Playing With Fire

++++++++++



Kelly sat on the bus, staring at her phone.



"What's the saying?" Ashley laughed. "A watched pot never boils?"



"She should be calling any minute."



Ashley looked at her watch, "Her plane won't be landing for another half an hour."



Kelly's face was set as she watched her phone.



Ashley rolled her eyes, grabbing her arm and pulling her up, "Come on, let's go."



"Huh? Go? Go where?"



"I'm taking you out to eat. You've been sitting here staring at that phone all afternoon. I get that you love the girl, but Kelly, that's a little pathetic."



Kelly looked at her sheepishly.



"Alright, you can bring your phone, but I swear you better not take it out unless it's ringing," Ashley warned, guiding her off the bus after Kelly had grabbed her phone.



"But what if I miss the call? I need to check."



"You won't miss the call. And if you do, I'm sure she'll keep calling until you pick up. That girl is just as hopeless as you."



"I'm not hopeless," Kelly frowned.



"Hopeless as in hopelessly in love, you nerd," Ashley laughed, linking their arms together.



"Oh, well, then, yea," she smiled. "So where are we going eat?"



"I don't know. First place we find. I'm starving."



Kelly's stomach growled in agreement.



"Have you eaten anything since breakfast?"



"I was watching the phone," Kelly shrugged.



"I swear," Ashley shook her head. "You seriously are hopeless."



"Hopelessly in love," she grinned.



"No, just hopeless," Ashley nodded, earning a playful push from her best friend.



+++++++++++



Ashley frowned as she held her hand out.



Kelly dug in her pocket, pulling out her phone, and handed it to her.



"Are you sure she hasn't called?"



"Yea," Kelly nodded.



Ashley checked the time. "She should've landed nearly an hour ago."



"You think she's ok?" Kelly asked worriedly.



"I'm sure she's fine," Ashley lied, patting her hand. The phone started to vibrate. "Oo...it's her," she handed it to her best friend.



Kelly answered the phone quickly, "Baby, you ok?"



"Kell, I'm freaking out," Carrie admitted in a hushed whisper.



"Where are you? Did you make it to home yet?"



"Yea, I'm in my bathroom," she replied. "My parents are here."



"Well, where are they supposed to be? They live there."



"No, I'm in Tennessee."



"Why did I think you were going to Oklahoma?"



"Not until next week."



"So why are your parents there?"



"Because they are crazy."



Kelly laughed softly, "Your parents are not crazy."



"They love me, Kell."



"Um, maybe you've been hanging around me and my family too long and you've forgotten, but that is generally what parents do."



"They love me too much. They said they missed me, and knew I would be alone, so they decided to come stay. Plus Shanna's in the middle of moving here, so they're helping her out."



"Care, I'm sorry, but I don't see the problem here. Why are you freaking out?"



"I want you here."



"Baby, I can't be there right now."



"Not right now...when I tell them."



"When you tell them?"



"We're engaged, Kell, remember?"



Kelly rolled her eyes, "Yes, Care, I do remember. Why are you freaked?"



"What if...what if they're against it?"



"Against what? They love me, remember? I've totally replaced you."



"Yea, but, me dating you is one thing..."



"Care, they had to have known where this was headed. They knew how serious we were."



"Yea, I mean, I think they could understand us spending the rest of our lives together, but..."



"Marriage," Kelly nodded.



"I don't know how they feel about it."



"You haven't talked them about it yet?"



"No," she sighed.



"So, you want me to be there when you tell them?"



"Please?"



"Do I have to like ask your dad's permission or something? Isn't that how it normally works?"



"So you don't mind me being nervous?"



"Care, I know you well enough to know that you're not nervous about us at all, and that's all I care about. Plus, being nervous about your parents reaction is totally understandable."



"I love you," she took a relieved breath.



"I love you too," Kelly smiled. "You do realize that this means we have to keep this quiet, though, right? You don't want your parents hearing about it from someone else first."



"Alright."



"I'm gonna have to talk to my entire band and crew. They were all backstage when you gave me the ring."



"The ring."



"I'm not taking it off."



"Kell, nothing says I'm engaged more than an engagement ring."



"But it's perfect."



"How about just wear it on a different finger? Or like, around your neck?"



Kelly sighed.



"It's just until you get here so I can tell my parents."



"Ok. These next couple weeks won't be able to go fast enough."



"I'll be back before you know it."



"No you won't," she giggled.



"Huh?"



"I mean, you're welcome to come back if you want, but I'll be in Texas."



"But, I thought you had to stay to make up that Manchester date?"



"Someone just backed out, and Narvel jumped on the opening. It's the day after my last show of the tour. So guess what that means?"



"You'll be home for your birthday," Carrie smiled.



"I'll be home for my birthday!" Kelly cheered.



Carrie laughed, "Good, I'm glad. No more planes for me. I'll just drive to Texas."



"That's fine with me, as long as you make it. All I want to do is be able to hang out with my close friends, something seriously low key."



"Sounds perfect," Carrie agreed. "Ok, I gotta go. My mom's calling for me. She was cooking something. She said I looked underfed."



Kelly laughed softly, "Tell them I said hi, and no worries--we'll tell them together."



"Love you."



"You too."



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



"So...what happened to you not wearing the ring?" Carrie smiled.



"How'd you know?"



"I watch youtube," she shrugged.



"The way I see it, I've always worn several rings and a lot of times they have been on my ring finger, so why not? This way everybody's happy. I get to wear it, at least during my concert, and your parents are none the wiser."



Carrie laughed softly.



"What?"



"Nothing...you just have no idea how happy it makes me that you're so excited about being engaged."



"You were worried I'd say no, huh?"



"We did say we'd wait."



"And I think we've waited plenty. You make me so happy, Care, and I'm just so...ecstatic about getting to spend the rest of my life with you."



Carrie could feel herself tearing up.



"Don't cry," Kelly teased.



"Shut up," Carrie sniffed. "You cry for everything, so I'm totally allowed to cry. And how did you know I was crying anyway?"



"Because you're you, and you're amazing."



"I cry because I'm amazing."



"No, you cry because you love me, and that makes you amazing."



Carrie smiled, "How much longer?"



"Two weeks. How are things so far today?"



"It wasn't bad. Tony came over, and I did some call in radio interviews. He just went pick us up some lunch. I don't have to go anywhere until later, and we've determined it's just better for everybody if I don't leave the house unless I have to, so I'm just relaxing until then."



Kelly sighed.



"Baby, it's not that bad. We're just being really careful when I don't have body guards around, that's all."



"Maybe I should do an interview or something," Kelly thought outloud.



"You think that's a good idea?"



"What else can we do to make this stop?"



"I don't know, but if you do an interview you'll be talking about your family and a lot of personal stuff, and I know how much you hate that."



"Yea."



"Look, you can't do any good all the way over there, so why don't you just stop worrying about it, and have fun, and finish up your tour, and as soon as you're back here, we'll sit down with managers, and assistants, and PRs and we'll figure this thing ok. How's that sound?"



"Sounds like a plan."



"Good, well Tony's back with the food. Call me tonight after the show?"



"Always," Kelly smiled. "Love you."



"Love you too, Kell."



+++++++++++



"I'm across the freaking ocean on tour you piece of shit," Kelly fussed, throwing a hotel slipper at the television set.



Ashley walked out of the bathroom with a raised eyebrow, "Is everything alright in here?"



Kelly crossed her arms, her jaw clenched.



"You know, if I can't trust you alone in here for five minutes, I'll make you go wait for me on the bus."



"It's the stupid television," Kelly motioned to it agitatedly.



"Did it curse at you first?" Ashley fought back a laugh as Kelly was visibly upset.



"No...it was just..." she sniffed.



"Kelly..." Ashley's voice softened as she sat beside her on the bed. "What happened?"



"It was being stupid," her voice shook.



"Let me see," Ashley took the remote from her. "I'm sure they have some sort of dvr system thingy over here. Yea, there we go," Ashley rewound the show that Kelly was watching. "They catch American channels?"



"A couple," she nodded.



"And in couple news," the male host of the entertainment news show announced. "It seems the rumors swirling around everyone's favorite Idol couple may have a bit of truth to them. Carrie Underwood has been spotted several times all over Nashville the past few weeks with Kelly Clarkson nowhere in sight. Several tabloids suggest that Kelly isn't even allowed to leave their house now without Carrie's permission. Others are saying that Kelly will be taking a step out of the limelight due to Carrie's wishes of being the only star in the relationship. Wherever she is, we hope she gets the courage to break away from all of this..."



Ashley turned off the television, taking a deep breath.



"I wanna go home," Kelly whispered firmly.



"You only have a few more shows left," Ashley assured.



"I wanna be with her."



"I know," Ashley rubbed her back.



"I wanna be with my fiancée."



"I know."



"She doesn't deserve this," Kelly could feel her eyes watering.



"You're right," Ashley nodded, not sure anymore how to make this better.



"I just wanna be with her," she cried softly.



Ashley opened her arm to her, allowing her best friend to fold into her, "Shh, I know...it's gonna be ok...Look, how about we just stay in tonight? I'll call Kate and Jill and tell them we'll all just play cards or something in here, instead, ok? How's that sound?"



Kelly nodded against her shoulder.



"Ok," Ashley rubbed her arm soothingly. "And everything's going to be fine, ok? Don't worry. Carrie's a tough girl. She'll be fine for a few more days until you get there. Plus you said her parents are with her, right?"



Kelly nodded again.



"And I'm sure they're taking great care of her, there's no need to worry about her. Look, why don't you call her? I'm sure it'll make you feel better, right?"



Kelly nodded once more, accepting the phone Ashley handed to her. She dialed Carrie's number as she sat up straight.



"Hey Baby," she heard Carrie greet on the other end.



It was almost enough to cause the short Texan to break down, "I love you, Care."



"Aw, I love you too, Kell. Now, tell me who has you so upset so I can beat them up for you."



Kelly laughed softly, "Nothing, it's nobody; it's just...I miss you so much."



"I miss you too," Carrie replied, her voice full with emotion. "I can't wait to see you...and hold you...and love you...and--"



Kelly could feel her cheeks flush as her girlfriend continued making promises in her ear.



Ashley laughed, rolling her eyes when she noticed Kelly blushing.



"Sound good?" Carrie finished.



"Very," Kelly agreed.



"Good. I love you, Kelly Brianne."



Kelly smiled, "I love you too."



"So tell Ashley to stop letting you watch those darn gossip shows or read those magazines or whatever it is you just saw about us that has you so upset, ok?"



"Ok," Kelly nodded, way past the point of being surprised that Carrie could read her so well.



"So are y'all still going out tonight?"



"Nah, I think we're just gonna stay in and play cards."



"Sounds like fun. Give me a call after, if you're not too tired, and tell me how much butt you kicked?"



"Definitely."



"And tell everyone I said hi."



"Ok."



"Bye my girl. Love you."



"Love you too. Bye Care," Kelly hung up the phone with a happy smile.



"Better?" Ashley asked.



"Yea."



"I swear that girl deserves an award for the way she is with you," Ashley shook her head, smiling as she got up to go finish getting ready in the bathroom.