yea," she smiled smally before going back to her notebook.

"You sure? Because something's been off ever since we ate," Kelly observed.

"I'm fine," Carrie repeated.

"Is it something to do with your dad?"

Carrie placed her pencil down loudly, "You don't know how to let things go, do you?"

Kelly's eyes widened at the sudden change of demeanor in the normally sweet blonde, "I was just...I mean, if you need someone to talk to--"

"I said I was fine," Carrie replied, standing and gathering her stuff. "If I'm fine, why would I need someone to talk to?"

"You just don't seem--"

"And even if I weren't fine, I have plenty of other friends to talk to, why would I talk to you?" she snapped, grabbing her booksack and throwing it onto her shoulder.

"Well, why don't you go hang out with all your other friends tomorrow?" Kelly replied just as fiercely as she stood. "Being you obviously have so many out here."

"Gladly," Carrie glared before slamming the door to Kelly's room as she walked out.

"Ugh!" Kelly groaned, knocking her binder off of her desk and collapsing onto her bed.