Carter pulled her t-shirt on over her head and turned around to see Todd standing in the doorway to her bedroom. She jumped backwards and screamed. "TODD! What... what are you doing here?"
"Shit I'm sorry." Todd turned around. "I didn't see anything. I swear."
"Yeah right. You can turn around."
He was wearing a cream colored sweater and black leather pants. His hair was his natural color, black. "Melissa said I could come up."
Carter walked slowly to her dresser and grabbed her favorite silver necklace. "What do you want?" She asked, trying to clasp it.
"Need help?"
"No." She muttered, fumbling with it. "I can do it myself, romeo."
Todd walked slowly to her and took the necklace. "I'm not going to bite." His wrapped his arms around her neck and clasped the necklace. "See?"
Carter blushed when she felt the skin of his hands on hers. His hands were warm, but not sweaty, they almost felt like he was nervous. "So what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you. You haven't been to Dillie's in a long time and I figured you wouldn't be coming back."
"Look I know what you did to me. And I know all about you and Gabi." Carter paused and sat down on her bed. "I haven't seen her in a while. Where is she?"
"I wouldn't know." Todd sighed and leaned against Carter's dresser. "We broke up."
"Who dumped who?" Carter asked, smiling.
"I broke up with her. I couldn't play her game anymore. She wanted Taylor, I wanted you... it wasn't right."
"Not to mention you hired a guy to stalk me and attack me in some bushes on the way home from YOUR club, which by the way I'm sure was just another wild idea of yours to get me to fall madly in love with you. Right?"
"Been talking to Isaac?"
Carter blushed. "Maybe. That doesn't matter."
"Look I know you hate me and all..."
"Just a lil." She chuckled sarcastically.
"All that stuff... it was all Gabi's ideas. I swear. She made me think it was the only way I could ever get somebody like you."
Carter shook her head and reached over to grab her pillow. She hugged it close as Todd continued to talk. She almost wished Zac would come in any second over the walkie talkie and make him go away.
"Remember when we first met?"
"Yeah. You walked right into my room that time too."
"Remember when I told you that... Abby's personality is the stereotype of what I look like... and my personality is the stereotype of what she looks like?"
"Yeah."
"And remember when I asked you out the first time and we went for the walk..."
"Yeah."
"That was me. Uninfluenced. I didn't even meet Gabi until the next week. That's when..."
"...You started to change." Carter fell backwards on her bed and covered her face with the pillow.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just can't look at you when you talk. You're too hot. It sways my opinion. And I really really want to hate you."
Todd laughed and sat down on the bed next to her. "I'm not gonna tell you I've changed because I haven't. I've always been me. Gabi has a way of getting inside of people and making them think they're worthless. That's what she did to me. She made me think the only way I could get you was if I was somebody else."
Carter mumbled from under the pillow.
"What?"
She lifted the pillow from her face and sat up. "Nothing. I just can't listen to your voice either. It's all too good."
Todd laughed again. "Never trust anybody that says 'you can trust me'. That's what Gabi said. 'You can trust me, Todd. I'll get you what you want. And then you'll help me get Taylor.' And blah... blah blah."
"Isaac told me never to trust you. That you were bad." She sighed. "I never believed him because I saw you that first day. You were so shy. I was hurt.... the things you did to me. I wanted you to be a great guy."
"Well... I'm not a great guy. But I'm not a psychotic stalker asshole dude either... I think that's what Isaac called me once."
"Something like that."
"I'm not gonna like... ask you out or anything. I don't want to freak you out. That one date really isn't what I want anymore."
Carter looked at him, a little confused.
"I want more than the one date. This isn't just an ego boost for me anymore. I've seen you in action. I've seen you so sweet an innocent, naive almost. Then I've seen you sing at a club for people you don't even know. And I've seen you be a total bitch."
Carter looked down. "Gee thanks."
"The point is, I like it all. Every fault, every beauty, and every talent. You're the realest person in the world to me."
"I don't think that's a word."
"Which one?"
"Realest."
Todd shrugged. "Oh well. You're the most realest...."
"That's even wronger."
Todd laughed. "Whatever. You're the...."
"Give up, Todd." Carter smiled. "I get it. And... It's a great compliment. You really have a way with words."
"Not really. I had to write all this down at least seven times before I got it right."
Carter laughed.
"And even then I ended up saying it all wrong."
Carter put her hand on his shoulder. "No no. You did good. Now could you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Get out of my room. Cause I've decided I don't like the way this shirt looks with these pants and I wanna change."
Todd laughed. "Ok."
"So are you sure you're not gonna ask me out again?"
"Nope. I want you to be able to trust me without me telling you to 'trust me'."
"Alright then. I'll see you around."
"There's always a spot for you to play at Dillie's."
"I know." Carter smiled as Todd left her room and closed the door behind him.