Please

Chapter 3

Dear Courtney,

I know you probably hate me, and probably think this is some kind of sick joke, but I promise you it's not. I've been thinking about the past, and how I hurt you. I want to tell you how incredibly sorry I am... I know I should have said this ages ago; my ego would not let me. I always figured we'd just forget it happened. A part of me thought we would come back together and just never speak about it again. I was young and stupid. I hate myself for hurting you and have carried this with me from the minute I broke us. It has taken me this long to have the guts to speak about it. I know we will never be how we were, but honestly, it wasn't the best. We had fun but we never took each other seriously or respected one another. I want that to change... I would like us to be friends, if you can give me that chance.

I've been speaking to our friends, Geoff says you're almost done with university and soon you'll be off to law school. I always knew you could do it, only an idiot would doubt you. How's your family? They probably loved to see me being dragged off the island by the officers.

All I'm trying to say is that I miss you, and I would love the opportunity to get to know you all over again. I promise it will be different this time. I'm not the same person I was five years ago. I just hope you haven't burned this before reading it, but I wouldn't blame you if you did. I truly hope to hear from you.

PS: I hope you've had plenty of peanut butter because they do not let us have any here. It's torture! If you ever visit please smuggle some in for me. Oh, and I have not enjoyed prison.

Yours,
Duncan
__________________________________

Courtney choked down a laugh as she read the last parts of Duncan's most recent letter. She remembered the light banter the two shared back on the island. Part of her was a little glad he had to suffer a peanut butterless life and not her. Courtney sighed as she put the letter away and straightened her back. It was only a day since she and Duncan spoke on the phone but she felt good. It took a lot of convincing but Duncan managed to get her to agree to a visit. Courtney was nervous to say the least, she had never stepped foot into an actual prison before and could only imagine. She needed the practice anyway, right?

Thinking about visiting Duncan in general made her stomach flutter, she needed to tell her friends. There was no way she was going to visit and not let anyone know her whereabouts, that would be irresponsible. Courtney took her phone out and texted Bridgette and Heather in a group chat.

Hey, lets go out for some coffee. My treat?

Once Courtney received two positive responses she grabbed her jacket and was out the door. The trio met at a local coffee shop in the middle of town. Courtney sat and waited for her friends and already had their orders ready; two iced coffees and one hot chocolate. Heather walked in first and sat directly across from her, next came Bridgette who seated herself between the two. Courtney was already taking sips of her iced coffee and waited for the two to do the same.

"You two are the only people I know to order an iced drink in this weather." Bridgette said as she took her hot chocolate. She wasn't wrong, it was freezing outside. Courtney smiled and took another sip of her drink.

"I won't apologize for not liking hot drinks unless I'm sick." Courtney set her coffee down and Heather nodded in agreement.

"So what's going on?" Bridgette was trying to conceal her worry, it wasn't everyday that Courtney wanted to be spontaneous and meet up.

"Does something have to happen in order for us to hang out?" Courtney was appalled by Bridgette's statement. Sure she liked to schedule her free days around with her closest friends but that didn't mean she couldn't mix it up.