When Courtney and Micah stepped into Courtney's sewing room, Micah gravitated towards one of the stools and dropped onto it. Courtney took the second stool and rolled it over to where Lynn's dress hung on the mannequin.

In actuality, Courtney didn't need to complete the dress since it was finished but it was a decent enough excuse to have Micah to herself. Also to get him away from her family that was overwhelming.

And to be honest, she did want to double-check that it was all in order before giving it to Lynn. Her best friend was not having a wardrobe malfunction because of Courtney.

As Courtney surveyed her work, she sent glances at Micah. He stared at the floor and gently swiveled back and forth on the stool.

"Are you thinking of anything?" Courtney asked. "Or are you doing that guy thing where have nothing in your head at all?"

Micah raised his head. Ah, that little brow crinkle makes me believe you do have thoughts in that pretty head of yours.

"Your siblings are really impressive," he said.

"I know. It's disgusting." She grinned at him. "You thought you had a monopoly on younger-sibling-hidden-in-older-siblings'-shadow-itis, didn't you?"

"That's not a thing."

"If it's not a thing then why do both of us, plus millions of other people, have it?"

Micah smiled a little and Courtney went back to her inspection. "Also, if we didn't have this point of bonding, would we even be together?"

"I like to think so."

Courtney tilted her head, looking past the mannequin to Micah. "Me too. We're both adorable."

Beyond the flush in his cheeks, Micah didn't react beyond taking a slow turn on the stool. When he faced her again, he stopped.

"I don't know what I want to do in life," he said.

"Yeah, I got that from the interrogation my father put you through."

"And you're okay with that? Dating someone who doesn't even know what college he wants to go to?" He waved a hand to the doorway. "What about your family? I mean... they don't know we're dating but in comparison to them, even to you, I'm..."

"You're Micah and that's all you need to be for me."

Micah stared at the floor, dragging his foot back and forth along the carpet. Who knew brunch could be so disastrous?

Leaving the dress, Courtney rolled herself over to Micah and bent down to catch his gaze. When their eyes met, she sent him a smile but he didn't react.

"Why isn't that enough?" she asked.

He broke their connection and twisted to the side then back.

"I want... I want your dad to like me, but honestly... I don't see how he could when I'm so unimpressive. Denzel would be a better fit since he'd be as impressive as your siblings. And here I'm..."

Focus on Micah, Courtney and not going to murder your wildlife expert of a father. Sighing heavily, Micah pulled at his curls and this time Courtney did take his hand to stop him.

"I told you, I don't want Denzel, no matter how fancy pancy he would seem to my dad. Don't downplay yourself, my dad does like you."

"Right now, sure because I'm a guinea pig he can use for research purposes but as your boyfriend... I'm not sure that I'm-"

"If you're about to say not good enough I'm going to break up with you because that's about the dumbest thing you could say. Please don't look down on yourself. I don't."

"But I'm-"

"A wonderful human being that has helped me a million times over and I am a little bonkers about."

Micah held her gaze and Courtney poured as much conviction and affection into her eyes as she could. She didn't know how one could pour emotions from the heart up into the eyes but that was not a thought to think about at this time.

"Please, please don't let this brunch get to you."

"You don't mind then that I don't know what I want to do?"

"What I mind is that you think it somehow matters more to me than you being someone I want to be with."

"Okay."

"Okay? Is that an okay I-don't-have-to-go-and-kill-my-father-so-that-we-might-be-together type of okay?"

Micah chuckled softly and nodded. "I like your father, so yeah it's a you-don't-have-to-kill-him type of okay."

Smiling at his laugh, Courtney retreated from him back to the dress. As she finished off her inspection, she cast quick glances his way. He seemed thoughtful but not as downtrodden. That's a bit of an improvement. Enough to move forward, though no more brunches from now on.

When Courtney was satisfied with the result and secure in the knowledge her bestie would look stunning and in no danger of anything coming apart, she pulled out her phone. Scooting back, she snapped a photo. She rotated around the dress, capturing it from every angle.

"Are you done?" Micah asked.

"Yup. What do you think?"

Micah rolled himself over to her and studied the dress. Not an off-the-cuff, instant compliment but a full inspection. Boy, you know the way to treat a girl right! And there's no way I'm letting my annoyingly impressive family split us.

"It's beautiful," he said.

"Thanks."

"Is that pink one yours?" Micah asked, pointing to the second mannequin where Courtney's yet-to-be-complete dress waited for her.

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure Lynn's dress was done before I finished mine."

Micah nodded, moving his gaze back and forth between the dresses. If he planned to say anything else he didn't get the chance because her father strode into the room, tablet in hand, and sat in the chair behind Courtney's sewing machine.

Oh boy.

"Okay, Micah," he said. "I realized figuring out what you want to do can be a challenge but starting with what your personality type can give us a direction on where to look."

"Dad."

"Sunshine, you know I can't let people float without direction. It gives me a stomachache."

"Then take a Tums. Micah will figure out what he wants to do in time. You do not need to fix the world."

"No, but I can fix people's worlds if I focus on one person at a time."

"Leave, leave now."

"But-"

"Actually you can stay."

"I can?"

"Yes, but we're leaving. Lynn's dress is done and we're going to drop it off."

Her father let out a sigh and she stared at him with wide eyes. "Don't sigh at me. 'Respecting a person's boundaries is the foundation of a good, healthy relationship'."

"Quoting me back to me. I can't even be mad because it means I raised you right. Now, let's take a look at this dress before you go."

Her father stood and took the spot beside her. When his usual lively expression sobered into something more critical, Courtney chewed on her lip. Nothing is more nerve-wracking than a brilliant father paying attention to your work.

Her father fingered the edge of the neckline and the beading Courtney had sewn there. "I like this detail, it adds a touch of sparkle without making it too much." He kissed her head. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks."

When he left, Courtney looked at Micah and found he was staring at where her father had been.

"What?" she asked.

"I like your father."

"Yes, we established this but you like his daughter more." She raised her eyebrows. "This won't be a problem, will it?"

Micah laughed again. Laughs easily and at my jokes. Yup, definitely a keeper.

With Lynn's dress on a hanger and protected by a garment bag, the pair set off. True, Micah looked like a dapper gentleman while she looked a little like a homeless girl but it was Lynn after all. Besides if they stayed in the house longer Courtney feared her father might find another excuse to try and lay out Micah's entire future.

"Where to?" Micah asked as he drove through the neighborhood.

"You know where we went for the party Friday? Ted's house? That neighborhood."

As they drove, Courtney felt Micah send glances her way. Maybe he was embarrassed to be seen out driving with a homeless girl while he looked so good. Oh how the tables have flipped, twisted, and turned.

Resting her elbow on the center sole, Courtney propped her chin on her fist. "You know, if you keep sending me glances I might think you are embarrassed by my appearance."

Micah let out a half chuckle. Not a full chuckle, what is going on in that beautiful brain of yours, Micah?

"Are you thinking of something or is this the moment where you have no thoughts in your head?"

Micah hesitated, casting his gaze on her then back to the road. "You mentioned Ted and... You know his party?"

"You mean the one from two days ago? Yes, I do believe I can recall the occasion. What about it?"

"Did you... Were you... Were you okay?"

Courtney didn't answer right away, aware of the highs of the night and the strange way she'd hit lows she hadn't thought she'd feel with being back in the world she knew and being her old self.

"What makes you ask?"

Again Micah looked at her. Courtney met his gaze but remained neutral. It was a good night for him, making it about her ankle and her tangled emotions felt like tainting something good.

"Well... Denzel messaged me, actually," Micah said. "He saw the photos from the party and asked if you were okay. He said you usually look like a sunbeam but looked... A little... Down, I don't know. I just... I didn't notice and wondered if I did something wrong."

"Yes!" Courtney said. "How dare you enjoy a party I asked you to go to and get along with my friends. I'm glad you brought this up because I was crushed by your actions."

When she grinned at him, Micah relaxed but nudged her arm with his elbow.

"Be real with me. Were you okay?"

Courtney drew back, crossing her arms and leaning her head against the headrest.

"Honestly, my ankle hurt more than I expected, and well... I forgot how much being me can be a bit of a job."

"You could have told me."

"True, but you were getting along with my friends and I didn't want to ruin that. I mean they are really hard to please and hate everyone, so the fact that they liked you is a huge deal! How did you win them over? It's a miracle."

"I think Lynn said they love you, so that means they love me."

"The standards they have! I'm glad you managed to make the cut. Oh! Turn right here. Her house is the third on the left."

Micah pulled up to the curb in from of Lynn's large cookie-cutter house. As Courtney reached for her seatbelt, Micah stopped her.

"I'm sorry I didn't notice," he said.

"Micah, we have been dating for two days, if you realized my mental state while being overwhelmed by attention, I honestly would think you were superhuman. You don't have to be perfect right away. But boy, if you aren't perfect by the end of next week there is no saving this relationship."

Laughing, Courtney gave him a quick kiss and climbed out of the car. She retrieved Lynn's dress from the back seat and paused when she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey."

Courtney turned as Aiden walked down his driveway and crossed the street. He hesitated a moment when Micah rounded the car to stand with Courtney. This could go really well, really bad, or some odd mix of both. Main point to keep in mind: protect the dress at all costs.

"Hey, Aiden," Courtney said.

For a minute, they all stood there, Aiden fidgeting, Micah tugging at his curls, and Courtney nodding even though no one said anything. Well, this is awkward. But in the grand scheme of things, it's better than hostile or tense.

"Is that Lynn's dress?"

"We were just bringing Lynn her dress."

Courtney and Aiden smiled at each other as they spoke in unison.

"How did you know?" Courtney asked.

"Lynn told me. She's excited about it."

"Oh, pressure. Hope it doesn't fall short."

"You made it Cory, I know it won't."

"You say that but we both remember the paisley dress I made her."

Aiden both laughed and winced, which was a fitting reaction to the Paisley Incident of sophomore year.

"She still wore it," Aiden said.

"Because she's Lynn and that amazing. I still can't believe she did."

"I didn't think she looked too bad in it."

A lie if ever there was one, Courtney wanted to bury herself in a hole at the memory of the monstrosity of a dress she made. No one deserved a friend as good as Lynn.

"You must be blind, you should get that checked out," Courtney said.

Aiden laughed but his focus jumped to Micah and his laughter died away. He shifted and then took a step back, taking with him the levity of the moment.

"See you," he said.

When he got into his truck and drove off, Courtney spun to Micah.

"That went better than I thought it would."

"I didn't get punched, I think that's a good thing."

"He'd never punch you. He wouldn't really know how."

The door to Lynn's house opened after their third knock and Lynn lit up at first seeing Courtney and then the garment job.

"Yay!" She backed up. "Come in!"

Beside Lynn's excited voice, the house lay silent and Courtney wondered where her parents were on a Sunday. Probably had a brunch of their own they were at. Which sadly wouldn't be unheard of.

Directing Micah to a seat on her living room couch, Lynn grabbed Courtney's hand, pulling her into the next room to change. Bubbling with excitement, no higher compliment. People have heard of spontaneous combustion but spontaneous burst into bubbles is really what an artist strives for with reaction to their work.

Though do people spontaneously combust in response to seeing great art or is it just referring to being startled? When do people spontaneously combust, and in what world is that even plausible. But we're not in that world so this line of thinking is completely pointless.

"Okay, tell me quickly," Lynn said, stepping out of her shorts and saving Courtney from the bizarre realm of her own brain. "How did last night go with meeting his friends?"

Ah, yes, the parle with the locals. The locals who mocked her endeavors without realizing they were. Yup, don't feel like recounting that fact. No need for Lynn to also feel doubts about how much work she put into Homecoming. Nope, those doubts shall be saved for myself alone.

"It was a classic situation of wearing a pink dress to a sweatpants party."

"Oh..."

"Yeah. But they joked around like I wasn't there so I think that's a plus, at least they didn't act tense because I was there."

Lynn laughed as she tugged off her shirt. "A positive spin on it. I'm sorry it didn't go better."

Courtney shrugged. "A work in progress." One that came with threats so there's a lot of weight on the need for more progress. "It made me thankful that you and everyone else were so welcoming to Micah. So thanks again."

"Of course! He's your boy which means we love him. Now! Dress time!"

At Lynn's unabashed enthusiasm, Courtney nearly burst into bubbles herself. Nothing like making a composed, self-contained girl get excited to know you've done something right.

Courtney took a step back as Lynn held out the edge of the dress and gave a small spin. I will not be that person who toots my own horn out loud but toot toot!

"Do I look as amazing as I feel I do?" Lynn asked.

"Yes! But I'm biased. Let's have Micah see you."

When Courtney stepped out of the room, she held up her hand to have Lynn hold back a second. Micah straightened on the couch.

"Now! Presenting the future Homecoming Queen: Lynn Cho!"

Lynn walked out and gave a small twirl, again the excitement of the dress infusing a playful spirit into her friend. Micah clapped loudly, cupped his mouth, and wooed in appreciation.

"Beautiful! Amazing! Stunning!"

Both girls looked at him and then at each other before bursting out laughing. Which was a safer outcome than bubbles. Micah smiled embarrassedly. Okay, didn't expect that at all but I'm all for it.

"What was that?" Lynn asked.

Micah shrugged. "I have sisters who tell me to be more expressive when they show me their outfits. That was my go-to response." He held up his hands, wide-eyed. "That's not to say it wasn't genuine because it was. You look really good. And I'm not saying that because you're Courtney's best friend and she made the dress. It's just true, you look really good. I don't know if that's weird since I'm dating Courtney and..."

Micah shrank and made a nervous face. Lynn hooked her arm through Courtney's and whispered.

"I like this one. He's a keeper."

Courtney smiled at Micah, who relaxed. "I couldn't agree more."

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

Blueberry bubbles and bananas!

That's it! Where is my boy who will excited cheer on my outfit when I show it off!

Okay, no one would cheer my outfit since it's always just joggers and a hoodie. #LifeofAWriter

I have an empty barrel and you have thoughts, I feel like we all know where this is going... 🗯💬💭⤵️🪣

Okay, we don't but at this point if you don't actually know how to translate my bizarre nonsense into understandable nonsense are we going to make it?

I don't think we are. But the question is, where are we trying to make it to? So if we have no destination does this we actually will make it because we aren't trying to make it anywhere so that means where we are now is actually where we should be so everything is okay.

Right?

Cool, you head is spinning around (metaphorically, physically and I'd have to find yet another place to bury a body. Which honestly, this is just getting tiring at this point. I don't think I should be blamed because technically I didn't kill you, only reading my books did... So maybe that is on me... But you chose it so is it really on me... Where were we? Oh right, exactly where we should be which was nowhere.)

Ha!! I feel like no one should have given me a computer, it brings this about! Really the power I have with a keyboard is unstoppable. Unless someone takes away my computer and then I'm as weak as limp lettuce.

Anyways, I'm going to stop before someone else tries to stop me.

Vote, comment, follow!