Donovan heard his phone buzz on top of his bed and snatch up it, accepting the video call. Three different screens came into view, each one holding a different brother.

"Donny," James said. "What's the hold up? We're wanting for you and Link to join Call of Duty."

Donovan set his phone down on his nightstand, leaning it against a lamp.

"I texted you," he said.

"Yeah, but we thought you were joking," Brock said. "Do you honestly think we're going to believe you're going on a double date."

It was a fair point, they all knew he didn't date. But Donovan didn't know if he wanted to tell them it was true, he had a good idea of how they would react. Instead, rifled through his closet, trying to find a good shirt.

"We're missing the obvious here," Clint said. "Donovan has just showered and is looking for a shirt, he really is going on a date."

Loud oohs and exclamation filled Donovan's quiet room and he winced.

"Donny has a hot date!"

"Who is she?"

"What does she look like?"

"Are you officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet?"

"Have you held hands? It's not official if you haven't held hands."

"Does she call you Donny Wonny?"

"Do you both refuse to hang up the phone, or are you heartless and hang up right away?"

Donovan tried to ignore the tirade of immature questions, but he found himself shaking his head and trying not to laugh. The name Donny Wonny coming out of Carter's mouth would be the strangest thing. And he hoped he never experienced it.

By the time Donovan had found a shirt and tugged it on, his brothers had run out of annoying things to say.

"Alright, who is she?" James asked.

Donovan grabbed his phone and carried it with his to the bathroom.

"She's no one," he said, setting the phone down and working his fingers through his hair.

"We don't believe you," Brock said. "Why would you be going on a double date with her if she was no one."

Donovan stopped and stared at his brothers. "Because this is for Link. Besides, I didn't even come up with the idea she did."

The second he admitted it, Donovan regretted.

"A woman who takes charge!"

"Did she send you a note saying 'will you go out on a double date with me check yes or no'?"

"Don't let her take advantage of you Donovan, it is okay to say no."

"Do you have pepper spray?"

"Do you need us to call and bail you out halfway through?"

As the Greek chorus continued to spew comments, Donovan worked his hair into a perfect brushed back style. Somehow he didn't mind the inane chatter. It felt like he was home and his brothers were crammed into the bathroom with him poking fun at his life. Even after six years of being alone, he missed them.

"I'm hanging up," Donovan said, noticing the time.

"Wait, wait, wait," James said.

Donovan paused, his thumb hovering over the screen.

"Just tell us," James said seriously. "If this lasts, will you be voted prom King and Queen?"

All three brothers burst out laughing and Donovan ended the call. Despite their ridiculousness, he wished he didn't have to hang up.

After tucking his phone into his pocket, he slid on his peak coat and left the apartment. As he locked up, he heard footsteps.

"Where's Link?" Carter asked.

Donovan looked over and froze. All he'd ever seen Carter wear was a wrinkled uniform she seem to make as unattractive as possible. But now she wore well fitted jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket and boots. Even her hair tumbled freely over her shoulders. Brock's comment of 'hot date' flashed in his mind. He hated that Brock was right, Carter looked like she'd stepped out of an action movie and was ready to do damage.

This was not good.

When she gave him a smug smile, Donovan schooled his features into indifference, though it took more work than normal.

"Thanks for the compliment," she said.

Donovan keep his eyes fixed on hers.

"I didn't say anything."

Her smile widened. "Not in words, no, but I got it just the same."

Donovan shifted, hating how she'd caught him. Carter glanced around.

"Where is Link?" she asked again.

Donovan pointed down the hall, grateful for a change in topic. "Next apartment over."

Carter looked at him, her brow furrowing. He understand her question even before she could ask it and almost smiled. The girl who knew everything didn't seem to actually know everything.

"No," he said. "I don't live in the same apartment. I have my own, just next door."

Carter opened her mouth but Donovan laughed. He knew what she must have thought, that he was some teen put on protection detail.

"I'm twenty-two, Carter. What did you expect?" he said. "I'm close enough to prevent anything from happening. Besides I needed a different address for school purposes."

She shook her head, ridding her features of the baffled expression.

"Right, you just look-"

"Like a seventeen year old student? That's kind of the point."

Carter smiled and looked him over. This time Donovan felt like he had the upper hand as he noticed the appreciative glint in her eyes.

"It's a good thing you normally wear a uniform because the casual look ages you," Carter said.

Donovan echoed Carter's small, smug smile from before.

"Thanks for the compliment," he said.

"I didn't say anything."

"Not in so many words, no."

"I was stating an observation."

Though she didn't blush, Donovan knew she was a bit flustered, but she was the type of girl who wouldn't let him know that.

"You were," he said, sliding his hands into his pockets. "The look before it though was anything but."

Carter crossed her arms. "Donovan, it should be clear that your physique and symmetrical features do not have the same impression on me as it does with your fan club of drooling girls."

No, but she did notice both of those traits.

"I would not expect it to," Donovan said. "You're far to clear headed for that, but it doesn't mean that it hasn't made some impression."

She leveled him with a cool, condescending look.

"Yes," she said, "the simple impression that your main focus as been on running, along with a small amount of attention to arm strength. I know this is in order to remain at peak physical condition in case of combat but not so much that you stand out. That is the impression I received from it."

He cocked his head, a teasing look slipping into his gaze. She really was getting defensive about the subject, though he guessed she would deny the fact that she was defensive. All the signs were there: crossed arms, defiant stance, raised chin.

"And how much notice of my physique did you have to observe to come to those conclusions, Carter?"

She gave him a defiant look.

"A single glance was sufficient," she said, with a patronizing tone. "I've learned to sum up anyone's size in a matter of seconds. Your appearance was no different and required nothing longer than thirty seconds."

That was impressive, but with her background it wasn't surprising, still Donovan was intrigued.

"Impressive," he said. "I had you summed up in a quarter of a minute."

Carter shrugged but looked at him with a half concealed approving smile. Despite the antagonism she'd shown over not being attracted to him, Donovan got the sense he'd just passed some test of hers.

A door down the hall opened and they both broke their stare to glance over. Link stepped out wearing a hoodie tucked beneath a blazer paired with jeans. The outfit was a mix of casual and classy. It was an outfit that had taken both Link and Donovan half an hour to settle on. Link spending most of the time fighting his panic over the date and Donovan calming him down.

Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Link walked over to them. His eyebrow shot up as he looked at Carter.

"You look-"

Yeah, that was the same reaction Donovan had. Though knowing Carter could run a decent mile, it was still surprising to see the evidence of a toned body. But this fact seemed to annoy Carter since she cut Link off with a wave of her hand.

"Yes, I know. Let's move past this revelation that I have a figure."

Link, still slightly surprised, nodded.

"Alright."

"We should go," Donovan said, not wanting to dwell on this point either.

Link came out of his daze.

"Yeah, right," he said, "I don't want Maddy to have to wait."

Carter smiled.

"Of course we don't. Let's get this date over with."

Donovan smirked. "Don't sound too excited, Carter."

She shot him a flat look that he returned with a half smile.

***********

Donovan stared at the screen dumbfounded. Was this really what people thought romantic? The only romance movie he could remember watching was While You Were Sleeping because it was his mother's favorite movie. Even then his brothers and him had made fun of how stupid the coma guy the whole time. But it didn't seem that bad.

But this movie...

How was this romantic? From a psychological stand point the entire relationship was based off mental abuse and lies. That wasn't love. Well, not how he'd had seen it. In his mind, love was the small actions a couple did for one another. It was the way that his father, who hardly smiled, would look at Donovan's mother and smile every so slightly. Love was trust, respect, deep affection.

Carter sat beside him, but Donovan never looked over. Despite knowing she was a logical person, he didn't know if this movie would be the exception. After all if it was being made this must be what girls considered romantic, right?

When the movie finally ended and the lights went up, Donovan stood, ready to leave the theater. But Carter didn't move. She stared at the screen like she couldn't comprehend what she'd just watched. Donovan felt relieved. He nudged her arm and she finally came out of her thoughts.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Carter took a spot by Donovan's side.

"Is it just me," she said, "or do you feel you lost brain cells watching that poor display of acting? Not to mention the fact that that story line so convoluted that they forgot to mention how the girl's mother survived the car crash."

Donovan almost smiled, glad that he wasn't alone in his analysis of the movie. He ran a hand through his hair, a frown forming as he shook his head.

"I'm still trying to understand why the girl went to the main guy's father house," he said. "It was a tactical nightmare and an easy spot to get ambushed."

She twisted to him, gesturing to him, her face alight with fierce agreement.

"Yes," she said. "There was no thought put into her plan of action and she walked blindly into a situation she knew was already dangerous. Especially considering the history of the father's abuse on his son."

"Also there was the fact that she was unarmed and had avoided announcing her intentions to a superior."

Carter scowled and shook her head.

"It's as if she was under the impression that good intentions would protect her. Completely delusional thinking. Which would also explain why she believed she could reform a delinquent with a serious drinking problem."

Carter was still Carter, that was good to know.

They pushed through the theater doors, right behind Link and Maddy, into the main lobby. The smell of popcorn and melted cheese wafted through the air. Lines of customers snaked their way towards ticket windows and concession stands. Teenagers rushed towards theater doors as little kids exited, hanging tiredly on their parents arms, half asleep. Maddy turned towards Carter and Donovan, a happy grin cut across her lips.

"So that wasn't a great movie, but it was still fun, right?" she said.

Donovan and Carter shared a glance, neither expression revealing their thoughts. Maddy turned to Link, hoping for a better response.

"What did you think?" she asked.

She took a step closer to him and slipped her hand into his. Donovan quickly buried his hands into his jean pockets, not wanting to offer up an opening. Only a half second later did he realize that Carter had stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets.

Though he knew Carter wasn't one to flirt or act romantic the swift action made him think of a steel door slamming shut. He was intrigued. He knew her past, but she surrounded herself with more walls than he'd imagined. Even if he broke past them, he had the strangest sense he'd find her holding a gun at him.

Link straightened and moved closer to Maddy, a pleased grin coming to his lips.

"I thought it was great," he said.

Maddy tightened her hold on Link's hand and their gazes got lost in each other for a long moment. Carter looked at Donovan, barely containing her smile. Not opposed to other people's love, simply her own. Curious.

Looking back at the couple, she gave a small cough and the couple seemed to return to themselves.

"So..." she said.

"How about fro-yo?" Maddy said, eagerly.

Carter opened her mouth and Donovan sensed the objection, when Link made eye contact with her. A silent urge to agree was hiding in his hazel eyes. She closed her lips, and shrugged, forcing her features into a neutral look.

"Sure, why not?" she said.

Maddy bounced on the tips of her toes, looking at Link with a giddy grin. Carter gave Donovan a look that expressed all of her opinions. He couldn't help it, he grinned. Somehow she said so much without saying anything at all. Or was it only cause he could read her that it felt that way?

They left the theater, entering the crowded sidewalk. Music spilled out of a bar's open windows, trailed by the laughter and sound of voices. Link and Maddy took the lead, their hands still clasped and Maddy's bright voice keeping up a steady stream of conversation. As they walked, Donovan flipped into caution mood, surveying the world around them. Carter leaned close to him and he smelled the fruity scent of her shampoo. Coconut? Yes, definitely coconut.

"Is it just me or did Maddy seem more stable during school?" Carter asked, knocking Donovan from his observation.

He responded without looking at her, thrown that he could care about the scent of her shampoo.

"Being out of the limits of school and under the effects of a romantic movie will change a person," he said, focusing on the topic and not Carter. "Especially a girl who is already giving into her hormones. Add the attention of a guy and physical contact and she may as well be a whole different person."

Carter gave him a critical look.

"So you're saying if you held my hand it would have the same affect on me?" she asked.

He glanced at her with an expressionless face. It was strange how much she could see in others but couldn't see things in herself. He knew that if he tried to hold her hand, his wrist would end up broken.

"No," he said, returning his gaze to the crowd. "You're ruled by logic and have a natural barrier against letting others get close to you. You would mask the feelings the contact would create."

One side of her mouth curved into a wry smile. "Pretty sure of that, aren't you?"

Donovan didn't know if she was taunting him to try it or trying to avoid his deduction.

"Yes," Donovan said. He met her gaze. Trying to figure out Carter together felt like the first time he'd assembled a gun, though he knew all the parts were there, he didn't understand how they fit together. "Why you're this way I haven't completely pieced out, but the main source is your mother and a betrayal there."

Carter went rigid and Donovan knew he hit a nerve. But something about this girl made him want to take a sledgehammer to her walls and see what he found on the other side.

"I would stop yourself, Donovan," she said, in a cool, detached voice, "before you say anything that I will make you regret."

Donovan met her threat with an unfazed look. He knew he walked into dangerous territory but he felt reckless.

"My conclusions are well founded then," he said.

She clenched her fists, her eyes hardening. Finally he saw a real glimpse of her, a tiger cornered.

"I said stop. Now."

Behind the growl he imagined her wanting to give, he saw something else, a fear that he couldn't name. How odd for a girl who didn't seem afraid of anything.

"What are you afraid of, Carter?" he said, in a low, ponderous voice. "Being hurt or letting someone else in?"

In the corner of his eye, he caught the flicker of movement and caught her wrist before she could punch him. At least he had been close, it wasn't a gun to the face but a fist.

In her eyes, he saw her anger and hurt colliding together. This was the girl he wanted to get to know, the girl behind the sarcasm and snappy remarks. The real Carter.

"Carter, Donovan!" Link shouted back to them.

The tension cracked. Donovan drew away from Carter, having to remind himself that she was just one girl and in a couple months she wouldn't be in their lives.

When he glanced at Link and Maddy he found Link wearing a puzzled expression while Maddy tried to conceal a mischievous grin at the closeness of the two of them. Donovan released Carter's wrist and the rest of the tension was swept way with the passing crowd. Carter turned away from him, her face devoid of emotion.

As Donovan watched her walk away, he knew there was no way he was calling his brothers after this. He could already hear what they'd say.

"Wow! Scared off your first date, that's talent Donny."

"Let me guess you talked and she tried to hit you?"

"You do understand how dating works, right? You want the girl to like you."

"Dude, there's a difference between interrogation and dating."

As Donovan joined the trio, he glanced at Carter and saw a lingering hurt. He feared he might have crossed a line that he could never come back from.

**********************************************************************

Hiya!!

(That's me karate chopping ice cream! That's right! Be impressed!)

There you have it!! Donovan pushing Carter's buttons to get to know the real her! Thoughts? 💬🗯💭

Honestly, the more I write these chapters the more interesting I find the dynamics between the two of them!

Also it just shows how much Donovan really does like Carter but won't admit it to himself! And we get to see more Keller Brother moments which I love!

On a totally different note! THE NEW SECRET SERVICE COVER IS POSTED!!

If you haven't seen it already it's in the. Carter Getting Published Book! So check it out!! I think you'll really like it!! ❤️

Before you dash off vote, comment, follow!

Also this is to show you doubters Link's choice in outfit.