Shourtney AU - Loving So Hard (Mature)

#6 - Confrontation

*Courtney*

Shayne and I drove to the pier in my car, and before long, we were walking down the long wooden promenade together. Seagulls squawked above us and fresh, salty ocean air permeated all around. The two of us talked about random crap, but I kept chickening out of confronting him about how I felt. We were so... comfortable... together, I wondered if it was all even worth it.

We approached the Ferris Wheel and large grins spread across our faces, as if we were children. After sitting on an isolated bench nearby, we stared up at it with awe. The pier suddenly seemed empty, just like it was all those years ago. Shayne and I came to Santa Monica many times when we were in high school, mostly around three to four in the morning, when we'd get the whole place to ourselves.

"So, Courtney, how come you invited me to the pier tonight?" Shayne asked.

"O-Oh, just wanted to hang out with you, I guess," I lied.

Shayne smiled and nodded, "Alright. Well anyways, you wanna go on the Ferris Wheel?"

"Sure," I sighed, mentally berating myself for not telling Shayne how I felt.

Shayne stood up and began walking, meanwhile, I remained on the bench. Shayne turned to face me.

"Everything ok?" Shayne asked.

"Why don't you remember?" I blurted out.

Shayne's face knotted with confusion, "Remember? Remember what?"

"Why don't you remember that we used to date?" I asked as tears streamed down my face.

Shayne's face became incredibly red, "I do remember."

"Well, why don't you ever talk about it!?" I said with anguish.

Shayne approached me slowly, and he was about to give me a hug.

"Don't!" I shouted.

Shayne looked incredibly hurt.

"We dated for three years, Shayne! Three fucking years! Was that not important to you!?"

"Courtney, of course it was, I-"

"I loved you with all my heart, Shayne! And you left me! And now that you're back you pretend like we've always just been friends! You treat everyone else in the office the same way you treat me! And that hurts, Shayne! It really fucking hurts!" I cried, allowing my emotions to explode out of me.

Shayne began crying too, "I-I'm sorry Courtney, I know I messed up, I-"

"You left for New York like you never even loved me! And now you act that same way! Did you ever love me, Shayne!?"

Shayne sobbed violently, "O-Of co-course, Courtney."

"Well why did you leave me!?" I screamed.

Shayne broke down into more violent sobs, and I felt my heart shatter. I had ruined him. He was crying more than I had ever seen. It became silent for a few minutes, and Shayne pulled himself together and wiped away his tears. Our eyes locked intensely.

"I never wanted to go to New York," Shayne whispered.

"What?"

"I never wanted to go to New York. I never wanted to break up with you. I wanted to be with you forever," Shayne muttered with a tone of sadness.

"W-Well, why did you go then?" I inquired with confusion.

"M-My parents made me, Courtney. They said my career was more important than 'a girlfriend.' I fought for you, for us, with everything I had. They wouldn't have any of it. I'm sorry."

My mind raced with confusion and regret. Shayne never wanted to leave?

He continued, "And I'm sorry for being so distant at work. I thought you'd hate me for leaving you like that. I deserve that. I just didn't want to bring up our past because I was scared of hurting you, and I couldn't risk losing you again. Not a second time. Even as a friend."

Guilt overwhelmed me, and I placed a hand on Shayne's shoulder, before pulling him into a tight embrace.

"I'm so sorry for yelling at you, Shayne," I cried.

Shayne wept into my shoulder as we hugged, and my own tears soaked the collar of his jacket. We cried together, but for the first time in many years I felt complete again.

After our long embrace, Shayne and I pulled away and our eyes locked. Our hands remained intertwined.

"I never stopped loving you, Courtney," Shayne whispered, as quiet as the wind.

"I never stopped loving you either, Shayne," I instantly responded.

A small smile danced across Shayne's tear stained lips, and he pulled me in towards him. We kissed, and memories rushed back into my mind. Every kiss I had ever had with Shayne seemed to flash before me, allowing me to relive so many good moments. Our lips locked perfectly just like how they used to, and my hands wandered up to his hair like they would before. Shayne's fingers fiddled with my shirt, exactly how they always did. Everything was the same, and it couldn't have been more perfect. A fierce eruption of passion and love reignited between us, and a firework-like sensation exploded throughout my body.

We separated our lips reluctantly, and Shayne brushed my cheek with his thumb, just like he did back in high school.

"I love you, my Genius Girl," Shayne said.

This caused me to weep with joy, that was what Shayne used to call me.

"I love you too, my soulmate," I returned.