Confusion and Hickeys

“Ugh, what's the difference between two-ply regular and a large?” Courtney muttered to herself. “I mean, the regular is small but durable; the large has lebih quality but it breaks easily.”

Courtney just growled and dumped both of the paper towels in the shopping cart. She went to go grocery shopping, because her refrigerator was basically empty. She was with Bridgette, who was currently engrossed in the rongsokan, sampah food section.

“Bridgette, be healthy!” Courtney yelled so Bridgette could hear her. “And be thrifty!”

Bridgette laughed. “Yes, Courtney!” Courtney saw her grab three bags of chips and walk towards her.

Courtney raised an eyebrow. “And how much are those, young lady?”

“You sound like my dad, Court,” Bridgette giggled. “And these are, I believe, two dollars and fifty cents each. Inexpensive, huh?”

Courtney rolled her eyes at her best friend. “Whatever, Bridge. Just make sure you're chipping in, atau else I will throw this rongsokan, sampah anda call food out of the cart.”

“This rongsokan, sampah is called food, hence the word 'junk food.'”

Courtney shook her head at Bridgette and continued looking for food supplies. She headed over to the meat section of the market. She picked up beef and chicken and examined them.

“Should I choose beef atau chicken?” Courtney berkata to herself again. “Beef is good with... No, no. Maybe if I picked chicken, then... Damn.”

She turned around to ask Bridgette something, but saw her hugging Geoff. She smiled at the cute couple, envying them a bit. She always wanted something like that—minus the “on and off” part of their relationship. But there must always be the ups and downs in a relationship, Courtney guessed.

“I'd pick chicken,” a husky voice whispered in her ear.

Courtney shivered, even though she knew who that person is. She didn't dare to turn around, atau else she would be entranced oleh this sexy being.

I can't believe this lecherous unknown species is so damn good-looking, Courtney thought bitterly. Why couldn't his personality match his godly face? Why, oh, why couldn't it?!

“And anda say I'm stalking you,” Courtney grumbled. “Look at Mr. Hypocrite, everyone... Being so hypocritically hypocritical just like any hypocrite.”

She heard Duncan scratch his head roughly and smirked. She loved how his mind—or lack thereof—couldn't keep up with her wise vocabulary. She felt superior to his inferiority.

“We seem to keep on bumping into each other, Princess,” Duncan whispered sexily. “What is this called—fate?”

“More like hell.”

“Pfft! Yeah, right. Hell is with you.”

“Ditto, Duncan, ditto. Welcome to my world.”

“I don't want to be part of your world”—he berkata those two words as if it was disgusting—“because your world is full of snotty, uptight freaks who don't even know what computers are.”

“Yes, they do!”

“So anda agree they're snotty, uptight, and freaky?”

“N-No! I meant, those non-snotty, relaxed, unique people do know what computers are!”

“If they use it for doing reports atau essays atau whatever blah, then no, they don't.”

“Well, you're an exception to knowing computers, because all anda do is watch porn in it!” Courtney's cheeks were flushed red with anger.

“How do anda know? And now look at Mrs. Hypocrite. She's being hypocritically hypocritical about me being a hypocrite when she herself is being hypocritically hypocritical about me being hypocritically hypocritical just like any hypocrite.”

Courtney was perplexed and...stunned. She didn't know that Duncan knew what she berkata earlier. She was amazed. She underestimated Duncan, and she sort of felt bad for belittling him.

“And now Princess is stunned oleh my knowledge,” Duncan chuckled.

“Sorry... It's just too ironic,” Courtney mumbled apologetically. “I mean, you're a guy who likes to do rebellious acts just for the fun of it. I never knew anda actually had that kind of knowledge. It's just...wow.”

“You learn things in prison unfortunately.”

Courtney was quiet for a while. Then she remembered something about Duncan's earlier sentence. What can anda say? She has an amazing memory.

“Mrs. Hypocrite?” she asked.

Duncan smirked at her. “Remember, sweetie? Yesterday, at work... Ring any bells in your pretty little mind...?”

“I wouldn't even dream of being married to you! I wouldn't even get married at Vegas! I want to do it—!” Courtney was shouting.

“Yeah, yeah, all romantically traditional and whatnot. Babe, it would be so cool for us—”

“Revolting.”

“—to get married there! Superheroes! Now, doesn't that sound romantically traditional?”

“No, it's tacky and juvenile.”

Duncan sighed exasperatedly. “Everything anda see atau hear sounds tacky and juvenile,” he muttered.

“That's because it all involves you!” Courtney cried.

“So that means your world revolves around me? Well, then, maybe I do want to be in your world.” Duncan grinned. He kissed her cheek. “It'd be awesome.”

Courtney groaned out loud. This Duncan freak is totally infuriating me! Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut and not say anything so irritatingly annoying?!

She blanched and quickly wiped off the criminal's disgusting lip residue off of her cheek.

“What do anda mean oleh superheroes?” Courtney asked reluctantly, playing along.

“Well, duh, honey! anda would be Wonder Woman, except with much lebih provocative clothing.” He wiggled his eyebrows lecherously.

“And who would anda be?”

“Myself.”

Courtney scoffed. “You're not a superhero!”

“I'm unbelievably strong! Doesn't that count?!”

“Whatever, Duncan! heroes are civilized people who are men and atau women anda look up to! anda are definitely not something kids would idolize!”

Duncan winced and suddenly had a downcast look on his face. He hung his head down, and was strangely quiet. Courtney felt guilty for saying that. She always berkata things without thinking sometimes.

Courtney gently laid her hand on his cheek, stroking it. “I—I'm sorry, Duncan. I didn't mean to make anda feel sad. I'm sorry...,” Courtney apologized.

Duncan still didn't react, and it made Courtney feel even lebih bad. She went too far.

Courtney put her hands on both of Duncan's cheeks and kissed him long and hard. He didn't ciuman back for a while, but eventually did. Duncan's hands went on her hips, and Courtney suddenly jumped.

“Duncan, we're in public!” she hissed.

Duncan mencuri another kiss. “Can't help it, babe. You're just way too tempting.”

Courtney glared frostily at him. “You sneaky little criminal. How dare anda trick me just to receive a ciuman from me?”

“Drama class is helpful.” Duncan shrugged.

“Okay, okay, let's break up the love-fest here, people,” Courtney heard Geoff announce, pushing away with a hand on Duncan's chest and Courtney's forehead gently.

“You shall not use that word towards us, Geoff,” Courtney hissed. “Never.”

“I'm gonna have to agree with Princess over here, dude,” Duncan said. “This is just merely...teasing. We're friends—in a way.”

“Yeah, anda guys are friends who make out shamelessly whenever they want to. That's really normal, guys,” Bridgette berkata sarcastically.

Courtney scoffed. “Stop copying Noah's mannerisms, Bridgette. And this is what we do, so just leave us alone with it!” She huffed and walked away.

Just because we make out and hate each other doesn't mean it's love, Courtney thought irritably. Why can't people who are the opposite genders make out without love?

–

Duncan stared after Courtney, his eyebrows furrowing. He knew that what Courtney and Duncan did wasn't a bad thing, but she didn't have to throw a hissy fit over it. It was just a komentar her best friend made.

Bridgette sighed sadly. “Denial,” she murmured.

Duncan looked at her. “What do anda mean?” he questioned.

“Well, it's obvious Courtney likes you, right, Duncan? anda know that, too. Everyone does.”

“I do tend to tease her about it, but that doesn't mean I'm being serious... I...always do think she likes me.” Duncan scratched his head. Why did he feel so confused?

Bridgette gave him a small smile. “Normally, Courtney wouldn't react like that; she would just roll her eyes and probably say a witty, sarcastic comment. She would never get that irritated—that would obviously mean she's taking what anda guys are doing seriously. Which means she likes you. Nobody can just make out with the other gender without feelings—unless you're the type to do one-night stands.” She gave him a suspicious look.

Duncan held his hands up in a defensive manner. “Hey, that was a one time thing. That's why they call it 'one-night stands,' Bridgette.”

“You actually know my name.”

Duncan grinned at her, but then frowned. He wondered where Princess went, and secretly, he felt a bit worried. Something might've happened.

“Go after her, bra,” Geoff suggested, smiling. “And tell me the details.” He winked suggestively.

Duncan laughed and ran off to the annoying but hot Princess.

He heard Bridgette say, “You sound like an old woman who gossips. Ew,” and laughed again.

He ran out of the supermarket and looked everywhere. He asked a lot of people, but they berkata they didn't know. He checked the nearby park, but she wasn't there, either!

“Damn it, Princess. If anything ever happened to you, I'm going to illegally punish you,” Duncan growled.

He felt his cellphone vibrate and quickly answered it, hoping it was Courtney.

“Hello?! Courtney?!” Duncan yelled in his phone, panting. “Is that you?!”

“Courtney doesn't even know your cellphone number, dork,” he heard Gwen say. “Have anda ever heard of caller I.D., Dunky?”

“Don't call me that, Goth Freak. Is Courtney there with you?”

“Yup. She's fuming like crazy. Ugh. She's ranting right now in the living room. I left her, unnoticed.” She snickered. “I swear, she's super oblivious to her surroundings when she's ranting.”

Duncan chuckled. That was so like Princess. “'Kay, I'm coming over,” he said.

“What, no 'thank you'?” Gwen joked.

Duncan grinned. “You're welcome.” He hung up his phone and ran to Gwen's apartment.

–

“I don't even know why the hell Bridgette thinks that Duncan and I are in love!” Courtney was ranting. “Sure, we make out, but that doesn't mean anything! Why the hell does Bridgette have these stupid conceptions?! It is utterly irritating!

“And Duncan! Oh, that freaking criminal! He just makes me want to castrate him and feed him to pigs! Because that's where every part of his body belongs! To pigs! Ugh! I don't know how someone so good-looking could be so... Damn it!” Courtney punched the dinding hard, not even wincing.

“Careful now, babe,” the voice she didn't want to hear berkata out loud. “You wouldn't want to break your delicate hands now, would you?”

Courtney turned around and saw Duncan leaning against the door frame, smirking.

Of course. When does he not smirk? she thought bitterly.

“What?” Courtney snapped.

“Now, now, don't get testy, Princess,” Duncan berkata mockingly. “Let's not build your temper even lebih to the point where anda break Gwen's furniture.”

“And your special ball,” Courtney added, glaring.

Duncan gulped audibly, which made Courtney smirk. The big, bad criminal is scared of the princess. How ironic.

“Duncan, what do anda want?” she tried to ask calmly. “I thought anda didn't give a crap about me! I thought we're just 'friends with benefits'!”

“When anda say it like that, it sounds like anda want me to give a crap about anda and anda want to be lebih than just 'friends with benefits.'”

“What gave anda that stupid idea?!”

“Apparently you, babe.” Duncan walked over to her, shutting the door with his foot.

“I didn't! I don't recall saying that to you!”

“You just berkata it earlier. anda sound mad over something 'stupid,' in your words.”

Courtney didn't know what Duncan was getting at. He didn't sound rational, and he was annoying her even more. She just wanted to meninju, pukulan him.

“Are anda implying that I'm sad over the fact that we're just 'friends with benefits'?” she asked in clenched teeth.

“You're catchin' on, Princess.” Duncan grinned.

“Well...you're wrong! I'm just...”

“Confused?” Duncan finished for her.

Courtney nodded. She slowly walked over to the black fluffy dipan, sofa of Gwen's. She put her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her hands.

Duncan sat beside her and wrapped one arm around her affectionately.

Just what do we have? Courtney thought.

“What the hell is this, Duncan?” Courtney inquired quietly, leaning against Duncan's shoulder. “What are we?”

“I have no freaking idea, babe,” Duncan sighed. “That's what I've been wondering.”

“I hate you, and yet I make out with anda a lot.” She glared at Duncan when he snickered. “Bridgette was right; this isn't normal. I owe her an apology big time... Stupid...”

“She's your best friend. She'll forgive you,” Duncan whispered in her ear. He planted kupu-kupu kisses on her neck.

“See what I mean?” Courtney groaned. “You hate me, and you're practically giving my neck a hickey!”

“I'm just merely planting soft kisses on your neck, not sucking on it.” He paused. “Do anda want me to give anda a hickey? I'm a master at—”

“We're having a serious, mature conversation! Do not ruin it with your sexual mannerisms!”

Duncan nuzzled his face in her neck. “Sorry, baby,” he cooed. He kissed her neck hard.

Courtney jumped and blushed madly. “E-Ew! Stop that, Duncan! I don't want a hickey!” She pushed him off of her, scooting away from him in the process.

Duncan just smirked at her, having this knowing look on.

Courtney took a few deep breaths. Duncan makes her infuriated to the point where she wants to stick his head in a toilet. He makes her flustered every time he kisses her atau teases her. He's...so comfortable to be around with. But...

What is this?

“Please, Duncan,” Courtney whispered pleadingly, “tell me what this is...”

She heard Duncan scoot near her. He put his lips near her ear.

“You shouldn't pertanyaan it, Courtney. Just enjoy it,” he whispered huskily. “I don't even know what the hell it is, either. It might be something...I don't know, good—and that's surprising coming from me. I usually don't say anything sappy like this.” He sighed.

Courtney felt tears in her eyes. She didn't know Duncan was actually...sweet. She always thought that Duncan wasn't usually the type to actually know what the word 'sweet' means.

Courtney asphyxiated Duncan in a tight embrace. She buried her face in his neck.

“B-Babe!” Duncan berkata in a squeaky voice. “P-Princess! I—I can't brea-breathe!”

Courtney giggled and pulled away from him. She kissed his cheek softly.

“I couldn't help it, Duncan!” Courtney cried. “You're just so sweet!”

Duncan glared at her. “Hey, hey, Courtney. I. Am. Bad. I'm not sweet atau anything stupid like that. I'm a criminal; criminals aren't sweet atau romantic atau your prince charming. Those yucky words are taboo for every criminal. Like me, so there. Never say that I'm sweet, 'cause I'm not.”

Courtney raised an eyebrow and berkata nothing.

Duncan sighed irritably. “Okay, just don't say anything, Princess. Can anda just keep this on the down low? This'll ruin my reputation bad. Please?” He gave her a puppy-dog face.

Courtney groaned, knowing Duncan knew her weakness. “Ugh, fine, fine.” Duncan's actually cute when he does that face, Courtney thought.

Duncan smirked and pulled Courtney in for a kiss. A long one. Yet again.

“I see two hopelessly in cinta humans, who will get mad at me for saying that, so I'll won't press into it, making out on my couch, in my living room, in my apartment!” Courtney heard her best friend Gwen shout out.

Courtney quickly pulled away, pushing Duncan off the floor.

She heard Duncan mutter, “Meanie.”

“S-Sorry, Gwen!” Courtney apologized, blushing slightly.

Gwen rolled her eyes, but was smiling. “Okay, I already clarified to Geoff and Bridgette about this since they did this once, as well.” She glared at both of them. “Leave! Trent's coming over!”

Duncan stood up, smirking. “Oh? Well, we wouldn't want to interrupt your little—”

Courtney grabbed Duncan's arm and interjected quickly, “We're leaving! Bye, Gwen! Say 'hi' to Trent for me! And have fun with your...yeah!”

Courtney immediately shut the door of Gwen's apartment, sighing.

She heard Duncan laugh out loud. She looked up at him with irritated eyes.

“What are anda chortling on about?” she asked.

“That was the weirdest, funniest hari I've ever had,” Duncan explained, wiping tears from his eyes. “Definitely.”

Courtney smiled. “For now,” she added. “Because we'll have a lot lebih to come, right?”

Duncan's eyebrows both rose up. “Well, well, well. You're actually agreeing to spend lebih time with this hottie over here?” He pointed to himself.

Courtney rolled her eyes but giggled nonetheless. “Yeah, I am.” She stood up. “Walk me home?”

Duncan whined, “But your apartment is so far away!”

“Be a gentleman! Walk me halaman awal atau else I will tell everyone about your dirty little secret!”

Duncan gulped. “Fine.”

Courtney felt Duncan's hand casually slip into hers. It felt strangely nice.

“So, does that mean we're dating?” Duncan asked nonchalantly.

Courtney gave him a fake exuberant smile. “Don't push it, Dunky,” she berkata angelically.

They walked down the steps of Gwen's apartment building quietly. Courtney looked at Duncan, and saw him examining at her neck.

“What are anda doing, anda idiot?!” Courtney yelled.

Duncan locked eyes with her and smirked. “You have a hickey.” He poked it a spot on her neck.

Courtney punched him in the guts.