[color=lavender][indent][indent][indent][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/cnhtksA.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/W8cBZAj.png[/img]
[sub]An [@metanoia] & [@Ejected] Collaboration
Featuring [color=ccc6ea]Carter Newton[/color] & [color=pink]Stella Lambert[/color][/sub]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/iDl59OM.png?1[/img]
[/center][color=#CCC6EA]"And you-"[/color] Carter said as he redirected his attention to Stella, grabbed her by the hand, and spun her in a quick circle. [color=#CCC6EA]"You look very beautiful. Enjoying the dance so far?" [/color]

Insert that immediate blush, Carter always knew how to generate that kind of reaction out of her. Every inch of her face was red from the bottom of her eyelids where her eyeliner and concealer did well to hide the evidence of her sleepless nights this past week to the creases of her mouth that flashed such a wide smile she could hardly contain the unflattering giggles that followed her cinderella twirl.

As she unattractively snorted, she said, [color=pink]“y-yeah! I mean, yeah I am. But, I mean,”[/color] she stuttered. Stella took in a breath, leaned close to Carter, her hands accidentally (well partially at least) came to a full-stop on his chest, [color=pink]“can we go talk? I mean, somewhere a bit more private?”[/color] Her heart was beating at insane pulses but she kept her composure. She had to be the bravest version of herself tonight and especially in the minutes that were sure to follow.

Almost instantly, a troubled expression came across Carter's face. [color=#CCC6EA]"Is everything okay, Stell?"[/color] He asked. But after taking a quick glance around at those who still stood not too far away, Carter simply grabbed hold of Stella's hand and nodded his head in understanding. [color=#CCC6EA]"We'll be back. You two have fun!"[/color] The young man said to April and Santiago with a half-smile before leading Stella towards the nearest exit. 

The two didn't speak until they’d stepped outside of the country club and the sound of the DJ's current musical selection had died down a bit; The garden was only occupied by Ariana, but as soon as they entered, she left. So, for the moment, Carter figured that it was the perfect spot for them to have their conversation. Carter didn't let go of Stella's hand as he turned to face her, an inquisitive look on his face. And once again, this time slightly more concerned, he asked her, [color=#CCC6EA]"Is everything alright, what's going on?"[/color]

Stella had a vast mixture of emotions flowing around her body from anxiety that crept up her spine like a slowly-slithering snake to the uncertainty that made her palms almost sweaty, but she also felt warmth at the touch of Carter’s hand. As it centered around her heart, causing it to flutter the moment their eyes met, Stella smiled at his concern. “Oh, sorry,” she quickly apologized, [color=pink]“I’m just…” She speedily thought for maybe a few moments, biting her lip. [i]Get a hold of yourself, Stella![/i] “I just wanted to talk is all!”[/color] No, that wasn’t all you wanted. [color=pink]“Spend time with you, and, well...”[/color] Stella squeezed his hands. [color=pink]“Carter, I like you!”[/color] She blurted out.

[color=#CCC6EA]"You had me worried there for a sec,"[/color] Carter said with a light chuckle, letting out a sigh of relief upon hearing that nothing was wrong. But his breath caught once more when Stella finally said what had been on her mind. [i]She likes me[/i]. Carter could feel his ears begin to burn as he stood before Stella; hearing her say those words instantly made his heart rate quicken. It didn't take much longer for a smile to spread across Carter's face as he said, [color=#CCC6EA]"I like you too, Stella."[/color]

[color=pink]“Carter…”[/color] She softly smiled at him. 

No matter how bad things got at home, there was always the dream scenarios she had created for herself, the perfect “what if” life she painted to help quell the stress caused by her fights with Chrissie that always ended up like this: Carter looking at her with that too-cute-to-handle smile and the way specs of autumn amber danced in his eyes whenever he centered them on her and him uttering some version of “I like you”. She had practiced over and over what she would say to him if he ever said it to her, regardless of what prompted it like she was giving a speech but she couldn’t prepare for how speechless being in the reality of the moment. 

Stella tried to shake off her nerves and she half-laughed. [color=pink]“I’m sorry.”[/color] Instinctively, the brunette apologized. She didn’t know why she did that; just one of those habits she couldn’t break. [color=pink]“I never imagined you’d feel the same. I mean, I just...I don’t know, it’s been a while since I’ve liked someone as much as I do with you and I guess I didn’t think you’d feel the same.”[/color] 

[color=#CCC6EA]"You don't have to apologize."[/color] Letting out a laugh of his own, Carter found himself interlacing Stella's fingers with his. [color=#CCC6EA]"It's funny that you say that, cause I've been feeling the same way."[/color] And it was true. Carter had already known by then exactly how he felt about Stella but had been putting off outwardly expressing these feelings to her in fear of being rejected. It wasn't like Carter didn't have any past experiences with girls, but being with Stella was different. He liked being around Stella. He liked the way that she made him feel. It was deeper than surface-level. And truth be told, he was still a little stunned that she felt the same way. 

[color=#CCC6EA]"But now that we've finally come clean with each other... why don't we just make it official, you know? [i]I[/i] for one, think we'd make a pretty great couple,"[/color] And then came the nerves again. Carter anxiously scanned Stella's face for a brief moment, waiting for some sort of reaction. [color=#CCC6EA]"So what do you say?"[/color]

[color=pink]“Official?”[/color] She repeated back, her mouth forming a small ‘o’ before curving into a small smile. 

It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about it. Of course, she thought about it. For heaven’s sake, the only reason she and Marcel didn’t work out was because of how strong her feelings for Carter were. It was beyond physical. Carter was hot and he was every girl’s dream guy: handsome, sweet, confident but not cocky, and he had a certain flair about him - an energy that remained unmatched. On top of everything else, he introduced her to a world that she wasn’t active in before. Ever since November, she had become a stronger person, someone who was getting to know layers about herself she didn’t know existed. She was happy with Carter and whenever she was with him, she felt the happiest she’s ever been, even happier than when she was with Oliver.

Words right now might hold some weight but Stella had been trying to act more than she had done so in the past. So she said nothing. She leaned forward and gave him a short kiss on his lips. As soon as she did that, she immediately pulled away not because she wanted to but her heart was beating so fast that she needed to take a few deep breaths to prevent it from breaking out. [color=pink]“Wow. That was...[i]wow[/i],”[/color] was all she could say when she found a moment to speak.

[color=#CCC6EA]"I guess I'll take that as a yes?"[/color] Carter said, a goofy grin spreading across his face in response to Stella's forwardness. And without hesitation, the young man gently lifted Stella's chin, bent his head down, and placed his lips on hers once more, this time a little longer than before. [color=#CCC6EA]"What do you say we head back in and finally have our dance?"[/color]

Immediately on his suggestion, Stella hugged him as tightly as she could. All of her doubts and nerves and especially the attempts Chrissie had made to sabotage her potential relationship -- [color=pink][i]not a potential relationship now![/i][/color] -- with Carter seemed like a distant nightmare. The only thing she could focus on and the only thing she wanted to was dance the night away with her boyfriend. [color=pink][i]My boyfriend…[/i][/color] That thought had her hook his arm, clinging to it. Probably for the first time in a really long time, Stella was starting to feel like her old self again. 

As they walked towards the exit/entrance, Stella smiled at Carter. [color=pink]“I hope they play a song with a fun beat! I’m in a mood to shake it!”[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent][/color]