Hard Boy ✔️

54

- Dead to Me; Melanie Martinez -
- Made For; Why Don't We -
- SAD!; XXXTENTACION -

Carter Jackson

"What are you and Rory going to do for Halloween?" Elijah asked as he opened a juice box. He sat down on the couch across from me as I responded to a text from the girl he was talking about.

"I don't know," I said.

"You haven't thought about it? I'm surprised, Logan's been up everyone's ass about this Halloween Bash." He sipped at the drink, finishing it almost immediately. "Why do they only put one drink in these?"

I rolled my eyes at his comment, shrugging. "We haven't really talked about it."

"Right, 'cause you and Rory never talk anymore," He said with a smirk. I felt my cheeks heat up, and I rubbed at them to make the flush go away.

"Elijah!"

"What?! I got quite the show at the drive-in, might I say." He giggled, "I was toning it down with Katie because of how you guys were there, but it looks like you didn't have the same idea."

"We didn't think you'd be by the car, Elijah. That's why we parked the way we did, remember? That way we didn't see if the other couple was kissing." I glared at him, "Besides, why were you watching for that long?"

"Never said I was, just said I got quite the show." He winked, "Nothing to be embarrassed about, just took me by surprise for sure."

"Why do you say that?" I asked, looking at him as I slouched back further in my seat.

"I've never seen you openly be like that with anyone," He said. "Of course, the only girl I've ever seen you interested in before Rory was Ashley, and we all know how that went."

I rolled my eyes at where the topic was turning, knowing where he was going with it. "Elijah." I sternly said, sitting up further in my seat. "It's different."

"I'm sure!" He smirked, knowing he was getting to me. "I'm just saying, it's okay to admit you're in love with her."

"I don't think I'm in love with her. Like, sure, but not love." I corrected, standing up from my seat. "When are you leaving again?"

"Oh, tired of me already?" He asked as he followed me into the kitchen. I glared at him before grabbing a water bottle out of the fridge. I didn't say anything to his question and instead took a drink of the water, avoiding any type of eye contact with him.

"Look, man, anyone in a ten-mile radius can see that you're in love with Rory." Elijah continued when I didn't say anything.

This caused me to choke on my water, and once I finished my coughing fit, I sent him another glare as I set the water bottle on the counter. He stood on the other side, tapping his knuckles on the marble countertop.

"Why do you keep saying that? You're going to spread a rumor you didn't even mean to start if you keep saying shit like that." I crinkled the water bottle in my hand, causing it to pop.

Elijah rolled his eyes, not threatened by my tone at all. "You're not as scary as you used to be, Carter."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, letting go of the plastic.

"I'm just saying, now that I've seen the side of you that's around Rory - which might I say, answers a lot of questions as to how she can deal with your ass - just makes me think of you a little less scary and more like... a teddy bear." He smiled a toothy grin at the last words, giggling when I narrowed my eyes at him. "Ah, I get it." He then pointed a finger at me, "Nobody's supposed to see that side of you except for Rory. Right. I didn't see anything." He held his hands up in defense.