Thank you all guys for the wonderful reviews. That's really appreciated. Now, I want to give you another chapter of that story of mine and I want you to read it. If you would review for my work, that would be cool too. Anywayz, here it is for you all.

I don't own TDI

So What If It Hurts Me?

I put myself in your hands to later understand that one word is related to your love; BULLSHIT!

―KatyJay09 thinking in Courtney's mind

Two months had passed. Two months after that famous incident at Duncan's place. When I caught him with AJ, the slut of our high school, right after our breakup by text message. Many things happened since then; my friends came to know it, my mother went through my stuff and learned it by herself (she was too worried not to look), and finally, AJ boasted about that to her friends and it came that these guys were the biggest gossipers of the whole school. Now, when I was walking in the school halls, I heard everyone whispering and many were glaring at me with some pity expressions. I wasn't weak. I wasn't asking for anyone's grace of something. I was able to deal with that 'thing' by myself.

Then, I was sitting on a bench in a park, at the end of May. My 17th birthday had passed near two weeks ago and I was still alone. Not really because my friends and my family were still asking me everyday if I was okay and, honestly, it really sickened me.

Staring blankly to the landscape of the clean and earthy color of the lake, I was thinking of him. I was wondering why all that had changed. We used to be perfect and happy together. And, suddenly, there was nothing left. Just faded roses left at the bottom of a wardrobe and some empty promises still floating in the dirty negative air of my room full of memory. But the spirit was still there; following me everywhere and reminding me I was the rest and the past. AJ was the new thing; I just realized it. By knowing that, I had only a choice left; forget him.

A sunset was the only light we could see on the park and my eyes were starting to water again. I didn't want to cry. Sobs were the proof of cowardice. I didn't want to show anyone that I was that kind of girl. I am strong, beautiful girl and I shouldn't be crying for someone who didn't deserve it. I straightened my head and suddenly remarked that a brown haired girl was walking right to me. I immediately recognized her.

"Hi...May I... sit here?"She asked, pointing the empty space next to me.

I shrugged and left her bend over to put herself down on the green used bench. We remained quiet, watching the lake, for a few seconds. Then, she turned her head to face me.

"I―I had heard about what happened with Duncan..."

"Like everyone else."I sneered, seriously pissed.

She shut up for awhile and sighed.

"I know. Look, I'm not here to make fun of you or anything."

She wasn't here to make fun of me?! What a surprise!

"Like I should trust you. All you've been waiting for since you and he broke up was an embarrassing moment of mine. Don't you think him cheating on me is enough, Harper?!"

Yeah, Harper is her name. She and Duncan were dating before we did.

"I know what you live, Courtney, I know. If I remember well, I was the first victim of the 'Duncan-broke-my-heart' thing. Don't you remember?"

What she said made me suddenly guilty. I knew what I did to her. I remembered well. In facts, what happened to me was just what I deserved. AJ stole my boyfriend as I had stolen Harper's.

"I didn't apologize for this..."I said, still thinking of what a brat I had been.

"It's okay; I got over it a long ago..."

I didn't add anything else. I was too guilty to even look at her. I was reminding of that day Harper and I became long time enemies.

Last October― 7 (almost 8) months ago

The bell rang the end of classes and all teenagers were making their ways to their lockers. I was one of the others that were staying after class to talk to the teacher about my grade on the latest homework. After my speech about my career plan and my future as a lawyer and stuff, I hurried to the door and made my way to my locker. All the hallways were emptied. Before I arrived at it, I heard some voices speaking in a hallway. They were not just talking; they were almost screaming. I peered to see Duncan and Harper talking of some couple issues. She was saying that they weren't taking enough time for each other and Duncan was saying that she was too co-dependent on him. I discretely listened until Harper pronounced the key to the final destination;

"Why do I even try?! There's nothing to do with us anymore! "

Her eyes watered as she was walking toward the door leading outside the school. Duncan turned around to face one of the lockers and punched it violently. He re-did it several times before figuring out he was bleeding.

"Shit."He muttered under his breath.

I couldn't let him without any help. I peered out of my hiding place and chuckled for him to hear me and turn his head.

"Do you... need help?"I asked shyly.

"Why would I? My girlfriend just dumped me so I don't think I'll take help from a perfect stranger..."He grumbled, closing his hand on his bleeding fist.

"We're in the same math class..." I responded, putting my hands on my hips.

"That's what I'm sayin'; I never go to math, Princess."

"Don't call me Princess."

"Whatever."

He was seriously annoying and infuriating. I lost patience and walked straight toward the smart ass punk.

"Look, you've got two choices; you let me help or you keep bleeding until you get home. Remember that I've got the key of the bathrooms and no one else, expect janitors and staff, has one. Choose."

He thought shortly before giving me an answer.

"Guess I'll have to follow you, darling."

I sighed and we walked toward the bathrooms. Then, I helped him wash his fist, disinfected with some alcohol and put on a bandage.

"Feeling better?"I asked, enrolling the bandage round his hand.

"Totally. Not that I wouldn't be able by myself but it's okay, Princess."

"I already told you not to call me like that, you jerk."

He turned his head to face me. I could feel his deep blue eyes going through me.

"You know you want me. Admit it!"

"I don't freaking want you."

"Yes you do. Right now, you just want to make out."He smirked, still glaring at me nastily.

"Uh! Are you always that annoying? You're really not my type."I snorted.

"And what's your type, dear?"

I removed my eyes from his, clearly feeling him coming closer to me.

"Not delinquent like you."

I glared in his teal blue eyes and suddenly, without any body control, I pulled myself to him and crushed my lips against his. That was like... FIRE! He slipped his tongue in my mouth and we began to make out for a few seconds that seemed like hours. We pulled apart and I was breathing hard.

"Told ya you want me."

I didn't snort. I just grinned and kissed him again. We began dating the next week and Harper did not like that at all. She had sworn me as her first enemy.

Back to May

"I know you're over it but I'm really sorry of that."

"I am too. I had made you think it was your fault but it wasn't; Duncan and I were already having love issues and that afternoon, we just broke up; we weren't going to come back together in anyways. I knew it but I didn't want to learn. I didn't want to be alone, again."

That 'again' was just the slight souvenir of a sad story. Duncan told me that Harper's parents died in a car crash. She was 10. Because of that, she had to move from California to here with her aunt. Sometimes, she felt alone and missed her parents. Her aunt Hellen was fine but she wasn't her parents. Duncan was a bit the family she lost.

"I see what you're talking about."I said, doing a reference to my dad.

She didn't say anything for awhile, probably thinking of them, and took a deep breath to finish up our conversation.

"You know, I'm not exactly good in heart stuff but, if I can help you, I would tell you to get over him. I mean, maybe you were not meant to be together and you should know nothing happens for nothing. And if one day, he comes back to you, be ready but don't waste you're time on that. Live your life and, who knows, you might find better..."

That was something I really wanted to hear. It was comforting and honest. She was right; life is short and someday, I'll find someone that will actually treat me well. While she was getting up, I couldn't resist to the desire of hugging her. She was surprised, but she hugged back.

"Thank you Harper. I won't forget that."

"I hope so, Court."

We departed and she walked away from me. The sun was set but the moon looked beautiful on the dark water of the lake. I sat down to admire it. Three minutes passed and I heard my blackberry ringing.

So what if it hurts me?

So what if I break down?

So what if this world just throws me off the edge?

My feet run out of ground

I gotta find my place

I wanna hear my sound

Don't care about the pain in front of me

I'm trying to be happy

I just wanna be happy

Leona Lewis' 'Happy' was playing so I looked at the caller ID to see Bridgette's name.

"Hello?"

"Hi Court, how is it going? Do you feel... better?"

I took a deep breath and began to smile.

"So what if it hurts me?"

I could feel her gazing with worried eyes through the phone.

"Don't know... I'm just asking you."

Bridgette didn't know what she was talking about; her life always had been perfect. I drew a deep breath again and thought about the appropriate way to say what I had in mind.

"I won't worry about that anymore, Bridge. I'm gonna try to be happy."

Yeah, happy.

Hope you liked this one. BTW, I don't own Leona Lewis' 'Happy'. I just used it because it really fits for that chapter.

R&R :D