The Carter Project ✓

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"YOU CAN'T TELL him we told you anything about that," Jack said as he parked the car in front of the school. "He told us that when he was drunk, so I don't think he knows that we know. But either way, you should give it some thought."

          "Yeah," Ryan said boldly. "Either go out with him for real, or stop trying to get into his pants and let him move on with his life."

          "Hey!" Jack punched the other boy's shoulder.

          Ryan raised his hands up in defense. "You're the one who said we were doing good cop and bad cop. Not to mention, I asked to be the good cop and you said no, because it better fit your personality."

          "Okay, that is true," Jack said, now rubbing his friend's shoulder with brotherly affection. "You did a good job being the bad cop, buddy. We make a great team."

          "Thanks, bro," Ryan smiled. "I tried my hardest, really put a lot into it, so I'm glad to see you appreciate it."

          I rolled my eyes, glad they had unlocked the door so that I could slip out unnoticed because they were busy singing each other's praises. I needed to find my own best friends, we had so much to talk about. I made my way around the side of the car and began to walk my way towards the school door when I heard Ryan's voice call my name.

          "Hey, Mia," he called out to me from the half-rolled down window. "Wait up, please!"

          I stood there waiting, wondering what was going to happen, when I saw Jack run up beside me.

          "What do you want, Behrs?" I asked, using his last name and hoping there was some weight thrown around in it. But I was just not a girl he would fear or would make him sweat even a drop. It made me wonder why Carter felt such a way about me, that is, if he even did at all. "I'm trying to find my friends before class starts."

          He raised his right hand up in front of him, a cheeky grin on his face. "I just wanted to give you a high five, I meant to give you one earlier. Carter told me about all the freaky stuff you're into."

          I gasped, almost jumping back, thankful for some distance between the two of us. Of course, that didn't stop him from taking one of my hands with his free hand and giving himself the high five he came for and then jogged back to the car. That was the least ladylike thing I had happen to me, but maybe they saw me as one of the bros now? I wanted to gag, but in an endearing way.

          "Okay, thank you, I guess," I said tentatively as I took a few steps back from him as my mind tried to decide what to do with the so-called compliment he gave me. He surely didn't know I wasn't a virgin before Carter — because how would he — and probably thought of me as some prude who somehow magically slays dudes in the sack. I decided to just take it in stride and go about my day.

          It probably wasn't the worst thing someone could say to me. It definitely wasn't.

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IF THERE WAS currently a competition going on to find the worst thing that someone could say to me, at this moment, Rita Gomez was ranking in the top spot.

          Her choice words: "Wow, you kept that big of a secret in so long, I wonder what else could fit into that mouth of yours."

          She sounded hurt, which I understood because she was a person who shared every little detail of what was going on in her life, just to even start a conversation sometimes or ease some tension in an awkward situation between us. I don't know what girl she thought she was dealing with, but she was far from getting any reciprocity in that department. I was sure she also was confused, considering a guy like Carter doesn't sleep with a girl like me just every few seconds — it was something to either tell or have it told and neither happened for a whole week after.