I soon found Courtney outside of the cafe, smoking on a cigarette.

"You know...those things are-"

"Really bad for your lungs? It's not a cigarette, it's vapour," she said.

"It looks like a cigarette to me," I muttered.

"What are you doing out here, Clarke?" Courtney asked me, as she stared directly in front of her, seemingly aloof again.

"I wanted to see how you were doing," I admitted, with as kind a tone of voice as I could muster.

I wasn't a genius when it came to friendships, not even close, but I did know that it was important to look out for other people.

"Why are you so nice to me? It's sort of exhausting. I don't want to talk to you," she told me.

I fell into silence then, as I stood in the light of the sunset with her.

"I'll probably go for a walk soon. There's a forest nearby my house. Maybe there I won't have to deal with little bunnies trying to get in my business," she said.

"Could I get you some cookies for the trip?" I asked.

I wasn't sure what reaction that would get out of her, but I was relieved when Courtney released a soft laugh and stepped out her cigarette.

"See? That's not vapour," I said.

"If my parents ever asked you what it was, you would lie," Courtney said.

I frowned, then.

"I wouldn't have to do anything you told me to," I said.

Courtney took a step closer to me then and I swallowed.

"Is that so, Phoebe?" she asked me, as she adjusted the collar of her leather jacket.

"You really don't intimidate me," I said, "All I see when I look at you is someone who needs a friend. I suppose it can't be easy- you're at a new school, you're incredibly difficult to get to know."

"Then why do you even bother talking to me?" she asked me, then.

"'Cause I won't give up on you," I said.

"Well, you should. In saying that, though..." she trailed off then and took a deep breath, before her eyes locked on mine and flashed with an unreadable emotion.

"In saying that, I'm still your friend, Courtney. You can't fight that," I said.

"You're right. I suppose I can't. If you seem so sure that you want to be my friend, then who am I to stand in the way of your blind ambition?" Courtney asked me.

I smiled at her and for a second Courtney smiled back, until her expression became emotionless once again.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

Courtney looked towards me with an expression of surprise.

"For giving us those art supplies. That was really nice of you," I said.

Courtney adjusted the sleeve of her jacket a little anxiously before she replied.

"That was nothing. I can be thoughtful sometimes, that's all. I thought it would be helpful for you two. As much as you may annoy me, you two are like the only people, besides my ex, in this shitty town that will talk to me, so..." Courtney trailed off and then took a deep breath, "Thank you," she said.

"I knew it pained you to say that, I'm proud of you," I teased.

Courtney rolled her eyes.

"Let's walk you home, Phoebe. You're tiny and it'll be dark soon, so...I'm coming with you," she said, as her eyebrows creased together again.

"Aw. You thought of me," I said.

She caught sight of the sparkle in my eyes and rolled her own ones. "This doesn't mean that I care."

"Of course it doesn't, Courtney," I replied.

The two of us began to walk in the direction of my house. It was getting a little colder too, so I was glad that Courtney was there with me. It wouldn't have been a pleasant walk alone. I can't believe I even thought that.

"Do you want my jacket?" Courtney said so quietly that I thought I imagined it.

"You would give me your leather jacket?" I asked her.

"Maybe then you would at least have some sort of style," she replied.

I smirked in amusement.

Courtney wasn't all that bad.

"I'm just being fair on you. It wouldn't be fair of me to let you walk all by yourself in the cold with no coat. That's why I'm here," she said.

"You like me," I said.

Courtney took a step back as her cheeks reddened, then.

"What? No, I do not," she said.

I chuckled.

"As a friend, silly," I said.

Courtney seemed to exhale in relief, as she pressed a hand to her chest.

"Jacket or no jacket? I can't control the weather," Courtney said.

"You've seen That 70s Show?" I asked her, as I gave a little shake of my head. No jacket. I was surprisingly warm.

Courtney's eyes lit up at that.

"I'm impressed, Phoebe. Man, I had such a crush on Mila Kunis...I still do," she said, as she shrugged.

"Likewise," I said.

Courtney playfully shoved me.

"What was that for?" I asked her, as I gasped.

"You're so gay," she replied.

"Says you," I said.

Courtney winked at me, then. I almost thought that I had only imagined it but she had actually winked at me. I felt my heart warm in that realisation.

"I have to say, Phoebe, I do admire you," she told me.

"You do?" I replied.

"I do. You're letting Emmy date even though we all know you like her," Courtney said.

"I...I think it's about time I let myself move on," I said.

Courtney raised an eyebrow in response to that.

"I would say so," she said, "I have to be fair to you, though, I've liked a lot of straight girls in my time and that's probably nowhere near as bad as the whole Emmy situation. You had a chance with her and now that whole thing has been squandered," she said.

After she caught sight of my expression, she quickly went on.

"I don't mean to taunt you. I'm saying I understand," she said.

"Well, we're here. Thank you, Courtney, for...well, for everything," I said.

A cool breeze passed between the two of us, as Courtney's eyebrows crinkled together slightly. Then, though, a pleasant smile made its way onto her face.

"You're welcome, bunny. Now go, be warm. Take care, Phoebe," she said.

"Goodbye, Courtney," I said, as I waved her off and walked back into my house.