Returning To Loving You

Our Very Own Finale

If there was a single moment from my experience on Total Drama that I could've preserved for eternity, it would've been this moment right here. Cody pressed up against me, his legs reclined at some odd angle, my left asscheek going numb... It was perfect. It gave me all the reason to stop staring down the clock and waiting for our time to run out, and instead savor the pure contentedness that was washing over me.

More than a year of heartache, self-realization, and numerous bodily injuries had led me to this, and all of it was worth it. More so than if I had gone home with a million dollars in my bank account.

Cody has been dozing in and out of sleep, and part of me was tempted to offer him a good, solid nap before our cast party that evening. But selfishly, I needed this time with him, just us. It was likely the last we'd get.

"I've gotta stand up, my leg's falling asleep" I said, giving him a gentle nudge to sit upright. He did so and began rubbing his eyes.

"What time is it?" He groaned.

I took a peek at that damn clock.

"12:40. We've still got time" I said, hauling myself off of the sofa and stretching out my aching legs. After the seemingly endless stay at the hospital and the plane ride over, my body felt weak and restless.

"Good, I really need to wake myself up before that party. Do ya' think there's coffee downstairs?"

"Yeah, but it's probably Chef-brand 'Crappuccino'"

Cody smiled.

"I'll take what I can get, I don't wanna sleep through everything"

We sauntered down the stairs to the kitchen, where there was, in fact, Chef's Instant Coffee Grounds™ (now with less cockroach!). There were a few people scattered among the living room, most of them asleep on the couches. Trent, who was picking mindlessly on his guitar, gave us a small wave as we passed through. Cody waved back and made his way over. I followed, though reluctant to sacrifice any of my time with him to anyone else.

"What's up, Trent?" Cody greeted cheerfully, the "coffee" beginning to perk him back up.

"Hey, man! Just warming up for our little show tonight. Gotta make our last show the best one"

"You guys are retiring The Drama Brothers, huh?" I asked.

Trent shrugged.

"Eh, we had our time. It was fun, but I think we're all ready for a break from the cameras"

I agreed wholeheartedly, and secretly, I was glad not to share Cody with any more fangirls. I didn't have the patience for another Sierra.

"Fair enough. Where's Justin?" I asked, surprised not to see him attached to Trent's side.

"He's upstairs taking a shower. Probably getting all pretty for the party"

"So are you two, like, going out?" Cody asked.

It was a fair question, and one that I'd been wanting to ask for a while. It had seemed nonsensical to worry about my friends' love-life when my own was in shambles, but now that Cody and I had gotten sorted out, the curiosity was growing in me. Props to Cody for not beating around the bush.

Trent smiled slightly, in a manner that seemed almost coy.

"I guess you could say that. We're just figuring things out"

I took his vague answer at face value, rather than getting nosy. Self-improvement on my part, really.

Cody just smiled back.