Chapter 16 - "You stole the happiness out of the peanut butter."

Courtney slathered peanut butter onto her piece of toast. Peanut butter fills the cracks of the heart, go away pain.

Okay, maybe the quote was a bit dramatic for seven in the morning, but facts were facts, peanut butter was happiness in a jar. Courtney was simply choosing happiness by adding it to her toast.

"Morning, Sunshine," her father said, walking into the kitchen.

Courtney took a bite of her toast. Yup, peanut butter was the best decision she'd made in a long time. If only life's decisions were as simple as what to put on top of toast.

"Dad, what do you do when you feel like you are losing a client?"

"The talk with Lynn went that bad, huh?"

Wow, not even a breath of hesitation before seeing through that. He was good.

"It was all right. I don't know. It doesn't feel the same as it used to."

Her father leaned against the counter and snagged her toast, taking a bite. Traitor! How dare you steal my happiness!

"Then give her time," her father said.

"Can't I send her a fruit basket instead? I feel like fruit always patches things up nicely."

Oh no, he's giving the I-see-what's-hurting-inside-and-will-address-it look. And he still has my peanut butter toast so there's no comfort there.

"Courtney, you're a lot like me," he said.

I know, I have the ridiculously weird thoughts to prove it.

"But you're also a lot like your mother. You want there to be neat solutions to everything. And when it comes to people, neat is not something that happens often."

Yes, but if we all became robots that would be a different story. I've heard robots are extremely neat. Also, there's the lack of emotions that solves 85% of the problem.

"People are complex. The choices they make might make no sense to someone on the outside, but to that person, even if it isn't rational, it makes sense to them. The best you can do is try and look at it from their point of view and be responsible for your actions."

Courtney snatched her piece of toast away from him.

"I still think a chart should be involved in some way."

"So does your mother. She made a pros and cons list before she accepted my proposal."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, it took her ten seconds in her mind but those ten seconds were the most terrifying of my life."

"And that doesn't worry you that she had to think about it?"

He shrugged and scooped out a spoonful of peanut butter. "No, because it only took her ten seconds. Some people work that way. Doesn't make them strange, just different. They are run by logic more strongly than emotions."

"So say if, someone didn't cry when a person broke up with them but instead, quickly analyzed the situation and took the best course of action, that wouldn't make them heartless?"

Her father smiled at her as he ate his spoon full of peanut butter. "You didn't cry when Aiden broke up with you?"

This Father superpower thing has got to stop, can't a daughter have any secrets!

"No."

"Have you cried since?"

Courtney ate some of her toast, come on peanut butter work your magical happiness magic!

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me about boys. That boys were gross and I had nothing to do with them."

"Ah, but I'm not talking about boys, I'm talking about you. A boy is merely a vague connection to the topic."

"Nice loophole."

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"Mom said I should give it time."

"Is that what you want to do or are you conveniently choosing to listen to your mother so it gets you out of talking about it with me?"

Dang, he was like a verbal ninja. Teach me your ways, master! Courtney set down her toast because at this point it was cold and really the peanut butter hadn't been doing jack-squat anyways.

"I want it to all make sense. Not be so complicated."

Because apparently, the reason he'd given her for breaking up wasn't the reason at all! Or only part of it! Jeez, why couldn't he say he liked someone else? Then she could have wallowed in the betrayal and been emotionally scarred to later on heal from it and become stronger.

But noooooo, he had to make it complicated by missing her, wanting to talk but not telling her what he meant.

"I found relationships are rarely uncomplicated at some point," her father said.

"So what do I do?"

"Never date. Until you're like thirty, possibly forty, and then by that time I'll be senile so I won't even be bothered by it."

Courtney rolled her eyes. Of course that was his advice. Where was the word ninja from before? Bring him back, make him answer the question.

"You're forty-five, hardly close to senile."

"No, but by the time you're forty, I could be. So do your old man a favor and wait to date until then."

"That's it? Don't date? That's the wise advice you're giving me to deal with my current problems."

"No, I'm taking from your mother and saying: give it time."

"Thief."

"Yes, but she's the smart one in our dynamic, I had to keep her around for some reason."

A bright beep beep came from outside and Courtney stood and tucked her crutches under her arms.

"Well, since you've been no help this morning," she said. "Do you mind making up for it by bringing all my supplies out to Aubrey's car?"

"I ate some of your toast, that has to count for something."

"I wanted my toast."

"Yet, you didn't finish it."

"You stole the happiness out of the peanut butter."

"I will help my cripple of a daughter then."

As they stepped out of the house into the bright yet chilly morning, Courtney saw as Aubrey leaned towards the passenger seat to watch them. She beamed as Courtney's father opened the back door and loaded in the rolls of fabric and the one plastic bag with leaf outlines in it.

"Hi, Mr. Hart," Aubrey said.

Courtney's father came to the passenger door and leaned down.

"Hi, Aubrey," he said. "Have you figured out what area of science you want to study in college?"

She sighed heavily. "No and I'm trying to not let it stress me out but since it's connected to which college I'll apply to it kinda is."

"Don't think of the area that you want to study, think of the area that you couldn't imagine not being able to study."

Aubrey stared at Courtney's father. "That's sorta brilliant."

"I do have my moments. Have a good day at school." He ducked his head inside and kissed Courtney's forehead. "It will be okay, Sunshine."

Easy for you to say, you have the answers to everything yet have failed to give me a cheat sheet.

"Bye, Mr. Hart," Aubrey said, waving as Courtney's father headed back to the house. "I love your dad. But not like in a weird way."

"You and everyone he meets."

They both fell silent as Aubrey drove through the neighborhood, the quiet strain of Sebastian Colfax playing through the car. A voice like an angel, looks like an angel. It's almost unfair to the rest of the world.

"Are you okay?" Aubrey asked.

Because I'm thinking about Sebastian Colfax?

"Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?" Courtney asked.

"Your dad said it would be okay, that usually implies something is currently not okay."

"Wise deduction skills you have there, Watson."

Aubrey threw her a bright smile. "So?"

"We were having a heart-to-heart about relationships this morning."

And I was failing to conceal my true intentions, curse his Father superpowers.

"Oh." Aubrey threw her a sympathetic look. Wow, she's throwing things around this morning. "How you are feeling about the whole Aiden thing? I'm not going to lie I was expecting an invite to an ice cream fest, or a romance movie marathon. Possibly a vandalize his car invite. But you've acted so normal I figured you would talk about it when you were ready and were taking your time."

Time. That word was being used so much she felt like a time traveler. Maybe the next thing she could find was a futuristic device that would suck all the complications out of her life.

"Yeah, I'm giving it time."

"You're dealing with it really well."

HA! The hilarity in that statement, my stomach might cramp with how hilarious that is, I can't stop laughing on the inside.

"I mean, you saw me with my last break up. I was a wreck. I burst into tears when Justin broke up with me and didn't seem to stop crying. I don't know if that's worse than how Kimber went around being angry at everyone for two weeks. But you're like the epitome of self-control."

Tears, anger. Two of the most common reactions Courtney had seen with breakups. And then her...She'd encouraged Aiden and...had she managed to smile through it as well? She had, hadn't she?

People are complex. The choices they make might make no sense to someone on the outside, but to that person, even if it isn't rational, it makes sense to them.

Courtney gazed out the window, at the rushing world. From where she was, it made sense to keep it together, to support Aiden for making the right decision.

But how had it looked from Aiden's viewpoint? Well, she'd smiled and acted like him breaking up with her was the best. No wonder he looked angry and confused, she didn't look like someone containing her emotions, she looked like she had none at all.

Six months of dating and she hadn't even produced a tear or scowl. She did look heartless even though she hadn't been.

Yeah, Aiden being all over the map made a little more sense.

Didn't change the fact that she had no idea where to go from here but at least one thing was explained.

Though she wasn't sure if that explained his parting shot the next day.

Jeez! Just when it feels like one mystery is solved another one shows up! Can't I just skip to the end of the episode when everything makes sense and I get to walk in slow motion away from the bad guy who is being arrested?

"So..." Aubrey said.

Courtney glanced over at her friend. How much time had passed? Dang! There's that time again. And I would look awful in a time traveler suit, literally no definition to them at all. I was not meant to be a time traveler.

"Sooooo," Courtney asked back with a smile.

"I asked Lynn if I could invite Nathan to her birthday party this Saturday and she said yes!"

Lynn's birthday party, the annual water park day. Courtney hadn't even thought about it with everything else going on. Now it hit her in the face, which was rude of it to do.

"So it's going well with you and Nathan?" Courtney asked.

"Yes. We get along so well. He likes Bones, that show which you wouldn't watch with me."

"It's so gross!"

"Well, he likes it. We talked all this weekend. He's thinking of studying forensic science in college. We talked about the different areas we could study and the best things about them. And besides that, I don't know..."

She smiled and Courtney knew that smile. It was one she'd seen on countless of her friend's faces. A smile that said they'd found someone who made them feel special. Courtney was all for this, it was better than Kyle.

"I'm happy for you," she said.

"Yeah? I mean, with you and Aiden..."

"A girl can be dumped and still happy for her friend who found nerdy love."

"Shut up, we're not complete nerds."

"Oh, but you are and it's adorable."

Aubrey shoved Courtney's shoulder, her cheeks pink. After a beat, Aubrey glanced at Courtney, her expression sobering.

"You know you can talk to me if you need to. About Aiden. Or not talk and we simply eat a huge box of chocolate and write lists of how we could get our revenge. I'm here for you, you know that?"

Yes, only this won't be solved over a revenge list. Courtney didn't want revenge, she wanted to know how to handle this. Who knew, maybe a box of chocolates would solve that. Or ice cream. Wasn't ice cream the answer to everything?

"I know," Courtney said. "Thanks."

They pulled into the school parking lot and Aubrey angled the car into an open spot. They climbed out, once again Aubrey graceful, Courtney not so much. Without having to ask her, Aubrey picked up the rolls of fabric while Courtney got the plastic bag.

As they headed toward the school, the bell rang, making everyone stream into the grounds. Like minnows swimming together. Maybe that's where school of fish came from. All we have to do is just keep swimming, just keep swimming, what do we do, we swimmmmm. If only life were so easy, keep swimming until a shark inevitably ate you. What a cheery thought.

The Council room buzzed with talk as Courtney trailed Aubrey inside. Everyone sat around the table drinking coffee or scrolling through their phones.

Only Miguel, sitting at the head of the table, wasn't doing either activity. He was staring ponderously, or morosely depending on how you viewed life, at nothing. He could honestly be thinking of nothing at all, he did have Resting I'm-a-tortured-genius Face.

As long as he wasn't getting everyone moving, Courtney figured she'd do the honors. After all, she had a Homecoming to decorate for.

After getting everyone's attention she quickly broke down what needed to be done with the fabric. Outlines of leaves connected at the top by the stem of the next leaf chalked onto the fabric then cut. She divided people into groups and set them to work. Hi ho hi ho, it's off to work we go.

As everyone dispersed, Lynn approached Courtney. She sent her a small smile and Courtney quickly returned it.

"I was wondering if you need a co-captain for this project?" she asked.

"Better yet, I need my right hand man back," Courtney half sang.

"Gotta get your right hand man back, get your right hand man back," they sang together.

They grinned at each other.

"The job is yours," Courtney said.

"I take with eagerness. But before we get going do you have a second?"

Courtney nodded and they put space between themselves and the labor force.

"What's up?" Courtney asked.

Lynn leaned back on a desk, her hands tucked behind her.

"I wanted to talk to you about Saturday," she said. "You know my party at the waterpark. I talked to Coach cause I know she said by Friday you won't need your crutches, but she said running around a waterpark and going on slides where a lot of pressure would be focused on your ankle wouldn't be advisable."

Well, who liked waterparks anyways, right? Not this girl, nope!

"But!" Lynn said, brightening. "I figured there's still the lounge and we can do the lazy river because that won't stress your ankle. It won't be the same, but still, you'd get to be there."

Sit around while watching everyone else ran about and go on slides. Being the invalid among a bunch of vibrant people. That sounds like a blast! Sign me up! Can I also be pushed around in a wheelchair, just to sell the image?

"I tried to see if I could move the party back a week or two," Lynn said. "But the lounge we reserved isn't available. And when I asked my parents if we could cancel, they told me we couldn't. They wouldn't get their money back."

Cancel...She seriously said cancel? Cancel her own birthday because Courtney couldn't come. Cancel something that everyone looked forward to. Right now her fruit basket was looking pretty pathetic as far as gestures went.

"I know it was mine and Aiden's tradition since we were kids but you became part of that tradition and it wouldn't feel the same without you," Lynn said. "Freshman year, it was only the three of us. You know what they say about tradition, it's bad luck to break them."

Courtney smiled. "Can't break it then. Of course I'll be there. I'll have my phone or a book. I'll make a chart for shifts of people so I'm not lonely."

Finally! A chart gets to be involved.

Lynn relaxed. "Put me down for first shift then."

"It's noted."

Someone swore and both girls looked over.

"It sounds like they need a leader," Courtney said.

"I guess that's me." She headed off but paused. "Thanks for still coming."

"Tradition, right?"

"Right."

Courtney made her way to the door but found her way blocked by Miguel who looked distressed. Not a good look on him, he pulled off disgruntled better.

"What's up?" Courtney asked.

"Tell me you're going to Lynn's birthday party," he said.

"I'm going to Lynn's birthday party."

He let out a sigh of relief. Jeez, who knew he was so worried about my social calendar.

"Why are you sighing in relief?"

"Because my parents found out about it and instead of spending all day listening to a Rory Sutherland seminar, I'm being forced to go."

"Wow."

"I know. They are really concerned about my lack of a social life. I have to go searching, but I think someone gave my mom a book and I'm probably showing signs that align with a stupid list that makes me an antisocial kid which could lead to stress down the line or a mental breakdown or something."

"You need to find that book and destroy it."

"I know." He ran a hand through his hair then instantly combed it down. "At least you'll be there. We can listen to the seminar together."

"I'm game. Now I have to see a man about a horse."

"Be on your way then, Holmes."

Courtney stepped out of the Council room and searched the quad, hoping to spot Jerry and flag him down. No such luck, cross country journey it was then. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but walking with crutches made everything seem like a task. Might as well make it sound epic since it felt so.

When Courtney reached the art's wing, she spotted Juan and Sophie in the shade, a tarp laid out and one of the set pieces laying on it. Even from where Courtney stood, she could see how they'd begun to add detail that brought the basic set-piece to life. As she approached, she noticed a third member.

Micah sat cross-legged off to one side, a brown bag open beside him. He laughed at something Juan said. It was such a simple thing but made his whole face lit up.

"Hey," she said.

The trio swiveled around.

"Hi!" Micah said.

His cheery greeting got a look from both Juan and Sophie. Clearly, Micah hadn't told them that she was his personal Wise Ole Sage. But some quests had to be kept secret, maybe his to capture his lady love's heart was one of them.

"What brings you here to this painting party?" Courtney asked.

Micah held up the brown bag. "Juan messaged and told me to stop being a lazy bum and bring them donut holes."

"Technically, I am their supervisor so I say that I deserve one of those."

Grinning, Micah stood and came over to her. She took one.

"Thank you. Now do any of your know who works the lighting for the school shows."

Two fingers instantly pointed to Micah.

"I thought you were with the AV team," Courtney said, brushing away some of the cinnamon sugar that dusted her mouth.

"I am. And I work lighting."

"Good, you're the answer to my prayers."

Micah raised his eyebrows. Surprise but no blush. Oh no! Don't tell me he's broken!

"What do you need?" Micah asked.

"Let's head to the theater and I'll tell you on the way."

"Leave the donuts!" Juan yelled.

Micah jogged back and left the bag next to the arrangement of paint cans.

"What do you need me for?" Micah asked.

"I want to know if the school has any lights that can be used for Homecoming? It would mean I could save costs on renting some."

Micah stopped walking and Courtney did the same.

"We don't need to go to the theater to find out. Some lights can be used. But the question is how would they be set up."

"To the gym!"

Laughing, Micah followed alongside Courtney. At least with a cute guy, the journey felt more like a stroll through the park than an epic trek. By stroll, she meant lazy pace. She hadn't installed wheels on her crutches. Something about insurance nightmare.

The sunlight bathed them in warmth, the morning breeze staving off the worst of the heat, which was thoughtful of the breeze. Made up for the times the breeze acted like a jerk and ruined her hair. The air smelled like freshly cut grass, which was a favorite scent of Courtney's.

She glanced at Micah then finally noticed his outfit.

"You're wearing the new jeans!" she said.

"Technically, they are old jeans. But yes, I'm wearing them."

"They look really good on you."

"Thanks. Juan and Sophie said the same thing."

At the gym, Micah pulled the door open for Courtney and they walked into the air-conditioned hallway. Luckily, the basketball court was empty.

"What are you thinking?" Micah asked.

"About a million things and half of them hardly ever make sense."

"I meant for Homecoming and lighting."

"Well, that seems like a more reasonable question considering why I asked you to come with me."

Courtney explained what she had planned and afterward Micah remained quiet, eyeing the bleachers and the basketball hoops. He pointed to the railing at the top of the bleachers.

"I could anchor a light to that. If you want to make it a Fall forest I could put in a gold jell to give it a sunset-type glow."

"Cute and has brains, how do you keep the ladies away?"

There's the blush I know and love! Phew! Not broken at all, that's a relief. Got scared for a second there.

Micah cleared his throat, his blush still evident. "How are you hanging the net?"

"Bleachers railings and the framework that holds up the basketball hoops."

"That means you'll be able to see the hoops."

Bleh, yes.

"I know. But I haven't figured out how to conceal them."

Micah stuffed his hands into his pockets and scrunched his face in concentration. "You're using the Into The Woods sets to cover the bleachers?"

"Yup."

"What if you used the column from Julius Caesar?"

"Brillant!"

"Yeah?"

"No, I have no idea what that means to use the columns. But I'm hoping you are still brilliant and explain."

Micah walked further into the gym, positioning himself beneath the basketball hoop. "If you put a column here, it would touch the edge of the hoop. You could either paint the column or cover it with something and make it look like a tree. It would tie it into the leaf covering."

Wow! He was brilliant! He wasn't just a cutie who could blush!

"You amazing chocolate graham cracker bear!"

Micah cocked his head, baffled. "Did you say chocolate graham cracker bear because I'm black?"

"No, I said it because it's my favorite. Why? Do you like the honey bears better?"

"Yeah, I don't like chocolate-flavored things."

Blasphemy!

"How can you not like chocolate? What kind of inhuman human are you?"

"I never said I didn't like chocolate. I said I didn't like chocolate-flavored things."

"That's the same thing."

"No, it's not. Chocolate flavoring always tastes artificial to me. I like chocolate in its pure form."

Okay, at least she could keep speaking to him. That was a close call.

"That's fair enough. Back to the business at hand."

"You calling me your favorite chocolate graham cracker bear?"

Was he...was he flirting with her? If so, well done, Micah. Maybe he was getting in some practice for when he talked to Max.

"Do you prefer Idiot Adventurer?"

"I do."

Courtney couldn't help her smile and she gazed up at the basketball hoop. Paper, spray-painted could work to cover the columns. Or maybe a brown sheet would be better, less a waste of paper. Either way, it would add to the whole feel of the forest. It was brilliant.

"It's a great idea," Courtney said. "I hadn't even thought of it."

"I guess this means the Idiot Adventurer has become the Wise Ole Sage."

Courtney laughed. "Not yet. You still have to get the girl."

"Then that means we're still on for this afternoon. Our...what did you call it, closet color coordination date?"

"Yeah, it's a date."

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Oh my sparkly sprinkles! ✨

That's it let's hear what you have to offer this fine world. And if you don't want to offer anything to the world then how about you settle for offering me your thoughts! 🗯💭💬

But do it quickly because we have important things to discuss! The most important of all important things that have ever been imported!

I know what you're thinking: Joy, you've done this before, you pretend you having something important to say but end up talking about girl's jeans without pockets, Niall being an elf, or something random like the word didgeridoo.

But I'm serious about this. This is one of the most important things I could ever talk about. Stop rolling your eyes, this is serious.

The very important thing is... you. *boops you on the nose*

You can awe, blush, preen, or grin right now if you want.

It's true. You're important, especially to me. 🤗

I live a very small life due to health issues. But because of you, my life isn't small. I get to write for and interact with you, you from across the continent or on a completely different continent altogether!

You a light in my life that brightens up the dark times and gets me through the dimly lit times where there's still a way to see where I'm going but it a little rough and you give me the support I need...

Okay that analogy got away from me but it's true. You really do make my days better, happier, and funnier! You make me laugh and smile! You have an impact on my life that I don't think you will ever fully understand.

So please know when I say I love you it's the honest to goodness truth!

And something like this, a fan account, and the personal reading lists you give my books never fail to make me feel honored that you let me into your life with my worlds.

From the bottom of an odd author's heart, thank you!

What book have you hit this with?