Irreconcilable Differences

+++++++



"Oh, are we here?" Carrie asked, excitedly as she felt Kelly pull the car to stop.



"Yep, but you gotta keep your eyes closed," Kelly smiled. She had made the country singer cover her eyes, so she wouldn't see where they were going.



"Fine," she pouted, closing her eyes tighter.



Kelly laughed, jumping out of the car and rushing around to the other side. She opened the door, slipping her hand into Carrie's, guiding her out of the vehicle.



"Can I open my eyes now?" Carrie asked.



"Nope," Kelly replied, tugging her hand. "Now come on."



Kelly led her through the doors and to the front desk.



"Why does it smell like old shoes in here?" Carrie asked.



"Open your eyes," Kelly said, excitedly.



Carrie looked around at the neon lights surrounding them, "Bowling?"



"Yep," Kelly smiled as she paid for their lane, the girl behind the counter looking at the two of them in shock.



"Your big surprise is bowling?"



"Come on, it's gonna be fun. Besides, you were the one that said it was nice to get out of all those stuffy offices, anyway."



"But bowling?"



"What's wrong with bowling?"



Carrie blushed.



"Don't tell me you can't bowl," Kelly replied, her eyes wide in disbelief.



Carrie just smiled sheepishly.



"Oh my God," Kelly laughed. "You've never bowled before? How does that happen?"



"There weren't any bowling alleys in Checotah," Carrie shrugged. "And after that, I just thought it seemed kinda childish."



"Well of course it's childish. That's what makes it so great," Kelly replied, dragging her to their lane.



"Do we have to wear those nasty rental shoes?"



"Well, you're supposed to, but I never do," Kelly said, pulling up the leg of her jeans to reveal her Chucks.



"How many pairs of those do you have?" Carrie asked.



"Not enough," Kelly laughed, picking out a bowling ball.



"Uh, how do I pick?" Carrie asked, looking at the rack of balls before her.



"Um," Kelly replied, studying Carrie's hand that was still intertwined with her own. "That one," she said, pointing to a bright pink bowling ball.



"Oo, pink," Carrie smiled.



Kelly rolled her eyes, "So, you understand the whole concept of the game, right?"



"Yea, I'm not a complete loser, you know."



"Just making sure," Kelly laughed. "Do you wanna go first?"



Carrie shook her head.



"Alright, then just watch, it's not that hard," Kelly said, picking up her ball and walking over to the lane as Carrie sat at the scoring table. Kelly rolled the ball down the lane, knocking all the pins down.



"Now that was luck," Kelly admitted with a laugh, as she walked back to her. "I'm actually not that good at bowling."



"So it's my turn?" Carrie asked.



"Yep, go for it."



Carrie nodded, taking a deep breath as she stood, grabbing her bowling ball. She bowled it down the lane, watching it roll into the gutter not two feet in front of her.



"That's not good, is it?" she asked.



"No, but that's ok though," Kelly quickly reassured her. "Come see, I have an idea."



"Really?"



"Yea, but it might take a little while, so grab a seat," she said, pushing the red button on the scoring table.



"You're in my seat," Carrie pointed out.



"There's a million other seats," Kelly smiled.



"Not like that one. It spins."



"I'm not getting up."



"Fine," Carrie said, sitting on her lap, making Kelly laugh.



"You always have to get your way, huh?" Kelly asked, wrapping her arms around Carrie's waist so she wouldn't slip.



"I view it more as compromising," Carrie smiled, proudly.



"How can I help you ladies?" a teenage boy who worked at the bowling alley asked, his voice shaking nervously.



"Um," Kelly held back her laughter at the look on the boys face as he realized who they were. "I was wondering if you could pull up the bumpers. You see my friend here," she said, poking Carrie's side, making her giggle, "is new to this whole bowling thing, and frankly she kinda sucks."



"Hey!" Carrie replied, looking down at her indignantly.



Kelly just shrugged, turning back to the boy, "So, can you help us?"



"Um, yea, I can do that," he squeaked as he walked over to the lanes, nearly tripping over his own feet.



"See," Kelly said. "Now, it's impossible for you to get a gutter ball."



"You said I suck," she frowned.



"My mom taught me not to lie."



"You're mean."



"And you suck."



"Oh, smart comeback," Carrie laughed.



"Well, I didn't want you to strain your brain," Kelly teased as Carrie stood up to finish her turn.



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



"So, tell the truth," Kelly said as the exited the bowling alley, laughing. "You had fun, didn't you?"



"Alright," Carrie rolled her eyes. "I had fun."



"That's right, and who's your coolest friend in the world?"



"Hmm," Carrie said, thoughtfully.



"You better watch it," Kelly warned. "You forget who's driving you home."



"Kelly Clarkson is the coolest friend ever," Carrie replied quickly.



"That's what I thought. So you ready to call it a night?"



"Yea," Carrie yawned. "I had better get some sleep."



"Alright, then, to the bat cave!"



Carrie laughed, "You're crazy."



"Ever think that maybe, I'm perfectly normal, and everybody else is crazy?" Kelly asked as they climbed into the car.



"Nope, it's you. It's definitely you," Carrie laughed.



++++++++++



"Hey hey," Carrie greeted, sitting on the edge of Kelly's bed. Sam eyed her carefully before going back to sleep at the foot of the bed.



"Mornin," Kelly yawned, making sure she was fully covered. "Why time did you get back last night?"



"Around oneish. One of the guys I was meeting with as a possible director for the new video decided he wanted to take us all out for drinks after."



"You showed 'em how you can shoot whisky?" she smiled, teasingly.



"Ha," Carrie replied, sarcastically. "But yea, you were sound asleep, so I didn't want to wake you."



"So, why are you waking me now? And if you got back at one, what are you doing up so early?"



"I have to be in Dallas in a couple hours," Carrie explained.



"And the cheeriness?"



"Coffee."



Kelly nodded, "So, I'm awake why?"



"Because you said something about some radio interviews, and I wanted to know if you wanted to meet up for lunch," Carrie replied, stretching out on the bed.



"Sounds good," Kelly replied, snuggling back into her pillow.



"You know, you do spoil her," Carrie commented as the dog started to snore.



"Jealous?" Kelly asked, struggling to keep her eyes open.



Carrie laughed, "Well, you did say when people are good to you, you spoil them."



"And you've been good to me?"



"I didn't wake you up last night, did I? Plus. I did just invite you to lunch, didn't I?"



"I guess."



"And, I so helped you out at that club opening and made sure that you didn't fall flat on your face, and that was when I didn't like you, or at least I tried not to like you," Carrie laughed.



"Yea, you've been good to me," Kelly replied, tiredly.



"So?"



"So what?"



"So what do I get?"



"You know, you shouldn't do good things expecting to get rewards in return. You should do them out of the kindness of your heart," Kelly said, suddenly reminding herself of her mother.



"So what do I get?" Carrie asked again, smiling playfully.



"Come here," Kelly said, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. "You get to help me fall back asleep," she replied, snuggling into the warm body.



"And how do I do that?" Carrie asked, her voice rising a couple of pitches at the sudden closeness.



"You stay here and keep me company," Kelly replied.



"Ok?" Carrie said, unsuredly.



"Sam doesn't like to sleep next to me since she's been pregnant," Kelly explained. "I think she gets too hot or something. Anyway, now I've been having trouble falling asleep."



"Well, I guess I can help you out," Carrie said, allowing herself to relax as she wrapped her arms around the shorter girl, pulling her closer. Kelly smiled, melting into the embrace, her eyes closing lazily as Carrie's hands drew out gentle patterns on her back.





++++++++



"Must you read those things?" Kelly asked as she drove her and Ashley to a radio interview in Dallas.



"Somebody's gotta keep up with you and Carrie's friendship. The last thing you need is any more interference from Clive," Ashley pointed out as she skimmed through a gossip magazine.



"True," Kelly agreed. "So, what's it say?"



"That apparently you two are the new Paris and Nicole," Ashley replied.



"Shit," Kelly cursed.



"What's the matter?"



"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the point of this whole thing to have people to stop comparing us to them?"



"Yea, but I mean, it's not like you're going clubbing every night or something. You went to a charity dinner. It's no big deal."



"I guess," Kelly sighed.



"So, are we still gonna meet her for lunch?"



"Yea, I told her I'd call as soon as I was done with the interviews."



+++++++++



Kelly sat at the table, waiting nervously. Ashley had stepped outside to take a phone call, leaving Kelly alone with her thoughts and the butterflies that were throwing a rave in her stomach. Butterflies? she asked herself curiously. What was she, like in the eighth grade or something? Kelly had to refrain from biting her lip as she heard the front door to the restaurant open. She looked up to find the country singer, walking towards her with a warm smile.



Kelly stood, allowing herself to be pulled into a tight embrace. She felt the softest touch graze her cheek, but before she had time to comprehend it, Carrie was pulling away, blushing slightly as she sat down.



"So...slept well?" Carrie asked, looking for anything to reduce some of the tension surrounding them.



"Like a baby," Kelly smiled. "You should sleep with me more often."



Carrie struggled to keep her jaw from dropping. So much for reducing the tension, she thought as Kelly turned a brilliant red.



"I mean...not like...I didn't...hungry?" Kelly squeaked.



Carrie couldn't help but laugh as she felt herself relax, the stress of the morning just rolling off of her as it always seemed to do in the presence of the adorable girl before her.



"So, besides my being wonderful in bed," Carrie smiled as Kelly turned a brighter shade of red. "how'd the rest of your morning go?"



"Um, good, you know," Kelly replied, trying to push the nerves away. "Just hung out with Ashley as I did a couple of radio interviews."



"Ashley's with you?" Carrie asked, her smile faltering.



"Yea, she's outside. You didn't see her on your way in?" Kelly asked, trying to decipher the look in Carrie's eyes.



"No, I guess not," Carrie frowned, taking a sip of the drink before her.



"I mean, that's ok, right? She didn't have anything to do, so she asked to tag alone. I'm sorry if she wasn't supposed to, I mean, I didn't know if..." Kelly's voice trailed off as she looked away timidly.



"No, it's fine," Carrie assured her. "I mean it's not like this was a..." she laughed nervously.



"Yea," Kelly smiled weakly, feeling her stomach drop. Carrie felt awful at the look that crossed Kelly's eyes, knowing that she had caused it. What was worse was the sense of disappointment that was churning inside her which only worsened as Ashley joined them at the table, smiling in greeting. Carrie nodded in return, flipping open the menu, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but there.



+++++++



"Thanks," Carrie smiled as the waitress placed the bill on the table. She turned to grab her purse and turned back to find the bill gone. She looked up to find Kelly handing the bill back to the waitress, her card inside.



"But I invited you," Carrie reminded her.



"Oh well," Kelly shrugged with a small smile. "I'll be back," she said, standing and making her way to the bathroom.



"That's not fair," Carrie said, turning to Ashley.



"I wouldn't argue it," Ashley laughed. "She'll never let you pay for anything, especially if it's for her."



"But this was supposed to be my treat," Carrie pointed out.



"To her, just getting to hang out with friends like this is treat enough."



"She's crazy," Carrie smiled.



"Yea," Ashley agreed. "Crap," she frowned as her phone started ringing again. "I gotta take this. Tell Kelly to meet me by the car, ok?"



Carrie nodded, "Sure."



"Thanks," she smiled, standing up and walking out the restaurant.



Kelly looked around curiously as she returned to the table.



"She's outside," Carrie answered her unasked question.



Kelly nodded, watching her stand from the table. She couldn't help but notice how green her eyes seemed today. Kelly cursed at the returning butterflies as they walked to Carrie's car.



"So, thanks for this," Kelly said as they came to a halt. She was suddenly finding the ground very interesting. "I had fun."



"Me too," Carrie smiled, reminding herself to breathe as Kelly looked back up at her, her innocent smile radiating such a warmth, that she was starting to forget that it was nearly the end of December.



"Sorry about the Ashley thing," Kelly apologized again.



"No, it's fine," Carrie insisted. "I had fun."



Kelly bit her lip nervously, trying to figure out something to say that wouldn't sound stupid.



"I was gonna pay for the ticket, you know," Carrie said.



"I know, it's just, growing up, my friends were always having to pay for me, and I hated that. So, once I started to make some money, I swore that I'd never let someone pay for me again."



"I was just being polite," Carrie explained. "I mean, I was the one that invited you to lunch."



"I know," Kelly replied quickly. "And I didn't mean to be disrespectful or anything."



"No, it's fine," Carrie smiled.



Kelly returned it, the sudden heaviness of expectation pressing down on them.



"So, I'll see you when you get home tonight?" Kelly asked, managing to keep her voice steady.



"Yea, no more late nights," Carrie replied with a slight laugh of exhaustion.



"You know, um, you could've woken me if you wanted. I mean, I wouldn't have minded. I could always use some good company, you know," Kelly looked up at her shyly.



Carrie smiled gently as she reached out, brushing a stray curl out of Kelly's eyes, her hand pausing, cradling her face gently, her thumb grazing the soft skin. Kelly felt her breath catch in her throat as the heat from Carrie's hand seemed to some how radiate through her entire body.



Carrie pulled away quickly, not sure of what she had been doing.



"So, uh, see you tonight?" she asked shakily.



"Um, yea, tonight," Kelly replied, thrown by the sudden lack of contact. She smiled once more before walking away to meet Ashley at her own car.



Carrie let out a deep breath as she climbed into Jason's car. She closed her eyes, silently cursing herself, trying to figure out what the hell she had been thinking. You can't just go around flirting with Kelly Clarkson. The singer just seemed so untouchable that Carrie still wondered how she had managed to become this good of friends with her without screwing it up.



She started the car, tiredly. She smiled as the stereo turned on and the volume read 17. She was reminded of that day when Kelly had picked her up from the airport and the way their hands seemed to fit so perfectly together. Carrie turned the volume down one notch, trying to figure out what it all meant: the way their hands fit together, the way Kelly seemed to relax her, the way her fingers still tingled from the feeling of Kelly's soft skin beneath them, the way she could genuinely smile when she was with Kelly, the fact that Kelly knew the difference between one of her fake smiles and a genuine one, the fact that she had been flirting with Kelly, or more importantly, the fact that she wanted to flirt with Kelly.



Carrie stopped at a red light, leaning back against the headrest. This definitely wasn't something she was used to.