As the sun began to set, Callie and I made our way into the kitchen so we could help our mother to prepare some dinner. Today we were going to have spaghetti and meatballs. As we got started on it, there was a knock upon the front door and so I ventured off to investigate and opened the door to find that Courtney was standing there with a bouquet of flowers.

"You are so cute," I said.

"That's all you, bunny. Can I come in?" she asked me.

"Of course. We started making dinner. Would you like some?" I asked her.

Courtney gave a subtle nod of her head, as she walked into the house and passed me the flowers.

"We're going to need more vases if you keep bringing me flowers," I said.

"I'll have to make a mental note to buy you some because you're getting all the flowers," she said.

"So generous of you," I replied.

Courtney's lips twitched up a little at the corner.

"Well, you mean a lot to me, Phoebe. I want to do what I can," she said.

Callie wandered down the hall to join the two of us and smiled at Courtney.

"Hey Courtney. How are you doing?" she asked her.

"I'm good thank you," Courtney replied, "How are you, Callie?".

"I'm also great," Callie said, "I finally left Ben. For good this time. No going back. No getting back together."

I hoped that was a promise.

I tried to see the good in everyone but Ben was one of the people that I truly couldn't see much good within.

I loved Callie so incredibly much and I wanted her to be happy and I knew that Ben wasn't right for her.

However, my sister was a beautiful girl and so sweet, too.

I knew that in good time she would find someone deserving of her.

I placed the flowers into a vase while Callie and Courtney made some small talk for a moment. I knew that it could take Callie some time to open up to get to know people, which was something that she had in common. I had hoped that in time, though, the two of them would get along just fine.

Bow and my mother soon joined us in the kitchen and Bow wandered up to Courtney and tugged on her trousers slightly.

"Excuse me. Are you Phoebe's girlfriend?" he asked.

Courtney met my gaze and amusement flickered in her eyes momentarily.

"I could be," she said.

"She is," I said casually.

Courtney grinned at me.

My mother began to serve the spaghetti into bowls and we soon walked into the dining room.

"It really is a pleasure to meet you, Courtney," she said.

"Thank you, Miss Clarke," Courtney said, as she began to twirl some of the spaghetti around her fork before eating it.

"You're very welcome," she said with a pleasant smile.

The five of us continued to eat our dinner, until it was time for my mother to attend a conference call online.

Callie returned to her room so she could get on with some studying, while Bow seemed to not want to leave my side.

"Why can't I watch movies with you and Courtney?" he asked.

"Courtney and Phoebe would like their alone time," my mother told him, as she muted her microphone for a minute.

"It's not fair," Bow said.

Courtney gave him a sympathetic expression at his words.

"I promise, Bow. The two of us can hang out again soon," I said.

"Okay," Bow said, as he walked off to go back to his room.

In the meantime, Courtney and I made our way to my own room and sat down on my bed. I grabbed my laptop and then we began to watch a movie together. I wasn't sure how much it Courtney was actually watching, though, as I felt her eyes on me for most of the duration of the movie.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked her, with a kind smile.

"You. I'm thinking about you and I and us," she said, "Do you really want me to be your girlfriend?" she asked me.

"Of course, I want you to be my girlfriend, Courtney."

Those words felt so easy to say because I knew that they were true. I knew that I could be truly happy with Courtney, especially when I liked her as much as I did.

"Do you want some popcorn?" I asked her.

"Deal," she said.

I wandered downstairs to go and get some toffee popcorn and then returned upstairs, so I could sit down next to Courtney. She moved a little closer to me, so that the two of us could cuddle.

"If you want any more snacks throughout the movie, let me know. It wouldn't be fair on you to keep having to get up to go and get me things," Courtney said.

"You don't have to get things for me, Courtney," I said.

"Well, I want to. You're my girl," she said.

I felt my heart flutter at those words.

"Your girl?" I asked her.

"Of course," she said, as she moved forward slightly so she could close the distance between the two of us, with a kiss upon my lips. She then kissed my forehead and I felt so incredibly safe in her arms. "I'm glad that i met you, Phoebe. I know I say that a lot but I really do mean it. You made me not want to be alone so much anymore. All I truly want now is to be with you," she told me.

I smiled towards her and caught sight of an affectionate glint in her eyes.

"I want to be with you too, Courtney," I said with a warm tone of voice, as I pressed a gentle kiss upon her cheek. "I'll always look out for you."

"I would literally do anything for you," Courtney said, as a slight smile made its way onto her face and she traced her fingers up my spine.

The two of us placed the laptop down beside us because it was clear that neither one of us were that interested in watching it anymore.

Courtney wound her arms around my waist, as she lifted me onto her lap and the two of us began to kiss almost instinctively, as I began to gently move my hands through Courtney's soft wavy hair.