To Candy. One, because I MISS YOU! And two, you know why.
Three months later (…I promised myself I'd never do that…)
"Squib!" Cody called when she entered the apartment. When she heard no reply, she tried again, "Squib?" She entered the kitchen and saw the answering machine flashing.
Hey City Girl, it's me. I'm just picking up our movies and some snacks; I'll be home soon. Love you.
Cody smiled. Things had been really…great between them. After their reunion, it had taken a little while to get used to being in a relationship again (A fully functional one), and he still had to go out of town quite a bit, but they were both making an effort. She had been spending less time on the paper, instead working on her articles from home and only occasionally going in to submit things or if there was a meeting. He had tried his best to cut down on trips and schedule practices when he knew she'd be at the paper or in class. And both had made sure to clear their Wednesdays for movie night.
Which is why Cody found herself wrapped snuggly in Squib's arms roughly 20 minutes later. The two had opted for a few romantic comedies this week, since Cody claimed she was still slightly traumatized from the previous Wednesday's horror-fest.
"I still don't understand why we couldn't get a scarier movie…" Squib said.
"Because, I'd like to be able to get to sleep this week, thank you very much!" Cody explained.
"But these movies are always so predictable! Boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy screws up, boy wins back girl. Insert some hilarious high jinks along the way and you're done."
"Well, I think it's cute. Stop pouting, you can pick next week," Cody giggled, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. Squib smiled and looked like he was about to reply when the phone rang.
"I got it," Squib said as he jumped up from the couch. Cody listened to his side of the conversation from where she was.
"Hello?...Oh, ya, hey…yep, we're still on…of course!...Yes, I'm sure…okay, see you then," Squib finished, placing the phone back and returning to his place beside Cody.
"Who was that?" She asked.
"Oh, just a guy from one of my classes…" Squib said, not looking at her.
"What did he want?"
"A few of us are getting together this weekend to study; we've got a huge exam coming up,"
"Anyone I know?" Cody inquired casually.
"Uh…no, I don't think so…"
"Oh, okay," Cody said. She had the feeling that there was something Squib wasn't telling her, but decided to let it go for now.
"Hey, man," Squib greeted Cameron the following Saturday.
"Hey, Squib," Cameron smiled at his old roommate.
"Thanks for coming all the way down here," Squib began.
"Hey, think nothing of it. I'm more than happy to help," Cameron said.
"It's just, I have some last minute details to hammer out. Cody can't know, of course…"
"I understand," Cameron smiled.
"So, everything's set?" Squib asked.
"Yep, the tournament is in a week, I've got your tickets in my bag,"
"Perfect," Squib smiled.
"So, everything's good?" Adena asked.
"Yeah…" Cody said on the other end of the telephone line.
"But…" Adena edged her on.
"But what?"
"I can tell; there was a 'but' coming," Adena explained.
"Well, it's just…okay; I know this is really stupid. But I think Squib may be…"
"Yes?"
"…Cheating on me."
"What?" Adena shrieked.
"Well," Cody continued, "he keeps getting phone calls from 'classmates', who apparently have no names or faces, because I 'don't know them'. And he usually takes them in the bedroom, all private and stuff…"
"Are you serious?"
"Do I sound like I'm joking?"
"Not at all," Adena confirmed.
"And now I'm starting to get all suspicious…" Cody said.
"What do you mean?" Her friend asked.
"Well, like, when he's practicing, I can't help wondering if he's really practicing or if he's meeting her. And don't even get me started on the trips."
"Look, Cody," Adena said, "Squib would never cheat on you!"
"Well, what if he met someone while we were broken up? Or when things were really bad between us? And he just never broke it off?" Cody asked.
"Well, maybe…"
"Crap. He's home. I gotta go,"
"Okay," Adena sighed, "just…keep me posted, okay?"
"Of course," Cody smiled even though she knew Adena couldn't see her, "bye Adena."
"Bye."
"Cody?" She heard Squib call just as soon as she had hung up.
"I'm here!" She called, stepping into the living room.
"Hey, guess what?" He asked excitedly.
"What?"
"I've got a tournament in Quebec next week, and I know you don't have anything important going on, so…"
"You want me to go?" Cody tried to clarify; Squib just smiled, "But what about my classes? And the paper?" She continued.
"All taken care of," Squib explained, "I've already arranged this with your professors and you're editor; you're off the hook."
"Well, I guess…maybe…" She paused when she saw the look on Squib's face, "You already have the tickets, don't you?"
"You know me too well," he joked, holding up the tickets.
"I suppose," she laughed.
"Gee, don't get too excited now," he joked before he leaned in to kiss her. Cody had to admit, she was relieved. The fact that Squib wanted to take her with him was reassuring; if he was taking her to the tournament, he couldn't possibly be seeing another woman.
"Cody, wake up," Squib nudged her gently as they sat on an airplane one week later.
"Are we here?" She asked sleepily.
"Almost," Squib smiled.
"Hey Squib," she said after a moment of silence.
"Yeah?"
"Why did you want to take me here?" She asked.
"Why not? I need a reason?"
"Well, it's just, you never have before…"
Squib shrugged, "Just because." Cody let it drop, knowing she would get no more from him.
"Oh my gosh," She sighed as they drove down the street in a rental car, "how far is this place?"
"We're almost there," Squib laughed, "I promise." After ten more minutes, he asked, "So…anything look familiar?"
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"The scenery. Look familiar?" Cody took a look outside and was about to ask him again when something dawned on her.
"Hold on…This looks like the way to…" she froze mid-sentence when they turned the corner and a white sign with familiar blue words entered her sight.
Welcome to Cascadia! The road to perfection begins here…
"So you were really surprised?" Tannis asked, absolutely giddy.
"Well yeah!" Cody joined in the laughter, "I didn't exactly know what the heck was going on!" The seven old friends, Adena, Sunny, Rick, Cody, Tannis, Cameron, and Squib were sitting in the Open together.
"Hey, I told you the tournament was in Quebec!" Squib defended.
"Yeah, but you failed to mention that it was at Cascadia and all our friends would be here!" Cody reminded him.
"Slipped my mind," he smirked. The seven sat for a few more hours when Squib glanced outside. He shared a small nod with Cameron and stood up.
"Hey, I'm gonna head in," he said, "you coming?" He looked down to Cody.
"Sure," she smiled, taking his extended hand and getting up. "See you tomorrow," she beamed at her friends.
Once outside, Cody noticed that Squib was walking in the opposite direction of their accommodations.
"Uh, Squib? Where are we going?" She asked.
"I feel like taking a walk," he smiled, "come on." The two walked in a very comfortable silence until they reached the beach.
"Squib what are we doing here?" Cody asked with a happy note in her voice.
"Going for a boat ride," he said matter-of-factly.
"Are you serious?" She asked incredulously. He took her hand and pulled her a little ways down the shore. When he reached their destination, she saw her father's old fishing boat sitting on the sand, complete with a picnic basket.
"Ladies first," he smiled, helping her on. She giggled as she sat down. "What?"
"Look," she pointed to the outside of the boat. There on the green paint were long, deep slashes in the wood.
"Ah, yes," Squib smiled, "our friend the Memphre. Let's just hope he leaves us alone tonight." And with that he pushed the boat offshore, paddling out into the lake.
"Squib, this is amazing. I just…" Cody trailed off at a loss for words. The two had finished their picnic a few minutes ago and were now talking quietly.
"Hey," he said, "it was nothing." After a few moments of silence, he asked, "You know I love you, right?" She smiled and nodded. "Good, because I have something to ask you." Squib stood up slowly, careful not to rock the boat, and made his way closer to Cody. He gently lowered himself down to one knee and pulled out a small, black, velvet ring box…
Will
someone please call a surgeon
Who can crack my ribs and repair
this broken heart
That you're deserting for better company?
I
can't accept that it's over...
I will block the door like a
goalie tending the net
In the third quarter of a tied-game
rivalry
So just say how to make it right
And I swear I'll
do my best to comply
Tell me am I right to think that there
could be nothing better
Than making you my bride and slowly
growing old together?
I feel must interject here you're
getting carried away feeling sorry for yourself
With these
revisions and gaps in history
So let me help you remember.
I've
made charts and graphs that should finally make it clear.
I've
prepared a lecture on why I have to leave
So please back away
and let me go
I can't my darling I love you so...
Tell
me am I right to think that there could be nothing better
Than
making you my bride and slowly growing old together?
Don't you
feed me lines about some idealistic future
Your heart won't heal
right if you keep tearing out the sutures
I admit that I
have made mistakes and I swear
I'll never wrong you again
You've
got a lure I can't deny,
But you've had your chance so say
goodbye
Say goodbye
-Postal Service 'Nothing Better' (female vocals in boldmale in italics)
Here it is! Sorry about the long wait! And Postal Service is my new fave band, everyone check 'em out! Aren't you just DYING to know what happens? Well then, I suggest you review;) Lol, and, sorry if anyone got annoyed with the random overflow of 'Memphre Blues' throwbacks, but that episode is still my all time favourite…