"Ok, yeah, that one hurt." Zac shrieked when his back cracked in several places.
Carter cringed at the sound and lifted the palms of her hands from Zac's back. She had been sitting on his butt, cracking his back for him. It was something she did for him once every couple of days. Ever since he was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, his muscles and joints were always stiff and sore. The doctor's were worried that he may have Fibromyalgia also. "Sorry." She apologized as she started to get off of his back.
"No problem. Do it again."
Carter laughed. "I think your back is pretty much cracked. Now get up." She stood up and grabbed his wrists, pulling him to his feet.
"You were really awesome the other night at the cafe." Zac smiled as he hoisted himself onto his bed and laid down on his back.
"You've told me that 6 times now. But thanks." Carter grinned and sat down on the bed next to him. "Are you gonna come tomorrow night to see me? They're gonna let me sing 3 songs."
Brad, the owner of the club, agreed for Carter to work on Mondays. She would sing three songs of her choice, and encores is the audienced wished. She was extremely excited about. It was something that just came out of the blue, and she was not ready for it at all.
"I... hope so." Zac stared up at her, uncertain.
"What do you mean?"
"My parents don't want me to do anything unless I'm feeling better. But I really really really wanna go."
"Oh." Carter looked down at the floor and sighed. "I dunno what I'm gonna wear and what I'm gonna sing. You have to help me get ready."
"How bout... Those black tight pants with those... purple things on the sides.."
"Butterflies?"
"Yeah those. And..."
"What about a shirt?"
"You know that furry thing Melissa has? That purple shiny thing with the fur on top?"
"Uhm no."
"You know.. the thing with no sleeves that shows off some major skin."
"Yeah I know what you mean. But I won't wear that."
"Zac stuck out his bottom lip and squinted slightly. "Pweeeese? It'll look really cool. And you can wear my yellow shoes."
Carter laughed. "Your yellow shoes? They don't match. But... Ok. It'll be a statement. Now what do I sing?"
"Sing that cowboy song."
"What cowboy song?"
"That one by that Ear Lobe chick."
Carter laughed. "You mean Lisa Loeb? And the song called 'Falling in Love'?"
"Yeah. That. You sound cool when you sing that."
"Ok. And then what?"
"Uhm... something by that other chick that you listen too all the time."
"That doesn't help Zac. Which chick?"
"That uhm...Irish Chick."
"Sarah Mclaughlan?"
"Yeah her."
Carter laughed again. "Damn boy. You have a slight case of brain fog today."
"Yeah yeah I know. Then sing like.. something unexpected.... like..."
"Something unexpected?"
"Like....A BackStreet Boys song."
"Yeah right." Carter rolled her eyes.
Zac yawned for about 10 seconds, making a loud noise and stretching out his arms. "Oooh. My back cracked again."
"Ok Goober. You're gonna go to sleep for a while. K?"
"Yeah yeah." Zac blinked heavily and smiled. "Thanks for taking care of me."
"No prob. Like I'd just leave you up here to rot?"
"I dunno." Zac shrugged. "Aren't you gonna give me a hug?"
"Course." Carter smiled and leaned over. She wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug and then smiled. "Ok, now go to sleep."
"Kiss?"
Carter rolled her eyes. "Geez Zac."
Zac gave her his puppy dog eyes.
"Alright Alright." Carter leaned over and lightly kissed his cheek. Zac smiled and wrapped his arms around her in another hug.
"Thank you buuuuuddy!"
"No problem." Carter laughed and rolled her eyes. When she stood up to leave, Zac was already asleep. _______________________________________________________
"That's enough, butt nugget! Give me the damn remote!" Carter grabbed her sister by her hair and ripped the remote out of her hand.
"OW! I'm gonna tell Dad!"
"I don't give two shits. You just waltz right in here, grab the remote, and turn to the damned fashion channel. Oh yeah, who cares if Carter was watching a documentary on the influenza virus. No biggie deal! Melissa can watch what ever the fuck she wants because everybody looovvves Melissa." Carter growled and turned back to channel 45.
"Damn you're cranky."
"Yeah, you would be too. Hey can I borrow your purple furry shirt?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Melissa grinned. "Because you don't have the boobs to hold it up."
"Fuck you. I'll wear my own damn shirt."
"You do that. And give me back the remote!" Melissa kicked Carter in the shin and ripped the remote from her hand.
"Stupid bitch. You have no idea what you've just done."
"Yeah I do." Melissa grinned and kicked Carter in the shin again. "I did that."
"Oh see. Now you're donna die."
Melissa shrieked and tried to get up when she saw the evil glare in Carter's eyes. Carter grabbed Melissa by the back of her pants and threw her on the ground. She straddled her waist and sat on top of her. "Say it."
"Say what?" Melissa wimpered, pretending she didn't know what Carter meant.
"Say it or I'll give you another wedgie....From the front."
Melissa screamed. "DADDY!"
Carter clapped her hand over Melissa's mouth and grabbed a chunk of her hair. "Shut up and say it!"
Melissa wimpered again and took a deep breath. "Fine. I'm a loser ho with no life and I'm ugly and fat and my wonderful big sister Carter is prettier, nicer, funnier, more talented, has more of a life, and ..."
"SAY IT!"
"She has bigger boobs. NOW LET ME UP!"
Carter laughed. "No see.... you didn't say it like you mean it."
"DAD! CARTER'S TRYING TO KILL ME AGAIN!"
"Alright girls. I don't wanna come into that room and see blood and wedgies like the last time. Carter, get off of your sister, Melissa give Carter the remote control back." Their father's voice boomed from upstairs. He always knew what was going on.
"I'm not getting up until you let me borrow your shirt."
Melissa shook her head. "No."
"What was that? Did you say... no??" Carter grinned and grabbed a pair of scissors from the coffee table drawer. She grabbed a chunk of Melissa's hair and laughed.
"GET OFF OF ME!"
"Let me borrow your shirt!"
"FINE YOU CAN BORROW THE DAMN SHIRT! NOW GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!"
Carter laughed and put the scissors on the floor and stood up. "Good. Now you remember that next time you grab the remote from me." _______________________________________________________
"Hey, what's up?" Taylor looked up from his book and smiled as Carter walked into his bedroom.
She shrugged and climbed into the bed next to him. She crawled under his arm and cuddled up close to him.
"What's up with you?"
"Nothin. Just feeling cuddly."
"Never seen you cuddly before."
"So? Does that mean you don't wanna see me cuddly?"
"No!" Taylor laughed and pulled Carter even closer.
Carter looked up and kissed Taylor deeply. She looked into his eyes and brushed his hair from his face. Then she kissed his cheek lightly.
Taylor grinned. "Do me a favor."
"What's that?"
"Be like this more often."
Carter smiled and kissed him again. "I think I can do that."
"Good." Taylor wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and breathed in the scent of her hair. She always smelled like oranges. Today, he noticed, she had a little bit of glitter on her eyelids and cheeks. And there were two tiny little braids on each side of her face. "You look soooo pretty."
Carter blushed. "Thank you."
"Damnit Carter.... I love you. I really really do."
She smiled and kissed his cheeks. "Do you mind if I sleep here tonight? I kind of beat up my sister and threatened to kill her. I'm afraid she might come after me with a knife or something."
Taylor laughed. "Sure. You can sleep here whenever you want."
"Good." Carter laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. "You're coming to the cafe tomorrow right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good. Night Tay."
"Night... Carter."