Colossal Damage

11. Trust

"There goes the fragment of hope that mom and dad would suprise us for our 18th ." London grumbles through the phone .

"You're not even here for our 18th . You're in London ...London . With our awesome grandparents that will probably go all out for your birthday . While I'm here . "Knowing Gramps he will probably throw an awesome party for London next week . I will probably make myself a mug cake ...maybe play the audio of mom and dad singing that they had sent in advance .

"Maybe ... okay I have to go . Bye Paris ."

"Okay love yo-" she cuts the call before I finish my statement .

I sigh and grab my bag .

"Morning Pinky !" Carter chirps .

"Good morning Cratey ." This has become our routine for the past two weeks we've been back at school .

"I have a plan for you and I after school ." I turn breifly to cock my head in his direction .

"What might that be ." He just smiles and tells me to see after school .

"Paris !" I get stopped just as I step foot into the school .

Carter and I turn in union to see Joey jogging towards us .

"Hey I was wondering ..." The blush that spreads across his face makes his freckle stand out .

"I was wondering if maybe you were free to hang out after school ."I flush at his request and I find myself subconsiously playing with my hair .

I go to answer but Carter beats me to it ." Sorry she can't she has plans ." The way Joey's eyes flicker between Carter and I makes my stomach drop . The look of disapointment that crosses his face breaks my heart even more .

"Oh ." He gives me a half smile before he turns on his heels . You see Joey Chan is the easiest person to read . He wears his emotions on his sleeve .

"Wait up !" I am quick to grab him back . I'm shocked by the amount of force I use . He comes stumbling back into me leading my clumsy self to trip and almost fall ... almost . Joey's hands are quick to wrap around me catching .

"Careful there short stuff ." He says before stabalizing me . Then he brushes my hair out of my face .

"Ummmm , I'm sure the plans I have won't take up much time ." His eyes light up and I bush .

"You sure ?" I nod sincerley . I'm sure what Carter has planned won't take up much time .

"Cool , do you want to catch the eight o'clock movie with me ?" It's a school night but I fall asleep only around twelve anyway .

"Yeah . See you then ." I smile up at him .

"It's a date ...ummm it doesn't have to be one if - " he scratches the back of his head ,

"Oh I'm rambaling ." He flushes and face palms himself . It's adorable how nervouse he is all of a sudden .

"I'll see you at eight Paris." He gives me one last shy smile before he turns on his heals and heads for class .

"I'll see you at eight Paris ." Carter mimicks him and rolls his eyes.

"Shut up Crate ." I shove him . Willow and Mags catch up to us , and we walk down to the end of the hall for our Geography class .

"So I was thinking we make a list ... better yet a guide ." I groan as Carter pases in my room searching for a peice of paper or a book to write in . This is his idea as a plan for him and I after school .

"What's this ?" He pulls out a book covered in butterflies .

"Paris's flower book ... can we use this ?" I grab my book from him quickly .

"Can I see ?"

"It's just flowers I press... nothing interesting ."

"Let meeeee seeee !" We play tug of war for my book before I fianlly give up .

"This is pretty ." He scrolls through the pages , smelling the flowers I've preserved over the years .

"Blank page ! "He smiles wide eyes at the last pages of my flower book .

"No tearing pages out." I state firmly as he grabs a pen and throws himself besides me on my bed . The impact of his body weight has some of my pens flying off my bed .

He scribbles 'Carter's guide on 'HOW TO not BE ME .'

"What is that even supposed to mean ?" I turn the book to face me so I can get a better look at his bubble letters .

"It's what we are going to use to help you find who you are ." He states with a serious face .

"Pftt. By teaching me how to not be me ?" I quirk an eyebrow at him .

"Precisely ." He wiggles his eyebrows at me .

"How does it even work ?" I'm so confused . Maybe Willow was right Carter is one fascinating creature .

"Well you see this will teach you how to not be the you that you are right now hence How To Not Be Me . Then once you learn how to not be you . You will learn how to be the real you . The one with the flame . The you that you keep hidden ." He states soudning as if he were a genious .

The again he could be ...

"I can not believe I'm allowing you to even suggest this ."

"You'll thank me later Pinky . Trust me ."

This should be interesting ...

AN: Indeed it shall be very interesting .

xoxo

Lauralie2007