there for me (shourtney)

xii.

courtney's pov

Shayne was sprinting ahead of me through the parking lot and I could hear hysterical laughter escaping his lips as his shoes pounded the pavement.

"Your car or mine?!" He shouted and rounded the corner near his car.

"Hold on!" I said as I slowed down. "Baby, wait a second!" I eyed him as he slowed to a walk and waited for me in the shade. Placing my bag on the hood of his car, I took my phone out from my pocket and checked the time. "It's about six. I think that's enough time for me to drive home and grab a bathing suit."

"I'll follow?" Shayne asked, unlocking his car.

"Yep!" I glanced around at the cars in the shade, remembering that I parked near a palm tree. I clicked my key fob twice and saw my car light up a few spots down. "There she is." I said to myself.

"Okay I'm not going to go in, I'll just idle outside." He said as he slipped in his car to start it and roll the windows down.

"Wow just like a stalker." I joked and walked toward my car. 

"Only for you." He said, flipping on his shades and pointing finger guns at me with soft pew-pews.

I jogged the rest of the way to my car, threw my bag in the back, and slammed the door shut. Too excited, I'm too excited. I smiled and adjusted my rearview mirror to clearly see Shayne's car behind me.

The ride wasn't too long. It never feels more than thirty seconds, honestly. And most of it was spent watching Shayne in my mirrors attempt to sing and try to somewhat dance in his driver's seat. Even going so far as to wave at me and flick his high-beams on and off when we were stopped in traffic. Whenever I caught his face I'd flip him off with a smile, making him laugh harder. 

I pulled up to my apartment, threw my car in park, and I could hear Shayne's car idling nearby as I ran inside the building. 

I probably looked like a madwoman, running through the lobby, dashing up the stairs, throwing myself up against the door as I unlocked it. I have somewhere to be.

I threw my black bag onto the couch, deal with you later, and I brought Shayne's drawstring bag into my room with me. I opened it and thought about what I'd need. I already had some of his shirts in it, so I grabbed a Smosh sweatshirt, a pair of sweats, two basic jean shorts, and a basic black bikini. Why the fuck not? I raced into my bathroom to grab the essentials, throwing them in the bag and left my room. 

With my hand on the front door, I looked around my apartment one last time thinking of anything I could be forgetting. I ran over a list in my head several times before feeling satisfied and stepping out. 

I ran down the hall, down the stairs, and through the main lobby with almost as much speed as I had come in with. One of my neighbors gave a small wave as he grabbed his mail and walked toward the elevators. I smiled briefly before opening the door to the parking lot, I promise I'm not insane. 

Just as he said he would be, Shayne was waiting in his car in one of the parking spots close to the road. The sun hit my face as I slowed to a walk to meet him. He noticed me coming and broke out into a smile.

"Got everything?" He asked through the rolled-down window as I tossed my bag in the back of the car. I nodded.

"Got everything." I jumped in the car, buckled up, and we pulled out into the street. I opened up the glovebox for a piece of gum, and my sunglasses tumbled out. "When the hell did these get here?" I said in disbelief as I held them up for Shayne to see in his peripherals. He laughed and laid his left arm on the car door.

"Remember when we went with Damien to Home Depot?" He asked, quickly glancing over at me. "To help build one of his Geese's trees." 

"Oh the cats! Yeah I remember." I looked the glasses over, "How did I not know they were in here?" I sighed and put them on. Shayne just laughed and shook his head.

"So it's about a half-hour drive. Not even" 

"Where are we staying?" I looked over at him, stroking his thigh with my left hand a few times before changing the radio station. I noticed him smile and rub his lips together. "Please tell me you have a plan, Shayne."

"Oh no, I do." He made a right turn then flattened out his hips for a moment. "Grab my phone. Front pocket." I took the phone out and held it, waiting for his next direction as he shifted back to normal. "Cool. Call Chris." 

"Your brother?" I asked, eyeing him curiously. He nodded.

"He has a house on the beach and I doubt he's there this weekend."

"Yeah Shayne 'I doubt he's there' is real legit." I mocked him. "And I think it would be weird if I called him on your phone."

"It wouldn't be weird." He looked over at me, pausing. "I promise you, it wouldn't be." There was something so serious about his tone. What've you told him about us? 

"Alright, dude, fuck it." I opened his phone, found Chris's contact, and pressed the phone icon. Shayne wound up the windows when he heard the dial tone. My heart nervously fluttered as I heard the line pick up.

"Hey Shayne." Chris said softly. He sounded tired, but I could hear people in the background. Maybe he's out?

"Hey Chris, It's me. It's Courtney, actually." I fiddled with the rips in my jeans.

"Oh hey, Court what's up? Everything okay?" His tone instantly lighter. 

"Yeah we're all good." I put the phone on speaker, "Shayne say hi" I said, holding the phone closer to him.

"Hey Chris." Shayne said into the phone.

"Hey dude." I heard Chris laugh into the phone. "So what's going on?"

I nudged Shayne's arm with my hand holding the phone on speaker.

"Are you at the beach this weekend?" Shayne asked, his eyes on the highway. 

"No I'm up in Sacramento for work." He paused. "You guys are heading to Santa Monica aren't you?" I could hear him smiling.

"So there's a slight possibility-" Shayne started.

"Yes, Chris, we are." I finished. Playfully rolling my eyes at Shayne. Chris laughed, sounding staticky.

"Keypad code is 49935. Be safe, okay?" 

"Thank you!" Shayne and I said together. 

"We will!" I added. 

"See you guys around." Chris said before hanging up.

I smiled and ran my hands through my wind-knotted hair.

"You were literally going to drive us to the beach without asking him? That was your plan?" I slapped Shayne's arm and laughed. 

"I'm impulsive!" He tried to reason. "I don't think some things through!" He giggled when I rolled my eyes and put his phone in the cupholder between us. "Besides, we're almost there." He said as he took an exit.

I smiled and placed my hand on his right arm that was resting on the armrest. 

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thank you for all the positive feedback:) love you all. btw damien calls his cats his 'geese' just wanted to clarify that one.