For all of you who requested a flashback chapter. :)
I left quite a few details out in the middle, so you can interpret how it happened as you wish.
Short, like everything else I write. Hope you guys enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own TDI. Or that amazing song that drove to...writing this. :)
"Hey, this is Harold. I'm guessing you're probably not here right now, seeing as you haven't picked up your phone for the twenty-seventh time this week. Someone from your physics class gave me your number, in case you're wondering and probably freaking out about it. Listen, I know things between us haven't been exactly the greatest and-" A pause. "So anyways, call back when you get this-"
She jabbed her thumb hard against the delete button.
--
May 3rd, 2009.
Courtney stared at her computer screen, hovering her mouse over the sections that needed fixing. Her power-point was coming along nicely, except for the fact it was due next period. And since her free period was almost over, well, the statement basically answered itself. She put aside the loose strand of hair covering her left eye, put everything else (including the things that mattered) on hold, then pressed 'play'.
One of the girls from her media class had given her the idea. It was simple, and done plenty before, but at that time she was running desperate. 'Leukemia' was typed in big bold betters that stretched across the width of the monitor. And the caption under it: 'Taking away the lives of the people who mean the most to us'
Okay, so she'd work on that. She came up with that while she brushed her teeth that morning, after all.
She quickly scanned the time located near the bottom of the screen, and bit her lower lip. She needed more time.
--
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
--
Hopefully it would be good enough. Courtney gathered her things, clicked the 'save' button on her power-point, then took her disk out of the CD drive and left the library, with ten minutes to spare.
--
When Duncan saw her coming down the hall, he smirked. It was typical, something she'd gotten kind of used to it. She figured you could get used to anything, if you were forced to put up with it long enough. He slammed his locker, grinning harder as she went up to him.
"Princess," he said, in a way that meant he was pleased, but surprised she actually needed him for something.
She eyed him for a second. "Are you seriously wearing those piercings? Ms. Terry's going to throw a fit. Possibly faint." A beat. "You want that, don't you?"
"What can I say?" Duncan chuckled. "I'm that kind of guy."
"You're such an ogre, you know? One day you're going to look back at when you were seventeen and wish things had ended up differently-"
Raised eyebrow.
Courtney panicked. "Can you swing my Mr. Henderson's class and drop this off for me?"
"Don't you have him for next period-" She shoved the CD into his hands.
"The bell's gonna go in like, two minutes, I still have to get to my locker. And you have algebra next, right? It's just down the hall, okay?" Then she took off, taking the stairs to the second floor.
The halls were clearing empty. She bit her lip. She needed more time.
And that's exactly when, right in the middle of her flustering thoughts, she ran into him.
For awhile they just sat there, fists to the floor, arms stretched out behind them. Then it all suddenly came back to her-where she was, what she'd been doing until…who was sitting right across from her, with a look that might as well kill her.
"G-get out of my way," Courtney said finally, gathering her things quickly and shoving him aside. Just about when he started to say something, she ran.
--
And he went after her, but that was to be expected.
--
"H-harold?" Her lips trembled as she lay there, helpless.
"I'm sorry…....I couldn't save you…..."
Flashes of red drove past, before coming to a halt several metres ahead. The sirens stopped. Life as they knew it stopped.
--
The guy responsible for the crash was arrested immediately. Charged for illegally drinking and driving. Charged for the easiest verdict to say at that time being-murder.
Three hours ago, her biggest worry was submitting a media assignment in late. Now, laying in the middle of the street and not feeling a single bone in her body, Courtney was afraid of the other person, the other person she thought she supposedly hated, dying without hearing the words she'd been trying to run away from, all this time. I forgive you, Harold.
She needed more time.
Why did she decide to tell him, when it was far too late for anything? For the both of them to commit to some sort truce. Maybe they could've even become friends.
The words and possibilities caught in her throat.
Courtney slowly turned to him. He was dying. They both were. Then she realized they were in stretchers, soon to be taken away from the paramedics. She locked eyes with one of the officers, who had her purse.
"D-duncan," she'd force the words out if it killed her, "T-tell him I….love h-him."
The officer gave her a strange look, but understood she meant her cellphone then went to go get it.
"Courtney…" Harold murmured, trying his hardest to face. "I-"
"S-save it.," she reached over to touch him. "I forgave you a long time ago."
He nodded, then died in his stretcher.
And I'm the one who should be sorry. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but it hurt her to cry. If he was gone, she deserved to be too.
The paramedics rushed to Harold's side, checking his pulse and calling for another ambulance. She felt someone hold her hand during her last few moments, his voice ringing at the back of her head.
"It's going to be okay," Duncan whispered, running his hands through her hair and trying not to freak out at the paramedics.
No, it's not.
--
Five years later, he sat in the chief's office for reasons he still couldn't believe himself.
"So tell me, Duncan," the chief huffed on his cigarette, glancing at the papers in disbelief, "After all that bull you've done in the past, you're saying you want to become a police officer?"
Duncan chuckled, waiting for a silence before he went on, "Five years ago, my girlfriend told me I should re-think the rest of my life over before it's too late."
He paused, the memory still haunted him, this place. Despite all of the things you could, there were just some things in life you could never get used to.
"…and look where that brought me."
Hopefully it turned out okay.
I'm supposed to be studying for history, but decided to post this up tonight. R&R :)