"The Cut"

Chapter 15- Lies and Shine!

CHAPTER 15- LIES & SHINE!

Carson's phone buzzed early the next morning and she tossed back her covers in search of the maddening sound. She heard Snoop let out a huge yawn, as if it were inconveniencing him, too. She found the tiny device beneath her throw pillows on the cluttered, casual-cream carpet.

 It was Jared Fullman. He was calling. She answered on the fifth ring. Her voice was semi-groggy for the moment. She cleared her throat before she spoke.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Beautiful. How are you today? You're not still sleeping, are you? It's past eight!"

"It's Saturday." She croaked out loud and he changed his tone immediately.

"Right. I forgot what those days were like. Sleep. What's that?" he laughed. "Listen, Rachel just took the baby shopping with her mother for the day. Wanna meet up in an hour or two?" He sounded eager to see her.

 Carson wasn't so sure. She was still very nervous after the events that had transpired the night before.

"I don't know. I think we should lay low, like I said. Chase is fuming right now, probably stabbing a Voodoo doll of me as we speak. And people are talking, plus my parents are here. I'd rather wait until things settle down. At least until my mom and dad go out of town next week."

 Carson rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed. She stretched and attempted to find a pair of shorts to throw on. Her room was like the Bermuda Triangle at this point. She'd never find anything beyond the bare essentials.

 She was pretty sure that a science experiment was brewing in her bathroom, as well. The house was professionally cleaned twice a month, but she'd have to perform some damage control later.

"But I need to see you. Come on. It will be fun. Live a little. You want to see me, don't you?" he almost begged. "We could just go for a drive or something. Grab a coffee. Nothing major."

"Well, yeah, I want to see you. I have to tackle my parents first, though. I'll need to fudge it a little and tell them I have practice. Where do you want to meet?" She asked him.

"Our usual. It's safe. Just outside of town. No one will be nosing around. Why don't you text me when you leave?" Jared said to her.

 He was more of a morning person. Carson needed caffeine before she could transform herself into a human and tackle the day.

"Alright, you've convinced me. Just give me a little bit since my eyes aren't even focused yet. I'll text you shortly." She really could have used another two hours of sleep. Snoop was already at the foot of the bed, getting ready to take his morning plunge into the Berber abyss.

"Looking forward to it. What will you be wearing?" he asked with curiosity.

"Um, I think I'm going to go with clothes", she replied evasively. "See you soon." she whispered into the phone before hanging up. She finally stood up, and by this time, Snoop was promptly whining at the door.

"Alright, my boy. Let's go." she stuffed her shapely legs into her cheer shorts and opened her bedroom door. Snoop tore down the hallway and raced for the steps. Carson laughed out loud.

"Guess I'm the only one who isn't a morning person!" she said out loud and gripped the railing as she plodded down the large staircase. She could hear her parents' voices in the kitchen as her mom summoned the dog to go out for his morning romp.

 She entered the kitchen and rubbed her eyes again. She examined her mother and father carefully before she spoke.

"Good morning, rents." She yawned, lacking any form of enthusiasm whatsoever. Her father was already dressed and at the computer while her mother remained in her silk pajamas and matching robe.