If (A Shortney Story)

Now

Shayne:
I could smell her.
There's no way I could have known I'd end up here. If I had known, I would have run away. I'm a coward, and I know it.
I'm in Courtney's bed.
I'm looking at her now. At her sleeping form. I gently brush a small fluff of hair behind her ear, and I sigh.
She's so beautiful. She's like an angel.
It was like an out of body experience when she kissed me. I had no expected it, nor did I not want it.
I wanted to kiss her, but I was scared of what it could have meant. I was scared of the consequences.
I've liked Courtney since the day I arrived. When I was stuck as the ref for Smosh Summer Games, I was immediately infatuated with the blonde girl that was just so funny, so happy. So ebullient.
I've always told myself I couldn't show how I felt. I've channeled those feelings into friendship. I lied for so long, I even started to believe it.
I fooled myself, and I thought I fooled her. All this time, I thought she felt we were only friends. I never had the idea that she even thought about me as more than a friend.
Then, she kissed me. Her lips are so unbelieveably soft. She tastes like hope. I suppose I already knew this, but I never focused on it. Whenever we kissed before, it was always for a scene. It was always acting. Every time we had one of those scenes, I'd spend days thinking about it afterwards. The sensation of her lips on mine is truly intoxicating.
But I discarded any feelings that arose in me because I didn't want anything to happen. I didn't want to fall in love with Courtney Miller.
But I did.
A shifting of the covers jolted me out of my thoughts. It was Jango. He nuzzled me on my neck. I chuckled before petting him behind the ears.
My chuckling and ear scratching must've alerted Courtney. She stirred under the covers. Her delicate eyelashes fluttered open groggily.
"Shayne," she muttered simply.
"Hi, Court," I muttered back.
"Stay." She lifted her pale palm gently to my cheek. I leaned lightly into her touch.
"Okay," I whispered. This time, I kissed her.

Courtney:
When I woke up, he wasn't there. I wasn't very concerned. The alarm clock on my nightstand told me the time was 9. I still had an hour to get to work. I assumed Shayne left to go back to his house, and get ready for the day.
I sat up in bed and I stretched, my hair fell haphazardly to my shoulders. I threw off the covers, my naked body shivered after being exposed to the cold air around me.
After I gathered my outfit for the day, I glanced at my TV. Hilariously, a note was taped to it.
Reaching out, I snatched the note off. With a satisfying schtick the tape popped right off.

Hey, Court. I left to get ready for work. I had a great time last night. You looked so precious sleeping that I didn't want to wake you. And I couldn't figure out how to set an alarm on your damn clock, so I hope you wake up in time.

After the first paragraph, he wrote a small phrase. It was crossed out heavily and I couldn't figure out what he was going to say.

Anyway, I'll see you at work. Happy late Valentine's Day.
Love, Shayne.

The butterflies in my belly never went away after reading that. They never went away after I showered, got dressed, and did some make up.
Everytime I thought of last night, I smiled. Neither of us drank. Our actions were completely purposeful, and completely meaningful, and I loved every second of it. I wouldn't take any of it back.
I finally found my phone under my bed. I had forgotten to charge it in the melee after the kiss outside. It was like all the feelings I had been repressing the last few years unleashed themselves uncontrollably.
I couldn't tell you the moment I felt for him as more than just a coworker. A friend. A close friend. One day, I felt something shift.
I remember the day I accidentally called him "babe" on a livestream right in front of Flitz. I think that was the moment I knew. I had done subconsciously. I was zoning out, and I heard his voice. My first that was "babe".
God, last night was amazing.
I grabbed my charger still stuck in the outlit beside my bed, and grabbed my keys. I headed out to work.
I arrived all smiles, ready to concur the day. Immediately as I arrived, Olivia ran up to me. "Is it true, Courtney?"
"What do you mean?" I played dumb. Internally, I was terrified. What if someone found out?
"You mean you haven't heard?" Olivia asked, completely baffled. "Someone-"
"Courtney?" Matt Raub interrupted. "Ian wants you in his office."
"Okay," I nodded.
"He wants you now."
I swallowed a lump in my throat. This could not be good. How did they find it out? Quite literally everyone was busy. Joven was going out with his wife, Mari was out with Peter, Ian went out with Pam, everybody was busy!
And yet, everyone had to know. Olivia shot me a sympathetic look as I stepped past her. I walked though the labyrinth like hallways, everyone stared at me. The sight of me hushing their voices. Noah, Sarah, everyone shot me looks. Some ranging from harsh to sympathetic. Although, every time I looked someone in the eye, they instantely turned away.
They had to know. All of them.
I sighed before opening Ian's door. Inside, I could already see Shayne slouched in a chair. He looked at me for a second. His face was twisted in an expression I couldn't place, but tore at my heart.
I looked over at my boss. Ian didn't look angry, or upset. He looked stressed. The lines on his forehead creased.
"Hey Courtney," he said simply. "We need to talk."