Chapter is Unedited

"When you love a best friend, your love stays forever" - unknown

Standing behind the cash register I watch as the bride struggles to find her wallet inside her massive bag of assorted girl products. It was early on a Saturday and it'd been a little bit since I'd been at work this early on a weekend. I was here to help my mother and Clara out with some of their extra tasks that they've been taking on while I've been too busy being a silly teenager again. I needed to remind myself to thank them once more, and then a hundred times after that as well.

Once the bride finally found her card she handed it to me. I scanned it quickly charging it for the price of her dress. She was beaming with excitement. I was struggling with exhaustion. Once finished with her purchase I thanked her for coming to Little White Dress before heading to the break room. Yesterday had kicked my ass and today I was having a hard time getting back into the gear of things.

Last night after saying goodbye to Andrew I had headed home and immediately called Clara. She was probably just as exhausted as I was since we both stayed up til around two in the morning. I explained everything to her. I had apologized a million times and somehow managed to explain myself enough for her to forgive me. I was relieved that she and I were not fighting anymore. That was two things checked off my list. Andrew and Clara were taken care of, now it was just Carter and Evelyn. Looking at the schedule that I had hung up on the wall it said my mother should be there around ten a.m. I still had a little over an hour before she showed up.

I needed something to help get my mind off of the eventful evening of yesterday. At least until my mother came in so I could pull her aside and figure out why she was so upset about Andrew and I.

Shutting off the light in the break-room I decided to head up to my office to get a little privacy. Maybe I'd answer some of the emails I've been meaning to. My office door was locked when I made it to the top of the stairs. Pulling my bag from off my shoulder I managed to dig through it finding the keys. While doing so I bumped my hand across a notebook I hadn't looked at for a little while. I didn't normally bring this backpack with me to work but today I wasn't really feeling like matching a purse to my outfit.

After unlocking the door I decided to pull out the sketchbook. I used to draw my own dress designs all the time. Before my father had passed away I had wanted to be a designer. I knew I'd be able to make it big if I could just get one good dress out there. My father was determined to help me as well. I glance over to the picture of him hung up on the wall of my office. He really was my hero. No child should have to grow up without their hero.

I looked through some of my old designs. Each one was better than the last. Pulling out a pencil I decided it was time to add a new one. I wasn't too deep into sketching when there was a slight knock on the door. I was too interested in what I was doing to really pay attention. Whoever was at the door continued to the office taking a seat on the couch.

"You used to be so good at that."

"Used to be is an understatement." I chuckled, I wasn't doing as good as I had hoped but I hadn't drawn in years.

"Oh, it can't be that bad." Carter stood up from the couch and glanced over my shoulder. I wasn't really comfortable with him looking at my silly drawing. It wasn't that good and I wasn't sure I wanted others judging it. "That actually looks really good Erin."

He must have just been saying that. There was no way he looked at this mess of scribbles and thought it was good. I shot him a side eye. Was he doing drugs? "Thank you?" I fumbled over the words.

"Anyways, what are you doing today?" I questioned. We hadn't yet solved our issues so I had no clue if he was here to scream at me or tell me how terrible of a person I am. Maybe he wasn't here for either of those things. Maybe he wanted to drive me so crazy by acting completely normal.

"I came because we need to talk." I shot him another side glance.

"I agree."

"So how are you doing Erin?" I wanted to scream, what kind of question was that. I wanted him to jump straight into the point. I didn't want to talk about the weather or any other stupid topics like if I was doing okay. Of course, I was fine, I was just fine. On one hand, my life was falling apart and everything wasn't going as I had planned. On the other hand, my life was going great, I was finally getting things figured out. I was finally getting things the way they should be.

"I'm fine. Is this really what you want to talk about though?"

"No, it's not but I am allowed to care about how you are feeling." I hadn't seen Carter this serious in a long time. I was beginning to shrink, beginning to feel small under his words. Carter knew me better than anyone else and he really knew how to use it to his advantage.

"When did you meet Andrew?" He seemed very adamant in his question. His legs on the edge of the couch as he lounged out. His hands supported his head, his eyes never looking towards me.

"A couple weeks ago."

"Jesus Erin and you are already dating him? Already taking his side over all of your friends? What happened to you?"

"You want to punish me because I found somebody I wanted to spend my time with."

"Spending your time with and dating is different. You know that."

"Carter, my mother, and Clara created this bet to help me get out of my bubble and get into the world and meet other people. That's exactly what I did and now everyone is mad at me for it." I was getting frustrated. I hadn't done anything wrong. I had done exactly what everyone else was trying to force me into doing.

"I know they did." I was confused. I hadn't told Carter about the bet, so how did he know about it.

"How do you know about the bet?"

"Well you obviously didn't feel it was important enough to tell me when I got here, but your mother called me. She is the reason I am here." My head was spinning at a million miles. Why did my mother call Carter? Why was I just supposed to tell him about the bet when he first stepped through the doors. I had so many things going on. I have to pay the bills for the shop, I have to run the freaking shop, on top of everything I was supposed to find someone I wanted to spend my time with. I was supposed to fall in love. I did all that, but I get punished for it.

"Remember when we went to lunch." He was calming down, his words sounding more sincere. More thoughtful and more protective. "Or when we hung out at your apartment and I got a little too drunk."

"I remember." I couldn't think of anything else to say. What about those times. I remember being panicked because I couldn't figure out if that lunch was a date or not. I couldn't figure out if he had meant the kiss or not. I couldn't figure out what was real.

"I didn't just kiss you because I drank too much." There was nothing I could say in response to this. There was nothing that would fix this. He had things he needed to tell me and I needed to just sit back and listen.

"Then why?" I mumbled. I was not prepared for whatever bloodbath was to come next.

"I love you, Erin, I've always loved you. Since the day we met. It's always been you. None of those other girls that thought they had chances. None of those mistakes I've made. It was always you and that was my biggest mistake. I should have chased you! I should have fought for the girl I truly loved...you." My heart skips in my throat. This was something I didn't know I needed but I had always needed to hear.

"You are so loyal that I know this is not going to change anything, but Erin I would do anything for you and that's why I'm here. When you mother started the bet she had no faith that you would find someone. So I was the guy she was going to make you go on a date with. I was here just waiting for the time to run out. Just waiting so impatiently. I wanted to be with you and I wanted to take you on that date so bad. Be the surprise guy that was standing there when your mother set the whole thing up. But you listen to well and you don't like to disappoint people so you found someone. While I sit here thinking about what I did wrong and how I disappointed myself I just wonder if Andrew really is a good guy for you?" He never looked away from the ceiling. I found myself craving his eye contact. Craving his touch, but my body froze.

"The worse thing about it all Erin, I'd still wait a million years for you to finally come around. That's not right, I need to move on. I need to try to get over you. That's why I must leave. I must move away again. I was willing to come back and live here. I wanted to. I miss this place. This place and you, well those two things are my home. I've been running from home not sure where to go but I'm here. I can't stay here though. Because If I can't have you I must continue to run. I love you Erin Rose and I always have." Tears were falling from my eyes. My heart was pounding with confusion. My body shaking from all the emotions trying to find their place.

"Carter I didn't know." The words were barely gasps, barely audible.

"No, stop. I've got to go back to the hotel and pack up some things. I need to start getting ready to head back to California. If there is nothing for me here I don't want to waste too much time. We will be in touch before I leave. I promise. I wish you the best of luck with Andrew. I really do, he is one lucky guy."

With that Carter left, he walked out of my office and the silence wrapped around me like a cold cocoon that I couldn't escape. The freezing air was almost suffocating as I began to breathe heavily. I couldn't feel the air inside my lungs, I was beginning to question if it was even there. How long would I be able to go without air before I began to slowly die? I felt like I was slowly dying. The tears were falling from my face like rivers trying to erode rocks away. My face uncontrollably contorting in whatever shape the pain brought out. I bent over as the tears beginning to overtake me. I'd always loved Carter too, but even now with this knowledge of his love for me. I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't be with Carter. I couldn't allow someone that could hurt me so much to be a part of my life. I couldn't let anybody destroy me the way Carter Simmons could. 

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Wow, a pretty powerful chapter after Carter tells Erin how he feels about her. True love never dies though, now the ball is in Erin's court and what will she do next?

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-Brittani