Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 94: Chris and Julie

Chris and Julie follow up on their quiet talks to Shayne and Courtney by talking to each other later that evening, realising they'd both like to find a way to talk to Brian – before he and Josh fly back to New York in a couple of days – and clear the air so they can start moving forward. Shayne and Courtney know this, because Julie then messages a group chat of the four of them later that night asking if they're able to catch up, just the four of them, the following morning.

"Sure! Would you like us to come out there, or you could come to our place?" Shayne texts back, quickly.

"Maybe we could go to yours? Can leave the kids with Mum and Dad then, keep them occupied," Chris replies, before another text quickly comes through, "(plus we wouldn't hate finally seeing your apartment before you move)"

So, they arrange it, and mid-morning the next morning, Shayne and Courtney's doorbell rings. Courtney answers it, opening the door and stepping aside to let them in as she greets them. Shayne, for his part, has been sitting on the couch reading, and he reluctantly slips a bookmark in (he was at an engaging part of the story, so sue him) and sets the book down, standing up to greet them. Shayne shifts one of their dining chairs over, so the four of them can sit around the coffee table as they talk through the serious reason for their visit. Chris and Julie ask about their experiences with Brian, and they give their insights from their own conversations, reassuring them that he seems to be open to truly repairing all of his family relationships.

"You know, while we're here..." Chris trails off, reaching for the PS4 game lying on their coffee table pointedly, and looking over at Shayne.

"Of course," Shayne responds, laughing as he gets up and goes to grab a couple of controllers.

"I'm not joking, would be cool to hang out for a bit, but only if that's cool with you guys," Chris adds, a little more seriously.

"I mean, cool with me- Court, Julie?" he turns to them, both nodding.

"Yeah, course, we so rarely get a chance to catch up without the kids around – although I might leave the games side of it to you guys..." Julie responds, trailing off.

"Mm, same," Courtney laughs, gesturing for Julie to move up to the dining table with her, falling into conversation as they vaguely watch the boys battle each other in some kind of sports game.

"You know, I was kinda serious about the whole makeup thing, I do... bits and pieces, but it's never something I learned how to do and I feel like I'm too old to go through all the screwing up phases of working it out now," Julie comments.

"Unfortunately my screwing up phase of working it out was my first couple years having my face all over the internet on Vine and early in my time at Smosh..." she shakes her head, "come on, I'll show you my collection, at least."

They both stand up, Courtney quickly running through the state of their bedroom in her head before they step in – thankfully, it's mostly clean, although her makeup itself is in somewhat of a disarray on the little desk over to the side where she keeps it.

"Oh, wow, you have so much," Julie comments, looking with intrigue as she sits down on the edge of their bed at Courtney's direction, Courtney herself grabbing her makeup stool to sit on.

"I have too much, probably, I don't use all of it – I get sent a lot of Youtuber makeup releases free, though, I'm not really in beauty Youtube by any means by I'm close enough to the edge of it that I get caught up in some of the free promo drops," she explains, laughing lightly at herself, "I've done two makeup videos ever on Smosh, both putting it on other people, one was on Damien and one was on Shayne playing fake-me."

"CFM is... quite the character. You did a good job on him, though," Julie comments, before quickly adding, "or... her?"

"Who knows, honestly. It was a weird shoot," Courtney laughs it off, "and look, I'm marrying this guy, I think he's pretty damn hot but that goddamn wig... Nope. Something about it I just... can't."