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"Isaac? Where?" I turned around to where Carter was pointing in order to see Isaac but I couldn't see him. "Where is he? I can't see him...."

I searched for people's faces, thinking by any chance I can locate him here but I couldn't. "Look there Sparkle. Don't you see that Isaac turtle sleeping on the sand?"

"No I can't see-" I started to say but then it hit me. He was referring to the turtle. "Carter! He's my friend. Don't say like that." I tried to glare at him but he just laughed it off showing he wasn't the slightest scared. "What? It's the truth. He is just like a turtle."

"You know what you're like?" I asked trying to turn his joke on himself. "A model?" He suggested, the smirk never leaving his lips. I rolled my eyes at his expected reply. "Let me just show you...." I took his hand in mine, tugging him along with me to find an animal like him.

"You seeing that snake over there? That's you!" Carter squinted his eyes at the snake and observed it, moving a little closer to its glass cage. "Why don't you take a selfie with it?" I proposed and he accepted. "That's a great idea! Come on! Come close!" His voice sounded, his hand inside his pockets to look for the phone.

"Me too? I'm not photogenic. I look like a big moody potato. Especially when it's a selfie." I shook my head to refuse him. "I'm not listening to you! Come on!" He called me and hesitantly I forced myself to go to him. He clicked some pictures- not one without me looking anything but a big sleepy potato. "But really? Am I a snake?"

"Yeah...." I answered giggling but when I caught the frown on Carter's face I stopped. "Not really Carter. I- you're not like a snake okay?"

"I used to say that when... you, you know, used to.... bully me."

He groaned at my response. "But I no more call you a snake. You are anything but a snake," I tried to cheer up his mood. "Really? Then what am I?"

"Umm... you're like.... a gorilla." I stated after going through all the animals I knew. "From all the damn animals in this universe you chose snake and then a freaking gorilla?" He let out walking ahead of me.

"No, gorilla is a powerful animal. It punches, it scares people around it. But it loves people who are good to him. You just have to be his friends." I explained to him. "What?" He started to laugh. "Yeah! You know when I was young, I really wished to have a gorilla friend. You know.... it'll protect me and punch the one who's troubling me."

"I don't mind doing that-punching the ones who trouble you and obviously protecting you. Because you know, you can't have a gorilla friend." Carter looked back at me with an amused expression lacing his features. "I just felt that way okay? Now you don't have to joke about it Carter. You to might have some weird wishes too, right?"

"I do have many weird wishes." He admitted. "Oh my god! Carter! Just look at that! It's so beautiful! Wow!" I let out as my eyes caught the sight of the butterflies. Carter turned towards the sight with me and all he could do was stare at it with his mouth open. "It's beautiful." He whispered his eyes never leaving the butterflies.

Those butterflies were like magic. The shine in their wings was miraculous! "Yeah." I answered, still pleasuring with sight of those shaded colourful sparkling butterflies. "And.... you are like them."

Before I could answer him, he continued, "beautiful, pure, sweet and cute at the same time. You're unique but so very attractive. These butterflies are just like you, fragile but willing to fight, full of life, colour and sparkle. Just like you." Listening all those words of his and try not to faint was something difficult.

Carter glanced at me for a moment before those butterflies caught his attention again. "Look at that orange one Carter! It's so pretty."

"I'm looking at the pink one. It looks like it's just trying hard to fly but it can't." He pointed towards the small butterfly, but she was extremely beautiful as compared to others. If it wasn't for Carter, I wouldn't have noticed her either. "Maybe she's a young one, and is just learning to fly? I heard that like the way we learn to walk, they have to learn flying too."

"I bet she'd be the most prettiest of all of them and will catch everyone's attention when she starts flying." Carter smiled at me. "Without a doubt."I answered.

"You know what Sparkle?" Carter questioned jumping down from the fence we were standing.

"What?" I looked at him. "It's already almost four and I'm starving! I think we should go and find you a favourite food." Carter winked, holding out a hand to me for jumping down.

I climbed down and started, "there are so many animals Carter! We haven't seen half of the zoo!"

"I don't know anything. I'm just hungry and I'm taking my you with me. Come on!" Carter whined like a kid. "Please Carter! We can starve but I want to see all the animals!"

"I'll bring you back here some other day." Carter pushed his hands inside his pockets. The thought of coming here again was just amazing. "Promise?"

"Promise! Now let's go! Let's see who can run to the car first." He got ready to run. "Wait Carter! I can't run fast."

"You haven't tried." He shrugged his shoulders. "Get ready! Go!"

We started to run and just as I blinked my eyes Carter was running miles ahead of me. I tried to catch up to him but I couldn't. I was about to give up when I couldn't see Carter anywhere near but dear God wanted to find ways to embarrass me and I hit a small kid in the process making the both of us to fall down.

The kid started to cry holding his knee. "Shh, shh, it's okay. I'm sorry. Shh, don't cry please!" I tried to calm him but he didn't listen to me. His mother picked him up and spat at me, "can't you see? How dare you push my baby?"

Her glare was scaring the shit out of me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push him. I'm really sorry. I'm sure your baby will be fine." She scoffed at me and went away hissing profanities at me.

I looked around and sighed, my eyes catching the flowers Carter gave me. "Im such an idiot!" I scold myself as I gathered them again. A laughter echoed around and I looked up to find Carter laughing his stomach off. "God, Sparkle!"

"You're really such an idiot!" At first I felt annoyed at the sight of him but then his laugher spread like a virus and I was laughing hard too. He extended his palm towards me to help me stand up. "I think it's not allowed to pick flowers here!" We saw the security guard snarling at us. "We are in serious trouble." I whispered in Carter's ear.

"Don't worry. I'll handle this."

*******

"Mmmm.... this really is yummy Carter!" This was the best burger I had ever tasted. "I know right? I love the food here. And I bet you'll love the pasta here too."

"No way! I'm full already!" I laughed as I refused. "Told you, I'll get you a favourite today." Carter grinned after fist pumping. "What about ice cream?" He questioned. "Uh, no. I'm so full, I doubt I can even walk properly."

"Oh come on, Sophia."

"Nope! You can have it but I'm not." I tried to refuse. "Your loss because I'm not leaving the ice cream." Carter stated, standing up from his chair to go towards the counter. He bought himself a chocolate chip ice cream to my surprise. "Hey, why not strawberry?"

"I just wanted to know why my Sparkle likes chocolate too much." He answered as he opened the car's door for me. His words got my heart to flutter inside. My Sparkle.

"I love it when you blush." Carter commented causing my heart to go from fluttering to somersaulting. The intensity his eyes held was just making the situation more difficult to control. I felt like I could faint any moment then.

"T-That doesn't mean you can do it whenever you like." I huffed, looking away towards the window. "You're too cute!" He started the car and I just realized we weren't heading towards home.

"Where are we going Carter?"

"School." His plane reply came after a minute of silence. Confusion couldn't describe what I felt. "What?!" I looked away from the window and towards him, scrunching my eye brows. "School?"

"Yeah. School."

"What have we got to do with school today? It's Saturday. Do you plan to help cleaning the washrooms?" I asked

"We can do that too."

"Carter, what are you talking about? I don't get it." I shook my head.

"We're going to play basketball." Carter flashed a smile towards my direction. "What? Basketball? Really?" My tone changed from an angry one to an excited one.

"But, it's about evening. Are we allowed there at this hour?"

"Nope we aren't. But I've the whole thing planned." He reassured me.

"What if we get caught?"

"We won't." Carter stated. "Come on!" He exclaimed stopping the car outside the back gate of the school.

"Are you sure we won't get in trouble?" I couldn't help but be worried. My reputation was at risk.

"I'm sure. I've done this many times. Don't worry, I got this." He beamed.

"Good thing you're not all dressed up so we can easily climbs up the stairs wall."

"What?!" I yelled. "I'm not going to climb this wall!" I looked up to see the end of the huge wall. "It's easy Sparkle. All you have to do is climb on my back and then jump inside."

"No way! I knew this was a bad idea." I crossed my arms over my chest and refused. Disappointment flashed in Carter's eyes as he looked down. "I thought.... you had fun."

"No, no! The date was awesome. I couldn't have ever thought my first date would turn out this good Carter. I loved every moment of it. And if you really want, I'll climb the wall. But I'm blaming you if my arm or leg breaks in the process."

With Carter's help I rocketed up the wall and climbed down reluctantly. Before my face could get hurt I balanced myself on my palms. And did it hurt.

"See, you were just over reacting." Carter came down beside me.

"I've got scratches on my palm, see." I showed my hands to him. "God Sparkle, it's okay. At least it's not your leg that has separated from your body or something."

"Now let's head inside!" He added. We entered inside and I asked a question that was troubling me ever since he told me about playing.

"Do you have the keys for the gymnasium?" My voice echoed around.

The grip Carter had in my hand tightened as he whispered, "shh! Idiot! People will hear us!" Though I've been studying in this school since I wore diapers but I couldn't still walk properly in the darkness.

"I've got a spare key." He beamed, wiggling his eye brows as he showed me a spare key. Managing to open the door, he gestured me to be quiet, with his finger on his lips. We went inside and instantly he opened the lights after closing the gym's door behind him. Finally, I could see him again.

He went inside the locker room and brought the basketball. "Here." Carter threw the ball at me and surprisingly I caught it. I was happy because playing with Josh was helpful somewhere after all. "Good catch Anderson!"

I sighed, smiling. "Do you usually play?" He asked me from downstairs in the field.

"Yeah, my brother is a future Carter Reece, you know? So I'm bound to play with him."

His grin was more wider now that I'd mentioned him in my sentence. I walked down. "What I'm not good at is-" I tried to shoot the ball inside the basket but like always, I failed. "-is this. See. I'm never able to do a single goal."

"First of all, it's not a goal. A goal is in football. It's a basket, okay?"

"Yeah I meant the same." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Now. Let me help. Let's just practice it. That's the only way you'll be good at it." I nodded, shooting again but the ball just hit the metal and fell back. I huffed out in annoyance.

Carter chuckled. "Be slow and focused." I felt him coming behind me, his hands taking hold of my arms giving birth to those weird feelings again. But what he did next couldn't keep me from letting out a giggle. "You're sniffing me?" I questioned.

I twisted my neck to look at him with my eyebrows raised. "You're wearing strawberry perfume?" He bit his lower lip to control the laughter.

"Yeah, what about it?" I turned around in a heartbeat not wanting him to witness my blushing again.

"But why are you wearing it?" He came forward and looked straight at me.

"It's not because of you!" I told him.

"I never said it was because of me." He pressed his lips together, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Teach me how to goal instead of standing there like an idiot!"

"Sure, sure, Sparkle." He walked back again, chuckling. "All you have to do is target that black line marked there and there's your basket."

I closed my eyes and sighed. Gathering some courage I targeted the black boundary on the basket and the ball went directly through the net. I jumped and clapped for myself. Hugging Carter tight was what I did after that out of excitement. "Wow!"

"I could only do this after trying for a month." Carter answered as I unwrapped my arms from around him. "And-" he started to say but went quiet all of a sudden. "Crap! Someone's coming here!"

"Oh my god! What are we supposed to do?!" I threw the ball away.

"I don't know! Let me think."

"I thought you got this?!" I yelled referring to what he said earlier.

"Okay, it's not like I do it everyday!" He yelled back.

"I knew this was a bad idea. You also got scratches on my hand because of that stupid jump! Now someone is going to find out and we'll-"

"Just stop shouting please! They'll catch us." Carter interrupted, silencing me.

"Oh God! What do we do now?" I whispered. Carter looked around the room and his eyes were fixed on a window.

"Shit! Sophie run! They're here!" Carter started to run towards the window and opened it as he climbed outside. I stood there frozen, even I don't know why.

"Who's there?!" The janitor's voice sounded.

"Come on Sophia! Run! Why the hell are you standing there?!"

"Come on! run!" I blinked twice at him and ran. He was signing me to run faster with his hands. I jumped down the window, knowing the janitor had entered inside.

"Who's there?! Who are you! Hey! You! Stop!"

But I ran. I hurried after Carter until we were seated inside his car. My breaths were heavy and short. Carter looked at me and smiled with his mouth open as he breathed hard which I replied with a laughter.

All I know is that we both started laughing like two idiots and we laughed until tears built inside our eyes. "God! That was awesome!" I breathed out holding my stomach that was hurting by now.

"I know." He started the car and we sped away from the school's street.

The smile never left my face as I remember all the events of that day. After a long stretch of silence Carter spoke, "I wouldn't mind doing it once more and again and again and again." I smiled wider. But just then a thought started to rise inside my mind.

"Can I ask you something Carter? Answer me honestly." I positioned myself in the direction that I was facing him. "Sure ask off." A frown was evident in his face.

"Carter, don't you feel ashamed hanging out with me? I mean I don't understand why you chose to date me. I'm nothing like you. I'm not even close to your standards-your expectations. You don't deserve me Carter. After dating Bella and Maddie how do you even like me. I'm nothing like them."

"Don't say that Spar-"

"Carter, I ruin everything. I'll ruin you. And I don't want that. I don't want to-" I gulped as I looked down at my hands embarrassed at myself. "I don't want to destroy you Carter. I've a shitty luck. You don't want to end up like me, now do you?" I looked up at him, trying to hide what I was actually feeling.

"Listen to me carefully you innocent looking creature! You've been nothing but a good luck for me. And no way am I ever letting you go because now it's too late. You've crossed my limits and broken my walls that I took years to build. If anything you'll flourish me not ruin."

"And to answer that, I never feel ashamed of hanging out with you. And I feel lucky to have you with me. I feel like all the other guys are jealous of me because of you. And for Bella and Maddie, haven't I made it clear, I have never ever in my entire life dated?"

"What I see in you is not something I can give words to." He added. "So get this through your smart brain!"

"When do you get time to learn all these dialogues, Carter?" I tried to cheer him up because he looked like he wanted to punch someone. And I didn't want myself to be the victim of his punch.

"We're here." Carter stopped the car and opened his door to get out.

"I'll go Carter, don't bother."

"Did you enjoy?" He asked as he moved towards me. "I've never enjoyed this much in my entire life Carter. Thank you so much!"

"Can I ask for a little favour in return?" Carter moved closer to me as he caged me between both of his arms, my back hitting the car.

"What a-are you doing?"

"Now don't blame me when you look this beautiful in the moonlight. And you've applied that damn distracting strawberry scent. I need your permission to kiss you. Can I, Sparkle?"

At first I was quite shocked but then I couldn't help but want the same. I nodded. "Yes, yes, you c-" and before I could complete my sentence Carter's lips were already on mine.

It wasn't just butterflies that I felt inside my stomach, it was the whole zoo. It wasn't just sparks, it was the freaking atom bomb. And before I knew it I was kissing him back with the same intensity until we had to pull back for air.

Carter pressed his forehead on mine. "Wô yue lai yue xi huan ni le, Sparkle." Carter whispered. "Ying!" He said after that.

I giggled. "Chinese?" I asked, earning a nod as a reply. "I don't want to let you go yet but I do have a realization of how long we have been out. And your little brother warned me to bring you back before 8. Looks like I'm in a great trouble."

"Josh is a sweet cake!"

"And so is his sister." We stood there staring at each other.

"Can I go, Carter?" I smiled as I asked. He nodded. "Bye Sophie!" Wrapping his hands around me, he hugged me tight.

"Bye Carter!" I backed away and waved at him, making my way towards my house.

I looked back seeing his car hurrying away. I sighed, the crazy smile never leaving me face. Little did I know this day would turn out the worst of all

When I reached the door of my house and opened it as I stepped inside. "The little slut is back!"

My eyes widened at the obvious voice of my dad. I looked ahead to find my mother and father standing in front of me. But what got my attention was a sleeping Josh in dad's arm. The smile disappeared. My lower lip started to quiver at the sight in front of me.

I saw my mother fixing her purse on her arms as Rebecca opened the main door wide for them. Tears started to gather inside my eyes. "M-" I tried to say but a sob escaped my mouth instead. "No M-om!" But before even hearing me they went out of the house.

I knew stopping them was pointless but I still went after them. "D-daddy. Mom... wha-"