THIS IS AN INACTIVE ACCOUNT

Sorry for the long wait. I hope it will be worth it. A chapter from Carson's perspective. Enjoy!
More soon...
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+Carson+
“Hey watcha doing with a girl like that?”
~~~
 
“I have to go,” I muttered quickly, feeling the sudden rush of adrenaline pump throughout my body knowing I would have to be quick. Gracie’s blue eyes urged me to stay with her though… and I guess I would’ve liked that just as much; but I couldn’t handle having another tardy in Ms. Bunger’s class. I already despised the class and she disliked me in return. There was no point whatsoever to give her a reason to make my life living a living hell.
 
‘Don’t go’, Gracie’s silence gaze begged of me.
 
With a gentle kiss though, her request was extinguished reluctantly giving me the opportunity to turn and disappear into the classroom.
 
Inside the room, my classmates were clamoring, getting conversation in quickly before our teacher could return and begin the tortuous class. Easily I slid into my seat, exhaling a sigh of relief.
 
“Hey, man,” Trent grinned. “You made it. The she-devil hasn’t returned to her lair yet.”

“Good,” I high-fived him gratefully, and said, “She’s on my case already.”
 
“Where were you anyways?” he asked curious
 
“With Gracie.”
 
His eyes perked up in interest. “You two going out or something?”
 
“Well, she totally saved my butt from Erin over the weekend. I completely owe it to her for being such a great friend…” And even more than that. She was more than I ever expected her to be and it wasn’t until we had kissed that it became clear.
 
“– Aww, man.”
 
“What’s wrong?” Trent frowned at my moan.
 
Slapping a crumpled sheet of paper on the vandalized desk top, I groaned. “I didn’t finish last night’s assignment. So much for being safe.”
 
“Maybe you could finish it quickly,” Trent hissed quickly, but by the time I grabbed a pencil from the pocket of my backpack the clicking of menacing heels had entered the room.
 
With a gaze as sharp a tack, she gazed the room menacingly and declared, “Take out your homework from last night, I’m collecting it.”
 
I gulped and felt my heart rate quicken with fear. Nothing was scarier then the bird-like features of Ms. Bunger and her nasally voice that made anyone cringe in their seat.
 
To my luck though, she paced over to the opposite side of the room, gathering papers from students. With the little time I had, answers flowed from my pencil and onto the folded paper. Who cares if they were right or not, I just needed to get it done.
 
“Carson… hur-ry up,” Trent whispered carefully over his shoulder. Ms. Bunger was approaching with each single second that ticked by slowly on the clock above the white door.
 
“Just one more… Done!”
 
I shoved the worksheet into his awaiting hand without a second thought, but then something occurred to me. “My name! Wait, hand it back to me!”
 
… but by then it was too late.
 
“Doing homework in class?” Ms. Bunger squawked loudly and suddenly all eyes were upon me. I squirmed in my seat, my hand sweating profusely in the uncomfortable situation I know found myself in.
 
“Umm… well… I was only writing my name on my paper -”
 
“No excuses, Carson!” she exclaimed loudly, her eyebrows rising with the high pitch of her voice. “You’ll have to go to the library to finish the assignment and miss the next lecture. It will be your duty to get the notes.”
 
I nodded mutely, grabbing my bag from the back of my chair clumsily. Making my way towards the door, Trent shook his head mouthing the word ‘lucky’. A day without having to listen to Ms. Bunger? This wasn’t so bad after all.
 
“Wait, Ms. Bunger… I didn’t finish the assignment either,” Amara called out of the blue.
 
The middle-aged woman sighed loudly in frustration, tapping her foot angrily on the linoleum tile. With a simple point of the finger she directed her towards the door as well. “Just go.”
 
And so, Amara hastily dragged her tote bag behind her, slipping past me and into the empty corridor. I followed suit. At the end of the hall she stopped, turning to make sure I was following. Upon her face was a relieved smile.
 
“We successfully escape the witch,” she giggle softly, the sound of her voice echoing off the extending walls.
 
“For now…”
 
“Let’s go to the coffee shop!”
 
“Wait, what?” my eyebrows furrowing together. “We’re supposed to go to the library.”
 
“She didn’t way which library though... let’s forget about the school one.”
 

~~~
 

Outside of the stuffy school classrooms the air was refreshing and crisp. The muffled sound of our footsteps on the pavement felt like freedom compared to the echo of footsteps we were normally accustomed to.
 
“So Carson…”
 
“So Amara,” I mimicked awkwardly. Amara and I weren’t the best of friends and to be quite honest, I didn’t know her that well other than the fact that she was Erin’s friend. Her hands carefully smoothed out the denim skirt she wore while we walked casually.
 
She noticed my wandering eyes and grinned slyly. “So I hear you have a new girlfriend, and it’s not Erin.”
 
“Erin was the one to cheat on me,” I clarified simply. “If you didn’t get the memo already.”
 
“But she said she’s reea-lly sorry,” Amara replied in her high-pitched tone, dragging the syllables out for effect. It played no affect on me though.
 
“That doesn’t mean anything to me.”
 
“Well, then-” her voice returning to its normal tone. With quick feet she cut in front of me causing me to stop in my path. “What would say to me?”
 
“Say to you about what,” I answered unamusedly.
 
A hand fell upon my shoulder, her fingers brushing against my neck softly. Uncomfortable tingles made me shiver slightly. “Come on, Carson… I know you don’t really like Gracie,” Amara coaxed. “We both know that it’s just a hoax to get Erin off your case.”
 
My mind went blank, Amara’s alluring eyes pulling me in.
 
“No.”
 
“Car-son,” she whined.
 
“You know what,” I said, “I actually like Gracie… more than I like Erin. And I’m pretty sure that you are just following Erin’s orders of revenge.” Carefully I picked her dainty wrist from my shoulder, dropping it heavily.
 
“Erin never sent me,” Amara stated quickly. The rush of words that left her mouth assured me that it was a lie in itself.
 
“I’m going back to school,” I rolled my eyes. Easily I turned and began to walk back towards school with Amara just staring after me. “And be sure to tell Erin, ‘nice try’.”
 
~~~
 
The sight of Gracie at the end of the hallway made me smile.
 
“There you are!”
 
She heard my voice and my footsteps quickened with my anxiousness. As I got closer though, the sense that something was wrong made me call out to her. “Gracie?”
 
And that was when she grabbed her bag off the ground… and walked away.
 
She just walked away. Just like that.
 
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**comment 'denied' if you would like more**

Dear Readers;
 
I have not kept to my word like I had promised. For that I offer you guys my most sincere apologies. I have not been on this account for over a month and therefore have not written any new chapters for the story... and I pretty much just left you guys hanging with Gracie in a sobbing wreck after hearing that Carson called her 'just a friend'.
 
Terrible way to leave off, I know. I would really like to continue and complete this story by the end of this coming summer. School ends in nine days for me, and if things aren't too stressful and hectic for me I would love to keep writing for you guys.
 
I really appreciate that you guys are practically begging for more because it shows me that I really do have people who care for this story. Keep up the support and I promise I will not disappoint.
 
xoxoSailingChick2013
p.s. I am planning on discontinuing 'Forever's Reality' on Polyvore. Instead, I hope to go back and revise the previous chapters, publishing them on a new inkpop.com account I have just created. I am seeking a bigger and more professional audience for my original story to see if it's really worth writing. Follow me on inkpop.com once I have things up and running!

“Hey, Whatcha doing with a girl like that?”
~~~
 
Amara’s cruel glare burned harshly in my mind throughout the following hour. Rather than gentle, sweet thoughts of Carson, I could only think of her words, “You better watch yourself.”
 
I didn’t want to admit it, but her warning made me nervous and I couldn’t help but feel an ominous sense of revenge on the horizon. Of all people, Erin was the number one person who wouldn’t let something like this just simply slide past. Oh, no. She would want to get even with Carson. Correction, she would want to get even with me.
 
The bell finally rang, and I rushed into the hallway along with the wave of students eager for the long awaited lunch hour. I glanced hopefully up the corridor to the door where Carson had been the previous hour.
 
Miss Bunger’s students flooded out into the hallway with plenty of relief crossing their faces. I scanned each face with a hopeful frame of mind. At this point, what I craved the most was at least a short sighting of my friend. The last student trickled into the hallway with still no sign of Carson.
 
Where was he?
 
I crossed my arms in frustration. What was a girl to do at a time like this?
 
I stood there probably looking like a stupid idiot as students passed by comparing who had had the worst day so far. Two quizzes. Big deal. Two tests and a project due? Whoop-di-doo…
 
One last student escaped hurriedly from Ms. Bunger’s classroom, but to my dismay, it wasn’t Carson either. I sighed hopelessly.
 
“Have you seen Carson?” I called out to the escapee as he walked towards me.
 
It was Trent… my fourth grade crush. Normally I would naturally begin to babble nervously, but at this point, my only thoughts belonged to Carson. “Umm, well let me think,” he stopped beside me kindly, racking his brain for a thought. “I think him and Amara were sent to the library to finish homework. You should’ve seen it, Ms. Bunger was absolutely pissed at them.”
 
“Oh, okay,” I shrugged. Maybe Carson was waiting for me at my locker. “Thanks, Trent.”
 
I offered a small smile before walking towards my locker.
 
“Gracie, wait up!”
 
Trent jogged up beside me, matching my slow pace. I glanced up at him, boy, did he get tall.
 
“Yea?”
 
“I’m heading this way, too. Why don’t we walk together,” he suggested, shrugging his shoulders.
 
“Umm, alright,” I nodded, thinking nothing of it.
 
“So what’s been going on with you? We haven’t talked in awhile,” Trent asked casually.
 
Did we ever talk? I knew I was too in love with him to talk to him for the longest time… but did we talk? Oh, wait. In eighth grade we had three classes together, how could I have forgotten.
 
“Not much,” I shrugged. “Just life.”
 
“Just life?” he laughed in disbelief, eyeing me to see if I was just kidding.
 
“Just life,” I echoed… and Carson.
 
“Carson was telling me about his weekend.”
 
“Oh, was he?” I perked up innocently.
 
“Yea, that Erin… she’s something else,” Trent rolled his eyes.
 
“Tell me about it!”
 
“I can’t believe the nerve of that girl. It’s a good thing you were there to keep Carson on his feet.”
 
I said nothing, only glowed with pride.
 
“You must be a great friend to have…”
 
“Friend?” I spoke without thinking.
 
“Yea, Carson keeps telling how great a friend you are to him; the whole charade of you and him ‘going out’. He’s totally grateful that it’s keeping Erin at a distance. I don’t know how you manage to stay so composed… you must be a great actress,” Trent said in total awe of me. “I totally bought it, when I saw you guys kiss.”
 
“Yea… I must be a pretty good actress,” I nodded, not bothering to look at Trent at this point.
 
“Well, my locker is this way. It was great talking to you though,” he looked down at me with a friendly smile.
 
“Yea…” I muttered lost for words. “See you.”
 
And there I was left, alone at my locker in an empty hallway. I shook my head in disbelief.
 
I was so stupid…
 
Who was I to think that a guy like Carson, could actually and sincerely love a girl like me? Of course we were just friends. Of course this was a whole scheme to get back at Erin. What was I thinking?
 
I leaned my back against my locker, dropping my backpack at my feet. Tears stung my eyes, and I was quick to wipe them away. But there were too many of them, and a few managed to escape as they slid down my cheek, staining my skin with lines of streaked mascara.
 
“There you are, Gracie!”
 
Footsteps echoed as they got closer to me, the stupid little girl crying her eyes out over a boy that she had thought loved her back.
 
“Gracie?”
 
I sniffed back a fresh set of tears at the sound of his voice. Hastily I grabbed my backpack and walked as quickly as I could, leaving Carson behind me in the lonely hallway, dumbstruck.
 
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The student body was completely a buzz with excitement. You could practically feel the excitement in the air itself, thick and heavy with anticipation. It was the event every Junior of Eastville had been anticipating since they were freshman: Prom, a night beneath the stars.
 
The school was a chaotic scene. Tickets were being sold by the lot; girl’s gossiping about what dress they would wear for the evening’s grand event whereas the guys were groaning about having to dress up at all. Although the event wasn’t due to occur for another two weeks, nobody cared. The eager feeling was just too great to dismiss.
 
Walking the halls in my worn out vans, I only smirked at those who were so ready to party away the rest of their Junior year, but as far as I was concerned, I only wanted my birthday to come and be gone.
 
Seventeen. Sweet, sweet seventeen. Not.
 
The first of May had come too soon for me to be ecstatic. I feel in myself that time has passed me by more quickly than I had hoped. First I turn seventeen, and then senior year. We then graduate and are off to college the next moment. Inside my mind I could only wish that things wouldn’t happen so hurriedly. If only I could stop time, or at least slow it down for a month or two… if only.
 
“Happy early birthday, Skyler,” a voice whispered excitedly in my ear.
 
I nearly jumped three feet in the air in surprise. With my heart pounding I glanced to my left, to find Danny laughing hysterically in triumphant success.
 
“Dan-ny,” I whined loudly, hitting his shoulder, “you scared me half to death. Geez!”
 
At his side, Jade giggled softly, watching our little fight take place in the middle of a school hallway on a lovely Friday afternoon. “Happy early birthday, Sky,” she echoed with a smile.
 
“Thank you very much,” I smiled in return. “Can I have permission to continue hitting your boyfriend?”
 
She pondered the thought sarcastically with a small grin, “Knock yourself out… just don’t completely kill him, okay?”
 
“Sounds good to me,” I nodded, before turning back to Danny. “You are so dead…”
 
“Wait, wait,” Danny pleaded jokingly. “Before you kill me, can I tell you what we have planned?”
 
“What are you talking about?” I looked upon his pitiful plea with slight confusion.
 
“Well…” Danny grinned, exchanging a sly look with Jade, “Tomorrow evening, Jade and I will be picking you up for a lovely dinner on the town… we’re paying.”
 
“Plus you have to get dressed up,” Jade piped in animatedly.
 
“Really?” I gasped slightly, “That’s really sweet of you guys to offer that… are you sure you want to pay for it all? I can pay for myself you know…”
 
“Stop babbling, Sky. Trust us, it’s our treat,” Jade laughed at my nonsense.
 
“Awww, thank you,” I gushed pulling the two into a tight hug. “You guys are the absolute greatest.”
 
Suddenly the bell rang shrilly, cutting through the atmosphere of excitement. I pulled back from my tight embrace, looking gratefully from Danny to Jade. “I can’t wait for tomorrow… I’ll talk to you guys later.”
 
We waved each other good-byes before walking our separate ways to class. Part way down the hall way though, a body soon walked in close proximity, kind of close to be creepy… that was until I found out it was Noah.
 
I’ll admit, I did slightly jump at his presence at first, but soon I sighed in relief knowing it was him. “God, is everyone trying to scare me today?” I wondered aloud.
 
“I can be a little creepy sometimes,” Noah smirked, looking at me in amusement. “But, a little birdy told me that it was your birthday tomorrow.”
 
“Oh, really?”
 
“Yes, really. And I thought I would just like to wish you a very delightful, ‘Happy Birthday,’ before you rushed off for the weekend.”
 
“Well, thank you, Noah,” I grinned appreciatively. “That’s really sweet of you.”
 
“My pleasure,” he nodded with a smile. “But I must be going before I am late for class,” he bowed with a sarcastic sense of being a gentlemen.
 
I giggled slightly, as he jogged away. He is such a joker… but yet so sweet all the same. My smile hardly faded as he walked away… maybe I should…
 
“Noah, wait!” I called out to him. “I want to ask you something…”
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You say, you find, "I know you better than that"
~~~
 
True to his word, like the gentleman that which he is, Carson was awaiting my arrival after a tortuous hour of science. My mind was thoroughly occupied by the thoughts of him being at my side. His lips upon mine. His arm around my shoulders. I could scarcely keep my mind focused upon the lesson… which will probably screw me over in the near future. Oh, well.
 
All thoughts were wiped from my mind the moment I turned the corner and saw him. Like my knight in shining armor, there he was, leaning against my locker casually. A smile broke out upon my lips and I had to contain myself, to resist the urge of running into his arms. Rather in a well-paced stride, I eagerly weaved through the crowd until I reached him.
 
Slipping my hands over his eyes and standing on tip-toe, I whispered softly into his ear, “Guess who…”
 
His lips curled up into a sly grin. “Oh, I don’t know…” he mused sarcastically. “Could it be… Gracie?” He turned suddenly so we were face to face, looping his arms around my waist easily.
 
I shrieked slightly in surprise, but allowed my hands to fall around his shoulders. “Hello there,” I laughed in greeting before kissing his cheek sweetly.
 
“How was Science?” Carson asked curiously.
 
“Ugh, boring and not to mention so looonng,” my tone stretched the syllables to be long and monotonous to express my previously felt boredom. Although I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms, I reached around Carson in order to reach my locker. I needed to come to my locker to get some stuff anyways… not just to see him.
 
To my relief, his arms stayed around my waist as I picked at my lock. “Well, I must agree with your statement. Third hour was just as uneventful as your science class,” he laughed jokingly. “I was ecstatic when the bell finally rang.”
 
“Because of me?” I questioned innocently.
 
“Of course,” he confirmed, but I couldn’t be sure if he was being serious or not.
 
Being so caught up with Carson, I hardly took notice when the hallway was near empty. When the bell shrilled loudly in the hallway, it’s echo awakened my senses.
 
“Oh, sh.t,” I cussed beneath my breath, slamming my locker shut behind me. Carson’s arms fell from my waist as we began to walk down the hallway together. “We’re going to be late.”
 
“Relax, Gracie,” Carson reassured me in a calming tone. “A few minutes won’t make us un-late.”
 
“Un-late?” I giggled.
 
“You know I like to make up my own words,” Carson smirked. “And you should know that I don’t care if Ms. Bunger gets mad at me. You know me better than that.”
 
We slowed to a stop outside of my math classroom where the teacher had already begun to drone on and on. “Well, I guess this is where you leave me,” I pouted sulkily.
 
“Turn that frown upside down,” Carson lifted my chin. “I’ll see you at lunch, okay?”
 
I nodded mutely. And then he kissed me, and my lips turned into a smile instantly. “That’s better,” Carson grinned.
 
“Carson!”
 
We both turned to fined Amara, down the hallway at the mouth of a classroom’s door. She was gesturing hurriedly to Carson as we looked on in confusion.
 
“Ms. Bunger will be back any second… if you hurry, you might pass off as not being tardy,” she loudly whispered.
 
“Oh! Thanks, Amara,” he replied with a grateful smile. “I have to go,” he gave me one last kiss on the cheek before rushing down the hallway. The touch of his lips lingered upon mine as he disappeared into the classroom.
 
All that was left in the hallway was a glaring Amara staring me down ruthfully. “Better watch yourself, Gracie,” she hissed before following Carson inside.
 
Oh, yea. Did I mention that Amara was Erin’s second-in-command-b.tch?
Well. She is.
 
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**More to come soon**

"Honey," my mom spoke gently, she squeezed my shoulder. "I think you should come with us: your father and I. I think that would be best."

I pondered the thought, and looked up to meet her kind brown eyes. I didn't answer for a few seconds, but just searched her face looking for my answer. The look in her eyes told me that she really did want me to go. "You will love Australia, Danny. I promise you."

I looked away but nodded. "Okay..."
~~~
 
Jade's baby is a miscarriage... what's a guy to do now? With the idea of moving to Australia hangs ominously in Danny's future, will he choose to go that path? Will he leave Jade and Skyler and all he knows at Eastville High School?
 
You'll have to read to find out.
 
Spring break awaits me in the first week of April and I plan on continuing with 'Forever's Reality' during that time. I hope all my loyal readers return to read the happening between our beloved Skyler and Danny.
 
Expect new chapters to be coming soon... but for now you'll have to make due with re-reading the previous chapters of 'Forever's Reality'... stay tuned :)
http://www.polyvore.com/feb_forevers_reality_sailingchick2013/collection?id=222231
 
xoxo SailingChick2013
[Changing my screen name to 'Can't you see Forever's Reality']

"He kissed me," I giggled quietly.

They immeadiately gawked in surprise, but soon they were jumping up and down around me as they fired off questions left and right.

"What happened?"

"When did this happen?"

"Where?"

"Why?"

"Relax," I laughed at my giddy friends. "Yesterday, at the park, because of Erin."

Tiffany laughed looking over my shoulder. "Well, no wonder the she-devil looked so pissed off when she saw him kiss you just now."

I glanced over my shoulder to follow Tif's gaze, and I met the glaring eyes of none-other than Erin.

"You might want to watch your back now," Katie cautioned.

"Why?" I asked innocently.

She rolled her eyes like it was so obvious. "Because by the looks of Erin, she's ready to kill somebody."
~~~
 
Gracie and Carson... a couple? It's just too good to be true and I completely left you guys hanging. I'm so so so so sorry!!
 
But I'm planning on bringing it back to Polyvore! Are you ready for things to change drastically? Because get ready... Gracie and Carson have now entered the risky danger zone of highschool. Together they may be now, but when you have an envious ex-girlfriend at your heels and the whole junior grade whispering about you the tide will change.
 
Spring Break will be the first week of April for me so expect new chapters to come! For now though you'll just have to settle for rereading the first fifteen... just as a refresher and to get you prepared for what's to come
http://www.polyvore.com/upd_feb_why_cant_you/collection?id=315948
 
xoxo SailingChick2013
[p.s. I will be screen name to 'Can't you see Forever's Reality']

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
I'm really sorry, I haven't written a chapter in such a long time. I truly apologize for the wait. Thank you for being so patient and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. More soon hopefully. :)
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"And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I havent seen it in awhile, since she brought you down"

~~~

I ran my wooden brush, delicately through my blonde hair, sighing with happiness as I smiled to myself in the mirror. The sun was shining outside, seeping in through the cracks of my window's blinds. Birds were chripping a wimisical song as they perched on the tree outside. The whole morning had a cheery ring to it, and what only made it better was the thought of Carson coming to meet me for school.

I have never felt so eager to go to school, especially on a Monday. Today though was different, and it was all because of Carson. My heart fluttered excitedly with the thought of his hand in mine, with him at my side.

Nervously I pondered the thought of what it would be like to be like that in front of everyone at our school. I gulped suddenly fearful of what everyone would think. My hand stopped in mid-stroke of brushing my hair, but I shook the thought from my mind and resumed with my mindless repitition. Carson and I have been friends since elementary school. Everyone should expect that we would end up together eventually... how could we not.

But were we together?

I set the brush lightly upon my dresser, and walked over to my desk to busy myself with the preparation of another day at school, but the idea would not leave my thoughts.

I know that Carson kissed me yesterday with what seemed to be pure feeling, but did that make us an official couple? He never actually asked me to be his girlfriend... did he necessarily need to ask though? Actions are stronger than words... aren't they?

I grimaced in doubt, slipping my science notebook into my backpack. I heard a distant knocking noise, resounding from downstairs. It was soon followed by the screech of the front door and my mother's voice saying a cheerful, "Good Morning, Carson," in greeting.

As I heard his voice greet my mom in return, all doubts suddenly disappeared from my mind. I quickly finished stuffing my backpack with school supplies, hurriedly slipping my bag onto my one shoulder. I practically flew down the stairs with anxiousness, and into the entrance hall. "Hi, Carson," I smiled at him with an eager grin.

"Morning, Gracie," he smiled back at me. His white smile shown sweetly making the butterflies in my stomach erupt into a commotion of nervousness. "Ready for school?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, but we should get going," I giggled slightly, adjusting my backpack upon my shoulder.

"Okay, well you guys have a nice day at school," my mom offered kindly. When Carson turned around, she gave me a quizzical look. I only shrugged, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"Bye, Mom."

I jogged out the door to join Carson who was waiting patiently for me at the base of the front porch. As soon as the door was closed behind us, he casually slipped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek gently. "And how are you this fine morning, Gracie?"
 
My cheeks blushed slightly under the touch of his lips. "I'm great. What about you?"
 
"Fantastic," he smiled. His smile glowed brightly with happiness and it made me smile as well.
 
We walked to school today. No driving, but rather some healthy exercise. And I couldn't have asked for more. With his arm looped around my shoulders and walking along the streets of peaceful neighborhoods was perfect simplicity. A perfect situation.
 
Fifteen minutes later we were within a block of our school. I shuddered involuntarily and Carson took immeadiate note of my nervous composure. He stopped walking, turning to face me. "Everything okay?"
 
"Yea, everything's fine," I nodded with false reassurance. "Just a little cold," I lied with a small grin.
 
"There's no need to be nervous, Gracie," he shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to me. "It is just another day at school after all. Nothing has changed."
 
"Okay," I grimaced. In my mind though, I knew that something had changed: it was my feeling for Carson that had changed. They were stronger than ever and the fact that I would be walking onto campus with his jacket on my shoulders and his arm around me made everything completely different. This certainly wasn't "another day of school" so why was he saying that.
 
Reluctant, though I was, I allowed him to guide me onto campus. Within the first minute, I know we recieved several curious and confused expressions. They bothered me more, with each step I took because I had never been in such lime-light. Carson seemed unphased by the fat though and continued to walk across the school grounds and did not hesitate until I was at my locker.
 
"Well, I have to go to my locker," he shrugged, "but I'll met you back here in between science and math. Okay?"
 
"Okay, then," I smiled as my heart fluttered.
 
He grinned, "See you then." And before he left he planted a light kiss upon my unsuspecting lips.
 
"Bye," I answered lamely. Leaning against the metal lockers I watched him go down the hallway. My head was swimming with thoughts of Carson until I was pounced on by Tiffany and Katie. Of course they would not let this slip by unnoticed.
 
"What was that?!" Tiffany screeched loudly.
 
"Yea, Gracie," Katie added. "You have some serious explaining to do."
 
"What is there to explain," I smirked slyly and busied myself with opening my locker.
 
"Did I really just see you kiss Carson?" Tiffany asked in shock.
 
I shook my head. "No..."
 
"Then what do you call that then," Katie asked, planting a hand upon her hip.
 
I looked at their confused expressions. "He kissed me," I giggled quietly.
 
They immeadiately gawked in surprise, but soon they were jumping up and down around me as they fired off questions left and right.
 
"What happened?"
 
"When did this happen?"
 
"Where?"
 
"Why?"
 
"Relax," I laughed at my giddy friends. "Yesterday, at the park, because of Erin."
 
Tiffany laughed looking over my shoulder. "Well, no wonder the she-devil looked so pissed off when she saw him kiss you just now."
 
I glanced over my shoulder to follow Tif's gaze, and I met the glaring eyes of none-other than Erin.
 
"You might want to watch your back now," Katie cautioned.
 
"Why?" I asked innocently.
 
She rolled her eyes like it was so obvious. "Because by the looks of Erin, she's ready to kill somebody."
 
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Thursday, February 4th
 
I stood anxiously in the recieving area of the New York airport. Running my hands, over the bodice of my dress nervously, I tiptoed in attempts to see above the crowd of people although I already wore a pair of high-heeled ankle boots.
 
I glanced sideways at the television monitor above me. The flight from California was had the flashing word 'arrived' beside it, and my heart quickened with each second that ticked by endlessly.
 
Finally, at long last, passengers from the arriving flight began to walk through the gate. Most were laden with luggage and their heavy coats that they brought in preparation of the New York weather. I searced the faces in anticipation, looking for the one I knew the best. The crowd began to thin out until no one else was coming... the whole time, I didn't catch a single glimpse of him. My heart fell slightly and I grimaced in disappointment.
 
But then suddenly I felt a light tap upon my shoulder.
 
"Excuse me, Miss. But I was wondering if you've seen a girl. She's about your height, dark brown hair, but doesn't have half the style sense that you have..."
 
I smiled widely to myself as the charming voice spoke softly in my ear. Turning on my heel, I spun around and looked at Damon with an ecstatic grin upon my face.
 
"Damon!" I shrieked loudly. Throwing my arms around him, I embraced him tightly and he wrapped his arms around my waist in return. He lifted me off the ground easily, spinning me in a full circle. People looked on curiously as Damon and I greeted each other happily.
 
"Charlotte, you look amazing," Damon set me down, taking a step back to give a complete head to toe look. "I hardly recognized you."
 
"Same with you, Damon," I gawked at his handsome composure. "Sexy as always," I teased slightly.
 
He smiled before pulling me into another generous hug. "It's so great to see you again... California hasn't been the same without you," he sighed.
 
I felt myself begin to blush at his words, but still continued to rest my head against his solid chest hugging him ever so tightly.
 
"I've missed you, too... but I'm so glad you're here right now," I looked up at him. We finally allowed ourselves to release each other, walking towards the exit in order to catch our cab. As we walked though, he kept one arm around my shoulder as he carried his bags with the other.
 
"I can't wait to get settled here," he said excitedly. "Thanks again, for letting me stay with you."
 
"No problem," I shrugged slightly, careful not to disturb where his arm was set. "You are going to love it here."
 
"I know I will," he nodded in confirmation. "Especially, now that I'm here with you..."
 
I grinned sweetly, and nestled into his side as we walked. "I can't wait for you to meet everybody, Damon... the girls are simply going to love you. And actually I wouldn't be surprised if they started throwing themselves at you... literally. I think they'll want you... badly," I told him honestly. Out of the corner of my eye I watched him for his reaction, but he gave none.
 
"No matter. It's nothing I couldn't handle," he laughed.
 
"Good," I smiled to myself as we walked outside into the chilly New York air.
 
~Charlotte
[Don't forget, welcome party at my place. Sunday. Be there.]