Freeing Carter

"Wa

Beer? Nope. Not feeling it. "When did you start chillin' with Tad?"

"When he started getting beer."

I laugh. "Nah, I'm going to head to the store. Mom wants me to help Kira." It pops out of my mouth without my meaning it to. Mom wanted me to help her yesterday, not today.

I start to walk toward the driver side when Travis says, "Ok. She's hot. I'll go with you."

My feet tangle and I stumble a little. Shaking it off, like I did it on purpose (which makes no sense. Who trips on purpose?), I look at him, trying to figure out why I'm a

"Dude, who cares? I'm there with you. It's not going to interrupt her work if I'm looking...well, unless she's so into looking back she can't do her job." By now he's walked over to me, fist out and waiting for me to hit it. I swear I will my arm to do it, but the thing suddenly has a mind of its own and won't listen.

"I thought you were going to Tad's?" I keep digging myself a grave.

"Is there some reason you don't want me to go? I can go to Tad's later and I'm sure as shit not going home..."

Huh? "Why? What's up at home?" Travis has never talked like that.

"Nothing." He shakes it off. "Just boring. Plus I'm killing two birds with one stone here. A pretty girl first, then beer at Tad's. I like that plan."

"You have a girlfriend." Shut up, Carter. Close your mouth.

"And do you have a fever? What the hell's wrong with you?"

What the hell is wrong with me is right. "Get in the truck. I'm just giving you a hard time." I think.

***

Mom slips out of the store, mumbling something about errands and a quiet question of if I can help Kira if she needs it. My answer is just as quiet and mumbled, each of us treading the uncomfortable ground between us.

"Catch you later, Ms. Delilah. You're looking lovely today, by the way!" Travis calls after Mom, who rolls her eyes at him, before waving goodbye.

"Dude, why do you flirt with my mom?"

He shrugs. "She's hot. She's single"

"What the hell, Campbell!" I shove him. "Don't call my mom hot."

"Why? She is." Kira steps up beside us.

"Umm, no. She's really not. Again, she's my mom. Pretty sure that's against the law."

Trav puts his arm around Kira's shoulders. "She's on my side so I'm sticking with her. Why don't you enlighten us on why it's illegal?"

I suddenly want to punch my best friend in the face. Again. "Because she's old. Plus, it's against the guy code. Thou shall not covet your best friend's mom." Or put your arm around the pretty girl with the braids, even though I have no reason to care about that.

Kira laughs, steps out from under Travis's arm and touches my shoulder. "I think you're safe, Sleepy. I'm pretty sure your mom wouldn't go for him." She walks over to a stand of books and starts organizing. Grabbing his heart, Travis is right behind her.

"What? You don't think Ms. Delilah would go for me? I'm crushed. Well...she's not really my type either." Travis's eyebrows go up.

I stand back in awe, wondering when Travis got so much game. He's totally flirting with her and I'm stuck between wanting to give him props and kicking him out. I mean, it's harmless. Not the dissing-your-girlfriend flirting, so what's my deal?

"So, how's your girlfriend, Romeo?" Kira teases him.

Travis shakes his head. "Oh, I see how it is. I can take a hint. Travis isn't allowed to be nice because he has a girlfriend. Forget that said girlfriend has split personalities, liking him one minute and trying to kill him the next. Oh, and I'm pretty sure she's up to something shady, too, but no, Travis can't be friendly to the new girl or ogle his best friend's mom."

"Dude! Shut up about my Mom."

"I'm kidding, Sleepy. Simmer down."

I'm pretty sure I'm coming off like a douchebag today. "Whatever. I'm doing some homework."

"Oh! What's the bet today? What do you want from me that I can bribe you with?" Kira steps up onto a stool, dusting books. I groan, unable to hold it back. She looks like an office worker today. A hot office worker with a tight skirt that goes down to her knees, with a matching jacket-thing. The difference is, her jacket has little glittery things on it, that look like she glued them there herself.

"So not touching that one." Travis laughs, walking over to the table and plopping down.

"I don't know... I'll let you know when I figure one out."

She giggles, but doesn't reply, and keeps working. I sit with Travis, pulling out my books.

"We're really doing homework? Why are we doing homework?" Travis asks.

My reply is a shrug. Not like I can tell him I'm a slacker and might get kicked off the team if I don't bring up my English grade. Then something he said a few minutes before pops into my head. "What did you mean by thinking Trina is up to something shady?"

Travis leans backward in the chair, crossing his arms. "I don't know, bro... it's just. It's been weird lately. Even before they suddenly started doing all that cheer stuff with Sam. I don't know, it's been different for like a month, but more lately. Every time we're together she's on my ass about something, but she's spending more time with Sam. You know her parents are never home and Devin always has his friends around. I don't trust it."

My body stiffens. If something's going on with Trina, it's going on with Mel too. I can't figure out if I care or not. I mean, really care.

"The thing is," Travis leans forward, his voice low like he doesn't want Kira to know that guys really talk about important stuff too. "It should piss me off. I mean, if I think she's being shady. It's just like, whatever though. I'm kind of over it, know what I mean? People break up all the time. No matter how long they've been together." Travis's voice is stiff.

I do, but the difference is, I'm not sure if I have the nerve to do anything about it. "Are you going to talk to her? You guys have been together a long time." But I know he's made the decision; he really is going to break it off with her.

He laughs a little. "You so don't like change, do you? It'll be okay. We'll have joint custody of you. Mel can have you sometimes, but you're still my boy."

Kira steps up beside me, pulling the third chair out and sitting down. "What'd I miss?"

"Just me saying homework is way too boring for me. I'll catch you guys later. I'm go

Kira grabs her bag out from under the table and pulls out her books, too. Without a word, she opens one and gets to work. My book is calling to me, but I can't make myself reply.

"Where'd you move here from?" I ask, not sure where the question came from.

Her eyes don't leave her book, but I see her smile. It's like the inside of my chest hiccups or something at the sight.

"Get your homework done and I'll tell you."

I'm halfway through reading the directions when I realize I'm smiling too.