Today is a rainy day. Obviously. Just as lucky as always. But Courtney in reality doesn't mind at all, it seems like the weather wants to resemble her mood these days.
At this point she's just living: she's not enjoying her course in University or making any progress regarding love or friendships, she doesn't need anyone because what if someone tries to backstab her? or what if she ruins another bond with someone else?
The fact that everyone knows her because of that stupid reality show helps her even less: "bitch", "cold", "psycho" are just few of the words linked to her (both online and in real life).
So that's why she's sitting alone in the corner of the coffee shop near her house: the place is cozy and warm, perfect for days like this where people want to find a place to shelter from the rain, and the waiters are kind, well they glanced at Courtney three or four times, but it was alright. She's used to people watching and staring at her, she's "famous" and not for good reasons.
And now she is thinking about Total Drama again as if she didn't cut off all the relationships with every person that participated, even with Bridgette and Geoff: it's not like she didn't want to be friends with them anymore, but she needed to forget her old life and everything and everyone that surrounded her during that time.
And that's when she sees him again.
It seems like someone is pulling a joke on her because how the hell Courtney and Duncan could be in the same place at the same time? That's a fucking hilarious question that she never wanted to make.
But now it's too late to run away.
He is still the same, maybe with one or two more tattoos and without the green mohawk. But physically, still the same.
Not that Courtney has made a big change on her aspect, her hair is simply longer now. But she, like him, is the same. And that's what she hates the most about herself.
Frozen in her seat, all she can do is just watch him while he's standing in the line (for the same black coffee as always, Courtney presumed). She doesn't want him to see her, the more he ignores her the better, that's why she fixes her gaze on her cup of tea almost finished while hoping he goes away.
In the exact moment she decides to see if he's still here, her eyes meet his: the first thing Courtney notices is that his eyes are still of that shade of deep blue that made her fall in love with him.
He's standing in front of her, surprised just like Courtney. Both don't know what to think, neither what to say because what's the first thing a person should say to their ex after years that they didn't see each other?
"Can I sit here?" Duncan says, pointing at the chair in front of her. Typically of Duncan.
How could Courtney answer him? She could ignore him, it is always an option, but it didn't work in All Stars, and certainly it won't work now because he's still standing there waiting for an answer, while some customers are interested in the interactions between the two ex lovers.
"If you need to." Courtney answers, finally trying to focus the costumes' attention to something else. She doesn't need another reason to be in the center of attention, she's tired of it.
She has too many questions to ask him - why he's here, why he's not in prison anymore, if he's still in contact with the others from Total Drama, what he thinks of her now. Not that his opinion matters now, just like anyone else's.
"The rain is still going, without stopping any second." Courtney thought, focusing her attention on simple things just not to have to start a conversation with Duncan.
"How are you doing?" Duncan asked her.
That's another fucking hilarious question. Just perfect really. Obviously she'll never admit that she's basically miserable with her life: her whole life was based on being perfect, impeccable, without any bad intentions involved. She failed the last point the moment she joined Total Drama, starting when she kissed Duncan even if the ending was even worse because the thought of winning to redeem herself led to betray the few people that cared (at least that's what she thinks) about her.
"I'm doing great, don't you see?"
"I'm sure you do."
She can't understand what he wants from this conversation, mostly because after today she hopes to never see him again.
That's why she wants to get rid of everything that is bothering her right now.
"What are you doing here?" she finally asks, while watching him sipping his black coffee ("I know him too well", Courtney thought).
He looks kinda confused, like he doesn't expect this question, with a look that says "you meet me after two years and that's the first thing you ask me?".
"In my hometown?" he smirks, trying to get a reaction from her just like old times.
"Out of prison," she started and then "because that's where you were in these couple of years, right?"
"Well it looks like someone was keeping tabs on me again."
That's the last thing in Courtney's mind, her problems are certainly more important than a delinquent who doesn't know how to keep his nose out of trouble. But again, Duncan is not only "someone", he was definitely "Someone Who Should Be Not Here Right Now While She's Trying To Enjoy Her Tea Without Thinking About Her Complicated Life". More or less.
It doesn't surprise her how he still can get through her skin, it would be strange if it was the opposite.
"I'll tell you since you seem so eager to know," he pauses to take a sip of his coffee, "but it's not much of a story though. They didn't see me as a menace to society anymore, I behaved and they released me. And now I'm here with you. It's incredible, isn't it?"
Was it incredible? It certainly was a terrible coincidence.
But before she can continue navigating through her thoughts, he continues speaking, "Look, I know that maybe you want to continue your life in a different path, forgetting me and everything that has happened between us. But I want to say one thing before leaving your sight forever," he sighed, like he truly means what he's about to say.
Maybe he has good intentions, but Courtney knows better than anyone what trusting someone could lead you to.
"and if you don't believe me again this time, at least I tried. I want you to know that I'm really sorry about how I treated you, neither you nor Gwen deserved a terrible boyfriend like me in your life. I'm sorry for cheating on you, discrediting you and I take responsibility for everything that made you suffer."
It seemed like awkward silence filled the room for a few seconds. There are many things to say, many apologies to make, many feelings to repay.
That's what she always wanted to hear from him: then why is she frozen right now?
Because guilt is all over the place. She knows she has made mistakes in the past like trying to change him, being bossy without focusing on the important things, betraying other people.
"I'm sorry too."
And just like that the words slipped out of her mouth, but she knows it's the right moment to finally make amends.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Care to explain why? I didn't expect that."
Where to start? Surely Courtney made a lot of mistakes in her past driven by her temper or any other emotion that could lead everything into a disaster. That's what started to break her, without even realising it.
But now Courtney must take responsibility for her actions, hence why she started from the beginning.
While looking directly at him, she started "When I started a relationship with you, all I seeked was that feeling of adventure and madness that was unknown to me. For this reason, I tried to change you, with lists and that stupid contract, because you were the one that could make me forget about my shitty life while driving mad at the same time," she sighs, remembering the past isn't as easy as it seems, and continues "but you know that my parents wanted my boyfriend to be a completely different person from you, certainly not a delinquent. Basically I was in a limbo between you and them, and I chose to listen to them rather than making my own decisions."
He watches her like he doesn't know what to think nor say; obviously he knew about her parents, and how Courtney wanted to be perfect for them, but recognising they had this kind of large impact on her is still something uncomfortable.
"That's why I started making lists about changing you, because I thought that maybe if you were less 'you' and more like a person my parents would've approved then you could've stayed by my side just a little longer."
She's watching outside the window near their table now, avoiding his eyes on her. She can't help it, she has tried hating and ignoring him, but she can't deny his influence on her.
His eyes are fix on her, trying to capture what she's really feeling about this whole situation, mostly because he knows the woman in front of him is not the same Courtney as before: he doesn't see the spark in her eyes like before, like she's always trying to make assumptions about her next move not to make a false step.
He's more curious about her now. How could Courtney change this much in these two years? She still remains a mystery in his eyes, and he can't wait to find more about her.
"I think you can understand better my point of you in our relationship after the second season," he starts, attempting to focus her attention on him again. It works, and satisfied, Duncan continues "I felt like trapped in a life I didn't want just to satisfy you. That's when I figured it out I needed to let our story go before it could get even worse, and at the time I wanted you to hurt like you were making me in those months, hence the cheating."
He isn't happy with how his actions sound right now, so he adds "Look, all I'm saying is I understand why you have done that crazy stuff in the past, you had your reasons even if I don't respect them, but at the same time you can see why I screwed up our relationship even more".
Courtney nods, feeling mixed emotions all over the place.
"Well, we have both fucked up at the end" he adds, smirking behind his cup of coffee, finally finishing it. Courtney can't do anything else but laugh, because it's the perfect description of them: two fucked up people who waited for two years before facing each other and admitting their wrongs.
But Courtney and Duncan loved one another even knowing their flaws, because they searched for that thrill ride given by their differences.
Courtney looks at him one more time and smiles thinking about how he's more mature now, which arouses curiosity in her knowing what or who could possibly have led Duncan to this kind of improvement.
Maybe fate will make them reunite again in other circumstances and she will have all the answers she seeks.
It's strange how life works, but you should never doubt destiny: one day you're reaching your limit while trying to find your place in the world, and the next day you're sitting in your usual coffee shop with your ex boyfriend making amends.
"We have been here for a while now" she notices as it was already getting dark outside.
Was it the end of it all? Would they see each other again after today? Courtney wasn't so sure, they will probably go in different ways like they have always done.
And before she can continue with her thoughts, Duncan asks her "Do you wanna grab something to eat? Just to catch up on other things, unless you have something better to do."
She could return to her home alone, again, and miss this opportunity, but she needs a change in her routine and this is the perfect occasion.
"I know a nearby restaurant that makes both Chinese, Mexican and Italian food. I think you'll like it and," she pauses to look at the time in her watch "now it shouldn't be too crowded."
"Let's go then." he says, already standing up. She stands up from her place too, takes her bag and, surpassing Duncan, says "I'll lead the way, follow me."
"You know I always do." he smirks once again, making her blush for his sudden straightforwardness.
"Shut up."
And while they are near the coffee shop exit, he asks her "So what exactly are you studying? Are you still in law school?"
"Well, recently I've changed my mind and I would like to change my course. So I'm thinking about…" she says, leaving the coffee shop behind.
The next day, Courtney wakes up at 9AM and the first she notices is a message.
Duncan: look Duncan: we r still an handsome couple Duncan: ;) Duncan: [link]Maybe exchanging numbers again with Duncan was a bad idea, but curiously she still opens the link he sent her only to find out someone has taken photos of them while they were talking in the coffee shop. And obviously gossip sites went crazy about it, so much that the title of the article (FAMOUS EX COUPLE SPOTTED TOGETHER: Total Drama's most famous couple "Duncney" might RETURN? Find everything you need to know about Duncan Moore and Courtney García HERE! Latest updates on the couple in the article!) doesn't particularly surprise her.
She responds to Duncan with a quick "next time we'll go out in disguise" before leaving her bed to get dressed, and when her phone buzzes again after ten seconds she knows it's Duncan again.
Duncan: next time you say Duncan: so eager to see me again me: Shut up me: You know what I meant Duncan: don't worry princess Duncan: can't wait to see you again tooCourtney smiles. Maybe she can enjoy her life again now.