Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 12: Graduation

They have a few months without any incident that comes close to revealing their changed status, and it's nice. Smosh doesn't do a Summer break officially – even though Mythical offer it to them during their own Summer break – but their writing and shooting schedule settles down a bit for the five weeks from mid-June through to mid-July where all they're posting is their pre-recorded Summer Games videos, and Shayne and Courtney spend most of their scattered days off through that period together. They've inadvertently settled on her apartment as their preferred location – it's larger, closer to work, closer to a better gym. They don't make a big deal out of it, but she gives him a drawer in her closet, and there's a tub of his protein powder in her kitchen and a growing selection of books in her bookcase that she's never seen before.

Shayne accompanies her to a chill lunch at her Dad's place with a couple other siblings and one of their families – plus Kari – in late June. It's not the first time he's met any of her immediate family, although it's the first time he's met any of her siblings' families, and it's the first time he spends time with one of her parents as her boyfriend. Courtney's Dad is a very relaxed person, though, and he seems to let their altered relationship dynamic slide with little comment, instead capturing Shayne to talk football because none of Courtney's brothers are as into it as both Shayne and he are.

"He fits in well," Kari tells Courtney, glancing over towards where Shayne is locked into an emphatic conversation with their Dad not long after they finish lunch.

"I wonder if any of us will ever end up with someone who isn't blonde," Courtney laughs, shaking off Kari's deeper meaning. She knows Kari is still trying to make up for the rough start, but it's not exactly what she wants to focus on.

"I mean, I'm hooking up with a redhead at the moment," she admits, "it is definitely not a long-term meet the family deal, though. Also, he's kinda strawberry blonde."

"Of course you are," Courtney grins, "is this one of your crystal hippie guys?"

"No, actually, he's a goddamn accountant – I mean, he has crystals at his place, but he's only low key into it. Good in bed though," she muses, Courtney shaking her head.

"Whatever's important to you, I guess. For a while there I wished I could be as chill about dating as you are."

"Is Shayne-"

"Stop. Still not talking about it," Courtney cuts her off, immediately, before she even asks.

"Really? You won't say anything at all, not even just if it's good?" Kari pushes, and Courtney sighs.

"Look, okay, I- I don't know. It's different with him. I'm not just hooking up with someone, there is a lot more intimacy and vulnerability inbuilt and it makes everything a lot more... private. It also does mean it's just, yeah, the best. It's not like I'm skimping on detail because of what it is, it's just a different kind of relationship," she explains, and Kari nods.

"I guess that makes sense, I don't know, I've never really had a relationship like that. And I mean, I don't entirely know I want that for myself, honestly – but I'm glad you've got that, because you seem really happy."

"I am," Courtney bites her lip, glancing over at him. He looks up to meet her eyes at the same time, and Kari laughs, noticing their interaction.

"Go on, go hang out with your boyf. I'm going to play with the kids."

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The graduation video had been her idea way back in April – she'd been hanging out at his place one Saturday afternoon doing her own thing while he studied, and they'd fallen into a conversation about how close he was to finally having his degree. He had a Goldbergs shoot that kept him out of the office the following Monday, so she took the idea to the producers' team immediately, and everyone was on board.

Still – she did most of the preparations. She let the producers handle the video details side of it, but after he passed his two finals and confirmed he was eligible to graduate in late June, she took responsibility for contacting everyone that was invited, for planning how the surprise would be managed and the setup organised without him finding out, and organising the mini after party they were having. Damien was her major co-conspirator, and two days before the surprise was to happen one of their first filming days back after their break-of-sorts, she sighed in clear indication she wanted to say something as they stood on one of the sets going over some last details, Shayne distracted across the other side of the office in a writing meeting.

"I'm increasingly worried about this whole... thing," Courtney admits, and Damien raises an eyebrow.

"Worried how?"

"It would be weird if I wasn't up on the stage and I didn't say something in the video, but I don't fucking know what to say, because I can't be genuine now without revealing everything. I think I'm going to have to intentionally write something bad, which I kind of hate, because I didn't exactly do this for no reason. I'm super proud of him for going through with this and getting his degree but I just... don't know how to say that without it being obvious how much I feel for him," she rambles, head bowing when she finishes.

"Yeah, I get that you're in a tough spot there," Damien sympathises, "If you write something just totally littered with jokes for the video I can always have a look through it beforehand to see how it comes across to someone else?"

"Yeah, I might take you up on that."

She does just that, and Damien gives her planned speech the all-clear a few hours before the surprise is due to happen. They sneak everyone into the building with no issues, Shayne buried in his work all morning. The set-up goes flawlessly, and he falls for the planned meeting trick immediately, but she's close to shitting herself in fear. She tries to step into her organiser persona as she instructs everyone what to do as he approaches, but she very quickly falls back into the crowd on the stage, intentionally, hoping he doesn't meet her eyes when she watches him walk in and have a graduation gown thrown on him. He does, briefly, and she gives a quick flash of a genuine smile with her true emotions, knowing the camera is on him and not her, before schooling her features and falling into acting mode.

She cries a little at how shocked and speechless he is, at how goddamn adorable he looks trying to work out why everyone is here celebrating him, but Damien and a few of his friends they invited are teary too so she hopes she doesn't stand out.

Her speech is awkward, she can't deny that. She takes comfort in the fact that every single person in the room knows she's having to put on a persona of not being his girlfriend for the sake of the cameras, but she is quietly glad when she gets to sit down and just watch everyone else speak, watch him get teary and not know how to deal with so many people putting the spotlight on him. For someone who constantly screams for attention, he's not the best at accepting praise.

The main video cuts after Sarah tells him there's a legit afterparty and they all move into the more social portion of his prank, but there's still cameras around. She tries to meet his eye across the crowd, but she settles into conversation with Damien instead, finding Shayne with a camera pointed at him almost every time she sees him. Courtney hears Ian tell him – on camera – that she's responsible for pretty much everything, and she watches him glance across and meet her eyes a moment later. She can see the appreciation and understanding as to why she's staying away for now, and it comforts her.

"You are amazing," he tells her, almost the second cut is called on the shooting cameras for good and everyone moves into the actual party portion, not just mingling in the studio. He pulls her into a tight hug, placing a kiss on her cheek as he pulls back slightly, hands still looped around her waist.

"I know I didn't say it up there, but I'm so proud of you and I love you so much. You did an awesome job sticking this degree through to the end. You deserved someone to give you a little recognition for once," she replies, and he smiles sweetly, blushing slightly.

"Thank you. I love you too, even though you made me cry on camera. I know I'm bad at accepting this stuff, but this is the coolest thing someone has done for me for a really long time and I'm- yeah, thank you," he finishes, and she pulls him into a tight hug again, pressing a chaste kiss against his lips before she reluctantly separates from him and they both return to the party. They stick close together after that, though, and she knows they're a little bit too close in some of the photos people take on their own phones but – whatever. They can trust everyone here, probably, and Damien is the only one with the photo where he's pressing his lips against her cheek.