Carter didn't show up again for the rest of the day. I mean I saw him leave the building when I was on my way to the bathroom, I could've gone after him..... but I didn't.

Anyway at least there was another person who was excited to see me

Aaron spins me around and I laugh as he sets me back down onto the ground, "Finally my entertainment is back"

I grin

Zoe rolls her eyes as we sit at the table, "Hey Zo" He sits besides her

"Fuck off"

I frown as I look between the two of them, "What happened to Zaron?"

Aaron pouts, "She dumped me"

"Why?"

"Because he's an ass hole who flirts with cheerleaders"

He groans. "For the last time, I didn't flirt-

"Save it"

"Baby why would I cheat on you" He scoffs

"I'm not your baby-

"Yes you are-

"No I'm not" She says annoyed

It's so hard for me to take this seriously. This is extremely cute, "Ok I think C and I are gonna go" June says amused

They're too busy arguing to notice that we've gotten up. As far as I was concerned they were such a great couple and things seemed to be going fine, I guess not

We head outside instead, "So I hear that Carter got into a fight"

I look at the trees, "Mhm"

"Did he see you?"

"He did"

"And?"

I shrug, "He just looked at me surprised and then the coach took him away"

"Oh"

"Look I don't know what you guys are expecting to happen" I scoff

"I'm just saying, you coming back was a good thing" June shrugs

"I just don't get how Carter getting into a fight mean he's changed"

"It's not just that, he fights, never goes to class, skips school too, drinks all the time, is a complete whore once again"

Oh

"And me coming back does what?"

"You guys were close once, he's helped you in the past with your Ed.... It's your turn C" She says softly

Well now that she's pulled that card, I guess I can't really say no.

-

I was on the phone with Melissa after school, she is so excited that I'm back and wants me to surprise Grace.... I said yes of course

June dropped me off at the gates, I started getting deja vu just by standing there. "Talk to your man before it's too late" She said to me before driving off, I waved her off.

The Miller household looks exactly the same except for the couches, Melissa changed them.

She pours me a glass of water before setting it down, "How was your first day back?"

"Well I didn't miss much, I hate my new timetable though"

She smiles a little, "Did you get the chance to see Carter?" There was a sadness in her eyes when she asked this

I look down at the glass, "Yeah... we didn't talk though, he got into a fight with some guy"

She sighs, "Yes I've heard about that, he's avoiding the house because he knows he's in trouble with me"

"Is he really that different" I suddenly ask

"Let's just say that maybe you were the only thing keeping him sane"

Ouch

"Hi"

I turn around before narrowing my eyes, there's a girl standing by the wall who looks about my age, her hairs black and is about mid length, she's quite short. "Oh, Carmen I want you to meet Maya. She's Grace's babysitter"

I plaster on a smile, "Nice to meet you"

"Maya's a grade below you" Melissa informs me

So she's seventeen

"You're Grace's old babysitter right?" She asks

I nod

"Carmen?" A voice says quietly

I smile softly as I turn around and Maya raises her eyebrows with surprise

Ha, she hasn't had her first word with Grace

It's not a competition

Oh but it is

Grace runs towards me and I pull her in for a hug, "Hi" I say amused

"Your hair" She whispers shyly

"You like it?"

She nods and I smile, "I missed you so much"

"Are you better now?"

"Much better" I assure her

"Grace do you want a snack?" Maya asks, she looks at her but doesn't reply. I think apart of her wanted to answer but she froze on the inside

"Go enjoy your snack, I'm gonna go to the bathroom" I say softly, she sits opposite her mom at the island and I walk away before heading upstairs

Yes, I know that there's a bathroom downstairs

My brain has just been telling me to go upstairs ever since I entered the house. His door is literally right there and I just have too....

I turn the golden knob before pushing the door open lightly, everything's just as I remembered. His bed isn't made, the curtains are open, there's books on his desk. I can't help but remember the last time I was in this room, it was a good day.

I open the first draw before looking down at the stuff inside with a soft look, there's papers scattered everywhere and then two printed out photos..... of us.

I look back at my old self with narrowed eyes

Man I really was good at pretending to be happy

"Carters rarely here" A voice says from behind me

I clear my throat quickly before turning around, "What?"

"Oh um.... Melissa told me how much Carter hates people going into his room so I just thought I'd tell you you" Maya replies

I put the picture back before closing the draw, "Yeah I um.... just wanted to see if everything was the same" I walk out and she follows me

"Did you two know each other?"

I shrug, "Uhh... we used to be friends before I left"

"Oh, cool"

Oh, cool- I mocked her in my head, I don't know why I just felt the need to

As we walk back into the kitchen I notice how Melissa looks quite stressed, "Is everything ok?"

She puts her jacket on, "Not at all, I need to go down to the station"

I frown, "What happened?"

She sighs, "Carter"

"Oh"

"Would you like to come?" She then asks me

"I don't think that's a good idea-

"Please do" She looks desperate

I look back at Grace for a second, "Melissa I-

Then I remember what June said to me, it's your turn

So I give in, "Sure ok"

She smiles with relief, "Let's go"

"I'll see you soon ok?"

Grace nods and I give her a kiss on the head, "It was nice meeting you" Maya smiles

"You too" I reply before walking out of the house and getting into the car with Melissa.

Ok so maybe Carter has changed and I think it's only fair that I go with his mother. And although we haven't spoken for months I'm hoping that things don't get even more awkward.

"So what exactly happened?" I ask as she drives out of the gate

"Drinking and driving" Melissa answers

"Is he always like this?" I ask quietly

"The old Carter? No. This one? Yes"

I wonder why

We made it to the police station minutes later before getting out of the car, I don't think I've ever gone down to the station before.... Except for the time that me and dad had to pick up Daniel for doing the same thing as Carter. The sound of a telephone rings through our ears as we walk through the doors, it seems like they're quite busy today. "Sheriff Jones"

He sighs, "Melissa"

"I am so sorry"

I tune out of their conversation after noticing a cell..... and the boy that's in it, "Carmen?" Aaron walks towards me with a bottle of water

"Hi"

We both look at the cell, "He won't talk"

I bite the inside of my cheek. "But maybe you could try" He says softly

"I wouldn't even know what to say"

"Carmen right now your the only person left.... Just try" Aaron pleads

I sigh before looking back at Carter who's currently laying against the wall with his eyes closed. I walk away from Aaron and Melissa before making my way over there, I earned a few creepy stares from the other men in their cells but I chose to ignore it.

I sit in front of the bars before crossing my legs and assessing him, he's wearing a black v-neck along with a pair of sweats and sneakers. "Hey" I finally say

Carter looks up almost immediately before frowning, I tuck a hair behind my ear awkwardly. "So... your mom asked me to come"

He assesses me but doesn't say anything, "Carter why were you drinking and driving?" I question

Still no answer, "You can hear me right?-

"Your hair"

I frown, "What?"

"It looks good"

Kiss me already

"Oh... thanks"

He simply nods a your welcome in return, "I-

"Are you out of your fricking mind?" Melissa scoffs as she walks towards us

The sheriff unlocks the door to his cell after I step back and Carter rolls his eyes before getting up, "Drinking and driving?!-

"Your right, it's wrong. Let's go now"

"Your lucky I'm even bailing you out right now" His mother says annoyed

"I'll see you later Miss M"

"Bye honey" She replies to Aaron, he gives Carter a look before waving at me and then leaving

It was kind of awkward when we left the building, we walked in silence. The car ride was no better, the tension in the air was so evident and annoying. Carter decided to sleep throughout the journey, I sigh before looking out of the window.

After we made it back he was the first to walk out the car and the first to enter the doors of the house."Carter" Maya says surprised

He gives his little sister a kiss on the head, "You ok?" Maya asks

Does he look ok

"Fine" He replies before going upstairs

Melissa glares at his back before walking into her office. I can tell how much this is saddening her, watching her son waste his life on drinking and shit. I went upstairs before making my way towards his room, do I know what I'm doing? No, am I still going? Yes. I just need to know why he did it..... and other things too.

He doesn't answer when I knock, "Carter" I say softly before opening the door

He's lying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. I decide to sit on the edge before looking back at him, he's not even reacting at the fact that I'm here.... It's a little hurtful I'll admit.

I then frown after noticing a little bit of ink on his waist line. Without even thinking I reach for his shirt so that I can see it better, he stops my hand and I pull back. "You got a tattoo?" I ask quietly

He does nothing but nod, "Can I see?"

Carter doesn't respond for a moment but then he lowers his sweats a little bit so that I can see, my eyes soften and I'm instantly hit with a dose of happiness.

Fuck

It says Carmen, "You got my name?"

"I got it when I was drunk" He finally says

I trace the ink with my finger, "I like it"

"Me too"

It was silent between us for awhile, until I tried asking the question again. "Carter why would you get yourself arrested"

"I didn't think you'd care"

I frown before scoffing, "Why wouldn't I care"

"You didn't wanna come to the station on your own, Mom begged you" He says knowingly

"Yeah because I didn't think you'd wanna see me-

"Why wouldn't I wanna see you-

"Because we haven't spoken in a year, it's not my fault" I say annoyed

He lays back down on the pillow wordlessly because he knows I'm right. Saying that Carters different would be a massive understatement, after realising that he's not going to respond I get up before walking away. "I got kicked off the team" He then suddenly says

I turn back, "Well then I hope beating up Tyler was worth it"

-

I didn't want her to go.... I just couldn't look at her. The fact that I'm the reason we haven't spoken for a year is sad, so yeah I'm too ashamed to face Carmen.

When I first saw her in the hallway, I was immediately shocked. I didn't think that she was gonna come back since she had been gone for so long already, I still have her outfit memorised. Baggy jeans with rips at the knees and a cropped tank top, her belly button piercing was in view.... I just wanted to kiss her right there and then. I'm surprised that drunk me realised how much I was missing Carmen during the time that she was gone, I'm pretty sure I got the tattoo on my eighteenth..... I was pretty wasted that day.

Apart from the problems that I need to fix with her, there's the fact that I got kicked off the team. Fighting Tyler was my last chance and coach wasn't having any of it, Aaron tried to defend me but it didn't really work since I've had way too many chances. That's sort of why I was drinking and driving after school, I couldn't give a fuck about anything in that moment

Grace opens my door, "Can we watch a movie?"

I sigh, "Ask your babysitter"

I'll be real, I forgot her name

"But I want you to watch too"

"You have Carmen and mom-

"Carmen went home" My sister replies

"I'm tired Grace, leave me alone"

"So mean" She mumbles before shutting the door behind her

I don't mean to be

😽