Chapter 5: System Errors and Broken Loops

Lauren waved her hands frantically. “No, no, not like that. Just literally.”

She started thinking out loud. “The system just said to spend a night together, didn’t say where or if others can be there… So I’ll just stay over at your place for your birthday!”

My milk carton slipped out of my hand and hit the ground.

Lauren said, “Wh—why are you looking at me like that? Before I came here, I was captain of the debate team, won nationals. I’m good at finding loopholes! Outsmarting a computer is nothing.”

Me: …

My birthday’s at the start of December. That weekend, I’d already planned to invite friends over for a party. Since Carter would never go along with anything while sober, Lauren and I decided the only way was to get him a little tipsy first.

For this, I asked my friend Marcus—who claims he never gets drunk—to help us out.

Everything was lined up. The plan was set.

On my birthday, Jamie showed up too. She knew I loved roses and even made me a rose garland by hand. After the alley incident, we’d gotten close. Worried she’d get bullied again, I made it clear to everyone that Jamie was under my protection. No one dared mess with me, so Jamie finally got a peaceful high school life. At the same time, I arranged for the Price Foundation to help her out, hoping she could get away from her uncle after graduation and have a better shot at life.

“Shhh—”

The lights went out, and everyone’s faces glowed in the candlelight. Amid my classmates’ off-key but heartfelt birthday song, Carter brought out the cake.

“Birthday girl, make a wish.”

I looked at him. For once, I left this year’s wish to Carter. I put my hands together, closed my eyes, and wished that Carter would stay safe and healthy for the rest of his life.

Then came party games. While everyone laughed, I pulled Marcus aside to remind him of our little deal. When I turned around, I spotted Carter leaning alone by the counter, looking kinda down. I pretended not to notice and headed to the fridge for drinks.

As I passed, he grabbed me and pulled me into the tiny half-bath off the living room. The spot was so awkward—anyone walking by could see us if they looked over. No one knew Carter lived at my house, and he never wanted anyone to find out. Wasn’t this risky?

I glanced nervously outside, but Carter’s tall frame blocked the doorway. He braced his hands on either side of me, bent down, and stared straight into my eyes.

“Is it because of him that you rejected me?”

“Huh?”

“Your buddy Marcus,” he reminded me, voice low. “Feelings over time, right?”

I pushed at his chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Carter. Let me go…”

“No.”

“Weren’t you always afraid people would find out we lived together?”

He ignored my question, gaze intense. “What did you tell him?”

I couldn’t exactly spill the plan about getting him drunk for Lauren’s task. If he kept pushing, I’d be in trouble.

As I fumbled for an excuse, Carter leaned in closer. His kiss was fierce, but his hand was gentle, supporting the back of my head so I wouldn’t hit the wall.

All I could think was—the door! Please, someone close the door!

As if he read my mind, Carter actually reached out with his free hand and closed the door. He even turned on the faucet to cover any noise.

When the kiss finally ended, Carter turned his head away, breathing heavy, his heartbeat pounding in my chest.

He asked, “Is his kissing better than mine?”

I finally managed to get words out. “Marcus and I aren’t like that!”

My tongue tingled, almost tripping over itself. No doubt, my face was on fire.

I covered my face, voice barely a whisper. “That was my first kiss…”

Carter paused, then gently pulled my hands down, stroked my fingers, turned them over, and kissed the back of my hand.

He said, “Me too.”

I was annoyed—mostly at myself. Annoyed that my heart fluttered so hard for Carter when we kissed. How was I supposed to help Lauren win him over like this?

And I was a little hurt—Carter had been so fierce and wouldn’t let me go. With my emotions tangled up, I ducked my head and bit his arm.

He hissed above me, but didn’t move, just let me vent. Eventually, my jaw started to ache and I let go.

“Want to bite again?” Carter grinned, gently rubbing my jaw like it was a game. “If you’re tired, take a break and bite me again later.”

Later, Jamie’s voice calling my name snapped me back to reality, and I bolted from the bathroom.

Jamie and another friend were making mac and cheese. When I handed her a spatula, she eyed me with concern. “Hey, Savannah, why are your lips so red?”

I coughed, totally flustered. “It—it’s just the heat.”

The good news was, after dinner, when Marcus challenged Carter to a drinking contest as planned, Carter accepted without hesitation. Lauren, seeing our plan working, had a few sips herself and got tipsy. She slung an arm over my shoulder, hooked Jamie with the other, and insisted we were a family of three. She kissed us both on the cheek, yelling, “Daughters~”

Inside, the heat was blasting, and everyone was laughing and playing together. Honestly, it was probably one of the happiest nights of my life.

…

Late at night, everyone was sprawled out, tired and a little tipsy, on the living room floor. Carter had quietly fallen asleep on the coffee table in front of the couch. It was snowing outside, little flakes drifting down, slowly turning the world white and soft.

I’d had a little to drink and, in a daze, suddenly remembered something. Last year on my birthday, I’d invited friends over. Carter stayed in his room the whole time, never coming out. After the party, I crashed on the living room couch. That photo of me in his room was probably taken then.

When I woke, the table was cleared, and a bunch of Christmas roses sat in a vase. Earlier at the party, I’d complained that roses don’t bloom in winter. Someone mentioned there were Christmas roses at the night flower market across town. I thought it was a surprise from a friend. But looking back, it had snowed that night, and travel was tough. Carter must have braved the snow for miles just to buy them for me.

He braved the snow just to bring his favorite girl a bouquet of her favorite flowers. The thought made my heart ache in a good way.

All the frustration I’d felt toward Carter melted away with the snow.

I grabbed a blanket from my room to cover him. But as I moved, he woke up groggy, grabbed my hand, and pulled me down to sit beside him. He leaned his head on my shoulder, eyes red, and whispered, “Big sis.”

Meticulous, proper Carter would never act like this if he was sober. He was definitely drunk.

“Big sis, don’t you like me anymore? You used to like me.”