Three years have passed since I had seen Leo.. since I had felt that electric touch between us. I didn't want to lose faith in reuniting, but deep down, a part of me knew we wouldn't.
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"Court!" Trina yelled excitedly from downstairs in my living room, "Hurry up, or we're going to be late!"
"Yeah babe! We don't want to lose our special seat on the carousel!" sounded an equally as thrilled boy.
I stared blankly at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and cringed at the sound of his voice. No part of me wanted to go today. At least not with HIM. He was a monster, pure and simple. But what could I do? No one would believe the stories. No one would think that Mr. Perfect with his combed blonde hair, built physique, and marble grey eyes could EVER be evil underneath his varsity jacket and sly smile. No one would think that my abusive boyfriend of two years, Jacob Theroy, would ever be as evil as he really was.
"I'm coming!" I shouted back as optimistically as I could. I still didn't move, even worse, I couldn't. My legs felt as heavy as bricks. Then, I heard an all too familiar sound of feet climbing the steps. That's when Jacob peeked his head into the bathroom.
"Seriously Court, hurry your ass up. You're pissing everyone off." he snarled under his breath, then a look of disgust filled his eyes. "You weren't planning on going out like that, were you?"
A wave of the all too familiar self hatred and self-consciousness rolled over me.
"No.. I guess not." I whispered meekly back and headed to my room to change.
"Good," Jacob sneered as I turned to walk away, "Because that would have been embarrassing for both of us."
This was how it always was. The comments, the threats, the rejection, it was and had been my life for the past three years. I reminisced back to that day when I agreed to spend that evening with Jacob.
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"OH MY GOSH, COURTNEY GUESS WHAT!" Trina squealed as she ran through my front door without knocking.
"Yes?" I answered back questioningly.
"KYLE ASKED ME ON A DATE!"
"Oh wow! I'm so happy for you Trina!" I screamed as we both came in for a tight hug. She has had her eyes on Kyle Jackson since seventh grade, where she would literally spend HOURS dishing to me about how his dirty blonde hair would shine in the sun while he played soccer, or how he had walked up to her and put his hand on the small of her back while opening the door, and even the occasional time she would make him laugh with one of her shopping jokes (which apparently was a sign he was "Totally into her" as Trina put it.)
"And I got you a date with his best friend Jacob, too!" she mentioned as she hugged me. My mind instantly flashed to Leo and I remembered that day where the mysterious bronze haired boy had bumped into me. I remembered how his hand felt against mine, and how in that afternoon, during the entire conversation.. my world disappeared and it was just us.
"Trina, I don't know if I could do tha---"
"Oh come on, girl. Jacob is totally gorgeous and he WANTS you. Plus, you need to get out and have a little girl and guy time." Trina winked and started to giggle.
Maybe this could be healthy for me, I thought silently. I hadn't thought about anything except Leo for a while now, and maybe I just needed to accept the fact that he wasn't going to come back. And even if he did, he wouldn't even remember me. Plus, Trina was my best friend, it's my job to help her get the guy she wants. One date won't be that bad.
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A shiver ran through my body as I realized how wrong I was, I couldn’t even bring my self to recollect the first couple of dates.
"DANG" Trina cat called, "You look smokin' Courtney!"
"Yeah, you really do look nice" Kyle replied followed by his genuine smile that always lightened up the room.
"She always looks beautiful" Jacob added with a wink in my direction. I rolled my eyes and kept my gaze in Trina's direction.
"Thanks Trina. So who is it that we are going to see again?" I asked.
"The cast of Unknowingly Jaded, remember? Only my favorite show ever! I swear, sometimes I feel like you don't know anything about me, Courtney." Trina joked as she grabbed Kyle's arm to head out the door to her brand new Toyota Camry.
As Jacob forcefully grabbed me by the waist to lead me outside, I couldn't help but think the same exact thing.
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The four of us pulled up to the stadium where hundreds of fans, ranging from seven to twenty seven, were waiting in line to meet the stars of their beloved television sitcom. The boys said their goodbyes and headed down to the Baseball Game across the street.
People were pushing and as we neared the entrance to the grand room, and the excitement grew substantially as the ushers checked our tickets and led us into the antique doors to the section to take pictures and get autographs.
"Oh i'm so excited!" Trina stated while she started to hyperventilate. I laughed, Trina has been looking forward to this day since her father surprised her with the tickets for her 18th birthday a month and a half ago.
"Trina calm down before you hurt yourself," I replied as a choked down tears from laughing. "You don't want to freak them out!"
"Court, don't you think I'm trying? Even though I have Kyle, let me tell you, Cody Summers is the most delicious man I have ever laid my eyes on, and I'm about to take my picture with him."
"Trina, I don't watch the show, remember? I don't know who Cody Summers' is" I reminded her.
"Oh trust me, you will. Your mind will be blown. He is so incredibly beautiful" Trina's eye grew as wide as dinner plates as we approached table. "Look," she said quietly, "There he is."
My gaze shifted to the table where hoards of screaming fan girls were circling the unfortunate cast members. As my eyes locked with Cody Summers, I was definitely blown away… because staring back at me was the bronze haired boy with the beautiful brown orbs from three years ago.
