A/N: Amy (Stephfan6511) and I were messaging about how stories tend to take on lives of their own, and this one is a prime example! Originally it was going to be 1 or 2 chapters long and JUST the detention scene. Then I decided to have Steph notice Carlos before detention and set up a little tension there plus show how they ended up in detention. This story has totally taken on a life of its own! As of right now, it has morphed into a 20 chapter love story between Carlos and Steph. So we'll see where it goes from here! Thanks for reading! ;)

Thanks to stephfan6511 and GabbyDunk for their help and suggestions with this chapter!

Chapter 20

Carmen's POV

I had heard that Carlos was dating someone, but I had brushed off that rumor as completely unlikely. I had known Carlos from the time we were toddlers, and he had never dated anyone. Not seriously anyhow. He had gone out with girls before, but they never lasted past one date. I was the only girl that Carlos had gone out with more than once.

We had been out several times – dinner, the movies, bowling, miniature golf, and a few other places. Granted, it was usually in a big group, but I always managed to ride with him and sit by him. A few of our nights out had been just the two of us. In fact, my favorite memory was of a dinner date with Carlos. Our families had rented several beach houses in North Carolina the summer before our sophomore year. Carlos and I had gone out to a local seafood place for dinner and then walked along the beach on the way back. We were teasing each other, walking just into the surf and kicking water on each other. Carlos had laughed and picked me up, threatening to throw me into the waves. I squealed and wrapped my arms around his neck in mock fear. I had pressed my lips to his neck and my chest against his.

After spinning me in circles, he gently sat me back down on the sand. I was hoping for a deep passionate kiss, but it didn't come. Instead, he had ruffled my hair and slung a casual arm around my shoulders. I felt crushed. I wasn't sure if he didn't find me attractive or if he only viewed me as a friend. Was I just one of the guys in his eyes?

I had stepped up my efforts at catching his attention, and it had seemed to be working. But when I invited him to sophomore Homecoming, he had flat out told me no. He said there was no way that he would ever be caught dead at a school dance. When I asked him to our junior Homecoming, he had reminded me of his stance on school dances. But when I asked him to our junior Prom, he didn't say no.

He looked at me and smiled. I melted. He said, "Carmen, you know how I feel about school dances."

I nodded.

"If I ever decide to go, you'll be the first to know."

"So you'd go with me?"

He smiled and shook his head. "Sure. If I ever decide to go to a school dance, you'll be my date."

I asked him to Homecoming this year, and he declined again. I had teased him, telling him that he was running out of time to go to a dance with a beautiful girl on his arm.

He smirked and said, "I still have Prom left, not that I think I'll change my mind anytime soon."

I gave him a sexy pout. "Maybe I'll see if Lester wants to go with me." I had been hoping that he would be jealous, but instead he had encouraged me.

"That's a great idea, Carmen. I'll bet Les would be thrilled to have a beautiful girl on his arm for Homecoming."

I smiled and batted my lashes. "Last chance for you to have this beautiful girl on your arm, Carlos."

He gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Ask Les."

I blinked back the tears as I watched Carlos and Stephanie pressed close together on the dance floor. They were busy staring into each other's eyes and were totally oblivious to everything going on around them. I would kill for Carlos to look at me like that. The song changed to a fast one, but they never noticed. They stayed wrapped up in each other's arms, swaying slowly. Carlos was whispering in her ear, and a pretty blush covered her cheeks. I sniffed and dabbed at my eyes.

After a few more songs, I saw the two of them gather up their things and practically run out the door. I wondered where they were going, but I refused to allow myself to think about it too much. It was almost painful to think about Carlos with another girl.

Lester walked over then, a funny look on his face, and I immediately felt guilty for how terribly I had treated him tonight. After all, he was my date. And a family friend. I'd always gotten along with Lester, and he was one of the few people who really knew how I felt about Carlos.

I bit my lip. "Les, I'm sorry. You understand, right?"

Lester put an arm around my shoulder. "I know it's rough to see him with someone else."

I nodded silently.

"Would it make it any better if you knew that they really cared about one another?"

I choked out a laugh. "How could you possibly think that would make me feel better, Les? You know how I feel about him!"

He held my shoulders and turned me to face him. "Don't you want him to be happy?"

I sniffed. "Of course I do. I just want him to be happy with me." I gave Les a watery smile, and he looked at me sympathetically.

"I don't think that's going to happen, Carmen. I think Stephanie's the one. He's crazy about her. I mean, she got him to come to Homecoming!"

I snorted. "Yeah. After he promised that he'd take me if he ever went to a school dance."

Les rubbed my arms. "How 'bout we get out of here? Let's grab some wine coolers or beers and go somewhere quieter."

I mopped up my watery face, sniffling. "Sounds good."

He pulled out a key. "My Aunt Marisol said we could borrow their beach house for the evening as long as we didn't invite a lot of people and have a big party. That OK with you?"

I sniffed and gave Les a forced cheery smile. "Perfect! You know I love the beach!"

He wrapped an arm around me and guided me out to his car for the drive to Point Pleasant.

C&S C&S C&S C&S C&S

Steph's POV

After we finished the chocolate cake, Carlos leaned down and nuzzled my neck. "Want to go for a walk on the beach?" he whispered.

I tipped my head up and smiled. "It's freezing out there!"

He wrapped his arms around me. "I'll keep you warm." He promised.

I bit my lip and nodded, smiling up at him through lowered lashes.

He groaned and leaned his forehead on mine. "If you keep looking at me like that, we're not going anywhere."

I blushed and pulled back, tugging on his hand as I made my way to the back door. Carlos followed me willingly, stopping only to grab a blanket.

We walked out across the back deck and down the steps onto the sand. I leaned against him and pulled off my heels, letting them dangle from my fingers as we walked. A few steps later, Carlos stopped to pull his dress shoes and socks off. He took both of our shoes and tossed them back towards the house.

A huge gust of wind rolled off of the ocean, and I cuddled into him, my hands rubbing my bare arms. Carlos wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and pulled me close as we kept walking down the beach. A ways up the beach I could see a bonfire roaring. In between the crashing of the waves, I could make out some loud, upbeat music. Without thinking about it, we instinctively started walking towards the party.

When we were about a house away, I froze. Carlos stopped and turned around to see why I had quit walking. He raised one eyebrow at me in question. "Babe?"

I bit my lip. "That might be the party that Dickie was talking about going to." I explained.

Carlos nodded his understanding, and we turned to head back towards his uncle's house.

Once inside, Carlos led me over to one of the big overstuffed couches that were in the family room. All of the house lights were still off, and Carlos relit the candles, sitting them on the floor all around the couch. He found a remote that commanded the sound system and turned it on. The room was filled with the romantic strains of an old slow song.

Carlos held out his hand. "Can I have this dance?" he teased.

I grinned, teasing back. "I guess so."

Carlos pulled me up, and my body melted against his. His hands found my hips and then slid around to my ass. One hand pressed my center tightly against his while the other hand slid up to tangle in my hair. My own hands found his perfect ass and groped shamelessly. He groaned under my hands, thrusting against me.

He leaned down and starting kissing me in earnest. I pulled back breathless and threw my head back, panting. Carlos moved to my neck and teased me with his tongue and teeth. My breathing hitched when he hit the sensitive spot behind my ear, and I threw one leg up around his hip.

He grabbed it and held it against him, then both hands came down to cup my ass and lift me up. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist. My hands tangled in his hair as he continued his assault on my neck.

Moaning, I thrust my hips against his, and he let out a low hiss. His hands squeezed my ass, pressing me more firmly against him. I let out a whimper when he thrust against me. God! That felt so good!

He walked us back to the couch and sat down. I straddled his lap as he continued kissing me hungrily.

I reached out and clumsily unbuttoned his dress shirt, unfastened his tie, and ran my hands over his muscular chest. He leaned back and groaned, his hands holding onto my hips firmly. "That's not fair, Babe." He moaned.

"What's not fair?" I asked huskily, watching him shiver as I scraped across his pecs with my fingernails.

"You get to touch my bare chest."

I blushed and slowly unzipped the side zipper on my dress, lowering the sequined straps. Now all I had on from the waist up was my bra.

Carlos reached around behind me and unhooked my bra, leaving it on my arms. He sucked in a ragged breath and ran his hands up my stomach and under my bra. He cupped my breasts and explored them, massaging them, running his hands around them. His thumbs and index fingers tugged gently on my nipples, and I pulled my arms out of my bra, letting it fall on our laps.

"Stephanie!" he choked out, staring at my naked chest.

I stared deeply into his eyes. "I love you!" I whispered before leaning in and claiming his lips.

I heard a shriek coming from the opposite side of the room, and I jumped, pulling away from Carlos. Looking over the back of the couch, I saw Lester and Carmen. They were standing as if frozen in place, eyes wide, and mouths open in shock. That was when I realized that I had absolutely nothing covering the top half of my body. I folded my arms across my chest, completely mortified.

Carlos took in the situation and pulled off his shirt. He stood me up, turned my back to our audience and helped me slip it on and button it up.

Once I was finally covered, we turned to look at the still stunned pair.

"What the hell is going on?" Carlos growled.

TBC

So what do you think should happen now that Les and Carmen are there? Drama? Truce? Review and let me know!