Courtney half focused on the path to Micah's car and half observed Micah. He walked with his eyes pinned on the ground, his hand tugging at his curls and a line between his brows. If Courtney had to make a deduction: he was either thinking very hard or he was playing a game of Where's Waldo with the cement.

If it was the latter then that would be a quick game, a man in red and white stripes would stand out on the dark pavement. Also, she wondered what Waldo would be doing at their high school. Did he take a wrong turn?

Clearly, her thoughts had taken a wrong and strange turn.

As they both opened their doors to Micah's car, Micah glanced back at the school. What the glance meant, Courtney had no clue. Some Sherlock Holmes she made.

She climbed into the passenger seat and maneuvered her crutches into the back. Which was a difficult but exhilarating feat since decapitation was a possibility for her and Micah. But luckily, their heads remained where they should be and the crutches were put in their place. Life was wild sometimes.

"Penny for your thoughts," Courtney said as Micah drove away from the high school. "Though with inflation, I feel like it should be dollar for your thoughts." She pointed to herself. "I would personally pay ten dollars for your thoughts, but not a penny more."

Micah smiled distractedly. Oh! Must be some intense thoughts for a distracted smile.

"I was wondering...I know it's not my business but..."

The broken sentences are back! I had thought they were gone.

"Micah if you don't spit it out now I'm going to retract my ten dollars and only pay you a penny."

This received a genuine smile and Courtney relaxed back into her seat. A much better smile than a distracted one.

"I was wondering if you and Aiden were getting back together since I saw him...uh...carrying you."

Ah! So not searching for Waldo on the ground, merely thinking.

"No we're not back together, I was simply being dramatic about my ankle hurting and he offered to carry me."

"Oh. Is it okay?"

"Yeah, the pain went down."

Still throbs like it's at a rave but that I've gotten used to. But come Friday the party will be over and my ankle can take up a sensible activity like doing nothing at all.

"You both seemed very...comfortable for exes."

Courtney leaned her head back against the seat and stared out the window, feeling the wind as it swept over her. If only the wind could whip away all the troubles in her life, she could leave them on the highway where they'd be run over a million times.

"Yeah...it's complicated. My best friend is his childhood best friend and we've been hanging out in the same friend group since freshman year. So it's not like we don't see each other and..."

Also, the whole relationship was a big ball of emotional strings that are currently knots leading to more knots leading to knitting needles that want to stab you.

Okay, need to back off the string analogy.

"I'm sorry."

"It's...what it is. Have you ever been in a breakup?" Courtney asked, looking over at him.

His curls bounced in the breeze and she had the oddest desire to watch them the whole ride.

"Yeah, but it wasn't complicated."

"No?"

"Nope. She dumped me for someone else. Pretty cut and dry."

"Now I'm sorry."

He sent her an appreciative half-smile and shrugged. "Not that I can blame her. She dumped me for Travis Holden. He has both brains and brawn, which doesn't seem fair."

"Pssh," Courtney said, swatting Micah's words out onto the highway. "Travis is overrated."

"You sure about that? Because compared to me he's everything I'm not."

Courtney laid her hand on Micah's arm and he glanced at her. She hoped in that single look he could see her earnestness. Because gosh dang it, she was so earnest she could have taken part in a performance of The Importance of Being Earnest right then as the role of Earnest.

"Micah, Travis might have those two things but he's also lazy because he's so smart, gets drunk at parties and makes an idiot of himself, and can be one of the most obnoxious people I've ever met. You don't compare because you are different than Travis in wonderful ways."

Micah didn't look at her as he pulled at his curls. Which Courtney was beginning to think was one of the cutest things ever.

"I'm not sure I see it," he said.

"You're kind, considerate, funny, smart, and a pretty wonderful person." She smiled. "Well, at least in my book. Which I'm willing to publish and pass out to people if they disagree."

He laughed and nodded like he could get behind this plan.

The rest of the drive to the mall passed in the type of silence Courtney started to associate with Micah: comfortable and underlined with music. It felt like such a different experience to most of her life.

With friends, there was never a quiet moment, always too much to talk about. With her family, there were too many ideas flowing around that either they were discussing them or lost in their own worlds.

But with Micah, she felt no need to fill any gap. They could simply ride in silence knowing that if the other had something to say they would say it.

Micah found a spot as close to the entrance as he could and helped Courtney with her crutches, apologizing for not having done it when they got into the car.

"Don't worry, I almost decapitated you so that's all the apology I needed."

"I'm glad you managed not to do that, hiding my body would have been laborious."

"True and I wouldn't be able to flee from the crime scene. Not in my sorry state."

"Also it means you wouldn't be able to help me buy pants."

She pointed at him emphatically. "Now, that would be the true tragedy."

Micah grinned as he opened the mall door for Courtney and she slipped into the buzz of footsteps, voices, and music. It was like a city, a gleaming, aromatic, and visually bombarding city.

"Where do you usually shop?" Courtney asked.

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Micah gazed over the three stories of shops like he was strange in the land. At least he had a Wise Ole Sage to be his guide.

"I usually buy all my shirts online since most of them are vintage. My mom buys my pants. I do know she shops at those stores that are guy's names."

"Ralph Lauren and J. Crew?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"We have our heading."

"Here we go."

They traversed the mall, Courtney creating their path with her crutches. They were adventurers fending off the noisy kids, fighting the wild packs of girls, cutting through the tribes of stationery boys. Their quest came to an end as they entered the sanctuary of J. Crew and found the men's pant section. Huzzah!

Courtney leaned against a display of jeans, the mannequins indifferent to the two adventurers' harrowing trek.

"Are you okay?" Micah asked.

Tired of crutches and pain but that's nothing new.

"Yup, I just wish we could have traveled by map."

"By map?" Micah asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, you know in movies where one character says, 'where are we headed', a map flashes on the screen and suddenly they are halfway across the world. Seems a convenient way to travel to me."

"I would agree, the second fastest is teleportation."

"Yeah, but my superpowers didn't kick in earlier so I'm figuring they never will."

"Two legs it is then."

"Or two crutches, a leg and a half."

Courtney picked herself off the display and started browsing the jeans, searching for the ones made for Micah.

"When can you stop having to use crutches?" Micah asked.

"Friday!" Courtney threw up her arms in a cheer. Which turned out to be a poor decision since it meant her support fell to the floor. She hopped and caught hold of the row of pants as Micah rushed forward to steady her before she fell. One second without crutches and she'd lost her balance, and she called herself an athlete. Pathetic.

Micah eyed her, his hands still holding her waist. "Are you good?"

She met his gaze. "Yeah, thanks. Almost recreated yesterday's disaster. How's your nose by the way?"

Micah bent down and retrieved her crutches. "Not broken. A little sore but nothing permanent."

"That's good at least. You have a good nose. It doesn't need damage to make it have character."

Securing her crutches under her arms, Courtney focused back on the pants. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Micah touch his nose like he'd never thought about it being a good one. She half-smiled to herself.

"Okay," Micah started. "So there's something I wanted to ask you about. It's not for me...though it is kinda because of me... It's something my friends wanted after seeing what you've done for me... That sounds weird. Okay, Henry and Damon were wondering if you'd help them...you know makeover their closets. Sophie also volunteered Juan for this. I know that you're busy with Homecoming and I told them that, so if you do accept it could be after that. I don't know if this is too much to ask-"

"Okay," Courtney said, passing him a pair of pants.

"Okay?"

"Yeah. I told you I love helping people find confidence through clothes. After Homecoming will be the best time. Just have them figure out if they have a budget for new clothes at all. If not, that's fine. I'll make it work."

"Really?"

Micah stared at her as she continued to another table of pants.

"Yeah, really," she said with a laugh.

He shook his head which made his curls bounce. She did love those curls, even if they were a bit frantic at this point. Wild was okay, frantic was a bit much.

"Wow, okay, I'll tell them." He accepted another pair of pants. "It makes sense why you won President when you weren't even on the ballot."

Courtney paused. "What do you mean? I won because of that stupid video of my failing."

For a moment, they stood there, both wearing matching expressions of bafflement.

"You're kidding, right?" Micah asked.

"No. That's how I beat out Lynn."

"Courtney, I asked people. You won because, not only do you smile and say hi to people, you know their names."

"Oh."

Well, that's a new thought.

"Did you think it was the video?" Micah asked.

"Well, yeah. I get that people know who I am but I figured most people might resent or not like me because most of the school knows who I am. I just..."

"Everyone knows you because you're the cheery popular girl who's friendly. That's why."

Courtney stared down at the pants she had been inspecting but didn't see them. Winning because of who she was instead of a stupid video. That was definitely a positive. She raised her head.

"And it's not because I'm hot or something shallow like that either?"

Micah laughed and shrugged. "Some might have voted for that reason, but no, I don't think that's a main reason. It's because you're so...you. You're like sunshine."

Sunshine. She'd heard that one before but something about Micah saying it made her feel like it.

"Thanks," she said.

Micah nodded and swiveled around as if suddenly interested in where they were and the variety of pants around him. Courtney went back to finding jeans for him, feeling her lips curl.

Once armed with a pile of pants, they headed to dressing rooms where Micah braved the laborious task of trying on fifteen different pairs of pants and Courtney got to sit down. Since Courtney wasn't allowed on the men's dressing room side, she waited in between the two sections.

"How will I know if it's a good pair?" Micah yelled out to her.

"If it makes you want to wolf-whistle at yourself you're good."

Silence. One Courtney was learning was Micah's uncertainty taking form in the air.

"They should make you feel like those other three pairs of pants make you feel," she clarified.

"Okay."

They left the store with eight out of the fifteen and Micah looking like he'd been to war. Beauty was a battlefield. Or was that love and beauty was pain? Pretty much synonymous.

"Wanna get something to eat?" Micah asked.

"Are you cashing in my snack raincheck?"

"Only if you want to."

"Sure today works, it's California after all and who knows when it will rain next."

They began their new journey to the foodcourt. Again traveling by map would be far easier. But c'est la vie. They passed a vintage clothing store and Micah pointed it out, saying Max's mom was the manager there. That explained the vintage leather jacket collection.

"Do you own a suit?" Courtney asked as they walked by a store with debonair mannequins all sporting striking suits.

"Yeah, like three of them."

"Are they recent?"

"Yup, my dad bought me one and had it tailored for Denzel's graduation dinner at the Hotel Del."

"Oh."

Micah eyed her. "You sound disappointed."

"I am. If you didn't have a suit I could have taken your shopping for Homecoming and made you try on a salmon-colored dress shirt."

"You know I looked up salmon after you mentioned it that first day in the golf course cafe. Salmon means pink."

"It does. What's wrong with pink."

"I'm a guy, I don't wear pink."

"It's not like it's hot pink. It's a nice pale pink."

"It's still pink."

"Fine. I couldn't convince Denzel to wear salmon either."

Narrowing his eyes, Micah leaned in, searching her face. What he was looking for she wasn't sure.

"Are you trying to challenge me into wearing salmon?" he asked.

Wow! That would have been a brilliant plan. Who is the Wise one here again?

"No. I was just saying that it's fine. It does take a specific type of confidence to wear salmon."

"Why do you even want a guy to wear salmon?"

Courtney cocked her head, ponderous. "I don't know, there's something attractive about it. And I think you could pull it off."

Micah grinned. "You're saying if I wore a salmon shirt you'd find me hot?"

She shoved his shoulder. "I said attractive, not hot."

"No, I'm pretty sure you were implying I would look hot."

His smile widened and Courtney found herself laughing at his smugness. Only then did she realize that she didn't feel as tired and she'd forgotten about the pain in her ankle.

Cure for pain: Micah's laugh. Now how to get that in pill form was the question.

"That may be," Courtney said, "but you're not going to wear a salmon shirt so I guess that takes away your hotness."

Micah sobered. "Well played."

Teasingly, Courtney pointed to herself. "Wise Ole Sage, remember?" She pointed to him. "Idiot."

"Idiot Adventurer. At least do me the honor of saying my full title."

She sent him a toothy smile. "I don't know, Idiot just has certain a ring to it."

"Then I'm calling you Old."

"It's Ole."

"I don't know, Old just has a certain ring to it."

"Well played."

Micah smiled but it froze when his gaze shifted to over Courtney's shoulder. She followed his line of sight. Sitting at a table in the foodcourt were Max and Blake. Max was smiling while Blake was pulling off Smirking Bad Boy very well.

Courtney looked at Micah but his face was hard to read. He didn't look crushed but maybe he was burying it under the guise of stoicism.

"We could take the table next to them and start making out to make her jealous," Courtney suggested.

Micah shrugged. "Not sure it would work. She seems pretty lost in his green eyes."

No blush, no reaction at all to the mention of making out. Danger, danger! Micah is broken! Flee the scene! Abort before he's too broken to function!

"Psshh!" Courtney said. Her sound of disgust drew Micah's attention away from Max and to her. "His green eyes are more like vomit. Yours are melted chocolate. What's more amazing than melted chocolate? Nothing."

"Not even clothes."

"Yes," she said, tapping his chest. "More than clothes."

He managed to smile and it brought a warmth to his melted chocolate eyes. Yes, definitely amazing.

Micah looked back again and Courtney figured their raincheck snack had been rained on by Angry Biker Girl and Bad Boy Blake.

"You know what," Courtney said. "My ankle is hurting. Do you mind another raincheck?"

"You sure?" Micah asked, calmly.

Wow, he hid his feelings over Max well. Even though it was yet another girl choosing another guy over him. How dumb were these girls they couldn't see how wonderful he was!

"Yeah, let's go before my ankle falls off," Courtney said.

"I would offer to carry you but I don't have muscles, only working limbs."

"It's the thought that counts."

"How about this," Micah suggested once they were free of the Teen Fiction book scene playing out behind them. "Since it's a double raincheck for a snack, that could add up to a full dinner."

Solid reasoning.

"It could," Courtney said.

"Why don't you come to Sunday Night Dinner with my family. My mom mentioned inviting you since Felicity has talked about you a lot since yesterday."

"Will there be a Dinner Table Discussion?"

"There is always a Dinner Table Discussion."

"Then that sounds like the perfect time to cash in my rainy day money."

******

Micah pulled the Jeep up to Courtney's front steps. Before he could open his door to help her with her crutches, Courtney put a hand on his arm. He glanced from it to her.

"About Max," she said. She paused. How did she say this without word vomiting about Max being the worst person ever? "You know you deserve someone who likes you for you, right?"

At her words, Micah relaxed. "Thanks."

"And I know this whole arrangement thing was about getting Max so..."

Say it. No need to drag it out, even if that's what you want. It's not what he needs.

"If you want to stop trying to remake your wardrobe and everything, I get it."

Before Courtney had even finished, Micah shook his head. "You said the quest wasn't over until I got the girl. I still need my Wise Ole Sage because the quest isn't done." He smiled bashfully. "I haven't gotten my girl."

Well, Bad Boy Blake did have a short record span, maybe Max would come to her senses soon. Either way though, it meant Courtney wouldn't lose her Idiot Adventurer. She was all for that!

"Okay, Idiot Adventurer, your quest isn't done."

Looking buoyed by her agreement, Micah hopped out and grabbed her crutches. He walked with Courtney up to the front door and opened it for her.

"Thank you for today," he said.

"You took me on a shopping date, I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to thank you."

"We're both equally grateful then."

"I can agree with that."

She sent him a smile before entering the house and closing the door. She watched him through the narrow window by the door as he drove off.

"That Micah Boy dropped you off again, I see," her father said.

"That Micah Boy?" Courtney said. "I thought you approved of him, he earned his name."

"Yes, but I'm still watching him."

"He's one of the good ones, dad."

Her father put his hands behind his back like a lecturer. The image was disturbed by his rumpled hair, wrinkled shirt, torn jeans, and barefoot state.

"It's the good ones that make a father cautious. The bad ones never last, but the good ones are often there to stay."

"Aiden was a good one," Courtney said.

"He was, why do you think I called him That Boy? I knew he could steal you from me."

No worry of that anymore.

"Well, Micah is a friend," Courtney reassured him. "And he likes someone else."

Her father raised his eyebrows at her in a very are-you-sure-about-that-way. Which Courtney resented because she was sure. She'd seen how he looked at Max like he was trying to hide everything. If he didn't like her, why did he need to hide anything?

"You sure?" her father asked.

Totally sure and shut up heart, this is not a time to giggle.

"Because," her father said. "For a boy who you think likes someone else, he sure is spending a lot of time with you."

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

Hey there butter ball!

(Is it a ball of butter or is the butter having a ball? You know the old slang word for having fun. *slams fist on table* I need answers people!)

Thoughts! My thoughts on thoughts is that if you have thoughts those thoughts are best voiced (or written/commented) because unvoiced thoughts tend to attract more thoughts and that would be thought overload. So...thoughts? 💬🗯💭

My thoughts? I'm so happy you asked. I think Max is a...excuse my language, a poopie mc-poopie head for hurting Micah. I'm sorry, it needed to be said.

Go ahead, this is a safe space for you to vent your feelings or like me, let lose some unsavory words.

You should know I don't usually lose control like that but boy! does that girl make a dark side of me come out! Grrr!!! 😠

Speaking of dark sides. *dims the lights* I'm taking this author's note into a dark...dim direction.

Question for you: what emotion do you hate feeling? And why?

For me, I hate feeling sad. I always feel like if I let myself be sad it will never go away and I'll be sad forever.

Of course, I've learned to let myself be sad and let it go, but still. Whenever I'm sad, normally after I've cried, I'll usually find someway to make a joke or make light of the situation.

I'm definitely a look at the world through a glass-half-full-of-sparkling-cider-that's-tasty-and-will- make-you-happy-so-drink-up-and-savor-it type of girl.

Voto, komento, follow,ti mund ta besh (Bangla)

Which book have you read in a day?

I have many but the ones that stick out to me are a Nancy Drew mystery and the forth Peter and the Starcatchers book. Why? Because it was the first time I'd done it and felt very proud of myself.