"I just changed my mind, that's all." Carter shrugged as she stared up at Isaac. She was in her bed, her thick maroon blanket pulled up to her chin. He had an eager look in his eye and it scared her. He expected too much.
"But you said..."
"What I meant was, I wanted you to come over and we could talk... and if that lead to anything..."
"You make no sense what so ever, Carter." Isaac shook his head and continued to stare at her.
Carter sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Ike, it's late, and I'm tired, and Zac isn't feeling well."
"But he's asleep."
"No he's not. He's sitting with his back against the wall of his room, listening to everything we're saying. Say 'Hi', Zac." She smiled, raising her arm and smacking it against the wall.
"Hey, Ike. You trying to steal her away from me?"
Isaac looked down at the walkie talkie that was sitting next to Carter's head. "You guys still use those? I got them for you when you were like... 4."
"I know." Carter shrugged. "How you feeling Zac?"
"I'm sore."
"Want me to come over?"
"Yeah. But... I know you're too tired too." Zac laughed.
Isaac sighed audibly, trying to get their attention. "Jesus, even when I'm in the same room as you and he isn't even in the HOUSE, he gets all of your attention."
"He's my best friend." Carter answered casually, sitting up and tucking her hair behind her ears.
Isaac took about 3 minutes to check out her pajamas, a tiny white tanktop with black roses across the chest and the thinnest sleeves he had ever seen, with a matching pair of shorts. The bottom of her stomach was showing and he was almost positive she wasn't wearing a bra.
"You done now?" She asked, sounding disgusted.
Isaac blinked and looked back at her face. "Uhm. What?"
"Isaac, when I kissed you, it was a mistake. A huge mistake. And I can't explain to you why because you won't understand and frankly I don't know how to talk to you because I've never attempted it before. But when somebody has the ability to pin me to the ground and give me this," She raised her shirt slightly so he could see the grotesque black and blue mark that covered her ribs, "I'm sure to have a certain fear of them for the rest of my life."
"Then why the hell did you kiss me?"
"Because you wanted me too! That's what you wanted wasn't it?!" Carter stood up and stared at him. "Right?"
Isaac looked towards the lump in her sister's bed. "You're going to wake up Meli."
"She's already awake."
"Yeah, I am. Go ahead, Don't worry, I'm not listening in or anything." Melissa stirred under the covers.
Carter rolled her eyes. "Isaac, I'm going over to see Zac. He's my best friend, and he understands me. You'll never be able to do that."
Carter walked past Taylor's bedroom and down the hall to Zac. When she got there, he was sitting up with his back still against the wall, staring at her. "You kissed Isaac?"
Carter blinked hard.
"You kissed him? Or he kissed you." He whispered.
"It was kind of... mutual. But... Zac..."
"You kissed my brother?"
"I've done it before."
"But that was Taylor."
"Zac..." Carter sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder.
"You kissed my freakin brother."
"Zac, listen to me. Please?"
"I'm listening."
"I don't know why I kissed Isaac. But I know I was wrong. How do you feel about me, Zac?"
"I've told you before, I love you and I wish you were my girlfriend."
Carter lifted her head from his shoulder and kissed him lightly on his lips. "There's absolutely no explanation for why I kissed Isaac, and if I tried to make one up, I would sound completely retarded and cliche, so I'm not even going to try. You are the only person in my entire life that has accepted me for who I am. Even when I say something totally stupid, you find the point in it. When I need to cry, you let me when everybody else looks at me funny. Your arms fit around my shoulders so perfectly and you make me feel so wanted. We don't agree on everything but when we do disagree, we respect eachother's opinions. There's nothing in the world I want more than to just be your best friend forever and more. And even if you don't want to be with me like I want to be with you, I can accept that. Just as long as your here with me everyday to hang out with."
Zac stared into Carter's eyes and licked his lips. "You mean all that?"
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't. I wouldn't make myself look like a total ass if I didn't love you. And like one of my friends said before, 'I wouldn't cry for hours over somebody I don't love, right?'"
Zac smiled, and put his arm around her. "I love you Carter. I know this is giong to come out sounding so retarded but, Will you be my girlfriend?"
Carter kissed him again and snuggled against his chest. "You actually think I'm gonna say no?"
Zac laughed. "I was hoping you wouldn't."
Carter closed her eyes and fell asleep like that, with his arms around her. Neither one of them remembered the walkie talkie sitting next to Isaac, who was still sitting on Carter's bed, shocked.
Neither one of them knew that Melissa walked over to Isaac and put her arms around him. She kissed his cheek and put her head on his shoulder. "Sorry Ike. I know you like her. Or you want to like her. But she really loves Zac."
"I thought you hated her." Isaac whispered, staring at the wall.
"No. She's my sister. I have to look out for her, even though I'm supposed to be the younger, weaker one. Nobody knows her like Zac does. Except me, she doesn't know it, but I watch her all the time. I admire her. She acts so strong and independant, but really she just needs somebody to love her, and I think Zac is that person. You don't really like her, Ike. You just want too. So that somebody accepts you. You need a friendship like hers and Zacs."
Isaac blinked and finally looked at Melissa. "Why is it that you seem like such a raging bitch when everybody else is around, then you come off as such a sweet person now?"
"You think you're the only person that nobody knows." She smiled. "You're not alone, Ike. A lot of us just want somebody to love. Isn't that what everybody looks for? Somebody that can make them feel better just by smiling at them? Just by putting a hand on their shoulder." Melissa looked down and smiled when she noticed that her hand was on his shoulder.
Isaac looked down too. "Thanks Meli." He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Why didn't we ever become friends?"
"Cause you never come out of your bedroom, you fucking hermit."
Isaac laughed. "I might have to start coming out more often. Okay, I'm gonna go back to bed, I'll see you tomorrow probably."
Melissa smiled. "See you tomorrow."