maybe next time
"Duncan!" Courtney shouted out as she jumped from the bench she had been sitting on for the past hour. Her Louis Vuitton suitcase wobbled behind her as she juggled her carry-ons, attempting to tear through the large crowds of travelers.
Duncan snapped his neck towards her voice so fast that his hand immediately shot up to rub the back of it in pain. He hadn't heard her voice since graduation day and he wasn't about to ignore it for the soda he had just put a looney in for at the vending machine. "Courtney?"
Heavy breaths poured form her lips as she looked up at the boy she had dated all throughout high school. "What are you doing in Toronto?" she asked, her tone sounding more urgent than she intended it to.
"I—I was out here to visit Gwen's family," he said, ignoring the fact that his soda had fallen into the black tray at the bottom of the machine. "We were just about to catch our flight back." We gotta act like we're still together... her affair can't hit the fan until Trent's tour is over...
"Oh," Courtney said, desperately trying to hide the pain in her voice. "So you two finally get together?" Of course, we all knew you were better off with someone more like you.
"Uh, yeah, we met up after college," he said, continuing to rub his neck. She tried to save me from the painful drunken nights that followed you leaving for Harvard.
"Where did you end up going?" Courtney cocked her head to the side, Daddy was right, you did make something of yourself...
"Just community, nothing special." He gave her a half smile. I dropped out after a month, I was only there to party and forget about you.
"Hey," she said with a smile as she bumped him with her elbow, "that's better than no college at all." I'm sure it was better than the six lonely years I spent at in the states...
"I guess," he said with a shrug. "So, how have you been doin'?" Probably happy with a giant house and that picket fence you always wanted.
"Oh, well, I graduated at Harvard and started my own firm here in Toronto," Courtney said, trying to sound as excited as possible. My employees are all assholes and I hate going to court—it reminds me of all your trials I had to go to.
"That's cool," he looked at his feet, searching for something to say—thankfully her two carot diamond ring caught his attention. "So, did you end up meeting someone?" I bet he's rich as hell, Harvard graduate, CEO of fucking up poor peoples' lives.
"Oh," she began fiddling with her wedding band, "I met a guy when I was looking to buy the office for my firm. He actually sold it to me." I slept with him so I could get it for cheap.
"That's awesome. Any kids, yet?" Better than the one-bedroom I share with Gwen's and her obnoxiously large studio.
"No, but we've made sure to get a home that has enough room for little ones when the time is right." I found out I can't have kids last year, not like Justin would even dream of having a kid.
"I'm glad you found your happy ending," his voice held a bit of genuine happiness. I bet he's fucking perfect, she wouldn't settle for just anyone.
"Yeah, me too," she said quietly, her voice faltering. Two years of a shit marriage, and then six months of an even more shit live-in separation.
"Well, my flight leaves in about half an hour, so I better go meet up with Gwen," he said distractedly as he checked his watch. I really don't wanna go, but it'll look suspicious if I don't get there before the plane does.
"Oh, uh, yeah, my ride will be here soon, anyway," she replied, fumbling with her purse to find her phone. I have to call a taxi and get home before the divorce lawyer gets there.
"I'll see you around?" I don't know how much longer Gwen and I will be playing house, hopefully I'll be stuck on taking one more flight out here.
"Yeah, of course, just look me up the next time you're here." Maybe you'll be coming alone next time..
Duncan gave her a wave as he walked off towards his gate, Courtney did the same and headed in the opposite direction.
Maybe next time it'll all work out...
these days - rascal flatts. youtube it.
~MMC