Torn

Just Perfect

"Scott! Wait!" Courtney cries out as she catches up to Scott.

Scott turns around and faces Courtney, visibly angry and upset.

"Wait for what, Courtney? What could you possibly say to make up for what I heard in there?" He snaps.

Courtney frantically looks into his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes, struggling to find the right words to say. "Scott, I-"

"You didn't say 'pumpkin' that night, did you?" He laughs dryly. "I should have known. I should have known! God, and the way Duncan feels about you..."

The way Duncan feels about me? Courtney wonders, dumbfounded.

"...you two deserve each other," he finishes as Courtney comes to her senses and is able to articulate the thoughts storming through her head.

"Scott, I don't feel that way about Duncan. I don't feel anything towards him, except for maybe annoyance and hatred."

Scott looks her up and down, staring at her as if she's a complete stranger.

Courtney groans and closes her eyes in frustration. "Okay listen. Sure, Duncan and I used to have feelings for each other. And yes, recently we made out and stuff, but that doesn't mean anything! I don't care about Duncan, I care about you."

"I might not be the sharpest tool in the kitchen but 'sexual misconduct' is probably more than making out. Duncan said you took off his pants, Courtney."

"Well, yes, but I-I mean, I didn't mean to-"

Scott sighs. "Save it, Courtney. You made your choice, and now I get to make mine. We're over. I don't wanna be your girlfriend anymore. You've been lying to me for so long, and instead of saying sorry all you do is keep lying. I can't trust you, and if I can't trust you how can I say that I love you?"

He loves me?!

Courtney takes a deep breath before continuing. "Okay Scott, please...just calm down and listen to me. I love you too. I really do. What I did with Duncan was a mistake. It will never happen again, I promise. I'm just sorry I didn't tell you about it sooner."

"You didn't tell me anything! That's the worst part. Duncan is the one who told me and everybody else the truth. He told me what I should have heard from you. I knew this court case would tell me what happened, but still, I just wanted to hear it from you."

Courtney shifts the way she's standing nervously. She knows he's right. She knows this, but she can't bring herself to accept the fact that Scott now knows that she's just like Duncan. She never thought she could bring herself to cheat on someone, yet she did. And the guy she cheated on didn't deserve it in the slightest. What makes matters worse is that she didn't have the guts to own up to what she did in time. The fact that he had to find out about her cheating through Duncan of all people broke her heart in the same way that it broke Scott's.

She nods her head. "You're right. I should have phrased that better." She reaches out and holds his hand. "Please forgive me. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll never hurt you like this again. It was just one mistake. Please, Scott. I need you."

Scott pulls his hand away from hers and sighs. "I can't forgive you for this, Courtney...I just can't."

Scott turns around and walks away, seamlessly blending into the crowd of people outside the building. Courtney's tears start spilling from the edges of her eyes and she quietly begins crying. She covers her face with her hands until she feels a gentle hand rest on her shoulder.

"Courtney..." A soft voice says.

Courtney looks up behind her and sees Duncan. She wipes the tears away from one of her eyes with her wrist and laughs. She maintains a cold look in her teary eyes as she turns to face Duncan.

"Are you kidding me? You of all people have to be the one comforting me?"

"Look...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that in front of everyone."

"Well, you did, and you ruined everything!"

"Princess, listen to me. I have to tell you that I-"

Suddenly, Courtney's lawyer runs outside, waving papers in the air like a madwoman. "Ms. Cortez, we need to re-evaluate our position on this case!"

Courtney pushes Duncan's hand off her shoulder and begins walking towards her lawyer.

"Yeah, we really do," she grumbles.

Shortly after, Courtney finds herself at a rather large table with Duncan, the prosecutor, and her lawyer, trying to reach a settlement. In the end, Courtney has to pay a fine of $400 and attend counseling sessions with Duncan for a month.

"Wonderful. Just...wonderful." Courtney can't help but express her annoyance in front of everyone. She just lost the only person that genuinely cared about her and for what? Some punk burn-out she hooked up with during a prison visit?! Ugh! There's no way Duncan cares about her if he's still making out with Gwen. She was officially on her own. Maybe the old Courtney wouldn't have cared about losing a boyfriend over a poorly made choice, but this Courtney deeply regrets her actions and wants to be reunited with the guy she loved. The guy she still loves. The guy that gave her everything and just expected love in return.

The prosecutor raises one of his eyebrows. "Would you like to change anything about this agreement, Ms. Cortez?"

"No, no, it's perfect," Courtney insists.

"Good. Then, this concludes our meeting. Good day."

Duncan and Courtney exchange a glance before Duncan exits the room. Courtney sighs and rests her head in the palm of her hand.

How do I get Scott back? I mean, how do I prove that he can trust me? I think he knows I really do care about him...

Her eyes widen as she develops her next thought:

Maybe instead of getting Scott back, I can figure out how to get back at Duncan for ruining my life.