"I...I was....crying." Courtney said, desperately trying to come up with whatever lie she could. She didn't care what it was as long as Jeremy bought it and she wouldn't have to reveal what she was really doing alone in her room.
"Crying?" Jeremy asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. He was secretly hoping for a much sexier reason.
"Yeah." Courtney nodded, getting more confident in her fib. "Crying. That's why I sounded so upset."
"...With your pants off?" Jeremy pried. Courtney's face went scarlet at the memory of being caught bottomless. His eyes had seen her slit and the thought frightened her, embarrassed her, and turned her on all at once. Hopefully he didn't notice how wet she was.
"I was getting changed. I just kinda lost control halfway through." Courtney explained, her voice wavering slightly.
"Why did you say my name?" Jeremy continued to press the issue. Courtney broke away from the hug and took a step back. She needed to get a bit of distance between him. Being in his embrace almost mad eher want to tell the truth.
"Because...I was crying over you. Because I thought I might have finally pushed you away for good this time." Courtney averted her gaze from his eyes. There...that's wasn't really a lie.
"Pushed me...what?" Jeremy asked, cocking his head.
"On the phone today. When you called to wish me a happy birthday." Courtney swallowed before continuing. "You didn't deserve the way I treated you. I was being a bitch."
"Courtney!" Jeremy exclaimed. "No, that's not..." But he gets cut off as Courtney held up a hand.
"It's not my concern what you do with other girls. That's between you and them. I don't have any right to stop you or be angry with you." Courtney finally looked back at Jeremy. "I'm sorry."
"Oh jeez, Courtney." Jeremy scratched the back of his head. "I'm not going to abandon you over something like that. C'mon...you know you mean much more than that to me."
"Yeah...I guess so." Courtney rubbed her arm nervously. She gave him a sheepish grin. "Could you tell me again anyway?"
Jeremy smiled. "You are my best friend, Courtney. We've been together since kids. You know so many of my darkest secrets and I know so many of yours." He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "There is no one else in this world I feel such a close connection to. I love you Courtney."
She shuddered as the words flowed into her and filled her heart. The words she would die to hear, in completely the wrong context. Like a brother loves his sister. "I...I l-l-love you too, Jeremy." She choked out, almost unable to get it out. She then closes her eyes and buries her head in his chest, this time crying for real.
"Hey. It's okay." Jeremy said, holding her close.
"I love you. I love you. I love you." Courtney chanted into his shirt between sobs, the words spilling out like a floodgate was opened.
"Courtney?" Jeremy asked. He moved one hand to her chin and tilted her head up so he could look into her eyes. Emotions running high, Courtney met his gaze and her lips quivered with the burning need to kiss him; the need she had been denying so vehemently for so many years. She ached for him, unaware that the same thoughts were filling Jeremy's mind as well. |