Not fully Edited! 

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If you know of a good song comment which one you think would fit this chapter! <3

The next day flew be pretty quickly and sooner than I thought it was Wednesday night and Mace and I were sitting on the couch watching Re-runs of Friends. My legs were hanging off the side of the couch while my head was on a pillow besides Macey's lap. Macey was curled up into a ball with a bowl of popcorn staring intently at the tv screen. My own popcorn bowl was laying on my stomach as I ate it.

We both munched quietly on our popcorn as we watched the show with renewed interest even though we had seen every episode at least 3 times. You could never go wrong with Friends especially when there was nothing else on to watch. It was nearing 10 o'clock and we had been in the same position for a good hour.

Both of us should have been getting ready for bed since we had class tomorrow but we still didn't move. Even though I only had one class left tomorrow I was ready for the weekend. The first week of college has really worn me out and I wanted nothing more than to sleep in and not do homework. But sadly I did have homework. College definitely wasn't like high school on the first day of school.

"You know their pizza looks really good. Wonder where they get it." Macey pondered out loud. I answered in agreement because the pizza Joey always had did look really good. As the current episode we were watching continued I thought back to yesterday night. Back to Gage's fight.

*****

After Gage was declared the winner he walked out of the ring and headed back to the room we were in before, not even a glance in my direction. Since I didn't want to get caught up in the crowd that was getting ready to leave I held onto Dylan's shirt as he weaved his way to the back room. We were almost there when a hand gripped my elbow pulling me away from Dylan. Whirling around I came face to face with a very pissed off Macey.

Her green eyes were narrowed and her face was flushed. I wanted to take a step back from her look, afraid she was going to kill me. I tilted my body away from her knowing a yelling rant was on its way out of her throat.

"Carter where the hell have you been?! I have been looking for you all over the place. I thought you were killed or kidnapped! You just disappeared leaving me to worry about you." She ranted waving her hands in the air. I tried to talk but she never stopped in her rant, so I stood there taking it in. When she stopped to take a breath I went to say something when another voice spoke before me.

"Carter are you coming?" Dylan asked behind me. At hearing my name Macey's eyes widened as she looked between Dylan and I. I knew she was about to spew out questions any moment.

"I'm coming." Not waiting for Macey I grabbed her wrist and tugged her after me. Behind me I could hear her sputtering but ignored her. When we got in the room Dylan shut the door after us. I barely let Mace's wrist go before she turned to me and shouted out questions one after another, again.

"I'm sorry." I finally said once she was done. "Some guy cornered me and wouldn't let me pass so I lost you and Amy. Dylan here came to help me and before I knew it I was up front watching the fight." Macey turned to Dylan and I watched as her eyes widened.

"Wait you're in my Math class." She pointed at him.

"I'm Dylan and you are?" Dylan took that moment to sweep in with a charming smile.

"I'm Macey Terry." Macey introduced her self sending him a wide grin. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Mace where's Amy?" I asked a minute later.

"Oh she met some guy who invited her to grab something to eat." She waved her hand at me. Of course she did. I thought. While my friend and Dylan moved towards one another to talk I looked around for Gage. I didn't see him but I saw the light from the bathroom on along with the sound of running water. Tired of standing I flopped onto the couch looking at my two friends, well my best friend and new friend.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Mace ask.

"My friend was fighting."

"Oh who's your friend?" I could practically see the gears in her head moving. She was probably wondering if Gage was nice looking so she could try and set us up.

"Gage Harper or otherwise known as "The Beast" in the ring." A proud tone rang in his voice.

"Wait Gage Harper? Gage, Gage." Macey repeated slowly knowing she knew the name from somewhere. I tried to sink lower into the couch waiting for her to realize where she knew the name. Here it comes. I thought. A second later I saw the light bulb go off in her head. When she turned to me I sent her a sheepish look.

"You have a lot of explaining to do." She pointed a finger at me. Inwardly I groaned not wanting to feel the onslaught of Macey.

"What's with all the girl voices." Gage's deep voice muttered as he exited the bathroom using a towel to dry his hair. My eyes immediately snapped to his shirtless chest down to the water dripping onto his low shorts. Macey had shut up and was staring at Gage just like I was. If someone was watching us they would think we have never seen a shirtless guy before.

"Great you're still here." He said when he glanced at me. I narrowed my blue eyes at him. How he went from smirking at me not even 15 minutes ago to hating me.

"You like me don't deny it." I leaned back further into the couch. I was already fed up with his grumpiness and it has only been a few days.

"You brought another one?" He swung his towel over his shoulder, his brown hair sticking up in all directions. Gage continued to look at Macey who just stared back at him.

"So you're Gage." She looked him up and down as if inspecting him. Gage raised an eyebrow at her probably wondering why she was basically undressing him with her eyes.

"Sure you're cute but that's it." She shrugged as if she didn't just tell one of the hottest guys I have met that he wasn't hot at all. I stifled a laugh behind my hand as Gage's jaw dropped. Beside Mace Dylan laughed out loud at his friends expression.

"You just got owned dude." He chuckled. Gage looked Macey up and down just like she had done with him.

"Eh you're cute but that's it." He threw her words back at her with a smirk. For a split second I thought Macey would lung at him but instead she surprised me by giving him an ear splitting grin.

"I like you." She simply said before coming over to join me on the couch. I stared at her like she had just grown 3 heads. If it was Luke who said that she would have tackled him, maybe she knew that if she did that to Gage he would kick her ass.

Gage sent me a look to ask if my friend was psycho to which I just shrugged. Macey was Macey. The next few minutes were spent in awkward silence as Mace and I sat on the couch not saying anything. I didn't really know what to say.

"That was an interesting fight." Macey said being the first to break the silence.

"Thank you?" Gage said well more like asked. He looked at Dylan silently communicating something. Mace looked at me but I just shrugged. Those two had some sort of mind reading abilities or something.

"Well..."Dylan started to say but trailed off.

"I think you two should probably get going, it is getting late. Dylan and I have a few things left to do so." Gage made a shooing motion towards the door. I just stared at him waiting for him to just be blunt about us leaving him alone. "That's means get out." There it is.

"Okay fine." I stood up followed by Macey. "Thank you Dylan for everything tonight. I'll see you later." I pulled him into a quick hug before heading to the door. "Glad you didn't die." I shot over my shoulder to Gage with a small smirk. Quickly I shut the door before he could make some remark back.

We barely made it a few feet before Macey was launching question after question at me. Most she just repeated from before but there were a few new ones about Gage. I of course knew to wait until she was finished before answering. We made it out to the empty parking lot. I looked around for a familiar car but it wasn't there.

"Mace?" I said her name but she didn't stop her babbling. "Macey!"

"What?"

"Where is Amy's car?" I asked turning my head to look at her.

"It should be right..." She stopped when she noticed it wasn't where we parked it. "She didn't give me the keys."

"No shit." I muttered softly. "So she took it with that guy she hooked up with then." I sighed. Great just great. We were stranded here in a bad part of town.

"I'm sorry I forgot to grab the keys from her. I just thought she would leave them for us and go with that guy." I wanted to let out a scream but I closed my eyes taking a deep breath.

"What are we going to do?"

"I guess call for a cab." Macey scrunched up her face at that. "Or we can see if the two we were with will give us a ride." She suggested. I opened my mouth to say 'hell no' but she held up her hand stopping me. "What else can we do Carter? To get a cab will take forever and they stick. Lets just go and see if they can. They have to be going back to campus anyways."

I thought about it before letting out a loud sigh. It was our best option even though I bet Gage would say no. Macey was right about getting a cab it would take forever and they would probably charge us a ton just to drive 10 minutes away.

"Lets go." I muttered heading back towards the building.

"Oh don't act like you don't want to do this. You want to see Gage again; not that I really blame you. He is hot."

"I don't want to see him again. He is an ass."

"But you totally flirted with him a few minutes ago." Macey pressed.

"I did not!"

"Yes you did. You said "Glad you didn't die'. Totally flirting with him I tell you."

"I didn't flirt with him Mace. I just made a sarcastic comment." I defended myself as I felt my cheeks turn red.

"Whatever you say. I know what I saw." She winked at me. In response I stuck my tongue at her. "Very mature Car." We headed back to the same room hoping that they were still in there. When we reached the closed door I suddenly felt nervous. My hormones were acting out these last few days. Raising a hand I knocked on the door.

"This is so stupid." I muttered under my breath. I wanted to deny what Macey said but a part of me couldn't. Even if Gage was being rude to me something about him drew me in. Maybe it was curiosity, maybe it was me wanting to try and get him to like me, I don't know. I couldn't explain it.

The door opened a crack a minute later. Dylan's hazel eye peeping out at us. I waved my fingers at him while smiling sheepishly. Seeing as it was just us he opened the door fully. Crossing his arms over his chest he stared down at us.

"We're are back."

"I can see that." Dylan grinned at us. "Did you leave something here?" He stepped to the side to let us in but I kept my feet still on the ground.

"Not exactly. We uh kind of got left behind by our friend and now we don't have a ride." I rubbed the back of neck.

"Would you and your 'kind' friend give us a ride?" Mace asked glancing around Dylan to see Gage walking towards us. He was now dressed in a pair of jeans and blue t-shirt that hugged his body.

"Sure we can give you a ride." Dylan answered at the same time Gage answered "No."

"Well you are. Come one we have to get going." Macey said and even snapped her fingers at the two boys. Not waiting for a reply she turned and headed back to the exit. I bit back a grin as I started after her.

It took the two boys a minute to follow after us. When they did catch up to us, not that hard since they both had long legs, they lead us towards the back parking lot. Gage walked in front of me and I couldn't help but stare at the muscles in his back move. Even through his shirt you could see them, not kidding.

I stopped in front of a nice looking Jeep. It looked like my brothers but slightly newer. I couldn't really see what color it was but I think it was either a black or dark charcoal grey color. Gage had added bigger tires making it jacked up as well as a lift. It also was a four door.

"Get in." Gage said as he unlocked it and slipped into the drivers seat. Macey and I quickly went to the back doors and slipped in the back. We were barely seated when Gage started backing out of the parking lot. The car ride was silent as we headed back to campus. It was kind of awkward as all four of us just stat there quietly not saying a word.

I played with my ring on my right hand as I looked out the window. There was music playing softly in the background but I had no idea what it was. Thankfully though it only took us about 10 minutes to get back to campus. Gage pulled into a parking stall but made no move to turn the car off.

"Thank you for the ride tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb." Macey said as she hopped out of the car. I wanted to say something but nothing would leave my throat.

"Thank you." I murmured as I got out after Mace. I glanced over my shoulder only to see Gage staring right at me through the front window. I quickly whipped my head back around as Macey and I headed home. Tonight was definitely a weird one.

******

I haven't Gage or Dylan today but I had class with Gage tomorrow. I didn't know if I should just ignore whatever happened from the other night or bring it up. I was leaning more towards the ignoring it one. I did not like how I was the other day around him. It was like all my reasonable sense flew out the window.

After we had gotten back both Macey and I texted Amy asking her why she just left us. Of course she came up with an excuse about the guy being hot and how she had a great time, blah blah blah. It wasn't like I was too pissed at her but both of us couldn't help it. Lately she really had been slacking off in the friend department. Macey and I did both forgive her after we had dinner together earlier but it still seemed off about her behavior.

Macey and I finally went to bed after watching a total of 5 episodes of friends. It was nearing 11:30 pm and I was dead tired. Thankfully I slept soundlessly without dreaming of anyone. The last few days I have been dreaming about Gage more and more. Usually I dreamt of Ethan but it seemed Gage had replaced him for the moment.

Of course when my alarm went off 8 hours later I didn't want to get up. It was definitely not enough sleep for me but at least today I only had one class and I was done until Monday. I stumbled out of the bed and into the bathroom. Since it was was my Friday I wasn't planning on dressing to impress. I was past the point now that I didn't care what I wore to classes, least of all only one class.

Being quiet because Macey didn't have a class today I got dressed in a pair of army style leggings and a simple black t-shirt. Slipping on some black flats I grabbed my bag. My hair was up in a messy pony tail because I had no energy to even try and do it. Grabbing an apple from the counter I left the dorm heading for class.

I was jealous of Macey at the moment since she could just sleep in. But the feeling wasn't too bad because I did like English a lot, I just wasn't looking forward to seeing Gage. Having the last day away from him I have realized that maybe being around Gage wasn't the best for me. He was an underground fighter, a womanizer, an ass; just to name a few.

While I thought that I shouldn't be around him anymore a part of me did want to hang out with him. I wanted to know what made him tick, learn how he learned how to fight, why he was rude. It was a feeling that I couldn't seem to push away no matter how hard I tried.

I let out a sigh as I entered the building that my English class was in. I had multiple voices in my head telling me what to do and neither would shut up. Reaching the room I took a deep breath to gather myself before pushing the door open. The room was pretty full making it seem like I was late although I wasn't. I glanced around for the professor but when I didn't see him I let out a breath of relief, I definitely wasn't late.

Making my way up the stairs to my seat I had on Monday I kept my gaze on the floor. I could almost feel peoples eyes on me as I headed for my seat. I have always hated people staring at me. Finding the right aisle I turned but stumbled on a pair of legs. I quickly caught myself on the back of another chair as I lifted my gaze. Sitting down was none other than Gage and he had a smirk on his face. His long legs were still spread across the space where I needed to walk.

I looked between his legs and his facing silently communicating for him to move them. Gage's smirk just widened as I stood there getting annoyed. He purposely put his feet there and knew I would trip on them. By the look on his face I had it right. I continued to stare there awkwardly feeling people starting to look at us wondering why I was just standing there like a weirdo.

"Move your legs." I bit out clenching onto the strap of my bag. His infuriating smirk just looked back at me, he even started to put his hands behind his head stretching out even more. My blue eyes narrowed at him.

"Move them or I will cut them off!" I hissed.

"I'm rather comfortable if you don't mind." I could probably step over his legs but who knew if he would do something to make me fall flat on my face. That would not be fun.

"Gage move them right now." When he made no move to do so I clenched my jaw lifting my leg up to step over his. When I had one leg over I stilled for a second waiting for him to do something. Seeing as he wasn't going to I quickly brought my other leg around. Just as I had it over his knee Gage decided to move his legs making them knock into me. I lost my footing. Instead of falling forward I feel to the side right on top of Gage.

Instantly I froze as I felt his hard body beneath me. For some reason I was glued to him even though I could have gotten up the moment I fell. I felt his warm breath on my neck as I tried to make my limbs work.

"I knew you couldn't resist me." His deep voice whispered huskily in my ear. A blush creeped onto my face. I opened my mouth to reply when another new voice spoke before me.

"You know there are plenty of empty seats." The voice said. My eyes snapped towards the voice to find an amused teacher at the front of the classroom looking at Gage and I. The professors voice snapped me out of whatever trance I was in. Immediately I scrambled off of Gage's rather comfortable lap and scurried over to a seat a few away from him. I knew my cheeks were a bright red and every students eyes were on me.

"Sorry sir." I said quietly but loud enough he could hear it.

"That is quite all right Ms.-" He stopped waiting for me to supply my name.

"Miller. Carter Miller." I replied in a shaky voice.

"Just remember when you come in again that there are other seats besides that mans lap; even though it is comfortable." The professor sent me an amused smile before leaving me alone. I could feel heat all over my body from my embarrassment. Glancing over at Gage I found him choking back on his laughter. Idiot thought it was funny I got called out.

"Jerk." I muttered. Every thought I had about Gage maybe being misunderstood or that he just came off rude flew out the window just now. If I even thought about him being nice I was wrong.

For the next 2 hours I made myself focus on the professor and what he was talking about. I didn't find it too hard to do so since I kind of like what we were doing. I read the required text that he assigned on Monday, a short story called Young Goodman Brown, so I was prepared at least. I found the story weird and slightly confusing but after hearing how Mr. Waite described the story and went into depth of it I found myself leaning forward totally engrossed.

When the time came for Mr. Waite to call on people to hear what they thought of the story I shrunk in my chair. I did not want to be called on. Yeah I had my own opinion on the story I just didn't want to share it out loud. Over the years I have gotten slightly better at speaking in front of people but that was when I had my family or Macey and Ethan there to look at. Here I had no one, no one to give me a nod or a smile encouraging me to talk.

As more and more people raised their hands or got called on the more I hoped I wouldn't be picked. I mean everyone so far had basically said the same thing but in different words so the professor shouldn't want to listen to everyone's answer. Next to me Gage looked straight ahead bored. As if he didn't find any of this fascinating or at least useful. I kept peaking at him from the corner of my eye but made sure to look away quickly so he wouldn't know I was doing it.

"How about you Ms. Miller? What did you think about Young Goodman Brown?" The dreaded words echoed around me. Damn it! I guess luck was not on my side today. I quickly glanced around to see if anyone was looking at me but thankfully no one was. Well no one was but Gage. Gage looked at me waiting for my answer. It seemed he even sat up straighter and turned to me to hear me better.

I gulped nervously. Having him watching my every move was more terrifying than everyone in the room doing so. It seemed he could tell how nervous I was. He cocked his head to the side almost sending me a questioning look. I gave a slight shake of my head that was practically unnoticeable but he noticed it. I thought he would do something to make fun of me or just ignore me but instead he gave me a nod. It was small but I saw it. It was the nod Luke, Ethan or Macey gave me if I had to talk. The nod that meant they knew I could do this and would there to silently cheer me on. Swallowing I looked back at the front seeing Mr. Waite waiting patiently for me to talk.

"I um...I thought the story was interesting." Mr. Waite nodded for me to continue. My tongue darted out of my mouth to wet my lip. "Well from the title I thought it was going to be a happy, simple story but it isn't. It is about evil and innocence being lost. The main character believed that everyone in his town was good, followed the path they should be but instead he learns differently. His eyes are opened to how evil everyone is, even his own wife who he thought was innocent. From the moment he sees that he can't turn back. He leads his life differently than he first did and in the end it kind of destroys him. He doesn't know what to believe anymore."

I finished after a few moments. I couldn't read what the teacher was thinking and it almost seemed like he wasn't impressed at all. My heart sunk just a little bit at that thought. I said something different than everyone else hadn't I? I started to question my answer.

"Ms. Miller you definitely understood the meaning of the story. You noticed how the man changed from the beginning to end. Well done." Mr. Waite finally said giving me a nod. I forced myself not to let my jaw drop open.

"T-thank you sir." I dumbly said. He moved onto the next person leaving me sitting there smiling. That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I looked over to Gage who was still staring at me. His brown eyes captured mine and held me captive for a moment. When he glanced away I was freed. Knowing I had to thank him I waited for him to look back at him. I got my wish a second later when he did. I mouth a 'thank you' to him and sent him a small smile. To which all he did was nod in return. It wasn't much but I was going to take it.

The rest of class I sat there silently clapping myself on the back for speaking in front of a large class. I also felt kind of giddy that Gage helped me. Sure it wasn't something big but it was something. More than I thought he would do. And maybe I didn't get a reaction out of him by my thanks but a nod was fine with me.

I was wrong when thinking the teacher wouldn't call on everyone; he did. Gage was the last person he got to and I was surprised by him as well as the teacher. He told his opinion and thoughts on the story and I found myself doing the same thing I was with the teacher early. My body had turned in his direction and my eyes stayed glued to his face. As did every girls in the class.

I guess I never really thought of Gage caring about class but he did. He was actually really smart. His thoughts and opinions went deep into the story about things I hadn't even thought of. At a glance at the teachers face I could tell he was surprised about it as well. Gage didn't even seem fazed at the stares from girls as he talked, in fact he seemed like he didn't even know they were staring. Of course I knew he did because the side of his mouth was tilted up in almost a smirk. He sure did love attention.

When the bell rung I quickly wrote down our next assignment before putting it all in my bag. By time I had done so half the class was gone. What surprised me as I was standing up to leave was Gage barely getting up as well. I figured he would be long gone by now. He walked ahead of me down the hallway towards the door. Practically running to met his large strides I came to trot beside him.

"Thank you for earlier." I said. I almost expected him to jump or look over at me when I caught up with him but it was like he knew I was following him or he didn't get scared easily. "I mean it, thank you." I said sincerely.

I guess stage fright was a big deal to me, not to my brother of course. I mean I didn't have it as bad as some people but I hated it. Gage didn't and won't know how much it actually meant for him to give me that nod. It may seem like a simple nothing act but to me it wasn't.

"It's no big deal." He finally answered adjusting the binder and textbook in his hands.

"Well to me it is. I get really nervous and scared when talking in front of a crowd. If it was maybe half the class than I would be fine but not that many." I rambled waving my hands in the air. I had the tendency to use my hands a lot when I talk.

"Nice to know." Gage said but his tone was flat and bored. I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Come on you can't hate me. I know you like me deep inside of your body."

"No I don't. In fact I think you are like cockroach, you never die or leave."

"I hate cockroaches."

"And I care why?"

"Because you like me. Deep down, deep deep deep down in your soul." I poked his arm.

"Can you just leave me alone for a fucking second? Seriously you are annoying." He bit out at me.

"I-" I started but stopped when he whirled around to face me. I froze taking in his angry face. What got his panties in a twist so suddenly? I wondered.

"You need to get it through your head that I don't like you. I don't want to be friends with you either. Just because I helped you out the other night does not mean you can follow me around like a love sick puppy. I wouldn't have even helped you if I had known this is what you would be like." He glared down at me. I was slightly scared but not enough to not let me stand my ground.

"Also the other night at the fight is nothing. Dylan likes to pick up stray dogs and help them out but that doesn't mean I have to. We are not friends nor are we buddies. Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone. Got it?"

"Did you refer to me as a dog as in I'm a bitch?" I asked the first thing on my mind.

"If the shoe fits." I narrowed my eyes back at him.

"Why are you such an ass anyways? I was just thanking you again and all you can do is be rude to me. If you don't want me near you just say it."

"I. Do. Not. Want. You. Near. Me. Do. You. Fucking. Understand?" He said slowly as if I was stupid.

"Here I thought I could try and be friends with you!" I poked his chest with my finger. "Guess I was wrong."

"You were because I do not want to be friends with you or be even near you." Without even waiting for a reply or anything Gage turned and stalked away from me. I stared after him angry and confused. A sense of deja vu washed over me. It was just like last time we got out of English class.

Clenching my jaw and headed back to my dorm silently cursing at Gage. Why does he have to be so damn rude? Is a girl not aloud to say thank you anymore? The slightest idea of ever trying to be friends with him left. Gage was definitely no good. 

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SOOOO SORRY you guys!! I know it has been longer then I said for updating! Lately I have been really busy with classes, homework, my mom. And for some reason every time I sat down to write I couldn't find any inspiration or will to write. But it is really late where I am and I suddenly wanted to write so I did! 

I know this chapter is really really bad and is a filler but I felt like I had to give you guys something. It is a chapter filled with Gage and Carter for those of you who are on #TeamGage. (I love how many there are of you!) My parents are leaving me alone on Friday night so I plan on writing and posting another chapter, I promise! 

For those of you who keep asking for an Ethan POV I am here to tell you...just wait a little bit longer! I want to develop his character a little more in Carter's eyes before his pov. I promise there will be one of him soon but these next few chapters he will appear and give you more development of him. I know the wait is going to kill you all but hold on for a little longer. 

I hope you all liked this chapter! It means a lot that you are reading and liking this story! <3 

VOTE, COMMENT, and did you see the Grammy's? What did you think? I love how Taylor Swift burned Kanye :D 

<3 

-Ken