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Chapter Twelve

We broke at two for a bite to eat. I grabbed a chicken salad sandwich and some carrot strips and sat down on the couch. Dad had gotten a call about a half hour ago and had to run home. The garbage disposal had exploded as a result of Landon throwing a transformer down it and mom had been hit with a shredded arm. Her cheek was bleeding and she didn't know whether she needed stitches.

Trevor grabbed a turkey club and sat down beside me. The only sound that filled the air for a good two minutes was the sound of both of us crunching on veggies.

"Have you been working long?"

I glanced over at him. He twirled a celery stick around.

"Working long on what?"

"Your next album."

"Oh. No, I just started Tuesday. I'm working on it after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

He turned and looked at me.

"You're still going to school?"

I stopped with another carrot stick halfway to my lips.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I?"

Trevor shrugged.

"I haven't gone to school in over a year. I'm waiting to get a tutor."

"They haven't given you one yet?"

He shook his head.

"Wow that sucks."

We resumed our mutual chewing. I searched for a topic of conversation.

"I think we should almost be done with the song," I said.

"Yeah. I think it's going to sound really good."

I nodded. I still wasn't so sure. There were so many good songs I had picked out...

"Have you seen one of our concerts?"

I pulled off a hunk of my sandwich. "You mean Grenadine?"

He nodded.

"No. I mean, I've been on the road. And with school and stuff..."

I couldn't be mean. It just wasn't really in me. I didn't want to tell him that I wasn't in to cheesy fake boybands.

"Well if you ever want to let me know. I can give you my number."

He set his plate down and grabbed a pen from the table. He scribbled on a napkin and handed it to me.

"Oh, thank you," I said with a polite smile. I noticed his face was red.

"I saw your last concert. You're really talented."

I felt proud like I always did when anyone told me that.

"Thanks."

I got exactly three bites of my sandwich before the producer called as back in. I folded the napkin and put it in my purse.

I would throw it away later.

----------------------------

"Dad, we're late. I have twenty minutes to get home before Garrett picks me up."

I was freaking out. Recording had run late and dad had come back late. Dad had to take mom to get stitches. In her cheek.

Ouch.

"It'll be fine."

"I have to change! I look disgusting!"

"Brooke, I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll understand."

By the time we pulled up to the house I had exactly ten minutes to change. I ran inside in a panic.

"BROOKE, MOM LOOKS LIKE FANKENSTEEN!" Landon shouted.

I paused. Mom had a bandage over her cheek.

"Are you okay?" I asked. Mom nodded.

"Just a battle wound."

I took that as an 'okay.' I tore up the steps and into my room.

Since we were doing pizza and putt-putt, I changed into a nicer pair of jeans and an old vintage concert t-shirt. I tossed my head forward and then back. I shook out my hair. I grabbed my mascara.

The doorbell rang.

He was early?

Who showed up early anywhere?

Certaintly not a Carter, that's for sure.

I really didn't want Garrett to have to have to endure another round with dad. I glanced at myself and deemed myself passable. I grabbed my purse and jogged back downstairs. For as many times as I ran up and down per day, the stairs should have been worn out years ago.

Garrett was waiting right inside the door. He smiled when he saw me. Dad looked like he was in the middle of saying something.

"Hi Brooke."

"Hey."

Landon was playing with his Play-Doh. If I had been paying closer attention, I would have realized that he had his 'doh' canyon. A flash of orange flew past me. I turned my head. It smacked into Garrett's head. He stumbled back.

"UH-OH!"

"Landon!"

Dad swooped in and grabbed Landon. I grabbed Garrett's arm.

"I'm so sorry are you okay?"

He yanked the ball off of his head and gave me a smile.

"I'm fine. At least it wasn't a bullet." He looked over at my dad.

"I mostly reserve my bullets for bears," dad said. "Mostly."

I rolled my eyes. "Alright, bye!"

"Have her back by ten!" dad called out.

"Yes, Mr. Carter!"

We walked out and I closed the door behind me.

"My family is a little crazy."

"It's fine. I think all families are crazy."

I smiled. "Are we taking your car or..."

"We can take my car."

Garrett walked up and opened his car door. I slid in. The car was dated, but it had a brand new stereo system. He got in and closed the door.

"Nice system," I said.

"Yeah, it was a Christmas present. I needed a better setup to listen to your music."

I laughed. "I hope that's not all you have on your I-Pod."

"No, but it's my favorite."

I was flattered, but at the same time I kind of wanted to forget about the music. I wanted to focus on the date.

"Shall we putt-putt?" I asked.

"Absolutely."

Garrett drove across town to the outdoor putt-putt center. We climbed out and made our way to the counter.

"Two please."

"How many courses?"

I glanced out. There were thirty-six different holes to play, three courses in all.

"Two," Garrett said. He paid. I grabbed a blue ball and a putter. Garrett grabbed an orange one. He held it up.

"It matches my Play-Doh splatter from earlier," he teased.

I laughed.

Garrett wasn't lying when he said he was good at putt-putt. I had always thought I did pretty well, but as we began to play, I had to wonder if dad had just taken a dive whenever he had taken us all out to play. For every hole in one Garrett got, I was averaging about a three.

"Just stand a little bit over to the right," Garrett said as I lined up another shot. He came up behind me. His hands pressed against my arms and he shifted me back. I smiled and tilted my head up to his.

"Like this?" I asked.

He studied my face and smiled. "Yeah. That's perfect."

His face lowered and mine stayed put and he kissed me softly. His hands wrapped around my upper arms. I almost dropped my club. His lips were soft and warm.

I was disappointed when he pulled away. My eyes that I didn't even realize I had closed fluttered open. His hands left my arms.

For a second I forgot where I was. Then I remembered it was my turn to putt. I connected with the ball and watched it sail down the course.

It landed right in the hole.

"AH! AH! AH-AH!" I squealed. I jumped up and down. Then I turned around and hugged him. His arms wrapped around me.

And we kissed again.