"You come to vouch for your friend?" Lydia bit, shrugging out of Carter's hold.

"What? Of course not." He told her, not deterred by her harsh tone. Instead he slid his hands into his pocket and kept up with her fast pace.

She had no idea where she was going. She just knew that she needed to walk off the overwhelming emotion that made her equal parts angry and upset.

Her thoughts swam with ways that she could have handled the situation differently. Perhaps she should have said nothing. Perhaps she should have topped the speech off with a slap across the face. Maybe she should have heard him out...

"Lydia!"

"Lydia!"

She became vaguely aware of the voice calling her name just as a hand roughly gripped her arm and pulled her back into a solid chest. A car drove past a millisecond later, a strong breeze from the moving vehicle flicking her hair around and blowing her skirt up. She realised that she'd been close to getting hit and as she stared up at Carter who had her frame in his strong hold, she became startled at his harsh scowl.

"Shit Lyds. Watch where you're going!"

She didn't respond. In truth, she felt a little embarrassed that she'd been so worked up to the point that she'd almost stepped in front of a car. When she took a moment to take in her surroundings, she realised that she'd walked right off school property and was about to cross the main road.

"Hey," Carter spoke softer, his finger coming up under her chin to tip her face upwards. "Are you alright?"

"I'd like to think so," she sighed, running a hand through her fresh coloured locks. "I suppose I'm not though."

"Do you want a ride home?"

"School isn't done," Lydia half heartedly declined the offer. Taking off was an alluring offer that she'd have given into if he attempted to convince her any further.

"Talk to Nathan," he suggested and placed a hand on the lower of her back, guiding her back towards the weather worn school gate. "He'll cover for you if you explain what happened."

"No," she shook her head but she couldn't ignore how his hand hovering on her lower spine made her feel. "No, I don't want to use Nathan like that and I don't want to ditch because that prick got to me."

"Respect."

Lydia glanced up and for the first time since she stormed out of school, she paid attention to Carter, who removed his hand from her back and slid it into his leather jacket pocket. The soft grey hood was up, hiding his disheveled brown hair. His maroon tie and white school shirt peeked our from beneath the expensive leather and she had to admit that as hot as he looked in his causal clothes, he could pull of a tie just as well.

"Ya wanna hang out this weekend?" He asked her, his lips curled up in a devious grin and he titled his head as he stared down with a cunning expression.

"Hang out?" Lydia cocked a brow but she was more intrigued than she wanted to let on. "What would we be doing?"

"Can't tell you that," Carter stopped and leaned against the hood of a car that was parked almost right beside the exit. She hadn't realised that it was his until she paid closer attention and set sights on the familiar mustang.

"Why can't you tell me?"

"You might not want to come."

"Wow," she recoiled with amusement as Carter put a cigarette between his lips. "You're really selling it."

He lit the smoke all the while it balanced between that grin that she found alluring. His exhale of nicotine met the cold breath of air that she exhaled into the winter chill and he laughed at her sarcasm.

"I don't have to sell it," he shrugged as he reached out and gripped the bottom of her school sweater. She was a little alarmed when he pulled her forward and positioned her between his parted legs, the close proximity was sudden but she didn't resist. "You'll come because you want a distraction. You want a change of pace, right? Something a little dangerous perhaps. I can help with that."

"You're mistaking me for some tragic debbie downer that gets her kicks out of male approval."

"Na, not you," Carter took a drag on his cigarette, watching her with an unwavering and devious grin. "You've never given a shit what we think. That's always been one of the best things about you."

Lydia felt surprised at his admission and a little elated that he didn't have a false idea about her ideals. She was never the girl to do something just because it was the trend or norm amongst her peers. She didn't rub it in everyone's faces or act superior over the fact though.

"Oh shit, I can't actually," Lydia sighed, a little disappointed that she genuinely couldn't accept his offer. "I've got the girls coming over."

"Friday or Saturday?"

"Saturday."

"I'll pick you up on Friday then," he told her, his hand brushing her thigh as he toyed with his school slacks. She could tell that he was grazing her with his fingertips on purpose, but she made no move to discourage it. The longer that she stood between his legs, the more comfortable she felt.

"Can you pick me up from the corner?" She winced, sure that she'd regret whatever it was that she was accepting.

"Sure," he smiled, taking a last drag on the cigarette before he threw it into a puddle to fizzle out. Both of is hands now rested lazily beside her legs, his tousled hair and deep black gaze captivating her. "Plan to be out all night."

"All night?!"

"Yeah," he nodded, leaning in a little closer. Lydia could feel her heart rate speed up, his hands started to fan out with more obvious intention on her thighs and she leaned in to his chest so that space no longer existed between them.

"Carter!" A familiar voice shouted and the two of them glanced over at Riley who stormed towards them with his fists balled and his brows pulled tight.

Lydia attempted to straighten up, pushing on his shoulders but Carter moved his hand to her waist, keeping her still against him as he continued to lean on the car with a cavalier attitude.

"What the fuck is this?"