Girl Stellar [Shourtney]

8. Scorpio

-/-/-

I remember what it felt like on the tip of pain. It was a starry evening when Lara broke up with me, and there was this starry night festival in the same meadow where the carnival last August was held. Whenever I pass by that area now, I don't remember Lara not appearing. I don't remember any of my exes walking out of that door. All I could remember was getting a bucket of water and splashing it on the already drenched Courtney Miller. It was a good memory, and it made me happy.

It was already November, and I could often feel myself detaching from reality whenever Courtney was around. It was stupid to say that, because I don't think I've ever been this in love with someone, but it was there. Of course, I kept my feelings strictly professional, not wanting for everything to break. Back at home, we would just be slightly above casual, but nothing more. I don't think I've ever been this comfortable with someone as well, and I think, too many times, I've wanted to put my arm around her whenever we watched a movie on the TV. I haven't done it yet, though.

"Hey, are you alright?" Damien says as he snaps his fingers in front of me. "Man, you're always zoning out now. Is everything alright? Or are you just daydreaming?"

"Ha, as if," I retort, smirking as I take the folder from him. "Anyway, I'll get this right back to you in a bit."

"Yeah, sure, and get some good rest while you're at it. I'm worried for you, buddy. Just zoning out all the time."

When I leave Damien's room, I am greeted by the faint scent of coffee, only to see Ian stirring his mug. "Oh, hey," he greets me nonchalantly. "You want some coffee? My blend."

"If it's alright, yeah," I reply with a half-smile as he stands up to prepare some coffee. "You make coffee? It smells really good."

"Yep, and it should," he tells me, handing me a mug. "You wouldn't need any sugar, but this one's pretty damn good to get with pumpkin pie."

I take a sip and smile. "Well, you might put Starbucks out of business," I tease him, grinning. "Wow."

"Pretty good, right?" he says. "If you want, I'll hand Courtney a bag. I call it... well, I call it My Favorite Coffee."

"It deserves the title," I assure him as we clink our mugs together.

Ian nods, slightly chuckling. "We're so awkward."

"Oh, God. I thought I was the only one thinking that."

"Yeah, we aren't that close, are we?" he asks, typing whatever it is on his computer. "Should we... like, try to be close?"

"Um...," I mumble, raising an eyebrow. "What's your, uh, favorite color?"

"Not that," he says. "You... wanna head out for a drink sometimes?"

So we did it, and a little too immediately. Ian and I went out for a drink that afternoon, and since I was interested in what sort of friendship he and Courtney had, I had to ask questions. It was getting the slightest bit of cold, since November was kicking in, and the beers made it better somehow. "So how did you two meet anyway?" I ask him. "Courtney talks about her friends back in Utah, but I only know like, a Monica and a Sarah, I think?"

"Oh, really?" he replies. "Yeah, so we met back in high school... that's it."

Admittedly, it was not easy getting answers from Ian. He and I couldn't seem to meet at any point, and I wasn't mad at him for that, but I really wanted to know about Courtney even more from someone who actually knew her. He then starts to ask me things, "So, Courtney says you've been on dates."

"None have been successful," I answer, sighing. "She helps me with the set-ups and all, but I don't know. The first girl I went on a date with that she set up was not so okay, she's the arsonist in Santa Fe. You know the news from a month ago?"