"If you're betrayed, release disappointment at once.
By that way, the bitterness has no time to take root."
― Toba Beta,
My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut


The light of the TV screen turned a bright red as before the ending credits came up, Duncan laughed as final scream of the horror erupted from the surround sound speakers. The delinquent stood to retrieve another movie, was Saturday meaning that it was time to pull an all-nighter for watching horror movies. He stuck in the next disc, carelessly dropping the previous on the floor that was covered in popcorn and various items of clothing.

Stretching his arms out behind his head, he walked to his kitchen. Throwing in his fifth bag of popcorn in the nasty microwave from previous 'experiments' and jabbing the 'Popcorn' button. During the wait he slid up onto the counter, pulling out his phone to pass the time. He looked up, swearing he could've heard something, a knock?

Scratching his bare chest he sauntered over to the door, where he did in fact hear two quiet raps on the door. He opened it, an insult on his lips, "What the fuck do you—… Courtney?"

One hour before…

"C'mon babe it's gonna be fun!" Scott begged, "We don't have to stay for more than three hours."

"I don't want to stay for more than one!" Courtney protested, "I have study in the morning and I don't want to have to deal with some stupid hang over!"

Scott scoffed, "Hell I will help you study if you manage to let loose for one night! Why do you always have to be such a buzz kill?"

"Because maybe I just don't feel like getting all dressed up and would rather stay home!" Courtney grumbled as she crossed her arms stubbornly.

"Well I don't think this will out if you can't manage to get that stick out of your ass!"

Courtney gasped and growled, "You'll break up with me just like that? Well fine I'll go asshole, but I don't plan on staying."

Courtney grumbled as she curled her hair, applied her make up, and got into black dress that stopped at her mid-thigh. She came out to see Scott with his gelled hair and button-up shirt.

He approached her, hand snaking around her waist, "You look so hot." He grinned as he kissed her, holding her head in place as he practically shoved his tongue down her throat.

Instead of giving him the heated reaction he wanted Courtney put her hands on his chest. "Let's just go." She mumbled as Scott frowned, she could of he heard him mutter "Bitch." Under his breath.

When they arrived at the club, the sound and lights resonated from the building, as if the party was about to explode. Inside it was hot and smoky; Courtney coughed from the cigarette smoke wafting through the air. Sweaty, half naked, drunken bodies, danced to the music that had the college student ears ringing.

Scott however was ready to get hammered, as he quickly went and bought some drinks. "Here babe drink this, it'll loosen you up so you can have some fun." She nodded as she took the foul smelling liquid and sipped. It burned her throat all the way down to the pit of her stomach, making her breath seem thicker. She cringed at it, "I don't think…" she looked up only to see Scott was gone.

Courtney sat at the bar drinking an alcohol free sprite and cherry drink as she played around on her phone. Once the clock hit 12;30 A.M. and still no sign of Scott she decided to go search for her boyfriend. Walking through the hot crowd of people was miserable, the all rubbed up on her, the stench of their BO was enough to make her gag. But she thought she might puke as she saw Scott's hands on another girls ass, their mouth connected in a sloppy make out as he pushed her against the wall, there hips grinding. She slowly walked up, "S-Scott?" she asked, praying that it wasn't him.

Scott looked at her, "Can't you see I'm busy? Get the fuck out of here already." Courtney gasped as anger filled her, the rage boiling through her blood as she punched the bastard hard in the cheek. Looking at the girl he was making out made her lash out even further to see it was Lindsay. Sure they were never 'friends' but still they were kind of acquaintances.

"Oh hey Courtney!" Lindsay slurred as she gave a sloppy smile, not fixing the fact that her bra was hanging over her shirts neckline.

"You little cheating, disgusting, mongrel!" Courtney screamed at him, the ferocity temporarily hiding the pain from him and herself. She kicked him, in the back, stomach, legs. Restraining from kicking him hard in the mouth, "HOW DARE YOU PIECE OF UNTRUSTWORTHY, STUPID, CHEATING, LYING SHIT! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU SO FUCKING MUCH YOU DISGUSTING OGRE!" The girl finally paused as she stomped on her feet, unsure of how to release her wrath in public and legally.

Scott stood up, "You want some action!? Fine you little bitch!" He took the top of her dress pulling down with such might the straps dug painfully into her tanned skin before snapping. Leaving her breasts hanging out in the open as she jumped and stumbled away, falling with much embarrassment. She scrambled desperately to get her top half covered, kicking of her heels she bolted for they exit, covering her chest.

Once outside in the frigid night air she continued to run, luckily at the distance of the club the population on the streets thinned. As she paused, white balls of vapor coming her mouth and she ran her hand up and down her arms as an attempt to warm them. But the thought of how Scott would do the same thing at night when they would snuggle each other, whispering random, loving things to each other.

Then sadly after her rage finally died down she was left with nothing but the betrayal of Scott. The hurt of her breaking heart, the void of pain growing until it swallowed her body. Leaving it convulsing and collapsing, hot steaming tears flowing down her cheeks until the dripped of her chin to the cement. She clutched the top of her dress, remembering how he hurt her, humiliating her in front of a huge crowd, leaving so vulnerable with dozens of drunken men without a thought.

Courtney wiped her eyes, not that it slowed the flow as she shakily stood. She wouldn't go back to him, she would never give him a second chance, never let him whisper in her ear. She didn't want to hear him, see him, think about him. No explanation would ever suffice his disgusting, hurtful actions.

She suddenly found her conscience giving her directions of where to go, at least for the night. Until she could find someone else to stay with or get her own place.

Up the street, turn left, third complex down, 65897, building C2, second floor, apartment C212.

And so she walked, she walked until she was standing in front of that door, her a scream from the TV inside she lightly knocked. She waited until she heard the heavy footsteps and beeping of a microwave. She gently knocked again, Last time… she thought as she finally gave three knocks yet again.

The door was yanked open, "What the fuck do you—… Courtney?"

Courtney looked up at the delinquent, "H-hey Duncan…" she sniffed and wiped her nose, she hated that she so vulnerable in front of one of her foes. " I um need a place to stay… Only for one night though… I can leave as soon as possible."

Duncan simply nodded, taken aback by her tear stained cheeks and puffy red eyes. The last time he saw this girl was a couple years ago, when she went off to college. They broke up because they decided they were to different, her always studying him just wanting to go out and have fun. So they went their separate ways, and then never really interacted again, sure there were a couple times she would tag along with the old TDI cast with him but they always refused to even look at each other.

"Uh sure come on in, you can stay for longer if you want to I guess." He scratched the back of his head, "I don't really care, it's whatever."

Courtney nodded, the knot in her throat building as she slowly stepped in. Duncan looked at her warily, she seemed… different. He gave her a look over, noticing how the straps on her dress were fallen useless, the unconnected end frayed. Her shoulders were red and irritated from where the cloth dug into her skin before snapping.

"What happened to you?" He asked. Brushing his thumb over her shoulder, "Were you like raped?"

Courtney jumped at the unexpected contact, "N-no!" she squeaked as she took a large step forward away from him. "Don't touch me."

Duncan raised his eyebrows, seeing the familiar snappy Courtney he knew. "Okay, so like what happened to you?"

Courtney looked away, biting her lip, she had to keep composure, "I'd rather not talk about, besides it's none of your business." She muttered, though Duncan clearly saw that she just had her defensive walls up. He knew almost better than anyone that Courtney refused to show weakness, especially when that someone is him.

The rocker shrugged, "Whatever," the beep of the microwave saved them from awkward silence. Without a word he turned to the kitchen as Courtney watched him, he was in black sweat pants, and shirtless. He was taller than Courtney remembered, at least 6'3". He was man, fuller and with tattoos, across his chest and it licked up his neck, with sleeves, and across his side. He was more built, a six pack and large biceps, one of the largest difference is that he lost the neon Mohawk, now he simply had his spiked jet black hair.

Courtney rolled her eyes at the filthy apartment, clothes strewn across the floor, with food and dishes on the tables. But the small familiar place calmed her, even if it was pig sty. One thing was always there, even when her would was upside down, there was always that one person who didn't change.

"Are you about to on your rant about how unhealthy it is to live in such," He raised his voice to a Mock Courtney voice, "a disgusting, moldy place where you can't even see the floor."

Courtney cracked a grin as Duncan approached her with a bowl of popcorn. "Well obviously I don't have to anymore." Courtney laughed as he maneuvered his way to the girl. "So um I was wondering if I could borrow some clothes…"

Duncan paused in mid step, looking at her with a strange look. "Yeah sure, here." He handed her the bowl of popcorn. "Live on the wild side Courtney, get your fingers greasy." He grinned as he grabbed a fistful of popcorn and walked to his room which was next to the TV. Courtney moved a pile of CD cases and brushed of some popcorn before sitting on the couch in her wait. Taking a single piece of popcorn and chewing it. The thought of how Scott hated butt popcorn occurred, he only like kettle corn which Courtney hated.

Courtney shook her head, she didn't want to think of Scott. Duncan came out with a black T-shirt and some basketball shorts and handed them to her, "You can go ahead and change in my room or in the bathroom."

Duncan noticed how Courtney made her way to the bathroom, knowing exactly where it was. Duncan bit his lip, remember how he stared at her when she would do her hair. Before walking behind and quietly wrapping his hands around her waist, kiss her neck and— Duncan snapped out of his thoughts. That was a long time ago. he thought, it's over now. We've both moved on.

Courtney came out, holding her dress as she went to throw it away, "So you still do that stupid movie thing?" she asked as she noticed him starting "Blood Bath: The Woods III"

"Yep! And it's not stupid, you just know you can't handle so many horror movies, especially at night." Duncan smirked.

Courtney sat next to him, "Yes I can! Especially if someone with such a simple can."

Not even half way through the movie Duncan noticed Courtney dozing. To his shame, he pulled one of the oldest, cheesiest tricks in the book. With a yawn he put his arm around the girl, giving her a slight push in his direction, as she limply fell against him. He slowly shifted down, laying on the couch with the girl on top of him. He turned off the movie before placing his hands behinds his head.

"Welcome back Courtney." He whispered, before falling asleep himself.