A/N: Feel free to comment, and vote :) Hope you enjoy the chapter!

CARTER DOESN'T LOOK okay. His grip on the steering wheel is hard as he maneuvers his way out of the parking lot and he clenches his teeth, speeding off campus well over the limit.

I could blame this all on Cory, but that wouldn't be fully true, because he's been acting off since we were at Sam's apartment. I heard the whole thing. I've questioned their relationship before and now it feels like more of the dots are connecting.

Sam wants some space, and I think it's causing Carter to go through a sense of loss. It may be bringing up some of the emotions he felt when his mom died.

The hard part is me trying to figure out where to give them space to handle their relationship and where to step in and assure Carter I'm here to support him.

I watch his face with worry and reach over to put his hand in mine and rest it on my lap. His face starts to relax from the action.

"Are you okay, Carter?"

"Cory's a dickhead," he says bluntly.

"He can be sometimes, I won't lie." I agree. "Just know that he's all talk no action. He likes to deliberately say things to get under people's skin and see their reaction. He was mostly messing with you."

"When he asked you to start your arrangement back up, he meant you guys hooking up, right? He wants to hook up with you again in a non joking way. How close are you two again?"

This is a different side of Carter I'm seeing right now. He sounds both nervous and agitated. I have to simmer down the tension because there's nothing to be riled up about when it comes to mine and Cory's situation. Since the night I met Carter there's been no one else.

"Carter Enrique Reyes, are you jealous right now?"

"Enrique? Where did you get that from, I told you my middle name was Luis." His tone and face softens just as I hoped it would, and it even holds a hint of amusement.

" Haven't I told you before? You look like a sexy latin music star." I reach over and pinch his cheek earning his smile back.

"You keep me on my toes, you know," he says, "but I'm still gonna need to redirect us back to the Cory situation. I'm your boyfriend, I have the right to know."

I blow a breath knowing he's right. This is reasonable. He's not an overly paranoid insecure man like my ex Liam, who'd be filled with so much rage at me talking to another guy that he'd spend hours berating me. Thank god he transferred last year.

"Yes he wanted us to hook up again and obviously I didn't. We don't talk often. We haven't talked or hung out much since the semester started. It's mostly short greetings and well wishes. Like I said before, we've known each other for a while and our families are close so he's going to pop up now and then but I have no feelings for him, we haven't been intimate in ages. I want monogamy and commitment, two things Cory will has no interest in offering so you have nothing to worry about."

Carter puts on his indicator, doing a sharp turn onto the 202. He taps his finger against the steering wheel methodically and leaves me hanging for a verbal response.

"Fine," he says, resolutely.

"Fine." I nod, hoping he's going to put this behind us.

I want this to be a good week. Not only for me, but for him and our relationship in general. This is going the be the most time we ever spend together uninterrupted. This is going to be me making the effort and committing myself fully to us. It can't start out with him pissed about Cory, that'll taint everything.

Unfortunately, so many things seem to already shift his mood to sour. From his conversation with Sam, to his encounter with Cory, and the looming reunion with his dad. I just wish there was something I could do to bring him back to some form of happiness.

I stare out the window, watching the sun dim its light when the idea comes to me.

"Hey, would you mind making a little detour?" I ask.

"Do you need to use the bathroom? the next rest stop isn't for a few miles."

"No, lets go to the lake."

"The lake?" He repeats.

"Let's spend the rest of the afternoon there, cool ourselves down a little, then we can get back on the road. We'll get to your house in the middle of the night, probably when your family is asleep. How do you feel about that?" I glance at him nervously.

"Honestly, that sounds great." he breaths with relief.

He gets off the next exit and after a few miles, we're back on the rocky path to the lake.

Carter parks in the exact same spot I instructed him to park the last time we came, and as we hop out of his truck, a nice warm breeze runs through our hair and instantly lets me know we made the right choice.

The setting sun creates a light that illuminates against the surface of the body of water. I grab my bag out of the back seat and Carter is right beside me to take my hand and lead us down to the picnic table where we had our first intimate moment.

"I love how secluded this place feels. It's like our own private lake," he say as we sit on top of the wooden table.

We lean into each other and he lowers his head to rest it on my shoulder. I run my hand through it, messaging his scalp the way he likes it.

"Do you want to scream again?" I ask.

"When's the next train coming?"

I take out my phone and view the time. "If it's on time it should be the next minute."

He lifts his head and gets off the picnic table to stand straight and hold out his hand. "Then it looks like we're gonna have to run to catch it."

With my hand in his, he pushes me forward from the speed of his legs as we move towards the hill. Adrenaline rushes through me and it allows me to keep up. We jump over fallen branches and step around abandoned logs, running with all the speed we can muster.

We have to slow down our speed to climb up the hill. Carter continues to lead me forward before he stops and bends over, prompting me to hop on his back for a piggyback ride.

His hands secure my legs and he moves forward without missing a beat. I more than admire his athleticism, I won't lie.

The train approaches right when we make it to the fence and Carter sets me down. Neither of us waste any time and instantly belt out screams that puncture the air before getting swallowed up by the sound of the train.

Carter is more into it this time. There's no hesitation or moment of shock he needs to brush off. He understands it now just as much as he understands me.

I scream for the same reasons I always scream. My family, present, my future, and everything in between. I know Carter's reasons are the same, that why we're in such a screeching beautiful harmony.

The train passes and I catch my breath and try to relax my lungs, when Carter turns to me still smiling and filled with endorphins "Do you want to go for a swim?"

"I'll race you down," I say and bolt past him to get a head start.

I know Carter is in way better shape and I know he can easily outrun me, but it's fun to try to challenge him nonetheless. I make it down before him with triumph and a clear understanding that it's only because he's purposefully held himself back.

"I beat you." I still cheer and do my little victory dance that causes him to laugh.

It's darker out now, not yet pitch black but it won't be long before the sun completely exits for the night.

I crouch down by the edge of the lake and dip my hand in to feel the water. It's warm to the touch and perfect for an early night swim.

When my eyes catch Carter again, I'm just in time to witness him lifting his shirt over his head and exposing his muscular physique. I don't shy away nor do I feel guilty for checking him out. His abs look more pronounced then I've ever seen them before. You can see the result of his two workouts a day, there's no doubt about that.

There are many attractive qualities to Carter that have nothing to do with his physical looks, so I find his near perfect face and body to simply be an extension of those other qualities. And damn do they extend.

He smirks at me and flexes his muscles in response to my gawking. I stick my tongue out and fake gag to mess with him.

I take my shirt off too and my pants follow, leaving me in my pink bra and cotton blue underwear. I wish I had something more sexy on, hell, I wish I had on something that matched.

My underwear choice ends up not even mattering because when Carter pulls off his briefs and stands stark naked in front of me, I do the same. He entwines his hand with mine and together, we trudge into the water.

The water gets pretty deep and as we approach the middle, I lose Carter's hand and sink under. It takes me by surprise and I spend a considerable time flailing deeper under until I get myself together. Right when I attempt to rise back, Carter dives down. He hooks his arms around my torso and lifts us up to the surface.

"Are you okay?" He wipes my hair out of my face and surveys me.

"Yeah I'm fine. I was just about to swim back up," I say.

"Really cause it looked like you were drowning. Do you know how to swim?"

"Of course I know how to swim, don't you see me doing it now?" I splash a handful of water in his face and stroke farther out into the water away from him.

"You're not getting away from me that quick." He grabs my left foot and I squeal as he pulls me back towards him.

"Go easy on me." I beg.

Carter has control of my body and pushes me to his chest. He looks down at my breast and smiles. "This is the second time you've attacked me and if I remember correctly, I never got you back for the first time."

He grabs the back of my neck and I expect him to dip my head under or pelt me with water, but instead, he smashes his lips onto mine and takes me with a hungering urgency. I melt into him, stroking his large arms as stars burst in my head. Our kiss deepens and we continue to grab and stroke each other until Carter abruptly pulls himself away from me. He drops his hands into the water and when he brings them back up, he throws what feels like a mountain stream straight at my face.

I wipe my eyes and my jaw drops at the surprise. While my mouth is still open, Carter hits me with more water and more.

"There," he says, "now we're even."

I cough and spit out the lake water, lifting my head to look at him with a mischievous smile.

"We're totally even. Come over here, honey." I open my arms and swim behind him.

"Since when do you call me honey?"

I put him in a headlock from behind, trying to pull him under. Even when he's not trying it's still hard moving someone his size. "Why is your neck so thick? Let me push your head in already."

I'm serious with precise concentration, while Carter breaks into laughter at my efforts. His arms reach back and he grabs my hips. He starts to tickling me of all things and I lose my form trying not to let his moving fingers unravel me.

"Let me go and I'll stop tickling you," he says.

"Never." I hold on tighter and use all my will to not crumble with giggles.

I maintain my hold and so does Carter, until his tickling builds up to much and I surrender to him. We swim and swim, play wrestling and fighting one moment, and passionately kissing the next. It continues like this for what feels like ages. Blissful, happy ages that I wouldn't take away for anything.

Carter grabs me with more force this time, kisses me with more energy. His hands cup my ass and his kisses trail along my jaw, then drop to my neck where he finds my sweet spot and sucks and kisses until my head falls back.

His hands move from my ass to my breasts and he toys with my nipples, rubbing and tugging to drive me crazy.

"Wanna get back to land?" he says.

"Yes."

When we get out of the water I grab my bag and we dry ourselves off with my towel. Carter places the towel on the dirt and grass ground and normally I would say something about it, but when his lips land back on mine, there's nothing I can do but give in.

We fall onto the towel, our naked bodies intertwined and our mouths glued to each other's with heated desire.

Being skin to skin with Carter, feeling every ridge and muscle, every soft and hardness is amazing. He shifts on top of me and touches my face.

"Do you want to do this here?" He asks.

I slide over to my bag and rummage through it to grab the box of condoms Aleena bought me. "I got the protection."

We've done a few things here and there, but this will be the first time we'll have actual intercourse. I'm ready to take this step with him. Under this moonlight, staring into his gold colored eyes, I'd be ready to do almost anything.

We get each other to the edge with our tongues and hands. I'm starting to understand what Carter likes, what turns him on and what doesn't. With the way he moves his fingers inside me and moves his tongue along my folds, he seems to have figured out what I like before he even knew me.

By the time he unwraps a condom and puts it on, I'm shaking with need. He's gentle laying on me. He captures my hair with his hand and kisses me softly as he enters me.

I wince and suck my breath taking in his size, It's slightly bigger than I'm used to.

Carter stops when he's all the way in and allows me time to adjust to the added pressure.

"I'm gonna start moving a little, is that okay?" He asks.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

He moves at a slow pace, each stroke feeling better than the next. Eventually, I feel nothing but pure pleasure and I'm able to relax more and meet his rhythm. I moan into his ear, running my fingers up and down his back.

Carter grunts, clenching his jaw and loosening up to move at a faster pace. He can see the ecstasy in my face, he can hear how good he feels and he uses it as an invitation to go deeper, to hit harder.

My body starts shaking from each thrust, a combination of his impact and the subsequent sharp sting of pleasure that follows it. It shoots through every inch of my body and pools around my lower stomach threatening to burst out.

Carter rests his head on the nook of my shoulder and it allows me to hear every low groan, every hiss. I'm nearly driven to the edge from it.

Everything blinds around me, I hear nothing but Carter, I see nothing but Carter. Our bodies move together, and we're beautiful, it feels beautiful. 

He hits the perfect spot deep inside me and explores it until I'm left screaming for the second time this day. I try to lay off his back, but I can't stop my nails from digging into his flesh.

'Carter, I'm going to-"

"I know." He plants a kiss on me. "Go ahead."

Those few words strike a lightning bolt through me and the orgasm that follows rocks me to my core. Carter's movements get more hurried and sloppy as I come down. He comes undone with a deep and low groan, his body shaking right with mines.

The next moments are almost as good as the sex. We stay entwined together, chest to chest and enjoy the calming post orgasm bliss. I can't take my eyes off of him and he can't take his off of me.

I want to tell him how much I like him, but I can't even put it into words, I'm almost scared. There's something else brewing deep in my heart, something I'm not ready to admit to myself or him. I push it aside and enjoy every bit of this time. No matter what happens between us, I know I'll always look back on this fondly.

I could stay like this all night. Fall asleep and wake back up in the warm cocoon of his arms.

"I know you probably want to stay here, but if we stay like this any longer I'll fall asleep and we won't make it to Chester. at all" He rubs my back.

"We should get back on the road." I yawn into my hand.

We take our time getting up, then we freshen up and redress, walking back to the truck with fatigue and joy.

"You better clean my towel, mister. That's a limited edition Hannah Montana towel, they don't even make it anymore," I say.

" Oh, I will. You can take a nap if you want," Carter says, getting back on the highway. "It's gonna be a long drive but I have enough energy to get us there in one piece."

"I can make the drive if you can. I'm not that tired." I insist.

I believed I could, I really did, though an hour into our path down the empty highway, I feel myself having a harder and harder time keeping my eyes open.

Carter shakes my knee, pulling me out of the sleep I didn't know I was in. I check my surrounding, surprised about the big driveway we're parked into since I still expected us to be an hour in.

"Is this your house?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.

He laughs and pinches my nose. "Yeah, you slept all the way through."

I hear a sound from the front of the house and both our heads turn to catch it. Carter's smile drops and his face turns white when the door opens and an older man steps forward, staring straight at us with his arms crossed.

The resemblance is uncanny, he's Carter's dad, there's no doubt about that.