"What's that you're humming?" Zac asked, sitting down on his bed where Carter had been laying, humming softly to herself.

"LeAnn's cover of 'Crazy'." Carter loved LeAnn Rimes. She was one of the only celebrities that she referred to by her first name, along with Holly, Alyssa, Shannen, and Mark, although sometimes she referred to Mark as Markmagrath, all one name.

"I'll never get over the way you get into so many kinds of music. I mean, your favorites are like, Aerosmith, Geri Halliwell, and LeAnn Rimes."

"Yeah go me." Carter smiled. "So how was your first date with Justine?" She nudged him.

Zac laid down on his back. "It was great. I really like her."

"Yeah she's cute."

"And she's so funny. You should seriously sit there and talk to her for an hour. I don't laugh with anybody that hard besides you."

"Wow I'm honored. I'm actually up there with Justine."

"Jealous much?" Zac smiled at her.

Carter shook her head. "Not of her."

"Ah. Beth."

She nodded. "I shouldn't be though. It's just, I see the way she looks at Taylor. And she's so pretty."

"She's ok." Zac shrugged.

Carter smiled. "Wow. You think every chick is hot."

"Not anymore." He smiled.

"Oooh. Zac's no longer single. Woohoo. Go you." She clapped and smiled. "Did you notice Beth and Ike dancing though?"

"Yeah. I think she's up in his room now."

"Whoa. That's... unexpected. You know, from what I could tell, she was like, totally love with Taylor."

Zac shook his head. "Infatuated. It's different." He sat up and looked down at her. "Speaking of which, have you and Taylor..."

"Have we what?" She paused. "EW! NO!"

"No, dumbass. Not that."

"Ok good. I didn't mean ew as in, 'ew icky'. I just mean ew as in... that's not exactly in my priority book at the moment."

"Oh. I just meant... have you guys told eachother you love eachother?"

"No."

"Planning on it?"

"Not any time soon. I think. I dunno how he feels. I think we're having a great time being in eachother's company. And I adore him. He's like, everything all wrapped up into one sweet, dorky, hot package."

"I think you've used that dorky hot package thing when referring to me once."

"I did?" She shrugged. "Damn I really screwed up making out with every Hanson."

"Yeah." Zac paused. "Wait a minute... every?"

Carter blushed. "Yeah, I told you about that. Me and Ike on the stairs that one time..."

"Oh yeah. I must have blocked that horrifying story from my mind." He shivered. "But can you really blame me?"

Carter laughed and pushed him lightly. "Don't you ever get mad at people saying things like that about Isaac? I don't get it. Melissa and I totally agree on this, Isaac is a great guy. He's wonderful, and he's very good looking, and he deserves a hell of a lot more credit than he gets." She shrugged. "I really wish the best for him, and you never know, maybe Beth is it."

___________________________________
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" Isaac walked into his room with a cup of coffee for Beth. She was sitting on a beanbag chair and leaning against his bed. His room was huge. It was 3/4 of the whole attic, leaving the other 1/4 for storage space. He had a king sized bed, a couch, and 4 beanbag chairs. Five minutes earlier, he'd asked Beth if she wanted anything, and she requested coffee, black, just like he liked it. It was about 4:00am and she asked if she could stay the night and hang out until she had to leave for the airport in the morning.

"I should leave here at 5:00am."

"How are you getting to the airport?"

"Well, I only have my little backpack, so I was planning on walking."

Isaac shook his head and sat on his bed, next to where she was on the beanbag. "I'll give you a ride."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It's still really dark here that early, and the airport is pretty far. I can't believe you'd even think of walking."

"I don't like to ask for favors."

Isaac nodded. "I don't usually either."

"And that's why you don't get noticed much."

"I... guess so."

Beth blushed. "I'm sorry. That was really stupid."

"No it wasn't. You're right. I tend to stay out of people's way. Usually when I speak, I get all tongue tied and ending up looking royally retarded."

Beth laughed. "I think we're all like that."

"So tell me about the people you've met in Williamsport."

"Well there's Andrew. He hates being called Andy, which is what Rae calls him. She's pretty much... you're basic pretty snob. I dunno, those girls in my neighborhood have done nothing but prove my theory, that most girls are petty, spiteful, and boycrazy. Alana is a brain dead version of Melissa. And Jen is really nice... I think. They all follow her every step and basically kiss her ass." She blushed. "Sorry."

Isaac laughed. "That's ok. It's not like people don't swear in this house. We're not supposed too, seeing as though we're Evangelical Christians." He laughed. "You should have seen the way Carter and Taylor used to fight. Gosh if we were really that strict on the swearing thing, they'd be in hell by now."

Beth laughed. "I didn't know they used to fight."

"Oh yeah, they hated eachother. Or at least that's what we all thought. I guess it was just prerelationship hot flirting."

Beth looked down into her coffee mug.

"See there I go again. Making people feel bad."

"No it's ok. I think I realize now that he's not an option for me. I mean, the long distance thing is no problem. I don't mind that at all. But coming back here and seeing him holding Carter like that has just made me realized that I want that so much for me. I'm just not going to get that from him."

"And you're ok with that?"

She nodded. "I am now."

"Do you think you guys will keep e-mailing eachother?"

"I'm not sure. I hope so. I hope we can be friends."

"You could always e-mail me."

"I'd like that." She smiled. "I don't think Taylor would really notice if I never e-mailed him again."

"I wish I could say I doubt that. He's the kind of person that when he's head over heels for a girl, he's... head over heels for a girl. You know what I mean?"

"Yeah. And that's great. I just hope there's other guys out there like him."

Isaac looked down over her shoulder as she took a sip of her coffee. "There are." He looked down at his watch and frowned. "We should probably go to the airport. I bet your mom is waiting for you."

Beth nodded him and handed him her empty mug. They left together and in a half hour, they were saying their goodbyes. "I'm glad I got to meet you." She smiled as she gave him a big hug.

"I'm glad too." He hugged her back. "Will you e-mail me?"

She nodded. "As soon as I get home."

At that moment, Isaac had the urge to just take her into his arms and kiss her as passionately as he could, but he didn't, he couldn't. Instead, he leaned forward, brushed her long hair out of her face, and kissed her cheek lightly.

Beth blushed and smiled. "Let Taylor know that I'm sorry I didn't say bye, and that I'll let him know next time I'm in town."

"Ok. But..." He paused. "I hope you'll let me know too."

"Don't worry, you'll know way ahead of time." She sighed. "I only wish I still lived here. It's so weird that we've lived in this city our whole lives and just now met. We could have been great... friends." She smiled. "Who knows, maybe more."

"Well, just so you know, I'm not afraid of long distance relationships either."

She smiled and put her hand behind his neck, pulling him to her, she pressed his lips against his. She parted and gave him a hug. "I better go. My mom looks annoyed." She laughed. "I'll see you later ok?"

Isaac nodded. "Later."

And with that, Beth was on the plane, on her way back to Williamsport Pennsylvania.

Carter
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