These days, it's all about spontaneity. A dream date would be one where you don't even know your special someone is taking you out. It lets you know that they care enough to go out of their way to please you.
So yes, I am fond of spontaneous events, but not this one in particular. "Where are you taking me?" I looked over at Carter, currently driving me to an undisclosed location in the wee hours of the morning.
"It's a surprise, for the last time." I groaned loudly in response. "You're supposed to say its romantic."
"And it is, but not when I'm running low on energy. I've been up since ten this morning and having to go to an interview on top of a night shift makes me believe that I deserve some sleep right now."
"Trust me when I say this will all be worth it."
Silencing my protests, I leaned my head against the window trying not to fall asleep. "I feel one yawn away from death."
"Now you're just being dramatic." He glanced at me before keeping his eyes trained on the road before us going from cityscape to landscape. "Just sit tight; we're almost there."
Pulling up to an abandoned building only heightened my confusion. "Not to be rude, but why the fucᴋ did you bring me here?" I said as I got out of the car, heading to the trunk where Carter was.
"So impatient. Just wait, damn." I could sense his irritation.
"I love it when you get angry. Makes you ten times sexier." Even in the darkness, I could see him smiling. It was small, but it was there.
~∞~
"Ask me anything?" He says as I made myself comfortable on his chest.
"Anything?" My voice was beginning to get more airy as time progressed. "What happened to your real dad?" I asked in a dream-like state. When I felt him tense up, I grabbed hold of his hand. "You don't have to tell me."
"But I want to," he said as he squeezed my hand reassuringly. "My mom and dad were never on the best of terms for a while. It was your typical, 'I'm stuck with you' relationship, except my dad was the one forcing my mom to stay. When Declan came, she knew she would be in his life regardless, and Lee and I just sealed the deal.
"After a while, my mom became sick of the charades and tried to leave. Obviously didn't work with my dad's forceful nature. I was 14 was when I realized how toxic the relationship was and just how much of a toll it had taken on my mom.
"Declan was already out of the house and Lee had just left for her first year of college. By then, I think Mom had enough. She promised me that we would be leaving for good this time." He stopped speaking all of a sudden before asking a question. "Remember when Dec came over that first time, the first time you met him?" I nodded. "Well, that was the day my dad was getting released.
"Imagine being 14 and having to come home to a crime scene. Imagine finding out your dad tried to kill your mom. Shit was traumatizing as fucᴋ." He ran a hand through his hair. "I thought I'd lost her for good that day, but in some twisted fantasy, she finally got out. It's all she had ever wanted."
"Have you spoken to your dad since he got out?" I ask while tracing circles on his chest.
"Yeah, but I don't think I could ever trust him again. You know?" Silence lapsed between us before he turned his head, facing me. "Your turn. Something funny to lift this sullen mood."
"I lost my virginity in the back of a car the night of my graduation." I said. "It's actually a pretty funny story."
"Do tell."
"It started as a vengeance plot. Him and one of my friends were in constant fights and arguments. At the party, Talia, the instigator, told me that he had a small crush on me. The plan was to take advantage of his weakness, me, and then leave him hanging, literally. I look back in shame at my high school self."
"You? No. I could never picture you committing such a heinous act." I punched his shoulder for his sarcasm.
"Anyway," I said with emphasis and an eye roll, "The guy had skills and we ended up fucᴋing in the backseat of his car."
"You had sex with a guy who had a crush on you?" I nodded. "Then left him?" I nodded again, more slowly. "You are the reincarnate of the devil."
"Hey!" I shouted in protest. "I was 17. Cut me a break."
"And what's your excuse for now?" He countered, like the smartass he was.
"Your turn." Although it was almost five in the morning, and one could see the sky beginning to light, we never moved from our spot on the roof eventually falling asleep.
This explained my confusion when I woke up in my bed around two. In the afternoon. The bed was empty and I didn't remember falling asleep here.
Deciding not to dwell on it, I cleaned myself up with a nice shower and decided to have some me time. Of course, things like that weren't possible with friends like mine.
"Open the door before I break it down!" I heard Talia on the other side of my door, banging away on my apartment door. "Don't you dare doubt me."
I groaned loudly before unlocking it. In she came like a whirlwind of emotions. "You look like shit."
"I feel like shit." She sat down on the edge of my couch. "I've been exiled from my family."
"Talia-"
"And I feel like a burden has been lifted off of my shoulders." There was a ghost of a smile on her face. "All my life I've been pressured to go by these rules and forced into pleasing my parents. Now, I'm having a baby and I'm in love. What kind of parents are disappointed in a daughter when they've finally found happiness?"
"Yours." I sat down on the couch, cradling her in my arms. "You have all the family you need right here."
"And I couldn't have asked for a better one." She sighed. "James' parents took the news a bit too well. They took the job of our baby shower saying I didn't have to lift a finger."
"Your in-laws are perfect."
"Not in-laws." Talia corrected.
"Not yet." I sang to which she blushed. "I'm doing nothing but putting good vibes in the atmosphere."
"I appreciate that." She sighed again. "I just thing we're too young to get married. Plus, I don't want him to feel pressured into marrying me just because we have a kid."
"True. You have years to go. I still don't know what Reese and Adam were thinking, but hey, not my business."
"Here you go again."
~∞~
"He took me out last night." Tiffany told me as we came from the lounging area.
"Who?" I asked while getting bottles ready.
"The exec. It was so beautiful and perfect." She lulled.
"Why do I get the feeling that there's a but involved?"
"Because there is." She breathed. "He said he needed a housewife." I burst into laughter at this. "Wanted to marry me on the spot. Had the proposal ready and everything."
"That actually happens in real life?" The thought of someone proposing on the first date sounded nothing short of ridiculous.
"Apparently." We went back to manning the lounge seeing as I was kicked out of the bar because Carter wanted so badly to work alongside Gavin.
"One rum and cola, a screwdriver, and gin and tonic. Will that be all for now?"
"Yes. Thank you." The lounge was, in a sense, calmer than the bar. The only downside was having to cover so much area, but who was complaining?
As we began to ease into the early hours of the morning, more people began to file out. As more people left, I began to realize that my partner in crime was missing.
"Where the hell is Tiffany?" I asked Dean who was on the register today.
"Haven't seen her? Why?"
"She left me with the lounge by myself and I didn't even realize until now. It's closing time!" I kicked off my shoes, resting them on the chair beside me. "Lazy bitch," I mumbled.
"I could say the same to you. We have to clean, you know."
"Fine. I'll go get the mop and the bucket like I always do." I said in a sickly sweet manner. Hauling my ass off the bar stool, I hobbled over to the supply closet shoeless.
"Why are you walking around barefoot?" Carter asked, falling into step with me.
"Tiffany left me in the lounge all lonesome. Speaking of, have you seen her? I have a few choice words for that-," I opened the door and all my questions were answered. "hoe."
"You're one to talk." She countered.
"I'm not the one in a supply closet, now am I?" I arched an eyebrow at the predicament in front of me. "I would've never guessed." I reached around the pair grabbing the mop and the bucket. "Can you pass me the spray Gavin?"
***
Just some jokes because I live for awkward moments. Be prepared to have your Carley hearts broken with these next two chapters.
Three words: It was inevitable.
VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW! Enjoy Spring Break.