"Hey." Taylor sat on the balcony rail in front of Carter. She was sitting on the couch, looking quite glum. Her hair was in her face, and she was still in her pajamas, blue flannel pants and a white tanktop. "You ok?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Cause it's four o'clock in the afternoon and you're still sitting out here. Did you sleep here?"
"Yeah."
"Where's Zac?"
"I dunno."
"So what's wrong?"
Carter shrugged. "I said nothing. I'm just thinking."
"About whether or not you're going to take the job?"
Carter stared up at Taylor and nodded. Apparently everybody knew about Todd by now. She sighed at his appearance. She always did. Especially when he was wearing his tight clothes, but this time he was wearing baggy shorts and a plain reddish t-shirt. Not tight. His hair was pulled back and falling in his face. And for some reason, she still found him appealing. "I uhm... don't know if I should take it."
"Why? It's a lot of money."
"I'm not sure the money is worth it." Carter kept reminding herself about the temptation. Todd was different than any of the guys she hung out with. She was used to upbeat, cuddly, happy guys that never said the right thing. Todd was exactly the opposite. He seemed rough and insensitive and he always knew exactly what to say. She had no idea why she was attracted to him. She didn't even know if she was attracted to him.
"How could the money not be worth it. Money is money, and if I'm not mistaken, you have none at the current moment."
Carter glared at him. There was that "never say the right thing" again. "Look, you wouldn't understand."
"It's cause you think Todd is hot."
"I do not!" Carter crossed her legs and sat indian style with the blacket over her lap. "I do not think he's hot. I don't." She paused. "Really. I don't."
"Ok. That was three or 4 'I don'ts'. Translation? You want him bad."
"I do not. Go away Taylor. You're not helping."
Taylor stood up and crammed his hands into his back pockets. "I think you should take it."
"I think you should take your hands out of your back pockets. You look like you're grabbing yourself."
"Can you blame me?" He asked, grinning, heading for the door.
"Wait. I have a question." Carter walked over to him. "Am I a good kisser?"
"Huh? Why don't you ask Zac?"
"I would but... just tell me. Am I?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Just wondered." Carter hopped back over the banister and went inside to get dressed. She pulled out a pair of black and red board shorts and a little red tanktop that probably showed off too much of her. But it was hotter than hell outside and she really didn't care. Then she grabbed her guitar and went out the door.
When she got to Dillie's, she pushed the door open and looked around. There were tables everywhere, and a kitchen in the back. And a huge stage that made her stomach flop. The first person she saw was a tall man with light brown hair and an attractive, yet all too timid face. She walked up to him with her guitar strap over her shoulder and cleared her throat. "Todd Dillie told me to come here to audition to perform. I'm not sure who I should be talking too."
The man held out his hand to shake hers and smiled. "I'm Robert Dillie. Everybody calls me Robbie. I've heard a lot about you."
"You're Todd's dad?" Carter was somewhat surprised. She pictured his dad to be a 300 pound wrestler with blue hair.
"Yes I am. And don't look so shocked. My son's a good kid, he's just..."
"He likes koolaid hair colors?"
"Exactly." Robert Dillie laughed to himself. "Is this your guitar?"
"No it's my machine gun. I always carry it around with me incase of predators." Carter kicked herself for being so sarcastic already. She was supposed to be professional.
"Well, you're already hired."
"Huh?"
"I've been watching you play for a couple weeks now. You're awesome. When can you play?"
"Any night but Thursday. Charmed is switching nights." She kicked herself again.
"I love that show. I don't work thursday nights either."
Carter smiled. "Is Todd here?"
"Yeah he's in the back. Want me to go get him?"
"No that's ok." Carter shook her head and then sighed when she saw Todd come out of the kitchen. "I heard my name. Hiya Carter. You came."
"Yeah. You work in the kitchen?" She asked, noticing his apron.
"I cook here. I'm not really a singer."
Robbie laughed. "Todd's modest. He sings all the time here. He plays piano too."
Todd almost blushed. "Dad.... I better go. See you later Carter."
"Uh huh." Carter smiled.
"Well, I'll see you whenever you want to come in and sing."
"I'll be here later tonight."
"We'll save the stage for you." Robbie shook her hand one more time and went back to wiping down tables.
Carter walked the two miles back home and dropped her guitar on her bed. She looked up and jumped about four feet. Zac was sitting in the middle of her floor, holding a snake.
"What the fuck are you doing in here with that thing?"
"I got a pet. Wanna see him."
Carter jumped back. "No I don't want to see him. Get him away!"
Zac looked surprised. "You're afraid of snakes?"
"Duh. If there's anything in this world I can't stand, it's snakes. I don't know why, I just hate them."
"Damn. I never knew that." Zac stood up and Carter screamed again.
"DON'T COME NEAR ME WITH SNAKE ON YOU!"
"Ok ok I'll put it down."
"Not on my floor."
"I'll take it back into my room."
"Better wash your hands."
"Why?"
"I don't want snake goo all over my ass."
Zac laughed. "Who says I'm gonna touch your ass?"
"Uhm... you always do."
"I do not."
"Yeah you do. I think it's a reflex or something. You always touch my ass."
"Hmm. I'll have to watch myself from now on."
"Get the snake out of my room."
"Ok ok." Zac kissed Carter and left. Carter took a deep breath and plopped down on her bed.