Today was the day. Today was communication day with Lynn. She would communicate. Together there would be communication. It would all be solved because Courtney communicated. She was great at communication. She could do this...

She would communicate right now...

"Hi, Darrell this is Courtney Hart at Oceanside High, I wanted to book you for DJ-ing the Homecoming dance on October sixth...Yup, five hour dance starting at seven. Two hours for setup and breakdown...Great, you know the email to send the invoice to? Fantastic. I'll see you then."

Okay, so she wasn't communicating with Lynn right then but this was all prep work to that step of communication.

"Hi, Linda this is Courtney Hart at Oceanside High. I need to know how much fifty yards of your cheapest fabric would be?...Is that the best offer you can give me?... Yes, I'd be happy to talk to your manager."

She scribbled a note in her notebook, one that joined a column of others.

"Hi, Roger this is Courtney Hart at Oceanside High. Can you tell me if your store rents out camouflage nets?...You do? Great. What's the biggest size you have?...Uh huh. How much does that weigh?...Do you have anything lighter?...Okay. How much would it cost to rent that for five days?...Is that the best you can offer me?...Good to know. I'll be in touch."

Another note was added to the page.

"Hi, Joanna this is Courtney Hart at Oceanside High. How much is it to rent two spotlights for a forty-eight hour period?...Is that the best offer you can give me?...Great. I'll be in touch."

Miguel strode into the Council room right as Courtney hung up. She leaned back in her chair, arms smugly crossed in front of her chest. Yes, it was possible for arms to be smugly crossed because that's how hers were at that moment.

"Did you oversleep?" Courtney asked. "Because it's not yet eight-thirty and I've already booked the Dj and started calculating the cost of Homecoming and working within our budget to make my idea come to life."

Whose the slacker now, dear cousin! Ha!

Miguel sank into a seat adjacent to her and clapped quietly.

"Well, done. You are more than a pretty face."

Courtney threw a crushed-up piece of paper at him. That was uncalled for.

"I'm glad you slept well," Courtney said.

"Oh, you think I overslept. That's cute. No, I was having breakfast with principal Rice and we were discussing how to approach my sports buddy sponsorship program. She thinks we could get businesses involved. It could be a tax write-off and they would be giving back to the community."

Nutter butter! What was that thing about pride followed by a fall? She shouldn't have stood so close to the cliff edge. Her fault. But still, she got work done and so had he.

"Do you think it will be able to happen this year?"

"No telling. If I had to guess I would say we could get it going by the spring season. And that's thinking positively."

"If you need my help, let me know."

It was the least she could do for trying to outshine him when he was the freaking sun in terms of overachieving.

"I might take you up on that offer. Since you do have a pretty face and a cheery smile you might be able to help convince parents and businesses to get involved."

"Can't let these looks go to waste."

"No we can not."

The school bell rang and the door to the Council room opened, bringing in a flood of students, all chattering. When they saw Miguel and Courtney they greeted them. Courtney offered back hellos and smiles as she searched for Lynn. She entered towards the back with Aubrey. The two of them took their seats. Aubrey smiled at Courtney and Lynn sent her a shy wave.

"Want to get this meeting going?" Miguel asked.

"Of course." Courtney stood, using the table to balance herself and resting her knee on her chair. Not the most graceful of poses but getting her crutches would be too much of a hassle.

"Good morning, everyone," Courtney said. The room quieted. "Homecoming is in three weeks and so that will be the main focus till then. I know there are other side projects and those of you involved don't have to worry about the dance.

"For everyone else, I'm going to need your help. I've already started handling the logistical side of the dance. What I need your help with is the decoration side of it. This year I want to turn the gym into a New England fall forest."

This made the whole room stir with interest. Well, she hoped it was interest and not disdain for the other coast. After all the West Coast was the best Coast. Just saying.

"How it's going to work is: the bleachers will be hidden by sets from the theater department. They did Into The Woods last spring and so we'll use those. The main project will be what's going up overhead."

Here was the crazy dream Courtney had. Let's hope no one thinks she's crazy.

"Above the gym will be a camouflage net woven with fabric leaves hanging down. We will be cutting and stringing the leaves ourselves."

As everyone murmured comments of surprise, Miguel merely raised his eyebrows at her. Yes, Miguel, I'm serious about this. I plan to make it amazing. Make my last Homecoming dance something to be remembered.

She looked to Lynn. Lynn probably wanted the same thing, only to have it been done by her. This was going to make that whole communication thing a lot harder, wasn't it? Ballocks!

When did she pick up British slang? Whatever, not the time.

"Today I will be assessing the theater sets as well as getting a template for the leaves created. By tomorrow I will have supplies for you to start making your own leaves. For now, that's all. Thank you."

Courtney sat back down and Miguel took over, handing out tasks for other Council issues. When he dismissed everyone to get to work, Courtney knew it was now or never. Okay, that was dramatic but it was best to get it done right away.

Grabbing her crutches, she cut her way over to Lynn. "Hey, do you have a second?"

"Of course."

They left the Council room and claimed the bench just beyond in the sunlight.

"Hey, Courtney!"

Courtney smiled at the pair walking past.

"Hi, Angel, José."

"How's the ankle?"

"Still wearing its battle scars," Courtney said.

Both boys laughed as they walked on.

When she focused back on Lynn, her friend was watching the pair walk away. She looked at Courtney.

"How is your ankle?" Lynn asked.

Still throbbing and making walking tiring. So... delightful!

"It's had better days," Courtney said.

Lynn nodded but didn't say anything. For a moment, neither of them talked.

"I wanted to talk about everything," Courtney eventually said. "About last week and..." She took a breath. Best to just dive in. "Lynn, why didn't you tell me you planned to run for president?"

Her friend ran a hand through her hair. "The thing is, I never planned not to tell you." She sighed. "I told my parents first that I was thinking of running for Senior Class President." She leaned her head on her hand. "Which was a mistake. You know my dad: you don't work for what you want, you fight for it. That's his life motto."

Courtney smiled, because she'd met Lynn's dad on a million occasions. One of the most intense people she'd met.

Lynn's gazed out at the quad. "He's okay with my cheerleading but he thinks Student Council and being more involved there looks better on college applications. The second I told him of my thought, he didn't just like it, he took it and ran with it."

She shook her head like the memory of what happened overwhelmed her. "Before I knew it, there were candies being ordered. He already knew Miles from a previous design project and contacted him. Honestly, I got so caught in how excited he was for me."

A small smile crept onto her face but slipped away as she looked at Courtney. "By the time the dust settled, I realized what this would mean for you. For two weeks, I went to tell you but since I hadn't told you right away I felt guilty. I didn't know how to admit that I hadn't told you at the start."

Lynn crossed her arms and uncrossed them. "You had already held the position twice and I knew how much you liked it." She shrugged sadly. "With how the previous months have been...well I was...I was afraid you'd hate me for wanting a chance to be a leader as well."

That was it. Lynn had thought Courtney would hate her? What kind of friend was she if Lynn had thought that? What had Courtney done to make her think that?

You are not responsible for others' actions, only your own.

"I'm sorry I made you think I would hate you," Courtney said. "I had the position for two years but that didn't mean it wasn't time for someone else. I'm sorry."

Lynn sighed and leaned back on the bench. "Me too. I can imagine how betrayed you felt. I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me for not telling you?"

"Of course." Courtney could have melted from the relief that the problem was over. At least that took care of one disaster in her life. "How did your dad take the news?"

At this, Lynn shifted and looked away. "Not great. It's why I couldn't make it to your party. We...we spent the weekend breaking down what I'd gone wrong. Where I should have improved my efforts. Analyzing your previous campaigns and how I could have emulated that. Being a bit of an introvert doesn't seem to work in my favor it appears."

Sounds like a blast of a weekend!

"Did you tell him I won because I made an idiot of myself and someone put that on Youtube."

"No. Mostly because there's no evidence to show that that was the reason."

It was the only reason Courtney could think of. Why else would people know her name and want to vote for her?

"You know I didn't expect to win, right? There was no doubt in my mind it would be you."

"I know. Thanks for still supporting me." She perked up. "How was your party?"

Long, tiring, lonely. Oh yes, let me complain about my celebration party to the person who had planned to have one. Salt to wound, no thank you.

"It wasn't the same without you there," Courtney said.

Lynn looked at her like she expected more of a response, but when Courtney didn't elaborate, she nodded and eased back. Lynn, you really don't want to hear me whine. Who does?

"I'm sorry I couldn't come," Lynn said. "You still had fun, right?"

Oh yeah, walking around with crutches while everyone else danced and swam, so much fun. Five out of five stars, highly recommend.

"I might have eaten two cupcakes, so I say it was a success."

Lynn waited a beat. "Well...I'm happy you celebrated." She paused and looked to the Council doorway. "We should probably get to work. Lot to do. You know... Homecoming and everything."

Courtney nodded at this but felt as if the air that had been cleared moments before was foggy again. But she couldn't understand exactly why.

Why hadn't their communication made everything better again? Bleh!

A golf cart drove by and Courtney called out. This is what she needed. A chariot.

"Jerry!"

The cart backed up and stopped.

"What's up, kid?" the school security guard asked.

"Feel like giving a girl a lift to the office?"

"Sure, hop on."

Not sure hopping would happen but she could manage an awkward skip. When she sat down, she looked at Lynn and offered a small smile. Lynn returned it.

"How's Penelope?" Courtney asked as Jerry drove off.

Jerry let out a sigh. This would be interesting.

Jerry pulled the cart up to the front office.

"You need to buy her something," Courtney said. "She's not mad that you missed the day, she's mad because she feels like you don't see her anymore. No woman wants to feel like she's lost the love of her man. What's her favorite perfume? Buy a bottle of it for her."

"Thanks, this helps."

"Of course." Courtney climbed out of the cart. "If you don't have anything pressing, would you mind chauffeuring me around this morning? It would make it easier."

"It would be my pleasure."

"I'll be back in a second."

Courtney pushed through the front doors into the office and found Max standing behind the desk. Oh, an office aide. Makes sense, she has a sunny personality.

"Hey, Max," Courtney said.

Wow, Max should get that scowl trademarked, there's nothing like it.

"What do you want?" Max asked.

See, there's that sunny disposition we all know and love!

"I need to know what classes Juan and Sophie are in right now," Courtney said.

"What do you need them for?"

"Slave labor."

Max narrowed her eyes. And I thought you'd appreciate me turning your condescending comment into a joke. Clearly not.

Max crossed her arms. "Do you even know their last names?"

"Do you?"

Snarky but come on, a girl can only take so much. Also totally worth it for that deflated expression.

"I've only known them for a week."

Sure, solid excuse.

"Okay, well give me a second and I'll get them."

Courtney:
What are Sophie and Juan's
last names?

Courtney set her phone down to wait for Micah's response. Max busied herself with a task that looked absolutely pointless. My company is really that detestable, is it?

"I saw you talking to Blake at the party," Courtney said.

Max stopped her useless paper shuffling. "Please don't tell me this is when you tell me to back off? That he's out of my league?"

What? Oh right, I almost forgot my role as cliché cheerleader. Right, um...back off bi-otch or I'll cut you...or something...grrrrr.

"I was going to say from one girl to another, the whole bad boy thing he does, yeah it doesn't go away."

Max crossed her arms. It's impressive she can portray so much judgment and skepticism in one action. Talent right there.

"You know that's just another way of you telling me to back off."

Courtney inwardly sighed. She desperately hoped this girl hated her for some unknown reason and didn't truly view the world through the scope of Teen Fiction because that was completely unrealistic. Also, it didn't bring a healthy view of relationships and situations.

"Did you ever think maybe he hasn't found the right girl yet," Max said.

Oh yeah, I'm sure that's what the previous thirty girls he's been with thought as well. So much for giving you the girl-to-girl warning about him. You're on your own kid.

"You know, you're right," Courtney said. "Maybe you will be the one to change his bad-boy ways."

Max seemed taken aback by the comment. Breathes sarcasm yet can't detect it. Huh.

Courtney's phone dinged.

Micah:
Palmer and Gutierrez.

Courtney:
Thanks.

"Okay, it's Sophie Palmer and Juan Gutierrez. I just need this morning's class."

After a minute's search, Max told Courtney where they were.

"Thanks. See you in AP history, Max. All the best to you and Blake!"

"We're not...it's not exactly like that."

Seems contradictory to the stink you were putting up earlier about him but okay.

"All righty then."

Outside, Jerry sat in his cart waiting, looking at his phone.

"You find her perfume?" Courtney asked, taking her spot.

"Yeah. And I found a bath-set I think she might like as well. And a scented candle."

"I'm proud of you, Jerry. Now we're off to Ms. Hernandez's classroom."

When they pulled up to the art wing, Courtney thanked Jerry and also warned him about going overboard. She wasn't sure his wife needed a forty-dollar bar of pine soap. Who wanted to smell like a pine tree? She'd end up smelling like a car freshener.

"I can wait here if you need a lift to your next spot?" Jerry offered.

"Thanks, but we're only going from here to the drama room storage. It's right around the corner."

Jerry waved and took off. Good luck with Penelope, Jerry. If only problems were as easy to solve as yours. Could she buy Lynn something to make it all better? Hey Lynn I know that I won where you didn't and even though we've made up it's still feeling weird between us, here's a fruit basket!

Yup, great plan. I'll make it plan Z.

Courtney opened the door to the art classroom and stepped inside. Instead of desks, the room was filled with stools and easels. The sound of pencils scratching against paper filled the space. Ms. Hernandez smiled at Courtney and approached her.

"What can I help you with, Courtney?" she asked.

"Can I speak to Sophie and Juan for a moment? Then depending on what they say I would like to purpose something to you."

"All right." She turned to the room. "Juan, Sophie."

Two heads popped into view from the side of easels.

"Hey," Courtney said. "Thanks for being in the same class, makes this a lot easier than using Jerry to chauffeur me around."

They both chuckled.

"I wanted to know if you thought about helping out with Homecoming?" she asked.

"Sorry," Sophie said. "We meant to tell you at the party, we'd love to help."

"Great! Ms. Hernandez?"

The teacher rejoined them.

"I was wondering if you'd let Sophie and Juan help create decorations for Homecoming during this period for a week, possibly two? They would be using their talents as artists and the end result would be almost like an art installation. What do you say?"

Ms. Hernandez thought for a moment then nodded. "You both are two of my best students and so I trust that this will be a project you won't slack on. You have my permission."

"Fantastic," Courtney said. "I will steal them now. Follow me."

Once they slipped from the room, Courtney looked at the pair and smiled. Connection is made one thoughtful step at a time.

"So! How'd you both get into art?" she asked. "Also we're just heading over to the drama set storage room."

As they talked, Courtney discovered they both were on the shy side but once they moved further onto the topic of what they loved they came alive. Their eyes lit up. Juan wore a huge grin as he explained that his father was a graffiti artist and created the mural on the side of the tenth street grocery store.

Sophie got a far away look when she told about her mom was a book illustrator. When they mentioned they'd been dating since Sophomore year, Courtney found she had a question she couldn't not ask.

"Three years," she said. "That's a long time for most high schoolers. Can you tell me what makes you different? How you didn't lose the spark?"

The cliché spark that Courtney had watched fizzle out countless times in couples who ended breaking up only weeks later. At this point, she wasn't sure that The Spark wasn't just attraction and static electricity in the air.

Sophie shrugged. "I'm not sure we had that spark moment and so there was nothing to lose in that way. We became friends through art class. And got closer because we were both obsessed with drawing. Then one day Juan drew a cartoon of himself asking me out and left a box blank. I drew myself saying yes."

Well, that's without a doubt the cutest thing ever.

"Do you still have the cartoon?" Courtney asked.

She gave Courtney a small smile and Courtney knew that piece of paper was one of her most cherished memories. So some couples make it and the friends first cliché lives on.

"Here we are," Courtney said.

She opened the door to the set storage room. Inside was a collection of every set piece from a bar used in Guys and Dolls to a wagon from Oklahoma to columns from Julis Caesar. Courtney navigated her way towards the rear where the background pieces were located. Luckily the pieces for Into the Woods rested in front. They were wide panels depicting a forest.

"For Homecoming, I plan to turn the gym into a New England fall forest. These panels here," Courtney said, hitting the set pieces. "Will be used to block the bleachers. I want you both to come in here and add the detail to what's already there. The drama club is talented but they don't have your skill."

Sophie and Juan both nodded, clearly seeing how the painting of the forest was basic and lacking depth.

"I want it to appear like you're staring into a forest when you look at it. Are you up for that?"

"Definitely," Sophie said. "This will be fun. I know where the drama club stores their leftover paint, we can start with that."

"Does that mean you know where to go from here with drop cloths and brushes and such?"

"Leave it to us," Juan said. He smiled at Sophie, the look soft with affection. "We've been meaning to do a project together."

"I'll leave you to it. Thanks again!"

As Courtney worked her way back out of the storage room, she heard the pair eagerly talking. She smiled at their bright voices. Despite all the odds against high school relationships lasting beyond graduation, I hope you both make it.

From the storage room, Courtney made her way to the gym. It lay empty, morning PE classes taking place outside in the still cool atmosphere. Worn-out by the trip, she took a seat on one of the pulled-out bleachers and rested her chin on her combined crutches.

She could see it, despite the very neutral gym, she could see the place transformed. A net of leaves suspended from the ceiling with spotlights shining through it. The bleachers hidden behind a forest of wood panels. The doorway leading inside rimmed with more leaves that everyone could walk under.

It felt all so clear. A plan she'd come up with when she'd watch the Into the Woods performance and seen the sets. Months in the making in her mind, figuring out how to make it all work. Months. How long had Lynn thought of her idea for Homecoming?

Courtney hadn't asked her about it. Should she have? Could they somehow combine the two ideas in some way?

Courtney sighed. Time to face facts.

Though they had cleared the air, something else was hanging in it. But what? And why? Was it still about Lynn losing the campaign? That seemed the most obvious. Was it before that? Had something changed in their friendship?

Every problem starts somewhere, find the seed and you could find the solution.

Lynn hadn't told her about her campaign for two weeks. Not at long as Courtney had thought but still it was two weeks. But had it started before that?

When Courtney had won Class President, Lynn had said 'you win. Again'. She also mentioned previous months. What had happened in the previous months?

In the spring Courtney won cheer captain. A position Lynn had worked for.

Courtney had won Junior Prom Queen. Another position Lynn had wanted.

Before all that, Courtney had been class president twice.

And now Senior Class President. The one thing Lynn had purposefully worked to win.

Courtney hadn't worked against Lynn for any of those. They'd both worked to the best of their ability, only Courtney won every time.

No wonder Lynn had such a hard time that Friday. Anyone would.

Yeah, no fruit basket could make that disappointment any less than what it was.

Maybe the change came because Lynn found it too hard being friends with someone she kept losing to over and over again. If so, Courtney didn't know if there was anything she could do to fix that.

The door to the gym opened and Micah walked in, quietly singing under his breath. He didn't see Courtney right away and she watched him. She smiled when she realized he sang a 7 Ships song.

"Hey," she said.

Micah yelped and stumbled back, making Courtney laugh.

"Where did you come from?" Micah asked, taking a deep breath.

"My parents but I'm not sure that is a topic we want to explore."

Micah cringed. "Yeah...definitely not. I meant what are you...uh...doing here?"

"Picturing Homecoming." Realizing that I might have lost my best friend long before I noticed it. "What are you doing here?"

"This is my free period."

"You get to come in late?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Lucky. So why are you here then?"

"A speaker wasn't working. Hank the maintenance guy asked me to check it out."

"Ohhh a handyman."

Micah smiled and shook his head, his curls bouncing.

"Are you doing anything after school?" Courtney asked.

"Uh...not really. Why?"

"Want to drive me places and keep me company? I know I'm no Max. But...I could use..." A friend? Help? Someone? Anyone? "I could use an Idiot Adventurer"

"Yeah, I'm free." He grinned. "Let's go on an adventure, Wise Ole Sage."

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

Oh my goodie gooey chocolate cookie goodness!

This chapter! There was Lynn, Max, and Micah. Oh my! Your thoughts, emotions, devotions! Oh wow! (I'm trying to make a Wizard of Oz reference but I'm not sure it's working. Anyway, you know what to do.)🗯💬💭

*strums a lute*
Now sit and listen and I shall tell
The story of a Bard
And how she became to be
The greatest story teller there was ever to be!
Yes, you've guessed it well
That story teller is me.

*Stops strumming and coughs* Um, sorry, don't know where that came from.

Any diddly doo AnnaTheGilbert asked me when I first started writing.

I could say it started when I was ten and wrote a very repetitive story about animals. (With my own illustrations I might add *smugly dusts off shoulder*)

But I think it started when my sister and I decided to start a band: If Ever

(From the Winnie the Pooh quote. I'll put it at the bottom)

Though before that, in high school I started writing lyrics. Dramatic songs that strongly echoed Taylor Swift's style. From there, JoymomentsSISTER and I teamed up to write songs.

What we found along the epic journey of being a band was this: our lyrics were bomb but our melodies weren't the best. And our stories within the songs were our strongest of all.

When we realized after recording one song and doing a couple open mic night performances that there wasn't a chance of us making it, we gave up that dream and put our stories into longer forms.

So began this bard's journey from song singer to story teller!

*takes off hat and dramatically bows, my cape fluttering epically behind me*

Thank you, good people for listening to the tale of Joy the Story Teller and how she came to be!

Piga Kura, Toa Maoni, Fuata (Swahili)

Where we got our band name from.

If you want read one of our songs just check the comment 👉