"All you people can't you see, can't you see, how your love's affecting our reality."
"Shut up."
"Evertime we're down, you can make it right."
"Shut up."
Zac finished that last phrase very quickly, spewing the words out. "And that makes you larger than life."
"Dammit Zac, I said shut up." Melissa growled at him from her side of the balcony.
"Then tell me where Carter is."
"I told you, I don't know. Now get out of here, I'm trying to write in my journal." Melissa held up her notebook and waved it in the air.
Zac shrugged. "I'm on my side, you're on your side. Get over it." He grinned. "Fake Honey, real plastic, stupid cupid, fantastic."
"God Dammit Zac, knock it off, you don't even know the whole song, that's the only part you know."
"Where's Carter?"
"I DON'T FUCKING KNOW! Now if you insist on sitting on the floor on your side of the balcony, shut the fuck up before I kick your ass."
"III Don't want you back! Cause you're no good for me... blah blah... blah blah blah blah Don't want you back!"
"Ok that's it." Melissa threw her book on the ground and jumped over the banister. She lunged at Zac and grabbed him around the neck. "SHUT THE FUCK UP! YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO SING THE BACKSTREET BOYS!"
"Ugh." Zac jumped away. "Teenybopper alert. First it was you and the Moffatts, now it's you and the BackstreetHo's."
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"Ok, we've now established that that's your favorite phrase. Now get off my side."
"Fine." Melissa sighed and sat back down on the leather couch. "She's at Dillie's singing. She told me to tell you to meet her there at 1:00. But seeing as though it's 3:00..."
"DAMN YOU MEL! I WANTED TO GO SEE HER!"
_________
Carter smiled as Robbie Dillie (She still laughed at that name) handed her a 100 dollar bill. "I'm sorry this isn't what we talked about, but this place is in danger of closing, and this is all we can afford at the moment. Most of the other performers are getting 50 dollars a night. I hope this doesn't change your mind about working here. You were really amazing tonight."
Carter sighed. "I kind of needed the money. But... I know what it's like to have your business shut down. Well sort of. This is fine." She smiled and threw her guitar strap onto her shoulder then she shoved the money into her pocket. When she turned around, Todd was standing right there.
"We never got our date."
"Yeah we did. Truth or dare remember?"
"Oh yeah. Wanna go see Blair Witch?"
"Already saw it." She lied.
"Oh. Well. Pizza Hut?"
Carter's mouth watered and she shook off the fact that she hadn't had her favourite food in the world since Zac's rhuemy appointment. "Not hungry." She managed to get out.
"Well then we can do what you want." Todd grinned and ran his fingers through his now, bright blue hair.
"Look Todd, You're 17 years old. Don't you have anybody else to stalk? I don't see why you're so stuck on me."
"It's cause you hate me. It's a challenge."
Carter felt a pain in her stomach. Why did that sound so familiar? "Look, I really can't."
"Do you like somebody else? Zac? Taylor? Isaac?"
Carter made a face. "Ew. Not Ike. Look, it's not really any of your business who I like and who I don't like."
Todd looked almost hurt. "Not Ike, so... that means Zac or Taylor?"
"God Dammit. Shut up will you?"
"Why are you so pissy to me?"
"Well? When I first saw you, I thought, 'Wow, hottie, kinda sweet.' But you're all clingy and I can't stand that. Even Zac gave me time to myself when I needed it. You're RIGHT there everything I turn around. I can't take it anymore!"
Todd shrugged. "Ok, I'll give you your space. Lemme know when you're interested."
Carter sighed. "Thank you. See you tomorrow."
When Carter came back tomorrow to perform, Todd stayed in the kitchen the whole time. He didn't stand by the stage and clap when she was done. He didn't even watch her. But Zac was there. He gave her a hug when she was done, and handed her a glass of Dr. Pepper that he had ordered for her. "You ok? You seem kinda..."
Carter glared at him.
"Ok, not gonna go there."
"I'm sorry, Zac. I just... You know me really well right?"
"Yeah."
"What's one thing you know that I always need."
Zac smiled. "Affection."
"Right. I need hugs from people. Any people. I always have."
"I give you hugs."
"Yeah, and I always welcome them and hug back and I always hug you all the time too, but I need like, hugs from other people."
"Ok starting to babble. You need a hug from Todd. To tell what kind of a person he is. I know you. That's how you tell a person's personality. It's in the hug."
Carter nodded. "Bear hug, shy hug, arms around waist, neck, you can always tell how a person is. Like you, you always put your arms around my waist and your head on my shoulder which tells me that you're the greatest friend I can ever have and that you're there no matter what. And you always give bear hugs."
Zac nodded. "And like I said, you need a hug from Todd before you even go out with him once."
"Right. I'm weird like that and it's gonna screw me up a lot. Like if a guy asks me out, I'm gonna need a hug first. I dunno what to do about Todd."
Zac pulled Carter by the arm and dragged to the door of the kitchen. "You do too know what to do. Now go."
Carter whined a little bit and then laughed. She pushed the door open to the kitchen and stood behind Todd. She tapped him on the shoulder.
Todd turned around and smiled. "I thought you didn't like it when I was there everytime you turned around."
"Sorry about last night. This is gonna sound really weird. But..."
"What?"
"Can you give me a hug?"
Todd stared at her for a few seconds before he shrugged. He put his arms around her shoulders, not her neck, not her waist, and he squeezed her slightly. Then he rocked her back and forth a couple times. He let go and smiled. "Feel better?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing. I guess I was wrong?"
"You know that you're the most confusing person I've ever met."
"I just figured you were like me. I like hugs. They cheer me up. Sometimes it's the only thing there is that can cheer me up. There's kisses, and holding hands, but nothing is like the hug."
Carter smiled and looked down at the ground. "Oh yeah. I feel a lot better now. I am really sorry about last night. I'm just really stressed about money."
"Kids shouldn't have to be stressed out about that."
Carter shrugged.
"Listen, if you ever need to talk, you can always call me."
"Uhm, I dunno...."
"You're used to talking to Zac. That's ok. Just, don't leave me out ok?"
Carter nodded and pushed her hair behind her ears.
"Don't do that."
"Huh?"
"You look really pretty when you're hair falls around your face." Todd shoved his hands in his pockets. "Just an observation."
"Well uhm, you're hair looks really nice when it's pink." Carter had never felt this way before, almost shy. It was very disturbing.
"Thanks." Todd laughed. "Uhm. Listen. Do you wanna..."
"Nope." Carter smiled. "But I would like to go for a walk. If you're done working soon."
"I'm done now." Todd threw a towel in the sink and ran his fingers through his spiky hair. "Zac won't mind?"
"Nope."
"Cool." Todd and Carter went out the back door of the club. He opened the door for her and even put his hand on the small of her back when she walked down the stairs.
"Do you always do that?"
"What?"
"Be so... chivalrous?"
"Yeah, I guess so. What'd I do?"
Carter laughed. "Nothing. Just don't offer me your coat if I get cold."
"I don't have one anyway."
"Good. Besides, you're 17 years old, you should have somebody else to stalk." Carter smiled up at him.
"Don't you have any other good lines?"
"I have a million of them. That's the only one that's good for you though..." Carter screamed and ducked as a bat swooped down and skimmed her head.
Todd laughed and put his arm around her. "Little paranoid? It's just a flying rodent. Won't hurt you."
"I hate bats. Bats and birds. My two worst enemies." Carter pushed his arm off her shoulder. "Besides, I can take care of myself." She laughed. "Most of the time."
Todd put his arm around her again and she let it stay there that time.