Classified

Chapter 38 - "Don't punch me if you lose."

Carter and Donovan's race as well as a little something extreme afterwards!

***********************************

The day was chilly as Donovan followed Link out of the boys' locker room. The sky was swept with a thin curtain of clouds. The air smelled of rain to come. Only a few students waited on the track, but more were trickling out, raising the volume. Donovan and Link made their way to where Carter was stretching. As they approached, she twisted to the side and winced slightly.

"What's wrong?" Donovan asked.

Carter was about to shake her head but stopped. Instead, she pivoted and lifted up the edge of her shirt. Before Donovan could get distracted by the curve of her waist and the smooth plain of her stomach, he noticed a fist size bruise on her left side, right below her ribs.

"That's thanks to you," she said, dropping her shirt and nodding to Donovan.

A frown flickered across his face, as guilt sank claws into his chest. Link looked between them.

"I thought she was the one hitting you?" he said.

"She was," Donovan said. "It was an accident." An accident that he wished never had happened. The last thing he ever wanted to do was cause Carter pain, she had enough of that as it was. "Carter also doesn't protect her left side."

She pointed to him. "This is not my fault. My left side is perfectly protected."

Donovan's eyes jumped down to her side and up at her.

"You left your left side wide open. How do you explain that bruise, if you were protecting your left side?"

When Carter scowled, Donovan raised a questioning eyebrow. She crossed her arms and lifted her chin, her expression shifting into something playful. It was a look that he liked all too much. It said she was ready to take on the world and was daring him to join her.

"Fine, it's something to remember the next time I take you on."

"Remember it, but I'll never fight you. I don't want to leave any more bruises than I already mistakenly have."

"I'm more resilient than I look."

There was a mischievous glint in her eyes that spoke of a taunting challenge.

"Don't worry, that's something I am very aware of. But I don't want to hurt you."

"So I'll just protect my left side then."

Donovan saw as Carter fought against a smile, his own lips struggling to remain in a straight line. Link's gaze skipped between them, his expression puzzled.

"I can't tell if you're flirting or not."

The smile broke free of Carter's hold as Donovan swallowed his down, though his eyes crinkled in the corners.

"Anyone tell you, you have a mean right hook?" Carter asked, eyes still pinned on him.

He jerked his chin at her. "What about your elbow?" He absentmindedly ran a hand over his jaw, still feeling the spot that was sore. "Where did you learn that move from?"

Something swam through her eyes, bringing out a wider smile.

"Captain taught me that one," she said. "I nearly took out his eye the first time I tried it."

Link chuckled while Donovan smiled. The amusement dropped away as his thoughts turned to her father. He knew Carter must have seen the diverting of his mind when her own smile fell.

"How's it going?" he asked.

As he waited for a response, he kept his gaze trained on her, knowing a lie would be easier for her to say than the truth. She unlaced her arms and rolled her shoulders before shrugging. It was a motion that belittled the weary flecks in her eyes.