Home / ChickLit / Dissonance and Harmony / Carter: Soundproof Room

Share

Carter: Soundproof Room

Author: owlonmywrist
last update Last Updated: 2022-03-01 00:16:46

I follow Ryan into one of the soundproof rooms, watching the way that she pushes her hair over her left shoulder.  I wish I could run my fingers through it.  I love how her thick, coppery hair frames her face and trails down her back.  It didn’t help that it stopped right above her ass.  And those shorts were doing nothing to hide her curves.  Combine that with the low-cut green t-shirt that ended just shy of her shorts and I would have followed her anywhere.  I kept getting tantalizing glimpses of the dimples on her lower back.  I had to consciously keep my hands by my side to keep from touching her.

Ryan walks into the soundproof room and leans her ass against a table on the far back wall.  I walk in and close the door behind me.  Trying to keep the excitement out of my voice, I say, “What’s up?”

“What was that?” Ryan folds her arms under her breasts.  She has that defensive look on her face.  I know that it was her way of keeping the world out, but I hate that she feels that she needs to keep me out.

     “What was what?” I ask, keeping a straight face.

     “The whole creepy thing with Jaime,” she deadpans.

     “Creepy thing?” I raise my eyebrows, trying and failing to keep a smirk off of my face.  God, she was adorable.

“Come on."  She's finally smiling a little.  “You have to admit that the way you two were smiling at me with your wide eyes and out of the blue asked me to come hang out was a little creepy.”

“Yeah,” I chuckle, rubbing my hand on the back of my neck.  “I can see why you would say that.”

She giggles and the sound encourages me to move closer to her.

“So?” She quirks an eyebrow at me and jumps up to sit on the table.

“Jaime was trying to help me out,” I admit, stopping next to her at the table.  I lean against it and look out the door.  I can see Jaime and Patrick glancing at us and giving me a thumbs up.  I roll my eyes at them.  Why don’t you make it more obvious guys?

“Help you out,” Ryan repeats flatly.  “With what?”

“Talking to you,” I finally look at her.  She gives me an incredulous look.  “You know you aren’t the easiest person to talk to, right?”

At that, she blushes and turns her face away from me.  “Yeah, I get that,” she says quietly.

“Hey, I get it.  After everything that happened…” I trail off, thinking about how Patrick mercilessly teased her in middle school.  And how I didn’t do anything to stop him, even though I wished he would shut up.

“Yeah,” she mutters, still looking away.

“Hey,” I move closer to her and touch her hand.

She startles and looks down at my hand, still on top of hers.  Slowly, her eyes travel up to mine and there is this look of fear and hope on her face that nearly kills me.

“I just want to get to know you a little bit, ok?” I say, softly, looking into her eyes.

She nods slowly, dreamily.  Then, she seems to mentally shake herself.  She gives a soft laugh.  “There are less creepy ways to get to know someone.”

At that, I laugh out loud and smile down at her.  I wanted to pull her into my chest and hold her, but I’m afraid of her reaction.  “Yeah, I guess there are."

She jumps off of the table and pulls a pen out of her back pocket.  Funny with how intently I was staring at her ass, I didn’t see the pen there.  She grabs my hand that had been holding hers.  Uncapping the pen in her teeth, she looks up at me quickly, then writes something on my hand.  She is so close that I can smell her shampoo.  Remember those Herbal Essences commercials?  That was her shampoo.  I could understand why those women were making those moans based on that smell.  I close my eyes and inhale.  Damn, it’s hard not to touch her.

Ryan stops writing.  She lets my hand drop and steps back.  I glance down at my hand and then back up to her face.  “What’s this?”

“Another way to get to know me,” she says and leaves the room.  I hear the bell ring when she opens the door.  I look down at my hand and see a phone number.  Hot damn!

-------

Ryan

   

Holy shit!  Holy SHIT!  HOLY SHIT!  Did I seriously just do that?  I just gave Carter Moore my phone number!  I am hyperventilating.  I speed walk over to my friends, but hear Carter calling my name.

I turn to see him jogging up to me with that lopsided grin on his face.

“Yeah?” I say, a little breathless.

    “Can I call you tonight?” he asks.

“Sure.  Um, I should be home around 7:30.  You can call after that?” The statement comes off as more of a question then a statement.

“Ok.  I’ll call you then.” He reaches out and squeezes my hand before walking away.  I watch him jog to his friends.  Patrick (can’t even get up the anger to call him a dickhead right now) hands Carter his books.  Patrick sees my number when Carter grabs his books.  He gives Carter a high five.  Carter turns to me and waves.  I smile back and turn towards the band room to get ready for Jazz Band.

Related chapters

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: The Call

    I rush home from my appointment, stopping at what my girls and I affectionately labeled Taco Hell to grab something to eat. I get home just before 7:00 and rush through my homework. I sit in my room, next to the phone. Of course, I just gulped down a large Pepsi and am super nervous, so I have to pee. Just as I’m washing my hands, I hear the phone ring. I try to rush out of the bathroom, but my little brother is screaming, “I got it! I got it!” NOOOOOOO!!!! “Hello,” his little middle school voice squeaks. I try to run to the phone, but don’t get there in time. “Ryan!” he screams. “It’s for you! It’s a booo-oooy!”

    Last Updated : 2022-03-01
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: His Turn

    I hear Ryan take a deep breath and sit up. I’m trying hard not to think of her laying on her bed while I talk to her. It will not help me focus on the conversation. “Go for it,” Ryan says. “Ok, question 1: Why do you like me?” I smile knowing that I'm throwing her question back at her. “Jugular, huh?” she says, wryly. “Yup,” I reply, smiling wider. “Well, you know that I’ve liked you for a while. I was initially attracted to your looks.”

    Last Updated : 2022-03-01
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Aftermath

    Ryan is quiet on the other end of the phone, breathing heavily. I sit in shock. I look to see wet spots on my jeans and lift a hand to feel that my cheeks are wet. I’d had no idea I was crying. Ryan takes a breath on the other end, getting ready to speak. I quickly wipe my cheeks, attempting to get myself back together. If she can talk about this, I sure as hell can listen. “The next morning, Chris found us in his bed. I was battered, my face a mass of bruises. I had bite marks...everywhere. There was blood on me. And the bed,” Ryan says quietly. For as much as I want to hold Ryan, to comfort her, I want to beat the

    Last Updated : 2022-03-01
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: A Hug

    Once Ryan heads upstairs, I stand up from the table and readjust my pants. My plan was to hug her the second I saw her, enveloping her in my arms and the warm scent of coffee and baked goods. However, when she opened the door with her pajamas still on, I got a little unfocused. Her short shorts and tank top left very little of her curves to the imagination and I could tell that she wasn’t wearing a bra. I doubt that she knew how she looked or she never would have answered the door that way. But after the story she told me last night, I couldn’t hug her for the first time with a raging boner. So, tuck and cover it was. Just something for me to think about later...

    Last Updated : 2022-03-01
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Official

    We didn’t really talk on the way to school. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. I hear Ryan singing quietly to the music. She isn’t going to win any singing awards, but it's sweet. Eventually, we pull into the parking lot. Ryan tries to let go of my hand, but I hold fast. She turns to look at me. “What’s up?’ “Let me take your bag.” I grab it from the floor. “Oh, thanks,” I smile at her and bring her hand to my lips. I graze her

    Last Updated : 2022-03-04
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: Episode

    I walk into second period English to have Ayo and Lucy wave me over to the seat they saved for me. Lucy hugs me, bouncing on her toes. “I’m so happy for you!” she squeals. “Thanks,” I giggle. I hold her shoulders down. “Stop vibrating, will you?” “Come on, Ryan, this is HUGE! This guy is basically all you’ve talked about since sixth grade!” Lucy says, swatting my arm. “Ouch! Can I at least sit before you mortally wound me?” I smile at her.

    Last Updated : 2022-03-04
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: PTSD

    “Ryan? Are you ok?”I snap back to reality with Ms. Snow kneeling beside me. Ayo and Lucy are also crowded around my chair. For a second I don’t recognize where I am. I dimly register that I am hugging myself, shaking and crying. The thoughts of the trial had swept me away, completely overtaking my thoughts.“Would you like to go to Mrs. Lewdwig?” Ms. Snow's voice is quiet, but the room is, too. I know that everyone is listening, watching, judging.I nod. All my teachers know the situation and a plan is in place for me to leave class if I need.“Ok.” She pats my hand. I flinch and shrink into myself. She immediately pulls away. “Ayo. Lucy. Can you take

    Last Updated : 2022-03-07
  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Pizza

    “Hey, what are you doing for lunch?” I ask Ryan as we’re packing up our instruments. Throughout the course of Band, she began to relax. She joked with Jax and me, seemed to get lost in the music, and kept throwing me these little smiles that made my heart race. She almost seems back to her usual self now. I'm happy to see her bounce back so quickly. “Um, nothing much. Just hanging with the girls,” Ryan says. “Do you want to come out to lunch with me?” “Where are you going?” “My mom made my favorite homemade pizza last night, so I was going to head home and grab some.”

    Last Updated : 2022-03-07

Latest chapter

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Epilogue

    June, 2000 “Carter Nathaniel Moore.” I walk across the stage, hearing my parents, Lucas, Cody, and the Millers cheering from the audience. From the stage, Patrick, Jess, and Jaime call out my name. And from the pit band, I hear Ayo, Lucy, and Ryan screaming. I walk to the principal to pick up my diploma, shaking Principal Lemar’s hand. Soon after I sit, Jess, Patrick, and Jaime take their walks across the stage. Not long after we throw our hats in the air and are officially high school graduates. ---- All of our friends and our families meet in the large banquet room at the diner. Mr. Sloan and the entire staff of the diner hav

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Just Us

    “So, where are we going?” I ask once we’re in the car. “I don’t know,” Ryan says. Her face is all smiles and she is literally bouncing in her seat. “I know! The beach. Let’s go to the beach. I need to do something.” “Alright.” I put the car in gear. Ryan turns on the radio and sings along to I Need to Know, Where My Girls At?, and All Star at the top of her lungs. Though it’s chilly outside, Ryan rolls the window down and sticks her hand out of it. Once we arrive at the beach, Ryan j

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: Hate at the Surface

    I know that Lisa needed to say those things. They had to be told to the judge to keep Tommy in jail. But I hate that he knows. That he knows the effect that he had on me. That he’s still having on me. It pisses me off. Fuck him. Over there, leering at me. His brother behind him laughing at each description of my pain. Fuck them both. He’s going to jail and I’m going to make sure that it is for a long, long time. “The last impact statement is from the victim, Ms. Ryan Miller,” Mr. Shift says. “Please approach, Ms. Miller,” the judge calls.

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: Detriment to Society

    I hadn’t heard my mother’s speech prior to now. I didn’t think that I’d be able to handle it. But I’m proud of her. Her statement was simple, but powerful and I can plainly see that it has affected the judge. As Mom walks to our row, I stand and hug her. She falls into my arms and squeezes me. “You did good, Mom. I love you.” “Thanks, baby. I love you, too.” We sit and wait for what comes next. “Mr. Shift, who has the next statement?” the judge asks. “Lisa Armstrong, the victim’s the

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: Arguments

    The only thing that is keeping me in my seat is Carter’s hand in mine and pure willpower. I can feel Tommy’s gaze from across the room and it feels like fingers running all over my skin. I really don’t hear the report from the judge, but I see my parents relax and hear Ayo and Patrick give a little cheer under their breath. “What did she say?” I whisper to Carter. He is attempting to shield me from Tommy’s gaze, but there is only so much he can do. I don’t think that Tommy has turned away from me once. “The probation department recommended the maximum sentences for both the rape and the

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Show Time

    There is a huge group of us sitting on the prosecutor side of the courtroom: Lisa, Ryan’s parents, Jake, my mom, Lucas, and all of our close friends. On Tommy’s side, there are only two people. I assume that they are his mother and brother. Ryan is astutely ignoring them. But they seem to be doing exactly the opposite. They are glaring daggers at Ryan and her family. I scoot up so that I am directly in their eyesight, glaring back and cocking my head. Tommy’s mother looks a bit embarrassed and turns away, but his brother gives an amused scoff before shaking his head at me. He eventually turns when the door to the side of the courtroom opens. In walks Tommy. I have never hated anyone so much in my entire life. The anger boils in

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Ryan: Last Minute Pep Talk

    Walking into the courthouse, an episode attempts to overtake me. I recall the first time I came here for Tommy’s first trial (when he attacked me, it was ruled a mistrial), the second trial, the press conference on the court steps…I clutch Carter’s hand.“You ok?” His voice is worried, but I can’t see his face because my eyes are closed. “I need to stop.” Carter pulls me to a bench. “You guys go ahead,” he says to my folks. “Ryan needs a minute.” I don’t hear the rest

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Morning Of

    I am so full of nervous energy that I burn the eggs three different times. “Carter,” Mrs. Moore puts a hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t I take over the eggs? You get the bacon in the oven.” “Sorry.” I move out of her way and rub my face with my hands. “I just can’t focus.” “I understand.” She smiles sadly at me, grabbing the pan and the spatula. Mom comes up behind me and turns me towards her. “Car, why don’t you go talk with the guys? I’ll help Joyce.” “I think I’m going

  • Dissonance and Harmony   Carter: Coda

    I pull Ryan into my chest, trying to still my beating heart. That was...incredible. More than anything that I’d dreamed of (and I’d had a few dreams about her). I kiss her hair. “I love you,” I breathe. “I love you, too.” Ryan cups my cheek, but keeps her face in my chest, trying to regulate her breathing. After a few moments, I begin to pull away. “I have to take care of…” I gesture to the condom that I’m still wearing. She lays on her back and waves her hand towards the door. “Knock yourself out. I’

DMCA.com Protection Status