A/N: Sorry that this is delayed, I intended to get this chapter finished before Thanksgiving but I spent much of the days before one of my favorite holidays feeling sick.
Carly used a setting spray to set her makeup after applying it and got dressed in a pair of cranberry leggings, a floral print oversized blouse and cognac colored high heeled boots that stopped just below her knees… and she turned to Gary before they kissed, Gary wearing a pair of black jeans, black wing tipped shoes and a cobalt button down collared shirt.
"Before we go, I want to ask you something first." Gary spoke up, Carly looking at him.
"Ask away." Carly responded.
"Your friend sounds lonely, would she be okay with going on a date with Norton?" Gary questioned.
"You noticed Norton crushing on her too?" Carly replied.
"He was asking me about her but I told him I wanted to ask you first." Gary explained, Carly nodding.
"I'll ask her, it seems like they'd have fun together." Carly replied before they kissed and he helped her put her coat on before he put his own coat on.
They met up with the others at the Thanksgiving dinner and Carly saw CJ and Sweet disguised so they could keep an eye out for the stalker, Sweet disguised as a prefect and CJ disguised as a security guard.
'This is more of a Friendsgiving because there are no parents around.' Carly thought as everyone was either deep in conversation or focusing on food.
"You know, I don't even know why you insist on a Thanksgiving dinner! We're barely a family!" Amanda responded drunkenly, 15 year old Carly looking nervously to Michael… and Michael nodded before Carly, Tracey and Jimmy went upstairs to their rooms.
Sneaking out afterwards, Carly met up with Pinkie and Raquel before they left and went to Santa Maria Beach… and they saw CJ and the others.
"Remember when I was 13 and you were 10, you were swimming in the water and the condom got stuck to your face?" Sweet asked.
"Horror like that stays with you for life! Believe that!" CJ responded as Woozie laughed before he noticed that Carly was nearby and walked to her.
"Oh hey, Carly." Woozie replied before they hugged.
"Family won't stop arguing. First it was "Everything has to be perfect!" from Mom and then Tracey saying "I'm not putting that stuff in my mouth!", then Jimmy complaining that he'd rather play his video games." Carly responded before they let go and she and Sweet hugged.
"Don't worry, Girl. You're our family and we won't abandon you." Sweet replied before he kissed her on her forehead…
Carly snapped out of her flashback and she relaxed as Gary held her before they saw Mandy hand them two cups that had non alcoholic sparkling cider in them.
"Enjoy, you two." Mandy responded before she left, Carly and Gary slowly drinking their drinks.
With the dinner over, CJ stepped outside and looked across the courtyard… and immediately tackled someone in a hoodie, disarming them and a fight breaking out over the mask until CJ ripped it off.
"Same ol CJ! Buster, straight buster!"
"And you faked your death!" CJ retorted as Ryder stood up.
"I didn't necessarily fake my death! I was pulled out of the water by the San Fierro coast guard and jailed for years in a prison hospital! I get out and I find out you replaced our old friendship with some bitch from the Rockford Hills area?!" Ryder yelled before he and CJ saw Carly, Gary and the others.
"That's the psycho that stabbed me!" Lola screamed.
"I was trying to kill her!" Ryder yelled, Carly trying to tackle him but Gary held onto her.
"You son of a bitch! You betrayed Grove Street and yet you want to act like my friendship with Carly fucked things up?!" CJ shouted.
Gary guided Carly away once police had arrested Ryder, the two in her dorm room and CJ and the others decided to give her space… and Gary locked the door, pulling Carly closer to him before they kissed.
Carly unbuttoned Gary's shirt and Gary rested his hands on hers.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Gary asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Carly nodded before Gary pulled Carly's blouse off of her and lightly kissed her neck, Carly closing her eyes as slight shivers ran through her body and they continued to undress each other before Gary grabbed a condom and opened it as Simple Man by Shinedown played on the radio.
Carly was on her back as Gary put the condom on and Gary was on top of her, his mouth on her throat and him trailing kisses down her sternum and chest as Carly closed her eyes and let out a low moan… and Gary smirked before they kissed again, holding Carly in his arms.
Skin to skin contact should've been awkward for them but it wasn't.
As she walked back into the Girls dorm, Mandy heard the bed upstairs slowly rocking and smiled softly before she left, coyly getting the mostly empty love potion out of her pocket as she had put a few drops in people's drinks tonight to try to ease the tension.
'Enjoy your night, you two.' Mandy thought before she went to go find Ted.
November 23rd 2007…
The familiar buzzing sound woke Carly and Gary from their sleep as they held each other to stay warm… and from the tone of the voice that filtered through the intercom, they could tell Ms. Danvers was pissed.
"To whoever spiked the drinks last night, you are in a lot of trouble! To whoever drank the spiked drinks, I hope you used protection if you couldn't fight your urges, we do not need young ladies having babies next summer!"
Carly and Gary looked at each other and smiled slightly.
"So that explains feeling oddly calm after that fight last night." Gary responded.
"Mandy won't have any regrets if she gets called into the office." Carly replied before they kissed and settled back into her bed, Gary pulling Carly into his arms and the two holding each other.
The rest of the world could wait as far as they were concerned… they wanted the afterglow of their first time to last as long as possible.