S.O.S/The Winner Takes It All

Chapter 14

I open my eyes blearily, brushing my hair away from my face. I start to get up, but I am constricted. I look down, and my eyes rest on Courtney's arm thrown over my chest. I lay back, glancing over at her sleeping figure. Her face is buried into my shoulder, and her breathing is slow and calm. I I glance at the clock on the wall, wide awake.

8:26.

The nurse will be here in half an hour.
I suddenly feel the weight of Courtney's arm lifted off me.
"Sorry." she mumbles sleepily.
"It's okay. Did you sleep well?" I ask, gazing down at her.

Courtney turns over onto her back, her hair sliding off her cheek and onto the pillow. "Yeah. You fell asleep really quickly though." She pauses as her phone buzzes. "I'd better see who that's from."

She sits up, grabbing her phone off the table. "It's Olivia. She said she'll be here soon."
I prop myself up, straightening the blanket. "How does she know you're still here?"
"She knew I wasn't going to leave. I-" Her phone vibrates again, interrupting her sentence. She reads the text. "It's on the group chat. Everyone is asking if you're okay." She glances at me. "Are you okay?"
I sit up properly. "Yeah. I feel much better now."
Courtney hands me the phone. "Here. You write to them."

"Sure." I take the phone from her, beginning to type. Soon I have a message. I send it, giving the phone back to Courtney.

Suddenly Olivia enters the room, running over to Courtney. "Hey. Is everything okay?"
Courtney nods. "I'm fine. I think Shayne is good too." She glances at me for approval.
I smile at her, nodding. "Yeah, I'm feeling great."
Courtney smiles back, before she continues to chat with Olivia quietly.

***

After we left the hospital, Courtney dropped me at home, then went to the office.
It's about five thirty in the afternoon at the moment, and I'm sitting on my couch, contemplating the events of the past three weeks. My feelings for Courtney have intensified since last night, but I don't know if they're actually genuine. Suddenly my phone buzzes. I pick it up, checking it.
My heart begins to faster. It's a text from Courtney. 'Can I come over?'
I begin typing. 'Sure. It'll be nice to have some company.'
'Be there in five.'

I throw my phone back on the couch next to me. After what seems like a second, I hear a knock at the door. I get up, opening it. Courtney is standing outside. "Hey Shayne."
"Hey Courtney. Are you guys done with work?" I ask as we walk to the couch.

"Yeah. I thought I would drop by and see how you're doing." Courtney pulls her phone from her back pocket as she sits down.

I smile, throwing myself down next to her. "Yeah, I'm doing good. I was just thinking about everything that's happened in the past few weeks."
Courtney flips her hair over to her right. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been through a lot in a short amount of time."
My smile fades, and Courtney shifts closer to me. She bites her bottom lip, tearing her gaze away from me. I lean closer to her, until our faces are close. Courtney looks back at me before placing her hand on my neck and pulling me towards her.
Our lips connect, and even though I know it's wrong, I can't help but kiss her back.
I finally pull away, staring at her. "Courtney, we can't do this."
"Yes we can." she says, bringing me back to her lips. She pushes me back and throws her leg over me. Her hands stray down to the buttons on my shirt, popping them open one by one.
Courtney pulls the shirt off, discarding it. I lift her up, walking slowly to my bedroom, her lips still attached to mine. I lay her down on the bed, pulling her singlet off. She smiles as she kisses me, and we are caught in the moment once again.

***

I open my eyes to the morning sunshine floating through my open window.

I don't sleep with the blind open...

Suddenly the events of yesterday come flooding back to me. My heart fills with dread.

Will this ruin our friendship?

I stand up, getting dressed before I leave the room. I notice Courtney's clothes are missing from my bed. I walk into the living room, my gaze resting on her. She is sitting on the couch, her knees to her chest and her head in her hands.
She turns to look at me, her tears glistening in the sunlight. "Shayne...." Courtney's voice breaks as she says my name, tears spilling down her face. "What have we done?"