Open Case File [COMPLETED]

School Project

"I'll take that as a no."

It was but Carter didn't care. Not kissing someone didn't seem like a bad thing. Relationships were complications that ended in pain. She had enough pain, she wasn't dumb enough to go asking for more.

Instead of responding, Carter grabbed the first book in her stack and flipped it open. Mason smirked like he'd won something but he hadn't, Carter simply didn't care to play that game. They worked in silence for a while, which almost seemed like a miracle.

"Are you going to prom?" Mason asked.

Carter raised her head. "We're freshmen, we can't go to prom."

"We can if one of an upper class-man asks us."

Carter resumed her work of taking notes.

"Oh how my heart longs for such an occurrence," she deadpanned. "If no one shall ask me, truly I will die."

"No need to be dramatic about it, it's only prom."

Offended, Carter out her hand to her heart. "But don't you know that prom is all I've ever wanted, ever dreamed of!" She put her hand to her forehead. "Oh, what is life if some man shall not ask me."

"Go to prom with me, Owens," Mason said.

"Ew. Never mind, just let me die."

She pulled over another book and rifled through it.

"I'm going," Mason announced. "With Aubrey Lenex."

"You mean the girl that you weren't making out with half an hour ago." She pointed her pencil at him. "Thanks for proving my theory that politicians' offspring never breaking the untrustworthy mold is true."

Mason glared at her and she smirked. Always a sore point.

"Jealousy doesn't look good on you," he said.

Carter rolled her eyes. "Why of all days did our teacher have to burden me with you."

"What's important about today?" Mason asked, curious.

"Nothing, besides the fact it's ruined by your presence."

Checking her phone for the time, Carter closed the textbook. She gathered them all together and walked off to put them away. By the time she returned to the table, the school bell rang, ending her free period. She slipped her notebook into her bag and headed to the door, not bothering with a farewell to Mason.

"See you around, Owens," Mason called out. She didn't reply. "And happy birthday!"

She paused, her hand on the library door. Mason looked smug that he'd figured it out.

"I'm not as dumb as you think I am," he said.

Carter tapped her chin. "Nope, I'm pretty sure you still are."

She walked away as Mason laughed.

*******

When Carter entered the deli, a loud pop rang out and confetti floated around her. She tried to scowl at Maggie for the dramatics, but couldn't quite manage it. Maggie beamed as she raced forward and wrapped Carter into a tight hug.

"Happy birthday, girly!" she said.

Despite how warm Maggie had been to Carter over the past half-year, it still took Carter a second before returning the hug.

It felt comforting and that scared Carter.

She'd lost a mother, someone who'd given birth to her. How easy would it be to lose someone who had no family ties to her?