"So, you play any sports?" asked Courtney. She didn't know if she wanted him to say yes or no. Sure, she loved sports. At one time in her life sports were her life. Sports and Bobby. At the thought of Bobby, Courtney once again felt a twinge of guilt deep down inside her. She ignored it. She wasn't doing anything wrong. Was she?
"Used to. Found out there was more important things to deal with." Skyler said, or more like mumbled. That was about the most perfect answer Courtney could have imagined. It sounded like Skyler was in the same situation as she was. She'd loved sports, but in the end they began to get her down. And down, was the last place Courtney Chetwynde wanted to be.
All of a sudden she felt someone kicking her in the leg. She looked up and saw a look of sheer terror in Marl's eyes. It took her a second, but then she knew. It was his Traveler ring!
"Uh, Mark, don't you think you should…?" and before she could even make an excuse for him to leave, Mark had run halfway down the hallway.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Skyler.
"Oh, you don't know?" asked Courtney, buying some time before she had to make up an excuse for Mark's odd behavior.
"No…" Skyler trailed off, "Is this something everybody knows about.?" He raised his eyebrows.
"No, uh, not really, but me and mark, uh we're… pretty tight. We pretty much tell each other everything…" she trailed off.
"So could you tell me what's wrong?" asked Skyler.
"Uh, yea, sure… after all, you're uhhh… family…"
And then Mark came running up the hall. She was off the hook!
"What's wrong?" asked Skyler with his eyebrows raised. I could tell he wanted the answer to his question because he actually raised his voice above a whisper, which was unusual for Skyler.
"I, um, I have…" Courtney couldn't wait to hear his excuse for this one.
"I have bladder problems."
Courtney started laughing uncontrollably. Skyler joined in. Courtney couldn't help admiring his laugh. It was nice too. Just like everything about him.
He smiled at her, and she smiled back. What? A smile's not a felony. But it sure felt like it was, and it was starting to annoy her.
"So, Skyler, Mark, you want to go to the Ave, and get some fries?" asked Courtney.
"What's the Ave?" asked Skyler.
"Oh, it's really great." Said Mark.
"You'll love it." Added Courtney.
"Everybody does…" continued Mark.
"Okay," laughed Skyler, "you guys have got me convinced. Now I have to have to try these fries." And once again he gave Courtney the gift of one of his beautiful smiles.
And she even forgot to feel guilty.