IT HAD STARTED OFF such a normal day for carter marie sanders. she had gotten up around nine, early for her but okay because she'd strangely gone to bed early the night before. she'd been totally tired, adjusting to the time difference from europe to australia, and it had taken it out of her. that was her excuse, anyway. carter was never one to admit when something was wrong, and the problem this time was that she'd stopped taking her sleeping pills, not having enough sleep until finally she was just so tired, her body went nearly catatonic and she had to sleep a whole night through. that was basically what had happened, but need to know, right? anyway, carter was feeling surprisingly refreshed and she was in an extremely good mood at the moment. it was the weather, she was convinced. the heat had never bothered her in the least. in fact, she was slightly bothered whenever it was cold. she loved the rain, which was why she loved sydney. even though there was such a thing called winter here, it never got too cold, and the rain was always lukewarm. carter had always been one of those people who would go out and stay in the rain until they got sick, just because. she never really knew why, maybe just because it gave her a sense of reckless abandon that she loved. but mostly, she loved the way the rain felt as it dripped down her hair and onto her back, drenching her clothes. it made her feel real, it made her feel like nothing could bother her, and it made her feel clean. mostly, it made her feel clean, and that was something she wouldn't trade for the world.

CARTER MARIE SANDERS HAD never been much of a romantic. sure, she'd had her little school girl fantasies about dancing in the rain with someone she loved, or getting that classic little note and a bouquet of flowers that said 'will you go out with me? check yes or no' type of thing. but, she'd never been one for sappy displays of affection. she had no problems with holding hands or kissing in public, but the disgustingly gross constant cuddling and making out... that was just something she despised. of course, she might have her mind changed if she found someone she was even remotely willing to do that with... but that probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon. you see, carter marie had a little bit of a problem. as of that exact moment, she was very much in love with her best friend, joshua king. and he didn't even know it. while carter would love to tell him and have him return her feelings, she was attempting to tell herself that it could never happen and things were better this way, with her feelings in the dark. that was one of the reasons why she was trying so hard to push isabella, her other blond bombshell of a best friend, and josh together. she knew that josh would love her the way she needed and deserved, and she knew that isa would be able to ground josh and just be a good match for him. carter wasn't used to playing the martyr, so the role was new and foreign to her. all she knew that it hurt like hell whenever the three of them were together and all of a sudden, she was the third wheel. but that just proved her point, didn't it? they belonged together, or so she kept trying to tell herself. though it may have felt like she died a little on the inside every time she saw the two of them laughing and happy together, well on their way to being love, she had to keep this up. they deserved it. there were other fish in the see for her, right?

CARTER'S THOUGHTS CAUSED A scowl to work its way across her face. curse her, she had just killed her own good mood. buzz kill, that's what carter was. to herself, which was even worse. she sighed, tilting her head up and staring at the sky as she walked down the street. when she looked down again, she was startled to a stop when a man stepped in front of her. he was older than her by quite a few years, and carter did not like the way he was looking at her at all. her whole body seemed to tense, and her dark eyes narrowed slightly. she was the queen of sass and attitude, but she couldn't bring herself to use it. she was, strangely, afraid of this man, so when he said to her, "hello there, pretty lady. there are some things i bet i could do for you." carter replied, her tone nonchalant yet at the same time icy, "on the contrary, i doubt there's anything you can do for me." she wished she could cut him with her words and he would just walk away, but that wasnt the way men like him worked, and she had come across the type before. carter tried to back away, but tripped, and stumbled back a little bit. his big, meaty hand reached out to steady her, gripping the top of her arm. carter tried to pull it away, but he wouldn't let go. now she's was getting a little worried. "where you are you going to in such a hurry, sweetheart? stay and talk with me for a little while." his tone was suggestive, and carter very literally felt her face flame in outrage. who the hell did this guy think he was? "i suggest you let go of me, right now." she said, her tone even icier than before. she tried to yank away again, but he still wouldn't let go. carter's eyes swung around, trying to find someone to help her, when she saw him. dark hair, a few inches taller than her, and miraculously, heading straight towards her. she tried to send off some sort of distress signal with her eyes, somehow unable to mutter a word. this was great. this was fucking great. she was going to get raped and shoved into a ditch somewhere unless this boy didn't help her.

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STATUS: done!
TAGGED: lee dutton (perper!)
LISTENING TO: never say never, the fray.
NOTES: sorry it took a bit! YOU'RE THE BEST, POCK!
OUTFIT: here
CREDITS: graphicz geniuzzz to kellayy