UNMASKED.

chapter 12.

carter was getting sick and tired of his family's constant meddling in his life. he wasn't trying to mess up the plan, but they were treating him like a fuck up who would ruin everything at any moment. he desperately sought his father's attention and approval, but it always seemed to go to richie. it was exhausting to constantly hear about his late brother, and he longed for a change of subject.

when his father announced the plan to use the ghostface legacy to ultimately destroy sam and her friends, carter had no issues with being a part of it. in fact, he found some enjoyment in messing with them.

but then elena entered the picture and damn, she changed everything. the plan shifted, and now there was another ghostface in the picture with a similar, but ultimately different motive.

her presence alone altered carter's attitude toward the friend group. he had a new target in mind, one that had been there from the beginning.

chad.

he had a million logical reasons. chad? he was annoying, never knew when to keep his mouth shut, he was constantly getting on carter's nerves, always getting all the girls and then there was the way he kept looking at elena. it had become a regular thing, and it was driving carter nuts. he wanted to wipe the smirk off his face every damn time.

suddenly, carter's phone began to buzz, interrupting his thoughts. he grabbed it, taking a quick glance at the screen to see who it was. his heart skipped a beat when he saw her name on the display screen. elena.

he swiped the screen unlocked, eager to read her message. he quickly read the message, a small smile tugging at the corners of carter's lips. it was just a simple, 'hey'" but it still made my heart flutter.

he hovered his fingers over the screen, contemplating his response. carter had to be cool, casual. he couldn't let her know how much her text affected him. after a moment of thought, he typed out a response, trying to keep it nonchalant. he decided on a simple 'hey yourself. what's up?'

he couldn't help but smile as he read her message. she was waiting for hum at the park, and she had noticed his absence. it felt good, to know that she cared enough to notice whether carter was there or not. it was more than his family ever did.

he began typing his reply, his fingers moving across the screen. 'sorry i'm late. i had to finish an essay first. i'm on my way now.'

he couldn't believe it. why did his sister have to be so nosy? he was in the middle of texting elena, trying to keep their relationship lowkey, and here she was, trying to pry into carter's business. she asked who he was texting, and he tried to keep my response short. "texting," he said, attempting to keep the conversation neutral.

quinn then leaned in, her eyes locked on his phone. carter swiftly pulled it away, not letting her see his messages. "who?" she pressed on, her tone annoying him.

he clenched his jaw, trying to keep his cool. he knew his sister hated elena, but he couldn't let her badmouth her by calling her a bitch and a whore. "don't call her that." he said, defending elena.

quinn continued to lecture carter, as if she knew what was best for him. "there's no way you actually fell for her ass." she rolled her eyes. "what the fuck, carter?"

he could feel himself growing more irritated by the second. why couldn't carter's family just stay out of his business?

quinn had started asking questions more and more. carter pushed her away, annoyed.

bailey then entered the room, looking tired just at the sight of them arguing. "why are you two arguing?" he asked, his tone a mixture of disapproval and annoyance. "and why are you still here, carter?"

carter wanted to yell at him, to tell him to mind his own business. but he knew better than to talk back. he'd learned that lesson the hard way growing up. so instead, carter just shrugged and muttered, "nothing, i was just leaving." he stood up from the couch, still holding his phone in his hand. carter made his way to the door, trying to ignore the looks his father and sister were giving him.

as quinn began to mock elena, her nickname around the house was the wrong one . bailey had tried to change it, but he had given up when he saw how much carter was affected by her. his family knew how he felt about her.

he snapped at his sister, telling her to go fuck herself. carter's mood was sour, and he didn't want any more of his family's bullshit. he was tired of them medalling in his life, making things more difficult than they already were. so without thinking, he ran out of the house, slamming the door behind himself. he needed to get away from these assholes, and he couldn't bear being in that suffocating atmosphere for a second longer.

he walked down the street, his mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions. he knew his family would only try to ruin his relationship with elena with their judgemental bullshit. as carter now walked towards the park, he tried to calm his anger, taking deep breaths to clear his mind. he reminded himself that the reason he was going there was for elena and not letting his family get to him.