Courtney kept close to the door because once the flood of guests started flowing in, it never stopped.

"Hey, Travis, Lyla. Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

"Courtney, hey. Congrats on winning."

"Thanks, Alex. Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

"Courtney! Let's get this party started."

"Couldn't imagine it not starting without the gang! Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

"Where's the fun because that's where I should be."

"It's waiting for you, Nicolette. Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

Okay, keep smiling. Don't think about your arms falling off. It would ruin the entire outfit.

"Hey, I'm glad you could make it! Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

How many people went to their school? And were all of them coming plus every person they knew? Keep smiling, it's fine.

"Congrats, Courtney!"

"Thanks, Austin. Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

Her arms were totally going to fall off. It's fine, she'd just look like that statue in the museum with the wings. The Winged Victory. Though that was also missing a head. Okay, so not like that statue. Keep smiling.

"Courtney! Congrats on winning! Let's celebrate!"

"Woohoo! Celebration time, come on! Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

Didn't this use to be easier? Oh, right, crutches, restricted movement. Definitely makes parties less manageable. But it's fine. Smile.

"Aiden."

Aiden looked uncertain whether he should enter or not.

"I know the front door is pretty but I didn't think it was pretty enough to stare at for hours on end."

At that, Aiden smiled and entered the house. Bright chatter and distant shrieks echoed from further in the house. And hopefully outside, she wanted the shrieks to be from pool antics and not I-just-broke-something-in-Courtney's-house-and-now-I'm-panicking shrieks.

"Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours."

"Sounds good," Aiden said. "Thanks for being so chill about this."

"Of course. Mis amigos son tus amigos."

Aiden walked off and Courtney let out a breath. It's normal and not normal and that's weird. Bleh. Not thinking about that right now. Oh look, more people thank heaven!

"Hi, Anthony."

"Hey Cory, this is my little brother Marco. I'm sorry my mom said I had to bring him."

Marco looked to be about a freshman and wore a t-shirt with a blue police box on it.

"No worries. Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours. Hi, Marco, I'm Courtney."

At her bright smile, Marco looked like he might melt into a puddle of stuttering words and wide eyes. Right, I'm pretty, forgot about that.

"Follow me," she said.

Anthony sent her a grateful look and left.

"Are you a fan of Marvel movies?" she asked.

Marco opened and closed his mouth. Oh, the gaping fish. He really must not know a lot of pretty girls. Which was surprising with how attractive his brother was. Though maybe the pretty girls just never paid attention to Marco.

"Here's the theater," Courtney said. "Candy is in a cupboard back there and there's still a lot of empty seats. Why don't you chill in here?"

Marco found safety in the arms of a big leather chair. Courtney made it back to the front door as it opened and Micah walked in along with his group of friends, including Max.

He'd worn the outfit. He'd worn the outfit! He looked good but not in a way that wasn't still him. Man, if Max didn't notice him now the girl was blind.

"You made it!" Courtney said. "I'm happy you could come."

"Thanks for the invite," Micah said.

"My pleasure. Drinks and snacks are in the kitchen, pool is outside, movie theater is playing Avengers marathon. Pizza in a couple of hours. I hope you enjoy the party!"

The group thanked her, all except Max but that was because she clearly loathed Courtney. That couldn't be helped.

Courtney dropped her head back and let out a deep sigh. Oh jeez, she wanted to fall to the floor and never get up. But the door opened and she figured that would be a weird position to be found in.

"Hell hath frozen over," Courtney said.

"Don't remind me," Miguel said. "Someone told my parents about this party and here I am. Social life and high school experience and all that."

Those things sounded funny coming from someone dressed in business casual on a Saturday.

"You didn't have to dress up," Courtney teased.

Miguel narrowed his eyes. "You understand I dress like this for a reason."

"Because it makes you seem super duper approachable?"

"It means that every adult I interact with has to see me separate from normal teenagers. It means what I say is taken with at least a little bit of consideration."

"Unless it's your parents and they tell you to go to a party and be normal."

"You had to remind me."

Courtney laughed and pointed down a hallway. "You know where the library is. Here's the key to the door. Lock it behind you. Enjoy the party."

"I could kiss you."

"That'd be gross, so please don't."

Miguel walked off to his sanctuary while Courtney remained in the purgatory of the foyer.

"Anna, Jack, you came!" Courtney said.

"Yeah, our mom said you invited us."

"I did. Come on, I'll get you settled."

Courtney introduced Anna to a group of sophomore girls and led Jack to the theater. She found Marco enraptured with the movie, slowly eating his weight in candy.

"Marco," Courtney said, knocking him out of his trance. "This is Jack. I figured you two could hang out." Jack waved awkwardly to Marco and he nodded back. "I think the best Doctor Who is Peter Capaldi."

"What!?" both boys said. "Are you insane!"

"You think I'm wrong?" Courtney said.

"David Tennent is better."

"No, Matt Smith."

The two boys looked at each other and after a second broke into a long debate. Thank you Miles for forcing me to watch that strange show. She left them to argue and eventually become friends or archenemies. It was a toss up, she'd seen fists thrown over Doctor Who debates. Outside the movie theater room, she leaned against the wall. Arms don't fail me now.

She glanced at the clock nearby. An hour! She really hoped people would stop being fashionably late.

As she headed back to the front door, Aubrey met up with her.

"Hey," she said. "I tried the door to the guest room on the second floor...to use the bathroom. Did you know the door was locked?"

Courtney stopped and looked at her extremely beautiful friend and thought of the stupidity of Kyle.

"Aubrey, does Kyle know you want to be a vet?"

Aubrey furrowed her brows, baffled. Fair, the question was strange but for a purpose.

"Does he know that you're amazing at science and have a brilliant brain? Or does he only know that you look great in a cheer uniform?"

Aubrey fidgeted. "He knows I'm good at science."

"Does he like you for that?"

Again Aubrey fidgeted. Yeah, Courtney figured. She'd gotten to know Kyle more because of Aiden and the guy was as shallow as a rain puddle.

"Whatever decision you choose to make with him is completely up to you," Courtney said. "I'm not trying to control your actions. But as a best friend, I want someone to like you for how amazing you look as well as for how amazing you are. That's it. And yes, all the doors beside the bathroom doors are locked."

Aubrey nodded and Courtney smiled, gently bumped her shoulder with Aubrey's.

"I happen to think Nathan on the other hand has a hot nerdy vibe about him that is worth getting to know."

"We do take advanced physics together."

"Then maybe you could see if you also have chemistry."

Aubrey laughed. "Okay, that was bad."

"I know but how rarely do I get the chance to make science jokes in my life? Got to run through the open doors when you see them."

Smiling, Aubrey headed back to the heart of the party while Courtney moved back to the foyer. As she got there the doors opened and this time her smile faltered. Oh boy.

"Mom, Dad, what are you doing home?" Courtney asked.

"We caught an earlier flight," her mom said.

"What is this?" her dad asked. "Loud music, the sound of teenagers laughing. Do I smell alcohol and bad decisions! Oh no, it's happened! Our perfect daughter, she has rebelled. I feared this day. I thought surely it would happen much later."

Apple, meet tree, thou hast not fallen far from it.

"I'm sorry," Courtney said. "A party isn't a relaxing thing to come home to. I didn't think you would be home today. I would have canceled."

"It's okay," her mom said. "We should have given you a heads up."

"Yes, you could have gotten rid of the evidence before we returned. Tell me, if we go up to our room will we have the pleasure of terrifying and embarrassing a couple of hormonal teenagers."

"Not likely, I locked all the doors in the house except the bathrooms. Including the study which contains the only alcohol in the house."

"Bless you," her dad said, laying his hand on her shoulder. "You still are our perfect child. I was so worried."

It was amazing companies took him seriously when he was ridiculous so much of the time. His charisma probably made up for a lot of it. And her mom made up for what his charisma couldn't.

"Come on, George," Courtney's mom said. "Let's let them have their fun. We'll catch up tomorrow."

She kissed Courtney's cheek and Courtney had the strongest urge to leave her party behind and go upstairs with her parents. But she couldn't do that, not when the door opened again, admitting more guests.

Finally, when Courtney felt that everyone who was going to arrive had arrived, she left the foyer. The living room was packed with friends talking and splayed out on the couch, armchairs, and floor. The kitchen held clumps of people who didn't want to stray from far the food.

Courtney spotted Anna getting along with the other sophomores and smiled. Out back it looked like the pool was spitting water with endless splashing fights going on.

Off to the side, most of the squad danced to the music playing from the outdoor speakers. Courtney knew it might annoy others, but their spontaneous dance parties were one of the things she loved. Love the feeling of unity when they all knew the choreography to a specific song.

Like the one playing right then. Half of them danced while others tried to get guys to match their moves. Nathan looked out of his element, but Aubrey's vivacious laugh seemed to keep him in place. While the guys dramatically swayed their hips to the beat.

Courtney smiled and moved to join in but stopped, her crutches digging into her arms. Right. She couldn't. She watched for a second longer but found her smile harder and harder to hold onto with each second.

She made it to a secluded place where the noise was faint and leaned her head against the wall. It was fine. So what if her arms hurt and her ankle still throbbed? It wouldn't be for much longer. Only a couple more weeks and then it would be fine. Nothing to get worked up about.

Courtney closed her eyes, her whole body feeling like a million pounds, which was not a pretty image.

What are the facts?

The facts are: this sucks and I'm tired and I wish Lynn were here and that the world didn't feel like it was falling apart quite so much!

Bleh, that sounded whiny.

What are the facts?

Courtney let out a low breath. My ankle is healing. This isn't forever. I need to stop being dramatic. This is life, things happen. Let it go.

Let it go, let it go, can't hold me back anymooorrrreeee.

Oh butter balls! Not that song! It's the worst!

"Courtney?"

Courtney almost smiled at that voice. Micah. At least if he saw her break down it wouldn't be so bad. He'd already seen her at her worse, this would be nothing. She'd cry, and lean into him and he'd awkwardly pat her on the back while talking in broken sentences with pauses in the middle. That wouldn't be so bad. Might even be nice.

"There you are. Um...so I...need your help."

Courtney pulled herself off the wall and smiled. Well, who liked being comforted anyways? Besides, his panicked tone said he needed help. The best way to find a way out of your own pain is to see the pains of others and help.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Okay, I wore the outfit, and...it looks good, but now. She's talking...and it's not me...so I don't know what to do. I thought that this would work but now! It's... and I can't...not against that..."

He leaned over his knees, breathing hard. Balancing her crutches, she caught hold of his face and made him look at her.

"Breathe slowly," she said. "In...and out." She nodded and demonstrated for him. He stared at her, his eyes wide but breathed. "Better?"

He nodded and she let go of his face.

"Do you usually get this flustered about a girl?" she asked. He'd seemed fine with her, maybe a little blushy and awkward but he'd never done the whole panic thing because of her.

"I'm not used to this...kind of situation. I watched my brother with girls a lot and he's so...you know...and I'm...not."

Couldn't argue with that, Denzel was as smooth as butter around girls. Half the cheer squad had been in love with him. Didn't hurt that he was also stupidly attractive and the star player. What a shadow to live under, no wonder Micah had no confidence.

"It's okay," Courtney said. "So what's going on with Max?"

"She's talking to some other guy."

"Who?"

"I don't know, tall, dark hair, name that starts with a B or something."

Wow, describing half the guys here.

"Good looking?"

"I guess..."

"Did he have a vibe about him that said: I'm a damaged bad boy that you want to fall in love with and try to fix? The type of vibe every girl would fall for?"

"Someone can give off that vibe?"

"If they work hard at it, yeah. Did he?"

Micah scratched his curls. "Yeah, actually he did."

"Okay, that's Blake."

Micah slumped. "This was a bad idea. I'm delusional to think that she..." He shook his head.

"Micah, look at me." He raised his eyes to her. "Do you know what confidence is? It's knowing that you have worth, deserve to be loved and embracing it. Do you believe that?"

When he didn't answer right away, Courtney poked his chest.

"You do! You have worth and deserve love. I see it, that means you need to see it. So stand up straight."

He half straightened and Courtney stared at him unimpressed.

"Is that how Denzel would stand up straight."

"I'm not-"

"I don't care, stand like he would."

When Micah straightened, Courtney found he was taller than she realized.

"Now this is what you're going to do," Courtney said. "You are going to go get a soda, one you know she drinks."

"Diet coke. She has it at lunch all the time."

"Great, get her one, walk up to her - I don't care if bad boy Blake is talking - you're going to hand it to her and say, 'hey I figured you might want something to drink.' Then you are going to turn to Blake, look him dead in the eyes, and say, 'hey man, I'm Micah'."

"I am?"

"Yes, you are. Doing that will show you are considerate for getting her a drink, that you're with her in the sense that you know her better than Blake, and that you're not at all intimidated by him."

"But I am intimidated by him."

"Not today you aren't. Do you know what Blake has that you don't?"

"Muscles, abs, a bad boy vibe?"

Spot on but not the point.

"He has no clue who Max is, you do," Courtney said. "You have the advantage here. You've been hanging out with her, getting to know her. Use that. Bring up topics that she likes to talk about."

She touched his arm and squeezed it. "You might not believe this, but you're better than Blake. And if Max has a brain she'll see that."

Micah held her gaze and she willed her words to get through to him.

"Do you know what to do?" she asked.

"I do."

"Do you want me to watch to see how it goes?"

Micah flushed. "Please don't, that would make it worse."

"Okay, but you'll have to report back to me."

"Okay."

When he stood there, Courtney gave him a little push on his chest. Max better be worth it because Micah looked like he might throw up. Hopefully, he'd manage not to. If he did...well, aim for Blake.

"Go on. You can do this."

Nodding, Micah walked off but stopped and looked back.

"But you said he had a bad boy vibe every girl loved."

"Yeah, but some of us don't want the bad boy, we want the good guy."

Why be with someone you had to fix when you could be with someone not broken?

"What if Max doesn't?"

"Then you'll find a girl that does."

Micah walked off and Courtney let out a sigh. Don't break his heart, Max.

*********************************************************************

What the diddly do is going on with you?

Phew! *collapses to the floor* We made it through a Wattpad party and no one was cheated on, betrayed, stabbed, or shot! It almost seems impossible! Thoughts? Or are you still in shock that everyone made it out alive and unscathed? 🗯💭💬

Are you fan of:

A Bad Boy

Or

A Good Guy?

Not going to lie, I'm in love with Courtney's dad. But like in a you-are-so-wacky-and-lovable-I-would-want-you-as-my-dad type of way. Not the way that makes it weird.

At least we now know where Courtney gets her strangeness from! Always good know it's because of someone and she'd just not off her rocker...or lost her marbles...why are all these references to old things? Courtney is young and spry, it should be, at least she's not fallen down in her closet...

Wow, never mind, I have no idea where I was going with that. Ignore me. Ha! Like you would do that. I'm too cute!

Any thoughts on Bad Boy Blake and Courtney's pep talk to Micah?

Before you go! I need to know! How do you say: 'Vote, comment, follow! Come on! You can do it!' - in your language? And tell me what language it is.