Jon stared at the door to Derrick's room as he did every night since Courtney left him four months ago. He couldn't believe what had happened when Derrick told him and it took everything he had to stop himself from going to the hotel and murdering Grant. He had respect for the man, but that was it. He was destroying his best friend and nothing, not even his favourite pastimes would break him from his despair. The only saving grace for him was that he was able to convince Derrick to keep with his school work and worked through the summer semester. It became a driving force for them. His hard work had paid off and both were off to Florida having secured high paying jobs in less than a month. He knew that it would be a heartless goal for Derrick. He only accepted the position so he would be on the other side of the country. Derrick emerged disheartened from his room and Jon smiled at his friend.
"You need a shower." Jon said and Derrick sneered before opening the fridge and taking the last beer. "Dude you can't drink your sorrows away. That will only get you killed."
"Watch me. I never stopped you when you wanted to drink after a failed relationship." Derrick replied coldly.
"This is far more important that the petty bumps I had to get over. You've been drinking constantly for so long that your liver has to be ready to voice some displeasure. Booze has damn near replaced water in your drinking regime. You haven't hit the gym in months."
"Why do you care? Everything I've ever wanted is gone." Derrick snapped bitterly as he slammed the door to his room. Victor and Okusa sighed deeply before leaving the dorm, unable to watch Derrick deteriorate further. Once they left, Jon's cell rung and he looked at the number and glared at the phone before heading to his room. He answered it and heard a deep breath release from the other side.
"You have a lot of nerve phoning me. I figured the countless times I ignored your calls would be a strong enough hint to fuck off." Jon growled quietly and another deep sigh came from the other end. "You're lucky I'm in a better mood today and answered. What do you have to say for yourself? You killed the man that loved you."
"I know." Courtney replied, sniffling.
"Don't you start that crying shit with me. I have never been so angry in my entire life. If it wasn't for the fact that Derrick needs me I would be at your door taking care of this myself. You and your father are useless pieces of shit at the moment."
"I thought you were a lover not a fighter?" Courtney asked, trying to lighten the mood. Jon shook his head and looked back at his door.
"I will fight for those who need it. You forget that Eric also taught me how to fight." Jon snorted and Courtney sighed again. "I just never figured Grant would go for my throat. Lesson learned and when I see him again I will be repaying him, for myself and for Derrick." Jon snapped rudely, not wanting to hear the voice of the woman that destroyed his best friend.
"How is he?"
"How would you expect the man to be after he shared the best love filled week of his life, to better it with one day only to have it all turn on him in one evening? I'll say this, he's a functioning alcoholic. For how long I don't know but we're out of alcohol so there will be a moment of him sobering up before staggers to the store for more. But hey you made him this way so you should be proud." Jon replied coldly and Courtney lowered her head.
"I had to Jon. Grant gave me no other choice. He was going to disown me and take Derrick to jail. You know Grant has friends in high places. I made the deal to protect him." Courtney nearly exclaimed and Jon fell back onto his chair and ran his hand through his short brown hair. "Believe me Jon. I want nothing more than to be with Derrick. I love him mind, body, and soul."
"I don't believe you. I don't believe that for one second. If you truly loved him you would have stood together and met him head on." Jon snapped and Courtney sobbed before answering.
"Go to your computer and turn on the msn. I want you to see something." Jon sighed before waking his computer and doing as he was asked. His msn popped up and he looked at the teary face of Courtney. He lifted his chin in defiance as she stood and showed herself. Jon's jaw dropped as she had lost so much weight that her ribs were dominant. She lifted her leg and Jon could tell that the effort alone to lift her leg was excruciating for her.
"What the fuck? Why show me this? Are you looking for a pity party?" Jon growled and Courtney gingerly sat down at her desk and rested her head on her hands, showing that her hair was blanching. Jon's anger faltered at seeing her decaying health. "Girl you have to eat something. Derrick wouldn't want you to starve to death."
"What's the point? I can't be with the man I love so I might as well look as I feel. I'm sure Derrick is the same right now." Courtney replied and Jon sighed before nodding in agreement. "Thank you for talking to me. He won't reply to anything I send to him. I can only imagine his anger."
"You have no idea what that man is." Jon started before stopping when he saw the pain in her eyes. "Okay you do, but why talk to me? What do you want from me? There's nothing I can do to help you."
"I want to know how he's faring and if there's anything I can do to talk to him." Jon looked over his shoulder at the closed door and shook his head. It had been four months but Derrick's wounds were still bleeding profusely.
"He's a time bomb. If you or any of your family shows up right now I don't know what he'd do." Jon replied and Courtney sobbed. "You have to understand something. Derrick is a hopeless romantic. You broke his heart. I can only hold it together until you figure out how to put it back together. He asked you to marry him Courtney. He gave you his heart in trust to you."
"I know Jon and I've regretted leaving every day since then. I have endured so much that as you can tell I can't take anymore. Grant and Jill are thinking of admitting me to the psych ward."
"Maybe that's where you belong." Jon replied crossing his arms. Courtney stared in shock and Jon smirked.
"You don't mean that." She replied and Jon leaned on his desk and grinned.
"Someone as pretty as you once were needs help. You were so full of life Courtney that you kept Derrick's chin up when he needed it most. You were there when he needed you and you listened when no one else would. You've been his wife for years."
"He's my cousin. I don't think cousins can marry anyways." Courtney replied and Jon shook his head and smiled.
"That's where you're wrong. I looked it up. Cousins can get married." Jon said and smiled. "It's just the moral thing that people have a problem with." He added, looking away from the screen. Courtney's eyes shimmered with new tears. "Derrick didn't care that you're his cousin. He doesn't know and I'm not about to tell him."
