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The feeling when you're completely helpless is not really the saddest, but it is one of those sad ones. It feels bad when there's nothing I can do for myself, to stand up for myself.

I can't stand up–in front of this jerk!

And that's why I was sitting in his car, having no idea of where the snake was taking me. My eyes were fixed on the road as we moved. I caught the sight of swaying trees and bushes which kept me interested otherwise I would have slept by now. It was about 1pm. I kept quite the whole time, not willing to talk to Carter.

I had to skip school because of him, I had lost my friend, Isaac because of him, I had lost my first kiss to him and he still had the audacity to rule on me. Realisation struck me when I looked at the road, not finding the traffic like the usual one. I started to get worried as the town disappeared and the area around looked isolated. We had left the city.

He had fucking brought me out of the city! I couldn't keep myself from shouting loud at him, " are you kidding me?!" He just laughed at that and continued with his driving.

"Carter this is no joke! Take me back!" I glared at him receiving a small smirk in return. "Carter! What the hell do you want from me?! You've stolen my first kiss, I was quite. You took me here, I'm quite. Have you not already given me enough trouble that you're bringing more and more each day?"

"I'm not going back until you forgive me." He shrugged and looked determined. "Carter you've lost your brain! We are out of NewYork! Are you even serious?!" Carter seemed to ignore me, increasing the speed of his car. "Carter!" I shook his shoulder. "Take me back!"

"Not until you forgive me." His repeated plain reply came.

"Take me back!"

"Forgive me."

"Take me back! Please!"

"You forgive me first! Please!"

"Carter this is no way to seek forgiveness!"

"I tried civilly at first but you were deaf, remember? I even brought you those precious flowers from Africa but it all went in vain. Actually you love violence! So I had to try the forceful technique." He replied, shaking his head.

"For God's sake! Those flowers were from my own garden! And do you really think I'll forgive you this way?" I crossed my arms over my chest. "Yeah, I think so and I know damn well you will." The contentment in his tone felt annoying.

"Well then, sorry to pop that fantasy-bubble of yours, but I can't forgive you!" I retorted back, not looking at his way, my arms still crossed. "Okay, then. We'll be in New Jersey in about-" he stopped, glancing at his watch after which he started again, "-45.5556 minutes."

"Carter, this joke of yours is really not funny! Why the hell do you even care?! It's not like my forgiveness, my friendship, my being even, matters to you in any possible way, so what are you up to this time? Any new trick you've got up your sleeve, and wanna try out on me? I've always been an experimental tool for-"

"Okay! You want to hear? Listen! You matter to me a lot more than I want you to! I don't know! It's like you're controlling my brain, and as much as I like it, I hate it too. I like it because I just like it and I hate it because it's new and it's doing things to me I never expected happening to me ever." My eyes went wide and I gulped as I waited for him to continue. "You're running through my mind all of the time. Everyday-Every night-nonstop. You make your way even into my dreams. How the hell do you do that? Do you not get even slightly tired of running that much?!"

His words felt similar-like all of this had already happened to me. His feelings were relatable and by that I mean really relatable. It's not just me whose doing the running, it's him too. Not only running but invading, Transgressing, Surpassing.

Those sentences of his were the best thing to say if you want to confuse someone to the point, their eye balls roll back towards the brain. He seemed to notice the face expression I was making. "You are as thick as Mrs.Dung's leg!" He remarked, a small laugh automatically coming out of my mouth reminding me of Mrs.Dung, the fattest teacher in our school. She taught us history in our junior year.

"Whatever you said just didn't registered inside." I pointed to my head. "Your face expressions explain that." He glanced at me for a brief second before turning back towards the road.

"Carter, this is the last time I'm asking you. Take me back! Please." I hissed, my face forming into a warning glare. "Am I forgiven?" He asked again. "I need explanation." I uttered, firmly. "Never said I wasn't giving one."

"Why the hell did you run away? Why the hell did you kiss me in the first place? How dare you? You don't have the right to touch me, let alone kiss me."

"I know, I know it was really bad of me to kiss you like that but I didn't do it purposefully. You just-you just pulled me towards you. Like a magnet. And my mind really wasn't working in that fraction of time. It was bad of me and I'm apologizing from the depths of my heart. I'm sorry." I had not even started digesting his words when he started again,

"I ran away because I was ashamed of myself. Ashamed of doing that to you. I was afraid of explaining to you. I was confused about how I feel and I didn't want myself to say things that'd hurt you even more than you already were going to be."

"What feelings?" I asked not accepting the message my mind was sending. All I could think about, was Carter's words from earlier. 'I don't date. I hate relationships.'

"You're not as thick as Mrs Dung's leg. You are even thicker than that." Carter spoke, not quite answering my question. "Why do you keep bringing her up?" I felt annoyed to the point, I wanted to push Carter out of the car. First he was being confusing and second he was giving me bad remarks. He kept calling me thick when I was the one teaching this thickheaded mathematics.

"Are you really so oblivious or you're just acting like that?" Carter asked, messing up the already messed puzzle inside my brain. "I don't know? I'm oblivious? About what?"

"God Sparkle! What I mean to say is.... I like you, a lot, and it's new for me. I've never liked anyone so much but if you want to be stuck in people's minds they can't help themselves." Carter explained so casually, like it was something he'd said to many people. I was just processing what he told me when he added, "and all they think of, is putting you close to themselves before others do. It's all because of this incredibly innocent face of yours!"

I nodded, feeling utter confusion encircling my mind. I had no idea how to reply to such confessions of his. "And I want you close to me. The only way I find right now is seeking your forgiveness."

"Okay."

"What you must know right now is that I'm really sorry for what I did. I accept my mistake. But I was just being drawn towards you and I couldn't understand this feeling at that time because I've had never felt that way."

"I didn't know how to stop all those feelings that were striking my brain everyday. And when you said you don't hate me anymore I couldn't help it."

"You can't understand that Sparkle. I can't explain what I feel. It's all so messed up but what I know is that I definitely like you. And I can't see you with anyone else." My eyes were going to bulge out of their sockets listening to all of his flummoxing words that he kept throwing at me. "Why are you so quiet? I know, I shouldn't have said all those things to you. I know, I was wrong and I am still wrong. I promise to never bring it up if y-"

"I forgive you." I blurted out almost immediately, not letting him complete his sentence. I tried to not think about whatever he said a moment earlier but my treacherous mind kept running back to it. His confession. Him. Him liking me. "You do?"

I nodded, not being able to look at him. I forgave him, not because of all he said to me, but because whatever he said felt real. And I was in the same situation as his. This kind of feeling when your heart disagrees with your brain leaves you vulnerable. Not only vulnerable but it also makes us completely insane with time.

I liked him too. There was no doubt in it. But my mind didn't like this. It kept thinking about the negatives of me involving with Carter in any possible way. My mind was right. He was trouble. He was the BadBoy. He was a snake.

But my heart kept defending him. He is good now. He is no more a snake. He respects me. He is sweet. He is attractive. "Welcome to New Jersey." Carter's joyful tone brought me back from my thoughts.

New Jersey?!

"What?! I thought we were going back to the city! Carter! What the h-" I started to freak out, all sort of dangerous, creepy thoughts running through my mind. Carter just laughed at it. "I was just messing with you Sparkle!"

I exhaled in relief and settled down, resting my head on the seat as I whispered, "idiot."

"I think I heard something." Carter's eyes narrowed at me but I ignored him, rolling my eyes at him. "So..... I owe you a treat."

"I didn't know you do." I shrugged, thinking of all the events of the past, trying to figure out what was this treat he owes me about but my mind couldn't bring any memory to me. I felt the car being stopped near a cafe.

"What treat Carter?"

"Come on! You'll know." Carter stated, his tone exciting, as he unlocked the car's door and jumped out. He opened his fist towards me and closed it again, asking me to follow him. After huffing and puffing for a minute, I stepped out, having no other alternative.

Carter smiled at me while I pulled my shirt down that was ridden up a little and walked towards him. "Take me inside only if you're planning to buy me something because I get over-excited just by looking at sweet." If you haven't guessed by now, he had brought me to 'The Desert Island'.

"What part of 'treat' you don't understand?"

"I mean your treat can even be something like locking me up inside the washroom or torturing me by just putting the food before me and not allowing me to eat. Or something like eating all sweet goodness in front of me and not offering me even a single bite."

He chuckled. "I wasn't planning to do any of those things but now when you said all of this I'm starting to think it would be fun." I stopped walking at this. "Carter!" I drawled, whining.

Why is it that he always ends up teasing me?!

We reached to the shop and Carter opened the door for the both of us to enter. As soon as I stepped inside, my nostrils were hit by the sweet smell of sugar. The smell of chocolate and freshly baked cakes. The same smell when you make a coffee. I ran my eyes on the cakes displayed behind the glass counter. I was sure, I was drooling by then.

"Are you coming to order or you're happy drooling over these cakes?" I felt a finger poking me and I turned my head to look at Carter. I smiled widely showing all of my teeth. "I want a piece of triple chocolate mousse cake!" I squealed.

Soon I was stuffing my mouth with the yummy stuff Carter ordered for me. Just then I realised Carter wasn't eating anything. "Youh're noth eashing?" I wiped my mouth, after shoving the last bite of chocolate inside it. It's always been my habit to eat the cake at first. Leaving the icing for the end feels so good, no one knows.

I looked as Carter shook his head showing me a glass of a pink liquid that I assumed to be strawberry flavoured. "I'm drinking actually." I was sure he was going to buy something strawberry-full.

"You really like strawberries, right?"

"I love strawberries!" He answered finishing the last sip of his smoothie. "Now, you've eaten all of it but do you not wanna know what was this treat for?" That got me thinking and I started imagining the possibilities.

"I forgot to ask. What was it about?"

"Any guesses?" He raised his eyebrow, leaning closer, his hands clamped together as he rested his chin on them. There was a smile on his face-a very realistic and happy smile. That smile itself was a proof of some good news. "Umm....I don't know.....? Your paintings got sold?" I guessed, being completely aware of the zero possibilities of that being the case. He laughed a little while shaking his head. "Umm..... I don't have any idea Carter."

"I got selected as a captain, Sparkle!" He exclaimed, going extra excited. I couldn't keep the smile from creeping its way on my face. It was a big achievement of his and I was kind of proud. "Wow!" I smiled, clapping a little. "Congratulations! I'm proud of you!" He cackled at my statement. "Thanks mommy."

Thanks......

"Actually, I'm proud of myself. You're the captain today, because of me." I tried to smirk, earning a lion-laugh from Carter. "Why are you making a poop face?" Carter let out loudly between his laughters making me gasp. It was obvious that people had stopped eating their food and we were the prime focus of their attention. Particularly, me. A nicely dressed lady stood up from her chair and proceeded towards us with a shy smile on her face.

"If it's an emergency, I have my child's diapers." She came towards us and whispered, enough loud for Carter and the waiter standing beside our table to hear. All they did was control their laughters while I was probably the same colour as my blood, even darker than that. "N-no t-umm.... I'm fine. Thank you." I answered her, my eyes never leaving Carter's face, both of my jaws glued together.

When she went away I snapped at Carter, "I hate you Carter!" Not only this angered me, but when I looked from the corner of my eye, the waiter's eyes were glued upon us. I added, "and I don't understand why every other person in this damn world is interested in our talks!"

The waiter actually had a mind because he walked away after hearing that. "I was thinking to offer you a job in a circus-" Carter started to say but I held out my palm towards him. "Now don't make any lame joke Carter. You've embarrassed me so much! God, what the people might be thinking about me?!" I buried my head inside my palms.

"Come on Sparky! You care too much about people's opinion regarding you. I like you and it's me you're hanging out with–not them." Carter said mentioning that thing again, so smoothly, I was shocked. How was he able to say such stuff without any hesitations, was out of the reach for my brain. He had to mention that thing again and make me uncomfortable again, that idiot!

"But I'm not going to deny it. It is your efforts that lead me to this opportunity. I'm a captain because I was good at math. If it wasn't for you there might have been someone else treating their gir- friend. Thanks!"

No matter how uncomfortable he makes me in a minute, he just covers up for it the other minute.

"And thank you for the treat! This was the best treat anyone has ever given me." I told him, the utter truth. It was, in fact, the first time anyone has given me a treat.

"If this means seeing your pretty smile and that cute face when you were pushing the cake inside your mouth, then I'd give you a treat every other hour." Carter winked at me as he made a terrible joke. But despite for its extreme level of terribleness it made my cheeks go flushed. "It was cheesy multiply by 1234467899976554..... 23"

"I take it as a compliment. Thank you, thank you."

"I guess we should just leave before they kick us out of here. We've been here since so long and your dear friend have been messaging me non-stop."

"Lia?"

"Who else? Obviously her! And I guess it's kind of getting late. Rebecca might be worried too. Let's go." He stood up from his chair followed by me before handing me his car's key. "Here, take this! Go and sit inside I'll be back." I nodded, comprehending what he told me.

"Why? You want to pee?" I blurted out without thinking. Carter face-palmed. "Just do as I say Sophia." I had no other option but to listen to him.

Sitting in the car, I started thinking of the possible things he might've been doing inside the cafe but I couldn't find any.

He might just be peeing. We're out for many hours. If I don't have to pee that doesn't mean other people don't want to.

His figure appeared some minutes later and I couldn't be happier because I was starting to think he'd left me alone here. The smile on his face confirmed he hasn't planned any such thing. He opened the door and placed himself on the driver seat properly but not before putting a paper bag on the dashboard.

After wearing a seatbelt he started to drive. The drive was silent excluding the little sound of music playing. I heard Carter singing a little and I couldn't help but enjoy the tone of it though I didn't know what song was playing. "How many talents do you have In total Carter?" I questioned.

"Oh, you're jealous!"

"I am." I admitted, bobbing my head. "What song is it by the way?" I asked, enjoying its sound. "Do you really live in a well? It's closer! It's so awesome right?"

"Yeah! It's good." I smiled back.

Throughout the drive Carter kept giving me smiles. One word that I can use to describe them is warm. Another word that I can use is sincere. Another is cute. One more word is sweet. And the list goes on. My eyes caught my neighbourhood starting and I couldn't be more relaxed to see it. It was going a little dark by then.

The car halted before the gate of my house and unwillingly I stretched my hand to open the door. As I brought one of my foot out of the car Carter stopped me, "wait! Take this! I bought it for Josh. He loves caramel right?"

"Right." I smiled, wondering how much more sweetness he could show in a single day. As I turned around to go out he stopped me again. "Huh?"

"Did you... enjoy?" He asked, scratching the back of his neck. "I loved it. The first time skipping school was worth it and a lot more fun than I thought."

"Great! It was hug worthy wasn't it?"

Hug worthy? Seriously?!

"Yeah." I answered awkwardly shrugging my shoulders. "Idiot! I mean, I need a hug!" Carter wrapped his arms around me so suddenly, tackling me a little and a giggle escaped my mouth. "Bye!" I called out, moving apart, finally stepping out of Carter's car as I proceeded towards my house. I felt someone walking behind me and before I could turn around a hand grasped mine. "Wait, I've to ask something...."

I nodded, encouraging him to say whatever was running inside his mind since the time we sat inside the car. "I know this is very early and all but...... will you go on a date with me?"

All I could do was try to pull back my jaw that was then touching the ground and stare at him like he's eaten a frog alive.

"Wha....?" I let out unable to say any proper word.

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