Carter kicked her black boots off and dropped her guitar on the floor of her bedroom. When she heard her bedroom door open abruptly, she jumped in surprise. She was even more surprised to see who was standing there. He was tall, about 5'10, with shiny, semi-messy black hair that was spiked with little purple streaks. His eyes were a shade of violet and she wondered if they were contacts. He wore a pair of very baggy jeans and a pretty tight black t-shirt, not as tight as the kind Taylor wears. "Uhm. Hi?"
He scratched the area between his eyes and bit his bottom lip. "You're not Melissa."
"Really? And I've been going by that name for so long." Carter smiled sarcastically.
"You're her sister aren't you?"
"Yeah. How'd you guess?"
"She warned me about you."
Carter shrugged. "She's upstairs in the attic I think. She's always up there with her friends. Some Abby chick, and a guy named Darren. I think he's her boyfriend."
"Yeah he is."
"You jealous of him?"
He laughed. "Me? Jealous of a guy that bangs Mel? She's not my type. Abby's my little sister, I came to pick her up. She said they'd be in here."
"They went running upstairs when I got home."
He looked her over quickly. "You went somewhere fancy."
"How do you know?"
"Cause you're all dressed up. You look nice."
Carter almost rolled her eyes, but then she ended up blushing. "Thanks. Uhm. Yeah. Well. Meli's upstairs."
"Ok." He smiled. "My name's Todd."
"Carter." Carter smiled. "How old are you?"
"17."
"I'm 16."
Todd nodded and smiled once more before he went upstairs to get his sister. He pushed the door open to the attic and found Abby, Melissa, and Darren, blowing smoke into the air and laughing at themselves. "Abby. Now. Go. Car. Home."
Abby laughed. "Who told you to come?"
"You did. You said, 'Pick me up at 10, Toddy.' Or have you forgotten the time?"
Abby laughed and brushed off her jeans. She dropped her cigarette into the ashtray and rolled her eyes at her brother. "See ya guys, I better get going."
"Later." Melissa waved as Todd pushed Abby out the door. He made her go out and wait in the car while he stood in the hallway and watched Carter.
Now in her pajamas, she sat at her desk and stared down at a picture. He wanted to say something, he wanted to say hi, but he couldn't. The way she stared at that picture made his heart crumble. Then she looked up at him, surprised to see him there. "I thought you left."
"No. I have to go in a minute though. Who's in the picture?" He blushed then, knowing he may have asked the wrong question.
"My mom. It's a bad picture though. The one I usually carry around got lost somewhere. But I guess any memory is good...." Carter trailed off. "I thought you had to take your sister home."
"She's sitting in the car... or getting laid on a street corner. Who knows."
Carter laughed. "Friendly relationship you guys have. Kinda like me and Melissa."
"Yeah. I love her and all, but we're total opposites. She looks like the stereotype of my personality and I look like the stereotype of hers. Do you wanna go for a walk? My sister's probably hijacked the car by now anyway."
Carter looked surprised. "I don't know if I should. I was gonna go over to my boyfriend's house next door."
Todd smiled and grabbed her arm. "He won't mind. Besides, it's not like I'm gonna try to steal you away from him."
"I really shouldn't. But maybe some other time. Think you'll be here to drag Abby home some other night?"
"Most likely. I'll pick her up anytime as long as you're here."
Carter smiled nervously. "See ya." She slid past him and went out on the balcony. Zac was sitting there on the couch, covered with the maroon blanket. He smiled up at her.
Carter took his arm and put it around her shoulder, then burried her face in his chest. She looked up suddenly and kissed his lips.
"What was that for?"
"Nothing."
"Oh." Zac smiled and pulled her closer, feeling the warmth of her flannel pajamas. "You smell good. You smell like.. apples."
Carter smiled. "I know I do." She yawned and shook her head. "I can't get a song out of my head."
"Sing it. That always helps me."
Carter yawned again. "K. "There's a river of tears I need to cry, been holding back for years. THere's a mountain so high I need to climb, to wipe away the fears. Solitude and Lonliness have been a friend of mine. As I'm turning my back on emptiness I leave them all behind. Who knows just where I'm going. Does tomorrow belong to me? Walkaway this time with my head up high. Walkaway just me and myself. Walkaway with pride, nothing left to hide, but it just feels right to be one and just walkaway."
Zac sighed. "Do you have any idea how amazing you are?"
"In what way?"
"Just, everything, even down to your voice and your choice of songs to get stuck in your head."
"I didn't choose to get it stuck in my head." She laughed and pulled the ponytail holder out of Zac's hair.
"Ow. Keep singing. I like to hear you sing."
"I could never forget how hard I tried when we were oh so young. Just one tender moment I cannot find well maybe I had none. Strength will be by my side although I feel afraid. But I know it's too late for this goodbye there's nothing left to say. Who knows just where I'm going. Does tomorrow belong to me? Walkaway this time with my head up high. Walkaway just me and myself. Walkaway with pride nothing left to hide. But it just feels right to be one and just walkaway this time. One day you'll realize. That the tears you saw in my eyes will be there forever. Walkaway this time with my head up high walkaway just me and my self. Walkaway with pride nothing left to hide but it just feels right to be one and just walkaway. And just walkaway. And just walkaway. Walkaway with pride nothing left to hide but it just feels right to be one. And just walkaway. And just walkaway.
Zac stayed silent for a while and watched Carter nod off slowly with exhaustion. "Car?"
"Yeah?"
"Now I have that song stuck in my head."
Carter laughed and fell asleep in his arms. When she woke up the next morning, he was gone and Isaac was sitting on the balcony rail, watching her. "Ike." She smiled and sat up. "How long have you been there?"
"A while."
"Thank you. For what you did last night. It meant a lot."
Isaac shrugged. "I just know you've had a hard time lately and I thought that might help."
"Well, thank you."
"I heard you singing last night. Geri Halliwell?"
"Yeah."
"You're beautiful."
Carter laughed. "You mean she is?"
"No, I mean you are." Isaac walked over to Carter and kissed her forehead, then he went back inside, leaving Carter to stare at the garage.