.11 trading baggage (courtney)

                                    

                                          
"See you after work?" asked Olivia, peering out of the passenger seat. Her sleek Tesla shined brightly against the cerulean Los Angeles sky.
                          
Courtney nodded gratefully. "Thank you, again."
                          
"Seriously, stop thanking me. We're family now. This is what family does, okay?" Olivia brushed aside, smiling. With that, she turned the car and exited Padilla Studios.
                          
Courtney turned toward the coffee shop, unlocking the door for the opening shift. Staying with Olivia for a couple of days proved to be the right choice. After everything that had happened last weekend, a break away from the drama was much needed. Thinking about Ian's party still made her heart race, but taking space seemed to soften the blow each day. 
                          
She needed to talk to Damien to clear the air. But the conversation resembled a dark, stormy cloud hanging over her head. What would she say? Would she mention the kiss? 
                          
Would he ever speak to her again if she did?
                          
All the anxiety aside, she charged ahead. The panic attack couldn't stop her from living her life. Sure, it was her body's way of asking her to reassess her inner demons (or so her new therapist said, as mandated by Olivia), but that didn't mean she needed to give up on her job, her friends, or Los Angeles.
                          
This was her fresh start. And nothing could take that away.
                          
Not even a phone call from David, she thought bitterly. 
                          
The thought of his name made her body shudder.
                          
Before she could fully process what that phone call really meant, a familiar voice greeted her from outside of the coffeehouse. Ian's scraggly beard and bright smile peered through the window, beckoning her to open up the shop early.
                          
She chuckled, unlocking the front door to welcome him in. Beside Ian stood Noah with an eager smile. They hadn't met before, but she'd recognize his face anywhere. He was Iron Man, after all.
                          
They both looked a little too happy for 7 am, she chuckled.
                          
"Courtney!" Ian said. "Finally, I found you!"
                          
"I've been here the whole time. I work here," she laughed. "And I see you brought company?"
                          
Noah grinned, extending his hand out for a firm shake. "I'm Noah. Nice to meet you. Damien's told me great things about you."
                          
Her heart panged at Damien's name. Even though he did act like a complete idiot at the party, she missed his stupid jokes and sage advice. 
                          
"So, about the party..." Ian said. His eyebrows furrowed together.
                          
Shit. Surely he heard through the grapevine by now. Between Shayne and Damien's yelling and her panic attack, there was no way in hell that he was going to let it slide. She ruined his party. Her heart began racing.
                          
"Yeah?" she asked tentatively.
                          
"You were a big hit. The crew adored you. Tommy actually wouldn't shut up about some story about prom you told him...? Anyway, I came over here to introduce you to Noah," Ian said.
                          
A breath of relief escaped her. Ian and Noah didn't bring up the fight at all. Maybe they just didn't see it. It was a secluded balcony, after all.
                          
Or maybe they just didn't care. Either way, she was in the clear.
                          
Noah lifted the black leather flap of his messenger bag to reveal a manila folder. He passed it to her with great caution.
                          
"So, I wrote a script. It's not too professional, a little rough around the edges if I'm being honest - but it's a meaningful story with complex characters. It's meant to be a short film, and I was wondering if you might want to co-direct with me?" Noah asked. His sea-green eyes brimmed with hope and vulnerability.