A/N: Thanks for the reads and such on the first chapter of this new story. This is essentially just establishing how Jeff and Courtney, have been hovering in the same circle of friends now for quite a while; and only now are really getting to know one another, since Jeff has come to realize that he wants what his two best friends now have and that maybe his womanizing ways have to end.
So this chapter is basically setting up how they have common friends and how they from the start share that connection with one another; and them both divulging a little to one another about their past relationships as well.
So as always any characters you don't recognize from Glee, belong to either me or are borrowed from another source and ones that I have been using for many years in other stories; it just saves me a lot of time not having to come up with a whole new set of characters in my mind, if I am able to draw from memory of this other characters essentially who I also have been writing for years. So therefore Courtney, who is my own original character along with the mentioned Juanita; and Adele, Maya, Rocky, Jason and Emily from who I have borrowed from another show; in terms of characterization within the scope of Glee and them being similar to as they are here, cannot be used without my permission.
Thanks for reading and you all know what to do at the end
Love,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 2
Heading to Ernie's on Saturday morning, Courtney got their before Jeff had turned up; and sitting to one of the tables midway in the small restaurant where she had spent a lot of time as a teenager with friends; she waited.
"Hey Courts" said Maya, as she approached over to her table. "What you wanting today?"
"Hi Maya" she replied, giving the girl who even though was a few years younger than her, was a close friend; having gone to school with her and also during a period in high school and college dated her step brother. "I was actually waiting on someone, so maybe hold off to then"
"Sure, okay" replied Maya, looking to her with a nod. "So who you meeting?"
"Umm, just a guy" said Courtney, giving her a quick smile; and Maya looked to her with some interest.
"Just a guy?" she asked, with a smile. "Tell me more"
"I don't know what there is to tell really" replied Courtney, with a laugh. "I got talking with him last night at the supermarket, when he accidently put his cereals into my cart; and then again when I bumped into him on the way out, we spoke again and somehow we ended up agreeing to go to lunch"
"Look at you picking up guys at the supermarket" said Maya, with a laugh. "You're sure he's not a serial killer now; because you know he put cereal in your cart"
"Oh you're hilarious, Maya" said Courtney, shaking her head and giving a laugh as well. "But no, I don't think he is that; considering he is actually a friend of Nick's"
"Nitsy's Nick?" asked Maya, and Courtney nodded.
"Uh huh" she replied, looking to the younger girl. "Do you remember at their wedding, the blonde who was one of his groomsmen?"
"Vaguely, yes" replied Maya, with a nod. "Is it him?"
"Uh huh" said Courtney, looking around. "And hopefully he should be here soon, and isn't going to stand me up"
"Well if he does, then tell Nick and Juanita" said Maya. "And I'm sure they would both be having words with him"
"Yes, I'm sure Nits will be her usual ball busting self if he did that" replied Courtney, with a laugh.
"I'll leave you to wait it out then" said Maya, giving her a smile. "And then just call me over when you and he are ready to order"
"Sure, thanks Maya" replied Courtney, with a smile to her also; and Maya headed away to another now occupied table to take the orders of those people on there.
Looking to her phone, and seeing that it was now a little after twelve; she sighed as she picked it up and clicked into Facebook, silently cursing herself for not even thinking yesterday to ask Jeff for his phone number, and going into Juanita's profile and then to her friend list started to look for Jeff in the hopes that he was one of her friends on there, and that maybe she was able to start a message to him and make sure that he was still coming and not be standing her up and making her look like a complete idiot.
Flicking through the mutual friends between her and Juanita, she finally got to those who weren't that of their mutual friends; and looking for a picture that said Jeff, she was stopped by her train of thoughts when she heard a male voice.
"Hey Courtney" said Jeff, sitting at the table with her and giving her a smile. "Sorry I'm a bit late. Couldn't park"
"No, that's fine" replied Courtney, giving him a smile also. "Hi"
"Yeah hi" said Jeff, with a laugh; as Courtney put her phone down next to her on the table, after clicking out of Facebook.
"I was though maybe thinking you might be standing me up" said Courtney, with a laugh. "And was trying to find you on Juanita's friend list to give you a serve"
"No wouldn't do that" replied Jeff, with a smile and shaking his head. "And please tell me you have not told Juanita that we were doing this; because I know enough about your friend to know that she can't keep a secret"
"No, haven't told her yet" replied Courtney, with a laugh and shaking her head. "And I do have disagree with you on that though, Nits can keep a secret believe me"
"Okay if you say so" said Jeff, with a smile. "So have you ordered yet?"
"No, I was waiting for you" replied Courtney, with a smile. "Didn't want to be rude"
"Well I wouldn't think you were that at all" said Jeff, as Courtney gave a laugh and gestured to Maya to come over to them in order to get their orders.
"Umm hi" he said, giving Maya a quick smile; and hoping that she would not mention in front of Courtney, that when he had met Juanita that day with Nick, they he had asked for her phone number.
"Hi" replied Maya giving him a small smile. "What can I get you both?"
"Can I just grab an ice tea, for the moment" said Jeff, as Maya nodded as she wrote down the order to her small little note pad. "Courtney, did you want something?"
"Umm yeah, can I grab an iced tea also please Maya" said Courtney, with a smile to her and Maya nodded.
"Sure, I'll bring them over in a bit" said Maya, with a smile to them both. "And that will give you both time to look at the food menu and then order"
"Thanks Maya" replied Courtney with a smile to her, and Maya nodded before walking away over to the counter area.
"So you know her as well?" asked Jeff, looking to Courtney as Maya walked off. "Cause Juanita seemed to know her also"
"I do, yeah; and she was at Juanita and Nick's wedding also" replied Courtney, looking to him with a nod. "Her step brother is my ex boyfriend"
"Really?" asked Jeff, looking to her his eyes widening. "You still talk with him then?"
"Yes" replied Courtney, giving him a smile. "We have so many friends in common, and if we weren't able to talk with each other still; on that of a level of just friends, would mean for both of us a lot of friendships would be lost"
"No, I get that" said Jeff, with a nod. "I just know I could never be friends with any of the girls I've been with, because that would just be all sorts of level of weird; because it was generally most times being just about sex with them" and as Courtney looked at him with slightly raised eyebrows, he realized he better step in at quickly ratify that comment. "Not that I am thinking that this is just going to be that, and I will use you for sex, because those days of sleeping around they're behind me"
"I have heard of your reputation Jeff" replied Courtney with a smile and slight laugh; as Jeff nodded. "And if I was worried you'd do that, then I wouldn't agree to met you again"
"Oh, okay yeah" replied Jeff, with a nod also. "But umm just out of curiosity what have you heard?"
"Well Nits is one of my oldest and best friends" said Courtney, with a smile to him. "And she did tell me once that the two guys who are Nick's best friends; when she first met them, not knowing that they knew Nick, because she and he had only met once prior to that; tried to pick her up with some really lame pick up lines"
"Oh god, she told you that" groaned Jeff, shaking his head and going slightly red in the face.
"Hey, the fact that you even had the guts to try a pick up line on Nits" replied Courtney, with a laugh. "Well that speaks a lot for you and how far you're willing to try"
"Is that because Juanita is one scary ass chick who literally kick anyone's ass?" asked Jeff, with a laugh, as Courtney nodded.
"Yeah" replied Courtney, as she laughed also. "The number of times she beat up Adam, who she was dating in high school; along with that of our other guys friends, and non guy friends, well I can tell you it's a lot"
"But it was karate right?" asked Jeff, looking to Courtney as Maya came over with the two iced teas for them.
"It was" replied Courtney, with a nod. "Some of the time" and then looked to Maya. "Thanks Maya. We haven't looked at the menus yet though, we got talking"
"No, that's okay" replied Maya, with a smile to her. "Just let me know when ready"
"Thanks" said Jeff, as Maya walked over to another table who looked as if they were ready to order; and looking to Courtney, smiled at her. "So maybe we should look at the menu then"
"Oh I already know what I am having" replied Courtney, with a laugh; and Jeff looked to her with a chuckle as he picked up a menu to look at.
"Is that like a standard order?" he asked, as he looked over the menu.
"Yeah it is" replied Courtney, with a nod. "Classic burger, with extra pickle and cheese and ketchup; and fries on the side"
"You know what that sounds really good actually" said Jeff, with a laugh as he put the menu you down. "And if it's coming with your recommendation, then I'm going to give it a shot as well"
"Well I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed" replied Courtney, with a laugh also; and seeing Maya just finishing with the other customers she had gone over to serve, gestured for her to come over. "Hey Maya" she said, when she approached the table. "Can we grab two classic burgers, with extra pickle, cheese and ketchup, with a side of fries"
"Sure" replied Maya, with a nod. "They shouldn't be too long"
"Thank you" said Courtney, giving her a smile as Maya headed over to the kitchen, to place their order and also that of the other tables for preparing. "So how long have you known Nick and your other friend Blaine?"
"Since elementary school" replied Jeff, looking to her. "And then we went middle school, high school and college together as well"
"Okay, cool" replied Courtney with a nod. "It's nice having those long standing friends"
"It is" said Jeff, with a nod also. "What about you and Juanita, how long have you been friends?"
"I moved to California from New York when I was in middle school" replied Courtney. "And I was in the same class as Juanita, and she was the first one to really step up and say hi and come and let me hang out with me and her friends"
"And friends ever since" said Jeff, as Courtney nodded.
"Yep" she replied with a laugh. "So next question, what do you do for work?"
"You know I work at the Smash Club?" asked Jeff, as Courtney nodded. "But my day job, I work in advertising and am an Advertising Copywriter"
"That sounds really cool" replied Courtney, with a smile to him. "And much more exciting than what I do"
"What do you do?" asked Jeff, looking to her as Courtney took a sip of her iced tea.
"I'm the administration officer at the San Francisco School of the Arts" she replied, as Jeff gave a laugh.
"So you'd be seeing Blaine, on pretty much a daily basis then" said Jeff, with a smile to her. "Since he is now working there at the school"
"I do, yeah" replied Courtney with a nod. "He's dating another teacher there as well, Hannah"
"Yeah, they're actually engaged now though" said Jeff with a nod.
"Really, I did not know that" said Courtney. "They've kept that one on the quiet side"
"Hmm they have" replied Jeff, looking to her with a small smile. "And with how they ended up meeting, it's kind of a bit like us here"
"How so?" asked Courtney, as Adele who also worked at the place they were having lunch came over with their burgers.
"Here we go guys" she said, placing the plates down in front of them both. "Two classic burgers"
"Thanks Adele" replied Courtney, smiling to her. "They smell amazing as always"
"Oh well you know they will taste it too" she replied, with a smile to Courtney. "Let me know if you want anything else"
"We will" said Courtney with a nod, and Adele walked away from them; and she looked back to Jeff. "So what were you saying about your friend, Blaine? And also Hannah?"
"Umm, well they met at a girl called Marley's wedding" said Jeff, looking to her also as Courtney nodded.
"Yeah Marley Evans" she replied, as she ate a few fries. "Teaches music at the school, and Blaine is essentially her assistant; and I don't know what it is but there is some tension I feel there with him and her, but I'm not sure as too why that is"
"Hmm, well I know" replied Jeff, with a smile as he too ate a couple of his fries.
"Okay you are so giving me the goss here" said Courtney, with a laugh. "How is it that you know all this and I don't know?"
"Umm well friends with Blaine" replied Jeff with a laugh. "So there is that"
"Okay, yes" said Courtney, with a laugh, as she picked up her burger. "Now spill it"
"Marley is the younger sister of Blaine's ex girlfriend" replied Jeff, as he too picked up his burger and looked to Courtney as she took a bite from her own. "And Mikki, the ex; she use to be the co host on Wake Up San Francisco, with Blaine's brother in law; which is how they met one another and she ditched him to go running back to her ex in South Carolina"
"Wow that's horrible" replied Courtney, as she picked up a napkin and dabbed at her mouth. "I can understand why now maybe he has some resentment towards Marley, with her being his ex's sister; even though he and Hannah really do seem to be perfect for one another, it must be hard to see someone who reminds you of a person who hurt you"
"Yeah" replied Jeff, as he finished chewing the bite of food he had in his mouth. "And Mikki really did a number of him; he was falling for her and she still hadn't let go of her ex boyfriend"
"Well I hope the ex boyfriend, who she went running back home too" said Courtney, as she picked up another couple of fries. "Told her also to go to hell as well"
"Not likely" replied Jeff, with a laugh. "They're married now, with a kid"
"Okay, yeah no wonder Blaine isn't exactly fond of Marley" replied Courtney, shaking her head. "I swear if any guy I had dated, did that to me; well they'd not be having children that's for sure"
"Okay, little scared now" said Jeff, with a laugh as Courtney looked to him with a smile.
"I think you're safe" she replied with a laugh also. "You know what my best friend is capable of, so I can't see you trying anything like that"
"And what about you?" asked Jeff, with a smile to her. "Should I be worried that you could burn me like that?"
"No worry at all" replied Courtney, shaking her head. "I couldn't imagine doing that to another person"
"Okay good" replied Jeff with a laugh as he picked up his burger and took another bite and chewed. "So, yeah Blaine and Hannah haven't exactly gone and shouted out to everyone that they're getting married; but it's a good thing at the end of the day. Because I know at one point Blaine did think he was never going to date anyone again after what happened with Mikki"
"I do kind of get where he is coming from" replied Courtney, with a nod. "When I broke up with Rocky, I never thought I'd date again; and I have since then and obviously I am here with you as well, so clearly I still am"
"Do you mind me asking what happened with the two of you?" asked Jeff, looking to her as Courtney took a bit from her burger and shook her head. "Cause you said you still talk now, but I am guessing maybe it wasn't always the case"
"It's not that we never spoke" replied Courtney looking to Jeff and took a sip of drink. "It was more so that we'd only been broken up for a few months and he started dating Emily, who he is now married too; and with her also being the ex of another friend of his, it was kind of what do you both think you're doing. You don't do that"
"Even I know that one" said Jeff, with a nod. "Don't date a girl that your friend has dated"
"Or if you're a girl, don't date one of your ex's best friends either" said Courtney with a nod as well. "And for a while there Jase and I were pretty pissed at them both; and he even ended up punching Rocky as well"
"Kind of deserved" replied Jeff, with a laugh. "Can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing"
"Hmm" said Courtney with a nod. "But then Juanita, punched Jason"
"Well Juanita has anger management issues" said Jeff, with a laugh as Courtney nodded. "And I can see why Jason would have been scared of her"
"Oh he isn't scared of her" replied Courtney, with a laugh. "They've been beating one another they're whole lives, even probably in the womb as well"
"Huh?" asked Jeff, looking to her perplexed by that. "In the womb?"
"Yeah, they're twins" replied Courtney with a nod. "And she always says she has been hitting him since before they were born; and believe me we all agree there"
"Yeah, I just never knew she was a twin" said Jeff, with a laugh. "I knew she had brothers and sisters, but not that she was a twin. That has got to have Nicky freaked out, the thought of maybe having twins"
"It does" replied Courtney, with a laugh as well. "Genetic possibility in Juanita's family, since they do tend to be a thing"
"Man, that's actually quite funny" said Jeff, laughing. "One would be bad enough at first, but more than one. Funny and scary"
"Yeah" said Courtney. "So what about you any ex stories that are interesting?"
"Umm not really no" replied Jeff shaking his head. "I haven't really done relationships since college, and those ended because I don't think I ever saw those girls as being the one for me in like the long run"
"So, it's just been casual hook ups since then?" asked Courtney, and Jeff looked to her with a small nod.
"And hearing you say that" he replied. "Makes me feel horrible, because I never thought I'd be the guy to use a girl for sex and that was all she was for"
"Well granted I have to say" said Courtney looking to him with a small smile. "That no strings attached sex, can be fun. And I have had a few Tinder dates, that have been just purely for that"
"I never would have guessed" replied Jeff, with a laugh. "Looks like you Miss Courtney have a little bit more to divulge now to me"
"Hmm, play your cards right Jeff" she replied, with a smile. "And I might divulge a lot more"
"Yeah, I like the sound of that" he replied with a laugh; and the two of them continued to talk and eat; before both heading off on their separate ways, but not before first exchanging phone numbers and accepting one another on their Facebook pages so that they were able to stay in touch and definitely catch up with one another again.
End Note: Thoughts on this chapter, and what you think of Courtney as the girl that Jeff ends up with. As you can see they've both seemingly had their fair share of relationships that have ended for reasons as mentioned in the chapter, so they clearly aren't going to go about hurting one another; as it would be potentially disastrous since they do run in a similar circle of friends.
Next chapter should be up soonish, and that will go into what the reaction of their mutual friends will be when they find out that their friends are now possibly in a relationship with each other!
Thanks for reading, as always; and I will catch you on another story soon!
Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
