Chapter 49: Moments (Alex's POV) It was now Saturday and we were all out bowling. Currently, everyone is against Carter and I being on the same team. "How is that fair? You guys all get to be with the people you're into," Carter pouted. "Look at how good you guys are!" Connor reasoned. "Okay, Hannah, Alex, and I can be on one team. Fair?" Zach said. No one is with their SO's. Hannah pulled to their aisle while Zach came over and Carter frowned. "Oh, come on. You know he can't beat me. Last time I played against him, he had to cheat," I teased. He narrowed his eyes at me before grabbing a ball. I arched my eyebrow in amusement while he took the first shot and got a strike. I went and took my turn, also getting a strike, allowing myself to get cocky. I am winning this time, whatever it takes. "Zach! What are you doing?" I threw a fry at him. "I can't bowl!" he defended. That's not even defending himself. I rolled my eyes before standing up and taking my turn. I knocked all the pins down before looking up at the scoreboard. Carter and I were tied. We had one round left. When Carter stood up for his turn I hopped out of my seat and walked over, standing beside him. "What are you doing?" he chuckled, grabbing the ball from my left. "Nothing," I shrugged leaning against the machine. He eyed me suspiciously before going over to take his shot. I went and stood beside him, my arms behind my back. As long as I don't touch him, it's not cheating. Screw it, he cheated last time. I stepped closer and went up on my toes. He stiffened and didn't take his shot. I heard Hannah and Zach murmuring, trying not to laugh. I told them to shut up by putting my finger to my lips before turning back to Carter, biting back my laugh. "Are you not gonna take that shot?" I whispered. "I will once you step away," he said. "Hmm," I shrugged, remaining in my spot. I don't even think I have to do this, I think he'll falter at one touch. So I stepped back and waited. When he pulled his arm back to swing, my fingers lightly brushed his neck down to his shoulder and he bowled, missing one pin. I chuckled before going and taking my shot. I heard him groan. I grabbed the ball and went over to my aisle. He walked over and stood behind me, trying to distract me, his arms around my waist. "Cheater," I mumbled before taking the shot and knocking them all down. I grinned while turning around to face him, smugly. I looked up at the scoreboard. "We win," I shrugged. He rolled his eyes with a smile before kissing me. I smiled into the kiss, pulling away moments later. A little later, Hannah, Abby, and I went to go get some snacks. While we were there, I saw Hudson with some of his friends. It looked like he had just gotten here but he wasn't staying, I only saw him giving them each a hug and then leaving. "I wonder what that was," Hannah mumbled. "Let's find out," Abby shrugged before walking over to them. "Ab-" I huffed. Pointless. I watched as she talked to one of the guys before walking back over. "He's leaving," she shrugged. "Leaving?" I asked. "Leaving town. They're going to Florida, his dad's job apparently," she replied. I watched him carefully while he stopped at the entrance and looked around the place. His eyes met mine and he held my gaze for a moment. He looked almost, almost guilty. He turned around and then left. We got the food and then went back to the guys. I was confused but I disregarded it. It doesn't matter to me nor does it affect me in any way. "Hi," Carter grinned while I set the tray down. "Hi," I grinned, going to sit beside him but he pulled me down in his lap before I could. I gasped, grabbing onto his arm. "Jesus Christ," I laughed. We spent a few hours there, talking and messing around before everyone started leaving. Zach and Abby had their date tonight, I think Connor and Hannah were doing their own little thing, so that leaves me with Carter all to myself. "Now you're all mine," I sang while pulling my seatbelt on in his car. "All yours, my love," he said while putting the gear in reverse and started to back out of our parking spot. He put one arm behind my seat and looked behind. He looks so hot when he does that, I wish I could drive more with him. Or well, I wish he drove more. But I've noticed he likes to walk and so do I. "My love," I chuckled, "What are we doing now?" "Whatever you want," he replied while turning the car to drive and heading back home. "Let's go to your house," I said. "Okay," he sang while driving past my house and heading to his. Once we got inside, he closed the door behind him and turned to face me. "Can we go to the backyard? I haven't been back there since I came here for that party," I said while climbing onto his back. "Sure you can," he replied while walking over there. We walked around his backyard for a long time, he even chased me around for a bit. Once we settled down, I noticed the sky had clouded over a bit and it was softly drizzling above us. "It's gonna pour like crazy," he said, looking up at the sky. "It never pours down in California," I said. "I know, and as much as I like rain, the occasional monsoon in Cali is good enough for me," he sighed. "I think so too. No matter how much I try, I can never be a New Yorker," I scoffed. "Me neither. It's always gonna be California for me," he chuckled. "So, do you think you'll settle back there?" I questioned. "I want to, but my dad has settled everything he has down here. I want my family there though. New Yorkers are so…" "Stuck up?" He nodded while I laughed. "We are one hundred percent California people," I said while standing up. "One hundred percent," he agreed. He stood up and there was a loud crackle of thunder with a flash in the cloud. We both looked up and back at each other and rain started pouring down on us. But neither of us moved, neither of us tried rushing inside to take cover, neither of us cared. "It doesn't rain like this in California though," I laughed, looking up at the sky. "Soak it in while you're still in New York," he shrugged. "What's that supposed to mean?" I giggled. "When we get married, I'm taking us back home." "Oh, are you now?" I laughed. "Definitely. But we'll come here every once in a while. Show our kids where we met. Love in New York is different. Way different," he smirked while stepping closer to me. "Way different," I mumbled while wrapping my arms around his neck. His arms flew to my waist and he leaned in, pressing his lips to mine softly. It's the little things. It's the moments. It's moments like this that count. "I love you," he mumbled against my lips. "I love you too," I said with a smile. "Dance with me," he shrugged. "There's no music?" I laughed in confusion. "So? Dance with me," he repeated before pulling me closer. We didn't even really dance, kind of just swayed around while laughing and him cracking jokes, trying to tickle me. "I can't tell you how much I love you," he grinned down at me, his forehead pressed against mine. I chuckled before kissing him, hard. His hands went down and rested on my butt while I jumped up and put my legs around his torso while he held me up. "Don't drop me," I chuckled, our lips brushing against each other. He acted like he would, giving me a jolt. I shrieked while tightening my legs and hold around him. He laughed before his lips fell back on mine while he walked us towards the house, only breaking the kiss when he had to look forward. I didn't want either of us falling on the stairs, so I stopped kissing him but I lay gentle kisses on his neck. When we got up to his room, he set me down and kissed me immediately, locking the door behind him. I threw my shirt off first and then he did the same. He walked me backward till the back of my legs hit the bed and I fell back. The doorbell rang and he let out a groan. "For fuck's sake." I laughed while he went to take a look from his window. "Who is it?" I asked, scooting back on the bed. "The mailman. He'll take the hint," he shrugged before walking back over to me and placing kisses on my neck. I tightened my grip on the sheets, barely biting back a moan. "Carter," I panted. The doorbell rang about three more times and he groaned, pulling away. "I'm gonna kill that mailman." . . . .