"What?" she asked, almost baffled that I would ask her that.

"Are you all right?" I repeated.

"Why are you asking me that? All I've done is make things worse for you," she sniffed.

"That's okay. Let's just say you didn't know what you were doing," I shrugged.

"Carter didn't budge, huh? He really likes you," she chuckled.

"Abby, are you ok?" I asked.

She softly shook her head, "No," she cried.

"What's wrong?" I questioned.

"Everything! Don't you see it? Nobody wants me here. My parents, my friends, Hudson. I know he isn't really my boyfriend, but he can't even pretend to like me," she explained, "Everyone just thinks I'm a waste."

"I don't think you're a waste." She looked up at me, her blue eyes wide. "I think you're annoying. But you're not a waste. Abby, I think you just have to find the right people. The people who make you enjoy where you are. Rather than the ones who make you feel so horrible about yourself."

"That's the problem. Nobody wants me. If they did, I wouldn't be so horrible to people just to get noticed," she huffed.

"You can get noticed by being nice too. You can make new friends. You can find a boy who will treat you right. And you're eighteen. More fish in the sea for you," I shrugged.

"I didn't fail and get held back, I swear. It was because of all the moving around," she explained eagerly.

"I'm not worried about you being eighteen in a class full of seventeen-year-olds. I'm worried about you getting so upset. Maybe you could use new friends. I know we weren't so welcoming the last time. But we can be nice. I swear," I said while standing up. "We've got one seat available. It's there if you want it," I said before handing her a few tissues and then walking back out.

I sat back down while Carter walked over with two plates in his hand from the buffet. He placed my plate in front of me and grabbed my hand in his. "Everything ok?" he asked.

"Yeah," I nodded. He kissed the side of my head before we all ate and talked.

Someone cleared their throat and we all looked up as she stood there with her plate in her hand. "Is this seat taken?"

"No, it's yours if you want it," I said before anyone else could say anything.

She sat down hesitantly in the seat to my left, opposite to Zach's. Hannah stared at me in confusion while Connor figured everything out. Carter knew me well enough to know exactly what I had done and Zach was kind of clueless about our past. "Thank you," she whispered.

"No problem," I replied.

"I'm Zach," he held his hand out for her to take.

"Abby," she smiled while shaking it.

"You look really pretty," he said.

Carter and I looked at each other before looking between the two. They were stuck staring at each other in awe.

Did I just unknowingly play matchmaker?

"And you look really handsome," she chuckled.

"Quick question, just for my safety, are you eighteen?" he asked.

He is so stupid.

"Yeah, I'm eighteen," she laughed.

"You're eighteen?" Connor asked.

"I had to repeat a year because I moved around a lot," she explained.

"Oh, where have you been?" Hannah asked, genuinely curious. She has a thing for travel.

"Around," Abby chuckled, "England, Philippines, Alaska, India, back here now," she explained.

"Have you seen the Taj Mahal?" Hannah asked.

"Sure have," she nodded with a smile. I felt nice knowing I made life a tad bit easier for her. I'm not saying she'll be part of our group and we'll all be besties. But yeah, we could be friends.

"You're going straight to heaven," Carter said to me.

"I hope I'm not going anytime soon. I just found you," I grinned.

"I'm always there for you. Even when you're in heaven, and I'm down there in hell. Promise me you'll come to see me," he smirked.

"I don't know if I'll have to. I think you can make me sin and some more," I replied.

"You're such a tease," he whispered while shaking his head.

"You love it," I mumbled before kissing his cheek.

"I love you."

My head snapped in his direction so fast, I think I felt a little whiplash. "What did you just say?" I asked.

"I love you," he repeated, locking his fingers with mine. "I love you, Alex," he whispered.

I blinked back the tears that pooled in my eyes. The difference in the way that Carter treats me and the way Hudson did became so much clearer in my head. Hudson never told me he loved me.

"Hey," he squeezed my hand, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I cleared my throat, "I love you," I said.

"You do?" he asked.

"So much," I whispered.

"Mm-mm, I bet I love you more," he shook his head, wiping a stray tear from the corner of my eye.

"No, you don't," I said before turning to my food.

"Yes, I do," he sang.

"Prove it," I smirked.

Before he could say anything, his dad and my dad appeared. "Alex," my dad placed his hand on my shoulder. "I want you to stay with Carter tonight, okay honey? We'll be working all night in my study. I don't want to wake you," he said.

"Is this about..."

Clark?

"No, it's our project. Personal. As fathers to you two."

"You've already said too much, Tim. Come on now," Mr. Reed shook his head.

"Oh, that's my daughter, shut up," my dad waved his hand dismissively.

I laughed while looking up. Mr. Reed handed Carter the car keys. "Take her with you. Enjoy the night, kids," he said before they left.

The party ended a little after that and Hannah and Connor left. Zach decided to stick around and keep Abby company.

I'm calling it, something is going to happen between them. I've never seen him smile like that. Not that I've known him too long.

"Bye, Alex," Abby smiled.

"Bye," I smiled. She pulled me into a surprising hug before I left with Carter, taking my heels off as soon as we got in the car. We pulled up in his driveway and entered the house, me still barefoot.

"Do you have ice cream?"

"Probably," he answered.

"Ooh! Can I get-" I turned to face him but he cut me off, smashing his lips on mine. I stumbled back but he luckily caught me by the waist. He didn't break the kiss while walking me to the stairs.

Once we reached, he picked me up, only breaking the kiss when he kicked his door open.

"What are you doing?" I chuckled as he seated me on his bed.

"Kissing you," he shrugged before locking his lips with mine again. I leaned back until I was lying down with him on top of me as he held himself up on elbows. His hand rested on my thigh while the other held my waist. I pulled his blazer off while he unbuttoned his shirt.

"Someone's eager," I teased.

"Shut up," he chuckled before kissing me again, harder this time. He trailed kisses down my neck, leaving a trail of fire on my skin wherever his lips touched. I bit down on my lip to keep myself from moaning before his lips met mine again.

His hands found the hem of my dress which had ridden up and he pulled away, leaving me frowning. "Can I take it off?"

"Sweet of you to ask," I chuckled.

"I hate when you call me sweet, makes me feel like a lost little puppy," he rolled his eyes before he grabbed my hands and pulled me up to my feet before unzipping the back of the dress, letting it fall to my feet.

"Sorry, you're just gonna have to deal with it," I laughed before he kissed me again.

His hands roamed around my body while he lay me down gently. He broke the kiss, again. "I love you."

"I'll believe that when you stop pulling away, damn it," I mumbled before pulling his lips back down to mine. He flipped us over and had me on top. I had no idea what I was doing. I was just doing it until he flipped us back around a minute later and I looked up. His hair was a mess, his lips were all red and swollen, he had fresh red spots on his neck.

I did those?

"Yes, you did those. My turn," he chuckled.

"Glad I said that out loud," I laughed. "Carter," I giggled.

"What?" he pulled away, sounding slightly frustrated.

"Your door is still open," I said.

He rolled his eyes and slammed it shut before crawling back over to me. I grinned before he kissed me and then resumed leaving kisses on my neck, down to my collarbone.

"Alex, are you sure?" he asked, pausing to look up at me.

"Yes," I nodded.

"One hundred percent?"

"One thousand percent," I laughed.

He grinned before kissing me again.

I had never been so sure of anything before in my entire life.

.

.

.

.

.