A/N: This is specifically made for an anonymous reviewer who apparently is afraid I'll freak out on them for flaming me. What makes me mad is when they don't have the guts to confront me as themselves. Of course, now I'm confused, as always. Hey, Truthful, what did you mean by me not knowing what was wrong with Carmen? I know, I sound really stupid asking, but I want to make sure I don't already know what you meant before I wrack my brain too hard trying to figure it out.

Chapter 9: Burning Desires ((Pt.2))

In The Morning – 7:30

Carmen woke up to Jack's soft breathing in her ear and tickling the skin on her neck and shoulder, sending chills down her spine.

He had the sheets wrapped around his waist, now. She took the comforter and slowly got out from under Jack's grip.

She decided to borrow one of Jack's shirts to be comfy. She went to Jack's closet and pulled out a black, short-sleeved t-shirt with skulls all over it. After pulling that over her head, she walked across the room and slowly opened the door and peeked into the hallway. It was empty. She took the risk of padding across the hall to the bathroom.

Just as she got to the door, Bobby's bedroom door opened and she quickly shut the door behind her. She wasn't awake enough for him yet.

Luckily, Bobby was heading downstairs to get a drink instead of to the bathroom, because that would have screwed up her plan of avoiding him.

After going to the bathroom, she snuck back across the hall to Jack's room and quietly shut the door so she didn't wake Jack up. Oops.

"Carmen?" Jack whispered, groggily.

"Hey…Did I wake you up?"

"Not really. Bobby slamming kitchen cupboards downstairs did. Did you talk to him or somethin'?"

Carmen shook her head and crawled back into the bed, cuddling up against him under the sheets.

They laid there in silence for a few minutes before Bobby came storming back upstairs.

"You look cute in my clothes…" Jack whispered.

She cracked a smile at him and rested her head on his bare chest.

"When did you get that tattoo?"

Carmen started laughing a little, "I was drunk. And it was a dare. I don't see how it was that daring, considering it looks pretty hot."

"No doubt about that. But how'd you get it underage?"

"My cousin, Kyle, took me to get it. He was at the party with me. He's 21 now, he was 20 then."

"Who dared you to do it?"

"My friend Cali."

"Let me see it again."

She sighed, "Hold on," She pulled the shirt up around her neck, the fabric still covering her chest, after sitting up.

He sat up to look at the ink picture, but kissed it and trailed the kisses up her neck to her mouth then back to her neck. He slowly lowered her onto her back, still nipping at her neck, but not as gently after getting the shirt off of her completely.

"Jack, wait…Jack…" She tried to interrupt him, but she didn't really want to.

He planted kisses down her collarbone until he got to her chest.

"Jack, stop," She demanded, holding him off of her until he stopped then letting him settle on top of her.

"What?"

"I just need a break," She smiled, softly at him. His face was less than an inch away from her own.

"Sorry," He said, sheepishly, lifting himself up off of her and getting out from under the sheets to get dressed.

"You don't have to apologize, Jack…" She said softly, while sighing.

He just shook his head, wordlessly, pulling on his boxers and then his jeans, still standing shirtless.

"Hey," She started, climbing off the bed, after pulling the shirt back on, and wrapping her arms around him from behind, "Jack, look at me."

He slowly lowered his eyes to hers. "What?"

"I just need a break. It's not forever," She smiled.

"So I'm not just another one of your one night stands. You're seriously going to try this whole relationship thing?"

She nodded and then kissed him on the lips. "But I've gotta sort out this shit with your brother and Justin."

Carmen found her underwear, put them and her bra back on and picked up her jeans at the end of the bed from the night before.

"Hey, Carm," Jack started.

"What?"

"…Be careful."

"Always am, Jackie," She smiled, before shutting the door and going downstairs to the kitchen.

Evelyn was eating breakfast with Bobby; eggs, toast and bacon.

"G' Mornin'," Carmen chirped.

"Good morning… Someone's awfully cheery this morning," Evelyn smiled at her.

Carmen took a sip of Bobby's orange juice and he didn't notice. "Bobby, why aren't you talkin'?" She asked.

Keep in mind, Evelyn knows about Carm getting pregnant by her eldest, but she doesn't know about the party-with-pictures night. Or the fact that Bobby's still totally in love with her.

"Get the fuck out of here, Carmen. You're not welcome," Bobby growled, taking his juice and going into the living room.

"Bobby!" Evelyn scolded.

"No. Aunt Evey, he's right. I shouldn't be here," Carmen sighed, pushing herself off the edge of the counter and going towards the front door.

"Carm, you left this upstairs," Jack said, throwing her hoodie down the stairs to her.

"Thanks. Bye, Jack."

Carmen walked around for about an hour and a half before she decided to wander over to the Skatepark to see if Justin and the guys were there.

They were. Justin, Josh, the whole crew of guys she'd either slept with and then became friends with, never really gotten along with in the first place, or is actually just friends with.

She even saw Hailey there with Dave, her now boyfriend.

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

A lot of things don't make sense to you at first, but after a while…you go back to them in your thoughts and realize why that happened. And get around making mistakes because you learned from previous events.

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why i need you to hear

Nobody's perfect. We all make mistakes that we regret for the rest of our lives. You learn from them and move on. Carmen learned from a mistake she made with one Mercer, and used what she learned so she didn't screw up with another Mercer.

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You x4

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

"Justin!" Carmen called across the park.

Justin turned to face her and grinned while skating over to her side. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry," She said, her voice quiet.

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

"I know," He smiled. "I am, too."

"Are we cool now?"

"…You slept with Jack again, didn't you?"

Carmen smirked, "What gave it away?"

"The massive hickeys you're trying to hide with that sweatshirt," He laughed pulling the neck of the sweatshirt down so he could look at the purple-ish marks on his friend's neck, shoulders, and collar bone. "Damn, he got you good, Carm."

"I got him better," She grinned, flipping the hood up over her head and her messy hair, starting to walk off again.

"Carm!"

Carmen turned around.

"We're going to a party tonight, come by my house around 7:30 if you wanna come with!"

"I'll talk to Jack about it! I've got some other shit to do, but I'll call you later!"

"Later skater!"

Carmen turned back around and waved before walking back towards the Mercer house to get the rest of her stuff and to talk to Bobby.

Mercer House – Yet Again

Carmen knew Bobby wouldn't let her back in the house if he answered, so she climbed up the side of the porch to the roof above it. She stood and walked over to Jack's window and tried to open it. 'Fuck. He locked it and he's asleep again.'

She knocked on the window and Jack jolted to the side of the bed that was closer to the window. "What are you doing!?" He exclaimed after opening the window and pulling her in.

"Bobby wouldn't have let me back in the house. So I scaled it," She shrugged, sitting down on his bed.

"Girl, you surprise me every time," Jack said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You know you love it."

"So did you talk to Justin?"

"Ya. He was cool about the whole thing. The walk gave me a chance to think,"

"Ya, like what?" Jack mused, brushing the hair out of Carm's face and lifting her chin so he could look in her eyes.

"Nothing. I should go talk to Bobby," she kissed Jack on the cheek before walking out of the room.

As she exited the room she could her music blaring from down the hall. Bobby. She opened the door and let her self in. Bobby didn't even notice her presence. She shut the door slowly behind her and just stood there until he looked up at her. Carm could tell he was about to say something, but she put a finger to her lips telling him to be quiet.

3 Days Grace "Are You Ready"

You'd said we'd never get this far
You said your words, we've played our parts
Said your two cents now
It's my turn
So, sit down, shut up
Are you ready?

Carmen slowly walked over to Bobby's bed and sat down rather close to him and turned down his stereo so she wouldn't have to scream. She let out a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair.

So, you think you know how this story goes
Are you ready for this?

"Why do you still care about me?" she asked facing him, "I would have given anything just to be with you. You left, remember? You were the one who walked away. I acted like that girl in the photos you kept so you would notice me over the other girls. You're the one who walked away so why am I the one who has to suffer?" Carmen's eyes were beginning to tear and she had trouble
keeping her voice steady.

Sit down, are you ready for this?
Shut up, are you ready for this?
Stand up, are you ready for this?
Restrain
Are you ready?

"Come on Bobby don't let words fail you know. You were always good with words."

I thought you'd never come this far
I thought your words meant something more
Said my two cents now
It's your turn
So stand up and scream
Are you ready?

"Come on, Bobby, what are you waiting for this time. It's your time to scream at me. Say something."

But to her surprise he kissed her and she didn't fight back. Not at first. She then pulled away and slapped him. "What the fuck!"

So you think you know how this story goes
Are you ready for this?

Sit down, are you ready for this?
Shut up, are you ready for this?
Stand up, are you ready for this?
Restrain
Are you ready?

"Come on Carmen. What do you want from me? I was an idiot then. I couldn't see a good thing in front of me but now I do…"

"You're too late. I care about Jack," Carm said softly.

"You care about Jack. But you loved me Carm," Bobby then got up and started to walk away.

Are you ready?
Are you ready for this?

Sit down, are you ready for this?
Shut up, are you ready for this?
Stand up, are you ready for this?
Restrain
Are you ready for this?

"Bobby, please. Please don't walk away. Not again." Carmen pleaded. Bobby just looked at her with an emotion she couldn't read. He then walked out the door and left her crying on his bed once again. Just like he had so many times before.

A/N: THANKS SO MUCH TO AMANDA! As always, she helped me out! Next chapter, I've got plans and it's gonna be a bit farther in the future; around Christmas time. –Wink to Amanda- She knows what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I'm meeting Drake Bell tomorrow night. Reviews would just put me over-the-top! Do it 'cause you love me…or you're extremely jealous! Haha.

Disclaimer: "The Reason" (Hoobastank) & "Are You Ready?" (3 Days Grace) are both owned by the bands…and my answer is no, to the idiots who are asking, "Do you own the bands?" Dumbass.

XxCrash.And.BurnXx REViEW PLEASE!