Because I've been having fun with exploring Carter's early high school years.

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Carter climbed the stairs to the second story of the library and strolled past the aisles. When she came to the final row, she stopped, resting her shoulder on the bookshelf.

At the end of the row, Mason Douglas was lip-locked with a girl. Carter glanced at the shelf she leaned on and swiped something off the ledge.

"You know," she said, rolling her eyes, her voice instantly breaking the couple apart. "Hundreds of years ago men would come to libraries like this seeking knowledge. It pains me how far humans have fallen."

The girl hurriedly tried to smooth out her hair as she flushed while Mason looked completely calm.

"Knowledge is everywhere, Owens," he said.

"Oh yeah? What's her middle name?" Mason frowned. "Clearly, you aren't a very good study. Come on, we have a project to do."

Having regained her control, the girl strode towards Carter. When her glance landed next to where Carter lounged, she paused. Carter raised her eyebrows, taunting.

"Looking for something?" she asked.

Mason came up beside the girl and she plastered on an unconcerned smile.

"Not at all," she said.

"Didn't think so," Carter said.

Throwing Carter an acid look, she swept away. Mason grinned at Carter.

"You sure you're here for the project, or were you looking for an alternative type of knowledge as well."

Carter pressed her hand to her mouth.

"So shocked I would offer," Mason said.

"No, I just threw up in my mouth."

Mason's expression fell flat and Carter headed away. When they got to the main level, she pointed to a table and a stack of books that sat before one chair.

"That is your stuff," she said, plopping into a seat opposite. "This is mine. Being at the same table I feel qualifies as 'working together'."

With a groan of annoyance, Mason sank into his chair.

"Eight months and you think our teachers would stop pairing us together."

Carter scowled at him like he was an idiot, which wasn't hard because she did think he was.

"How have you not put this together?" she said. "They pair us because then it's only one battle. Putting us with other students means there would be two battles since we seem to piss off our partners."

"Is that seriously true?"

Carter stared at him. "It also explains how you've managed to make it this far, my brain keeps saving you from failing. Oh." She pulled out a phone and slid it across the way. "Another thing I saved you from. Your French partner was recording you. Seems she wanted something worth selling."

Mason snatched up the phone and typed in the password. How he knew it was beyond her but she didn't ask. After a few seconds, the video was completely erased.

"It seems almost a crime to delete such a beautiful moment."

"I saw that moment, there was nothing beautiful about that. It looked like you were trying to maul her face. Real classy."

"Have you ever been kissed, Owens?"

"By a bear that's trying to eat me? Can't say I have."

Mason leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.

"I'll take that as a no."

It was but Carter didn't care. Not kissing someone didn't seem like a bad thing. Relationships were complications that ended in pain. She had enough pain, she wasn't dumb enough to go asking for more.

Instead of responding, Carter grabbed the first book in her stack and flipped it open. Mason smirked like he'd won something but he hadn't, Carter simply didn't care to play that game. They worked in silence for a while, which almost seemed like a miracle.

"Are you going to prom?" Mason asked.

Carter raised her head. "We're freshmen, we can't go to prom."

"We can if one of an upper class-man asks us."

Carter resumed her work of taking notes.

"Oh how my heart longs for such an occurrence," she deadpanned. "If no one shall ask me, truly I will die."

"No need to be dramatic about it, it's only prom."

Offended, Carter out her hand to her heart. "But don't you know that prom is all I've ever wanted, ever dreamed of!" She put her hand to her forehead. "Oh, what is life if some man shall not ask me."

"Go to prom with me, Owens," Mason said.

"Ew. Never mind, just let me die."

She pulled over another book and rifled through it.

"I'm going," Mason announced. "With Aubrey Lenex."

"You mean the girl that you weren't making out with half an hour ago." She pointed her pencil at him. "Thanks for proving my theory that politicians' offspring never breaking the untrustworthy mold is true."

Mason glared at her and she smirked. Always a sore point.

"Jealousy doesn't look good on you," he said.

Carter rolled her eyes. "Why of all days did our teacher have to burden me with you."

"What's important about today?" Mason asked, curious.

"Nothing, besides the fact it's ruined by your presence."

Checking her phone for the time, Carter closed the textbook. She gathered them all together and walked off to put them away. By the time she returned to the table, the school bell rang, ending her free period. She slipped her notebook into her bag and headed to the door, not bothering with a farewell to Mason.

"See you around, Owens," Mason called out. She didn't reply. "And happy birthday!"

She paused, her hand on the library door. Mason looked smug that he'd figured it out.

"I'm not as dumb as you think I am," he said.

Carter tapped her chin. "Nope, I'm pretty sure you still are."

She walked away as Mason laughed.

*******

When Carter entered the deli, a loud pop rang out and confetti floated around her. She tried to scowl at Maggie for the dramatics, but couldn't quite manage it. Maggie beamed as she raced forward and wrapped Carter into a tight hug.

"Happy birthday, girly!" she said.

Despite how warm Maggie had been to Carter over the past half-year, it still took Carter a second before returning the hug.

It felt comforting and that scared Carter.

She'd lost a mother, someone who'd given birth to her. How easy would it be to lose someone who had no family ties to her?

Carter tried not to think about it and smiled at Maggie.

"Thanks," she said.

Maggie cupped Carter's face. "It's crazy how much you've grown up so much since I first met you."

"I know, now I can assemble a gun within a minute, huge improvement."

Maggie laughed and guided Carter to a booth.

"I have someone else filling in for me, so I'm here for you for the whole evening! But we can't go back to your apartment until Steve gives me the 'okay'."

This piqued Carter's curiosity.

"Why? What does he have planned?"

Maggie only grinned which made Carter spend the next hour guessing and trying to gauge from Maggie's reaction what was going on. Finally, Maggie received a text message and Carter practically shot out of the booth. Maggie tried to stop her, but that was not going to happen.

Carter dashed across the road and down the narrow lane. The stairs shuddered as she raced up to the front door. When she burst inside, Captain started laughing.

"Thirty seconds flat," he said. "That is impressive."

"Where is it? What did you get me?" she asked.

Her father's presents were the best because they were things Carter never expected like a book about reading body language. The most normal thing he'd ever gifted her was a MacBook.

"Aren't you going to let me give you a birthday hug, first?" her father asked.

"No, old man. I want to know."

Shaking his head, her father retrieved a box from behind the armchair and handed it to her. Maggie walked in as Carter tore away the wrapping. Inside was a set of boxing gloves. Carter raised her head but her father held up his hand.

"That's not all."

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he guided her to her own room. Inside, hanging in the corner was a brand new punching bag.

"No way!" Carter said.

She walked over and ran her hand over the smooth leather and touched the chain.

"When do we start?" she asked.

"Cake first!" Maggie said.

Carter made a face and her father laughed.

"You have years ahead of you to fight that thing. For now, we'll eat cake."

Carter kept the boxing gloves on her lap as she ate. She didn't understand how her father could know exactly what she needed. So many times a day she felt like she wanted to hit something or break down. Each time she held herself together it felt harder and harder. But this would be her release. A punching bag didn't cry or tell a teacher if you hit it.

Somehow her father knew that, knew her. Carter looked at him as he smiled at something Maggie said. She could still see his sadness, neither of their grief was going away anytime soon. But at least he was smiling again.

When he looked at Carter, she smiled at him.

Him and her. That's all she needed. All she trusted in.

Relationships were complicated and messy. But not them. She knew no matter what, they would be okay.

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Hey hey hey Butternut!

If you have thoughts about the chapter and you want to share because sharing is caring then I will care about your thoughts that you share! 🗯💭💬

I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of the dynamic between Mason and Carter. It's a love/hate relationship that neither of them will admit is actually a relationship!

Honestly, it is simply fun to see how two people who are so similar would constantly butt heads. I don't know if I have more early school year chapters left but who knows!

If you have ideas go ahead and share them!

Also, gotta love some Captain and Sarge bonding! Who doesn't love a dad who gives his daughter a punching bag for her birthday!

Vote, comment, follow because you know you want to!