The Switch / Shourtney

Chapter Six: That Night

September 15th, 2017

After finishing our pizza and fries we decided to head back to my place so that Courtney could clean herself up. We must have looked like crazy people as we made our way down the main street towards my apartment building, covered in dark red tomato sauce. The sun was setting and a slight chill blew through the air, causing us to pick up our pace. I joked that it looked like we were fleeing from a murder scene.

"I'm just saying, if they arrest you, I will deny knowing you completely." I said holding open the door to my apartment, "I don't want to go down as an accomplice."

"That'll probably be pretty hard Shayne, seeing as how there is literal video evidence of us working together." She smirked as she walked by me and dropped her bag onto my couch.

I live in a decently sized one bedroom apartment. The main area is open concept, with a kitchen and eat in area on one side and my couch and TV on the other. A hallway branches off from the space and leads towards my bedroom and bathroom. I had moved in after Dee and I broke up in the summer. It was my first place where I was living without a roommate and a part of me felt very adult.

I showed Courtney where all the shower stuff and towels were and handed her one of my t-shirts to change into. She disappeared into the washroom to clean up and I immediately heard the water turn on.

Heading back towards the main room I sat down, sort of at a loss for what to do. Even though we were much closer these days, I hadn't had Courtney over to my new place yet, and it sort of felt funny to have her here without anybody else. Especially in my bathroom. Taking a shower. I shook that thought off as I felt my phone buzz beside me on the couch. I picked it up and swiped the screen to see who had texted me. I only realized it was Courtney's phone once I read the message.

Sorry for what I said babe, I was an idiot. Please forgive me? I'll make it up to you XXX

- Wahlid

I put the phone down immediately, feeling guilty for reading a private message. But curiosity caused my brain to spiral. What was he sorry about, what had he said to her? Was this why Courtney had been in a bad mood that morning? Why she wanted to get pizza rather than go out with Wahlid and his friends? A small spike of irritation shot through my body.

"Shayne, stop. It's really none of your business. Wahlid is a good guy, I'm sure they'll work it out." I thought to myself. I heard the shower shut off and I hurried to put Courtney's phone into her bag.

She appeared a couple minutes later, and I sucked in a breath. Her towel dried hair was piled in a bun on the top of her head. She was swimming in the shirt I had given her. It hung past the edge of her shorts, her long legs sticking out the bottom. Something about it made my heart start beating just a little bit faster. I swatted those thoughts out my head quickly too. What was wrong with me today??

"Don't laugh at me ok!" she said defensively, dropping next to me on the sofa. "I know I look ridiculous in this shirt."

"No you don't. Well, I mean, ya you look pretty ridiculous." She hit me in the arm and I made a face at her. We were such children sometimes.

She reached into her bag and picked up her phone to check messages, her smile flickered slightly as she read what I assumed was the text from Wahlid, but I kept my mouth shut about it and asked instead.

"Do you want a coffee for the road? You know I make the best ones."

Courtney looked over at me hesitantly, as if she wanted to ask me something but couldn't decide if she should go through with it. I wondered if I said something wrong.