Heart Full Of Needles

Chapter Three

Carnival stared at Connor, completely stumped. A man she barely knew, someone that she wasn't even sure she could trust, was offering to protect her. This was something that she had never had to think about deciding. She averted her eyes, trying to hide her face. As much as she would like to have someone like him protecting her, she couldn't bring herself to cause that much trouble for him.
"I-I don't think that's a good idea." She said quietly.
He looked at her, complete bewilderment on his face. "What?"
"I can't let you get made fun of for hanging out with me." She said simply.
He chuckled. "Believe me, they won't make fun of you or me."
She had a look of doubt on her face. She knew that he was asking out of generosity, and that he was going to do it anyway, but still, that didn't stop her from not wanting it. Just the thought of him having to endure that pain just so people would leave her alone was enough to make her heart ache. She sighed and looked down at the now empty plate in her lap.
"Okay. But only because I know you're going to do it whether I say it's alright or not."
He smiled. It wasn't like a normal smile, no, it was a warm, gentle, and almost heart melting smile. One that she had longed to see on someones face when they looked at her. She blushed and looked away. How was she suppose to deny the fact that this man was her ideal protector? He was perfect in every way it seemed. He could cook, was obviously clean, popular, great at sports, handsome, tall, funny, caring. The list would just keep going and she was sure that she could keep finding things to add to that list. Connor was clearing his throat, which grabbed her attention.
"Sorry. I sort of zoned for a moment." She smiled.
"So I noticed." He smiled back. "I was asking if you wanted some cake. I have some left over German Chocolate in the kitchen. I made it fresh yesterday."
She nodded, handing him her plate before leaning on the arm of the couch as he walked away. She was tired, extremely tired. Today had been a very exhausting day. She watched his firm move around the kitchen, her eyes getting heavier and heavirr. Soon, sleep captured her.
Connor came back in the living room, cake in hand, to find Carnival asleep. He smiled, returning the cake to the fridge and grabbing a spare blanket and covering her up. He watched her for a moment before sighing and turning the table lamp on. He knew she wouldn't have anywhere to go and he had extra space.
Taking one last look at the girl, he walked upstairs. The second door on the right, the room beside his own, was vacant. Stuffed with empty boxes and useless junk. His sister had left some of her stuff when she had moved to Germany with her fiancé so he figured he could use what was left.
"I don't even know where to start with this room." He said to himself.
Before he could put his hands on something, his cell rang. Picking it up, he noticed it was Jackson, captain of the Football team. Rolling his eyes he answered.
"What Jackson?"
"Is that how you answer the phone now?" Jackson asked.
"When it's you, yeah." Connor leaned against the wall. "Now what do you want?"
"You skipped out on our fun today." Jackson chuckled a little.
"You never asked me to join."
"I told Terry to ask. That good for nothing asshole." He sighed. "Anyway, I wish you could have been there."
"What exactly did you do? The only time you want me in on your schemes is when you know your going to get into trouble."
Jackson laughed again. "You know that new girl?"
"Yeah. What about her?"
"Me, Terry, Gabe, and Don drug her behind the athletics building and decided to have some fun. Nothing sexual of course, but I can guarantee that there was blood."
The tone of his voice said that he was happy about what he had done.
"So what? You guys drug her out there, made her cry, and then, out of sheer pleasure for yourself, decided to rip her eyebrow piercing out?" Connor's anger was building the longer he talked to Jackson.
"How did you-?"
Jackson was cut off. "I swear, if you EVER touch this girl again, I'll show you what it feels like to get something ripped out of your face."
With that, he hung up. It took every bit of self control that he had to not throw the phone or break something. He didn't want to wake Carnival, she needed her sleep. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the task at hand. He would deal with Jackson later.
Pulling empty boxes and bags of trash out of the room, it almost looked like a normal room again. He scrubbed the walls and windows, vacuumed the floor and moved his sisters furniture into the room. After that, noting that it was only about 8, he grabbed his wallet and keys. She would need a few things, including clothes. He assumed she would want to pick out her own clothes, but he could handle a few decorations. Locking the door behind him, he headed to the store, hoping that Carnival would like everything he's done. Money was not an issue. He had plenty to spare. He worked quickly, getting lamps and hangers and other miscellaneous things. After paying for it all, he left, going back home.