Cut To The Feeling

Duncan sits on the steps of the Killer Bass cabin and checks his watch again. It's twenty minutes past the time he and Courtney agreed upon, and he feels pathetic holding on to the hope that she's still going to walk through that door. She's never been late to anything in the few weeks that he's known her. He's been stood up.

He doesn't care. He doesn't. There's a sinking feeling in his stomach, but that has nothing to do with this. Dinner was sus. It's probably that. Whatever the reason, it's not because the sorta (totally) hot girl he's kinda (totally) into ditched him for God knows what. The pain in his chest is heartburn and nothing else. Not disappointment. Not insecurity. And definitely not sadness.

It's just... they've been spending a lot of time together recently. It started after the talent competition, Courtney upset about her violin and Duncan catching her at the wrong (right) time. They hung out a little, and, to both of their immense surprise, it didn't suck. She felt better, and he... it didn't suck. It was the start of a tentative friendship and created a habit of hanging out two or three nights a week just walking around camp and talking. Since the last challenge three days ago, it had been every night. Until tonight.

She told him she'd meet him at 8:30 at the end of dinner, and it's almost nine. He doesn't know what changed since then. Did she finally realize she's better than him in every single way and shouldn't be hanging around trash like him? Because it's true, despite whatever air of cockiness he tries to give off. Whatever. He's better off without her.

Then, the door opens behind him. He doesn't look to see who it is, but he sits up a little straighter in case it's her. He tells himself he doesn't care one way or another, but he doesn't know what he'll do if it's not her. If it's, like, fucking Bridgette coming to tell him Courtney says to get lost.

"You're still here," Courtney sighs as she sits down next to him. He turns to look at her, and her relief is etched onto her pretty face. "Good. I didn't know if you would be, but I'm really glad you are. I hope it's not too late to hang out because I'd really like that. I understand if you don't want to, though. I wasn't respectful of your time."

"It's cool. Not too late," Duncan says in a way he hopes nonchalant, but he's screaming on the inside. She hasn't ditched him yet. Miraculously, his stomachache is gone. It's unrelated. "You wanna get out of here?"

Courtney smiles at him, nods, "yes, please. God, this day has been so long. I've been looking forward to this all evening. I'm sorry I was late."

"It's cool," he repeats, the screaming getting louder. She was looking forward to spending time with him. Damn. It makes him feel warm in a way he doesn't totally appreciate. "What took you?"

"You don't want to know." She stands, and he follows suit. They start walking their typical route towards the woods. "There's this whole thing going on right now with Bridgette and Geoff. I don't really know or care, but I promised her I would help. I thought it would take maybe ten minutes. It didn't, but I couldn't find a way to get out of it without coming off as rude."

"Was it about that dumb gift he made her?" Duncan asks, and she makes a positive sound. "Yeah. I stayed out of that mess the best I could. I really don't give a fuck about whatever shit he always finds himself in."

Taking a step closer to him, Courtney giggles. It's not a sound he hears often, but he loves it more than he should. It's light and airy and perfect. More perfect that he's the one that made her giggle. God, he sucks. "I wish. I spent all day hearing this and that about Geoff and how brainless he is and how great his hair looks. As much as I appreciate Bridgette, I'm over it. It's the only thing I've talked about today. Do you know how exhausting that is?"