Cardrina? (#10InfiniteWeeks)

** SPOILER ALERT FOR THREE SIXTY**

Today, I am here to discuss the property which is "Cardrina". At least, that's what I've decided to call them. I honestly don't think these two characters have a ship name, because unless you are a masochist, I don't think anyone ships Carter with any human being... yeah.

So, the reason I chose to allow this insane relationship to occur is simple. At the time, Audrina felt that her only weapon to wield was jealousy. Carter, at the time, was the only boy within reach. He didn't seem like someone who would mind being used, so she allowed the inevitable to occur. They flirted - audaciously in front of Paxton - messed around, and eventually hooked up. It doesn't take long for Paxton to catch on to the game Audrina is playing. He approaches her, specifically noting that if she's trying to get his attention, it's working. But not in the way she wants. It's making him angry more than jealous. Paxton, despite his conflict of interest, still sees Audi as being a friend above anything else. First and foremost, he will protect her from anything and anyone that might be of harm. Paxton recognizes Carter's bad boy nature and warns Audrina to stop what she's doing.
"Don't fuck with him just because you can."

Meanwhile, it seems that Carter is fully aware of his being a pawn. He seems perfectly okay with being the tool that makes Paxton miserable. As I was writing, part of me considered that Carter never liked Paxton from the beginning. It sounds terrible, but he hated seeing his sister so happy. Jade's ability to move away from home and start over with her life while still managing to find love makes Carter spiteful. This is how the reader finds out what Carter's real motive is by leaving Boston to stay with Jade over the summer.

At this point, the reader is like, "They don't get along, so why is Carter willing to stay three months with her and attend the same college?"

I get it. It does sound odd. But what Carter really wants is to do the exact same thing Jade did. She had a life she didn't necessarily want for herself. So, she stepped away. She moved to a different state, attended a new school, made new friends, and fell in love. As content as Carter seems with his popularity and his social status, by now he's starting to realize that he may be stuck with it forever. How cliché right? The popular boy doesn't want to be popular anymore. But it's true. If he stays in Boston, the meaningless life of parties and sex and wasting time will all be permanent. He may never actually make something of himself. He may never grow up and find real happiness. By staying with Jade over the summer, Carter is trying to copy her. He's trying to start fresh. But Audrina manages to screw with that plan.

When Carter is first introduced to Audrina, there is a natural instinct inside of him that wants to try and catch her. He wants to see how easy it would be to make her want him. Little does he know, Audrina is already trying to do the same to him. So, why would they not be perfect together? They are both using each other for the complete wrong reasons. Both of them are trying to gain something for themselves. Carter is avenging is pride while Audrina is toying with Paxton's heart. For just a split second, the reader might consider the two to be a perfect match. If, at this point, you didn't like Audrina, you probably thought this. But here's the thing: she actually steps away to be the bigger person in the end. Carter doesn't. After diving so deep in between the complication of Paxton and Audrina's relationship, Carter realizes he wants out. But he doesn't do it nicely. He becomes fed up with all of the drama surrounding him and finally sees that what he became a part of was exactly what he'd wanted to leave behind back home.

If you've read Three Sixty, you know how this ends.
Paxton and Carter's brawl was one of my favorite scenes to write. This was my way of beating the shit out of someone that deserves it - in a literary sense, of course. While it was fun for both me and the reader, the action brought about a very consequential reaction. Paxton's choice to defend Audrina brings about a new worry in Jade - one that was already starting to bloom. By the end of the book, the reader isn't quite sure where the story is going to go, but I can promise that we'll be picking up right where we left off. We don't find out the rest of Carter's fate until the very end, but Infinite Limits is sure to answer a lot of questions.

Thanks again for being so patient with me, guys!
I've had a very busy week, so it's been hard to keep up with posting every day.
I've made sure to make it up to you though by sharing part 2 of the TMI Tag video! Here it is!






-Megan.