Okay, here's my first part of the fan fic. If you like it, I'll post the rest. And yes, it does have to do with Clay, just keep reading...

Chapter 1

“Do u like our new house sweetie?” asked Carrie, looking down at her young daughter.
“Yes, it’s pretty.” Responded Emily, Looking up at the big brick house with white shutters and a red door.
“Yeah, You’ll go to a school here and everything.” Carrie explained
“But what if…” Emily Began. Carrie bent down to Emily’s length, and stroked her hair.
“Emily…Your father is not going to come here. And if he does…well, just hope he doesn’t.” Carrie told her, trying to make her understand that her dad would never hurt her again.
Carrie had just divorced her husband, Keith. He was very abusive. Emily could have died if they hadn’t got out of there. They both could’ve. Keith told Carrie he was going to shoot Emily. There was no reason at all. Carrie threw herself in front of Emily, taking the bullet. Emily had stayed with her aunt, while Carrie was in the hospital recovering. That had been such a terrifying time, and Carrie regretted having to put Emily through that. Carrie filed charges against Keith, but he never showed in court.
It was late and Carrie tucked Emily into bed and read her a story. But Emily wasn’t quite sure what happened with her dad. After all, she was only 5.
“Mommy, what happened to daddy?” asked Emily, holding her stuffed bear tight.
“Well, honey, Daddy was just very mean to us, remember? We had to move out. But it’s just gonna be you and me now.” Explained Carrie “Now you need to get some sleep, Good night.”
“Good night.”
It was a Monday morning; Carrie was downstairs reading a magazine when she heard the phone ring.
“Hello.” She answered
“Yes, Hello. Is This Carrie Richland?” asked a man with a deep voice
“Yes it is.”
“Hello Ms. Richland, My name is Alexander Tykes, and I got your offer in the mail. My secretary recently passed, and I am looking for someone to take her place.”
“Okay, What kind of work will I be doing? Will it be law?”
“Yes and No. Most of your jobs will have to do with the law firm. But on some circumstances, we work with trying to make things better. Like the Foundations we sponsor. We help them benefit and conference with them.”
“Oh, Well I would love that.”
“Great when can you start?”
“Whenever you need me.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there. What time?”
“Oh, around 9am. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Okay see you tomorrow Ms. Richland.”
“See you then.”
Carrie hung up the phone and sighed. She was so relieved. She would have a job. She could pay for Emily to go to a nice school. Emily came stumbling down the stairs, clutching her stuffed Bear. She walked over to the TV and turned it on. Carrie raised her eyebrow.
“Good morning Emily.”
“Yeah, good morning.”
“Okay.” Carrie whispered to herself. She flipped through the pages of her magazine, when she heard a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it!” yelled Emily.
“No, I will get it.” argued Carrie, walking to the door. Emily stopped at the door, allowing Carrie to open it. A short, Red headed woman wearing long pants and a blue blouse was standing there holding a rather large bag.
“Hello, I’m Rachel Barnsworth. I’m Mr. Keith Kennel’s lawyer. He told me I could find Miss. Caroline Richland here.” Said the woman. Right away all Carrie could think about was, “He knows.”
“Hello?” said the woman.
“Oh yes, please come in.”
“No thank you, I just came to tell you that the case has been dropped. If you would like a rescheduling for your case, give me a call. Here’s my card. Have a good day.” She said as she turned around to leave. Carrie stood there, “What just happened?” she asked herself. Emily, hiding behind the door, had no idea what was going on. Carrie slowly closed the door, realizing that she would be raising Emily alone, with no child support. “Tomorrow will be better.” She thought.
It was around 3pm and Carrie was driving to her Friends house to drop off Emily. Emily would be staying there until late the next day. She pulled into the long driveway. She got out of the car and came around to Emily’s side and opened the door for her. Emily jumped out and ran towards the front door. Carrie opened the back of her red SUV and pulled out Emily’s backpack. Emily rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer.
“Well hello Emily.” Said a tall woman with dark brown hair.
“Hi Lexi!” Said Emily giving her a big hug. Lexi was like family to her. She had been there through all the good times and the bad. Carrie came walking up the stairs carrying Emily’s backpack.
“Hey Care.” Said Lexi with a smile.
“Hi Lexi. How’s it goin’?”
“Good, and you?”
“Just a new job, I start tomorrow at 9am.”
“Great. Here, come on in.”
They all walked inside Lexi’s house. Emily began her search for Lexi’s cat, Sadie. Lexi and Carrie sat down on the couch.
“Do you want anything? Soda?”
“No, I’m fine, I’ll be heading out soon.”
“Okay, so what’s the new job?”
“Secretary. For some Lawyer, um…Mr. Alexander Tykes I believe.”
“Ooo, He’s one of the best lawyers in the state.”
“Yeah, so I guess I’ll be pretty busy.”
“I guess so. How’s Emily doing?”
“Oh, she’s fine. She doesn’t understand why we moved out, but I tried to explain it to her.”
“It was for the best. You did the right thing Carrie.”
“Yeah, but I’m worried that he knows where we live.”
“How could he know?”
“He sent his lawyer over to tell me that the case was dropped.”
“Aww, well you know I’m here.”
“Yes, thank you. Well, I better get going.”
“Okay.”
“Emily I’m leaving!”
“Bye!” Emily yelled. Carrie rolled her eyes. She opened the door and stepped out.
“Bye Carrie!”
“Bye, see ya later!”
As Carrie drove home, all she thought about was, “How could he know?” She bit her lip wondering how he knew. Did he follow her? She was so confused. She knew she would have a good time tonight. She was going to her new job the find out where everything is. And then she was going out with her friends.
Carrie got home and went right upstairs and into the bathroom. She brushed her long blonde hair. And allowed it to lay down tonight. She applied her make-up on and went into her room to find something to wear. She had to find something suitable for work, but nice enough to party. She pulled out a skirt, which stopped between her knees and her waist, but not quite a mini skirt. Then she dug out a cute pink top and a white blouse. She could wear the pink tank top underneath the blouse and still look classy. She was all made up and ready to go.
Carrie walked inside a large building. She looked around; it was only 6:04pm. She walked down the long halls, where she discovered her new bosses office. He was in conference next door, but by what she heard it was just ending. 5 men walked out, and Carrie being her clumsy self ran into one of them.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” She said, and then she looked up. The man was a lil’ taller than her, about an inch or two. He had Spiky brown hair with blonde highlights, and beautiful green eyes.
“It’s okay, I should’ve been paying attention.”
“I was just looking around here, since…”
“This is your new job?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Let me guess. Your Mr. Tykes new secretary?”
“How’d you know that?”
“He told us he had a new secretary coming tomorrow, and right now, that’s the only job open.”
She stared at his eyes and she listened to his southern accent twirl off his tongue.
“Oh, I’m Carrie Richland by the way.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Clay Aiken.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. Aiken.”
“Please just call me Clay.”
“Okay.”
“Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow Ms. Richland.”
“Carrie.”
“Alright, Carrie. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Carrie turned around and looked at the clock, it was 6:27pm. She had to leave to meet her friends for dinner.
On the drive there, she thought about the name, Clay Aiken. She had heard it before, but where. Then, it struck her. “American Idol!” She yelled out. Noticing the people in the cars next to her staring. She blushed. That’s where the name came from, American idol season 2. She remembered watching it. He had come in second on American Idol. Although she had voted for Josh Gracin.
Carrie pulled up to the restaurant, and walked inside. She saw her friends Alanna, Jessica and Stacey, sitting at a table.
“Hey Carrie!” yelled Stacey
“Hey girls.” Said Carrie
“Sit down.” Offered Alanna.
Carrie sat down next to Jessica and they began to talk. The night flew by, as they decided it was time to leave.
“So you girls wanna have a night on the town or something? Shopping, shopping and more shopping.” Said Jessica
“Yeah.” Said Alanna, they all agreed. So they went out and charged every credit card they had. They walked passed a cd store and Stacey suggested they go in. The 4 girls walked inside and glanced at cd’s Carrie looked over all the cd’s, and found one that stuck out. “Measure of a Man by Clay Aiken.” She whispered as Jessica walked up behind her to see what she had found.
“Oh he’s good, to bad he lost to Ruben Studdard. I was votin’ for the velvet teddy bear.” Said Jessica as she turned around.
“I think I’ll buy this.” Said Carrie, walking over to the check out. She payed for the cd and walked over to her friends.
“Well girls, I’ve gotta go, I’ll see you later.” Said Carrie walking out of the store.
“Okay, see you later.” Said Alanna.
Carrie walked towards her car and unlocked it. She sat in the drivers seat and closed the door, and she began to fiddle with the cd case, trying to get it open. She finally opened it and put it in her cd player. Carrie turned the car on and pressed play.
~Whatcha doin’ tonight I wish I could be, a fly on you wall. Are you really alone, who’s still in her dreams, why can’t I bring you into my li-ife? So tell me, what would it take to make you see that I’m alive? If I was invisible, then I could just watch you in your room. If I was invincible, I’d make you mine tonight. If hearts where unbreakable, then I could just tell you where I stand. I would be the smartest man, if I was invisible, wait, I already am~
Carrie began to enjoy the beat, as she drove home. And the cd ended, when she pulled into her driveway. She walked up to the door, to find that it was unlocked. Carrie didn’t think much of it, until she turned on the light. Her ex-husband was sitting on the couch. Carrie swallowed hard.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come home.” He said standing up.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I just came to say hello.” He said, a she walked towards her.
“I don’t believe that. Get out of my house!”
“You mean our house.”
“No, you don’t live here.” Carrie said walking into the kitchen reaching for the phone.
“Now you don’t want to call the police do you?”
“Yes, yes I do.” Carrie picked up the phone and gasped. He had cut the line. She was alone, alone and scared.
“Why are you here? And don’t you dare lie to me.”
Keith walked up to Carrie and grabbed her arm. She struggled to break free, and then Keith hit her. Hard enough to send her to the ground. Keith let go of her arm, and hit her again. Carrie cried for him to stop. Keith looked down at her and left. Carrie laid on the floor, listening for him to leave. She heard a car door slam across the street. She stood up slowly, and walked towards the window, the car across the street was gone. She hung her head and cried herself to sleep.

Chapter 2
Carrie awoke, lying on the cold wooden floor. She rubbed her head, as memories of last night slowly re-entered her mind. She slowly stood up, but fell back to the ground. She hung her head. She looked at the watch on her wrist. It read 8:24am. Carrie groaned.
“Shoot!” She yelled as she remembered she started work today. She dashed up the stairs and took a quick shower and got ready. She was out the door by 8:48. It took her about 20 minutes to get to work and she worried she would be late. She sped through traffic, and landed in the parking lot at 2 minutes to 9. She dashed inside as her boss awaited her arrival.
“Right on time Miss. Richland.” Said Mr. Tykes.
“Um, yes.” Carrie was so relieved.
“Follow me to your new office.” Said Mr. Tykes
Carrie followed him down many halls, and she worried she wouldn’t remember where her office was. But then she saw her name on the door, ‘Ms. Caroline Richland’ She smiled.
“My office is across the hall if you need anything.”
“Alright, thank you.”
“We have a conference in about 15 minutes. I’ll come get you and we’ll go down to the conference hall, so you can observe our work here, okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Well, I’ll give you some time to get everything assorted how you want it.”
“Thank you sir.”
“Oh, you don’t need to call me sir. That’s my dad. And it kind of makes me feel old.”
“Oh sorry.”
“You can just call me Alex or Mr. Tykes. Either works for me. Well, talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
Carrie looked around her office. She went over and sat down at her desk. Then she heard a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
“Hey, how’s your first day going?” asked, who other than, Clay Aiken.
“Oh, Clay. Good so far, but I haven’t really done anything.”
“Oh I see, well I guess we’ll be in conference together.”
“We are? Well, that’s…uh…nice.”
“Yeah…for the Bubel/Aiken foundation.”
“Oh okay.”
Clay walked over to her desk.
“What are you doing later?”
“Um…nothing.”
“Would you like to go out for coffee or something?”
“But you’re allergic.”
“Oh, so you are a fan.”
“Maybe just a little bit.”
“Ha, your very calm for a claymate.”
“Well, I don’t know if you’d say I’m a claymate.”
“Oh okay.”
“Just a fan.”
“That works to.”
“So…why are you here, I mean in my office?”
“Just came to see how your first day was goin’”
“Oh.”
“So, if you’re not to busy tonight. How would you like to go out to dinner or something?”
“Oh…that would be great.”
“Perfect, I’ll call you tonight.”
“Oh do u want my number?”
“That would work, yeah.”
Carrie smiled, she wrote down her number on a piece of paper and handed it to Clay.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Mr. Tykes walked into the room.
“Well are you two ready to go to our conference?” asked Alex
“Yes.” Answered Carrie
Alex led them to the conference room. Clay followed right behind her. She rolled her eyes at him. They stepped into a large room with several other people already sitting down.
“Please have a seat.” Offered Alex
Clay sat down next to Carrie. Through out the whole conference she thought about what had happened last night. Carrie lifted her sleeve and looked at her arm, she had several large bruises on her left arm. Clay looked over, he knew something had happened. The conference ended quickly and before she knew it, she was out the door.
When Carrie got home, she checked the lock on the door first, checking to see if it was still locked, which it was. She sighed and walked inside. She skipped upstairs, waiting for Clay’s call. She changed her clothes and put on make-up. Then, she finally heard the phone ring.
“Hello.” She answered
“Hey Carrie.”
It was Clay, and Carrie wanted to sound professional.
“Oh hi.”
“What are up to?”
“Oh not much.”
“Do you still want to meet for dinner?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, I’ll pick you up and then we’ll go.”
“Sounds good.”
Clay wrote down the directions to her house, and drove over to pick her up.
Carrie heard the doorbell and scooted downstairs.
“Hey!” she said flashing Clay a big smile.
“Hey, you ready?”
“Yeah let’s go.”
Clay had a white SUV similar to hers. She stepped inside and they drove off.
“So Carrie, How was your day?” asked Clay
“Oh good, I had to call my friend to tell her that I couldn’t pick Emily up until tomorrow.”
“Oh, who’s Emily?”
“My daughter from my first husband.”
Clay looked over at her and he knew how she had gotten those bruises.
“We just recently divorced.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, he nearly killed Emily. He was abusive and it was for the best.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you two got out of there.”
“Me too.”
They pulled up to restaurant and walked inside. They sat down at a small table. They had dinner, talked and laughed. Overall they both had a really good time. Clay treated her different than anyone had before. Even though it was only one “date.” Clay drove her back home and walked her to the door.
“Good night Clay, and thank you.” Said Carrie
“Anytime. Good night.”