✕:1999

Seis

Carter

"Taylor!" I yelped in excitement as I jumped onto my older sister. I was in complete awe once I saw her and noticed not a single thing about her changed since the last time I saw her. She still had the same perfect smile that could brighten a room, and still looked a lot like she did before she left Oakland a few years back. But as I looked closely I noticed something seemed different about my twenty-six year old sister, and it wasn't just my eyes playing tricks on me. "Your hair!" I then exclaimed, as my jaw dropped, touching my sisters now light pink locks. I was in awe at how nice her hair complimented her, and it was barely noticeable from afar.

"Do you like it?" She smiled, referring to her luscious pink mane that was making me feel completely jealous of Taylor and her various gorgeous features.

Taylor on the side >>>

"Yeah." I replied, with a slight nod and grin. "It looks really nice." I added before turning towards Joey and Theo who were talking on the other of their Manhattan loft. "You know Joey right?" I questioned before taking a seat on the futon near the window.

"Of course I know about your little boyfriend. Theo has told me all about the two of you." She cheesed.

"That's not my boyfriend." I interjected, lightly punching Taylor in the arm. "We're just friends." I added with a blush, before glancing back over at the boys. Not surprised to see Joey look over and catch me eyeing him from across the room. He smirked lightly with a wink, as I rolled my eyes jokingly with a grin.

"Carter, I wasn't born yesterday. It's obvious you like this boy. You wouldn't have went through the hassle of letting him meet the rents, especially dad, and not let his words stop you from seeing him." Taylor responded, snapping me out of my trance as I tried to focus my attention back onto our conversation. "See you're not even paying attention to what I'm saying for how you're literally eye raping the guy." She chuckled.

"Alright, alright. I guess I have a small crush on him. But Taylor I swear it's nothing. I just don't want to ruin our friendship over some dumb ass crush." I sighed as I stole one last quick glance in Joey's direction to see him and Theo now laughing about something.

"Don't just think that it's nothing, and end up regretting not saying something earlier." Taylor advised, the look on her her face was no longer a smile, but a poker face that showed she was not joking. "I'm being serious Carter. If you think he's going to be waiting for you forever, then it's time to wake up and smell the coffee." I eyed Taylor from the side before turning back to glancing at my black converse high tops. I knew Taylor was trying to help me, and not guide me down the wrong path, but I felt as if telling Joey how I felt was way too early. We only known each other for a month and I felt like the feelings would be mutual.

I blew out a breath of frustration, I had too much on my mind to function correctly, and all I wanted was to leave Taylor's loft and go back to Corona. I glanced at my gold Timex watch before raising off the futon.

"I'll catch up with you later, I forgot I have to go to work today." I lied, before slipping out the loft. Once I was out on the streets of Manhattan I plugged my earbuds into my ears, as Ebony & Ivory by Ro Ransom blared through my ears.

"Keep it to yourself, baby keep it on the low." I sang, as I bobbed my head to the lyrics, barely paying attention to my surroundings. Before I knew it I was at the art studio, the exact place I wanted to be in a moment like this. As I entered the doors, I rushed to back where I saw my manager. She was dressed in a charcoal skirt suit, as her brunette hair was pulled into a high bun atop of her head. Once she saw me a look of confusion coated her face as she glared at me up and down.