Black Ice

Chapter Five

"No, this trick won't work...how on earth are you every going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"

~Albert Einstein

*****

I smile nervously. "Excuse me?"

Mr. Fro-Yo grins from behind the cash register. "You heard me. I'm not the type of guy who forgets a debt."

"Am I missing something here?" June clarifies, waving her plastic spoon between me and Mr. Fro-Yo.

I shake my head. "He's just this kid from elementary school."

"Oh, is that what I am now?" He replies, smirking. "I thought I was your first kiss."

"It didn't count."

"I know. Which is why you owe me a real kiss."

June gags. "Her? Kiss you?"

I frown. "What, right in the middle of the shop? Across the counter?"

"Why not?" He shrugs.

I shake my head. "Sorry. I'm not into PDA. Plus, your manager would probably be upset."

He laughs. "She would be, but she'd never fire me. See, the manager here has a bit of a crush on me."

I glance over my shoulder, hoping to find an impatient line of customers that will force this conversation to a close. But sadly, it's a slow day in the Fro-Yo shop. I turn back to the boy. He's not bad looking - wild amber hair, a surfer's tan, and chocolatey brown eyes. But I'm not here to flirt.

"We'd better hurry up and pay," I say bluntly, turning to June, hoping she'll have her wallet ready.

Instead, she's eyeing Mr. Fro-Yo with interest.

"Oh, my god," I groan. "Tell me you're not going to try to set me up again."

Instead of answering, June steps back and raises an imaginary camera, as if imagining me with this boy in a wedding photo.

He laughs. "She do this a lot?"

"All the time," I reply. "Parking valets, golf caddies...the Fed-Ex delivery guy, once. If he speaks english and he's breathing, she'll set us up."

"Not true," June protests. "They don't always speak english. There was the Russian exchange student."

"Has it ever worked?" Mr. Fro-Yo asks casually.

I raise an eyebrow. "Are you trying to subtly ask if I have a boyfriend?"

"Maybe."

"And what if I do?"

"She doesn't," June interrupts. "She's a loser. A loveless loser. A nerdy, loveless loser. A nerdy, loveless-"

"THANK you, June," I cut across her. "Look, as lovely as this has been, Mister..."

"Call me Carter."

"Carter. We have to get going."

"No, we don't." June swings herself up and sits on the counter. "We have nowhere to go. We have no friends. Oh, wait. I meant you have no friends."

"Tell you what." Carter checks his watch. "I'm off in...twenty-three minutes. Wait for me. When I get off, I'll take you two for burgers or something."

"Burgers," I repeat. "After Fro-Yo."

"Duh," He replies with a charismatic grin, tapping me on the nose with a raspberry-Fro-Yo covered finger.

I lick it off.

He stares. "Whoa. You can touch your nose with your tongue?"

"It's a gift. You have twenty-three minutes. Get to work."

He laughs. "Right away, Ma'am."

*****

We pull up a block away from my house.

"This is close enough," I tell Carter. "I had fun. Thanks for the burgers."

"Me, too. It's a shame June wasn't feeling well," Carter sighs, running his hand through his hair.

"Oh, I guarantee you June will be fine by tomorrow," I inform him. "It's a rare, twenty-four hour case of Set-up-itis."

"She was setting us up?" He chuckles. "I should have seen that one coming."

"She's a good actress," I admit. "But it gets obvious after a while. With the Fed-Ex guy, she came down with a case of leprosy and was fine by the next day."

He snorts. "A medical miracle."

We both smile. He has the most adorable dimples...

No. I can't do this. Before the accident, I would be inviting a boy like Carter to dinner. But now...no. I can't let myself be happy with this boy.

I force myself to stop smiling. "Well...see you."

I turn to open the door, but he grabs my wrist. I jump.

"Wait." He says, looking me straight in the eyes. "Can I see you again?"

Oh, no. I want to say yes so badly it hurts.

"I...I don't think so," I say quietly. "It just wouldn't be a good idea."

I expect him to slump in his seat, or else get angry at me for misleading him, but instead he just smiles. "You say that now. Just give it a few days. I'll win you over."

"I doubt that."

"Try me."

I have to get out of this car before I get even more attached to this boy. "I have to go."

His smile widens. "Go. I'll see you soon."

I open the door. "I doubt that."

"I'll see you soon," He repeats, maintaining that irritatingly cute grin.

I step out. "None of June's set-ups have ever gotten a second date, Carter."

"First time for everything."

I shut the door and watch as he makes a U-Turn and drives away. Halfway down the street, his hand pokes out the window and he raises a 'peace' sign. I can't help but laugh.

If this whole encounter with death has taught me anything, it's that there definitely is a first time for everything. And I really like Carter. It feels like a cruel trick of nature that he should show up in my life right when I need to STOP finding things to love about this earth. One day, and he's captivated me; I don't know what to do.

I can't see him again, it's as simple as that. I can't stand to lose him, so I'll keep myself from getting close him in the first place. I'll avoid him.

Except every time I think of how to go about doing that, the thought of his ruffled brown hair drifts through my mind.

Damn it.

I hop off the curb and almost slip on a patch of ice. I squeal and steady myself, glaring at the icy patch which almost caused me a painful fall. "Haven't you made enough trouble for one lifetime?"

I'm talking to a patch of ice.

Maybe it's all the ice's fault that I'm in this position. Maybe it's mine. Maybe it's Carter's, for being so irresistible. Maybe it's June's.

For now? I'm blaming the Fro-Yo.

*****

AN: Let me know what you think of the Carter/Alysson chemistry in this chapter. Yes? No? THOUGHTS!

Hint on next chapter: It involves Alysson's father, with a boy-related plot twist at the end.

I LUV YOU ALL FOR ACTUALLY READING THIS, OMG. <3 HUGSNKISSES!!!! 

xoxoxoxoxoxo, 

-HopelessByComparison