"Sparkle, wake up!" I heard as I felt someone shaking my arm. "Noooo!! Please, I want to sleep a little more."

Carter chuckled.

Carter? Where am I? Scared, I shot open my eyes and then everything came back to my useless little brain. "Come on! Let's go inside. You are burning."

I nodded as I stood up and walked out of the car feebly. I followed him to the main door of his house. He rang the bell and the door was answered just few seconds later.

"Oh! Carter, my baby! You are here. I-Hi!" A lady opened the door and greeted us, dragging the sound of 'i' ad she examined me. I awkwardly waved a little to the reply of her enthusiastic 'hi'. Then I noticed her similar features. This couldn't be Carter's mother. She looked too young to be. Maybe his sister....

But.... 'Carter, my baby' wasn't something a mom says.

Carter's house was actually a home. A home where people live. Not servants. It's smell was contagious and I wanted to breath more and more here. His house was warm and welcoming unlike mine. As I looked around, things weren't extraordinary. They were plain. Simple. Decent.

That's how I wanted my own house to be but because of my parents I'm bound to live in it as it is.

"Is this girl mute, Carter? Hahaha! Just joking! Come on! Come inside." She said opening the door wide. Oh I see where he gets his bluntness from.

"So, I think I need an introduction Carter. Don't you think?" And, me me being me couldn't make a good impression in front of her.

"As-achhunn!"

The voice of my sneeze echoed around.

"Mom, can you please help her? She is sick. Look, she is burning! Spark-Sophia, come on! Lie down. You need to rest."

Oh so she is his mom.....

she is so young! And so pretty.

Nodding my head, I followed him to his room. His room was........I don't know what to say. It was awesome! All it screamed was basketball.

And by that, I mean really really awesome. It showed how much he loved sport. Well basketball to be exact. I was surprised by how much of the rewards he had. There were numerous medals and trophies shining, that I couldn't keep my eyes off them.

As if that wasn't enough, there were some more on the corner wall that caught my eye later. Suddenly somebody's cold hand touched my forehead and I shivered. "Oh god! How are you even standing. You have such high fever Sophia! Go lie down on the bed!" Carter's Mom demanded and ran out of the room.

Taking off my shoes I laid on his bed and waited for Carter's mother to arrive. It was so awkward. I mean never in a million years I thought that I would be in Carter's bed. In Carter Reece's bed. In his freaking bed!

His mother came instantly, followed by Carter who had the most irritated look on his face. His hands were inside his pockets and he stood beside his room's door.

He doesn't want you to lie on his bed Sophie. Remember? People hate you?

With that thought in my mind I sat up but just as I did, Carter shouted. Involuntary just as I heard him shout, my eyes blinked several times. "Just lay down you idiot!" And then my friends, I went back to my previous position.

"Behave, Carter!" His mother scolded, glancing sideways at her son, as she examined me. "My! It's 104! How did it get so high? Didn't you take any medicine?"

She didn't let me reply and spoke again, "Carter! Bring water please." Carter went out and I sighed. Time passed and I couldn't help but stare at her. Her beautiful features were envy worthy. I knew she would be pretty just by glancing at Carter.

"So? Are you mute then?" His mother asked as she took out two tablets for me. "No."

"Haha! Well, my name is Mary." She passed me a pretty smile. "I'm Sophia!" I told her trying to be a little vocal. It wasn't like I wasn't willing to speak but it was just that my throat hurt, really bad.

"Oh, I know. But Sophia, tell me did you hit your head somewhere? I mean the symptoms are showing that." I shook my head. "Are you a doctor?" I was scared, she'd catch my lie.

"Yeah.How did you know? Carter told you?"

"No. Yesterday,-"I stopped abruptly. Stop telling your stories to her Sophia! "What?" Mary asked. "Uh-nothing."

She stood up. "I don't know what's taking Carter so long?! I'll bring water for you."

After swallowing those tablets I tried to sit up. It was almost evening. But before I could even try Mary towered above me. "Okay. You must sleep now. I don't know how are you even awake?" She smiled a little spreading the blanket over me. I had no energy to argue and so I snuggled inside the blanket.

She left the room and just a second later the door opened again. As difficult as it was, I shot opened my eyes and sat up straight.

"Cc-cCarter?"

"Yyy-yyyyeee-yyyesss! Cccccc-cccc-chhhchhh-chhh-cccchhhc-Carter!" He copied me.

Do I stammer that much??

"I need to c-call-"

"I informed your parents that you are with a friend." I had a desire to tell him, my parents are invisible but I kept quiet.

"So, where did you hit your head?" He asked as he sat on the side of the bed. "I didn't h-h-h-hit-" He cut me off.

"You did!" He slowly said.

"I d-d-did not." I didn't want him to suspect anything. I didn't want to tell him the incident if he didn't know about it. So I remained calm.

"Don't. Lie. To. Me." He said, from between his teeth. I didn't know what to say so I remained silent. Taking a risk wasn't an option and he couldn't look less scared. "Where?" He yelled, making me flinch. I jerked back immediately and hit my head on the bed.

Ouch!

Staring at me for a minute he took out a long sigh.He stood up and walked out of the room after closing the lights.

*****

After 'resting' I went out of Carter's room.

Maybe, Mary is here....

I looked here and there as I walked around. Suddenly I hit something huge. "Carter!" The man I hit shouted. "Carter!" He barked again. "Yes? Yes dad? What's wrong." Carter appeared from behind the man.

Dad?

I should have known! I mean where did Carter get his anger from?

Of course his dad passed it on.

"Did I not tell you to not bring your sluts-" his dad started to say but Carter stopped him.

Did he mean to say.......slut?

My cheeks reddened, my eyes became wide open. "Dad, she is my friend Sophia." He introduced me and again I waved like an awkward person who meets people for the first time.

"Thank god! She is too cute to be a slut anyways." His dad chuckled and winked at me.

He did not just do that!

Did his dad just compliment me? Carter Reece's dad complimented me. I blushed. Giving me a strange look Carter spoke." Yes, yes. I think so too." I blushed more. But this time it affected my heart too. It started to beat violently.

No heart! What's wrong with you? Shh! Settle down. "So do you plan on going home or should I......" Carter asked. I gulped and nodded. I was dying to reach home. "Bye darling!" His dad waved.

"Bye!" I whispered.

I saw as Carter went out and I immediately followed him. "Are you going to tell me the directions or not?" He said as we sat on our seats. I nodded. " L-Lenox hill."

"Lenox hill?" He seemed surprised. I nodded again as a reply. "I didn't think you'd be living there." He stated.

Why? What's wrong with living there? I kept quiet and try not to show any kind of emotions on my face. "So.... about our tutoring session.... tell me whenever you'll be free and healthy. I don't want you to pass out in between the class."

"T-t-t-toomorrow?" I suggested. I wanted to be out of this as soon as possible. "Are you sure?" He glanced at me for a second and then took his eyes back on the road ahead.

I nodded.

A few more minutes passed in silence. "Sparkle? Where did you hit your head. You know it can be dangerous." He said as he stopped the car outside my house. My first instinct was to run. As I was about to do that he held my hand tightly. "Not so fast baby!"

I gulped. He was holding the same wrist that had the terrible cut. Though it was stitched but it still hurt. Really bad. I cried lightly due to the pain and he instantly let it go. I sighed.

"Oh My God! Sorry Sparkle! I forgot about.... leave it. Just tell me where did you hit your head?"

Frustrated I told him. Because if I wouldn't have done it, he probably would've yelled at me again.

"I h-hhit the l-lockers."

"Lockers?" He asked, unbelievably.

I nodded."Some g-girl push-".

"Who?" He asked, running his hand in his hair. I noticed the vein of his neck was almost popping out and his jaw was tightly clenched. His gestures made me scared. He surely was angry. Very angry.

I shrugged. "I-I-I don't know. C-can I l-l-leave." I shuttered all the more because of the fear. He bobbed his head. "Bye."

"B-b-bye!" I replied and as quickly as possible, I walked out of the car and directly to my house. I didn't hear him leave which meant he was still there. I rang the bell and Rebecca answered that instant moment. Okay, maybe she was waiting for me.

Of course she was waiting for me. She might have been worried for me. She stood in front of me with her hand on her hips.

"You got yourself a boyfriend and you didn't tell me?" She shouted.

Boyfriend?

What did Carter tell her?

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