I stared at my plain white ceiling in my bedroom. I had been laying in this position for who knows how long. A few hours at the least. I was laying on my back, my hands resting on my stomach, as I twiddled with my thumbs. A nervous habit. I bit my lip, and winced when I realized I had been biting it so much within these last hours it was now raw. I tasted blood and made a disgusted face. I sat up and ignored the sudden head rush I got when I stood completely up. I stretched my back and walked to my balcony. Maybe some fresh air would clear my head. 

When I got home I completely ignored my Aunt's calls for me to come into the kitchen. Apparently she had baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies. My favorite. I ran straight upstairs and slammed my door. I had yanked off my sandals and thrown them to some place, which I could not find-for the life of me. My Aunt had come and knocked on my door a couple times, but I shooed her away. I just couldn't even begin to think about talking to anyone. 

I sat down on a cold metal chair I kept on my balcony. I ignored the sting of the cold metal on my back as I crossed one thigh over the other. I brought a hand to my lips and rested my elbow on the arm of the chair. My eyes narrowed as I began to get lost in my thoughts again.

I had asked the God I didn't exactly believe in about seven hundred times as to why, out of all the places in this world Duncan could be in at any moment, it had to be here. Now. When I was here. Was this some sort of sick joke? 

I growled and crossed my arms over my chest. Great. Now my last summer was completely ruined. 

"No," I whispered to myself. Suddenly feeling a rush of anger "I will not allow that... Heathen to ruin my last summer. He's ruin plenty enough in my life already. He will not get the satisfaction of turning my summer upside down and into shit. I will not allow it!" I stood up quickly, pushing the chair back as I did. I raised a fist to the dark sky, covered in a cascade of beautifully placed stars.

"You hear me Duncan! I'm sick and tired of letting you ruin everything for me! I will no longer let myself cry over you. I will not let myself be broken because of you! I won't!" I yelled. 

"All you ever did was hurt me! You nearly made me ruin my reputation, and give up everything I had ever worked hard for. You're the one whose going to end up in Prison! Not me!" 

I breathed hard as I let it all out. Probably waking up my neighbors, but I didn't care. 

"I'm over this," I whispered. Leaning my hands on the edge of my balcony "And I'm so over you,"

Suddenly a slow, low clapping came from behind me. I gripped the edge of the balcony and whipped my head around. Jax was standing there, casually leaning against my sliding glass door and clapping lazily. He smirked when I saw him

"Well well, I knew this day was coming. You've finally lost it." he chuckled. I glared at him, and put my hands on my hips

"How long have you been standing there?" I snapped. He shrugged

"Long enough," was all he said. I slowly blushed in embarrassment 

"So, you.. Uh, heard all that?" I questioned. He nodded and cocked his head to one side

"I was going to ask what's got you so riled up, but there really isn't ever another answer than-"

"Duncan," I finished for him. He nodded his head. I sighed and turned back around to look at the sky. 

"Apparently he's staying at Bridgette's for a while. He's going through some stuff-"

"Like what?" Jax asked. I snorted

"As though I care. He's probably fighting with his goth whore," I mumbled. Jax stuck out his lips, something he did when he was thinking. He slowly walked over to stand next to me. We both stared at the galaxy above us. 

"You can't seem to shake him, can you?" he asked. Half joking. I sighed. Suddenly feeling very tired

"No," I said. Defeated. "I cant," 

"Well, if it helps, I think that 'goth whore' isn't nearly as pretty as you," he said

"I am quite the catch, aren't I?" I asked, with a giggle. He nodded and smiled at me 

"Just not when you yell. You're scary when you yell." he said. I punched his arm, he yelped out in pain

"And when you cause me pain!" he cried, rubbing his sore bicep. I rolled my eyes and pointed to the door

"Out," I said. He slowly walked to the door, but stopped to look at me

"Don't let him get to you Court." he said and left slowly. I stood on my balcony alone. I sighed and the wind slowly began picking up. I pushed my bangs out of my eyes and looked up at the dark sky

"Dad, I know you probably can't hear me right now. But you always said I got my loud mouth from Mom. So hopefully you can. I-I really need your help. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm just so confused. Ugh. I can't do this," I stuttered and quickly walked back inside. Tightly closing the balcony doors behind me. Shutting the wind out. 

"Don't be silly Court. He can't hear you. He's dead," I whispered. And slowly turned from the doors to begin getting ready for bed. 

No sooner than I did, my balcony doors suddenly blew open. And I shrieked and quickly rushed to close them. As I did I noticed a picture had fallen off of my nightstand and onto my bed. I walked over and picked it up. My eyes slowly tearing up as I looked at it.

It was a picture of my Dad and I. On my 16th birthday. 

I slowly sat down, clutching the picture tightly to my chest. I slowly smiled to myself.

Maybe he could hear me after all.