𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟷
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˚⁀➷｡♡*｡
𝚌𝚑𝚙 𝟧𝟢.
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It had been two weeks since everything went down online and for the most part, everyone had stopped talking about it.

Carson was currently getting ready for her very first TV appearance, The Real had invited her last week and today was the day she would go on. She was originally going to say no because she knew they just wanted to be nosy and all up in her business but she figured she could always use free publicity for her YouTube channel.

She was sitting in Jack's closet in front of the mirror she had put there a few weeks ago. She reached over and grabbed the flat iron she was letting heat up. As she began to flat iron her hair, Jack came into the closet. He looked around at the array of makeup and hair products that was on the floor. He carefully stepped over a pile of hair clips to get to his shoes.

"You know you could just use the extra room down the hall for all this, right?" He asked, pulling down one of his shoe boxes.

"But I like this space better, it's so cozy in here." She ran a comb through a section of her hair followed by the flat iron.

Jack hummed, putting the box back and grabbing another one, "The spare room has a closet just like this one though." He pointed out.

"But..." She paused to pull another clip from her hair. "This one is better."

He pulled the shoes from the box and slid the shoe box back into place before turning around to look at her, he didn't say anything as he just looked around. She had two suitcases sitting in the corner of the closet, one for all the cosmetic products and another for her clothes. "Aren't you tired of living out of your suitcase?" He asked while putting on his shoes.

Carson also glanced at her suitcase, "Eh, not really." She looked back at him. "You could always clear out some closet space for me."

"But there's another closet in here," He laughed.

"I like this one, Jack. Damn, don't you get that?" She furrowed her eyebrows at him.

"Alright, I'm sorry." He looked at her. "You don't have to keep looking at me like that, I got it."

She shifted her body to face the mirror again, she grabbed her brush and ran it through her hair a few times, proud of what she was able to do with her natural hair. "I'm having James take me to the studio, could you call him for me?" She asked, referring to their shared driver.

"He can't." Jack put on one of his chains, "He's taking me to the festival grounds, I perform in two hours."

"What that gotta do with me? I need a ride." She grabbed her hoops and put them in her purse, deciding she would put them on later.

"Call an Uber," He teased, stepping over her mess again to leave the closet.

"Thanks for the ride, James." Carson smiled while tipping the man who was holding the door open for her.

"Of course," He nodded, making sure she had her things before he shut the door.

Carson walked through the door and she was checked in, afterwards she was led to a dressing room where she would have to do her own makeup, she thought that was wrong but she didn't mind since she hated for people to touch her face anyway. After she finished getting ready she was mic'd up and told to just wait for her cue.

•••

"So Carson, you know this is The Real so I just have to ask, did you ever get your apology from Deja?" Loni Love asked while tapping her nails on the mug in front of her. They were fifteen minutes into the interview and Carson was having fun spilling all the tea.

Carson shrugged, "Nah." She sat up slightly, "I guess she's just too far up her mans ass to even realize she hurt a friend."

The crowd clapped loudly, some of them nodding.

"Oop, so she didn't say nothing to you at all?" Jeannie wondered as Carson looked at her.

"Nope. But it's fine, it really is. I've lost friends in the past, it doesn't faze me anymore." Carson told her. "I have people in my life that really love me and support me. When you have people like them riding for you, you really don't need nobody else."

They paused for a second as the audience clapped for Carson once again, some of the women in the crowd was really feeling what she was saying,

"Speaking of love and support, we've all been wondering how you fell into the hands of America's favorite white boy." Tamera smiled at her, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the desk.

"Uh," Carson laughed, pulling at her fingers gently. "Well..." She trailed off.

"Come on, it's a safe space." Tamera egged her own.

Carson looked at with a look of disbelief, it was not a safe space but she wasn't going to say that. "We met in 2019 in a laundromat."

"In a what?" Jeannie laughed.

"My washer broke so I was in a laundromat washing my clothes. And I was actually paying him no mind until his friend called me, 'The Shade Room girl'." She laughed at the memory, she remembered being upset when it happened but it was funny now. "I had been in blogs a lot because of my ex, but that's another story."

"Tell us more," Adrienne said, looking very interested.

"Initially, I was not into talking to him. Like at all." She told them. "I don't like talking to people so to get him to go away I told him I don't talk to people who wear ugly shoes." She continued, "So...he took them off so that I would talk to him. And that's really how it started."

"Hold on," Loni waved her hand. "He took his shoes off in a laundromat?" She asked, looking disturbed.

"He had socks on," Carson said simply.

Tamera spoke up, "How do you feel about people saying you're with him because he's a rapper on the rise?" She asked.

"I don't really feel nothin' about that, because it couldn't be further from the truth. This was back before he blew up anyway. So they can take their opinions and shove them up their as-."

She was quickly cut off by Jeannie who didn't want her to curse on live TV, "That's actually such a cute meeting. What a story to tell your kids, right?" She laughed.

Carson stared at her as did the three other hosts before Adrienne changed the subject, "Carson I can't help but notice your tattoos." She changed the subject. "Do they mean anything?"

"Uh, not really." She chuckled. "Well, except this one," She pointed to the one behind her ear and the camera zoomed in on it so everyone could see it. There was a few gasps in the audience and at the table too.

"You got that mans initials on your body?" Loni asked with wide eyes.

"Hell no, these were my parents first initials." She explained. "It's just a weird coincidence that they match his."

There was a collective nod from all the hosts, "If you don't mind me asking, what were their names? And what happened to them?" Tamera asked.

"They died." Carson said simply. "My moms name was Jariah and my dad was Hasani."

"It was a car accident, correct?" Jeannie asked calmly.

She nodded, "Yeah. I was young, I really don't remember much." She told them, hoping it would steer them away from the conversation.

One of the producers from behind the camera motioned that it was time for a commercial break, "We'll continued our conversation with Carson Taylor when we come back." Loni announced before they cut.

•••

Carson didn't leave the show for another two or three hours. When she met James in the parking lot she smiled at him, "Hey James." She mumbled.

"Hi Carson," He opened the backseat door for her and she got in. When she got in she saw Jack sitting there, his head was against the window and his eyes were closed, performing in the sun had made him extremely tired.

Carson put her purse down by her feet and she hesitated for a second before poking Jack in his side. When he didn't budge she reached up and pulled his hair, "Jack?"

He reached up and grabbed her hand, pulling it away from his hair. "Hey," He opened his eyes to look at her. "How'd it go?" He asked through a yawn.

"It was kinda boring but I got the free promo," She leaned against him causing him to wrap his arm around her.

"That's great," He yawned again. "I'm proud of you."

Carson smiled, "Thanks. How was the festival?"

"Hot." He closed his eyes again. "But it was fun. Tyler showed up."

"Shouldn't he be doing basketball things?" She wrapped her arm around him too so she could get comfortable.

Jack chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, probably. But that's none of my business."

"Are you tired? Do you want me to stop talking?" She looked at him.

"No, you're good." He mumbled although it was clear he was fighting another yawn. "Tell me more."

She smacked her lips, "I wasn't telling you about anything." She shook her head. "Just go to sleep, I'll wake you once we get home."

Jack didn't say anything and within a few seconds Carson could hear his faint snores.

•••

Carson was laying in Jack's bed watching Bring It on the TV as Jack was fast asleep next to her.

"I have a feeling this show is scripted," Carson said to no one in particular. "But imma still watch, this my shit."

Jack rolled over to look at her, "Who are you talking to?" He asked quietly.

"Myself." She said simply as her focus was still on the big flat screen tv. Jack grabbed a pillow and put it over his head as he closed his eyes again. "Damn, you still tired?" Carson frowned.

"You don't understand how hot it was, performing in that heat was like torture." He mumbled. "What time is it?"

"One in the morning," She said glancing at Jack who was had his back towards her. Carson huffed knowing he fell back to sleep. She stared at him for a little bit before shaking him, but he didn't budge.

Carson reached down and gently bit the tip of his ear causing Jack to jump up and look at her. She laughed at his expression, "I'm bored."

"And what do you want me to do about that? Please let me sleep in peace." He said as he tried pulling the blanket over him but she was laying on it.

"No, let's make cookies or something." She said jumping on him. "Why are you being so annoying?" He muttered sitting up a little bit.

"Because I'm an annoying person, come on, get up, please." She pouted looking at Jack who had put his arm over his eyes. He ignored her and laid back down causing Carson to smack her lips.

"Oh my god, you are not that tired." She rolled off him and sat up on the bed. "You really don't wanna spend time with me?" She asked and Jack didn't respond. Carson nodded before getting up from the bed and started looking for her keys and phone.

Once she found them she looked for her shoes. She found no reason to be there if he wasn't even going to try and speak or entertain her. Once she got everything she needed she walked out of the bedroom purposefully slamming the door on the way out.

Jack laid there for a moment longer before rolling out of bed and leaving the room a few seconds after her. Carson was just walking out the door by the time he got downstairs, he grabbed his hoodie from the back of the couch and quickly slid it over his head as he followed her out of the apartment. "Come on, we can make cookies." He pulled his sleeves over his hands and rubbed his eyes.

"I don't want to anymore, I've been wanting to go home anyway." She said as she pressed the elevator button and waited for it to open.

"No you haven't." He walked over and stood in front of her. "Or else you would've been left."

"Well...I'm leaving now." She pressed her hand to his chest to try and move him away.

He grabbed her hand, "Why are you always acting so difficult? Get back inside." Behind him, the elevator dinged before both of the doors slid open. She thought about stepping around Jack and getting in the elevator but he was right, she didn't want to go home. She hadn't been in her own apartment in weeks she didn't really have plans of going back as of now.

She just sighed and pulled her hand out of his before she turned around and went back inside of the apartment that he had left wide open, chasing after her. When he got back inside he shut the door and just looked at her, "You're crazy." He started to walk past her.

"I keep things interesting," She argued, before he could walk past her she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the kitchen with her.

"I don't think I have any of the ingredients to make cookies." He draped his arm around her as Carson turned on the kitchen lights.

She walked to the fridge, "I bought some stuff just the other day."

He let her go and leaned against the counter, "I was wondering where all the food came from. Thanks for doing the shopping,"

"Well someone had to do it around here. I was tired of eating noodles." She pulled out the carton of eggs and handed them to him.

"You could always eat at your place," He set the eggs on the counter before turning around and getting a glass cup so he could get some water.

Carson shrugged as she continued to rummage through the fridge, "This is technically my place."

"Says who?" He hopped on the counter, looking at her as he comfortably sat down.

"Says me.." She mumbled looking for a bowl to poor all the ingredients in.

"You don't pay any bills here," He said playfully, grabbing a random cereal box to look down at.

Carson looked at him, "I tried to and you wouldn't let me."

He glanced up with a faint smile, "I was just trying to be the man of the house but if you want to put downs next months rent then feel free."

"It's in my purse already," She opened a drawer to grab the handheld mixer.

"All of it?" He set the cereal box aside.

"All two grand of it." She nodded, looking over at him as she turned on the mixer.

He squinted at her, "You're not really carrying money like that, are you?"

"I got it from the bank this morning," She shrugged.

"And you've been a thousand places since this morning, what if you got robbed?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows.

Carson scoffed, "Jack, don't be dramatic. I didn't get robbed and I never have."

"I'm not being dramatic. You're like two feet tall and ten pounds, it takes nothing to rob you." He jumped off the counter and walked over to the table where her Chanel purse was.

She set the mixer down and ran to get the purse before he could but he snatched it before she could, without a second thought he held it above his head. "Give me my purse," She reached for it.

"Look, I robbed you in less than two seconds." He turned his back to her and stuck his hand in the purse, his hand gravitated to the envelope full of money so he grabbed it. "I just came up on 2K that easy."

"Jack!" She punched him in the back. "Give it back!" She hit him again.

"You think a robber will give it back?!" He turned around to face her. "They won't! They'll take your shit and leave you without rent money for your boyfriend."

Carson dropped her hands by her sides and just looked at him before she laughed, "You're so unserious sometimes."

Jack gave her a small smile, "I'm just trying to get you to understand." He softened his voice since she had lowered hers.

"I understand," She nodded. "Next time I'll just drop it off instead of carrying it around."

"Thank you," He handed her back the purse and he went to the money away. "Thanks for the rent though, I really needed it."

"I'm sure you did." She laughed while tossing the purse aside and walking back around to finish her cookies.

For the next few minutes the apartment was quiet with Jack upstairs sorting money and Carson downstairs making cookies, it was quiet until there was a knock at the door. "Carson! Get the door!" Jack called as he tucked the money away.

"No! I'm busy!" She yelled back.

Jack sighed heavily and turned off the bedroom light before skipping down the stairs. Right before he opened it he paused, "Who would be at the door at 3 in the morning?" He asked himself as the person knocked again, this time a little more persistently.

He stepped closer and looked through the peephole, he confusedly opened the door. "Can I help you?" He asked the two police officers that were standing in front of him.

"Are you Jack Harlow?" The man asked, there was one male cop and one female cop.

"Depends on who's asking..." He mumbled.

The female officer cop spoke, "We got a disturbance call regarding this apartment unit."

"A disturbance call?" Jack asked. "Who the hell is being disturbed?" He leaned against the doorframe.

"A neighbor of yours called and reported that they heard what seemed to be domestic violence in this apartment unit." The male officer said.

Jack looked at him before laughing softly and rubbing his temples, "There's no domestic violence here."

"Is there another person in this unit?" He asked to which Jack nodded.

"B! Come here!" Jack glanced back into the apartment.

Carson who was completely unaware of the officers continued to roll her cookie dough into balls, "I'm. Busy!"

The female officer raised an eyebrow at Carson's response, "Can we enter, sir?"

Jack took a deep breath but stepped aside to let them in since he knew he had nothing to hide, he knew Neelam was going to be pissed once the press got ahold of this. When they walked in he closed the door and followed them right to the kitchen were Carson had her back turnt to them.

"Excuse me, ma'am."

At the sound of the new voice Carson quickly turned around. When she saw the two people in the navy uniforms she put her spoon down, "Hi."

Behind them Jack leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, "Carson tell them I'm not beating your ass."

Carson nodded slowly, "He's not beating my ass."

Both of the officers peeped the bandage on her face which rose suspicion. The female officer cleared her throat, "Can I speak to you alone, ma'am?"

"Why?" She asked. "He's not kicking my ass. That's me confirming it. There's no crime here."

"What happened to your face?" The male cop asked. Carson reached up and touched the bandage she had put there just this morning, "I cut myself shaving." She told him.

"You shave your face?" He asked.

"Don't you?" She questioned right back. "Am I not allowed to because I'm a woman?"

The female officer stepped closer, "Are you sure you don't need help, ma'am? If he's intimidating you we can remove him from the premises."

Jack snorted before shaking his head, "This is ridiculous."

Carson looked at him and then at the officers, "I don't need help. And you can't be in here without a warrant, you're free to go. Thanks for your service." She said, shooing them away as Jack went to open the door for them.

When he opened the door he saw a woman standing right outside her door. She was mid-30s. White. And very nosy. That's what Jack was able to gather as the cops left the apartment, heading down the building staircase. "Did you call the cops on us?" Jack asked the woman.

She