Hidden Heat // Shartney

4 - Distance

That night led to more like it for the next couple of weeks. The couple would find themselves hanging out with each other at either of their apartments and, without fail, they'd end up together. This new relationship was something just for them, something they told no one else not even their closest friends. Why would they? It's not that they wouldn't trust them, they just knew how they'd react to the news that their favorite ship Shartney was having sex.

"Hey, uh, Court?" Shayne's voice was low and soft by her ear. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"What's up?" She rolled over to meet his face but he seemed more nervous than he had been.

"Well, I've sort of got a date this Thursday," he said. With his words, Courtney's heart dropped low. She knew they couldn't do this forever yet it made her upset.

"Wh...what?"

"Damien set me up with one of his voice actor friends and, well, I couldn't get out of it. Trust me, I tried to but...well he wouldn't let me. I just thought I should tell you about that because, I mean, we had plans..."

"Oh, well..." She couldn't find the words, they were stuck in her throat. She wanted to yell at him but, truly, she had no reason to.

"You want me to get out of it? I can try somehow."

"No! No, no, no! It's okay. I don't want you to do that just for me," she lightly pushed him to mask her upset at the news. "We were just messing around, you know? It's...Damien had a good idea."

"Are you sure? Because, I mean, if I like this girl then..."

"I know, we can't do this anymore."

They both knew the consequences of this date that he was set up with. The thing is, neither of them really wanted to end what they had. It was special to them. Something inside of them made them feel like this needed to happen. Their hearts wanted each other.

Previously...

Shayne stood in his bathroom drying off his hands after previously washing them when his phone buzzed in his pocket. Damien was calling him.

"Hey, dude!" Damien said through the receiver. "I've got something you can't turn down."

"Okay, like what?" He asked his best friend.

"So, I've got a bunch of friends from my voice acting gigs. Remember that one you met at my birthday party, Ellie? I was thinking maybe the two of you would make a great couple."

His thoughts circled to Courtney immediately. At that point, they had been getting together for weeks. He enjoyed being there with her, even if it was just them having sex. The thought of going out with another girl was...it didn't feel right.

"Uh, listen, Damien," he wasn't sure what to tell him, really. He and Courtney agreed that they wouldn't tell anyone about their relationship so he couldn't outright tell him why he didn't want to go on the date. "That's a nice offer but I don't think I want to go out on a date."

"Why not?"

"It's...complicated. Look, I don't think it'd be a great idea..."

"Shayne, dude. You've been complaining about being single for months now, I know you want to be with someone. This will be great for you. Come on, man..."

"I...Damien."

"Look, you're going for it. Besides, I already told her you agreed to go on a date with her this Thursday. Bye!" Damien quickly hung up the phone leaving Shayne alone with his thoughts. One, of course, being that his best friend volunteered him for something that he didn't even want.