All Chapters of Baby steps: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

 “Ivy, welcome home. How was your day?"I waited for a response, but Ivy was solely looking at Carter taking in his appearance as if he was the one dressed in a Mrs. Claus costume and not me."Oh, this is-“ I started introducing Carter but Ivy  went ahead and waved a hand in the air, shushing me up. “I know who he is.” Ivy sneered, looking Carter up and down. Carter’s own expression twisted into a scowl, the glares of the two almost striking each other mid-air into a swirl of lightings.“I don’t think I had the pleasure to meet you though.”Carter responded, offering Ivy a shallow smile despite his obviously tensed figure. What was up with these two?  “I’m Ivy, Ryder’s younger brother.” Ivy said, stretching his hand towards Carter. Carter’s eyes widened and after a few minutes of staring a wide genuine, smile bloomed

I was nervously waiting for Carter's response. My heart's objective was to send me into a heart attack and my palms were shaking so hard my fingers could be mistaken for a pair of cluttering teeth. And despite my distress, Carter seemed to barley be affected by my words. Disgust, confusion, anger, I didn't know what his expressions consisted of. However, I knew for sure he was shocked."Wow!" Was the first thing he said."Wow, but like wow wow." He continued, frowning then smiling and gaping like a fish, his facial expressions changing as if controlled by a remote control."I- I am really surprised. To think that you like me, that you have liked me all this time is simply.... wow."My eyebrows were furrowed in worry but the corners of my mouth still succeeded to wobble upwards in a shy smile."I really didn't expect this... let me-let me calm down a bit, okay?" Carter said and I responded

     Two days had passed since Carter left me that note and now I was anxiously waiting on the porch of the Matveys’ residence, my finger lingering over the doorbell but not having enough courage to press it. That morning after Carter left, he sent me a message in which he reassured me this wasn’t a sign of revulsion or “disownment”. He literally said ‘Bitch, I shall not hear you overthought about anything these two days. I am not disowning you; I am just giving you a break while I do this and that.’ I didn’t know what ‘this and that’ meant, but his message was clearly not enough to put my negative thoughts to a stop.      My family didn’t help smothering these worries either.       Two days ago, aunt Debbie asked me if I got any sign from Carter because she had a little talk with him and he seemed distressed. She didn’t want to tell me the origin of his concerns, but I assumed their conversation had something do t

     Kissing... the action of two people pressing their lips together. It didn't sound like such a big deal and it shouldn't have been too hard to do it either; lean over, close your eyes and let your lips mold over each other. But saying so, why did everything around me become blurry, my eyes burning and the only sound ringing in my head being the mad beat of my heart?      What was I supposed to do? How? Was it okay for us to kiss so soon? We haven't even been on our first date yet.      I gulped, supporting my hands on the handles of Carter's wheelchair. You can do it, Ryder. It's like CPR... just don't blow any air in Carter's mouth or he will think you have a weird kink.         I closed my eyes, leaning over. A bit closer... and closer... and closer...       Until the last second when I grabbed Carter's face

“You don’t have to go back there if you don’t want to.” I said and Carter considered the option before shaking his head.      “I want to know why he is here. Plus, I want to make sure he doesn’t say anything weird to my parents.”     I nodded and we slowly made our way out of the room. Carter’s father was waiting outside the door and together we entered the living room. However, Simon was still laying on the couch. He was shivering and sweating but he seemed completely separated from reality.       “He fell asleep again.” Ivy explained as we entered the room, being sat on the edge of the couch with Simon’s head laid on his lap. He was playing with Simon’s fringes, his gaze fixed on the floor.       Eric sighed, lifting his knees to his chest, looking at his brother from the chair he was sat on. He had finally calmed down and was able to talk again.      “He’s