Chapter 47: Next level (Alex's POV) Everyone stared while Hudson walked into the cafeteria, where for some reason, we decided to sit today. He glared at Carter on his way to his usual table while Carter sent him a cheeky grin with a wave. I pulled his hand down and locked it with mine. "You're no fun," he pouted. "Neither is a fight. You just like playing with fire too much," I whispered. He set his water bottle down and turned to me. "I need to talk to you," he cleared his throat. "Oh no. What?" I asked. "Nothing bad," he chuckled, "You know how the fall break is in like a month?" I nodded in response. "Well, I'm going back home with my dad to visit my grandparents." No seeing him? "Oh," I said. "You wanna come with me?" "Oh. Wait, what?" I asked, wide-eyed. He laughed, "Do you want to come with me?" I hesitated, "Do you want me to come with you?" "If I didn't, I wouldn't be asking," he said, giving me a pointed look, "Of course, I want you to come." "Carter, meeting your family is huge," I said, my thumbs twiddling around each other. He noticed and grabbed my hands in his. "I know. But I want to take the next step with you. I want you to meet my family. Even my mom," he said. My eyes snapped up to his in extreme shock. "Tomorrow is her death anniversary," he cleared his throat, "Will you come with me?" I nodded, "Of course, I'll come with you. I'll come with you tomorrow, I'll come with you over the fall break too. If you want me there, I'll be there," I squeezed his hands. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you too." "You guys make me sick," Zach rolled his eyes. "Just because Abby isn't here today, doesn't mean you have to be all grumpy," Hannah said to him. "This has nothing to do with Abby not being here," he scoffed. We all looked at him, none of us believing his lies. "Jesus, I don't know how to ask her," he sighed in defeat. "You might wanna figure it out. Shoot your shot, loverboy," I said while noticing Abby walking over. She had to meet up with her partner for a biology project earlier in lunch. "Hey," she sighed while pulling her chair. "Abby, can I talk to you for a second?" he asked, standing up quickly. "Yeah, sure," she smiled. I watched him mumble a prayer before pulling her aside. We all watched anxiously while he talked and she nodded with a wide grin. He grinned right back at her and even blushed. They came back and sat down. "You guys make me sick," I said mockingly. "Shut up," he chuckled. I rolled my eyes while smiling. I rested my chin on his shoulder while he gave me a piggyback ride to god knows where after we left school. "Where are we going?" I asked for the third time. "To the movies," he sang. "What are we watching? Why didn't we bring snacks?" I pouted. He set me down in front of the theatre and dangled his school bag in my face. I smiled while he led us inside and into the theatre. I clutched onto his hands, not wanting to say goodnight yet. "Don't go," I stuck my bottom lip out. "You can't do that," he chuckled, stepping forward and pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I promised my dad I'd be home for dinner," he said. "Then let me come." I jumped up and down. He shook his head, "You promised your dad dinner as well." He shot me a pointed look. "Sneak in later. Please?" I whispered, leaning closer. "Alex," he sighed. "Please?" I whispered in his ear, making my voice lower and a little more seductive. He huffed while his grip on my waist tightened. "Suit yourself," I mumbled before kissing his neck and then pulling away. "Leave your window open," he grunted. I grinned at my victory before giving him a kiss and then going inside. I opened the door to my dad cooking dinner. "Hey, honey," he smiled. "Hey, dad. What'cha making?" I asked while sitting on the barstool. "Some fried rice with chicken," he answered. "Oh, dad! There's something I wanted to ask you," I said while tapping my nails against the counter. "What's up?" he asked. "During the fall break, Carter is going back to California," I paused, "And he wants me to go with him." My dad glanced at me suspiciously. "He wants me to meet his grandparents." "I've been thinking we go and pay your grandparents a visit during your fall break as well," he replied. "Really?" I perked up. "Yeah. We'll all go together, that sounds okay?" I nodded with a grin, "That sounds great." We were halfway through dinner when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," I got off the barstool and went to answer the door where Mr. Reed and Carter both stood in their pajamas. "We can't cook," they huffed in sync. I bit back a laugh while looking at the two of them. Their pajamas were coincidentally coordinated. I let out a laugh before smacking my hand over my mouth. I cleared my throat, "Um- come on in." I stepped aside as Mr. Reed walked in first. Carter stopped at shot me a death glare before poking my stomach. I laughed while squeezing his cheeks together before taking him inside. "Dad, we've got guests," I laughed before grabbing them both plates and serving them dinner. "Did you cook, Alex?" Mr. Reed asked. "No, dad did actually," I replied. "You think she can cook better than me?" my dad scoffed. "Yeah," Carter, Mr. Reed, and I said in sync. "Excuse me?" my dad asked. "Dad, I can definitely cook better than you," I laughed. "No way, I taught you," he argued. "And I cook dinner most nights," I gave him a pointed look. "I'm the better cook," he reasoned. "Can you make chicken wings, Mr. Lockhart?" Carter asked. My dad shook his head. "Then she wins," he shrugged. We all laughed and chatted away to dinner. Both of them helped clean up after dinner and Mr. Reed and my dad went to talk in his study while Carter and I sat in the living room. "You looked so cute standing with your dad. Wearing matching pajamas," I teased him further while heading up to my room. "I'm going to kill you," he said while following me upstairs. "You can try," I sang while pulling my closet open. I grabbed my pajamas and threw my jeans off before pulling the shorts on. I reached to pull my shirt off but caught him staring. I arched an eyebrow at him. "Don't mind me," he smirked. I took my shirt off and threw it at his face before pulling one of his shirts on, then slipping my bra off from underneath. Best feeling. All girls will agree. "Are you staying?" I asked while lying down beside him. "I can if you beg," he taunted. "Ha," I snorted, "I don't have to beg, I have other ways of making you stay," I smirked. "Oh, is that so?" he chuckled. "Carter!" his dad called out. I raised my eyebrows at him. "I will be right back," he mumbled before leaving my room. I smiled to myself like a fucking fool, my eyes drifting to all the sketches he's given me. I had an idea and grabbed them all, bringing them with me while he entered my room. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Looking through them. I want you to put the dates down from when you gave these to me." "Why?" "So that thirty years later, I can look back-" "Look back? You'll have so many more by then," he laughed. I stared at him in awe, "Just put the dates down," I laughed. "No, I'll put down reasons why I love you on the back. I'll date those down, okay?" "Reasons why you love me?" I chuckled. "Yeah, I'll give you one every weekend. A little love note," he smirked. He grabbed a pen from my desk and scribbled something down on the back before giving it to me. "That's your first one," he grinned. I grabbed it and looked at the back. Because you're good at taking charge ;) I laughed while turning it back around. That's the first one I got. Of my laptop. "I'll keep that in mind," I looked up at him. He lay down and propped his head up on his elbow, gazing at me. "I love you, Carter," I mumbled. "I love you, Alex," he replied before leaning forward and kissing me. "We should get married," I said sarcastically while pulling away and flicking my lamp off. "One day we will," he winked. I laughed while scooting closer to him while he threw his leg over mine and put his arms around me. He ran his fingers through my hair and I started dozing off. "I'm not kidding," he whispered. . . . .